"ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE ..." - THINKING AND COMMUNICATING DRAMATICALLY AND WITH THE HEART !!!

 

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts" ... to that end the Cosmic "curtain" rose on yesterday, August 9th, at 12:28 PM EDT as Mercury began its dramatically expressive transit through the ambitious, optimistic sign of Leo ... Mercury is now ready to blaze through Leo where the mindset and communicating functions will most likely become "center stage" somewhere in your life for the next few weeks ... as Leo is a fire sign it will bestow Mercury with a lot of creativity ... this Mercury is quite the performer who wants to get your attention along with your admiration any way it can ... Mercury was last transiting through Leo from June 26th through September 2nd, 2025 - a longer than normal period due to a retrograde period, but that will not be the case again this time !!! 

Mercury is considered to be in its "fall" in Leo ... that meaning it is in the sign opposite to the one where it is considered to be in "exaltation", which in this case is Aquarius where it expresses its energy harmoniously with its forces increased and its virtues magnified ... HOWEVER, Mercury in its "fall" in Leo can yield a difficulty in expressing its real nature ... it is said to be like staying in someone else's home and being where you do not really feel comfortable ... Nevertheless, there is a lot of positive potential from this mercurial energy !!!

Mercury in Leo thinks dramatically and always with the heart ... here one can become a visionary and  highly idealistic ... romantic attachments tend to take a major portion of ones concentration ... there is a display of dignity, a sense of innate refinement, and a desire to make good impressions on others ... there is also a desire to be the authority in ones chosen field ... there is ability to solve problems, but sometimes the details are ignored ... ambition abounds under this energy ... and since this is a very dramatic energy for communication it should not be a surprise that every now and then comes the tendency to exaggerate, be self-centered, or tell a little white lie or two !!!

Entertainment could easily be ones forte with dramatic talent being given here - okay all you wannabe actors, now it's time to show us what you got !!! ... this is often the natal placement of those in the entertainment industry ... there could be skills at sales, advertising, promotion or any means of persuading people with ones mind and tongue ... there could also be a desire to have ones thinking or style of communication given a lot of attention ... speech is made with abundant energy, great pride, liveliness and a lot of charisma ... drama and humor is frequently used in communications ... learning is best achieved when one is aroused and excited by a particular topic ... sometimes the ego has a way of getting involved here which could lead to fixed thinking or limited objectivity ... presentations are usually dramatic and magnetic ... one could become interested in power, children, fame and creativity under this energy !!!

Mercury transiting through the sign of Leo teaches us to instill our thinking process with ambition and creativity ... its the idea person ... one is usually proud of their intellectual talents and capabilities ... with the mind being so closely connected to the heart, there is great passion, strength and originality in the mode in which one thinks and communicates ... sometimes insecurity here can lead to one coming on too strong or even cause one to underestimate the power of their mind !!!

Mercury usually functions best when it is cool and detached from the ego, but this can become difficult in the self-conscious sign of Leo where personal aims and intentions appear to be to all-important and other important factors become far less important ... it is wise to realize that people give up trying to help others who always think they know better ... but ultimately, being able to combine ones own creative and enterprising mind with an awareness of others ideas and attitudes that are involved in your personal drama will benefit everyone ... problems are usually approached with great imagination and energy ... learning to use the input of others will allow one to avoid being a one-person endeavor, and then the mind will become a vital spark that will ultimately ignite a larger group endeavor ... the power of Mercury in Leo can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: mentally creative, distinctive verbal style, warmly articulate, identifies with popular ideas, grasps the entire issue, intellectually confident, focused concentration, fixed intentions, enthusiastic worker, convincing speaker, outspoken and optimistic, knows ones own mind, teaching and planning ability, foresight, executive mind

NEGATIVE: mentally conceited, liking the sound of ones own voice, only interested in ones own ideas, overlooks details, mentally arrogant, inflexible mind, stubborn and one-track mind, self-centered, feels superior at work, craves appreciation, verbally over-bearing, talks "AT" others, wrapped up in pet projects and theories

Mercury is now transiting through Leo with the Sun and Jupiter !!!

So exactly what kind of "scene" from what kind of "play" will each one of us be "acting out" during this dramatically expressive transit of Mercury ... new ideas and projects just might have quite a theatrical air about them ... Mercury remains in Leo until August 25th !!!

Only two more complete sign transits, those being Virgo and Libra, ere Mercury begins its third and final retrograde period for 2026, completely in the sign of Scorpio, which will occur from October 24th through November 13th going from 20 degrees 58 minutes back to 5 degrees 2 minutes Scorpio ... and to reiterate one more time it will be embedded completely in the final days of the upcoming Venus retrograde which occurs from October 3rd through November 13th ... Mercury enters its next shadow point on October 4th when it reaches 5 degrees 2 minutes Scorpio !!!

While Mercury is in Leo it is wise to remember that we should teach others what we really want to learn our self ... we stand or we fall by what we say and how we say it ... do not ignore that "small still voice" that is an important part of the greater good !!!

One final word of advice - be aware that whatever springs from your mind, and ultimately from your lips most likely in a dramatic fashion, especially during this extended transit, is only as good and true as that which dwells in your heart !!! 

So, curtain up ... light the lights ... cue applause ... now get out there, take center stage, think big and then communicate with a dramatic flair which for certain people will not be a difficult task at all will it now ??? 

A HIGHLY MENTAL APPROACH TO LOVE AND ROMANCE - THE EMOTIONAL FACTOR OFTEN COMING IN TO PLAY LATER !!!

