NEW MOON IN LEO (03 degrees) 9:32 pm PDT, Monday July 24, 2006

What lights your fire? What makes your heart sing? What do you want more than anything? This New Moon in Leo is about recalling what makes you happy. Many of us were trained to believe that it was selfish to be happy and that life on Earth is something we're trying to get away from - whether the belief was the Judeo-Christian "Fall from Eden" or the New Age aspiration that this be our last lifetime. What if our incarnation on Earth were a challenge we chose, a game our spirit enjoys playing? This New Moon invites us to remember the real goal of life: to discover, explore, and express joyously the unique gifts of our Divine nature.

It's time to let go of what other people think. Each of us is one of a kind, yet we are pressured and programmed from day one to be like everyone else. We're molded from birth by the colors of our clothes (pink or blue) and the toys we get (dolls or guns and trucks). Our parents have THEIR hopes and dreams for us. Teachers promote THEIR values and ethics. Religion instills its principles. Culture infuses its mores. On top of all that, radio and television bombard us with who knows who's agenda,(whomever owns the media) and even more subliminal messages about what's desirable and what's "IN". It takes great courage to find your true self. It takes will. It takes heart.

And what is your heart saying these days? Do you love your life? Do you love yourself? Where's the fun, the passion, the joy? Leo is ruled by the Sun, which represents what lights us up, what fuels us, what makes our life sunny. And that's usually not a material thing. He who dies with the most toys still dies. Depression is ten times more prevalent in wealthy countries now than it was 40 years ago. When we're not doing our Sun sign, life feels cloudy and gray. Where and how your Sun wants to shine is detailed by its house location and aspects. Although it's immensely helpful to have the detailed roadmap that astrology provides, there's a way to stay on track that's available to everyone: Notice what "lights" you up - what makes you smile, sing, feel glad to be alive! For inspiration, watch the films Billy Elliot, Flashdance, or Dead Poets Society. Read How We Choose to Be Happy by Rick Foster and Greg Hick.

Jupiter exactly semi-squares Pluto just as this New Moon forms, nudging us to let go of our past conditioning. Because of their retrograde phases, this is the third semi-square from Jupiter in Scorpio to Pluto in Sagittarius (the first two were on December 7, 2005 and May 31, 2006). Although a semisquare (45°) is not generally as strong as a square (90°), Jupiter and Pluto are in mutual reception (both transiting the sign that the other rules), so this amplifies their transformative energies. It's easier than ever to distinguish what's true and what's programming. Saturn's quincunx to Uranus (14° Leo/Pisces) also helps us to break free from "The Matrix."

Take some time around this New Moon to be with yourself. Recall the times you felt most alive. Make a list of what brings you joy. Reflect on what you are grateful for; gratitude opens the heart and tells the universe that you're ready for more. Check your spiritual compass and ask: "Does this path have heart? If it does, the path is good; if it doesn't, it is of no use. Both paths lead nowhere; but one has a heart, the other doesn't. One makes for a joyful journey: as long as you follow it, you are one with it. The other will make you curse your life. One makes you strong; the other weakens you." (Don Juan/Carlos Castaneda)

Opportunity Periods are a wonderful tool to maximize our efforts. Opportunity Periods reflect favorable aspects of the Moon. The energies of the Moon impact us in a very direct way. Using the positive energies that the Moon showers upon the Earth, to our benefit, makes good sense. Opportunity Periods have proven to provide helpful energy to non routine tasks. If you feel like you are always going against the grain and things are stressful, try using these time periods for more easily accomplishing important tasks: purchases, repairs, client appointments, sales calls, important phone calls, finishing goals, starting new projects, tying up loose ends, starting new relationships ( except when Venus is Retrograde), job hunting, doctor visits, family meetings, etc. The list of OP's for the next two weeks are listed under the calendar section of this update.

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