LEO HOROSCOPE

Did you say your good-byes too soon? Premature endings and unexpected reappearances have been known to happen when Uranus turns retrograde. This could give you a second chance to get things right in a troubled relationship or it signals the return of that bane-to-your-existence whom you hoped was gone for good. There will either be squeals of delight or groans of despair on September 10th. Another thing to keep an eye on is Mercury forming a trine to Pluto on September 12th. This shows a disapproving critic doing an about-face and giving you that last-minute boost you need to get up and over a hurdle.

You are being guided by a sense of purpose and that’s a good thing. Too many people base their career decisions on money and security while losing sight of the fact that if you don’t love what you do for a living, then work will become thankless no matter the size of the paycheck. Jupiter in Leo emboldens you to make those larger-than-life changes that you usually talk yourself out of and its trine to Saturn on August 31st ensures you'll discover the means to incorporate them into your life. Follow these impulses and you'll set a course for yourself that is both enlivening and fulfilling.

There's more to money than making it or losing it. It has a psychology all its own that's deeper than luck and more substantial than wish fulfillment. The way we manage our finances says more about our behavior than it does about our business plan, which is why the Lunar Eclipse on August 28th will be so impactful. Whether it's the tedium of repeating the same missteps or the realization that there's more to life than being a wage slave, the Eclipse will free you from biases that have kept you down. And with this freedom come your first steps towards establishing true financial solvency.

It's the little touches that count when Venus, planet of good manners, sextiles Jupiter, planet of hospitality. Going the distance to set the mood for a date or to wine and dine a prospective client will yield the response you seek. It shows you're sophisticated and classy. It's easy to forget how important face-to-face time is nowadays, especially in a world of messaging, texts, and voice mails. Venus and Jupiter have always been committed to relationship building. That's because they know that the secret to success isn't based on the people you know; it's based on whether the people you know like you or not.

The Solar Eclipse in your sign points to a dramatic change in outlook. Oftentimes these come in the form of epiphanies or surprise revelations, but in your case it will be the removal of something that's been keeping you down. Maybe it's the departure of someone who's been lording over you, the dissolution of an onerous obligation, or release from a situation that compromised you. In any case the handcuffs are off after August 12th and you will be free to do what should have been done all along. Consider it a reminder that lions, no matter how tame, are still wild beasts at heart.

A prize that eluded you is now within reach, but the question is: do you still want it? Time is a great revealer of how much we truly want something and Saturn, being the planet of time, will test both your patience and your dedication. If you find that you are no longer interested, then that's OK. You won't be penalized by the Stars for having changed your mind; however, if you have stayed true to your purpose and refused to give up, then you will be rewarded for your perseverance in the coming weeks. And that reward will be better than you had hoped.

Don't be surprised if you get asked “Where have you been all my life?” on July 29th. It sounds like a cheesy line, but the person asking it is completely serious. Nor is this a one-off encounter. You could get asked the same question several times over the next few days. The Sun conjunct Jupiter in Leo makes you positively resplendent. This unique combination of planetary energies will transform you into something that people can't live without, the answer to their prayers. It's an incredibly heady moment, but some might want to possess you so make sure you can wiggle free of their clutching embraces.

Are you running to or from your destiny? It sounds highfalutin, but the question gets to the heart of what's going on. We're often told to pull up stakes and go in search of something more fulfilling if we want to be happy, but different doesn't always mean better. In fact it's easy to fall in love with what lies beyond the horizon while overlooking the seeds that lie buried underfoot, the seeds of success that are in need of development and cultivation. This requires a different kind of faith and ingenuity, something that's yours for the asking when Jupiter trines Neptune on July 20th.

It's not quite on the level of the parting of the Red Sea, but there's no disputing the pathway that opens before you when Uranus forms a sextile to Neptune on July 15th. This provides a way out of a tight corner that was getting tighter by the day. But there's more at work than a hasty exit; if anything you may find the means to achieving a goal that has remained beyond reach until now. Uranus/Neptune sextiles are often connected to accidental discoveries that wind up changing your life. Embrace the inspiration and the ingenuity that these planets bestow and you will go far.

The best way to think of Neptune turning retrograde on July 7th is to imagine a wave pulling back into itself after having broken thunderously on the shore. It may feel as if you are retreating from all the advances you made in recent weeks, but you're actually gathering strength and force for an extraordinary push forward. The late fall of 2026 is when you will be in your element and unstoppable so don't be thrown by the evaporation of opportunities. They were only bubbling foam. This is Neptune's way of wiping the slate clean so that you can begin afresh and with renewed gusto.