LEO HOROSCOPE

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.

A new chapter begins when Jupiter enters Leo on June 30th. Leo is ruled by the Sun and for the next year solar energy will kindle your sense of higher purpose so that you become the shaping force in your own life. It's not up to Fate or circumstances to determine what you make of yourself. It's up to you. You will feel a moral responsibility to realize your inner potential, whether it's a talent, gift, or calling. This is a galvanizing and fulfilling time for you as long as you don't settle for second best or allow yourself to be pigeonholed by others' expectations.

You're on to bigger and better things, which is great, but you wish you knew where you were going and how much it will cost. It's always tricky following an impulse instead of a plan, but this is one of those times when you have to put your trust in the Stars because figuring out the whys and wherefores would be like putting the cart before the horse. The freedom to reinvent doesn't come from repeating what's come before; it comes from winging it. Go with what inspires and enlivens you and you can't go wrong, especially with Jupiter entering Leo on June 30th.

Venus rules over the power of attraction in Astrology and now that she's traveling through your zodiac sign you can expect to draw a lot of attention. Unfortunately Venus's opposition to Pluto on June 17th also means that you'll be drawing some ire as well. It could be jealousy, possessiveness, or sour grapes. Venus rules mirrors and everything is seen through a glass darkly when Pluto is involved. The best way to get through this treacherous time is to avoid mind games and emotional manipulation. Be straightforward in everything that you say and do and you will have no worries. Skies clear after June 25th.

Venus enters the zodiac sign of Leo on June 13th. This is spectacular news for romantics everywhere because Venus is at her most resplendent when she is in the sign of the Lion. Love saves the day, literally, from June 13th to July 9th. You will see all of your dark fears, noxious anxieties, and nagging neuroses dissolve in the light of day. That's because Venus has zero tolerance for anything that takes the fun out of love. Instead broken hearts will be mended, chivalrous acts will be rewarded, and even the most jaded of misanthropes will find good reason to give romance another try.

Saturn's job is to make you stronger by making things tougher. Some people give up whenever Saturn shows up, but you're game as long as you see improvement. Saturn in Aries is like a weight-lifting coach. It adds weight to the bar as soon as it sees that you can handle it so that you're always challenging yourself by lifting more, but sometimes you can't help wondering if Saturn's just adding weight to the bar because it can. The Sun/Saturn sextile on June 2nd is both reassuring and encouraging. Not only will you see the results of Saturn's tutelage, you'll also get to show them off.

We all have to do things we don't like to get ahead. Maybe it's paying your dues, working beside people you don't like, or flattering a superior to stay in their good graces. We tell ourselves this is how the game is played, but it looks like you're all played out and can't continue. It will be hard turning your back on all the prizes dangling in front of you, but the Sun/Pluto trine on May 26th says this is exactly what you must do. And don't be surprised if this wins the respect of a higher-up who didn't think you had it in you.