Venus began its "loving" transit through the charming, sociable sign of Libra on Thursday, August 6th at 3:13 PM EDT ... Venus is very much at home here - considered to be in dignity - as this is one of the two signs it naturally rules - the other being Taurus ... Venus was last in Libra from October 13th through November 6th, 2025... anything come to mind during that ride of emotions, relationships and possibly financial issues ???

Venus in Libra tends to first have a highly mental approach - because Libra is an air sign - to love and romance with the emotional factor often coming into play later ... it enjoys art, harmony, and certainly people ... it can be charming, diplomatic, and graceful in relating to others ... affection is expressed with elegance, charm, and consideration ... fairness, balance and gentleness are qualities used when interacting with others ... sometimes there can be such an excessive desire for peace and tranquility that one avoids having to face issues which ultimately can inhibit intimacy ... there is pleasure found in balance and in beauty ... this energy appreciates symmetry ... the handling of money and possessions is most likely cooperative even though at times there could be a competitive edge ... Venus in Libra wants affection, beauty and ease in love relationships with a need for equal sharing between one and ones partner ... this Venus is also equally concerned about justice and fairness !!!

Venus transiting through Libra is all about how to love through relating with others ... it's the aesthetic ... one can appreciate and understand art and society on their own separate levels ... there is an inner sense of harmony here which yields the ability to see life in terms of beauty and justice ... this ability comes from more of a mental approach rather than an emotional one ... here one recognizes that beauty is important with the question arising whether or not it is more than or simply skin deep ... the ultimate answer is that it is both !!!

Venus in Libra can easily be attracted to ones inner beauty in addition to or rather than their outward appearance ... there is also probably a fear of conflict and disharmony ... ugly scenes, feeling unattractive, uncouth behavior and fake love are strongly disliked ... this energy is likely to attract either popularity or wealth, or both ... social harmony, tastefulness, being in love, beautiful surroundings and true marriage are highly appreciated here ... the energy of Venus in Libra can be expressed in the following ways :

POSITIVE: eye for beauty, strong color sense, good ear, artistic, affectionate, likable, magnetic, fair-looking, refined, graceful, pleasant, socially correct, romantically steadfast, relates well, harmonious, just, empathetic, broad-minded

NEGATIVE: hung up on appearances, oversensitive, music snob, art snob, takes personal liberties, frivolous, seducing, vain, affected, phony, overly concerned with etiquette, superficial, insincere, avoids conflict, indifferent, cold, cynical, social outcast

Libra born individuals, this is your time when the love light of Venus shines on you - even though it usually always does as it is your ruling planet !!! ... and, as always, ask for what you want especially during this period as you might just get it !!!

Venus is currently transiting through the sign of Libra by itself ... Venus will not actually be finished with transiting Libra until December 4th due to its upcoming retrograde period for 2026 ... it will complete the first transit through Libra on September 10th ... once stationing retrograde on October 3rd, it will return to Libra on October 25th where it will complete its retrograde journey ... the upcoming retrograde period will occur from October 3rd through November 13th going from 8 degrees 29 minutes Scorpio back to 22 degrees 51 minutes Libra ... and to add to the "festivities", Mercury will be taking its final retrograde period for 2026 completely embedded in the final days of the Venus retrograde ... Venus will enter its next shadow point on August 31st !!! 

Meanwhile, remember ones personal ideal is something to strive towards and not stubbornly insist upon ... relationships will ultimately prosper on love and understanding of the best AND the worst ... and certainly the undeniable purest expression of Venus in Libra is developing the ability to lend grace where awkwardness exists and to gain understanding in the midst of strife !!!

For now, it's time to seek beauty and learn to appreciate it for what it is ... determine where your passion for the pursuit of justice truly lies ... play nice with the other children ... and ultimately it's time to discover and understand the "true beauty" of partnerships and relationships and how they can manifest positive personal and spiritual growth in your life !!! 

FINDING WAYS TO BE GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL FOR ALL YOU ARE BLESSED WITH - NOTHING IN OUR LIFE JOURNEY IS EVER PERFECT OR GIVEN FOR FREE !!!

    

MERCURY completed its second full retrograde journey for 2026 on Thursday, July 23rd, and stationed  back into direct motion at 6:58 PM EDT at 16 degrees 18 minutes Cancer - do I hear a BIG SIGH OF RELIEF ??? ... I heard from many people this one was particularly challenging, but to be honest I personally believe the final Mercury retrograde for 2026 from October 24th through November 13th may turn out to be the most challenging not only because it will be the third retrograde completely in a water sign, this time Scorpio which everyone knows likes to dig up issues from deep down we might not rather want to deal with, but also because it will be completely embedded in the final days of the upcoming Venus retrograde which occurs from October 3rd through November 13th !!! 

What revelations have you had so far or will you have, either positive or challenging in regards to what you may have done while Mercury has been "scrubbing" over the degrees of this retrograde - 26 degrees 15 minutes  back to 16 degrees 8 minutes Cancer - forwards, then backwards and now forward again as it crosses back over them moving to exit its retrograde zone ... in which house or houses do these degrees fall in your natal chart giving you a clue as to what area of your life this retrograde may have affected you ???

Hopefully, some of the disorientation, confusion, frustration and outright irritation along with the sudden and unexpected issues that may have been produced by this Mercury retrograde will now begin to clear and subside as it becomes time to move forward cautiously into the swing of things on all levels ... have "lights" started to come on, so to speak, or are revelations occurring now that we are 5 days into Mercury being back into direct motion ???

