The Moon has spent the last two weeks waning in light, ebbing further and further from her place of maximum illumination as she begins to return to her heavenly consort, the Sun. Along the way, we have been able to rest, reap the rewards of the previous growth during the last new moon cycle, and prepare ourselves for the new lunar cycle which is fast approaching.

This upcoming New Moon will occur in the fiery, fixed sign of Leo, where the Sun has rulership and the luminous radiance of the spirit shines most clearly. This will happen on Sunday, August 5th, at 7:12am eastern time.

The whole world is reborn alongside the moon as she rejoins her consort, the Sun. As the queen of the heavens and ruler of the material world, she initiates new cycles and renewed energy in our surroundings and our psyches. A reset button is pressed around us, and our inner lives are gifted a clean slate.

For this reason, wise people throughout all ages have used new moons as a time for purifying the psyche of unwanted old habits, setting new, uplifting intentions for the next cycle, and reinvigorating ourselves with enthusiasm for life. The optimism and excitement of new beginnings can permeate our entire being so long as we let it.

Each New Moon also creates the ideal circumstances for creating and beginning new projects and ventures. Herbalists traditionally plant new seeds around the time of a New Moon. Like the physical seeds of the herbalist, magicians and sorcerers plant metaphorical seeds of intention and desire. In a similar fashion, astrologers use elections to time the inception of new projects and initiation of new tasks.

This New Moon occurs in fixed fire sign of Leo, the home of her astral consort the Sun. Here, she embodies the bright, solar archetypes of joy, enthusiasm, self-confidence, and leonine love of life more than any other new moon. In this sign, the New Moon provides us with an excited passionate energetic, that restores the connection of all things to their truest passions and truest heart.

Leo is ruled by the Sun, the lord of Spirit, destiny, and the absolute self. Of the seven classical planets, the Sun is closest in essence to the stars in the heavens from which our spirits descended into the material world. As such, the Sun holds the keys to our core, original spirit, as well as the desires intentions that this spirit wishes to fulfill on the earth.

Because of this strong associated with the Sun, Leonine people have the easiest connection to their own absolute spirit and its intentions. Of all the signs of the zodiac, Leo knows most clearly who it is and what it wants. Like the spirit of our heats, Leo is vulnerable, authentic, and true. The integrity of Leo’s actions is never in question, either from others or from within. Thus aligned with absolute spirit, Leonine people have unshakeable resolve, and often unwavering loyalty.

This New Moon, your connection to your own highest self, as well as its desires and drives, will see renewal and restoration. We all have the opportunity now to receive the gift of Leonine clarity and self-assuredness. It will be easier to know your truest motivations and truest intentions. You will feel more clarity on what truly drives and motivates you, and feel more enthusiasm to align your life with this newfound inspiration.

Ask yourself what things in the world are most important to you. What do you truly care about? What kind of legacy and impact do you want to leave on the world? How would you like to leave it when you’re gone? Go beyond egoic, small desires – find your big-picture passion and purpose, and make concrete steps this New Moon to make your dharma into a reality.

As a fixed sign, the changes that develop here have the potential to be very long-lasting and permanent. You will do well to focus your intentions around developing long-lasting endeavors and goals. As this window of opportunity opens, you will find it so much easier to connect to desires and goals that you would like to pursue long-term, because they will be more in alignment with what actually matters to you.

You may find that some of your intentions and desires begin to feel out of sync with your spirit’s passions. The excitement they used to bring you has faded away - like looking at old clothes that no longer fit you, you may feel like you have outgrown certain habits and behaviors in your life. Allow them to melt away in solar, leonine authenticity. Allow this New Moon to bring you back home to yourself.

In our outer lives, this lunar cycle – especially the waxing half – creates a lively, even frenetic atmosphere. There’s more happening, and things happen quickly and suddenly. Decisions can be made rapidly, and you can find yourself and others around you becoming much more industrious and productive. Everyone is inspired to achieve, because they are more connected to a more genuine place.

This new moon happens in close sextile to Mars and Jupiter in Gemini. Jupiter in soft aspect brings a lot of external support and help from teachers, authority figures, and guides for your work. Doorways will open more readily to you, and you will find support from the world around you throughout the work that you do. Mars, the planet of excess heat and fire, will layer these opportunities with more tension and aggravation. He won’t necessarily keep Jupiter from opening doors for you, but you will find the experience of walking through them to be more stressful.

Spend this window of opportunity discovering what truly excites you and what you truly care about. Find the goals and passions that, if you were to pursue them whole-heartedly, you would never question your own moral integrity or value. If you make the most of this opportunity, you will discover new ways to live your life and do your work that fuel you for a very long time.