Product versus Process

We are still reeling from the August eclipses as September gets underway.  Tumult and upheaval abound.  Our greatest task now is to focus on the path forward, one foot in front of the other.  So it is a very good thing that the Sun is moving through earthy, practical Virgo.

Virgo.  Humble, magical, real.  Her qualities are often overlooked. Virgo is the weaver who keeps life running smoothly.  This month, we need her gifts more than ever.  Virgo rules systems, practices, routines and habits.  Service, health, wellness and animals are her super powers. Her key phrase is I analyze, or,  I serve. If you have planets in Virgo or in the 6^th house of your birth chart, you are familiar with her energy.

Virgo invented the work ethic. Her purpose is to serve.  She takes stock, assesses what must be done, any needs to be filled and resources to be tapped.  Then gets down to work creating useful results.  Virgo can work herself to the bone making sure the product or service she delivers is perfect. Therein lies a trap for Virgo: never quite feeling good enough.  She can lose the forest for the trees, drowning in details.

So when working with Virgo energy, it is imperative to occasionally step back from your work, take a break, go for a walk. Virgo reminds us this month to integrate breaks into your work, wellness and lifestyle routines.  Breaking up the daily grind gives you distance from the immediacy of your work, changes and refreshes your perspective.

The August 28^th Full Moon lunar eclipse in Virgo set the stage for September and what to expect.  Where our vision and dreams may be grand, the Sun in Virgo brings them into reality.  That product, business, book, person you want to create?  Virgo creates a plan, a schedule, task list and grounded focus to make your dream happen.  Virgo even has back-up plans B, C, and D!

We may very well need to call for back up as we move past the reprieve of the Labor Day holiday weekend.  Cosmically speaking, September is fairly quiet the first week.  This is excellent news for back to school and work routines getting underway. 

That said, watch for turbulence heading into the second weekend of the month.  Between  Thursday, September 10^th and Saturday the 12^th, planetary gear shifts abound creating unsettled energy.  First, Valuable Venus moves into secretive Scorpio on September 10^th. 

Here, Venus draws our attention to our joint assets, money, and power.  For the better part of September, Venus challenges Pluto in Aquarius. She wages a power struggle over how to best use the resources at hand.  Keep your cards close to your chest.  Remember: knowledge is power. Guard your best interests, both material and information.  You will know when the time is right to share what you know.

I say this because only a few hours after Venus shifts into Scorpio, Messenger Mercury begins its cycle in Libra, aligning to Pluto and Uranus.  The trio hands us a magic wand.  Where we point it, we manifest quickly. We are very receptive now to ideas, people and intelligence crossing our paths; so much so, that we may leap before looking. 

Just be careful what you wish for. 

Venus in Scorpio hits the brake; prompts us to check with our intuition. Do the prospects at hand align with your values?  If something looks too good to be true, it probably is.  So, pause and look under the hood, probe deeper if something or someone doesn’t quite feel right. You will be very glad you did as change agent Uranus turns retrograde, also on Thursday, September 10^th.

Typically, we do not feel the shifts of outer planets.  Uranus is the exception.  The only planet to rotate vertically instead of horizontally, Uranus operates differently; and so we may feel its gear shifts. Now, we feel it turn retrograde motion.  Uranus deals in surprise, shock and awe.  It rules earthquakes, lightning strikes and all things sudden.

Pivoting retrograde on the eve of the New Moon in Virgo, Uranus may redirect our best laid Virgo plans. Virgo and Uranus are incongruent energies.  Virgo is prepared and well-equipped.  To which Uranus says, hold my beer.  However, Uranus does not upset the apple cart for no good reason.  Its purpose is to align our lives with our highest soul path.

When we are running old repeating patterns into ground, Uranus serves as the instrument of change.  Think of the term happy accident; or silver linings that emerged from plot twists in our lives.  Take for instance this quotation by Arianna Huffington: 

 “In life, the things that go wrong are often the very things that lead to other things going right.”

That sums up the divergent turns Uranus brings to our paths. Where Virgo wants to, loves to, needs to control the steps along the path, Uranus knows better.  Called the Great Awakener, Uranus embodies the very definition of the Yiddish phrase We plan, God laughs.

And so, as we move toward the New Moon in the wee hours of Friday, September 11th, with both the Sun (our identity) and the Moon (our emotions) in the earthy, systematic, fully prepared sign of Virgo, Uranus says think again.  You might just be collecting pieces of your plans scattered about by unexpected upheaval.

Is it inconvenient?  Yes, in the short term.  But mid-September serves as a vivid reminder that process is more important than the product. Life is actually about the journey, not the destination.  Earth is a school.  There really are no accidents or failures here.  Only learning.  And Uranus delivers a plethora plot twists awakening us to higher lessons.

What makes this stretch particularly dynamic is Generous Jupiter at an attention-grabbing degree of Leo.  Think maximum volume, IMAX technicolor imagery.  Highly creative, up for anything, and loaded with drama, Jupiter at 15 degrees of Leo raises the ante just when Uranus shifts into reverse.  Watch for jaws to drop. The ether is stirred and shaken now.

Given the unsettled energy, it may take you a day or two to collect yourself to set New Moon intentions.  September 12^th and 14^th are the most opportune days to handwrite 3-5 goals and wishes that you seek to manifest over the coming season or year.  Plant these in the earth or set safely alight.

I wouldn’t exactly say the dust settles down after the mid-month turbulence; however, the cosmos is relatively quiet until Wednesday, September 23^rd when the Sun enters Libra, marking the autumnal equinox.  Libra invites us to balance ourselves in equal measure to others, our work-life obligations, and our own needs and desires.

The Sun is our identity and how we engage with the world.  In Libra, art and beauty come to the forefront.  We are invited to make our world more attractive.  This may take infinite forms, from the simplest to more complex.  Get a new hairstyle, visit an art exhibit, or rearrange your furniture to be more welcoming.  Beauty does not need to be expensive; but it may require an investment of your time and energy.