Did any issues and complications or questioning arise from actions and new beginnings taken during the most recent Mercury retrogrades which would include February 26th through March 20th going from 22 degrees 33 minutes back to 8 degrees 29 minutes Pisces, or even from 2025 which would include November 9th through November 29th, 2025 going from 6 degrees 51 minutes Sagittarius back to 20 degrees 42 minutes Scorpio, July 18th through August 11th, 2025 going from 15 degrees 34 minutes back to 4 degrees 14 minutes Leo, or March 15th through April 7th, 2025 going from 9 degrees 35 minutes Aries back to 26 degrees 49 minutes Pisces ??? ... knowing what house/houses these degrees affected could be indicative of where in life these previous issues may have resurfaced per area of life ruled by the house/houses involved  ... and as always, it would not be out of the realm of possibilities to have issues arise from Mercury retrogrades further back than these ... after all, Mercury is known as the "trickster" and you never know what may occur or "resurface" to be dealt with and completed !!!!!! ... it's a sure bet that as Mercury moves forward once again crossing back over the degrees it covered during this retrograde period, issues may begin to arise meaning things begun and actions taken are certainly subject to potential review and revision - a never ending universal process but all for a good reason !!!

Mercury retrograde periods, even though annoying and extremely frustrating at times, are actually a very beneficial thing, especially for those who were strong and fearless enough to dig deep down, as we need to validate, or in some cases invalidate, actions and situations gone awry and deal with them in order to finally release them to produce a calmer, positive and more productive state of mind thus allowing us to move forward to bring about greater personal and spiritual growth !!! ... again, if you've had a natal chart done, you should look to see in which house or houses containing 26 DEGREES 15 MINUTES back to 16 DEGREES 18 MINUTES CANCER fall to determine what issues you may have had to deal with in the areas of life governed by those houses ??? ... how many of you went with the flow and how many of you tried to swim upstream in the raging current of Cosmic confusion ???

Of course the recurring question we may find ourselves asking now that Mercury is back in direct motion is "WHY" ??????? ...What actions did you take yourself or have taken against you that you or the other person may now be regretting ... or you may be simply wondering why you chose to do what you did or why you were the victim of a particular course of action from other(s), and why didn't you or the other person wait a little longer ...  or perhaps you are simply now trying to figure out why it even happened ???

Relationships may have come to an end especially with this retrograde completely in the sign of Leo ruling the 5th house of romance, creativity and pleasure - some needed to and others may have jumped the gun and you are now wondering, or will be, why did I do that or end things during this period ...  how many of you had relationship issues surface or resurface - extremely likely in a Mercury retrograde - that you thought surely had been resolved or didn't even realize existed ???  ... how many of you began new actions within a relationship, personal or professional without waiting for the retrograde period to conclude ??? ... AND ... how many of you got married during this retrograde period ???

Did anyone make any major purchases - homes, cars, electronics - that now don't seem like the best thought out course of action or that you are beginning to regret or will do so in the days ahead  ... there could be problems regarding any purchases made especially with anything where electrical energy and/or computers were involved ... all of these scenarios are possible as the energy of a Mercury retrograde is one where communications and mental energy is going "backwards" and rational decision making isn't always so sharp !!!

So now that the mental processing facilities are no longer going backwards - at least for most of us if you know what I mean - in regard to Mercury and its functions, it's time to finally RELEASE these emotional holds and allow ourselves to move forward with our lives ... let go of what is best left in the past !!!

Mercury retrograding in the sign of Cancer yielded an emphasis for an opportunity to rethink how we emotionally respond to life ... and being in a water sign, Mercury retrograding in Cancer produces a strong desire to retreat inward ... when Mercury retrogrades in a water sign our feelings and emotions are strongly activated and, as challenging and sometimes even painful as it can be, we MUST address them in order to promote personal healing by making us have to work harder at producing a more stable balance between our emotional and the mental processes ... as waters can run very deep, that is where we most likely are going to have to dive into ourselves to come face to face with our innermost feelings and emotions ... and wherever this retrograde energy occurred by house/houses in your natal chart, actions could have arisen in that area of your life causing you to undergo a careful and hopefully honest examination to determine if these feelings and emotions are producing a positive or negative contribution to the quality of your life !!!

This was also an excellent time to have kept a dream journal to discover what the Universe is revealing to us deep within our unconsciousness ... even though this can be challenging, it can be an excellent time for honest self evaluation if we have the strength, trust and courage to allow the process to unfold ... and to be honest, it really wouldn't be a bad idea to be keeping a dream journal all the time ... the Universe can speak to us just as "loudly" as when we are awake if we are open to receiving the enlightenment provided - you just might be surprised what themes keep getting repeated although in different ways for us to pay attention to !!!

In addition to the "usual suspect" issues which arise during a Mercury retrograde, being in Cancer there was the potential for issues to have arisen which included : your home, parents, family, foundations, psychological roots, personal security, property - houses and/or real estate, for some the closing years of life, and endings of any kind ... these are all issues addressed in the 4th house of the zodiac naturally ruled by Cancer !!!

Also as Cancer is ruled by the Moon, there could potentially have been issues regarding females - mother, sister, wife and women in general, instincts, moods, tides, phases, receptivity, fluctuations, feelings, habit patterns, reflex actions, personal interests, desires, needs magnetism, growth and fertility, the need to touch, impressionability and consciousness, liquids, commodities, sailing, brewing, nursing, tradespeople, and the public in general ... these are all issues governed by the Moon !!!

