The Moon waxes its way over a week of spectacle and responsibility.  Venus leaves the tidepools of Cancer early in the week, entering Leo on Monday, the 14th.  She’ll bestride the Lion for almost 4 weeks, the noble beast between her legs until July 10th, when she moves into Virgo.  Meanwhile the Sun moves into a tough aspect to Saturn, squaring the hard planet over the weekend.  Overall, there is a frenetic focus on getting everything done whilst dealing with the personal implications and maybe finding a little time to enjoy things.   Welcome to the last week before Solstice.

Venus in Leo: Return of the Queen

Venus moves into Leo on Monday, the 14^th.  Venus’ time in Leo enflames the heart and fires the passions.  It’s a fun, firey, and extroverted energy.  It moves us to represent ourselves in a charming and charismatic manner and stimulates honesty in relationships.  The heart speaks its truth almost too easily while Venus is in Leo.  Venus in Leo’s rays also shine directly on feelings of self-worth, providing a bit of soothing sunlight for identities damaged in the past season’s escapades.  For more on the mythological outlines of Venus in Leo, consider perusing Lady of Flame.

Venus comes into aspect with the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction in Aries almost immediately after entering Leo.  Venus’ connection to this conjunction brings the passions into alignment with the expansive but unstable energy of the Aries conjunction.  Opportunities and explosions abound.  Judging by the Moon’s passage across Venus, this alignment will primarily play out on Tuesday, likely continuing into Wednesday.

Stalking Mars

Mars left Leo last week, after spending nearly 8 months there (See Archetypal Armory: Mars in Leo).  Now, a week after Mars’ dismount, Venus saddles up the lion.   As Venus takes a tour through this well-lit territory, we’ll begin sorting through the emotional consequences of our actions over Mars’ time in Leo.  We’ll also see the seeds watered with blood, sweat and fears bloom into the sunflowers of personal power as well as threatening to explode into blooms of drama.  Expect to revisit issues of pride, authentic personal power, respect and confidence from a softer and more emotional angle.

Lords of Light and Darkness

While Venus enters the light soaked fields of Leo, the Sun itself moves into a square with Saturn, darkening the skies just as the sun flowers emerge.  Unfinished work and yet to be surmounted obstacles loom.

It’s a configuration where you’ll feel the potential crunch of whatever jaws you’ve found yourself.  Both the Sun in Gemini and Saturn in Virgo are in Mercury ruled signs.  With Mercury superpowered until the end of the month, expect to make a huge number mandatory connections or get left behind.  The challenges that the Sun’s square to Saturn brings up are the type of practical life engineering feats outlined in last week’s piece on Mars in Virgo.

When all that’s in the celestial retort this week is considered as a whole, the fun to be had will be in direct proportion to the work accomplished.  To badly misquote Devo: When a problem comes along, you must fix it.  Fix it real good.

‘Scopes

Horoscopes represent a fraction of the insight astrology has to offer.  Try a real chart reading by an experienced astrologer, or better yet, studying the art itself.  However, horoscopes are fun and can be useful.  Reading your Sun, Moon and Ascendant is suggested.  Take a special look at the Moon if you were born at night.

Aries:  The Ram

Venus’ movement into Leo sees blooms of creativity breaking the troubled  surface of your mind.  Venus’ aspects to Jupiter and Uranus early in the week will help you  approach the powerful energies you’ve begun to feel emerging inside you.  It’s the beginning of understanding the mutation process you’ve only just begun.  Meanwhile, the Sun-Saturn square sees you running around like crazy, trying to meet all of your practical obligations before the clock runs out.

Taurus:  The Bull

Venus’ movement into Leo is sprinkles some healing balm on your living situation and improves the positivity of your emotional baseline.  Venus aspects to Jupiter and Uranus helps you understand the strange personal empowerment you’ll be going through this summer.  You’ll be pushed into confrontation with your shadow, and then offered the opportunity to reconnect with all the personal power you’ve left to languished in the dark recesses of your 4th stomache.  You’ll feel it before you understand it.  Meanwhile, the Sun’s square with Saturn this week sees you hustling to coax enough cash flow to pull you out of a rut.

