By Narayana Montúfar
Prepare for an epic transformation—because Leo season (July 22 to August 21) will challenge us all to rethink the way we see and carry ourselves! Between July 22 and July 27, while the sun sits opposite Pluto, outdated habits make themselves noticeable. These days are ideal to perform a spring cleaning – physically, energetically, and mentally.
This month’s August 4 new moon is not your regular new moon—instead of planting seeds, this time, we are being invited to redo, rethink, recreate, and even reconfigure past endeavors. The reason why? Mercury goes retrograde the next day, initiating us into a three-week journey of profound realizations. This time around, Mercury will go retrograde, first in Virgo (August 5 to August 13) and then in Leo (August 14 to August 28). By traversing two signs, Mercury promises a deep and necessary change this summer.
Even with Mercury already retrograde, August 7 is this season’s most positive day! The sun in Leo will harmonize with Mars and Jupiter. If an opportunity arrives around this time, take it, as the timing is perfect. Many of us will be feeling especially ambitious now as driven Mars prepares to form its yearly alignment with Jupiter, making us feel invincible!
One of the key astrological signatures of 2024 arrives toward the end of Leo season. On August 19, Jupiter in Gemini squares off with Saturn in Pisces. This testing clash between the planet of growth and the planet of responsibility could set us back when it comes to reaching our goals. But as always when Saturn is involved, we’re being asked to take the long view. Instead of throwing in the towel, this is a time to recommit to our goals and show the master teacher what we are made of!
Finally, August 19 brings this season’s full moon, which rises in the skies of Aquarius. This controversial lunar event could have some of us on edge—but not for those of us who are open to change!
Find your personal horoscope for Leo season below (and don’t forget to check both your sun and rising signs!)
Aries
This Leo season, try finding a balance between extroversion and introversion, Aries. Your planetary ruler, Mars, travels in chatty Gemini all season. Your thoughts will be racing, but you’re better off thinking before speaking, especially when Mercury begins its retrograde on August 5. Between now and August 13, keep a loose work schedule so you have time to review some of your most important projects.
You will truly be feeling yourself between August 8 and August 15, when Mars meets with abundant Jupiter. Enjoy this feeling of popularity and exuberant energy—however, expect to feel more tired and introverted as August 19 arrives. Friends might pressure you to be social, but with retrograding Saturn active in your sector of solitude, it might be time to spend time alone to recharge your batteries.
Taurus
Prepare to be and feel seen, Taurus! You reach one of your most confident times of the year when Venus (your planet) travels in flashy Leo, between July 22 and August 5. On August 2, you might desire to drastically change your looks, which you should go for if you’re absolutely sure of it. Mercury goes retrograde two days later, meaning you should leave room for adjustments.
This season, changes are afoot at home between August 14 and August 28. These could be aesthetic but might also involve a deeper transformation when it comes to the behavioral dynamic with your family, partner, or roommate. You will know how to move forward by the time the August 19 full moon arrives, which will push many of us to take radical new paths.
Gemini
This solar season is all about keeping your zen, Gemini! Driven Mars traveling in your sign has you feeling passionate about reaching a goal or manifesting something, especially during its meet-up with Jupiter between August 8 and August 16. Eat the world, but leave room to change your mind while Mercury (your planet) backspins between August 5 and August 28.
This retrograde of Mercury will have two different flavors: from August 5 to August 13, you will be inspired to rethink how you relate with your family. Then from August 14 to August 28, you might need to schedule time alone and away from your phone while Mercury accelerates communication. August 19 might bring a project to a stall‚ but instead of getting down, resolve to keep working hard and as best as you can on it.
Cancer
For you, Cancer, Leo season will be a quieter time thanks to Mars traveling in your sector of rest and introspection. You will feel this need to retreat to your shell even stronger between August 14 and August 19, when an important message from a boss or parent hits your inbox.
Leo season rules over your zone of money, so your mind will be on your finances, especially during the time Mercury goes retrograde in this sector of your chart, between August 14 and August 28. This month’s new moon, which arrives on August 4, would be a great time to get ahead and perform an audit of either your debt or liquid assets. By the time the August 19 full moon in Aquarius arrives, you will know how to move forward with this new budget you’re bound to create for the future.
Leo
Happy solar return, Leo. You can expect this birthday season to be fun, loud, and deeply transformative! The cosmic lovers—Venus and Mars—will be amping your charisma, especially between July 22 and August 4, and again between August 8 and August 16. Do keep a low profile on August 2, when a misunderstanding with a friend could become a full-blown drama!
This summer’s Mercury retrograde will feel and be very personal, as it happens in your zone of self and identity, between August 13 and August 28. Something about how you relate with the outside world will change now, which you might even notice on August 4. This day brings the only new moon of the year that happens in your sign, meaning that the steps you now take to better your life will reap the rewards down the road!