In regards to overall health, remember Mercury is the natural planetary ruler of the 6th house which rules health, so there could be more chances to have health issues in general during a Mercury retrograde ... retrograding in Cancer there could also have been issues in the areas of the breast and stomach ... the stomach area most likely being activated by emotional stress conflicting with the digestive process ... as well as the left eye of the male and the right eye of the female which are ruled by the Moon !!!

A Mercury retrograde is usually not a good time to have elective surgery as the healing process could be slowed down or there could be the chance of having to go back at a later date and take care of something that wasn't done correctly - especially in regards to cosmetic surgery !!! ... did anyone partake ??? ... as for emergency surgery, we have no control over that and trying to put that off might have produced catastrophic results !!!

Gemini and Virgo born, yet another period of review and reflection for you has come to an end especially in regards to actions taken since March 20th when Mercury last stationed back into direct motion ... how have you been enlightened and how was your life affected by having your ruling planet Mercury retrograde ??? ... your ruling planet has now resumed forward motion and much to your delight so will you - even though you were probably trying to do it during the actual retrograde ... right, of course right - in fact many of us are doing the same thing !!!

Those born between June 30th and July 22nd will definitely have this Mercury retrograde energy in their solar return - birthday chart - for the whole year ahead ... those born on July 23rd and June 29th may or may not have gotten this energy depending on what time your solar return occured ... some may be lucky enough to escape it for this year - an excellent reason once again to have a natal chart done and then have a solar return chart run for the year ahead by a reputable astrologer !!! ... below is a repeat explanation of what it means to have Mercury Retrograde for the whole year in your birthday chart summed up by Mary Fortier Shea in her book titled "Planets in Solar Return":

"A Solar Return is the time every year that the Sun returns to the same degrees and minutes it was at when you were born - all the more reason to know your birth time now isn't it, hmmmmm????? ... a new chart is run for you at the time your solar return occurs in that given year and it is run for wherever you are at the precise time of your solar return ... this produces a new horoscope chart which shows what energy you may or may not run into for the year ahead - that is from the current birthday until next years birthday ... its energy can be felt from one to three months out before the actual solar return occurs .... often people will relocate for the return time in order to get a particular energy in their solar return chart !!!

Mercury is usually retrograde in a solar return chart every six years ... during this time it's best to be introspective ... you should be learning and thinking on your own rather than depending on others ... the mind is like an overstuffed drawer seriously in need of re-filing and reorganization ... in other words the time has come to "process" !!!

The mental processes are not very receptive to new information at this time ... it's time to go back and re-examine and review things in your life which may have been started but not carried through to fruition or maybe interrupted and suddenly abandoned for some reason ... by focusing inward you might be able to see that your own opinions, thoughts and decisions work best for you rather than those made by others ... at the same time be very receptive to the feedback others are giving you especially if you have missed the mark in regard to some endeavor !!!

Another side effect of this energy is secretiveness where you decide to withhold information or sometimes outright lie ... and why ??? .. because you have secrets that need to be kept or else were you to express your opinions and thoughts outwardly it could cause tension in your relationships ... have plenty of ice cream around to soothe the tongue you are most likely going to have to bite frequently this year !!!

This is a great year to keep a journal and put your thoughts down on paper and also to write original material ... sometimes you can see things differently when thoughts and ideas are written down which is a very helpful way to get organized ... this is a year where you will probably realize old opinions and beliefs are now outdated thus encouraging you to reassess your thinking, reformulate previously developed ideas, and shed new light on something on some level of your life that needs to be addressed !!!

It doesn't really have to be a bad year ... done wisely, fast forwarding to the past and clearing out the "clutter", you can propel yourself further ahead in life than you originally may have thought !!! "

MERCURY now moves forward to complete its extended transit through the domestic, sympathetic sign of Cancer which began on Monday, June1st, at 7:56 AM  EDT ... just a "reminder" of what this energy is all about should you be in a state of confusion and can't remember !!!

Our thinking and communicative processes now turn from a highly intellectual mode towards a more emotional mode of operation as the ruler of Cancer is the Moon which, among other things, rules the emotions ... our thinking and communicating often ends up resulting from how we FEEL !!! ... Mercury was last in the sign of Cancer from June 8th through June 26th, 2025 !!!

Mercury in Cancer has a way of subconsciously picking up signals from everyone else .. the mind becomes as much a receiver as a transmitter under this energy ... here we have a highly intuitive mode of thinking and communicating ... this placement also usually bestows a very good memory along with strong poetic power ... Mercury in Cancer thinks with the heart and often interprets the meaning of others communications through how it "feels" !!!

Mercury in Cancer does not always say everything it is feeling as it tries to avoid hurting itself and others as well with careless ill-spoken comments ... one is very protective of their thoughts ... it likes to nurture ideas and encourage growth before sharing ... one uses emotions as well as logic and often may end up letting sensitivities sway ones decisions ... subconscious fears, habits, or prejudices could inhibit ones objectivity or openness to the new !!!

Mercury in Cancer usually bestows above-average psychic ability ... one learns through absorbing their experiences and making emotional connections ... interest here may include family, the home, the land, the past, the public or security ... Oh yes, we most definitely may find ourselves thinking about food A LOT, and hopefully that thinking doesn't become a nasty habit of overeating causing us to expand in ways we would rather NOT !!!

