Claude Lorrain - Vedute von Delphi mit einer Opferprozession
The luminous, life-giving Sun has passed from Cancer, the dominion of the Moon, into his own realm in the sign of Leo.
It is in this sign where the Sun has his rulership, and where we see the expression of the Pure solar archetype - generosity, spontaneity, and legacy. We still revel in the midst of Summer, and the security and stability that the ample daylight and warmth of the season provides.
But as the Sun has continued to fall from its zodiacal zenith at the summer solstice, the days have slowly been diminishing in length.
It happened imperceptibly at first with the Sun in Cancer, but now the increasing distance of the Sun from the place of the Summer solstice has markedly shifted the mood and feeling tone of the season. We’re still in the middle of summer, and the warmth and light aren’t going anywhere soon, but our psyches are aware that maybe - just maybe - they won’t last forever.
Thus, against the backdrop of Leonine enthusiasm is the lingering feeling that Summer won’t last forever, that the current reign of the Sun King will one day end. The length of day far exceeds the length of the night, but this hegemony of the light is waning.
On an agricultural and communal level, the movement of the Sun from Cancer into Leo heralds the first full harvest. Food and warmth have been abundant the past few months, but at this point the plants give their first parting gifts as the flowers fade and begin to be replaced by the seeds and fruits of the harvest. We watch our plant friends wave goodbye for the first time after eagerly anticipating their arrival for months. Through their departure, they forewarn us that the circumstances of summer aren’t here forever - enjoy it while it lasts.
This slow, background intimation that the summer won’t last forever doesn’t dampen Leo. On the contrary - the spirit of Leo understands that the transience of the light, warmth, and joy of summer helps us to enjoy it all the more - the possibility of an absence of summer helps Leo to appreciate it while it’s still here. Just as death gives meaning to life, the waning light and darkening days of Leo season stir our gratitude for what we have right now.
Naturally enough, the Sun rules Leo. The Sun - who fights the darkness on our behalf every evening and is reborn every morning - typifies the monarch or hero of the community whose life is defined by their sacrifice and service to the greater community. And now, as the days diminish ever further in light, this hero’s golden age has begun to fade.
This fact also bestows Leo with its generosity. Leonine people are often very generous with their time and resources. Just as this king gives of himself unceasingly during the twilight of his kingdom’s golden age, or the plants giving their first parting gifts, Leonine people give of themselves unceasingly to welcome other people into the warmth and joy of the world while they still can.
Leo is generous to the point of personal sacrifice. There are many sacrificial heroic figures and kings from mythology typified by the season of Leo and its bittersweet magnanimity it evinces. Faced with the encroaching darkness and fading summer, the hero sallies forth once more to face the perils of the community. In this final repulse, the hero is wounded, inaugurating the inevitable end of summer and triumph of darkness over the light.
Viewed through an agricultural lens, the mortal amount of life force expended in the hero’s sacrifice parallels the first harvest and fruiting of plant life for the community in the form of the first gifts of the harvest. Both hero and harvest are mortally wounded by their own generosity.
Naturally enough, people born with a great deal of Leonine energy are light-sharing powerhouses, full of joy, happiness, and confidence. They see goodness wherever they go and like to spread their own warmth and happiness to all those around them. They often put on a theatrical spectacle to revel in the good times while they last, and help others to appreciate them as well.
This is a good period to practice spontaneity, keeping your agendas more open-ended, and being present. Learn from Leo's penchant to lose itself in the truth of the here and now.
Let the wisdom of the heart - which can only be heard in the here and now - dictate your actions. Allow the old husks and shells of your personality and behaviors to be consumed in the fire of authenticity.
Without falling into bad habits of unhealthy self-sacrifice, practice generosity and selflessness. Give in such a way that you receive more afterward. Identify those in your life who love you, and share all of yourself with them.
This period coincides with a Mercury retrograde. Adapt to the misudnerstandings and frustrated plans and intentions that will inevitably arise. Practice shaking yourself up out of routines. Express gratitude for all the relationships, interactions, and experiences you share with others along the way.
Stir yourself and others out of their monotony. Shake free of established norms and stand for what truly matters. Dance in a fountain you’re not supposed to swim in. Recite long passages of erudite, soulful poetry when people least expect it. Be unpredictable.
Prayer: May we love life, the light, and the magic of the present moment. May its transience help us love it even more.