Set Your Controls for the Heart of the Sun: Our Horoscopes for August 1-7

It’s Leo season, and confidence is at an all-time high. When the Sun travels through Leo, our egos and our souls are replenished before the next leg of our karmic journeys. Symbolized by the lion, this fire sign is known for pride, charisma, and bravery- and we all got an extra boost of this energy last week due to a fortuitous opposition between action planet Mars and lucky Jupiter. After having been cooped up so long, this looks to be a summer to remember, as many people seem to be making up for lost time. However, retrograde Jupiter slipped back into Aquarius, which can be to its detriment. Our planet of abundance and prosperity will spend the rest of the year retracing its steps, back to where it was in late March, and on a parallel journey, we will experience many recurring themes.

This week’s most interesting Astrology is a Cazimi between the Sun and Mercury. When a planet appears to be “swallowed up” by the Sun in an exact conjunction, it is called a Cazimi. The Sun is at home in Leo, and relatively neutral Mercury, ruling our thoughts and communication, takes on the brave and boastful qualities of fire. This is a great week to speak your truth, live passionately, and put your money where your mouth is. We may take things too personally though, and challenges are amplified with an opposition from Saturn. When we identify our self and our ego too closely with what we believe, it is difficult to accept another point of view. With Mars having just moved into meticulous Virgo, we are encouraged to ask ourselves if what we think or share is true, necessary, or kind.

Aries: For you, the Cazimi happens in your 5th house of joy, children, and your ego. Interactions with young people will go extra smoothly right now, and your desire to let loose is at an all-time high. The usual destinations feel boring, and you are ready to skip the tired routine and try something new! It just so happens that Mars is also activating your 6th house of work, indicating that you will be offered extra hours or gainful employment, making it difficult but important to budget your time wisely. Keep your priorities straight and your values close to your heart. There is time for everything if you plan well. Keep in mind, these opportunities won’t necessarily knock twice, so be careful not to turn down a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Alternatively, kids grow up way too fast, so cherish bonding moments any chance you get.

Taurus: You struggle when it feels like everyone wants your attention and time. Work life is demanding, but so is home life. How can you escape the crushing intensity of being so deeply needed? You may just want to pull a blanket over your head and hide from the world. Somehow, amidst your busy schedule, you must make time for you. Whatever fills your cup of energy becomes very important this week. Mars just moved into fellow earth-sign Virgo, and you will find yourself bouncing between setting high expectations for yourself and feeling resentful of others. The ego can get carried away with the stories it tells itself, so dig deep until you find the root of what is causing your head to spin. Creative boosts of inspiration can be utilized to problem-solve, or perhaps create a fancy “do not disturb” sign for your door.

Gemini: Putting yourself first comes easier these days, and so does speaking your truth. The Cazimi between the Sun and Mercury activates your 3rd house of communication, and this week, you may pull some amazing ideas and insights out of thin air, so get a pen ready! Conversations with supportive people will be especially fruitful. You may find yourself getting carried away brainstorming ideas, but thankfully Mars just moved into Virgo, helping you to ground out and be realistic whenever necessary. If you’re riding a creative high, and heavy thoughts of doubt or regret wash over you, make sure to jot down anything useful, but don’t beat yourself up. Details are important, but over-analyzing situations will make you feel crazy. Everything is a learning experience, and with acceptance comes understanding.

Cancer: Any confusion or doubt that you have been struggling with will be erased this week. The Cazimi will be in your 2nd house of values, helping you to align your heart, mind, and soul with the highest of intentions. Opposing this alignment is Saturn, weighing heavily on your awareness as it anchors you to themes of life, death, and rebirth. Beyond the tangible is an ethereal understanding that there is more to life than what we see on the surface, and more to you than can ever be defined. Mars just moved into Virgo, activating your house of communication, and you may find yourself nitpicking the words you hear. The more that you strive to be your best self, it may become hard to tolerate the misgivings of others. Remember that you cannot change anyone but yourself, and you always have the power to walk away.

Leo: Happy Birthday! You’re in the mood to celebrate, and your infectious positivity spreads like wildfire. Because the Cazimi happens in your sign, you will feel electrified with energy this week. Unfortunately, not everyone is feeling so amazing, so have patience with the mood swings of others. Mars just moved into detail-oriented Virgo, activating your 2nd house of values and finances. Despite your desire to relax and soak up the sun, there is also so much work to be done. Make sure to balance work and play, in order to make the best use of your time. Opportunities abound, and there is an old saying that goes, “make hay while the sun shines”. If you find yourself procrastinating instead of tackling a to-do list, plan a reward for yourself after every task accomplished. Your determination will pay off.