Mercury in Cancer teaches us the importance of thinking through nurturing ... it is a caring mind ... one has to be careful not to take everything so personally here ... it is important to remember to look at the facts in addition to the opinions of others ... it is also important to remember and be aware that each one of us is our own source of light and warmth ... most importantly it is necessary to make a collection of good memories that will give rise to clear and positive thinking ... the energy of Mercury in Cancer can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: mentally tenacious, good memory, reliable, sensitive mind, poetic, intuitive, agreeable, absorbs information, attuned to public opinion, profound, polite, softly-spoken, discreet, diplomatic, arouses sympathies, emotionally appealing, persuasive speaker

NEGATIVE: mentally habit-ridden, distracted, inflexible, overly impressionable, impractical, irrational, yes-person, too open, taking things too personally, depressive, self-conscious, unclear, incomprehensible, diffuse,  prejudiced, untruthful

Mercury is now currently in transit through Cancer all by itself ... Mercury will remain in Cancer August 9th !!!

While Mercury is transiting through the sign of Cancer, one should realize that the natural ability to influence others is worthy of only our highest motives ... tuning in to ones finer feelings and expressing them is ultimately more rewarding ... and finally, try to focus on what you are after, who you are with and why ... and then stick with that !!! ... and by all means - enjoy the multiple mental trips down memory lane as they will surely "light the corners of your mind" !!! 

Mercury remains in direct motion until October 24th ... it begins its final retrograde journey for 2026 lasting until November 13th ... Mercury enters its next shadow point on October 4th when it reaches 5 degrees 2 minutes Scorpio ... Mercury will exit its current retrograde zone on August 7th when it returns to 26 degrees 15 minutes Cancer the point where it began this retrograde period back on June 29th !!!

For now, you should be moving forward and trying to find ways to be grateful and thankful for all that you are blessed with even though there may have been some difficult challenges occurring as well ... the Universe never lets us have anything "perfect" or "for free" because we are supposed to be in a constant state of enlightenment and illumination promoting personal and spiritual growth !!! 

THE MIGHTY LION ROARS - LEARNING TO LIVE THROUGH THE PROCESS OF CREATING AND BEING CREATIVE !!!

 

The SUN began its "majestic" transit through the dramatic, romantic, proud sign of Leo today, July 22nd, at 3:13 PM EDT ... this solar energy is all about is being acknowledged, appreciated and applauded ... the overly emotional days of processing everything through our feelings lessens greatly now and our unique creative genius takes center stage !!!

The Sun in Leo is very happy here ... in fact it is in dignity as this is the sign it naturally rules in the zodiac ... when a planet, or luminary in this case, is in dignity, you control the circumstances in whatever area of your life the sign falls !!! ... The Sun is extremely efficient with its energy transiting Leo being dignified in this position ... if you've had your natal chart done, then you may gain awareness on what "stage" of your life this energy may affect you during this 32 day solar transit !!!

The Sun in Leo bestows us with a pronounced craving for attention ... Leo energy usually loves giving and receiving hugs ... The Sun in Leo encourages one  to grow through creative endeavors, seek recognition through risk-taking or exciting activities, extend generosity, and certainly embrace ones own charisma ... this is the ultimate in fire energy - it is very happy, optimistic energy ... and isn't the Sun pretty much at its peak in Summer during July/August (at least in the Northern hemisphere !!!) ??? ... it's easy to see why these native born individuals are so warm and cheerful - unless of course they are modified by some other "darker" energy in their natal chart !!! 

Leo is a masculine/fire/fixed sign which makes it enthusiastic, powerful, expansive and creative, generous and extravagant, dogmatic and VERY FIXED in its opinions ... as previously stated, Leo is ruled by the Sun, so the Sun is extremely happy to be transiting through this sign !!! ... the Sun is the center of our solar system and therefore the most powerful planetary influence which bestows vitality and authority !!!

Leo's symbol is the Lion - regal, brave, dominating, possessing nobility and pride, and sometimes insensitive to pain ... the glyph for Leo represents two valves of the heart ... it is also the Greek symbol for the first letter of Leo ... symbolically, it is two incomplete circles of the Sun joined by a crescent Moon (its tail) which symbolizes that power is derived from both the intellect and the emotions ... its key phrase is "I Will" and its keyword is "Magnetism" ... the Sun is the main expression of the individual ... it shows the qualities of leadership and success ... it represents the masculine principle, the father, husband, and men in general ... it rules health, vital principles, authority and bosses, rank, title, high office, progress, dignity, energy, sense of identity and capacity for experience ... wherever the Sun is located in your natal chart is where you find the life and heart of your horoscope - it is where you truly want and need to shine !!!

Leo anatomically rules the heart, back, spine, the right eye of the male and the left eye of the female ... emotional strain and physical overexertion can cause back and spinal ailments in Leo born people ... sometimes Leo born people can be overbearing and challenging to the point of unknowingly provoking others into impulsive violence !!! ... Leo is the sign directly opposite of Aquarius in the natural zodiac !!!

Leo naturally rules the 5th house of the horoscope ... it is a house of life whose keyword is "Creativity" ... the 5th house represents children, artistic expression, love affairs, romance, pleasure, amusements, holidays, vacations, games, speculation, hobbies and what distracts you from your main employment ... it also represents your emotional attitude, the love you give, your enterprise, sports, originality and creative outlets, shows dramatic, literary or artistic ability, shows publications, politics, the fine arts, social affairs, pregnancy and the education of children ... also represented here are any groups to which you may belong that relate to having fun !!!

The Sun in Leo encourages us to live through the process of creating and being creative ... it is one who is truly a child of the Sun ... it wants to shine and be the center of attention ... even if you are shy or lacking in confidence, you will want to be noticed in some way ... respect is vitally important not only for yourself but from others as well ... respect is dependent on self-respect ... a radiant glow is often physically noticeable !!!

