AQUARIUS FULL MOON, AUG 1 – 16, 2023

We’re heading to a passionate, liberating Aquarius Full Moon on August 1. Significantly – this is the first lunation on the Leo-Aquarius axis, since Saturn left Aquarius in March 2023.

Since 2020, Saturn in Aquarius has changed the face of our individual and collective world, reality, and consciousness. With Saturn out of Aquarius, this lunation offers a first look at the aftermath — and at best, the rainbow after the storm. The emotional tide is rising, but as the Aquarius Full Moon aligns, aspects suggest, we are likely to breathe a collective sigh of relief as we begin to recognize the beauty, love, healing, stability, support, and grace present in our lives.

On August 1, the Aquarius Full Moon opposes the Sun in Leo at 2:31 PM ET, at 9+ degrees. Hours later, action planet Mars in Virgo trines expansive Jupiter in Taurus; followed by (planet of communication) Mercury’s opposition to Saturn (planet of lessons, limits, and time) in Pisces.

This is the culmination of the cycle that began with the Cancer New Moon on July 17. We are coming to major realizations, seeing the light. Expect a powerful release. Life is stabilizing, drawing us to explore new pastures as we close the door to the past. Over the next two weeks, we’re clearing space before renewal with the Leo New Moon on August 16.

A lot has surfaced recently, bringing revelations and fated encounters. Venus’ retrograde, has been awakening fiery desires and familiar fears, reminding us we are alive. We may be nursing bruised egos, raw, tender hearts, and emotions. But as long as we’re aware of our own shadow, it needn’t overshadow all that is bright, beautiful, and blossoming.

On the Leo-Aquarius axis — the lunation is highlighting the need for balance between our needs for community and connection with personal needs and desires, love and friendship, creativity and innovation, and love and acceptance, which begins with self-love and self-acceptance.

Aquarius is a fixed air sign. It is a very unique and individualistic sign. It speaks of the quirks, eccentricities, and differences that make us unique. It is also a futuristic and revolutionary sign that represents the collective consciousness, our community, friends, connections, social media, networks, and technology.  Aquarius reminds us we are all connected through time and space. Air is everywhere, we can’t and don’t need to grab it, yet it sustains us with each breath and connects us all — as we have seen with Covid.

The Sun in Leo represents love, the ego, the heart, creativity, life’s fleeting moments, and the eternal, ephemeral here and now. We are learning the power to be the creator of our reality. If we aren’t happy with what’s unfolding, we have the power to change it, and create a new future — starting here and now.

Over the coming days and weeks, remain heart-centered, as you reflect on what (and who) truly makes you happy, feel alive, loved, appreciated, and seen. Have more self-confidence, and dare to be bold, authentic, vulnerable, playful, innovative, and creative. You don’t need validation from anyone for your existence. Dispassionately witness; “be the observer”. Have faith in the divine play and your most optimistic vision. Then you can take conscious, creative, and loving steps toward it.

Things are working out better than we think.  With the Sun in Leo, often all it takes is showing up, doing your best. At best, the Leo-Aquarius axis asks that we accept life on life’s terms while playing our part. Current skies strongly suggest, where there’s a will there’s a way.

It will take time, space, creativity, hard work, patience and daring to acknowledge our desires and fears. Also, do we know what’s good for us? The seed of all desire is the desire to be happy. Let go of expectations of others, and external attachments. Seek your happiness within and you can draw in whatever else you need and desire.

Mars’ trine to Jupiter is healing and expansive; offering real tangible progress, resources, support, stability, and a sense of feeling grounded. There is a strong suggestion whatever you need, help is close at hand. It will take humility, courage, and detachment from expectations. But don’t be afraid to ask and be open to receiving. Also, practice gratitude, be big-hearted, generous-spirited, and lend a hand where you can. What goes around, comes around.

With Mercury opposite Saturn —we may be steeling ourselves for a difficult conversation or making difficult decisions. But there’s every reason to feel hopeful about what’s unfolding. We live, we learn, we grow. Reflect on your limits, learn your lessons, but let the past be water under the bridge. Then you can implement constructive solutions that work.


In relationships or where things have gotten heated, complicated, or strained —  there’s healing on offer. It will take courage to acknowledge any mistakes. Seek solutions, avoid defensiveness, or picking at scabs. Words can hurt or heal, use yours wisely. Keep things light, and playful, but real. As long as there is mutual love and respect, there can be a deepening of friendships, connections, and bonds.

