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The Sun enters Leo II The Laurel Wreath on Sunday, August 2, 2026 at 2:23 AM EDT. Associated with the victorious parade that Pamela Coleman Smith used to illustrate the six of wands, and with the goddess Isis, the mistress of Magic in Egyptian myth, Leo II is ruled by the Sun, but administrated by Jupiter. The Sun will be here until Wednesday 12 August at 12:48 pm EDT, making ten days, ten hours and twenty-five minutes. The name I use for this decan comes from Austin Coppock, while T. Susan Chang called it Your Moment in the Sun.
It’s hard to know what parts of the Isis story to write about, because she exercised such mythic and legendary force in the Egyptian, Hellenistic and Roman eras; there’s a particular claim, too, that she’s syncretized (or “weirdly combined”) with another goddess or almost-goddess you might know, The Virgin Mary Mother of Jesus, theotokos. The Roman novelist and poet Apuleius wrote a book that was partly a hilarious story and partly an evangelical document on behalf of Isis, which is still a cracking good read, The Golden Ass. In it, a young man is transformed by a neighbor into a donkey/ass for being rather too eager to learn sex and magic, and winds up being transported halfway across the empire before he’s magicked back into a human shape by the intervention of the goddess Isis. It was written at a time when Christianity was already large enough, and scary enough, to the Roman authorities to be subjected to persecution — and yet despite its avid depiction of isis worship, survived into the modern period because it’s so funny and such an insightful commentary on the lived experience of ordinary people in the Greco-Roman world.
Perhaps, though, that’s how to remember this decan’s importance and value — it’s largely a time for people to remember the ordinarily transformative women in their lives, whether those be goddesses with the ear of the god-kings, or the sensible wives who murmur in the politician’s ear about what’s really possible. It’s also a time to recall that magic not only restrains the mighty and empowers the lowly, though. Sometimes it’s used for truly malefic ends, whether by turning a man into a beast of burden and sending him into dangerous exile, or convincing an empire to behave in ways that serve private interests rather than public goods.
Yet the connection to the Six of Wands serves as a reminder that we’re here to be honored and recognized for our achievements and hard work. We need our moment in the Sun, in which we’re remembered for our glorious deeds. The servant may hold the laurel wreath over our heads even as he mutters, “Remember you, too, are dust and are mortal, and will die.” But we still want our chance to ride as the grand marshal in the parade: Take the bow. Accept the compliment. Receive the accolades. Recognize that you deserve the honor. Then — get back to work.
The dodeks of Leo II are Sagittarius of Leo, Capricorn of Leo, Aquarius of Leo, and Pisces of Leo. I’ve written before about this decan, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Dates to Watch
On August 6, Venus will enter her own sign of Libra. The shift carries her out of Virgo where she’s considered to be exiled, to her own rulership or domicile — a princess coming home from the prison tower in a foreign land to her own palace and seated on her own throne in honor.
On August 9, Mercury enters Leo from Cancer — entering the realm of the Sun once again, the messenger or postal clerk on their rounds. Since the herald planet has no particular dignity in either Cancer or Leo, this may not have much effect, but it will place them rather too close to the Sun to be seen as a morning star — that is, gregarious and talkative, expert and experienced, clever and seductive. Mercury will have a rare cazimi/conjunction with the Sun in their own sign of Virgo on August 26 at 1:04 pm EDT — consider this stretch from August 9 to August 26 the long persuasion of the leader toward some course of action followed by a giving in to their influence and sway that lasts until the start of the next Mercury retrograde in mid-October.
On August 12, 2026 at 1:45 pm EDT, there is a Solar Eclipse that will pass over Greenland, Iceland, and Spain (and a lot of open Atlantic Ocean). Totality is only expected to last about two minutes in most places; while the process of appearance and conclusion will take about two hours and seven minutes in total.
House Delineations
The First House of self and self-presentation is Gemini, ruled by inconjunct Mercury. The other Air triplicity rulers are sextile (Jupiter, Saturn); Mars and Uranus are present. Reorganize your closet this week, by removing the clothes that no longer bring you joy or that actively harm your sense of self. The work of your hands and responsibility may bring unexpected wisdom in surprising ways; be alert to the risks of unpleasantness so that you may be joyfully surprised.
The Second House of money and possessions is Cancer, ruled by the trining Moon. The Water triplicity rulers are inconjunct (Mars), sextile (Venus), and trine (Moon). The Moon is in the 28th Mansion The Great Fish, while Mercury and the Lunar Perigee are present. Stick to traditional methods of investment, savings, and returns; be suspicious of get-rich-quick schemes; take in your planned harvest but don’t overharvest just because it seems like you can.