Gemini:  The Twins

Venus’ movement into Leo slathers some erotic oil on your social life.  Venus’ aspects to Jupiter and Uranus see you making contact with connections who hold the keys to important opportunities.  Meanwhile, the Sun-Saturn square sees you staring at  living situation and emotional stability issues, racking your abundant brains about how to overcome them.

Cancer:  The Crab

Venus’ movement into Leo will slather a little soothing ointment on financial burns you may have incurred over recent months.  Venus’ aspects to Jupiter and Uranus early in the week likely signify the beginning of real manifestation of the new professional opportunities lurking within your life.  Meanwhile, the Sun’s square to Saturn sees you scrambling to get unsent letters off to their proper homes.  It’s the communications you didn’t send.

Leo:  The Lion

Venus’ movement into your sign will likely come as a bit of a relief.  The Red Lady will rub you down with oils, until you shine like the gilded lilly you are.  As Venus enters Leo and trines Uranus and Jupiter, long term travel as well as over-the-horizon opportunities enliven you emotionally.  Meanwhile, the Sun’s square to Saturn highlights problems between your social sphere and the resources you need.

Virgo:  The Virgin

Venus’ movement into Leo brings the passions to bear on questions of self assertion and confidence you’ve been working through for the last half a year.  Venus’ aspect to Jupiter and Uranus in Aries early in the week may well see you presented with the potential for new business partnerships, or see a positive exchange of resources from existing connections.  Meanwhile, the Sun’s square to Saturn highlights professional problems triggered by your own limitations.

Libra:  The Scales

Venus’ movement into Leo heats up your social life, beginning with a blast of energy from Venus’ trines to Uranus and Jupiter.  Meanwhile, the Sun’s pending square to Saturn triggers a number of personal and philosophical conundrums about you really are and where you’re going.

Scorpio:  The Scorpion

Venus’ movement into Leo moves the spotlight to professional relationships and rewards.  Venus’ aspects to Jupiter and Uranus early in the week kicks off things by spotlighting the positive changes in your work ethic, if there are any.  Meanwhile, the Sun’s square to Saturn this week highlights problems surrounding friends and shared resources.

Sagittarius:  The Archer

Venus’ movement into Leo makes things a little more fun than they’ve been.  The evening star’s bright rays illuminate the benefits that accompany the new direction you’ve taken.  Venus’ aspect to Jupiter and Uranus in Aries early in the week highlights the fortunate and creative aspects of your direction.  This is lovely, but Mars’ continuing presence in Virgo guarantees  you’ll have to work for it.  Meanwhile, the Sun’s square to Saturn highlights conflicts between your personal relationships and professional life.

Capricorn:  The Goat

Venus’ movement into Leo sees a certain pleasure enter resource sharing arrangements.  This is particularly useful if you’re part of a team.  Venus’ aspect to Jupiter and Uranus in Aries sees you getting the resources you need to address your living situation adequately.  All the while, the Sun’s square to Saturn highlights conflicts between the work you’re doing now and the direction you’re headed.

Aquarius:  The Water Bearer

Venus’ movement into Leo will likely be a welcome relief.  A certain grace enters personal relationships, lubricating some important interpersonal dynamics.  Venus’ aspects to Uranus and Jupiter early in the week see relationships contributing to new communication and travel projects.  In the background, the Sun’s square to Saturn sees creative projects challenged by what other people can and cannot contribute.

Pisces:  The Fishes

Venus’ movement into Leo brings a certain sunniness to your financial situation, soothing fiscal rashes.  Venus’ early week aspects to Uranus and Jupiter in Aries see financial opportunities and needed funds coming together.  The evening star’s ingress also see rewards from changes in your physical regimen beginning to pay off.  In the background, the Sun’s square to Saturn highlights potential problems emerging between your personal relationships and living situation.

COPYRIGHT DARK SUN ASTROLOGY 2010

Sol in Gemini, Luna in Leo