Leo can create an "air of certainty" which makes many things possible ... but for all the apparent confidence streaming forth from ones heart, it can belie the fact that one is highly dependent on being appreciated !!! ... here one must pay special attention to critics and admirers alike to avoid being blinded by ones own light and thus destroying whatever it is that one originally tried to create and maintain - a relationship, ones home, health, profession or even ones own children ... just like the Sun, Leo energy cannot see the shadow it casts ... ultimately Leo must realize that its power and influence shine through it and not from it ... and when that power is wounded or challenged, it is very much like the Sun disappearing behind a cloud - the world becomes a colder and darker place ... the energy of the Sun in Leo can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: noble, confident, generous, gracious, encouraging, commanding, ambitious, enterprising, proud, cultivated, dramatic sense, impressive, self-expressive, wealth of ideas, fun to be with, warm, affectionate, loyal, romantic

NEGATIVE: pretentious, self-righteous, flamboyant, domineering, demanding, intolerant, overestimating, vain, snobby/stuck-up, melodramatic, show-off, self-centered, overbearing, overblown, scorching, affected, fierce, impossible, unrealistic

HAPPY SOLAR RETURN LEO BORN !!!! ... Leo born individuals this is your time of year to SHINE - even more so than you usually do most of the time !!!

For all of us, we should remember that most of those who love us do so for our "inner glow more than our outer show" ... the Sun never tries to shine AND set conditions - THE SUN JUST SHINES !!! ... recognize, appreciate, respect and pardon both yourself and others ... take time to get in touch with your inner child and try to enjoy the simple pleasures of life !!!

The Sun now joins jubilant Jupiter already in transit through Leo ... the Sun remains in the sign of Leo until August 22nd when it moves into Virgo and we become highly focused on daily work and service, health and nutrition and possibly family issues !!!

For now, this larger than life energy compels each one of us to take "center stage" in some area of our life ... and as the lyrics to that famous song goes - "WHAT IS IT THAT WE'RE LIVING FOR ... APPLAUSE ... APPLAUSE" !!! 

OPENING YOUR HEART AND MIND TO DIVINE SPIRITUAL AND CREATIVE ENERGY - OR FALLING TO THE DEPTHS OF ADDICTION, DECEPTION AND ESCAPISM ???

   

NEPTUNE - planet of the spiritual, universal, ethereal, mysterious, mystical, enlightenment, psychic, delusional, imagination, escape, surrender, sacrifice, artistic inspiration, musical ability, glamour, fantasy, romantic love, dissolving, uplifting, confusing, consoling, undermining, drugs and alcohol - began its retrograde journey for 2026 on Tuesday, July 7th, at 6:55 AM EDT ... this retrograde period will go from 4 degrees 25 minutes Aries back to 1 degree 36 minutes Aries - a period of about 158 days ... Neptune was last retrograde from July 4th through December 10th, 2025 !!!

One of the main purposes of Neptune retrograde is to not just have blind faith ... be it personal spiritual quests or the "collective" quest of society, Neptune retrograde energy means a reexamination of hopes and beliefs ... we may all need to individually question and test all aspects of faith - in fact many may experience some kind of crisis of faith during this period ... we begin to question and develop objectivity in regards to the intangibles of life such as truth, fear, hope and inspiration ... when Neptune is retrograde it is closest to the Earth making its function even more intensified !!!

Artists, musicians, poets and those who are leading a highly spiritual life may especially feel the energy of a Neptune retrograde and be truly inspired ... during a Neptune retrograde if we aren't pursuing a spiritual quest we may become confused, disillusioned or full of illusions ... there is a chance that some may fall into drugs, alcohol or other escapist behaviors ... ideally, this is a time to question the ideas society accepts about faith, fears, truth and understanding ... inspiration and potential for spiritual growth can be greatly enhanced ... there is also the potential for confusion, disorientation, unfounded fear, disillusionment, and misunderstandings at the beginning until the retrograde energy settles in !!!

Neptune retrograde periods are a time for everyone to tune into the collective unconscious and realize how our own fears, illusion, confusion or spiritual journey are connected to what is happening with humanity ... this is a time for each one of us to determine whether or not our own individual energies are being used positively to develop faith and spirituality, or if we are simply pursuing a path of illusion, escapism and disappointment ... Neptune retrogrades about 5 - 6 months every year !!!

Neptune is currently in the very early stages of its transit through the sign of Aries ... it began its initial transit through the pioneering, competitive, impulsive, eager, courageous, independent, dynamic and quick sign of Aries in April of 2025 ... per retrograde motion it returned to Pisces for some last minute business in October 2025 ... then it returned to Aries for its complete transit in January 2026 ... this transit will not be complete until March of 2039 ... check to see what house or houses the 30 degrees of Aries fall in your natal chart to get an idea of where in your life Neptune will be working its "magic" !!!

Neptune in Aries is considered to be radical ... it was last in Aries from 1861 through 1875 ... during this period dynamite was invented as well as the machine gun and the typewriter ... the U.S. Civil War took place during this period, the first Women's Suffrage Law was passed and genetics were discovered !!!

During this period there could be many new religious and philosophical concepts born ... there will be strong imagination and creativity produced ... people may become more self-aware or aware of the self ... on the downside there could be false pride and egotism produced as well as people who crave notoriety ... this energy bestows and intuitive sense of self and encourages one to take an active approach towards their spiritual life ... but also there can be instances where one becomes extremely inconsiderate yielding trouble with regulating ones aggression ... sometimes one can be far to weak and other times to reckless which would certainly include the tendency to be heavily influenced by drugs and alcohol !!!

