by Susan DeRyder | July 22, 2025 |
The Leo New Moon is exact this Thursday, July 24th, at 3:11pm ET. This Moon leads us into the cross quarter time known to Celtic culture as Lammas (also known as Lughnasadh). The exact Astrological point for this cross quarter is on August 7th this year when the Sun reaches 15° Leo in the zodiac, halfway between the Summer Solstice and Fall Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. This cross quarter precedes the Full Moon point of this Lunar cycle, an Aquarius Full Moon on August 9th. You might want to join the associated free Fire Branch Esoteric Circle with Daniel Giamario on August 3rd.
Traditionally Lammas is a time to give thanks for the Earth’s abundance and the labor that sustains us. Associated with the Celtic god Lugh, this is a time to celebrate skills, craftsmanship, and the fruits of hard work. Lammas invites reflection on cycles of sowing and reaping, both in the fields and in our lives. As we approach high summer in the Northern Hemisphere there is an abundance to reflect upon both in our physical lives as well as the fruits of the metaphorical seeds we were planting in the deep cave of Winter. How then, can this New Moon invite us to reflect in resonance with the celestial road map of the starry skies?
What is ready to be looked at?
The Leo New Moon, exact at 2°08’ Leo, is in a tight opposition to Pluto at 2°36’ Aquarius setting the tone for the transmissions of this Lunar cycle. The Leo/Aquarius axis shares the qualities of being ‘fixed’, masculine and ‘self-interest’ signs. Leo, in its undistorted expression, is a radiant example of ‘the nature of the sovereign autonomous central self to develop radiant self-love’ and as a sign is a school for learning ‘the essence of leadership and learning to be creator’. With Pluto in Aquarius, offering its initiatory energies of bringing the shadow to the surface, there is a direct invitation here to turn our attention to where the essence of Leo may have become distorted in our own expression. This may include facing our fears and paying attention to the parts we habitually prefer not to look at.
For more clarity around how this may be present specifically in your own self, I recommend studying your natal chart, identifying where this New Moon is placed for you by house and include any personal planets within 5-10° of 2°08’ Leo in conjunction, opposition or square. It may be helpful also to ask yourself honestly, from the perspective of shadow work, what is ready to be looked at?
Shadow work requires us to shine light on aspects of ourselves, our beliefs and ways of being so that they can no longer hijack our everyday life and the opportunity to live in our highest expression. Leo in its shadow aspects can show up as the belief in being better than, more entitled, or being special and others not. In some cases there can be light polarization. Pluto in Aquarius at this time, directly opposing this Leo Moon, has an interesting perspective. Not only must we be mindful of the potential shadows of Leo within, we might also consider the shadows of Aquarius which too can lean into light polarization!
Where am I in denial?
If navigated with awareness and humility and a willingness for growth, this Moon is a potent opportunity to dig deep into those parts of ourselves that wants to outright deny there is anything to be refined and would rather stand a little too rigidly in the belief that ‘everything is unfolding just as it should’. While this is the case on some level, we might ask ourselves now, at this time, where am I in denial of reality?
Detaching ourselves from difficult situations is a method of survival which in some cases becomes an unconscious pattern that runs through our lives and expresses itself as dissociation. There is a difference between the two and it takes careful, honest reflection to come to realize where this level of protection has become a default mode which has taken charge in places it is not actually helpful anymore. Phew! May we all know that we are not alone in this deep work and that this kind of self-reflection is not only for the good of ourselves and those around us but will also ripple out into the world beyond our small-selves in really good ways.
Cocoon for metamorphosis plus life raft
Saturn and Neptune continue to dance together in the early degrees of Aries at this time, trining the Leo New Moon with Saturn at 01°49’ and Neptune at 02°04’ Aries. Trines are flowing and harmonious aspects. While we may not notice their effects as much as the more challenging aspects such as squares and oppositions, it can be helpful to call in their support and lean into what may be offered to us by their presence at this time. I have personally experienced Neptune as a great dissolver, bringing all I know to be true and certain into the cocoon for metamorphosis. Saturn on the other hand has been showing up as a kind of life raft in all of this. If Neptune were alone in Aries right now, we might not have anything to hold on to. Saturn has been offering firm, sobering but helpful support. As we go through such profound moments of ‘levelling up’ or maturation we have a choice; to meet this kind of initiatory energy with resistance or grateful humility.
Essential for the trajectory of humanity
Meanwhile, Mars and Venus will be in a close square to one another. This square is exact just one day prior, on July 23rd. Venus, at 22°40’ Gemini on the New Moon day, just descended to the 4th gate, the Heart Chakra, in her journey towards the underworld in the Pisces Overstory. Mars as 21°53’ Virgo is conjunct the South Node of the Moon and currently in phase 2 of ‘Questing’ in the Cancer Overstory. This lingering square weaves Mars and Venus and their respective overstories into the imprint of this New Moon.
With the conjunction of Mars to the South Node of the Moon, we are invited to consider the interplay between the work that is unfolding with Mars and Venus as well as the current tone of the entire Nodal axis. The nodal axis can be considered ‘the directional arrow of humanity’ ~ currently in the Pisces (north node) /Virgo (south node) axis. What can the collective sacred masculine in Virgo (Mars) release now as he continues his quest in a Cancer Overstory as he crosses paths with the South Node? How can the collective sacred feminine in Gemini (Venus) release the walls and guards of her heart now as she makes a square (a call to action) with the nodal axis?
This particular aspect within the New Moon chart does not necessarily feel easy to me but it also feels essential for the trajectory of humanity. There is a clear call to step into these mysteries with willingness and recognition that this goes way beyond ourselves as the North Node of the Moon points straight to Pisces ~ an invitation for real Peace, unity, compassion and care for all beings. This often requires uncomfortable truths, work, effort and more big helpings of humility and honesty…
Redo, review, rewrite
It is at this point it seems essential to give a shout out to Mercury, currently retrograde, and also working with the Pisces mysteries as it journeys with a Pisces overstory at this time. Mercury is now on its way to the underworld (entering July 26th). While Mercury is often given a bad rep during its retrograde cycle, this particular phase of its journey feels rich with maturity. Perhaps this is a blessing, to receive the gifts of a highly trained compassionate and sensitive Piscean Mercury during times we may feel particularly tender. What’s more is we are given the opportunity to redo, review, rewrite, reflect as Mercury dances back and forth across the same area of the sky for a few weeks. From here it will be interesting to observe the shift into the coming Leo Mercury overstory which begins August 11th, at the midpoint of this lunar cycle.
Stand tall with an eye to the sky
All of this said, this moonth feels rich with learning opportunities as we walk forth in a year forecast to serve up more unexpected twists and turns. May we all stand tall with our feet on the ground, in gratitude for this great gift of life and with an eye to the sky remembering our place in this great web of life and with a hand on our hearts knowing we are all connected and that each humble lesson we receive and then embody is an offering back to the whole.