1st Quarter Moon in Leo: In Love and War

Changes occur connected to social activities, romance, or the birth of a child. Enhanced creativity, sports, hobbies, games, and pleasure are highlighted.

May 15, 2024 | 4:47 am (PST) | Keyword: Comradeship

The Moon is slowly drifting through the sign of Leo and the fifth house bringing to the fore the emotional need for love and recognition. If especially fond of debate and games of mental skill, you may wish to be recognized as an authority in some intellectual field. This influence can also manifest through creativity in the field of writing and technological innovation. While inclined to plan your actions before embarking on any new endeavor, beware of the impulsiveness of speech that can be a source of difficulty.

The cycle highlights those who’re humorous and quick-witted which might include playwrights, comedians and entertainers. Leo’s rulership over progeny also underscores a skill in working with children and their education. (Already this energy gives a snapshot of the incident with comedian Jerry Seinfeld as the commencement speaker for the graduating class of Duke University and the subsequent protest walkout by some of the students.) The upcoming events of this cycle will revolve around Leo persons (sun, moon, or rising sign) and include those with significant Aries placements in the natal chart.

Destiny is calling to the pathfinder; the person who breaks new ground and is willing to explore unheard of options. During this cycle, you’ll either embody this spirit of adventure or be drawn to those who do. Karmic situations also suggest you’ll either have the inclination to live in an unreal world or you’re sharing great hopes with others. The result is strong or new leadership that emerges rooted in the power to be harsh as a dictator or service as an inspired leader motivated by the experience of harshness. The emphasis is on how strongly you identify with struggle, particularly with male figures, and situations that involve violence as either perpetrator or victim.

On a more personal level, this moon can reflect the influence you have over people who serve you, work for you (you may or may not be their employer) and how you can be affected by them. At best, this is the demonstration of loyalty, generosity and noble intent; at worst, it’s aggressive supremacy and stubborn arrogance.

The energy does signal it’s a good time to take aggressive action because of your determination for freedom, the pursuit of personal interests and the ability to make your own way in the world from a position of dominance. Your assertive stance in projecting yourself more forcefully than usual can make quite an impression on others. If you’re seeking greater freedom, it may arrive automatically if you’ve been restricted in some way in the past. Perhaps your decisions are driven by circumstance—recently separated, divorced or newly single. Even if this isn’t the case, the attention is on personal development and the testing of your abilities, which at times, might involve conflict. The goal is self-improvement through gaining skills, knowledge and a sense of personal achievement which could entail the beginning of a new career project or training for advancement. If the focus isn’t career, you may be considering education, life style, domestic issues, relocation or creative pursuits. The need is great to express yourself and this is a period where you must fulfill your duty to self first and foremost.

Consequently, your own needs, interests, ideas and opinions take center stage. You have the greatest potential for advancement through your own efforts, abilities and self-made opportunities to create benefit, comfort and money rather than relying on others or outside help. But while self-reliant in your thinking, you’ll need to be cautious of a lack of objectivity that causes difficulty in compromising or recognizing the viewpoints of others. Impulsiveness can waste your energy by jumping from issue to issue without delving deeply or gathering enough information. Both the tendency and risks are greater if you simply choose to believe what you want regardless of what others tell you when making your decisions. Without a positive and productive outlet, your energy may be drained by nervousness or depression.

Alternatively, you may be sorting through the discrepancies of what you know to be true versus what you’re told. An intercepted Uranus cautions you to keep good company and remain vigilantly aware of how associates are impacting your life. Likewise, beware of creating limitation through your own eccentricities or failure to observe appropriate social graces and parameters.

For some, mental activity is spent on negotiations, contract discussions, intellectual pursuits of self-study or the practical use of concepts acquired from projects that include reading, writing or studying. The choice to withdraw from superficial or unnecessary contacts may be to work on a creative project behind the scenes that requires you to spend a great deal of time alone. If not isolating, conversational exchanges could contribute to refining your ideas, although you tend to be very opinionated or dogmatic in discussions. While some intellectual pursuits have potential for notice and recognition, Mercury’s anaretic degree also indicates the end of a mental preoccupation that might signal either graduation or failure in some educational undertaking.

Venus is tied to the Part of Luck impacting relationships or resources that are part of your “happily ever after.” She’s available to smooth out the rough edges by prompting you to make personal compromises when necessary. But she’s trapped in an interception of hindrance and delays that can cause you to be confused about when to defend your personal rights, conflicted about your needs versus others, or distracted by persons who make excessive demands on your time. Some of the repression or blockages you’ll face center on love or different tastes in art or entertainment that affect leisure time with loved ones and become divisive factors.

Living on the edge of crisis might also be attributed to a particular value system where there’s a conflict between accumulation and elimination, and the tendency to start things but failure to follow through are problematic. Perhaps you’re good at initiating a connection but can’t sustain a relationship, or you make promises but don’t deliver, or you hold onto possessions or situations you should let go of.

