This article is written by astrologer and Akashic channel, Narayana Montúfar. She is the author of Written in Your Stars: Use Your Saturn Return, Pluto Square, and Other Planetary Cycles to Live Your Best Life (pre-order now to get a FREE 2025 manifestation guide). Please visit www.naramon.com to book a reading with her or follow her here: @narayanamontufar to keep up with her astro-weather reports.
Welcome to your feisty summer! Leo season—taking over the reins of the sky between July 22 and August 21—promises to ignite your boldest and most courageous side. In a world where mental energy is constantly accelerating, the sign of the Lion serves as a powerful reminder to reconnect with and lead from the heart. You’ll feel this the most between July 22 and July 29, while the Sun challenges the planet of power, Pluto.
This yearly activation represents the endless dance between light and dark, illuminating the deepest corner of your psyche. Pay attention, as you’ll be shown what holdbacks may be preventing you from fully stepping into your power—and therefore, a new future. The retrograde of Mercury (July 17-August 11) also happening in Leo, reinforces the need to go within and reconnect with your heart’s desires. What’s truly yours, and what’s responding to societal preconditioning? Only your heart knows the answer!
The stars align for you to sit down and answer that deep question at this season’s July 24 New Moon in Leo. Fierce and fearless, this lunar event delivers a triple dose of fire, serving as the fuel for your long-term plans. What do you see yourself building in the next two years? Going even further… What dreams do you see yourself fulfilling in the next decade? Leo’s strong-willed nature ensures you don’t forget the goals and intentions you set now, and Mercury retrograde gives you wiggle room to change whatever needs adjustment at the futuristic August 9 Full Moon in Aquarius.
A total of four planetary bodies are retrograde now, including Mercury, asking us to review the many changes we’ve experienced in the first half of 2025. In more ways than one, the astrology of Leo season feels like having one step in the past and one step in the future, requiring a sense of comfort in a state of limbo. With the planet of the past (Saturn) cooperating with the planet of the future (Uranus) all season long, the sky offers the possibility to unite tradition with inventiveness, helping all zodiac signs adapt to the changing times.
Relationships of all kinds are under focus this season as the cosmic lovers, Venus and Mars, clash with each other on July 23 and other planets between July 30 and August 9. If certain situations boil over to feel like a pressure cooker, hang in there, as celestial help is on the way starting August 6. Between now and August 19, a Grand Water Trine is formed in the sky as a total of six planetary bodies activate in Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. Besides promising a deeper sense of compassion and understanding, this sweet and karmic configuration brings some of the most romantic days of the year. The yearly conjunction between Venus and Jupiter in Cancer, active between August 6 and August 17, is ideal for finding closeness within a personal bond.
Below is how Leo season will affect you. Read your Sun, Moon, and Rising signs for extra advice.
Aries
Leo season is an important one for you, Aries, as it’s going to test your emerging relationship boundaries. 2025 has begun a life-changing process for you, and as your planet, Mars, enters Libra on August 6 and clashes with retrograde Saturn and retrograde Neptune in your sign between now and August 17, you’ll be asked to rethink your approach to your closest relationships. What feels right and no longer does? How is your version of the ideal friendship or relationship evolving? While at first it might seem like you need to rush to figure this out, the many retrograde planets in the sky are giving you time to think things through.
If you are already partnered, the rare and sweet conjunction between Venus and Jupiter, active between August 6 and August 17, would be one of the best times to create the perfect space for your relationship to deepen and thrive. A weekend getaway at the August 9 Full Moon might just be what you need to soak up the romantic vibes.
Your Mercury Retrograde Story
This retrograde activates your sector of romance, fun, and creativity.
People—exes, lovers, and friends—from the past might be returning to your orbit now for closure or a rebound. Due to Pluto’s involvement, this reconnection might feel deep and karmic, sending you on mental loops at times about how to move forward.