Especially lovely about this year’s fall equinox is that for the first time in memory, the Libra Sun aligns to both Uranus and Pluto.  The trio forms a grand air trine, a super-charged magic wand through the end of September.  Behold what you create where you point that wand!  The energy paves the way for smooth relationships, groups, technology, communication, design, and negotiation.

This is incredibly helpful energy as we move toward the Full Moon in Aries on Saturday, September 26^th.  The Aries Full Moon tightly conjoins spiritual Neptune opposing the Libra Sun.  Aries is the warrior while Libra is the diplomatic negotiator.  Watch for those on a mission from God, and heated negotiations, whether locally or internationally.  Current or new conflicts abroad are easily enflamed around the time of the Full Moon.  If you are working through relationship challenges, put your cards on the table.  A very direct and straight forward approach is best. Ask for what you want.  You are heard and seen now.

Reaching the month’s final few days, Motivating Mars enters fiery Leo on Monday, September 28^th while Messenger Mercury joins Venus in Scorpio on Wednesday, the 30^th.

We are all steamed up as spiritual Neptune in Aries aligns to a heavily embattled Mars.  Since Mars is the warrior, the caution here is dramatic action, whether threats of or actual violence.  Those who feel backed into a corner, dismissed or suppressed will rise up now. 

By the end of September, we are staring down a proverbial abyss.  Mars opposes Pluto in Aquarius and both challenge Venus and Mercury in powerful Scorpio. Expect transformative shifts in the collective mindset.  A giant mass switch is triggered.  The narrative has now flipped.  Suffice to say, there are no easy answers. 

How to manage?  Focus on your values: what takes front and center stage in your life by importance.  May this be based on love.

Of Special Note:

I have joined SUBSTACK!  Please note that going forward, my astrological forecasts and shares are now on SUBSTACK.  You may find all my find all of astrology dates and information on www.hilaryharley.substack.com.

Is your intuition calling you?  The 3 Wise Women are veteran metaphysical practitioners offering community, conversation and connection via zoom every first Tuesday of the month @6 pm eastern.  For just $10/session, feel safe among like-minded seekers to ask your wildest woo questions and learn from each other.  Join us!  To enroll: www.hilaryharley.com

Mystical Messages features my monthly astrology forecasts if you prefer listening via podcast.  Also featured are cutting edge healing arts practitioners.  Tune in and listen through Youtube, Apple or Spotify or hear previous episodes: www.hilaryharley.com

 

Let Your Freak Flag Fly

Freaks and geeks unite!  Your time has come.

Each one of us is blessed with quirky, non-mainstream personality traits. Whether we reveal these quirks for others to see depends on myriad factors. Suffice to say in the coming year and a half, it will be easier, more comfortable to share your inner freak.

The reason?  From late July 2026 through March 2028, the lunar nodes have shifted into Aquarius and Leo.  Every planet in our solar system has a north and south node, invisible points which refer to the intersection of planetary orbits with the Sun’s path.  The nodes are 180 degrees apart, representing distinct polarities.

Our Earth’s Moon also has a north and south node.  Modern western astrology includes the lunar nodes as directional markers. The lunar north node calls our name, both individually and collectively.  The south node indicates what we have already mastered and is to be shared with others. Symbolically, the north node looks like headphones while the south node resembles a horseshoe. We cannot “do” the north node enough, since we are drawn toward this energy, even as we release what we’ve integrated related to the south node.

Every 18 months the lunar nodes change zodiac signs. For the past year and a half, the lunar nodes have been cycling through Pisces and Virgo, the spiritual-work axis. The north node has called us toward music, dreams, divine inspiration, water activities and the charitable realm; while the south node in practical Virgo grounded us in reality- based systems and healthy practices, in short, keeping it real.

As they do every year and a half, the lunar nodes changed signs, most recently in July. Unlike the planets which rotate forward, the nodes move in reverse direction through the zodiac, thus bringing the lunar nodes now into Aquarius and Leo, the connector and creator axis. These two are the problem solvers of the zodiac.

So let’s take a look at what this means for the coming year and beyond.

We will start with our Moon’s north node now cycling through Aquarius.  It repeatedly calls our name, beckons us to the qualities of Aquarius. You will be drawn toward all things Aquarian.  What does this mean?

The 11^th and final air sign of the zodiac, Aquarius is ruled by the outer planet Uranus, the only planet that rotates vertically instead of horizontally.  Its divergent axis tells us what to expect from Aquarius: eclectic, different, unusual, innovative barely describes this sign. As idea generators and information connectors, Aquarius’ key phrase is I KNOW; its job is to spread and share knowledge to uplift humanity.

Diving deeper, Aquarians are unique, one of a kind, highly individual and march to their own drum.  They follow a completely different frequency, usually one that others cannot access or sense. Because of this they are often labeled eccentric and remote. Aquarius is however, the sign of genius. People born under this sign are ahead of their time and work toward the collective benefit.

Think of just two very famous Aquarians exemplifying these traits: Thomas Edison, who still holds the patent record for his inventions, and Abraham Lincoln who emancipated slaves held captive in the United States.

Although an air sign which gives the sense of movement, Aquarius is a fixed quality.  Like other fixed signs Taurus, Leo and Scorpio, Aquarius can be intensely focused and steadfast in its purpose.  Some might say stubborn or rigid. As the only final fixed sign of the zodiac Aquarius does have a reputation for being unshakeable or immoveable.

But can this be considered a fault when they know for certain there is a better way for all?

Other more malleable and flexible zodiac signs are not so sure, caught up in doubting and second guessing. For this reason, Aquarians are labeled radical and revolutionary as they stay the course exploring uncharted territories. They are the rule breakers. Their patience is legendary.  As inventors, innovators and humanitarians Aquarians need to be patient while the rest of us catch up and harken to the frequency they’re long a tuned to, a frequency in pursuit of connecting us, to ourselves and to each other.