While your first response may be to try to avoid conflict, a strong Mars assures you at least have the ability to successfully defend your own interests if need be. This planet is currently fueled to aggressively champion a cause and may relate to a desire to make a difference and do things in your own way in the interest of bettering self and family. Unfortunately, this cycle will assuredly bring situations involving arguments, conflict and the need to take a stand to confront an issue.

However, you may have specific reasons for responding without aggression, especially if you feel the situation doesn’t warrant force or that assertiveness is useless. Finding pleasure in your own company, forming friendships with persons from different age or ethnic groups, or finding a creative outlet to express love can help in resolving issues. Perhaps your own psychological understanding provides the immunity that shields you from the negative behavior of others, and the lack of response is a conscious choice that empowers you not to be a victim of your own anger.

On the other hand, the power of Mars can be lost to the interception of Aries making you fearful about taking action or asserting yourself. You may experience extreme anxiety in response to the inability to defend yourself in difficult situations that drain your energy. Specific people and situations are most likely to trigger this stress or create situations where the lack of timely defense on your part causes anger to be delayed or vague. It can be frustrating to deal with those whose intent is to resist communication or who take personal pride in the refusal to conform to others. As the emotional pressure continues to build, you may finally explode and do something totally inappropriate. You can impulsively react to matters that require your understanding. If there’s cause for discord, suppressed anger can make you feel that your sense of personal power is somehow eroded. If so, anger and emotional outbursts may be displaced or counterproductive.

You’re most likely to withdraw from conflict and confrontations with family members. Conditions might require more involvement in the lives of children, especially if you’re concerned with their well-being. Perhaps this is because your children are more emotional and need extra love and attention from you, particularly if your relationship or home environment is changing. Other scenarios that affect relationships may include illness, accidents or the need for surgery. For some, there may be sexual issues and questions surrounding the true nature of your relationship and where it’s headed.

Whatever the case, the protective and nurturing instincts that prompt you to take care of others can also create dependency issues if expressed in the extreme. Sometimes, the child will be forced into the role of “parent”, and made to assume parental responsibilities. In other situations, a foreign influence, too much confusion or an abundance of self-induced guilt tied to a tragic incident is the culprit. It’s also possible that too many drugs or the use of alcohol are factors.

A more positive outlet for emotional expression is an artistic or creative means such as painting, love poetry, writing or any other situation that provides the deep emotional experience you’re seeking. The challenge lies in how you present yourself and the ability to convey original or different ideas in a persuasive manner. You must believe in yourself and not give up in order to manifest the reward you desire. Allow this cycle to bless you with self-confidence, generosity, optimism and good vitality. In doing so, your presence inspires the faith of others and can help you promote your assets, attributes and talents in order to get ahead, especially if you know yourself and your capabilities. Greater self-awareness about what you have to offer you makes you more aware of what you need in return.

The potential for success and progress is great if you’re open to learning and gaining new experience for self-development. For some, the “one-shot” at happiness and success is linked to the end of a professional career cycle with a major career change on the horizon. Luck and opportunities will come from unexpected directions, but effort must be applied to achieve maximum results. You should be attempting new and more difficult endeavors to stretch the limits of your expertise while using the impact of your powerful personality for self-expression. While full recognition may come later than expected, a reservoir of unexpressed talent and energy is waiting to rise to the surface. Be prepared for a pleasant surprise, the expectation of good fortune, a sudden turn, or a sudden success.

The strong need to relate emotionally can present through a range of intense personal situations. It may be through closure to a pressing legal issue, particularly if undergoing a divorce, or the desire to discuss love problems with others or make contact to initiate a new romantic relationship. Unions can form through thoughts of love or associations of common interest. In some cases, you may initiate or validate your relationship by sending a love letter (or a third party love letter may be cause for divorce).

For some, a new relationship is markedly different because it’s the first significant relationship, sexual relationship, live-in or start of dating the person you’ll eventually marry. This might be the first time in a long while that you’re emotionally involved with someone new. But whether married or single, you’ll feel a magnetic draw toward a new person that may not include sexual involvement but is still likely to provoke erotic imagination. A reveling and idolizing disposition will endow intense feelings you can’t hide. If emotional fulfillment and intimacy deepens, a sexual connection is more apt to develop. While generally optimistic in your attitude toward love, your emotions may vacillate according to how well the relationship is going and whether you can see each other.

The current environment is one conducive to transitions that mark the end of a personal cycle where you undergo physical change motivated by the feeling of having too much or too little of something. Any external turbulence is merely a reflection of what’s happening internally. Once you realize the projection and stop disowning your demons, conflict will serve you for personal growth and betterment.

For some, the belief is that life is governed by a pattern but the goal is to lead a life that’s unswerving from one’s true path. To that end, you may be seen as one who provides support, who stands firm, or who holds fast as the steady person in mind or body who provides a foundation for others.

The key word for this cycle is comradeship; the company and friendship of others with common aims. This moon’s influence highlights those who’re talented, poetic, and scientific, and will gain much through the quiet influence of helpful friends. You’ll know these persons by their nature—true and peaceful. This is someone who dislikes quarrels and disturbed conditions, is considerate in dealings with others, and can be relied upon to use discretion and keep a confidence. Is that you, my dear friend?

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