Leo - July 22nd-August 22nd

January marks a time when you really do need to focus your attention on the nitty-gritty of the world in terms of organizing yourself, rationalizing your work situation, your office, your studio and focusing on everyday routine with a vengeance and this maybe particularly necessary as Pluto, also in that part of your chart, is demanding a role that you need to embrace. The 13th is a time when you can address this fruitfully, as indeed is the 24th.

Between the 8th and the 27th when Mercury is in Capricorn you can successfully negotiate your way into an advantaged situation in your working life. Before the 8th, Mercury is in Sagittarius and for all those born after August 12th, there is an opportunity to really excel creatively, particularly in the written work, and teaching and dealing with one’s offspring benefit from the wisdom of your conversation. After the 27th for early Leos born up to July 31st, your communication skills can be well exploited in the area of romantic furtherance, and also in business contacts. Networking can serve you well.

Also before the 14th when Venus is in your opposite sign of Aquarius, for all born after August 5th your charms are noted and reciprocated by others and there is a sense of good karma in terms of mutual affection in the air, and after the 14th, these issues become more profound as Venus moves into your solar 8th house.

Mars in Virgo, although not directly affecting your sign, indicates that finances need focus and energy put into the pursuit of any security issues may well be necessary, the 13th and 24th being notable dates when one can achieve this. However, from the 24th when Mars goes walkabout for a few months, there is a distinct warning that you need to reconsider your strategy and attitudes towards finances, as blocks and delays and global issues may well place quite an important question mark around dollars, pounds or euros, or whatever. It may also be a time when you realize that your drive of necessity for financial security cannot be tainted by dealings that are not above board.

Jupiter in your solar 10th house is supportive of your status and will give you a need in truly Leonine fashion to be admired, respected and to have some authority, but for very early Leos born around July 24th-25th should be wary of arrogance, over-expansive expectations or a cavalier attitude towards your status. Expectations may be too high.

However, for this same group of Leos, with Uranus trining your Sun currently, which he has been on and off since March last year, there is an opportunity between now and late February to really listen to your intuition about your future direction, particularly connected to long-distance interests. You are waking up to innovative intuition about yourself and your life and the bigger picture out there. You are taking a more existential view of life and your ego needs to be respectful of this. Change and restlessness are in the air and this can be very constructive. Even if you are on some sort of journey that you can’t be certain is going in the right direction, in a way it doesn’t matter, because Uranus is assuring you that any innovation in life now is part of the journey, even if in the short term, it’s a road that you ultimately decide not to travel. This is a necessary journey for now, not an arrival.

For very late Leos born after August 20th, Saturn is sextiling your Suns and Neptune is opposing them. This has to be a very important time for getting that combination of wise, measured understanding of what is necessary and what can be achieved with the ability to hang on to your dreams and your ideals. Relationships currently may well fall into several categories. You could have some real important soul-mates in your life and you may be giving more than you get back. It is also true that you may have put someone on a pedestal, in which case you may find that now is the time when you are seeing the situation very clearly and you see the other person for who they are, not as you want to perceive them to be, and this will lead you to wise decisions and attitudes. In other words, your grounded, measured intellect and commonsense is now bringing clarity and reality, not least about relationships, to your door.

Finally the new Moon is on the 23rd at 2º of Aquarius, will directly affect those born around July 25th. This augurs well for the feeling of a resurgence or rebirth in a relationship and the beginning of a new chapter that is ultimately productive.

Thought for 2012: You need love, admiration and the spotlight. Earn it and enjoy.