Aquarius is the connector and conductors of ideas.  As such, it rules groups, teams, friends, networks, the collective and collective consciousness.  An interesting point considering that it also represents rugged individualism.  So how does that work exactly? How can Aquarius rule the eccentric individual and the group? 

Think of it this way: a musical group, say a jazz quartet, or for the more athletically inclined, a soccer team.  Each player, whether a musician or athlete, is talented and skilled in their own right.  Yet when each individual plays with other team members, beautiful music happens or goals are scored.  As the saying goes:  team work makes the dream work.  Each individual plays their part for a collective purpose.

To circle back the lunar nodes: how does the north node of the moon in Aquarius affect us here on planet earth?

As the Aquarian north node cycles through our astrological charts, we are increasingly called to fulfill own unique individuality.  Your evolution and growth may cause those you’ve kept company until now to fall away.  This may mean going it alone until the right team or group emerges to suit your evolving self.  Heads up to people pleasers.  Stay true to what speaks to you. There is no reason to be fearful; rather, Aquarius energy is detached and observant, rather than emotionally involved in a particular outcome. Use emotional distance as a tool now to go where you are called.

With shifting group dynamics it is natural to expect changes in relationships, whether friend, family, romantic, professional, spiritual, and creative. Watch for the rise of new groups aiming toward beneficial quality of life. While the purpose may be altruistic, results might not always bear this out.  Think mob rule during the French Revolution.

Hence it is very important to remember that the purpose of Uranus and its sign Aquarius is to align us with our highest potential, truest path even at the expense of upheaval in our lives.  Hold firm and steady. Keep your eye on the long-term goal: where you want to be in one year, three or five years.  Aquarius rules change; pivoting and redirection are its wheelhouse regardless of any ensuing chaos. Expect the unexpected. Expect to be surprised.

As the connector and networker of the zodiac Aquarius rules technology.  Watch for further developments across the technology sector and breakthroughs in long-standing concerns, particularly in STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. How we communicate by March 2028 will change to say the least.

Now let’s look at the polarity of Aquarius, the lunar south node in Leo.

Leo the lion is grand energy!  Time to get your party shoes on and celebrate.  Create a reason for joy even if there is no “official” purpose. Leo is the sign of self-expression. It’s key phrase is I Create. Leo rules children, those you produce of your body or mind, any projects or products, along with risk taking, romance, games, hobbies, holidays and vacations, sports, theatre, costumes and make up, and parties. In short, Leo is the FUN, playful sign. It wants to have a good time and brings you along for the festivities.

Wherever the Leo lunar south node cycles through your chart over the next 18 months, you are releasing, sharing and contributing fun, creativity and joy. This is really something to enjoy and look forward to.

Even if the Leo south node is cycling through areas of work, health, professional or spiritual sectors of your chart, you are invited to greater depths of play.  For example, if you were brought up to believe that taking vacation to rest and enjoy life is a waste of time and money, the Leo south node gently encourages your inner child to come out for unscheduled, unscripted relaxation.

In your chart’s house of spirituality, watch for vivid dreams, solutions to vexing problems or questions, generosity with non-profits and charities you are involved with, lifting up others with your time and attention.

Speaking of attention, astrologers kiddingly refer to the sign of Leo as Look at me Leo. Since it rules theatre and drama, a caution here is unnecessary drama and the people that create it.  As the lunar south node represents release, should you find chaos-makers crossing your path over the next year and a half, the planets invite you to say goodbye and let go of such people. Your need for them is over and done.

Another caution is excess. Leo sure knows how to get the party started but it is not great at calling it quits. So remember:  it is better to leave the party at its peak.

As we enter a brand-new era, it is incredibly helpful to have the Aquarius lunar north node drawing us toward what is possible while the Leo south node releases endless options. Both Aquarius and Leo rule creativity in some form; Aquarius invents and innovates with its mind while Leo manifests from his heart. Both zodiac signs are problem solvers. One connects the dots, the other playfully finds solutions. Neither take no for an answer.  They might hear objections and see obstacles tossed in their path. But their dogged determination moves Aquarius and Leo steadily forward. So will you!

Hear Me Roar

Leo energy typically dominates the month of August and the eighth month of 2026 brings the fire and heat across the board.

Masculine air and fire signs increasingly influence our Earth as the outer planets and lunar nodes are now firmly cycling away from water and earth elements.  This is significant and sets the stage for the second half of 2026. 

Since the interior planets (the Sun through Mars) still regularly move through earth and water elements, these qualities have not entirely disappeared. Still, a marked difference, a seismic shift is now noticeable.  We find life moving at warp speed.  The first half of 2026 gradually phased out the more cautious and considerate feminine elements, giving way to eclectic and electric masculine energies. Old methods are morphing into what is possible, which is anything. We are not returning to “how life used to be” as we shape shift into exploring, pushing and chasing boundary breaking life.

The more timid you are, the more intimidating this may be.  Those who are open, welcoming and willing may find their way more easily now.

Common themes and threads through the end of 2027 and beyond harken to the non-mainstream, connection and creativity, groups, teams, innovation, joyful pursuits, the unusual and unique, sports, performing arts and inventions highlight our world all aimed toward self-expression.

And so as August rolls in, we step deeper into game-changing energy, and for some, life-changing circumstances.  Let’s take a look at these.

Valuable Venus is the first planet to move, shifting into Libra on Friday, August 7^th. For the rest of the month Venus graces us with art, beauty and balance.  Her energy is most welcome now. In her home sign of Libra which she rules, Venus adds to the prevalence of air and fire energies. We seek connection through appeasement, pleasing others in equal measure to satisfying our own needs. Look for deals and agreements among strange bedfellows.

Venus aligns to change agent Uranus through mid-August.  Beauty comes out of the woodwork now, from surprising sources; beauty is no longer relegated to the “nice to have” qualities but rather elevated to an essential and valued asset. Watch for: unusual styles and designs emerging, peak party energy, smooth communication and relationship breakthroughs.

