The Sun enters Leo I The Spotlight, a decan ruled by the Sun but administrated by Saturn, on Wednesday 22 July 2026 at 3:13 pm EDT at my location in western Massachusetts. The combination known as Barbeault’s Basket is starting to break up, although Jupiter in Leo, Uranus in Gemini, Neptune in Aries and Pluto in Aquarius are all still at 4° of their respective signs.
Austin Coppock called this decan The Spotlight, while T. Susan Chang called it Under Pressure — one name conveying the power and authority of the expert on stage with commanding presence; the other highlighting the risks of asserting expertise and experience before any large audience. Tarot assigns this decan to the Five of Wands — a card that presents a battle of passions in a playful way, leading the viewer to wonder if the fight is a practice bout or deadly serious. The Sun will be in this decan for ten days, eleven hours and ten minutes before entering Leo II The Laurel Wreath on 2 August 2026 at 2:23 am EDT.
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The ancient Greeks assigned this decan to the god Hephaestus, the blacksmith-god and lord of the forge. The second son (and older middle child of four) of Zeus and Hera, he was famous for standing between his parents during one of their quarrels — and being hurled so far and so hard from Mount Olympus that Mount Aetna burst open and belched fire where he landed and broke both his legs. How does one fall, to become a crippled god for eternity? In a cave inside that very mountain, he built his forge and remained there for most of his days.
In due course of time (time? What does that mean to an immortal god?) he became husband to Aphrodite, but found her often in the adulterous embrace of Ares his brother — no matter what matchless jewels he fashioned for her, no matter what beautiful things he made for her, she was more eager to sample other delights. After many complications, he asked her for a divorce, and married instead Charis, the goddess of Taurus I — Aphrodite’s bathing attendant and hairdresser. Theirs was a happier marriage and continues to this day.
Yet the Mystery is that Hephaestus has always been married only once: faithful and loyal, with a faithful and loyal wife in Aphrodite. What does it mean that there is both an eternal partnership, and yet one wracked by infidelities? What does it mean that there is both divorce, and no divorce, among these two, the forge-god and the love-goddess? Who is Charis, and what is the meaning of her ongoing partnership with Vulcan? Why is she both only a bathing attendant, and yet also Hephaestus’ second wife?
There’s something of the aspects of various deities here that probably worth mentioning — that Charis can be understood both as an aspect of Aphrodite herself (because what is a bathing attendant and hairdresser besides an ally in the process of becoming beautiful and glamorous), as well as a spirit or lesser goddess in service to Aphrodite’s realms of expertise and experience.
I’ve written about Leo I before in 2025 — 2024 — 2023 — 2022 — 2021 — 2020 — 2019.
Dates to Watch
July 24 — Mercury sextile Venus — favorable communications on romantic or partnership issues are likely today, but only if you start with green-flag admissions about some issue in the past which is worthy of your review, reflection and modification and apology. If you begin from a place of “you did this to me…” you’re probably not going to arrive at delightful conclusions.
July 25 — Moon opposes Mars — you probably had really big plans to finish this project today. Nope. Go in the direction of your intuitions instead. Sure, you can ignore those gut instincts to take a detour and instead keep to your established plan; but you may miss important options.
July 26 — Venus squares Mars — Yep, THIS is the place where that seething resentment in a relationship could bubble over into a tempest. If you can work through the conflict and come to agreement, the make-up sex could be amazing… but all the same, you may want to stay close to the exits.
July 28 — Sun conjuncts Jupiter, opposes Pluto, trines Neptune, sextiles Uranus — this one is a bit of a smear over several days from July 25 to August 3. Unsavory backroom deals between economic elites and political officials may come to light, but don’t believe every story you hear… and interrogate which leaders and which elites show up in reports… and which ones seem to be squeaky clean.
July 29 — Full Moon in Aquarius — at 6° Aquarius, this Full Moon is in the 24th Mansion, The Luckiest of the Lucky, whose image is a woman feeding an infant at her breast and whose angel is Abrimael. Great for making protection charms that defend against encountering hostile officials.
