Seeds of the Future

Astro Notes for Virgo Season (August 22-September 22)

There’s a lot going on this Virgo season. Not one but two powerful new moons, a lunar and solar eclipse, challenging aspects — and the first peak of the most powerful astrological configuration of our lifetimes.

The good news is that Virgo gives us the willingness and capacity to roll up our sleeves and get to work.

After the self-expressive roar of Leo, Virgo brings the humility to focus less on ourselves and more on the practical tasks necessary to make our lives and projects functional.

Virgo is organized, competent, and detail-oriented. It’s highly discerning and analytical — a skillful problem-solver. Most essentially, Virgo is the impulse to be of service to others in a pragmatic way.

Virgo is perhaps the least glamorous of all astrological archetypes, yet its humble craft is not only indispensable if we are to manifest anything real in the world, but embodies a kind of spirituality in action. Whereas Pisces, Virgo’s opposite, represents the transcendence of ego in the realm of consciousness, Virgo symbolizes the absence of ego in the realm of form.

During Virgo season, we tend to feel motivated to attend to those mundane yet essential tasks that create the scaffolding through which our divine assignments can materialize.

This Virgo season, those practical steps are supercharged with higher purpose.

A Sacred Window

From August 20 to September 14, we are in a cosmic window of extraordinary possibility— the first peak of the most beautiful astrological configuration of our lifetimes: a Minor Grand Trine between Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.

Neptune in Aries stands at the apex of this pattern, in harmonious sextile to both Uranus in Gemini and Pluto in Aquarius. This configuration is no passing weather storm — it will dominate the zeitgeist for the next three years. Note in the chart below that Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto are at 1° of their respective signs, bringing this potent formation into exact alignment.

There are several reasons why astrologers around the world are so excited by this aspect pattern. For one, it’s exceedingly rare — we haven’t experienced this exact configuration since the Fall of Rome. In astrology, the more rare a pattern is, the more potent it is.

Secondly, because they move so slowly through the sky, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto are by far the most powerful influences on the character of an era. When these giants are in harmonious relationship with each other, the archetypal principles they embody interact in highly creative and synergistic fashion. This augurs well for a period of profound cultural dynamism, creativity, and regeneration. We are entering a time unlike any other we’ve experienced, when a fundamentally new template for living on Earth is being born.

And when these planets come into exact alignment — as they will do three times over the next three years — it’s like a divine choir singing in perfect harmony.

In 2025 and early 2026, Saturn (in conjunction with Neptune) is also at the apex of this pattern, ensuring that these transpersonal energies are grounded in reality. Saturn introduces a note of restraint, caution, and skepticism to the unlimited potential of the Minor Grand Trine. It’s a time for road testing our newly emerging ideas, technologies, and visions to find out what’s real amidst the hype.

This more conservative dynamic is reinforced this Virgo season by the fact that, after September 7, Uranus joins Saturn, Neptune, and Pluto in moving retrograde. When all the outer planets are moving ‘backwards’ in the sky (from the Earth’s perspective), our outer momentum tends to slow, our attention drawing inward to review and reflect on our lives and choices.

The presence of Saturn and the retrogrades suggests to me that this first peak window of the Minor Grand Trine is not when things will bloom into full creative expression, but is rather a time for planting beautiful seeds that could flower in the next two to three years.

New Moon in Virgo (August 22): Pressurized New Beginnings

There are two new moons in Virgo this year. The first occurred on August 22 at the first degree of Virgo (0°), the second will take place on September 21 at the final or anaretic degree (29°). It’s as though we’re being initiated into the full spectrum of Virgo’s humble wisdom, from tentative beginnings to efficient mastery.

The New Moon on August 22 invites us to begin a new cycle of refinement, self-improvement, and service, though under considerable pressure to adapt and change. This lunation forms a tight square to Uranus in Gemini, and sits at the apex of an intense Yod aspect pattern, with Saturn-Neptune in Aries and Pluto in Aquarius at the base.

New Moon in Virgo highlighting the Yod

The square to Uranus in Gemini demands that we open to new — perhaps faster, lighter, or more unconventional — ways of thinking, even though the perfectionist within us (Virgo) may resist. The Yod sets up a conundrum: Virgo’s pragmatic, detail-oriented impulse is pressed between the massive archetypal forces of collective transformation (Pluto) and embodied vision (Saturn-Neptune). It’s as if a vast creative dream is being channeled into a pinpoint of local action, requiring many micro-adjustments in order to find the right outlet.

Full Moon in Pisces//Lunar Eclipse (September 7): A Karmic Spiritual Realignment

We are already feeling the buildup to the lunar eclipse on September 7, typically experienced as an intensification of energy. Eclipses act as karmic adjustments, often bringing dramatic or fated events that re-align us with our path.

