The New Moon in LEO will grace the sky on August 4th reaching peak illumination at 7:13am EST.
Explore the transformative power of the Leo New Moon with astrology insights and a guided ritual. Harness the fiery energy to nurture self-love and creativity.
In this blog post you will find:
Introduction: Moon 101
The Sun and Moon are in a cyclical relationship as they weave through the seasons of the zodiac. This celestial dance provides us with an intuitive road map to explore our own inner/outer journey as we too make our way through the ebb and flow of nature's seasons and come into new and ever-changing dimensions of our lives.
While the Sun is ruler of the day and influences our "outer" expression in the world, it is to no surprise that as ruler of the tides and queen of the night the Moon is also ruler of our emotions and "inner" felt experience. Our emotions have long been associated with representations of water and the sea: fluid, ever-changing, ebbing and flowing. As the Moon pulls at the tides, we also experience this influencing force on our emotions, desires, shadow realms, fears/worries, psyche, and dreams.
Self-knowledge arises through a process of uncovering hidden layers of self through revelation and integration. This process is mirrored in the ebb and flow of the Moon tides. As the light of the Moon waxes, more of what lies hidden is revealed - our deeper motivations, mechanisms, and feelings. As the light of the Moon wanes, we exhale and integrate new embodied insights.
This New Moon falls within the sign of Leo. Keep reading to learn how you can use this moon portal to explore new dimensions of self seeking expression in the world.
This New Moon falls within the sign of Leo, aligning with the Lunasa cross-quarter day. Keep reading to learn how you can use this Moon portal to explore new dimensions of self seeking expression in the world.
New Moon Energy
Since the moon is the closest "planet" to Earth, this satellite zips around the zodiac very quickly, completing its round in less than a month. Actually, the entire trip takes 29.53 days, to be exact, and is measured from one “New Moon” to the next. We call this a lunation or lunar cycle.
So, this New Moon in Leo marks the beginning of another lunar cycle. During a New Moon, the moon is sitting between the Earth and the Sun, hence the Sun is shining on the side of the moon we never see. Both the Moon and Sun are in the same Zodiac sign during a New Moon forming a conjunction, which means that the influencing energies are united and enhance the other. In this case, both the sun and moon are conjunct in the sign of Leo.
You can think of the New Moon phase as the point of beginning again or returning to the conception stage of the lunar cycle. The darkness of the new moon represents fertile ground. New moon energy is a time for introspection, heightened intuition, surrendering to the unknown, releasing what no longer serves you, opening to magic and conjuring visions. At this time, you can plant your dream seeds or set intentions by consciously focusing on the "feeling' of your hearts' desires.
Leo Insights
SYMBOL | THE LION: feminine strength and power; heart-centered regality; inner light of conviction; generosity of spirit; development of poise in the universe; commanding.
PLANETARY RULER | SUN: giver of life, shines in order to warm the world, represents the conscious mind, will to live and creative life force.
ELEMENT | FIRE: element of aliveness, life force, vitality, transformation, creation, passion.
HOUSE | 5th HOUSE: associated with creative self-expression, pleasure and performance, all forms of "play."
MODALITY | FIXED: seeks out stability; can be committed, focused and resilient.
Two weeks ago the Full Moon in Capricorn was inviting you to examine your inner foundations, to look at the impulses driving your actions, to clarify your goals in relation to the collective, and map out a strategy. We are in a time of great change; a time that demands our full conscious participation. This requires integrity, which on a physical level means cultivating a quality of structural alignment, while on a spiritual level means aligning actions with values, morals, and principles.
Capricorn is a sign of self-mastery in its ability to shape material reality. It is the sign that learns directly from embodied application and long term experience because it can see the consequences of its own actions. Capricorn understands the power of will force and that by focusing attention and working steadily towards a clear goal, it is only a matter of time before that goal manifests into some form.
Now the Sun and Moon are standing together (conjunct) in the sign of Leo, the big-hearted Lion, who represents feminine strength and power; heart-centered regality; the inner light of conviction; generosity of spirit; poise in the universe; and a commanding presence. The Leo New Moon invites you to courageously shine your inner light upon the world and share the gifts of your spirit or whatever form of abundance is overflowing from within.