Virgo
This Leo season, it will be key to strike a balance between speed and rest, Virgo. Ambitious Mars will be fueling your desire to elevate your career visibility, which will be stronger between August 8 and August 16. But the faster you move, the more backtracking you will need to do later on, for two reasons.
The first is Mercury going retrograde in your sign, between August 5 and August 13, which will require you to rethink your overall approach to life. The second reason is the clash between Jupiter and taskmaster Saturn on August 19. Bottom line: the slower you are able to move, the better off you will be. The highlight of your season is lover Venus entering your sign on August 4, bringing sweet moments of joy with the ones you love, over the next three weeks.
Libra
Leo season promises to be a fun time, Libra! You will feel this the most at the beginning (July 22 to August 4), while Venus travels the colorful skies of Leo. New friendships or professional collaborations are born during the August 4 new moon, but since Mercury begins its retrograde in your community sector now, you can also expect to experience a friend from the past coming back. While it’s okay to explore a re-encounter, be careful with your feelings, at least until this month’s full moon on August 19 passes.
Do expect to feel more tired or introverted than usual between August 5 and August 14, while Venus and retrograde Mercury travel together in your sign. It would be smart to save your energy for what’s truly important now—because the last days of Leo season (August 14 to August 20) will require focus at work.
Scorpio
Leo season is always a climax moment for your career, Scorpio. This year, you will still make headway, but you will also have to allow yourself to slow down so you can review your career goals and projects. First, Mercury goes retrograde in your sector of business collaborations—between August 5 and August 13—bringing adjustments to personnel. Then, from August 14 to August 28, market changes require you to change your overall strategy—however, this is something that, in the long run, can help you position yourself for success.
In the end, this season’s Saturn activations (August 14 and August 19) ask us to take a long view concerning success. This will also be true when it comes to romance—regardless of your status. Single or attached, ask yourself: what do I truly desire?
Sagittarius
As it does every summer, Leo season might reawaken the travel bug within you, Sagittarius. But this year, there might be going too much in your life to take a long trip. Mercury in Virgo will be elevating your career—but due to its retrograde in your career sector between August 5 and August 13, readjustments to your goals will need to take place. Luckily, the August 4 new moon is perfect for restrategizing your approach.
Your romantic life is put under the microscope between August 14 and August 19 when Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn team up to bring serious conversations to the table. This will be especially true if you recently started cohabiting with your partner. The events that occur under the August 19 full moon will be decisive, challenging you to communicate from the heart.
Capricorn
Leo season brings a time of serious conversations, Capricorn. If you share finances with someone, money talks could be approached between July 22 and July 27, when the sun stares down Pluto. Alternatively, this is also a time during which you could be signing an important contract. If you do, leave yourself space to make revisions during the time Mercury goes retrograde in Leo, between August 14 and August 28.
Work looks busy this month with Mars and Jupiter magnifying your tasks between August 8 to August 16. You will be feeling ambitious and will get a lot done in a short amount of time. Pay special attention to the way you communicate with colleagues on August 15 and August 19. A patient approach from your end will be required now, especially when it comes to authority figures.
Aquarius
Embrace an attitude of self-study between July 22 and July 27 when the sun faces off with retrograding Pluto in your sign. Go within, as the thoughts and attitudes that emerge now are your vehicles for personal growth for some time to come. The August 4 new moon could be the spark of initiation of a new relationship or partnership. But due to the retrograde of Mercury in Leo (August 14 and August 28), you might doubt it being the right way forward. The answer you seek most likely arrives by the time the moon becomes full in your sign on August 19, so keep your eyes and ears peeled.
Lastly, this is also a good month to work on your finances, which is something Saturn in Pisces has been teaching you. Mark August 15 and August 19 as powerful days to come up with a plan to either eradicate debt or start saving.
Pisces
Leo season will keep you on your toes, Pisces—but with the right attitude, you can make headway in your goals! This is a productive time of the year for you, so try to get as much done as you can before Mercury goes retrograde on August 5. Once retrograde Mercury enters your zone of work between August 14 and August 28, your focus could turn toward redoing an important project.
Another theme that will be important this season is one of your biggest life lessons: personal boundaries. Keep an eye on the themes that come up during the first part of Mercury retrograde, August 5 and August 13, and when Mars and Jupiter activate Saturn in your sign, from August 8 to August 16.
Narayana Montúfar is a Mexican-born, California-based astrologer, writer, and Akashic reader who finds inspiration in the symbolic language of the cosmos. She is the author of ‘Moon Signs: Unlock Your Inner Luminary Power’, the resident astrologer for House of Intuition, and a guest writer for Women’s Health, Cosmopolitan, Well+Good, Refinery29, and Parade. Find her on Instagram at @narayanamontufar or at her website naromon.com.