LEO HOROSCOPE

Usually strokes of genius are just that – strokes. You may be excited by an idea, seized by an impulse, or bedazzled by an intuitive flash, but since these inspirations rarely coincide with conducive circumstances they're often left to wither on the vine. Fortunately the Mercury/Saturn trine on June 27th shows you speaking to a receptive audience. This means that there are people around you who get what you are about and can help put your ideas into action so that they produce tangible results. After months of rough sketching you’ll see at least one make the leap from the drawing board to the material world.

How can something good make you feel so bad? That's the question you'll be asking on June 22d. There's no disputing that you earned the breakthrough you're currently enjoying. You worked hard for it and deserve all the praise and recognition, however it comes at somebody else's expense and that's the part that's hard to stomach. Guilt and shame often shadow our triumphs when the Sun squares Saturn. You'll want to apologize but that's aimed at making yourself feel better so leave things alone for now. There will come a time when you two will talk and revive the goodwill and camaraderie that seems lost.

No good deed goes unpunished when Mars squares Uranus on June 15th. Not only will your heroic deed fail to impress, it looks like it will come back to bite you in the derriere. You really thought you were doing the right thing by standing up for someone who wouldn't stand up for themselves, but our noble acts don't always align with others' wants and needs so get ready to bear the brunt of their fury. You know what you did was for the best and even if it's not appreciated now, one day it will be. And that's what makes all this aggravation worthwhile.

The concluding sextile between Venus and Jupiter on June 4th finally delivers on a promise made weeks ago. It's analogous to Dorothy clicking her heels three times and being transported to where she wanted to go all along. Now whether this is home or a home run all depends on what your aim has been from the start. Many people would be overjoyed with the outcome and you'll certainly share that sentiment, however it's the last in a series of wishes which means no more miracle moments for the foreseeable future. It's up to you to make the most of what's been set before you.

You're not one for go-betweens. You prefer to meet face-to-face, however the path that leads to the person you want to meet with winds through sensitive terrain. Maybe they're friends with an Ex, related to someone you crossed swords with, or is simply inaccessible to somebody of your rank. In any case you're going to have to rely on a third party to speak on your behalf this week. It's not the way you'd do things given your druthers but it appears as if you haven't a choice so make sure that you brief this person thoroughly and that they've got all the facts straight.

It's never easy acknowledging you're not as good as you once were, but Saturn in Aries always promises a second act if you give it your best shot. Maybe you're planning a comeback, reinventing yourself, or you've decided to pursue another career track all together – in any case, you're going to have to prove yourself. Prove myself? Your first reaction may be shock, but think of Joan Crawford, an accomplished Hollywood star, who had to take a screen test for the lead role of Mildred Pierce. In true Aries fashion she put her pride aside and wound up winning an Oscar in the long run.

What's up is down and what was down comes flying up when the Sun conjoins Uranus at the top of your solar horoscope on May 17th. And given that this will be their last conjunction here, you should expect earthshaking developments. Thankfully it won't be sudden. Either it's been in the works for weeks or you will be given plenty of time to think about the decision you face and to ruminate on the consequences. Nevertheless it's a development that will change your life which is why you'll want to make a point of getting out in front of it and not drag your feet.

No zodiac sign places such a high value on individuality as you do. You see it as a birthright – something that is both unique and inalienable to every human being. If it weren't for individuality then we'd all be living in a world of cookie-cutter cut-outs. You may not see yourself as a poster child for this, but others do – as attested to by this week's Mercury/Jupiter sextile. This is when you can expect to hear from people you've never met about the enormous difference you make in their lives. It's just the thing you need to hear to keep on doing what you do.

You thought that you and a loved one were on the same page, but Pluto turning retrograde in Aquarius on May 4th shows that you are not. It looks like your other half hasn’t exactly been on the up and up about things in your relationship and now s/he wants to come clean about what’s amiss. It's enough to make any Leo's blood run cold, but don't anticipate the worst. Listen with an open mind and heart, and you will emerge from the other side of this bumpy passage no worse for wear. In fact this could wind up bringing you two even closer together.

You may feel like you have a lot to prove these days with gung-ho Mars back in your sign after a months' long retrograde. Not only are you pumped and ready to go, but you're looking to make up for lost time. What you may not be taking into account is that the world has changed since Mars turned retrograde in Leo last December. People have moved on which means that you're the one who has to catch up to developments already in motion. It's humbling to have to revisit your perspective, but it's better than sticking to a script that's out of date.