House Delineations
The First House of self and self-presentation is Scorpio, ruled by inconjunct Mars; the Moon is present. The other Water triplicity ruler Venus is sextile. It’s a good week to code yourself as efficiently Gothic in black professional clothing, with a slightly feminine but predatory vibe. For a slightly more disturbing presentation, alternate between two maxim’s, “I don’t bite, unless asked nicely,” and the Paracelsan Aphorism, “All things are poison and there is nothing which is not poison. The utility is in the dosage.” (p.s., don’t poison anybody… just be prepared to look like you might).
The Second House of money and possessions is Sagittarius, ruled by trining Jupiter conjunct the Sun. The other Fire triplicity ruler Saturn is trine. It’s a good week for holding one of your official stories about how money and wealth works up to the light, researching if the stories you learned as a child are really true, and if necessary, completely demolishing that incorrect assumption.
The Third House of extended family and intimate friends is Capricorn, ruled by squaring Saturn. The Earth triplicity rulers are inconjunct (Mars), trine (Venus), or sextile (Moon). Work plans are likely to get in the way of social activities with neighbors or the inner circle of family if you don’t force yourself up from your chair; try to make time for friends anyway, particularly in the second or third tier of acquaintances that you don’t see as often.
The Fourth House of home, household, and parents is Aquarius, ruled by sextile Saturn. The Air triplicity rulers are sextile (Saturn), opposed (Jupiter) and inconjunct (Mercury). Pluto is present. It’s easy to be frustrated by the ways that you need to keep re-investing in real estate, and keep throwing money at family problems. The criticism of the expense does not resolve the issue; only daily effort and reviewing how you got into this mess in the first place, will reveal appropriate strategies.
The Fifth House of pleasures and pastimes is Pisces, ruled by inconjunct Jupiter. The Water triplicity rulers are opposed (Venus), trine (Moon) and square (Mars). The North Node and the Lot of Fortune are present. How you spend your free time is probably the place where you have the greatest freedom of action and the greatest contentment this week. The journey toward what you do with that time, is likely to be the most roundabout route possible. Start early, don’t wait for August 1.
The Sixth House of daily routines, pets, and injuries is Aries, ruled by sextile Mars. Neptune and Saturn are present. The other Fire triplicity rulers are inconjunct (Jupiter, Sun). You may be raring to go on a big new project that is likely to consume a lot of time, but it may be worth taking a step back and figuring out what makes this particular effort seems so compelling. Meanwhile, you can expect that sovereign powers are going to be reluctant to let you take charge or even see the dashboard, much less handle the controls… be patient, delay here is inevitable.
The Seventh House of spouse, peer partners, and rivals is Taurus, ruled by trining Venus. The other Earth triplicity rulers are inconjunct (Mars) or opposed (Moon). A kind of false minimalism or “roughing it” may color the next 10 days, but a luxurious quote “back to the home ground” reunion may be the actual project. Spouses take a hit to their actual finances and resources, in a way that may leave you feeling emotionally drained but physically ready to help.
The Eighth House of obligation, duty and legacy is Gemini, ruled by inconjunct Mercury. The Air triplicity rulers are sextile (Saturn, Jupiter). Uranus and Mars are present. Sudden appeals, changes of plans, and customary activities are likely to color your last week of July. Take care of your hands, and keep them out of the grill as well as the chopped onions. Mind all your fingers as you tackle the business end of a hammer on household projects.
The Ninth House of higher learning and long-distance travel is Cancer, ruled by the trining Moon. The other Water triplicity rulers are sextile (Venus) and inconjunct (Mars). Mercury is present and retrograde. Travel for public purposes is likely to be stalled or delayed, while retreats to secrecy, silence, and reflection are likely to quickly fulfill their purposes.
