The 2026 Leo Season arrives at 12:13p PST on 22nd July 2026, in the midst of one of the most significant astrological configurations of recent memory – a generation-defining 4° “bowl” involving Pluto Retrograde (conjunct Juno Retrograde) in Aquarius. Neptune Retrograde in Aries, Uranus in Gemini, and Jupiter in Leo. These four positions are all sextile or trine each other, with Jupiter and Pluto (and Juno) in opposition.
Though “Barbault’s Basket” is getting the Lion’s share of the attention at the moment, I want to acknowledge the impact of other energy dynamics present during this transit at the start of and throughout this VERY BUSY 2026 Leo month ahead.
Significant astrological events during this 2026 Leo Sun Period:
July 19-22 – “Barbault’s Basket” Configuration – Pluto and Juno, Neptune, Uranus, Jupiter (and Moon on 19th July creates a near Grand Sextile)
July 23rd – Mercury DIRECT in Cancer (16°19′)
July 26th – Saturn RETROGRADE in Aries (14°45′)
July 26th – True Nodal Axis Rx enters Aquarius and Leo (29°59′)
July 29th – Aquarius FULL MOON (6°30′)
August 3rd – Chiron RETROGRADE in Taurus (0°52′)
August 6th – Venus enters Libra
August 9th – Mercury enters Leo
August 11th – Mars enters Cancer
August 11th – Juno Retrograde RE-ENTERS Capricorn
August 12th – Ceres enters Cancer
August 12th – Leo TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE NEW MOON (20°02′)
August 14th – Pallas RETROGRADE in Aries (22°39′)
At the time of the Sun’s ingress into Leo on 22nd July, Mars in Gemini is in opposition to (True) Black Moon Lilith in Sagittarius (16-17°), more people are recognizing that the words others are speaking may not be aligned with the choices they’re making or the actions they’re taking, The more they see this disconnect, the less likely they will be to believe the words from (those) others. Eroding trust may result in “counter-actions” being taken to fact-check and/or challenge what is being said, to oppose anything false being presented as “factual truth”, & to act against falsehoods being presented as truth. The Leo Sun will encourage people to do their due-diligence, making sure anything & everything hiding in shadows is brought into the light of day.
On 22nd July ONLY, a YOD configuration of Virgo Venus sextile Scorpio Moon, both quincunx Aries Saturn (14-15°) reveals that partnerships may have a deeper (& possibly darker) agenda than they may appear. This configuration sets a tone for the month to come. It’s likely to reveal how one or both parties in some of (y)our 1-on-1 relationships &/or partnerships of ALL kinds may also have deeper (& possibly shadier) emotion-driven agendas than they may appear to possess. MANY secrets may come to light during this 2026 Leo Sun period as one or both partners have their own agenda(s) to pursue in the matters-at-hand, & may be trying to steer the balance of power in the partnership(s) into their own individual favor. As these secrets surface, you may discover that some boundaries are needed in order to protect yourself & your interests.
The True Nodal Axis of the Moon moves into Aquarius (North) and Leo (South) on 26th July, and this is a shift in our collective awareness that brings matters a little closer to home. After the service-oriented, almost self-sacrificial energy of Pisces-Virgo, Aquarius-Leo nodes have us look at our individual selves and how we can fully express ourselves in contribution to something greater than ourselves. Not only would this be an act of self-expression, it would be an act of collaboration in which we each get to work with other unique individuals to create something that empowers each of us while creating something together that none of us could create alone.
The 2026 Aquarius Full Moon on 29th July will bring a powerhouse of energy, with Jupiter conjunct the Sun in Leo opposed by a daisy-chain stellium of Juno, Pluto, and the Moon in Aquarius (3-6°), creating a situation in which “everyone knows”, but what, if anything, will they actually do in response.
The Total Solar Eclipse New Moon in Leo on 12th August will be another dynamic experience as eclipses often are. However, the show isn’t only in the total solar eclipse, but in the fact that there are multiple planets, bodies, and points at 29° AND at 0° of their respective signs. This eclipse will be a decisive marker for certain situations coming to end and new things beginning. The irony here is that though we’ll be able to see what needs to come to an end more clearly than ever, the 29° points (the Moon’s nodes in Aquarius and Leo, and Capricorn Juno) will all be retrograde, indicating their resistance to taking their final bows; and two of the three 0° points are conjunct in Cancer (Ceres and Mars) with Chiron Retrograde in Taurus in sextile to both. I’ll write more about those as we get closer to that astronomical and astrological event.
It may seem weird to bring up rules and boundaries under a Leo Sun, but it will be of paramount importance for you to notice which rules may or may not apply to some, and notice how some of those rules establish structure or control, while other rules (or exemption from them) create chaos or confusion. It’s especially important to notice who is wielding the authority to enforce said rules. These rules aren’t only in play on the collective level – they’re also in play in our individual personal lives.
- Where in our lives is it time for us to establish “rules” for ourselves & define boundaries for others so we can pursue and build the lives we actually want to live?
- Which rules do we choose to live our lives by & which rules do we choose to rebel against?
- Who gets to stay in or be released from our lives in order for us to honor our personal boundaries & live by our own rules?
Most importantly, which relationships, and which rules and boundaries in our relationships protect our freedom of expression and allow, empower, and encourage us to shine our unique self-expressions of Light and creative power to live our lives to their fullest?
The numerology of the 2026 Leo Sun period plays into this rules and boundaries energy. In July, we have a Leo 8 Universal Month energy of “The One Who Commands Attention”. This is a bold, possibly brash energy dynamic in which those who want to make their presence and their known will (try their best to) do so. I add that caveat because if that effort is more tantrum than genuine and well-warranted influence, it could result in more detriment than supplement to one’s personal and situational power. This is NOT the time to allow one’s ego to run the meeting. In August, we experience the Leo 9 Universal Month energy of “The Diva/Divo”, in which the regal presence of Leo can make itself fully known, for better or worse. The question is whether or not this energy comes across as truly and mature regality, or if it comes across as tyrant or dictator. Both of these Universal Month energies may have a sense of urgency to them, as if things are being rushed or forced quickly. There’s a strong 4D (space and time) quality to them that may feel more like a power grab than an acceleration of timeline(s). Trust your intuitions on this, and use your discernment when it comes to feeling rushed or pushed into decisions before you’re ready to make a choice… but also allow yourself to be aware of and recognize any situations in which you may need to make a choice before that choice is made for you.
We each and all – individually & collectively – can make these choices & take aligned actions for our best and Highest selves to be realized NOW, under the brilliance of the Leo Sun, which will be shining upon us & through us from 22nd July through 22nd August 2026.
~ With love, Grace