With the Full Moon in Pisces, we may be confronted with the extent to which we feel offtrack spiritually. Are we truly prioritizing our spiritual lives or are they getting drowned out by the noise of the world? What do we need to let go of to make room for our soul’s journey to wholeness?

The Moon’s ruler, Neptune, is conjunct Saturn in Aries, standing at the apex of the Minor Grand Trine with Uranus and Pluto. Here, we may start to grasp the spiritual significance and power of the New Earth dreams that have been arriving this year — not just for ourselves but for the collective. We are approaching a turning point in our relationship to spirituality and consciousness, as the cultural myth of materialism gives way to a more integrative vision. This Full Moon may demand that we ground our mystical ideals into disciplined action — action that can energize and amplify this gentle revolution.

New Moon in Virgo//Solar Eclipse (September 21): Destined Actions

This is the second new moon in Virgo, occurring at the final or anaretic degree of the sign. We may feel a palpable sense of urgency now to take crucial grounded steps toward the initiation of our new visions. We have been simmering in Virgo’s ambience of skillful efficiency and practical mastery for a month now — here we have a chance to demonstrate what we’ve learned with a few precise actions destined to set in motion an enormous ripple of creative inspiration.  

This lunation sits at the base of an exceptionally dynamic Kite aspect pattern, forming harmonious trines to both Uranus in Gemini and Pluto in Aquarius, while standing in opposition to Neptune and Saturn in Aries.

Both new moons in this cycle — August 22 and September 21 — funnel the vast creative power of the Minor Grand Trine into focused action. But whereas the first new moon operated under considerable strain and pressure, this one suggests lift off: the transpersonal energies are now harnessed and powerfully directed. And since this second new moon is also a solar eclipse, its reverberations will extend far beyond a single monthly cycle. This is a seed moment whose effects will unfold over months and even years to come.

Our task this Virgo season is to align practical mastery with transcendent purpose. If we can embrace with humility the assignment of building foundations for our New Earth dreams, the steps we take now, however small, will echo long into the future.

Here Comes the Sun

Astro Notes for Leo Season (July 22-August 22, 2025)

Leo season occurs at the peak of summer in the northern hemisphere, the time of year when the Sun is at its brightest. It’s a time associated with summer vacations, hot weather, no school, frolicking at the beach, music, parties, and fun. Leo symbolizes the peak of individual human expression, the glorious radiance of inner light, the willingness to be visible, the courage to be gregarious. 

Let’s linger for a moment on that last phrase – ‘the courage to be gregarious’ – for we do need to be brave to let down our guard and enjoy people and life. This speaks to an aspect of the Leo archetype that is rarely emphasized – its tenderness and vulnerability. Joy, happiness, and healthy self-esteem are precious human qualities. When we touch them in a real way, especially through playful contact with others, everything seems right in our world. But the pain of being disconnected from these qualities is particularly acute. 

Indeed, I have noticed that many people with prominent Leo placements tend to think that they ‘are not like typical Leos’ because they don’t feel themselves to be the life of the party. Instead they are aware of their tenderness and the emotional risk of self-exposure. Yet this vulnerability is part and parcel of the Leo archetype. Leo represents the supreme radiance of true light – the fall from this glory is not just personal, but mythic. Leo carries both the wound of the fall and the courage to shine their light regardless. 

And in today’s world of digital addiction, social isolation, and rigid groupthink, we need Leo’s warmth, heart, and sense of humor more than ever. In fact, as we move more deeply into the Age of Aquarius – an era defined by technology, networks, and collective systems –it’s Leo, Aquarius’ opposite, that offers the crucial complementary medicine. So, this Leo season, let’s honor the King or Queen within us and dare to have a little fun. 

This may be especially fitting since the astrology of this particular Leo season is quite spectacular – and potentially pivotal. 

Since November last year, Pluto, Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, and Jupiter have all moved into new signs. It’s been a head-spinning stretch of time. As the outer planets set the tone for the cultural zeitgeist at any given time, the placement of Uranus in Gemini, Neptune in Aries, and Pluto in Aquarius signals that the underlying pattern of the next seven years is now set (even though Uranus and Neptune will briefly dip back into Taurus and Pisces respectively in late 2025 and early 2026). The new era is here. 

The energetic shift is striking. Each of the outer planets have moved from Earth or Water (Yin) signs to Fire or Air (Yang) signs. There’s a new pace, a new cadence, a fresh sense of dynamism in the air. My feeling is that many of us are still catching our breath, still adjusting to the new reality. 

This transition phase may not last for long. Leo season promises to kick off the party in glorious style. 

With their recent sign changes, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto have now formed an exceptionally rare and auspicious pattern known as a Minor Grand Trine. This configuration will be the dominant motif for the next 3-4 years, a remarkable celestial window of harmony, momentum, and creative possibility. 