Virgo: With Mars having just moved into your sign, your focus and stamina are at an all-time high. This is a great time for accomplishing everything you’ve been procrastinating lately. As you know, motivation isn’t always easy to come by, so take advantage of this fantastic opportunity before it fades. For you, the Cazimi will happen in your 12th house of spirituality and dreams. This bodes well for clearing out the cobwebs of your awareness and healing any fears or deep-seeded doubts that have been holding you back from pursuing your ideas. With Venus also in your sign, self love is the theme right now. Do you consider yourself hard to love? Consider where have you been pushing yourself too hard, and where you hold yourself back with thoughts of not being good enough. Time to release.

Libra: Helping others is something you find yourself doing a lot, but how often do you put yourself first? For you, the Cazimi happens in your 11th house, activating your humanitarian side, but also leading to feelings of loneliness. This is a fantastic opportunity to narrow your focus, and instead of spreading yourself thin to help everyone, pick just a couple of worthy causes you can dedicate yourself to, and let the rest go. Somewhere in your busy schedule, you must ask your soul, mind, and heart what it is you need right now to feel at your best. Feelings of resentment point to where you’re spent. Detangling yourself from the never-ending demands of needy people can be a sticky situation, but it’s important to learn when to say no. It’s not up to you to fix people’s lives. You can give great advice, but action is up to them.

Scorpio: Finally, a light at the end of the tunnel! For you, the Cazimi happens in your 10th house of career and legacy, helping you to clearly see what your next best steps are. The fog lifts, confusion and doubts dissipate, and you’re on your way. Activities with friends and partners are especially enjoyable right now. It may feel as though you are being tugged in two different directions, with work and home life both calling for your attention, but where you direct your energy is up to you. Your nature is to go with the flow, and there is no point in trying to be anyone but yourself. Mars just moved into Virgo, giving you a gentle boost of productive and creative energy. Make sure to jot down any thoughts that you don’t have time for right now, so that when the inspiration fades, you still have a record of your ideas.

Sagittarius: For a long time now, you’ve been feeling like crawling out of your skin. The desire to have things be different, but not knowing what action to take is deeply uncomfortable. This week’s Cazimi occurs in your 9th house of expansion, helping you to formulate a plan for the future. New opportunities present themselves, and Mars in your 10th house of career will help you create a detailed to-do list that makes each step towards an end goal feel completely attainable. We finally take action when our fear of things staying the same finally outweighs our fear of change. Be brave! Leo season is a time of gentle encouragement and creative problem solving that helps you realign with what you really want your life to be like. The first steps of a journey are always the hardest. Once you begin, momentum takes over.

Capricorn: So often, it feels as though life is happening to us and around us, but this week you remember you are the master of your destiny, and you have the power to make any changes you see fit. The evolution you have recently undergone has better prepared you for the next leg of your journey. With clarity and awareness, you are able to make choices and take action that more closely align with your ideals and values. Mars just moved into fellow earth-sign Virgo, activating your 9th house of expansion. Setting your sights on goals you would have never previously considered pushes you to try harder, think bigger, and shoot for the stars. With morning coffee, inspiration and motivation are at their peak, so take advantage of these moments before the day gets away from you. You’ll be glad you did.

Aquarius: This week carries some pretty intense energy, and you will find yourself muttering under your breath, “what is with these people?”. Sometimes it feels like you’re the only sane one in the room. Your ability to stay grounded and calm will serve you well, so try not to get sucked into the tornadoes of other people’s lives if you can help it. With Mars having just moved into Virgo, you have the opportunity to take control of the energy at hand, redirecting conversations and interactions in a way that feels comfortable and manageable. As much as you love some people, when the energy gets to be too much, it’s ok to bow out and be by yourself for a while. You don’t owe them anything. Recharging your inner batteries serves you well, and helps prevent feeling depleted or resentful.

Pisces: As much as you are comfortable with uncertainty, the sense of being lost or without direction lately has become overwhelming. This week’s Cazimi occurs in your 6th house of work and daily routines, bringing lightning bolts of inspiration and productivity. Allow the electric energy to lift you up out of your doldrums and change up your routine. Try to tackle anything that you that feels hard first thing in the day, so that you’re not dreading it. Rearranging your schedule to make the best use of your time will pay off immensely. With Mars opposite your sign right now, helpful advice from others may feel deeply critical, but that is not their intention. Be mindful of times that your ego reacts to what you hear, and consider instead the feeling behind the suggestions being offered. They care.