Just two days later on Sunday, August 9^th, Messenger Mercury joins the Sun and Jupiter in fiery Leo.  Mid-month is a deeply creative stretch, especially as we cycle towards the New Moon solar eclipse in Leo.  Romance, athletics and sport, performing arts shine now.  We are invited to take a chance, break out of ruts holding us back from our fullest potential.  If you don’t ask, you don’t get.  If you don’t try, you will never know the possibilities.

One caution is unnecessary drama which may be family related, as right before the final solar eclipse of 2026, Motivating Mars turns into home-oriented Cancer the Crab. At a highly attention-getting degree, 00 Cancer, Mars makes some noise.  The red planet challenges Neptune over the next week, inspiring many to stand up and speak out, where earlier they kept quiet.  Many will feel emboldened to break away from ancestral conditioning and step beyond the confines of family or societal programming. This aspect may also catalyze others like they are on a mission from God. 

All to say, combined with five planets in Look-at-me-Leo, the cosmos lays the groundwork for an energetically combustible New Moon eclipse on Wednesday, August 12^th.  On or after August 13^th, be sure to hand-write 3-5 intentions or goals that you seek to manifest over the coming months or season. 

Leo is a risk taker.  It rules games of chance, whether a poker game or games with much larger stakes.  Leo is go-big or go home energy. People who have reached a personal limit are now willing to risk their reputations in order to change situations they can no longer tolerate. Think of a spouse leaving a marriage, an employee switching careers, a nation electing a different kind of leader.  All involve passion and courage.

While none of the scenarios mentioned may apply to you, each of us is invited to try something different, step out in a new way.  Internally, you may know something needs to change but just don’t know where to start; remember:  there is absolutely no rush. The time between eclipses operates like an energetic black hole.  So look toward the second eclipse of August and see what direction it is leading.

This would be Virgo.  On Sunday, August 23^rd, the Sun begins its tour through this practical and pragmatic earth sign. Virgo rules routines, habits, methods, the daily rhythms of our lives.  Where we reached a tipping point earlier in August, full of creative, passionate fury, the planets now invite us to build and develop what we want to create, whether a lifestyle, career, relationship, or otherwise.

Virgo is exacting, detailed, driven, in short: a perfectionist.  Virgo is a planner and always prepared. Most of all: Virgo is healthy. Wherever we point ourselves now, it is in service of optimal health, body, mind and spirit. 

This worker-bee energy is heightened and accentuated as we move into the home stretch of August featuring the final eclipse of 2026.  Friday, August 28^th is the Full Moon Lunar eclipse in Virgo and Pisces.  The Sun tightly conjoins Mercury in Virgo.  Our minds, thoughts and words mirror how we engage the world.  We hold ourselves and others to account. We have the receipts and are willing to use them to prove a point.

Opposite, the Moon in Pisces joins the Aquarian lunar south node at the time of the eclipse. There is a dream-maker quality to this eclipse.  The Pisces Moon evokes our dreams while the Sun-Mercury in Virgo is prepared to build that dream. Its message is clear: what is the healthiest, most useful  for the greater good, to benefit all, not just one person or a few.   Where Leo was grand to the point of excess, Virgo asks, what is the point of your passion if you aren’t willing to do the work? Results begin with good habits.  Putting your passion into action, to be of service, healthy practices begin one step at a time.

Are you willing?

Of Special Note:

Is your intuition calling you?  The 3 Wise Women are veteran metaphysical practitioners offering community, conversation and connection via zoom every first Tuesday of the month @6 pm eastern.  For just $10/session, feel safe among like-minded seekers to ask your wildest woo questions and learn from each other.  Join us!  To enroll: www.hilaryharley.com

Mystical Messages features my monthly astrology forecasts if you prefer listening via podcast.  Also featured are cutting edge healing arts practitioners.  Tune in and listen through Youtube, Apple or Spotify or hear previous episodes: www.hilaryharley.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Living Out Loud: Jupiter in Leo

 Jupiter: a grand planet. Leo: a grand zodiac sign.  Together, they form larger-than-life energy.  Once a year, Jupiter shifts into a different astrology sign. In the wee hours of June 30^th, 2026, Jupiter, the titan of abundance exits sensitive Cancer the Crab and enters fiery, festive Leo through July 2027.

While Jupiter is exalted in the sign of Cancer, ruler of home and family, a kind of Mother Mary figure bestowing benevolence and compassion, Jupiter loves rolling through Leo.  Life is off to the races, creating, engaging, romancing, partying. In short, you will feel this planetary gear shift as July gets underway.

It has been twelve years since Jupiter last cycled through creative Leo, from July 2014 to August 2015.  Think back to who you were then.  Where were you living and with whom?  What occupied your days?  Chances are you have become a completely different person in these past twelve years.  You learned so many lessons, traveled far and wide, either internally, externally or both.

Jupiter is one of two planetary titans, the other being Taskmaster Saturn which holds us to account.  While commonly thought to be the jolly, Santa Claus antidote to Saturn, Jupiter is the teacher, the wise one, the sage, priest and professor holding up the lamp of knowledge both academic and experiential.  Jupiter is the ultimate seeker on a quest to understand, to learn.  Jupiter sets us up for success so we may learn our earthly lessons, first through opportunity, or perhaps the long and winding road if need be.

There is no skipping class or school.  You can try.  But Jupiter assures us that the lessons remain, still waiting just around the corner.  Its reputation for delivering all the good stuff in life is certainly well deserved; however, by giving us what we think we want, Jupiter then asks: exactly what did you learn by attaining your desires?  And more existentially, now that you have all that you want, where will you go from here, what will you do?

You see, Jupiter provides paths for expansion, growth, prosperity, knowledge, and a broadening of our earthly experience through tasting all that life affords.  Jupiter offers an infinite buffet of choices.  It sets no limit to possible roads we might take and recognizes we are the only ones limiting ourselves.  And sometimes, that limit might be getting exactly what we ask for.  Hence the phrase be careful what you wish for.

