The waxing gibbous came into view as I rounded the bend in the wandering mountain road leading home. The moon rose over the stunning peak ahead, treed with evergreens for as far as the eye could see. My heart felt like it skipped a beat to behold this beauty, for Mother Moon, in her close proximity to the horizon, loomed large in a way that seemed to connect me with the great mysteries of life. I felt in my bones how our ancestors might have experienced this epic scene, also taken aback by the profound sense of an inherent intelligence that simply exists, in all of life. I wondered at the way certain moments were poignant and compelling, linking me across time and space to those who were here long before I was. This sense always seems to bring a deep solace with it.

Lughnasadh, later called Lammas, is a holiday marking the midway point between the Summer Solstice and the Autumn Equinox, and one that's been celebrated by many of our forebears for hundreds of years. The official beginning of Late Summer, this time is one that encourages a slowing down. Interesting how the cold of winter gives us pause, yet the heat of the current season does as well, if only for the opposite reason. For as long as humans have been gathering, festivities and celebrations have been a tradition during this time. And this has been one known to encompass feasting, climbing hills and mountain peaks, ritual dancing and the performance of traditional plays, match-making, and of course giving thanks for all the Earth provides.

I find it quite fitting that Lughnasadh falls right in the middle of Leo Season, an energy that delights in creativity, expression, play, and performance. The Lion invites us to the most merry and light-hearted show of them all! If the signs were plays of Shakespeare, Leo would be the comedy. At its core, this energy is one of creative self-expression and the need to "leave tangible evidence of its internal processes in the hands of the world," as my teacher Steven would say. In other words, Leo is here to feel the fleeting nature of life and to celebrate EVERY single facet of it in the face of this knowing, expressing herself with charisma and charm. We're all marching slowly toward the grave? No bother! To Leo, this reality only accentuates the ability to shine more brilliantly, for what else could we possibly be here to do?

So many of our ancestors have known how to have a good party, and many recognized just how important merry-making actually was to the healthy flow of life. In Yoga culture, this knowing can be seen as one of the 4 Purusharthas, or Aims/Objectives/Pillars of Life. There are:: Artha, or the proper resources that provide fundamental support; Dharma, or the ability to uphold one's truth in the world; Moksha, or spiritual practice to know one's true nature; and Kama, or experiences of delight and pleasure that remind us of the richness of human experience. Kama, or quite simply joy, taps us into our innermost nature that is, well, joyful. I think this is why many people love children so much; these magical little beings have access to the expansive joy that is generally so available to them! It's not that adults don't have this ability, sometimes we've just forgotten it's accessible. And it likely won't surprise you that the child is an archetype of Leo. Making time for those activities and experiences that ultimately bring us closer to our own fundamental sense of joy is essential during this season, especially as we continue down the road of 2020, with all its twists and turns.

Aquarius is opposite Leo, which means that the moon will be full in its sign this month. This will take place on August 3rd at 8:59am Pacific and 11:59am Pacific. Aquarius as the truth-teller and visionary reminds us that there is always a way forward, but that way might require some major lensing out and approaching the scenario with a completely different view than that used to create it. Aquarius is so good at seeing life from outside the box when it chooses to, and it calls us to what is most authentic within ourselves regardless of what culture has taught us to see or to think. It is truly the sign of inner revolution, one that leads to true and lasting change in our world. This is needed, in so many ways, yet it's not always as easeful or graceful as it could be. And perhaps it's not meant to be. For Uranus, Aquarius's ruling planet, is in the sign of the Bull, who stands for what brings us security and contentment, forming a tight square with the Sun and Moon in Leo & Aquarius, respectively. What gives us a feeling of stability is being challenged as our world shifts and changes, yet there have always been ways of feeling well-resourced inwardly, and Uranus calls us to claim just what those are when the ground is shaking beneath us, and to do so from a place of authenticity and truth, which might mean moving in a new direction than we have before. It's time to get real about the things that bring us deep equanimity and contentment....and I don't think it's online shopping, or shopping at all for that matter. Unless you're getting compostable party supplies for your 10 people or fewer Leonine shindig hosted outside with social distancing rules in place, of course. Taurus is the symbol of our Great Mother Earth who has been benefiting from the decreased use of fossil fuels, less pollution, and from humans recognizing that so much abundance exists in our world already, if only we learn how to expand it in life-enhancing ways that benefit everyone, not just some, and most especially the Earth. Is this possible? Yes, but we are absolutely being challenged to re-create a paradigm that hasn't been working for a long time, to re-envision what might bear fruit in our successors' lives so that sustainability is included in the values we live on a daily basis. And we each get to step into this vision in ways that are uplifting, inspiring, and empowering, if we choose to engage with life from the most authentic place possible. What this means for you might look completely different than it does your best friend, but in each person showing up in ways that are most deeply resonant with her/his/their internal guidance system, the world does shift to a more just place, in due time.

Mars in Aries squares Jupiter in Capricorn directly on the Full Moon, with Pluto and Saturn close by in the sign of the sea-goat. We're being called to claim a boundary and act on the long-term vision aforementioned, standing up as Ma Durga, the great mother and warrior goddess of Hindu mythology, would inspire us to do. Whatever strategies are being employed may need some focused action, and sooner than later, depending on where these planets fall in your chart. What are you being called to act on or to stand for when it comes to an enduring vision you've been carrying? The time is nigh, or so say the Cosmos!

May this Season reconnect you with the joy that is always available, hidden in plain view within each moment. The Force is with you! Enjoy.