In the cases of exes, at best, this is a chance to find closure. Then can truly open your heart to experience new love in the present, waiting for you to embrace it. Love doesn’t hurt, our attachments do. The ego is the cause of all suffering. Recognize everything changes, then you won’t cling. At best, we’re learning, true love feels like freedom.

With Venus currently retrograde in Leo —finances, relationships, and creative matters are in flux. Move beyond appearances. Beauty fades, and money can’t buy happiness. As risky as something feels, be conscious not to let your ego stand in the way of your happiness. A heart of gold is more valuable than all the riches in the world. This energy is like the love of the creator — pure, constant, warm, and blissful consciousness. Turn within to seek that source of light, life, love, and all creation in your heart and you can draw in whatever else you desire.

Above all this lunation is a reminder — there is a Divine Consciousness within you, and staring at you through the eyes of everyone you meet. Free yourself to be yourself. Reconnect with the source within, and dare to let it shine.



On a personal note — this Venus retrograde takes place in my 4th (home and family) and 10th House (career).

I’ve been deeply, re-evaluating my work, life-mission and life goals; de-cluttering my house, reflecting on what and who feels like home to me. And I recently found out a friend is moving out of the city. We hadn’t spent quality time together in a while. But knowing I would bump into him in the neighborhood, made me feel more at home. I’m sad, but trusting the journey, and hopeful for what’s to come.

Also on that note, in the spirit of this Full Moon — I am requesting help, so I can continue to offer you more free content, rather than have to put things behind a paywall.

If you get something out of this newsletter, and have the financial means, please consider a one-time or ongoing donation to support Cosmic Diaries. Or please consider purchasing a reading for yourself, or a friend. It will support the costs of running the website, back-end support, and me. And I would be ever appreciative.

As always, thank you for sharing your journey with me. I am grateful for every one of you reading and I look forward to being your astrologer for the years to come.

With Love,

Priya


p.s.

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I’m also writing a set of Venus Rx Horoscopes, and hope to have those for you very soon. In the meanwhile here is a quick list of Venus Rx dates. For a more personal in-depth look at this transit, please email me to schedule a Venus rx Consultation ($222 for 60 min). I would love to work with you.

VENUS RX IN LEO JULY 22 – SEPT 3, 2023

VENUS RX IN LEO – CONSULTATION 60 MIN – $222

Dear Friends,

Last night on July 22, Venus stationed retrograde in Leo at 9:32 PM ET followed immediately by the Sun’s ingress into Leo at 9:50 PM ET. We’re entering a dramatic, bold, new season, blasting open our hearts and minds.

Where we’ve recently felt powerless, we’re regaining confidence and reconnecting with our creative power. This feels like the lights being turned in a situation where things have felt mysterious or murky. Life is inviting us to peel back the mask and dare to acknowledge our heart’s most burning desires. Then we can seize the moment and opportunities as they arise.

Venus first entered the shadow phase on June 19, look back at what was surfacing around then. It will give you a clue into a longer story playing out with this transit. Venus is now retracing her steps,  drawing us into a process of re-evaluation of the recent past. Venus will station direct on September 3, (at the degree she occupied was on June 19,) and moves out of shadow on October 7 (past the degree she is currently at.) So be patient with the process and don’t be too quick to judge — there’s more coming to light.

Notably – Venus retrogrades at approximately the same degree every 8 years. So it would also help to look back to your life in 2015, 2007, 1999, 1991, and so on… counting back every 8 years. This will give you an idea of the themes likely to emerge now and a larger story in your life’s journey. You are not who you once were. With awareness, we can do things differently, and create consciously, in alignment with our authentic selves as we are today.

Any Venus’ retrograde will bring its dramatic moments and in Leo, you can expect things to be dialed up a notch. This is not for the faint-hearted and things could get steamy. We’re in a process of deep re-evaluation of all Venusian matters of love, beauty, relationships, money, our values, and all matters of the heart. Pay attention to where you have Leo in your chart — that’s where this energy is playing out highlighting matters of that house.

Leo is a fixed fire sign, ruled by the Sun — the source of light and life-giving energy. It rules the heart, the true Self, the eternal present, youth, love, romance, fun, creativity, passion, sexuality, authenticity, courage, confidence, spontaneity, and our ability to take risks. On the flip side, Leo also points to the ego, pride, defenses, and fears of rejection which ultimately cast a shadow on all that is bright and beautiful. These themes are in focus.