Enter Leo, the playful sign that Jupiter has just entered for the next year.  Leo is the Dionysus of the zodiac, the good-time, festive fellow ready to roar.  Decidedly altogether different from sensitive, homebody Cancer the Crab, Leo lives life out loud.  There is reason astrologers nicknamed this sign Look at me Leo.  Creative, romantic, passionate, risk-taking, fertile, childlike Leo is the 2^nd fire sign of the zodiac.   The saying, I’m game describes Leo who is always ready to throw its hat in the ring and give it a try.  What is the worst that could happen? Leo also rules self-expression in all forms including the children you produce, whether of the body or the mind; and governs games, sports, athletics, drama, theatre, costumes, make-up, and hobbies.

Leo wants to play and rules holidays and vacations.  Jupiter says go big or go home.  So now is the time you might take that trip to a far-away destination.  Where is it you have always wanted to travel?  

 For the next year, we are drawn to vivid, colorful people, concepts, designs, past times, life… Those who crave the limelight and live life full till will be in their element.  The caution is excess.  Party hearty types take note. Leo says why not have another round?  Goes all in, goes for the gusto, says yes to everything and decides later whether to juggle any of it.  So if you are prone to overcommitment, then careful over the next year, steady as she goes. Jupiter the wise one reminds you that too much of a good thing comes with a cost.  Make sure it is not your health and wellness.

At the opposite end of the spectrum are those who are more internally focused by nature. During the next twelve months, Jupiter in Leo will push your buttons. You may very well find yourself called to speak out and speak up, dared to take chances you never dreamt of before, hosting that big event you would otherwise shrink from…   Jupiter the teacher says it is time for you to be seen and heard.  The spotlight can feel like an exam, a year-end test looming ahead for you to prepare for and study. 

The lesson Jupiter in Leo offers you now is to heed the call, step out in ways you once thought impossible.  Jupiter would not offer you the opportunity if you were not ready.  So running away or hiding, refusing to step up to the challenge only delays the inevitable.  Eventually the lesson will come around again.  So if you are shrinking from being seen, remember to ask for help.  Ask and it shall be answered now.

The cosmos overflows with planetary assistance in 2026 as all five outer planets very helpfully align to one another.  Since November 2024, there has been a gradual outer planetary shift from earth and water signs, to air and fire signs. The slower moving, farther reaching bodies mark changes in consciousness, especially collective awareness.  Air signs connect and conduct; fire signs create and share.

Leading the change in consciousness was transformer Pluto when it moved into innovative Aquarius late in 2024, followed by spiritual Neptune and taskmaster Saturn entering fiery Aries in February 2026; then radical Uranus shifted into Gemini in April 2026, and finally Generous Jupiter entered Leo at the end of June 2026.  In air signs, Pluto and Uranus gather and inform people, conduct inventions and breakthroughs while Neptune, Saturn and Jupiter in fire signs form the creative engine sparking and churning out ideas.

With Jupiter now in Leo, the proverbial ignition is switched on. All engines are thrusting forward!  It is incredibly important to note how rare this moment is for the outer planets to align so helpfully.  Working so seamlessly together, Pluto, Neptune, Uranus, and Jupiter are ushering in a brand-new age of enlightenment. What to expect?  New ideas, solutions, methods of connecting and communicating, problem solving, and innovation. These unfold, operate and are now shared at warp speed.

Welcome to a completely brand new time where anything is possible.

If life feels like it has sped up dramatically, it is not just you or your imagination.  Time is moving incredibly fast now.  So if you need to take a break from the whirlwind brought to bear on earth, by all means hop off the wheel and take a breather.

You can always jump right back into life when you feel ready and refreshed. The party is not going anywhere; the boat is not leaving without you on board.  With Jupiter in Leo over the course of next year, the festivities, the opportunity, the invitation is always available and it will make sure you land right back in the mix of things.

Turning Tides

July is notably spicier than June.  We cannot help but feel the elevated energy arising at the beginning of the month now that three planets have shifted gears.  As we enter July, Messenger Mercury is retrograde, Motivating Mars joins Uranus in Gemini and Generous Jupiter turns into festive Leo.

July is known to be the hottest month of the year in the Northern Hemisphere; and July 2026 will be one of the hottest months cosmically.  The whiz-bang effects are already on a roll now.  Let’s look at why:

At first glance, July seems to be a vibrant month, full of festivities and frivolity.  Especially with Jupiter, planet of abundance and growth, in the first phase of creative, expressive Leo. Where Jupiter nurtured and nourished in Cancer the Crab over the past year, it now roars in Leo the Lion.  We find ourselves less reserved and instead, ready to take a leap or two.

All five of the outer planets boost our eagerness to dive into life as they helpfully align to each other, Jupiter, Neptune and Saturn in fire signs, Pluto and Uranus in air signs. The outer planets mark our collective shift.   As the individual goes, so goes the group. Each planet moving further into these respective energies underscores the brand-new template experienced by humanity.  In other words, we’ve tested the cosmic temperature and are getting used to it.  We are becoming more comfortable with continual changes and are willing to step in deeper now. 

While the outer planets are on a mission, have us feeling there is absolutely nothing we cannot do, Messenger Mercury reversed gear in cautious Cancer is not so sure.  Enjoy invitations to play and indulge in revelry this July; all the while keeping a firm eye on the end game.   Mercury rules how we think and speak.  Retrograde, it slows our efforts, reminds us to take our time before we commit to anything.  This Mercury retrograde lasts until Thursday, July 23^rd.  Use the time to practice the RE words:  rest, restore, review, research, relax, etc. The first three weeks of July are perfect for vacation, whether a full-blown journey or a long weekend.

Retrograde, Mercury seeks to protect our best interests, to read the fine print before signing significant documents or buying big-ticket items.  We will need every bit of cautious reserve Mercury can muster since Mars is now operating at warp speed as it joins Radical Uranus, aligning to the outer planets. 

