There’s a dark moon rising in the sign of the lion my babies.
The new moon in Leo arrives On August 16, 2023 bringing with it the rich opportunity for reflection and creation.
New moons, in name and meaning are slate cleaning, field clearing restarts that usher in a fresh lunar cycle.
The new moon always aligns with the zodiac sign the sun is currently moving through. In this case that would be the manes and majesty, extra is a choice, karaoke is creed, love is an absolute sign of Leo.
The new moon is the darkest phase of the moon’s cycle, a point of pure potential and an invitation to begin.
Leo is ruled by the sun and lords over the fifth house of pleasure, play and the inner child and thusly this lunation is about expression, creativity, heart meat healing and sure-ing up our self concept.
As the moon is not visible during this phase of the lunar cycle it stands as metaphor for the shadow parts of our selves that we keep spirited away from others and that we ourselves struggle to see, heal or integrate.
New moon in Leo
The new moon in Leo brings out themes surrounding relationships, competition, loyalty and love, independence and co-creation. Where and by whom do we feel supported? Are we operating from a place of security or expectation? Can we feed ourselves or are we ever seeking the sweet validation of others?
The word confidence derives from the Latin confidere, “to have full trust.” In this sense, we can view confidence, and this new moon in Leo as an invitation to have full trust in ourselves; to operate not with self-interest but with inner authority, to move through the world knowing we have a place within it and that our power has an ultimate purpose.
We’re deep in the midst of a mythic forty day Venus retrograde in Leo and this new moon could bring issues of wealth and worth to a critical point and throw our relationships into stark and staggering relief. If you are currently in conflict with yourself or someone close to you, I encourage you resist returning to old patterns in search of fresh progress. Allow these planetary influences to aid you in determining when to walk away, when to stand in the suck and when to lead with humility.
Leo is a fixed sign that finds itself resistant to change but, being magnanimous lords of the fifth house of creation, they are more capable than most at generating solutions that benefit all parties. A standout lesson for and from lions? Forgiveness is itself an act of creation.
Leo rules the heart, the spine and the circulating systems of life blood. In kind, Leos are perfectly poised to stand tall in their convictions while also allowing space for a change of heart. This is a sign that knows how to prioritize play and employ joy as its best defense. Love and levity, hallowed be thy revelry.
Forgiveness is itself an act of creation.
In her collection “Close Range: Wyoming Stories” author, Leo and American treasure Annie Proulx distills the energy of this new moon, “A kind of joyous hysteria moved into the room, everything flying before the wind, vehicles outside getting dented to hell, the crowd sweaty and the smells of aftershave, manure, clothes dried on the line, your money’s worth of perfume, smoke, booze; the music subdued by the shout and babble through the bass hammer could be felt through the soles of the feet, shooting up the channels of legs to the body fork, center of everything. It is the kind of Saturday night that torches your life for a few hours, makes it seem like something is happening.”
Leo is that torch. The bright butane of possibility and the gold that shines in the gutter of the mundane. It leaves us both hungry and hopeful and ever on the brink of a new way of being.
Astrology 101: Your guide to the star
- The 12 zodiac signs
- What are the astrology houses
- Here’s what each planet represents
- Sun, moon, and rising signs: Get to know your Big 3
Astrologer Reda Wigle researches and irreverently reports back on planetary configurations and their effect on each zodiac sign. Her horoscopes integrate history, poetry, pop culture and personal experience. She is also an accomplished writer who has profiled a variety of artists and performers, as well as extensively chronicled her experiences while traveling. Among the many intriguing topics she has tackled are cemetery etiquette, her love for dive bars, Cuban Airbnbs, a “girls guide” to strip clubs and the “weirdest” foods available abroad.