Leo is connected to the inner spark of life within every living thing. Therefore, each thing has unique gifts to share with others. Leo burns with an inner light which refuses to be extinguished and expresses a spirit of dominion which seeks to establish some kind of territory to prowl and shine upon. Leo is a Fire sign which means it experiences and embraces life as a creative process. The emanation of the inner light in a continuous and ongoing illumination of life does not deplete it but actually strengthens the presence and power of the Fire Element as it is emanated.
Leo's power emanates from within and is expressed through courageous acts of living, which is described by David Whyte in the following way:
“Courage is the measure of our heartfelt participation with life, with another, with a community, a work; a future. To be courageous is not necessarily to go anywhere or do anything except to make conscious those things we already feel deeply and then to live through the unending vulnerabilities of those consequences.” - David Whyte
What you need to know about Leo
THE FIXED CROSS
This Fixed Cross (highlight in green) is one of the three zodiacal crosses. The Fixed Cross represents the
conscious development of awareness and the growth process.
"Fixed signs are still and inward, drawing energy to themselves rather than thrusting outward. They correspond elementally to water and geometrically to the in-drawing circle."
- Vicki Noble, Motherpeace
Leo is the fixed fire sign (circled in the diagram here), opposing it is the fixed air sign of Aquarius which creates one of the axis of the Fixed Cross. The two masculine elements (Air and Fire) always create an axis and the two feminine elements (Water and Earth) create the other axis. Each cross contains each of the four elements. In this case the fixed signs are represented by: Leo (fire), Aquarius (air), Taurus (earth), and Scorpio (water).
ELEMENT: FIRE
Fire is the element of transformation, death and rebirth, destruction and creation, purification and passion.
"Fire is also associated with light, as it often serves as a beacon in the darkness. Fire only exists in the destruction of other materials; therefore it is known as both a creator and destroyer. We often use phrases such as the 'spark of an idea' or the 'flame of desire', because fire is connected to the vitality of our life force. And when that flame is ignited within us, it gives us fuel to move forward." - Kayla White
RULING PLANET: SUN
Leo is ruled by the Sun. The Sun represents the active, engaging, life-giving force of self. It is the ruler of our ego, will, creative force, and conscious mind. The sun illuminates, gives us the ability to see clearly and nourishes all life.
CONSTELLATION
Leo is a great constellation to find in the Spring night sky on the northern half of the world — particularly in late March, April and May. Leo appears in the early evening and is visible for most of the night.
According to EarthSky, you can find this constellation by:
"Finding the bright star Regulus, then trace out a distinctive pattern of stars shaped like a backwards question mark, known as The Sickle. This pattern represents the Lion’s mane.Remember, you are looking for a backwards question mark pattern. Leo’s brightest star, Regulus is a sparkling blue-white beauty of a star, located at the bottom of the backwards question mark pattern. Regulus depicts the Lion’s heart."
Leo Ritual Elements
Ritual Preparations
1. RIGHT RELATIONSHIP:
Being in right relationship with your spiritual practice means approaching each aspect with humility, curiosity and reverence. This includes checking yourself on the nature of how you relate to "objects" as things and the process itself.
For example, if you feel called to stones as part of your ritual, consider WHY first. Then contemplate the impact of whatever action comes next. For example, instead of mindlessly purchasing cheap precious stones from somewhere like amazon (which have more than likely been harmfully mined/extracted and then shipped across the world as part of the consumer machine that's destroying our planet), perhaps part of your spiritual practice is to resist such an impulse, and instead take the time to go for a mindful walk in your backyard, or a nearby stream and see if the right stone presents itself to you.
2. CLEANSE YOUR BODY-MIND-SPACE:
Cleansing is the practice of clearing out and releasing negative energy from your space, as well as energy that’s just old, stale, stagnant, or no longer serving you.
Here are a few different methods:
Physical cleaning: dusting, vacuuming, opening windows for fresh air
Salt: a common element used for purification and protection in many different cultures. To use, simply sprinkle salt along doorways and windowsills to protect them from negative energy entering or just keep a small bowl of salt on your altar or nearby surface.
Smoke Cleansing: light incense or burn a bundle of dried herbs such as rosemary, cedar, or mugwort. Choose plants that you have grown yourself or that grow abundantly wild nearby, plants that you have ancestral tied to or just those that have been grown and harvested ethically.
Bathe: Take a shower our bath; visualize any negative energy that has accumulated in your auric field to be washed away as the water goes down the drain.