Think of a brake pedal and gas pedal, and you get the picture.  Mercury retrograde is the only cosmic force encouraging us to take it easy, slow down a bit.  Gemini Mars connecting to fast-paced outer planets is the proverbial lead foot, heedless of speed limit signs.  Any planet conjoined to Uranus ramps up the energy exponentially.  Then there is Mars.  The action planet is always ready to leap tall buildings in a single bound, committing to projects and people without understanding the long-term impacts.

Tightly joined to Uranus during July, Mars bends and bowls over our best intentions.  Think Tasmanian Devil meets Whirling Dervish.  In talkative Gemini, our minds and mouths will play fast and loose with words. Mercury may very well be overwhelmed and overruled by the sheer dominant cosmic CAN DO, WILL DO of the Uranus-Mars duo.

Before you become a cautionary tale of epic proportions:  watch what you say.   Words once out of your mouth can never be retracted.  Even with the most sincere apology, the damage is done. So: take a breath.  I cannot emphasize the importance of hitting the pause button now during July before agreeing to anything of consequence.

Just after the Fourth of July holiday, Neptune turns retrograde on Monday, July 6^th.  We typically do not feel the gear shifts of outer planets as easily as those cycling closer to earth, such as Mercury, Venus and Mars.  But any cosmic brake pedal is welcome now. Retrograde in Aries, Neptune slows down its mission-from-god effect.  The lead foot on the gas pedal eases up a bit; or at least goes underground for the next few months.

Only a few days later, Valuable Venus turns into practical Virgo on Friday, July 10^th, offering additional stability and grounding energy.  Over the next week, through July 15^th, Venus gut checks the rambunctious and rowdy Mars-Uranus in Gemini.  Meticulous and precise Venus in Virgo asks whether we really want to go there, into the danger zone of language stirred up by Gemini Mars-Uranus.  Bear in mind, Mars and Venus go head-to-head for the rest of July, like two disagreeable siblings or an argumentative couple; so better to keep lips sealed rather than digging ourselves into deep trouble by uttering something better left unsaid.

 Sensitivities are running especially high at mid-month under the light of the New Moon in Cancer the Crab on Tuesday, July 14^th. Our emotions hover close to the surface and feelings are very easily hurt.  So, mind your mouth.  You never regret the things you do not say.

Awareness of the impact we create on others and our world is heightened by Jupiter’s opposition to Pluto from July 18-23^rd. Creativity and innovation are ours for the asking now.  Craft your image and message carefully.  You will be especially seen and heard on or after Thursday, July 23^rd when Messenger Mercury turns direct motion.

Go ahead now and sign the key documents, book travel plans and purchase pricey items.

As we move toward the Full Moon at the end of July, watch for the lunar nodes to change signs.  Their shift is significant.  The nodes are directional markers, pulling us toward and pushing us away from certain energies.  Think of the lunar nodes as a GPS point of origin and destination. The nodes only change signs every 18 months.  For the last year and a half, our directional calling has pulled us toward Pisces and away from Virgo energies; in short, we have been drawn toward surrender, rest, dreaming, illusion/delusion/disillusionment, the non-profit and charitable realm, hospitals, prisons, film, photography/video, music, and water.

Our efforts in the Pisces realm are realized through Virgo qualities such as service, daily routines, habits, health and wellness practices, day-to day work and lifestyle, and animals.  So perhaps you found yourself volunteering at an animal shelter, taking up a water-related exercise, or listening to music throughout your day, just a few examples of the Pisces-Virgo node effect.

Now, through Spring 2028, the lunar nodes move from Pisces-Virgo into Aquarius and Leo.  We are increasingly drawn toward inventive, unique, and yes, rebellious qualities. The Lunar North node calls our name. From July 27^th until March 2028, the North Node will cycle through Aquarius.  Individuality, marching to our own drum, innovation, repeatedly speak to us.  Do not fence me in will be our theme song.

This is particularly relevant since the July 29^th Full Moon occurs in Aquarius, opposite the Sun in Leo.  The energy during the final days of July is incredibly potent. In fact, the impact of this Full Moon is difficult to overestimate. 

First, the Sun is tightly conjoined to Jupiter in Leo.  This combination is immense and grand.  Think go big or go home.  Exactly opposite the Sun-Jupiter are Powerful Pluto and the Moon in unpredictable Aquarius.  The Pluto-Jupiter opposition exacerbates already heightened Full Moon energies.  Voices will be heard; those feeling undermined and oppressed rise up now en masse.  This is not energy to mess with. Shock and surprise are the watchwords.  Add the upcoming eclipses in August to the mix and we are staring down the barrel of a cannon.  Lay low as much as possible from July 26-31^st. 

In an ideal world, beautiful events will unfold at the end of July.  For some, they will.  However, given the current global state of affairs, expect the completely unexpected. Forewarned is forearmed.

Of Special Note:

Is your intuition calling you?  The 3 Wise Women are veteran metaphysical practitioners offering community, conversation and connection via zoom every first Tuesday of the month @6 pm eastern.  For just $10/session, feel safe among like-minded seekers to ask your wildest woo questions and learn from each other.  Join us!  To enroll: www.hilaryharley.com

Mystical Messages features my monthly astrology forecasts if you prefer listening via podcast.  Also featured are cutting edge healing arts practitioners.  Tune in and listen through Youtube, Apple or Spotify or hear previous episodes: www.hilaryharley.com

 

The Thought that Counts

Mindfulness is a term often over-used these days.  Not very long ago, paying attention or being aware were phrases used to describe living intentionally.  Each of these phrases are particularly relevant during June due to two cosmic influences.  First, the empathic nature of Cancer the Crab where a trio of planets greets us, as well as the mentally oriented Sun in Gemini.

In the wake of May’s blue moon, June opens with a soft place to land.  Messenger Mercury enters nurturing Cancer the Crab on the first day of June, joining Valuable Venus and Generous Jupiter in this compassionate water sign.

June is typically known as Gemini’s month since the Sun cycles through this communicative sign; however, the three key planets in Cancer draw our focus, how we relate and communicate, to family and home during the first half of the month.  The Cozy Crab rules food, family and ancestral roots, our land of birth, real estate and housing, inheritance as well as psychological conditioning.