Pisces born, since Neptune is your planetary ruler, this is your yearly time to review and rethink what has been going on in your life since the last Neptune retrograde ended on December 10th, 2025 !!! ... for everyone, if you have had a natal chart done and know in which house or houses 4 degrees 35 minutes  back to 1 degree 36 minutes Aries falls, then you might get an idea in what area of your life the main thrust of this Neptune retrograde energy will be affecting you ... have you been seeking the "ideal" and been looking at things realistically, or have you been looking at life through the proverbial "rose colored glasses" letting illusion mislead you and not effectively dealing with reality ???

Neptune remains retrograde until December 12th ... it is definitely a good time, if you don't already, to start paying careful attention to your dreams as the Universe will undoubtedly be bringing us vital information while we sleep – keep a dream journal close by and USE IT !!! ... you might be amazed at what information the Universe sends to you in your unconscious state ... your dreams are sure to be enhanced with symbolism and information from the Universe resulting in profitable and/or illuminating and enlightening ideas ... after all, it's been said "a dream is a wish your heart makes" !!!

Now it is time for all of us - those in the light as well as those still in the dark - to become aware of one of the most important themes of Neptune in Aries - SPIRITUAL WARRIORS RISE UP !!! ...the question now is what will you choose to do - Open your heart and mind to divine spiritual and creative energy, or allow yourself to fall into the depths of addiction, deception and escapism and simply become "lost in wonderland" ???

THE "LOVE" OF COMPETENCE, ORGANIZING, PRECISION AND DOING THINGS THE WAY THEY SHOULD BE DONE - CORRECTLY !!!

 

VENUS began its transit through the picky, detailed oriented sign of Virgo on Thursday, September 9th, at 1;22 PM EDT ... Venus was last in Virgo from September 19th through October 13th, 2025 !!!

Venus in Virgo is considered to be in its "fall" and therefore its effectiveness can be greatly challenged ... being in its "fall", Venus is opposite the sign where it is exalted in which is Pisces ... it does not work all that efficiently because this position makes it difficult to express its true nature ... a planet in "fall" is like having to stay in someone else's home where you do not really feel all that comfortable ... so it's most likely a sure bet that romance, partnerships and relationships, money and personal values are going to be affected somehow by this "fallen" planetary energy !!!

Venus in Virgo, which produces a highly discerning type of love, enjoys competence, precision, and doing things the way they should be done - CORRECTLY !!! ... it is exacting, discriminating and/or critical when relating to other people ... affection is usually expressed in a manner of doing things for people or serving them in some way ... it is also expressed modestly and/or timidly ... pleasure is achieved by functioning efficiently and being helpful especially in repairing things, situations or people !!!

Venus in Virgo enjoys analysis, precision and organizing details ... logic and common sense makes this Venus very comfortable ... the handling of money and possessions is usually practical and thrifty ... there is a desire for common sense and for a willingness to work in love relationships ... this Venus can be more sincerely affectionate than any other sign, can manifest a very strong business sense, and knows exactly what is does and does not want !!! ... it often has a tendency to get so involved in details it becomes overly critical and demanding !!!

Venus transiting the sign of Virgo encourages us to learn to determine what it is we truly love through detailed analysis ... ultimately one discovers that eventually you must surrender to the mystery of love and art - or objects thereof - and no longer analyze ... this energy can acquire a finely tuned sense of social, emotional, and artistic values ... one must also learn to be discriminating about being discriminating ... one must resist the temptation to tamper with what is already simply attractive ... this Venus likes a spotless reputation, good manners, sexual hygiene, and pure or natural art ... it doesn't like relationships that have no mental stimulus ... the energy of Venus in Virgo can be expressed in the following ways :

POSITIVE: knowing what you like, discriminating, fine sense of aesthetics and design, artistic, sincerely affectionate, simple and clear, quietly charming, strong character, impartially kind, coolly detached, helpful, precision worker, specialist worker, painstaking, pure and modest lover, high moral sense, socially discerning, privately sensuous

NEGATIVE : critical of partners, fussy and nagging, easily dissatisfied, artistically neurotic, inhibits affection, undemonstrative, dry, socially stiff, hides sensitivity, emotionally absent, cold exterior, too exacting, retreats into work, indecisive, restrained, feeling sexually inferior, puritanical, social misfit, self-effacing

Venus is the natural ruling planet of Libra and Taurus, and as such, love, partnerships/relationships, personal values and how we earn and spend our money will be thoroughly examined under the cosmic microscope while Venus is in the precision, detail oriented sign of Virgo which is naturally ruled by Mercury !!!

Venus is now transiting through the sign of Virgo by itself ... and keep in mind for the first 15 days of this transit, with Venus already not fully functioning in the sign of its fall that Mercury, ruler of Virgo, is retrograde in Cancer ... could be an emotional time in love and monetary affairs !!! ... Venus remains in Virgo until August 6th !!!

Virgo born, don't forget the "love light" is now shining on YOU ... play it right and you might just get what you want if you DON'T over analyze and obsess over what you want too much !!! 

One final caveat for those who might be planning a special occasion during 2026 ... Venus will take its next retrograde journey from October 3rd through November 14th ... it will be a dual sign retrograde going from 8 degrees 29 minutes Scorpio back to 22 degrees 51 minutes Libra a sign which Venus naturally rules ... to add to the mayhem, the 3rd and final Mercury retrograde for 2026 will be completely embedded in the Venus retrograde from October 24th through November 13th ... it will be completely in the sign of Scorpio !!!