The Tenth House of career and professional reputation is Leo, ruled by the present Sun. The other Fire triplicity rulers are either present (Jupiter) or trine (Saturn). You’re likely to find an expensive role in the sunlight as an expert this week; but a great deal of your power comes from shining a light onto others and not hogging the glory. Have a list of people to give credit to, handy at all times. It will make you better loved, demonstrating the power of generosity.
The Eleventh House of friends, associates, and allies is Virgo, ruled by sextile Jupiter. The South Node is present. The other Earth triplicity rulers are re sextile (Moon) or square (Mars). Your biggest fans will be begging for your attention this week, and it’s both a source of trouble and of new creativity and connection. The advice and effort you put forward on their behalf, especially in secret, is likely to win you long-term friends. Try to remember that it is easy to organically overextend yourself.
The Twelfth House of both obstacles and opportunities is Libra, ruled by inconjunct Venus. The other Air triplicity rulers are opposed (Saturn), square (Mercury), or sextile (Jupiter). Reread the 11th house advice again, and remember that it is easy to organically overextend yourself. Once you’ve absorbed that lesson, though, remember that long-term balance is not really within reach right now, and trying to establish it is going to get you into more trouble than it’s worth. Risk being overextended.
Horoscopes by Rising Sign
Decan I of any sign (usually covering the 21st of the month to the first of the following month) is free to all visitors; Decan II is only available to Patreon and Ko-Fi.com subscribers; and Decan III is available to Patreon, Ko-Fi, and MailChimp subscribers.
I recommend reading your Sun sign, Moon sign, and Rising sign for best results. I write them with rising sign in mind, but several people have told me they find that they do better with all three.
Scorpio: allegedly, rattlesnakes are evolving to bite first, and rattle later: too many humans have killed too many of the anxious or merciful ones, and now the ones that are left to breed are more aggressive. It is a week for planning to be more protective at home and more possessive; while being more anxious and generous in the workplace. Put another way, don’t let unexpected visitors in at home, even as you remind them how much you gave at the office.
Sagittarius: you are hungry for the straight line, but the real path ahead of you requires many twists and turns. Stop seeking shortcuts in family matters; it is time to start forging a new, kind of creative life for yourself and lead some of the roots of your old career die off. A significant other may be going through a time of challenge and upheaval; push back against their worst ideas, and try to uphold some traditions. Choose to be home more frequently.
Capricorn: conflict may arise between you and a close family member or friend over who gets to be in charge of important resources, and the daily schedule you plan together; seniority, and vision, are likely to be in some conflict with one another — and not see eye to eye. Do your best to create a long-term balanced approach, at least on paper. Go over past communications and make sure that you understand one another for best results. A poisonous rivalry may be favorably transformed by the creation of a shared experience in a social environment. Similarly, a poisonous and angry opinion about people you don’t even really know is killing you —take an antidote to bring you to at least a neutral opinion for a while and see how that feels.
Aquarius: sure, you know how to fix all of the different problems at home. You’re pretty smart like that. But it’s worth asking if you have the time, the inclination, and the patience to do all of these different tasks. Are you putting them off because they are odious or because you have more important things to do? At least one business author of my acquaintance says that everybody has at least one job that they can do better than anyone else around, and that they should pay someone else to do the jobs at which they are less good. That moment has arrived for you: hire somebody to do the odd jobs and spend the money; earn it back from your own genuine excellences.
Pisces: if you chose play, fun, and contentment as often as you liked, what kinds of conflicts would it cause in your household? What arguments would it lead to, and what Work would get left undone? Would your spouse or significant other be able to step into the gap, and would you be comfortable with the unexpected shit it caused? Would it prevent you from being a breakout storyteller in your professional life who harnesses useless resources into delights? Maybe you should find out.
Aries: the Zen Master Sunryu Suzuki was allegedly fond of saying “In the beginner’s mind, there are many possibilities; in the expert’s mind there are few. Strive always to have beginners mind.” it’s an important lesson. You may have forgotten both in your daily work, and in your approach to how you solve your troubles and the difficulties of your underlings and followers. The problem is not that you are not an expert — the problem is that you are entirely too skilled to see alternatives that might work out acceptably. Retreat in secret and try out some of your previously rejected solutions at home away from the public eye. See if you can unstick your ideas about what “best practice” really is.