One of its key aspects is the trine between Uranus in Gemini and Pluto in Aquarius. This is the opening trine of the Uranus-Pluto synodic cycle that began with their conjunction in the mid-1960’s. In other words, it’s the first harmonious aspect between the principles of revolutionary innovation (Uranus) and total transformation (Pluto) since that iconic decade. This holds the potential for a flowering or maturation of the original 60’s impulse. 

From late July to mid-August, Mars forms a Grand Trine with Uranus and Pluto. Transits from Mars frequently serve to ignite longer-term planetary alignments like the trine between Uranus and Pluto. Despite the widespread angst about the state of the world, we may see breakthrough developments that allow us to get truly excited about the new era dawning. Since Uranus-Pluto also represents the liberation of Dionysus, the Grand Trine with Mars may initiate us into our own Summer of Love. 

But this isn’t about mere hedonism. Alongside the Grand Trine, Saturn and Neptune move to within half a degree of each other at 1 degree of Aries – the closest they will come together until they meet in an exact conjunction in February next year. Saturn-Neptune adds a note of sobriety, discernment, and gravitas to the cosmic ensemble. This configuration supports us to see through illusions and ground our dreams in reality. We may find ourselves stress-testing new inspirations, projects, and technologies to see which ones will endure. We might feel ourselves grieving the world we’re leaving behind, or reckoning with tragic realities we’re witnessing today.  At the same time, we may experience a new level of determination to steward long-held visions into actual form. 

While this aspect may somewhat temper our playful mood, its deeper blessing is to make the revolution real. 

The New and Full moons this Leo season exemplify its creative potency.

The New Moon in Leo, coming after the inward turn of Cancer season, always represents a powerful rebirth of creative self-expression. The Moon is bathed in solar vitality, purpose, and radiance. This New Moon (on July 24) is opposite Pluto in Aquarius, trine Neptune and Saturn in Aries, and sextile Uranus in Gemini. In other words, it’s the first lunation to activate the Minor Grand Trine that will define the last half of this decade. 

New Moon in Leo -- opposite Pluto in Aquarius, sextile Uranus in Gemini, trine Saturn-Neptune in Aries

The trine to Saturn and Neptune is especially meaningful, suggesting that the visions seeded earlier this year — when these planets entered Aries — are now ready to take form. With the opposition to Pluto in Aquarius, we might experience creative tension between the part of us that wants to express our unique essence (Leo) and the pressures we feel to conform with the group or system (Aquarius). The higher purpose of this transit is to purify our creative expression of performative elements so that we can bring forth the radiant truth of our heart. This may be a moment to step fully into soulful leadership and start to give voice to our highest inspirations, even (or especially) when they challenge the status quo. 

The Full Moon in Aquarius on August 9 (12.55AM US Pacific Time) shines like a lighthouse of visionary power. With the Moon unaspected — meaning it doesn’t form major angles to other planets (apart from its opposition to the Sun in Leo) -- this Full Moon will offer an undiluted transmission of Aquarian light. We might experience it as an individual and collective quantum leap, involving exciting downloads, liberating insights, technological breakthroughs, and emergent group intelligence. 

The Full Moon chart is bursting with creative potential, featuring not one, but two, Kite aspect patterns. A Kite is one of the most auspicious and dynamic configurations in astrology because it combines the ease and grace of a Grand Trine, the creative flow of a Minor Grand Trine, and the evolutionary drive of an opposition. One of the Kites has Mars at the base, energizing the Minor Grand Trine of Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. The other involves Mercury in Leo at the apex of a Grand Trine of Mars, Uranus, and Pluto, suggesting bold and flamboyant expressions of the incoming revolutionary energies and the power of words to catalyze change.

Full Moon in Aquarius highlighting two Kite aspect patterns

Adding to the elevated emotional tone of this Full Moon is a beautiful conjunction of Jupiter and Venus in Cancer. The meeting of the two traditional benefics in this empathic and intuitive sign marks the beginning of a new cycle of abundance, personal love, and emotional nourishment. At the very least, we’re likely to feel pretty darn good.

Finally, a Mystic Rectangle linking Mars, Pluto, Mercury, and Neptune-Saturn adds a profound capacity to hold complexity and transform polarities into higher order synthesis, translating the high-flying Kite energies into committed purpose and grounded service.

We’ve been living with a sense of crisis for so long we may have forgotten what it’s like to experience joy and optimism. There is still a long way to go in our collective birthing process. We are still at a critical juncture. But this Leo season we may find that — despite ourselves — we can’t help but start to move to the beat of the new cosmic rhythm.