Meditate: take some time to center, still your mind and ground into presence.
A NOTE ON SMOKE CLEANSING:
If you do not have meaningful/authentic relationships to Indigenous culture and customs, "smudging" with white sage cultural appropriation and is dishonoring to Indigenous nations across Turtle island. It is important to understand that smudging is not just about burning sage to purify the negative energy from your space but is a sacred ritual that is culturally specific to tribes such as the Lakota Sioux, Comanche, Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Navajo. If you have been gifted sage by an Indigenous friend, use to your discretion in how to engage with this medicine. This sacred plant is being abused, exploited and mass-harvested for commercial and consumer use which perpetuates the violence of white supremacy and settler colonialism. Take some time to locate yourself within a settler-colonial context interwoven with the land you currently occupy. Check out Native Land to learn the name and more about the territories you occupy.
3. ALTER TENDING
Creating an altar is optional. Altar tending is a beautiful practice, especially if you have a designated area in your home that you can tend to over the course of each moon and seasonal cycle.
Tending to an altar is an intentional practice that supports your exploration of nature spirituality and carries the potential to deepen your relationship to the energetic archetypes of the unfolding seasonal & moon cycles.
To create your altar, draw upon the Leo Ritual Elements above and consider what you might want to bring. Start simple. There is absolutely no need to "buy" altar items. This is something that we encourage you to unlearn. Everything we need is within us and can be found around us. A simple bowl of water will do since you're working with the water element.
NOTE ON CULTURAL APPROPRIATION:
There is no right or wrong way to go about creating, tending or being with your altar, however we do not condone cultural appropriation or theft of any kind.
Leo New Moon Ritual
For this eco-somatic we will be drawing on the element of FIRE since Leo is a fire sign. To amplify your connection to earth energy, perform this part of the ritual under the open sky (if it's not too windy) or next to a window.
MATERIALS:
Match or lighter, and candle (preferably one that is visible like a tea light).
ACCESSIBILITY:
All of our practices can be adapted to suit your needs. One option is to treat this as an imaginal practice, in which case you don't even have to leave your home. Read through the steps and then close your eyes and have an interior experience... let your dreamscape guide you. Alternatively, you may feel called to art-making as a way to engage the content. Earth is within us. Here is a beautiful video of a river flowing which you may feel inspired to draw upon.
STEP-BY-STEP INVITATIONS:
Begin by finding a comfortable seated posture and allow yourself to relax into the ground beneath you. Soften the muscles in your face and haw.
When you're ready, light the candle and adjust your posture so that you can gaze into the candle flame without straining your body or neck in any way.
As you inhale and exhale, notice the rise and fall of your belly or chest while you appreciate the way the atmosphere moves the flame. Notice how your breath moves your body from the inside.
Then bring your gaze to the base of the candle where the wick meets the flame. Take a moment to contemplate the relationship that fire has with the ground.
Begin to sense the grounding contact you're making with the earth. Allow yourself to sense the stability that earth provides and your relationship to gravity as you gaze at the base of the flame.
Now allow your gaze to penetrate the heart of the flame where the light is most dense. As you do this, sense the source of your own inner light within your heart space. Take a moment to contemplate light as the source of life, and your own light-filled heart. Breathe into your heart as you visualize this.
Spend the next several minutes breathing into your heart while gazing into the flame.
When you feel complete with flame gazing, blow out your candle or close your eyes to sense and be with the image of your own inner flame. You might still see the silhouette of the flame even as your eyes are closed. Simply breathe and be here for as long as you desire.
What images, thoughts or sensations came up for you in the flame gazing activity? Take some time to reflect on anything you'd like to hold onto.
Self-reflection questions:
What does it look or feel like to shine my inner light?
How can I courageously and creatively express myself over the next month?
What does self-love in this season look like for me right now?
Where can I extend compassion and offer my gifts in generous, life-giving ways?
Finish the following sentences:
I am most proud of myself for...
I feel truly seen when...
I feel most confident when...
Leo New Moon Reading
"Ancient sun, eternally young,
giver of life and source of energy,
in coal and oil, in planet and wind and tide,
in spiritual light and human embrace,
You kindle the heavens, you shine within us,
(for we are suns with hearts afire --
we light the world as you light the sky
and find clouds within whose shadows are dark);
We give thanks for your rays..."
- Congregation of Abraxas
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