The Third House of extended family and intimate friends is Leo, ruled by the present Sun. The Fire triplicity rulers are present (Sun, Jupiter), and trine (Saturn). The South Node is present. Show up for your community as a leader and thinker, and be prepared to win accolades, but be aware that organizing teams and events will not be your forte or bring you happiness this week.
The Fourth House of home, household, and parents is Virgo, ruled by sextile Mercury. The Earth triplicity rulers are present (Venus), square (Mars) and opposed (Moon). Deep and effective analysis of household routines and norms will be a source of creative delight and beauty, but it’s best to let this work arise organically and through the process of unburying old ideas, rather than trying to force any one issue into a preferred shape.
The Fifth House of pleasures and pastimes is Libra, ruled by inconjunct Venus. The Air triplicity rulers are opposed (Saturn), square (Mercury), and sextile (Jupiter). It may be easy to think you can buy your way to satisfaction around your hobbies, or purchase success for your children. But such efforts are likely to bring both unexpected delays and be revealed at inconvenient or challenging times. Find ways to bring down the cost of your delights, and help your kids do their own work rather than doing it for them.
The Sixth House of daily routines, pets, employees/contractors, and injuries is Scorpio, ruled by inconjunct Mars. The Water triplicity rulers are sextile (Venus), inconjunct (Mars), and trine (Moon). The Lot of Fortune is present. Choosing who works for you, and what you do on a daily basis, is likely to be a place of secrecy and suspicion rather than love. Choose ways to transform your painful secrets into happy mysteries.
The Seventh House of spouse, peer partners, and rivals is Sagittarius, ruled by trining Jupiter. The Fire triplicity rulers are all trine: Saturn, Jupiter, Sun). Favorable circulations excite the connections between old friends, new friends and your local community, but may put some unexpected and unintentional pressure on your romantic or business relationships.
The Eighth House of obligation, duty and legacy is Capricorn, ruled by squaring Saturn. The Earth triplicity rulers are inconjunct (Mars), trine (Venus), and sextile (Moon). The Lunar Apogee is present. It’s possible to play hooky from some of your responsibilities, just this once. Get the work done quickly, brag about it, and then put it away.
The Ninth House of higher learning and long-distance travel is Aquarius, ruled by sextile Saturn. The Air triplicity rulers are sextile (Saturn), opposed (Jupiter), and inconjunct (Mercury). Pluto and the North Node are present. Road trips and social trips with others are likely to bring deeper connections, but solo journeys are likely to be unpleasantly costly in ways that are outsized relative to their benefit. It’s worth learning some new skills around untangling challenging relationship matters — both through therapeutic conversations, and investigating how divorce works. Remember, it doesn’t have to be for you… it could be for a friend.
The Tenth House of career and professional reputation is Pisces, ruled by inconjunct Jupiter. The Water triplicity rulers are present (Moon), opposed (Venus) and square (Mars). It’s time to set personal deadlines around these projects you’re overseeing or doing at work, and get them out the door, even if you think they’re not ready. No matter how long and winding the path, cut through the difficulties and get stuff done this week, or it’s likely to carry over a long while.
The Eleventh House of friends, associates, and allies is Aries, ruled by sextile Mars. The Fire triplicity rulers are present but in fall and retrograde (Saturn), or trine (Jupiter, Sun). Neptune is also present and retrograde. Big plans with friends and associates require a long look back at the past, and a careful division of the good and the bad. Expect that older leaders among your friends are likely to dominate the conversations, but it may not be wise to let them make all the decisions without your advice and input.
The Twelfth House of both obstacles and opportunities is Taurus, ruled by trining Venus in fall. The Earth triplicity rulers are trine (Venus), inconjunct (Mars) or sextile (Moon). Indolence and reluctance to act may scuttle long-term plans; both professional deadlines and household obligations inspire creativity but also waffling about important decisions that change your material circumstances. Delay brings some benefit, though.
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.
Gemini: Handling sharp objects and wielding harsh arguments is likely to backfire; but so is going along to get along. Draw a narrower circle of friends and close family into important consultations, but hold a boundary with mere acquaintances. It’s easy to spend money, and easy to justify various costs — but harder to identify what the real value is in doing so, and you still may not get your money’s worth.
Cancer: Wind up a few financial issues as best you can, but favor the financial decisions that affect home and household more than those that support entertainment or your professional or career roles: higher quality paper isn’t going to matter to your resume, but good quality food in your fridge will bring incalculable benefits. At the same time, wind up a few (mal-)lingering projects at work, or they’re likely to linger well into the autumn.
