The Leo New Moon cycle beginning July 29 sets the tone for the events we have in August, and the realizations we make about our power to take an active role in creating the experiences we want to have in the future. The gift available to you, if you choose it, symbolized by five planets in Leo at the time this cycle begins, is the recognition that you can recreate your life script.

Being consciously involved in making choices and creating clear mental pictures of what you want for yourself and for our world will bring results.

Now is the time to reawaken your heart's passion to fulfill your purpose in life. This demands accepting responsibility for negative creations and re-channeling your power to create in a more positive manner. Generally, this means that the ego's desire for control must be sacrificed; thus, making way for the higher influences that will assist in consciousness evolution. Mars with Uranus in Pisces further emphasize ego sacrifice for spiritual awakenings throughout this month and months to follow, especially culminating late August when many planets polarize in Virgo and Pisces.

Most planets are in fire and water signs during the Leo New Moon cycle, which is a very emotionally demonstrative combination, so the sparks will be flying. Enjoy your life to the fullest, while being aware of the tendency to indulge and over create. You have choices, moment by moment, regarding the state of consciousness that you are feeling and that which you choose to express.

There will be a wide spectrum of emotions sweeping through you, from the highs to the lows especially from August 4-7 and then again near the Aquarius Full moon from August 11-14. This wide range of feelings can keep you moving through life with intensity bringing valued awareness, including many clearings for self-improvement lending toward greater fulfillment in life and on a spiritual level. Pleasure is good and so is inner peace.

There are many powerful and positive features with Sun, Venus, and Jupiter aligned in Leo until August 22. People want to join together in celebration. We are all children, wanting to have fun, take risks for the sake of creative self-expression, and indulge ourselves in pleasure. Social gatherings, vacationing, and frivolity are highlighted, all for the sake of creating more joy and delight. Romance and special time with loved ones also becomes more of a priority during the first few weeks of August. The excitement goes hand in hand with taking responsibility with what you create.

Leo brings passion, authenticity, and courage to take leadership. Leo helps us to identify ourselves as having the power to make a difference and with power responsibility and accountability are at the base of a successful life. Too often ego-centered motivations work against the higher aspirations now emphasized by Mars and Uranus in Pisces, so some adjustments will be made and wake-up calls will take place. All of life is a stage with too many people with hungry egos wanting the leading role. Egos will clash when discrimination is lacking. When the need for attention is the most important drive, expect conflict in relationships, unnecessary pain, or humiliation. Too much self-glorification clashes with the opposite position of pain connected with low self-esteem and habitual responses to life from a victim consciousness.

There is nothing to be gained by assuming the position of being the victim. I include the ingredient of reincarnation and karma in order to understand the aspects and events in one's life experience that otherwise would leave us without an explanation of personal challenges and suffering. However, the fact is through being accountable for whatever is taking place you are empowered and you can then decide what you choose to create to replace the undesirables or the results of past unconsciousness.

The mid-month Aquarius Full Moon also amplifies our experience of global affairs. Humanitarian movements will heighten our sense of compassion, fear, anger, and desire for truth and understanding. The urge to transcend the patterns that keep souls trapped in the senseless battles of war will be stirred up again bringing an unsettled atmosphere with the question of what can be done to bring about changes. Some people crave excitement and express rebelliously with a defiant attitude. This adds fuel to the fire and works against the prospect of peaceful resolution when the ego is engaged in this manner.

There are some complications we face with Mars in retrograde. The difficult aspects build and manifest mostly during the last week of August and the first week of September. Mars reaches its closest approach to the Sun in over 300 years on August 30. Mars is not at optimum performance in the mutable water sign Pisces. That is like an oxymoron. The desire for immediate action, directed motivation, and drive to succeed is dissolved, bringing more confusion about what to do. Energy and activity are hampered by confusion for a purpose; thus patience is the virtue.

Times of confusion can be dealt with in a constructive manner. Allow your imagination and visualization processes to be the tool to lead you to positive views about life and to lead you to the realization that anything is possible when you are connected to spirit.

The parade of planets moving through Virgo opposing retrograde Mars and Uranus activates acute mental awareness, anxiety and exposes any area of consciousness asking to be set free through transformational processes. Mercury turns retrograde as the Virgo New Moon cycle begins on August 27-28. Pluto also turns direct at the same time. Heated and explosive eruptions may occur and can be used for awakening, or successfully avoided. This is the time to practice living in a peaceful consciousness to counteract the negativity and the destructive energy. Be patient and reflect rather than react. Reconsider your life style and what you have chosen to be your priorities. Realign actions to match the direction you get from higher intentions.

Recreating one's life script requires attunement to the higher forces at work. You have heard the statement "watch what you pray for", insinuating that you better be prepared for what you desire as the universe will make sure you will get it. Recognize how you create conflict between the ego and the soul's intentions.