This New Moon in Leo is like a bright shining light that leads the way into the future for us all. The pathway there is not necessarily bright, in fact it looks rather dark from where we stand, as it also portends some very challenging lessons for us all to learn. But this New Moon, new beginning, is like a pole star that directs us to go forward, toward a horizon of possibilities across turbulent seas.
Leo is the sign that has to do with our creative, artistic, expressive energy, our spirit-given gifts we were born with, however they manifest for each of us in our own individual capacities. We all come into this life with specific ways of expressing ourselves that can help and affect others, and the development and sharing of our unique gifts is Leo’s specific focus of this part, this season of the zodiac’s circle of evolution.
Once a year, the New Moon in Leo begins another cycle for each of us to inventory not just our skill set and how it can be developed and used, but also how it can be deepened and expanded by the demands of a very wounded world. The clue to this is that Leo rules the heart, the most important part of ourselves, not only to our physical health, but also to our entire energetic and spiritual spectrum. The heart is the midpoint in the seven chakras, or energy centers of the body. It lies between the lower three chakras which deal with our survival instincts, our sexual and physical energy, our personal sense of self esteem, and the upper three chakras which deal with our connection to the spiritual realms, our understanding of our life’s purpose. The heart is the synthesizer, the bridge between the physical and the non-physical. The heart is also the main center of electromagnetic energy in the body, and balances the nervous, hormonal and immune systems.
When the heart chakra is closed, we exist only within the physical parameters of our lives, perhaps just exerting our power over others, (or others over us), or just within the sexual aspects of human interactions, or we’re just in survival mode. Or we might only live in the upper three chakras, becoming “so very spiritual” but bypassing our feelings of boldness or of using force and power in any way. So we can use the energy of this Moon cycle to open our hearts, or to see where our hearts are aching to be met by others, since the 4th chakra is the Relational chakra.[1]
Since we’re still in Mercury Retrograde, all this heart energy of this month is directed inward, asking us to move more toward a depth of understanding of how to express our creativity in terms of being of service to others, and deepening our connection to our sense of purpose here on Planet Earth.
I like to pay attention to the aspects (angles) in a chart which are the most exact. Astrologers use an “orb” or measurement of how far from exactitude an angle is to still be effective. But when planets form exact aspects they are much more powerful angles to pay attention to.
This chart has Pluto exactly opposite the Sun/Moon at 2˚ of Leo to Pluto at 2˚ of Aquarius, Leo’s opposite sign. When Pluto pulls on the Sun and Moon, it is asking us to use our hearts’ energy and bring it to a higher level of awareness, that is, more inclusive, rather than just about our own individual psyches. Especially Pluto in Aquarius which rules groups of people, and the seeking of the greater humanitarian good in life, we are being asked to de-centralize our personal perception of life and focus more upon the global picture, bringing in to the mix the need to further engage our own unique special creativity in whatever ways we can make a difference.
This New Moon is also exactly trine (harmonious 120˚ angle) to Neptune, which represents the depths of our collective imagination, the unconscious, the realms of inspiration and fantasy of our dreams and visions. Neptune in Aries brings us new ideas, new ways to begin to heal our world. Neptune’s forces can be overwhelming, and at their darkest can bring delusion and false visions. But right next to Neptune now is Saturn, also in Aries, providing the ultimate reality testing that we all desperately need. With the two of them trine to this New Moon of Leo’s creative energy, this is a powerful Moon cycle to bring in new phases of one’s expression, and perhaps to let go of old systems and ways of being that no longer feed or sustain us.
This New Moon also brings in the forces of Uranus, newly in Gemini, the sign of intelligence and communication, in a trine to Pluto and sextile (60˚ harmonious angle) to the Sun/Moon in Leo. Wow! All the outer planets are interacting very strongly with this New Moon. These outer planets are like our upper three chakras, stimulating us to connect with our guides through prayer and meditation. This also means the zeitgeist is being very powerfully signaled and called upon to bring in some new changes—now. Will we listen to the broadcast being sent to us?
We know that the systems we have presently on the planet are not able to contain or implement the kinds of changes necessary for humanity to survive. With so many thing past the point of no return, we need to prepare for times of great change. But can we frame our experiences such that we are aware that all this turmoil and suffering is somehow necessary, somehow the path forward to a new future? It seems paradoxical, certainly. But our elders are all telling us, don’t lose hope, don’t lose faith, we must keep that bright light shining in our hearts. Though we see great pain and sorrow, somehow that light within us must be strengthened by the resolve to maintain our faith in the knowledge that the only force in the Universe is change, which is creativity, (Creation), and that creative force, at its source, feels like…. yes, like love.
[1] The relational part is best explained by the Hawaiian “aloha”, which is a joyful sharing of the life force in the present moment, and a recognition of it in everyone you meet, humans and non-humans.