Cancerian energy now is ideal if you have residential projects underway, family celebrations, growing or preparing food, welcoming new members of the family, or alternatively, saying goodbye to loved ones.  Yes, Cancer oversees all matters involving family, including hospice, life-endings, funerals and cemeteries.

Often, people with significant Cancer placements are the trusted confidante, the wise ones, the family elder even if not the chronologically oldest relative. They are often tapped to be the power of attorney, estate trustee or executor, or simply the one relied upon to effectively manage family affairs.

During the first two weeks of June we are particularly empathic and sympathetic, as Mercury aligns to the lunar north node in Pisces.  Our spidey senses, aka, our intuition is very sharp indeed.  You are certain about what you know now, even if you do not understand how you know it.  Pay special attention to your gut instincts because they are precise and accurate.  If someone tries to convince you otherwise, that your feelings are not real or valid, stand firm in your position.  You have strong feelings for a reason.

The trio of planets in Cancer also make us rather porous, notably influenced by others.  We pick up their energy like flies to glue.  So it is vital to set boundaries with those who have a tendency to take advantage of your good graces. Whether dealing with family or not, it is more than OK to say NO when asked to invest your time and effort in something.  Instead, allow others to pitch in and contribute.  You can always decide if, when or how to show up.

Mercury challenges Neptune and Saturn in Aries through mid-month, begging the question: do we go along and get along as we always have, or rather, stand up for ourselves and do what feeds our goals and soul.  Best to take turns with this Cancer and Aries energy: prioritize your needs in equal measure to external demands on your time.  

This is a primary lesson of 2026:  to put your own proverbial oxygen mask on before assisting someone else.  Self-care is not selfish because an empty pitcher cannot refill another vessel. 

While effective boundaries are like preventative medicine, the corollary is to clear your energy after any event is over and done.  Clearing your energetic field is equally important as effective boundaries and is similar to showering after a workout.  Clearing your field does not need to be time-consuming; rather, the simpler the better: a brief visualization, use of essential oils or flower essences, spending time in nature, or a brief meditation.

When we feel protected and clear, we may act in our best interests and live to our highest potential.

Through June 12^th, the planetary energy is calm. By the end of the second week, the cosmos begins to stir.  Saturday, June 13^th, Valuable Venus gets the party started when she moves into playful Leo.  Venus shines in this creative sign.  Romance and festivities blossom now. Venus opposes Powerful Pluto in Aquarius over the next week prompting groundbreaking innovations in art, science, technology and fashion.

Two days later, the New Moon on Monday, June 15th in communicative Gemini offers a ripe opportunity to set clear intentions for the next month, season or year.  Be sure to take advantage of this strong energy and hand write three to five goals and intentions, then plant these in the warm late spring soil or carefully ignite.

Your goals take root during the Summer Solstice when the Sun shifts into Cancer the Crab on Sunday, June 21^st, marking the longest day of the year. The Sun aligns helpfully to the lunar nodes, sharpening our intuition which offers equally practical sensibility.  No unrealistic pipe dreams here.  You will feel divinely grounded and guided now as the Sun challenges spiritual Neptune in Aries.  We take inspired action on dreams and plans. You know in the center of your soul what is right and true for you.   Think of a trail of breadcrumbs leading you onward.  Follow its path, where it takes you.  Careful not to allow others to persuade you otherwise.

A trio of cosmic shifts marks the final days of June.

First, on Sunday, June 28^th, Motivating Mars enters talkative Gemini for six weeks. From the end of June into mid-July Mars tightly conjoins Radical Uranus, both aligning to Pluto.  Expect breakthroughs on every front.  This is one powerful magic wand!  Use it wisely and well.  Our ideas soar, and so do our words.  

So a few cautions worth noting here:

While this energy can feel like a magic carpet ride, it is also wise to watch for sharp tongues and hot exchanges of words.  Remember that uncontrolled language once out of your mouth, even with apologies, is difficult to erase. Hurt feelings have staying power.  So hit the pause button before speaking out of turn.  Ask: will my words heal or hurt?

Mars-Uranus in Gemini may also impact ground transportation, sibling situations, or those involving neighbors and communities.  Be especially mindful of language impacting the latter groups when Messenger Mercury turns retrograde on June 29^th.  Rely on the good old-fashioned adage think before you speak.  

Our thoughts turn inward now, a perfect time for research and development, summer vacations and a change of pace.  A different gear is exactly what’s in store as Generous Jupiter moves into look-at-me Leo on Tuesday, June 30^th.  For the next year, the mood is FESTIVE.   Get your party shoes polished!  Creativity, fun, romance, playfulness overflow now.

And boy do we need it.  Leo Jupiter arrives not a minute too soon.

The planet of expansion and abundance is a help wherever it cycles.  That said, during these highly unsettling times, Jupiter in Leo is most welcome to remind us to be silly, to take that chance, that life is more than details and drudgery.  So step out on that limb you’ve been toying with. To win, you need to play.  What do you have to lose?  Go ahead and toss your hat in the ring.

Of Special Note:

Is your intuition calling you?  The 3 Wise Women are veteran metaphysical practitioners offering community, conversation and connection via zoom every first Tuesday of the month @6 pm eastern.  For just $10/session, feel safe among like-minded seekers to ask your wildest woo questions and learn from each other.  Join us!  To enroll: www.hilaryharley.com

Mystical Messages features my monthly astrology forecasts if you prefer listening via podcast.  Also featured are cutting edge healing arts practitioners.  Tune in and listen through Youtube, Apple or Spotify or hear previous episodes: www.hilaryharley.com

 

Uranus Awakening in Gemini

 By now you have no doubt heard about the BIG DEAL that happened cosmically on Saturday, April 25^th?

About once every seven years, the Great Awakener Uranus changes signs.  Until late April, Uranus cycled through earthy Taurus.  The two are mutually uncomfortable together.  The primal earth sign of the zodiac, Taurus likes stability, predictability and to stay put.