In the chart for Venus’ retrograde, the Moon is separating from an opposition Neptune. Also, the Sun is at the end of Cancer (ruled by the Moon) just past an opposition to Pluto. There’s a sense of moving beyond the illusion, or veil. We’re seeing what was previously missed — be it true colors or the true value of something or someone — to find what’s precious and golden in it. If something seems too good to be true it likely is. And something/someone you’ve overlooked might deserve a closer inspection to discover the treasures it holds at its depths.


VENUS RX IN LEO – CONSULTATION 60 MIN – $222


Above all, with this Venus Rx in Leo, we’re learning all that is gold doesn’t glitter, and all that glitters isn’t gold. This is very glamorous energy but moves beyond surface appearances. External beauty fades, and money can’t buy love or happiness. Especially in the age of false information and curated social media profiles, remember you’re only seeing what someone wants you to see. Avoid comparisons. It could be easy to let our imagination run wild – for better or worse. But avoid projection — seek clarity and depth. True beauty radiates from within, and a heart of gold is more precious than all the riches in the world.

Venus in Leo is a queen, a royal. She needn’t chase, beg, or want anything. But with this retrograde closely conjunct fixed star Regulus, any hubris will be met with a swift fall from grace. However, life is unfolding  — be humble. Drop the mask, ego, pride, and defenses. Don’t be afraid to admit if you’ve been mistaken. Peer into the heart and soul of a situation. More importantly, peer into your own heart and soul. Then we can engage in, create, and attract experiences consciously.

Also in the chart, Mars is separating from opposition to Saturn, and the Sun at the end of Cancer is separating from its opposition to Pluto. We’re moving past a limitation or an obstacle, leaving behind a heavier past, attachments we’ve outgrown, generational conditioning, and patterns of co-dependency. There may have been sobering realities to face. If you’re dealing with loss, grief, disappointment, sadness, or heartbreak, do so consciously as you allow space for healing. This too shall pass. That said, the past is past. Where we’ve recently reached a limit with something, we may be having a change of heart. A door is opening to reveal new depths of emotions and desire, inviting us to explore them, if we dare.

Relationships are in focus and heating up. Likely exes and past lovers are resurfacing. This is an ideal time to gain closure on the past. But if you’re trying to rekindle an old romance, or meet someone new during a retrograde, I would advise against it, or to wait till Venus is direct before making any major commitment. Stay in the present, without projecting too far into the future. The same is true if you are starting a new creative project, considering a major financial investment with no prior connection, an irreversible beauty treatment, or a dramatic haircut. Every experience is valuable and sometimes the heart wants what it wants. But be advised — once Venus stations direct things will change shape and form, and you’ll likely feel differently then. So weigh out your risks, and be conscious of what you commit, or give in to in the heat of the moment.

In existing connections, friendships, and partnerships, bonds can deepen. Where things have gotten heated, or egos have flared — there can be reconciliation, re-kindling of love, passion, and fun. It will call for absolute authenticity, courage, compassion, boldness, and being vulnerable. Learn from the past, but stay in the present and avoid picking at scabs. Also, rather than have expectations of another —acknowledge how you feel and remain detached. Something might feel like a risk — but it would be a greater risk to pass up a chance to be happy.

VENUS RX IN LEO – CONSULTATION 60 MIN – $222

At best, Venus’ rx in Leo, is an invitation to reconnect with and re-discover the source of our joy, fun, happiness, creativity, confidence, and love within our hearts. Confidence is sexy and attractive. And all the love we seek is right here for us, in the present, in our hearts and being. Venus and Leo both speak of love; the kind of warm love that shines constantly like the Sun and lights up the world. Then have faith that what’s (or who’s) right for you will naturally gravitate to you.

At the very least, this retrograde is a chance to make peace with the past and reconnect with that eternal source of love, bliss, and joy within. So we can live and love more authentically, passionately, fearlessly, and deeply in the present.

I have a lot more to say — but I have to go for now. I’ll update this post on the website, with important dates of Venus’ aspects offering a timeline for this retrograde. So please check back in. Time permitting, I will also be back with a video and Horoscopes for the 12 signs soon.

For a more personal in-depth reading — you can book an Astrology Consultation or a special Venus Retrograde Consultation to make the most of your opportunities and draw in what you desire. Or you can sign up for the Inner Journey program for an Immersive Natal chart study – I have ONE slot left for July. I would love to work with you.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! With love,

Priya

VENUS RX IN LEO – CONSULTATION 60 MIN – $222

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