One of the many blessings of working for oneself is the opportunity to sit out in the sunshine in the middle of the day. On days when my energy might be low, or I am feeling a little tired, 15 – 20mins of reading or garden pottering in bright sunshine is the perfect pick-me-up.
After travelling for work last weekend, today was one of those days.
I am often a little tired after flying, even when jetlag isn’t involved. The change in altitude, recycled air and lower quality food all combine to zap energy and deplete vitality.
Thankfully, after six years of global cris-crossing, I have come up with a few remedies. In addition to sunlight, I like homeopathic remedies, select herbs + vitamins, lots of walking both before and after the flight, as well time in the garden on my return to literally re-ground.
But back to the sunshine. This afternoon’s sunshine bathing occurred as I await the entry of the Sun into Leo. At that time, we’ll begin one of the brightest (at least energetically speaking) periods of the astrological calendar. Gone are the days of home focussed Cancer, where protection and reflection rule.
Now the Sun is in Leo it’s time to celebrate!
Self expression will feature as the confidence of this pure fire pairing encourages you to take your talents to the world, show off your skills and let others know your ideas, passions and dreams.
To prance a little, like the bold and confident Lion. Perhaps you will even be inspired to show off your mane, or update your ‘do!
This year the Sun in Leo is extra special, as lucky Jupiter has also just entered this sign. The past month, with the Sun in Cancer, was a little like a year in review, bringing to completion the Jupiter-in-Cancer cycle.
In turn, the next four weeks are like a preview of the year ahead. As the Sun moves through Leo it will highlight themes, topics and issues you will explore, expand and grow within during the Jupiter in Leo cycle.
You can get a sense of your personal cosmic agenda for the next 12 months (July 2014 – August 2015, aka Jupiter in Leo) by paying attention to what becomes important in your world between now and late August. (Or, let me do the hard work for you in a 60min Year Ahead Chart Consult!)
The Sun changing signs is like the start of a new astrological month. This month, where the planet of identity, the Sun, comes home to his own sign, Leo, brings a reminder to be your self more of the time. To let your light shine in the ways that feel most natural to you. To reconnect with favourite hobbies or pastimes. To simply do more of what you love, with those love.
The Sun is a fire planet; Leo is a fire sign. Thus, the elemental focus has a distinctly fiery quality for the next four weeks. What is fire? It’s like a dose of sunshine, but also heat, confidence and drive. I’ve been reading a wide variety of non fiction lately, and in ‘Fire Season: Field Notes From a Wilderness Lookout‘ by Philip Connors these quotes rang true:
‘…. if there’s such a thing as the oldest story on earth, it is a story of fire, the marriage of fuel and spark.’
‘…wildfire still erupts in the union of earth and sky…’
With the Sun in Leo may you be blessed to enjoy the benefits of ‘the marriage of fuel and spark‘, that is, may the spark in your heart meet the right fuel (motivation, opportunity, resources) at the right time to allow the magic of combustion (action, movement) to take hold in your soul.
One of the standout periods during the Sun in Leo is between August 8 – 10. At this time, Mercury in Leo will combine with the Sun, while both simultaneously make a square to Saturn and a trine to Uranus. (There’s also the Aquarius Full Moon too!)
This is a rather odd meeting of energies. Sun/Saturn asks for practicality, reality and a sense of duty. Sun/Uranus invites rebellion, seeks change and encourages you to challenge the status quo.
You may be more tuned into one side of this pattern than the other. If you get hit by Saturn, you may find this period important for managing time and your schedule, keeping commitments or consciously reorganising. If you get hit by Uranus, you may be open to change, flexible with unexpected ideas or ready to break away from the past.
You may deal with a little Saturn and a little Uranus. Saturn has connections to the past, while Uranus gets excited about the future. One way this energy may show up could be to highlight the need to make a choice between the safety and security of what you know (Saturn) versus the excitement and the novelty of what’s new or different (Uranus).
In whatever ways this manifests for you, the period around August 8 – 10 can help shift and reshape life.
Happy Sun-in-Leo month!
What are your plans and hopes for the next four weeks? In what ways could you shine your light a little more brightly?