Crossing the Threshold

I’m writing these monthly notes the day after the Summer Solstice in the northern hemisphere, marked by the Sun’s entrance into Cancer. I’ve decided to organize these notes around the astrological ’seasons’ — Cancer season, Leo season, etc — rather than the lunar cycle, because the journey of the Sun around the zodiac describes a universal developmental sequence that, to my mind, is easier to follow. The entire logic of the zodiac was originally anchored to the solstices and equinoxes, observed ritually by human cultures since the dawn of time. There is ancient human memory of this annual solar rhythm.

When the Sun is in Cancer, our focus softens and turns inward, encouraging us to prioritize our sense of emotional well-being and belonging. Cancer represents our emotional and psychological foundations — where we feel nurtured, safe, and unconditionally accepted. It rules the home, the family, children, and motherhood. It is, perhaps, the most human of all the signs, connecting us to the loving bonds that matter most.

In Cancer season, we’re better able to feel our feelings, explore our inner world, and listen to our intuition. It’s a potent time to initiate a healing process. We may find ourselves more emotionally attuned to both our loved ones and to our own unmet needs. Our personal happiness moves into the foreground.

This year, with Jupiter recently entering Cancer — where it will stay until June 2026 — these themes take on a new level of meaning. Jupiter represents the principle of wisdom — the higher plane perspective that helps us understand how the events of our lives fit a broader cosmic pattern. It brings opportunities to explore new realms with a spirit of adventure, knowing we’re supported by a benevolent universe. It opens doors, fosters growth, and expands whatever it touches.

Jupiter in Cancer will elevate the importance of our personal lives and emotional well-being. It will highlight the wisdom of prioritizing self-care, home, and our connection to loved ones and ancestral roots. We might find ourselves less willing to sacrifice our personal happiness for professional success. We are being asked to discover a new approach where our personal contentment is properly valued as the cornerstone of our public success. In the face of the dawning AI revolution, this is the transit that will help us stay human.

Nonetheless, at the beginning of this year’s Cancer season, there’s friction in the air. Sun and Jupiter in Cancer form a square to Saturn and Neptune in early Aries, creating a challenging push-pull dynamic. We might feel torn between a part of us inspired by a bold new vision — and the disciplined routines necessary to achieve it (Saturn-Neptune in Aries) — and a part of us that wants to slow down, spend more time with loved ones, or go within (Sun-Jupiter in Cancer).

Between June 21-23, two potentially explosive Yod formations appear — one with Mars at the apex, the other with Pluto. A Yod is an aspect between one planet (the focal planet) that forms quincunxes to two other planets that are in sextile. This intense pattern creates an inescapable dilemma that demands resolution through a fated or unexpected shift.

This configuration carries the energy of a precision strike, demanding some form of decisive action that cuts through the Gordian knot. In the context of the Israel-Iran war and the tornado of furious debate about potential US involvement, it does not augur well for a peaceful outcome.

On a personal front, this pattern may catalyze some form of sudden evolution that may come in unexpected ways or outside of our conscious control — we might feel pushed into a new direction, yet not necessarily understand why. The deeper invitation is to trust the timing, even if the changes seem incomprehensible to our linear minds.

But while the conflict in the Middle East may dominate the news, the deeper story of this Cancer season lies in an extraordinary cosmic threshold. Here we have to understand this year’s Cancer season in a larger context. For this is no ordinary year.

Since last November, we’ve seen an unprecedented series of planetary sign changes: Pluto into Aquarius, Neptune and Saturn into Aries, and Jupiter into Cancer. This rapid procession of planetary sign changes signals the final push out of the birth canal for the new era dawning on Earth.

And now, on July 7, Uranus will move into Gemini — the last major planetary shift in this sequence. Uranus is the archetype of breakthrough — the sudden release from struggle and unexpected emergence into a new world. As such, it is connected with the liberating experience of birth. With the ingress of Uranus into Gemini, we cross an incredible threshold. This moment could mark the official birth of the New Earth.

When Uranus, the planet of brilliant innovation and disruptive change, moves into Gemini, the sign of learning and communication, we may witness a revolution in our education systems, communications technologies, and media. More profoundly, we may also experience an activation of inner technologies of communication, such as telepathy, multidimensional awareness, and new forms of communion with non-human forms of intelligence. The image I get is of a lightning storm across the noosphere, linking minds across the globe in a dazzling network of thought and telepathic connectivity.

Meanwhile, during Cancer season, Saturn and Neptune move to within half a degree of an exact conjunction in early Aries — the closest they will come to meeting until February 2026. The last time these two planets conjoined was in November 1989, coinciding with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Eastern Bloc. When Saturn, the principle of form, meets Neptune, the principle of the formless, long established structures can dissolve seemingly overnight.

We are entering sacred ground — an extraordinary passage when personal and planetary plot lines converge. Cancer season calls us to ground down in what matters most — love, home, family — even while humanity crosses a historic threshold to a new world.