Leo New Moon: Creative Surprises
Photo by Robert Katzki via Unsplash
July 31, 2019: Leo New Moon (exact at 11:12 pm EDT)
During the Leo New Moon, we have the opportunity to shine. There’s an ebullient child-like energy that draws forth the playful and creative self that resides within. Yet, while there’s great encouragement to express oneself, it’s not always done so in a no-holds-barred way; care and thoughtfulness is important since, after all, Leo is the sign of dignity and self-respect.
Leo aligns us with a feeling of wanting to be recognized and embraced for the special being we are. If others’ interactions with and attitudes towards us do not meet with these expectations, issues around wounded pride may arise.
Events may manifest that allow us to see how important it is to be generous in spirit and to radiate our inner light to those around. If we do not let our generous spirit and radiant energy flow, stress and tension may be experienced in our hearts, bodies, and minds. The Leo New Moon reminds us that we should proudly express our essential self, a being that has great gifts to offer those with whom it orbits.
With the New Moon connecting to Uranus (via a square alignment), surprises may be in store. Be open to the unexpected, including being mindful of responding to situations in ways that may not be your norm. Allow yourself to surprise yourself, and/or be surprised by what you need and how you want to go about achieving your aim. It’s a time for thinking outside of the box and approaching things in an innovative way. You may find yourself recognizing patterns while also wanting to shake off the restrictions that entrenched patterns have created. Practice beginner’s mind, not prejudging things, but rather seeing them through the freshness of a present-moment view, unencumbered with pre-forged expectations.
Today is also the day that Mercury ends its current retrograde cycle, which it has been in since July 7. When a planetary retrograde is set to begin or end, the planet stations, or appears to stand still in sky, maintaining a similar position over the course of days. When a planet stations, it’s thought that the archetypes it represents appear very prominently in the collective. With Mercury representing communication, information, the media, transportation, bridges, and the transfer of goods, these themes may feel prominent.
Also, it may feel as if there’s information overflow, as if a dam of data releases itself. So that you don’t feel caught in overwhelm, having it rustle your nervous system, inspire stress and/or make you feel you need to attend to too much communication at one time, take it as slow as you can. Watch the pace of the volley of information, making time to digest and absorb to what you connect, rather than feeling a sense of urgency, notably if you realize that it’s being artificially imposed by expectations of yourself or another. As Mercury begins its forward motion again, the coming days may have you connect to a greater level of clarity as to what the past three weeks of reviewing and re-envisioning has brought forth for you.
This month’s New Moon falls at 9 degrees of Leo (Sun and Moon). While everyone experiences the energies of the New Moon, if you have planets or pivotal points (i.e., Ascendant/Descendant or Nadir/Midheaven) around this degree in Leo or the other fixed signs—Taurus, Scorpio, Aquarius—it may impact you more intensely.
Leo New Moon Apothecary Suggestions
Leo rules the heart, spine, and hair. Pay extra attention to these parts of the body around the time of this New Moon.
Borage flower essence: Leo energy inspires us to live through our heart, expressing warmth and love to those around us. Yet, sometimes being openhearted is challenging, notably when sadness and grief rest heavy in our heart. If you are feeling a bit disheartened or discouraged, consider trying Borage flower essence, an uplifting elixir that inspires a sense of buoyant courage and flowing heart energy. (Flower essences are made from flower-infused water and work energetically to restore emotional and mental balance. You can find them in natural food stores or holistic pharmacies.)
Lemon essential oil: Like Leo, the smell of lemon is bright and cheery. Its uplifting fragrance lightens the heart and it’s thought to be among the great “blood movers”–enhancing slugging circulation and supporting capillary structure. Add a few drops to almond oil for an uplifting massage or to shampoo to benefit from its scalp-cleansing and hair luster-inspiring properties.