But along came Radical Uranus to turn over the apple cart.  That’s its purpose after all:  to incite change.  Uranus does not stir up change simply for the sake of chaos and upheaval.  Rather, Uranus influences us to align with our soul’s purpose, to get out of the rut we may be stuck in, to move outside of the lanes to which we may have confined ourselves and see life through different perspectives.  Uranus catalyzes change and evolution even if  radically, through shock, surprise or sudden events.

As a result, Uranus’ passage through Taurus brought earthquakes, epic flooding, volcanos,  the rise of crypto currency, fluctuations in monetary valuation and greater globalization of commerce and business transactions.

Now until 2033, Uranus cycles through Gemini, an infinitely more comfortable fit for the planet called the Great Awakener.  Why is it so much more at home here?  As the ruler of Aquarius, an air sign, Uranus finds a like-minded friend if you will in Gemini, the first air sign of the zodiac.  Think of Gemini as a cousin or sibling to Aquarius which Uranus rules.  Gemini is more amenable and receptive to Uranus’ energy; whereas Taurus is renowned for its resistance, aka, stubbornness, resisting and pushing back against Uranian influence.

Instead, Gemini offers a Uranus a glove that fits like a dream.  Hand in hand, the pair flow seamlessly together, aligning helpfully now to two outer planets:  Neptune in Aries and Pluto in Aquarius.  This fortuitous alignment lasts through the next 18 months, ushering in entirely new lifestyle frontiers unimaginable just a few years ago.

For context, history is always our best teacher; so let’s take a look at the last time Uranus passed through Gemini, eighty-four years ago when Uranus changed planet earth and humanity as a result.  1942-1949 found the world embroiled in the second World War and the years immediately following. 

What emerged from this phase occurring precisely at mid-century, divided life into what came before the war and after, not simply because of the war itself, but rather the groundbreaking technology that dramatically shifted how humanity interacted.  Think about how your life would be without the following:

-Television, the microwave, radar, antibiotics, jet engine, dialysis, Velcro, Tupperware, FM radio, electronic digital computers, freeze dried foods, the ball point pen, electron microscope, handheld calculator, and photocopying (aka xerox).

These are among the primary technological developments of that seven-year period. Products we use and take for granted so integrated now are they in our everyday life.  We can only imagine how our lives will evolve by 2033 when Uranus concludes its tour through Gemini.  The 1970s cartoon show called the Jetsons comes to mind.  In some respects, we are already living like that with drone usage and driverless cars.

Which brings us to the source of all these innovations:  Uranus.  Known as the Change Agent or Great Awakener, Uranus disrupts.  Like the sign it rules, Aquarius, Uranus is different and unique among planets for rotating vertically rather than horizontally.  Where the other planets are referenced by gender (Mars and Pluto are masculine while Venus and Neptune are feminine), Uranus is gender neutral like its younger planetary octave Mercury, referred to by the pronoun it.  

Both Mercury and Uranus rule the intellect; but Uranus takes intelligence even farther than its interior sibling:  Uranus rules invention, innovation, humanitarian causes, groups, teams, collective consciousness and rebellion. Surprise, shock and awe are its playground.  When Uranus activates your world, life takes an unexpected turn.

It switches things up to bring us into alignment with our soul’s purpose.  Uranus is in its element when we have become too comfortable on our path and the routine of life has become a hum-drum rut rather than brimming with vitality.  Sometimes Uranus blindsides us via an accident, job loss, illness, relationship collapse or otherwise, diverting us from the path we thought we were supposed to travel. 

Many times, Uranus delivers windfalls, eureka moments, ideas, realizations, solutions and connections that alter the course of our lives.  Artists and scientists work diligently for years to then arrive upon that perfect answer awakened by Uranus seemingly out of the blue.

And yet, did that answer really emerge from out of the blue?  The Uranian maxim is: expect the unexpected; and while human beings do not like sudden turns of events or change, Uranus marches on a diet of the only constant in life is change. 

So now let’s turn to Gemini and why this sign cooperates with Uranus so easily.  Gemini brings a breath of fresh air to the Awakener Uranus.  Ruled by Mercury, the younger sibling of Uranus, Gemini offers spunk, energy and a veritable buffet of outlets for Uranian ideas.  This initial air sign of the zodiac represents communication, transactions, ground transportation (cars, trains, buses), siblings, tribe, community and neighbors.

Depicted by the Twins glyph, Gemini is adaptable, varied, and flexible.  Think of a light switch in ON and OFF modes.  The assertive twin is the ON mode of Gemini; while the passive twin is the OFF twin.  In order to be ON, Gemini must spend equal time OFF or otherwise burnout in overdrive mode.  ON equals To Do while Off equals To Be. One is the transmitter, the other the receiver.

The assertive Gemini twin fully engages, best known as the salesman of the zodiac, talking, speaking, persuading and dazzling linguistically.  It is the social media maven, the VP of Sales and Marketing, the TV talk show host, the Tik Tok influencer.  To be that person takes a great deal of energy, thus the requisite downtime offered by the passive Gemini twin.

Unplugged, the calm, receptive version of Gemini listens, reflects, meditates, contemplates, ruminates, and integrates.  If we never slept, relaxed with a book, listened to music, or simply sat quietly, we would not have energy to work or go about the business of living.

Now entering Gemini, Uranus finds a wide-open channel to stream endless ideas, thoughts, and concepts.  The genius inventor, Uranus is the font and source of the avant garde and cutting-edge prototypes; while Gemini is the immense river branching out in infinite directions. Uranus seizes the opportunity afforded by Gemini to share, exchange and amplify its ideas and inventions.   If you’ve ever experienced a thought only to see it come to life before your eyes, this is Uranus in Gemini.  Magic awaits.

We only have history to predict how life might change by the time 2033 arrives and Uranus departs Gemini.  Science, medicine, art, music, technology, transportation, communication, will be enhanced and challenged in ways we can only imagine come 2034.  One thing for sure is that no facet of our world will remain the same after the next seven years conclude.