Taurus: connect to others through fun and play and pleasure, and hanging out with the kids. Recognize that this needs to arise, organically and naturally rather than through deliberate effort. Notice that it’s not likely to work out perfectly. The work of your hands is unlikely to bring much happiness, and may blow up in your face, this week. It’s worth reviewing your resources and determining what is really within your capabilities. An old job offer may be dangled again with a more tempting set of compensations; a big hearted and compassionate look at family life may be more your speed right now.
Gemini: what are you obligated to do right now, and what are you resisting? How are you fighting against your traditional role? Is there a gap between your aesthetics and your skill in delivering them? Technical difficulties in your household may be best addressed by figuring out where this compost is supposed to go. Choosing to wander all over the map in your professional life, without boundaries, isn’t serving anyone: can you find the right wandering path that allows you to cross the finish line? A spouse or significant other wants to break out of traditional norms —is holding the line serving you both well? How can you communicate your feelings clearly?
Cancer: it is long past time for you to communicate where you want to go and what landscapes you want to visit — both the interior ones of the mind and heart, and the exterior ones with names like Arizona and Thailand. You may not be able to get to these places right away, but no real pilgrim ever set out without pre-defining some destinations; even the Mayflower “saints” thought another kind of heaven was on the other Atlantic shore. Your professional role this week will have flashes of future possibilities in it; and a supervisor, who can’t seem to say anything other than NO. Schedule confidential time with a close friend, in order to process the shit that brings up.
Leo: you rarely need to be told to seek the spotlight twice, but you need to find ways to make it serve your professional interests — and to highlight the social circle in which you move. Claude Monet is in part the most famous Impressionist painter, because he was also the impresario who organized the art shows — and you may gain more fame by working on highlighting the skills of the social circle in which you move. The right business partner may be offering a harsh critique of your previous work right now. Work on transforming familial trauma into the gold of a good story.
Virgo: In practical terms, you define yourself in part through your relationships and networks of friends — but you have probably given more to those connections recently then you’ve gotten back. It’s honorable, but it may be time to start drawing on those favors that you have banked with others and seeing who is prepared to offer proper payback. Demanding those favors in the workplace may reveal secret enemies, though. Be prepared to make a few unpleasant discoveries about formerly solicitous colleagues.
Libra: on a day-to-day basis, matters may be so difficult that it feels like the right course of action to retreat into long-term thinking: “Once Sarah in accounting retires, I’ll be able to… and once Jim in shipping gets promoted, we’ll….” Avoid this kind of thinking for the moment, though, and start building connections with your associates and allies now. Thinking about tomorrow won’t help you get through today, and there are important people in your world ready to say, not just “not today” but “not ever” (and imagine where that lands you in the long run??). It is time to learn some new communication skills, and review the names of your fellow employees and their photograph so you can recognize them in the hallways and call them by name. Be the sunshine and the chocolate kiss in your colleagues’ lives, even if all you get back (for now) are frowns.
Colophon
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If you want to read some of my astrologically-oriented poetry, the largest collection is called A Full Volume of Splendor and Starlight, available through my Etsy shop, and containing poems and hymns to the planets, constellations, decan deities, and Moon Mansion angels. While not astrological, Festae contains hymns to some of the older Roman gods and spirits from the calendar created by Numa Pompilius, the second ancient King of Rome.
I use iPhemeris for my charting software, and screenshot it to make charts. I want to thank the team that develops iPhemeris for the addition of Terms and Decans to their charts. I also use Hugh Tran‘s Physis typeface to craft logos for this blog, as well.
I use Christopher Warnock‘s The Mansions of the Moon as the basis of my Moon placement delineations, and Austin Coppock‘s 36 Faces for much of my planetary delineations. Neither gentleman endorses me.