For all of us now it would be very wise not to let the object of our affections become the "target" of our affections while we are all being encouraged by the Universe to be out there "looking for the perfect AHHHHHH" !!!

EXPANSIVE, OPTIMISTIC, CREATIVE AND HIGHLY SELF-CONFIDENT ... GROWTH AND EXPANSION LINKED TO ONES SELF-EXPRESSION !!!

 

JUPITER - planet representing growth; laws; beliefs; ethics; expansion; opportunity; wealth; faith; broadening - knowledge, horizons and understanding; higher education; travel; religion; philosophy; excess and over doing - began its transit through the highly creative, self-assured fiery sign of Leo yesterday, June 30th, at 1:52 AM EDT ... leaving the highly emotional waters of Cancer, Jupiter is now ready to bring a greatly enhanced joy and optimism to this journey we call life ... Jupiter was last in Leo from July 16th, 2014 through August 11th 2015 ... what was going on in your life back then may now surface again to be addressed in some way !!!

Jupiter in Leo yields expansive, optimistic and highly self-confident qualities ... it brings an abundance of energy and usually creates a strong constitution ... growth and expansion are linked to ones self-expression ... creativity abounds and the more one taps into it, the more creative one has the potential to become ... inspiration is rarely absent with this energy ... it yields an enthusiastic zest for life with the desire that it be enjoyed in a big way ... the keyword for Jupiter in Leo is EXUBERANCE !!!

Jupiter in Leo is helpful and highly ambitious normally acting while others merely dream ... it yields a dramatic and often very colorful personality ... here we have a natural entertainer ... it can also bestow leadership ability, dignity, and an incredible ability to inspire confidence and enthusiasm in others ... it is generous and benevolent but almost always with the expectation of personal admiration and appreciation in return being attached ... being steadfast, reliable and honest are also potential benefits of this energy ... honor and prestige that is well deserved can be conferred by this Jupiter ... here we find an open-hearted person who enjoys including others in their lives ... things are usually done  on a lavish, dramatic grand scale especially parties and social occasions with budgets not being given much consideration !!! ... one might desire to become involved with business involving the entertainment industry, artistic endeavors, sports and education ...  this position often brings great success and as a result, there is a particular affinity for gambling and speculation, but one must guard against overindulgence to the point of bringing about financial ruin !!!

 

Jupiter in Leo can also produce a love of children and interest in their growth - especially their moral development ... here we have the potential for the ability of making excellent teachers, Sunday school leaders and spiritual counselors to the young !!!

The challenges of Jupiter in Leo include conceit because the principle of expansion combined with one of the major downfalls of Leo, egotism, can produce vanity and glory ... one must learn that greatness will eventually come from service to mankind along with cooperation, and not through self-importance ... there is also the possibility of losses in love and romance due to an over inflated ego and excessive pride  ... becoming arrogant, shallow and overbearing resulting in over doing everything is another trap one may fall into ... blowups yielding highly unrestrained displays much like huge, overblown childlike tantrums can occur if one is not careful ... the tendency to get so wrapped up in oneself that one ignores the rest of life is quite possible !!!

Leo naturally rules the 5th house which is considered a "house of life", therefore Jupiter transiting through Leo could potentially bring about expansion and growth in regards to children, artistic expressions, love affairs, romance, pleasures, amusements, holidays, vacations, games, speculations, hobbies, your emotional attitude and the love you give, sports, originality, creative outlets - dramatic, literary or artistic ability, the fine arts, social affairs, and any groups to which you belong which relate to having fun ... in regards to health, there could be issues regarding the back, spine and the heart all being parts of the body ruled by Leo !!!

To reiterate, Jupiter in Leo likes gambling, speculation, pageantry, ceremony, drama and grandeur, children, generosity and lavishness ... it does not like anything dull and ordinary, not taking risks, having no dependents, penny-pinching and mean-heartedness ... the energy of Jupiter in Leo can be expressed in the following ways:

POSITIVE: big hearted, benevolent, inspirational, prestigious, honorable, noble, self-confident, radiating warmth, energetic, strong stamina, self-assured, generous, an entrepreneur, a big thinker

NEGATIVE: big-headed, pretentious, self-serving, misleading, not keeping promises, hollow, egomaniac, ostentatious, overbearing, intolerant, over-confident, spendthrift, overblown, unrealistic

Leo born, as if you need any more energy to boost your ego and drive the rest of us crazier - love you ... mean it - you are now bestowed with a 13 month period of extra potential for expansion, growth, opportunity and outright luck so keep your eyes and ears open and pay attention - hopefully the expansion won't be just through your waistline !!! ... Sagittarius born, your ruling planet has now moved into a new sign ready to teach you new lessons to further your personal and spiritual growth !!!

As always, if you know what house or houses thirty degrees of Leo fall in your natal chart, then you will be able to get a good idea of what area of your life this exuberant energy for expansion and growth will most likely occur ... Jupiter remains in Leo until July 27th, 2027 !!!

One should be trying to live life to the fullest with a steady, quiet self-confidence which is ultimately what this energy is all about !!! ... to that end, as we all begin to "exuberantly" seek to expand our lives on some level, perhaps we will be blessed by "lady luck" and find ourselves saying, hopefully quite often, whether quietly to ourselves or out loud at the top of our lungs -  JACKPOT !!!