Leo: find ways to celebrate and honor your friends and close neighbors and community, but trouble may arise from trying to be the event-planner yourself. Find ways to lead in part by finding ways to delegate and offer your alleged power and allegiance to others. Help people think they’re reporting to you when you’re merely advising them and assuming no responsibility for their achievements. Expect that trying to force norms is likely to fail — be prepared to learn a few hard lessons this week, even a few you thought you already learned.
Virgo: Household challenges may eat into your analysis of your current net worth, but some creative accounting may resurrect old liabilities into new assets for you and those in your family group. A professional contract, properly wound up, may net a tidy profit that can be put into circulation as a new source of wealth for you and your associates. Be alert to a partner or ally in the workplace cutting down your reputation to salvage their own.
Libra: It may feel like it’s easy to buy your way to happiness this week, but your therapy session this week may awaken old issues you thought long buried. Set clear deadlines and expectations for an employer in writing about when certain contractual payments need to be made before you stop work — and be really clear with their supervisors about why certain things have stopped working. An age-related issue may cause anxiety for you and a spouse or significant other: review past information, and be cautious about making decisions, but give yourself a clear expiration date for action.
Scorpio: You have a surprising freedom to make decisions that don’t come back to bite you this week — but those choices may have more to do with which contractor you hire, which kitten to get at the animal shelter or which coffee house makes your daily libation. Still, each of those choices can still be deeply transformative, and so can all spur-of-the-moment selections you make this week. Try to make them in ways that allow you to predict ongoing responsibilities, though rather than caught by surprise — remember that cats need litter boxes and food, baristas need tips, and contractors will still try to keep certain costs hidden as they pad the final invoice.
Sagittarius: There are still important lessons to learn this week in your relationships with your best friend, your romantic partner, your business partner or even your rivals and enemies, but it’s best to keep these new discoveries private; don’t blurt them out over your morning coffee or express your new insights in a morning blogpost. (It’s not the week to start recording a new podcast, either, in which you air your partner’s and your dirty laundry).Part of the learning you’re to learn this week, honestly, is what shouldn’t be shared with others.
Capricorn: I know how hard it is for you to break free of your principles and bedrock rules about how to behave and what to do, but this is a week for recognizing that passing the buck is in your best interests. Julius Caesar was offered the crown three times, and refused it, but many took note of the fact that he really seemed to want it — and this might be the week to show how little you want to be in command, promptly. It’s not that you wouldn’t be good at it, mind you — but inheriting someone else’s flea circus still means that something is sucking your lifeblood.
Aquarius: If you’re not cautious, expensive lessons may pile up this week. Are all bills paid, are the necessary costs addressed or at least temporarily mitigated and placated? Are your neighborly boundaries secure? Are your friends clamoring for their money back or can you keep those friendships balanced a few extra weeks? Are there any allies or family members that you’re going to have to cut off for now? One way or another a range of expenses might be coming your way, and it will be up to you to honor them or seek reprieve from them before the collector comes calling.
Pisces: Professional courtesies and norms take center stage, but you may find it hard to notice what reputation you’re creating for yourself in the run-of-the-mill routines and daily rounds. Spotlight and honor what others are doing for you, but do so in a way that shows your competence at delegation and management. Get some of those projects out the door and onto other people’s desks, but also if you have plans to adjust your own ‘brand identity’ it’s the right time to finish that work. An argument at home has the potential to become part of your public reputation: be careful about how you argue. Mend fences with a spouse over an old argument with a creative compromise that respects you both.
Aries: Your expertise and experience as a leader of your friends and associates may come into question this week, as issues arise at home that bifurcate your attention and focus. You can still take leadership roles, but be prepared to have backup — and do your best to resolve household problems quickly, cleanly, and privately. This is not a good time to be broadcasting your thought processes and challenges to a wider audience. AT the same time, it’s a good time to have fun, to revel in short-term plans and delightful occasions with friends. Turn the spotlight on the joys and connections that come from others whenever you find yourself heart-hurt at not being able to share and wallow in your own troubles: be generous in honoring others this week.
Taurus: Make at least one long-term plan this week that focuses on having fun, but also requires a bit of technical know-how: make travel plans, particularly plans with others; organize a group outing to the theater or a museum; coordinate a joint expedition at some point in the future. Expect that this is going to require you carry some higher costs for a while, like buying tickets or reserving hotel rooms. Plan your activities around when you wrap up your usual duties for professional matters, though; you want to try to make sure you’re not managing two events — one career-related one personal — at the same time. You’re truly awesome… and you still can’t be three places at once..
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.
