Leo, July 2016

July's off to a dreamy start, Leo! Your ruling planet is the Sun, which is currently in psychic Water sign Cancer. On July 3, the Sun will trine spiritual Neptune in Pisces—we love trines; they're the easiest astrological aspect, promising flow and harmony.

The Sun swimming in Neptune's waters will find you developing your psychic intuition, reflecting on issues of intimacy, sharing, and connection in your life, as well as simply taking time for yourself to meditate, get lost in a good book or album, and escape from the everyday real world. Also, the new moon in Cancer on July 4 is an especially potent time for you to connect to higher realms. Pay close attention to your dreams early this month!

The Sun meets Mercury, both in psychic Cancer, on July 6, creating space for us to get deep about our thoughts and feelings (but expect some seriously stubborn vibes). The Sun and Mercury oppose the lord of the underworld, Pluto, July 7, so watch out for obsessive behavior, sneaky people, and intense confrontations. You enjoy drama, Leo, but you're a little tired of it early this summer—don't let anyone rob you of your sleep or your energy to take care of your responsibilities.

Sun in nurturing Cancer connects with lucky planet Jupiter in Virgo, the sign of service, on July 9, which sends you helpful energy vibes around a financial situation, helping you feel grounded and secure. When the Sun connects with Mars in Scorpio on July 19, a boost in energy around your home or family will also come your way, helping you find more harmony and security in your life.

The solar spotlight lands exactly where you like it this month, Leo! Venus, Mercury, and the Sun all enter your sign this month, bringing you lots of affection, conversation, attention, and confidence.

Venus enters Leo on July 12—you've been a little quiet and shy about your love life over the last few weeks, but no longer, now that the planet of love and beauty is in your sign. You're feeling sexy, and people want you. I mean, Leo, they've always wanted you, but Venus in Leo, the sign of drama, makes the adoration even more obvious (and fun).

The next day, July 13, communicator Mercury enters your sign, boosting your mental acuity and putting you in a chatty mood. I expect you'll feel confident, attractive, and social this month! Because Venus is the planet of beauty, this is a great time for a makeover, shopping, and beautifying the spaces around you. Expressing yourself is also major during chatty Mercury's time in your sign.

The Sun's entry into your sign on July 22 marks the beginning of your birthday season: Happy solar return! Use this time to touch base with yourself on your goals. Do you feel like you're on the right path? Put yourself first, Leo.

The full moon in Capricorn arrives on July 19. Capricorn is a hardworking energy, and as an Earth sign, it's super practical and rooted in reality. A full moon occurs when the Sun and Moon are opposite each other, and during this full moon, the Sun is in Cancer: a creative, psychic Water sign that's concerned with emotion.

Full moons demand balance, and this time around, you need to find harmony between your mundane, everyday work life and the ways in which you find escape from the real world. Both are important! You need fun and fantasy. You need to get out of your head. But you also need to get shit done. You need to be able to wake up in the morning (not hungover every time) to accomplish your chores and take care of your health—but you also really, really need to let loose.

Wild Uranus begins its retrograde in fellow Fire sign Aries on July 29, during which time it will highlight the sector of your chart that rules learning and exploration, whether that means through travel, school, or any other way of connecting to the world.

Uranus is an electric, genius energy—be open to new ideas, and reflect on what you've learned so far in 2016. Pieces of information that may seem to be old news could bring a deeper understanding as Uranus moves backward through Aries.

Your mind shifts to material matters when communicator Mercury enters Earth sign Virgo on July 30, bringing conversations about cash to the fore. Virgo is the sign of analysis, so I want you to review your relationship to money.

Take a good look at the transactions on your back account. I want you to do this not because I think you could (or should) cut corners, but because reflecting on how, and where, you spend your money is revealing. Think about how your habits have changed over the last few years.

July asks you to take a break from reality—while still respecting that you have real life responsibilities, a body to tend to, and, likely, bills that have to be paid. Enjoy July, lovely lion, and see you in August!