The antidote: Take a trip down memory lane, looking at photos and conversations with people from your past. Do you notice a pattern that keeps repeating itself? Breaking it requires a different type of approach—use the July 24 New Moon for that.
Taurus
Prepare for a busy season ahead, Taurus! Mars enters your daily work sector on August 6, most likely landing projects on your desk that might need to be developed or finished over the next 6 weeks. The days between August 6 and August 17 look particularly busy, so make sure to set aside enough time to rest in order to be able to keep up with what is required of you. Since Mars will be traveling in the air sign Libra, you might be having meetings during which you will be asked to harness your diplomatic and negotiating skills as well.
Communication, in general, will play a key role for you this month as your planet, Venus, activates the Lunar Nodes of Destiny between July 14 and July 31, bringing meetings that feel destined or meant to be. Along these lines, the yearly and very awaited conjunction between Venus and Jupiter around August 11 could bring news about a project or a partnership that helps your life expand in exciting new ways.
Your Mercury Retrograde Story
This retrograde activates your sector of home, family, and roots.
Something around the foundation of your life is up for review now. It could range from needing to fix kitchen appliances to thoughts about completely relocating. In the end, Taurus, this retrograde is about digging into what you need to feel comfortable, safe, and thriving.
The antidote: If you feel like you need to make a big life foundational change, the July 24 new moon would be a good time to kick-start it. At a minimum, you might decide to redecorate a tiny corner in your abode with the finality of bringing a sense of freshness.
Gemini
Hold on to your seat, Gemini, because Leo season promises to be busy! Mars entering Libra is one of the defining aspects of the season ahead, which will kickstart your social life and perhaps even your romantic life. As you run around in full-on social Leo season furor, meeting new people, the boundaries between friendship and romance might seem a little blurry. The question of who is meant to be a friend and who is meant to become a lover might come up between August 6 and August 17.
But what’s most exciting about Leo season, Aquarius, is that it brings an energy that your sign is very familiar with. The sextile between Saturn and Uranus that is active all season long, but becomes stronger on August 11, is all about blending method and tradition with a futuristic and more modern approach to life. This is what Aquarian energy excels at, giving you the opportunity to showcase what it’s done by applying it to whatever your focus is during the season ahead.
Your Mercury Retrograde Story
This retrograde activates your sector of communication, writing, and speaking.
Aside from the classical Mercury retrograde lost messages or miscommunications, you might notice that your thought process is different and that people are responding differently to the way you express yourself. This is especially true with the disruptor but genius planet, Uranus, now traveling in your sign.
The antidote: Being more mindful about your information intake, as well as taking time before talking, texting, and expressing yourself, could be a game-changer. Think of it as reducing the speed of your own communication process, giving your mind time to process information, and sometimes even completely reset.
Cancer
Your career is front and center during Leo season, Cancer, especially as Mars in Libra activates retrograde Saturn and Neptune between August 6 and August 17. You might run into projects needing to be rethought entirely or even dissolved, which is one of the astrological signatures of 2025. In the end, retrograde planets are about rethinking, reviewing, and revising. Along this process, you’re being asked to channel your inner diplomat due to Mars traveling in Libra for the next six weeks.
Relationships also play a key role this season as Venus, the planet of love and pleasure, enters your sign on July 30. While the first days of this transit might seem intense, an energy of warmth will begin to permeate your life between August 6 and August 17, culminating in one of your best weekends for love in 2025, around August 9-11. This is a time to enjoy spending time with some of your favorite people, and if you’re single, a wonderful time to go out and put yourself out there.
Your Mercury Retrograde Story
This retrograde activates your sector of money, possessions, and self-value.
At times, the retrograde of Mercury in this area of your chart coincides with an unexpected expense, which might drive you to reconsider some of your expenses or your entire budget. This is particularly true if you share finances with either a business or a romantic partner.
The antidote: At a deeper level, this retrograde asks you to rethink what is most important to you and why. It might not necessarily be about money per se; it could be about figuring out how to better use your time, energy, and effort.
Leo
A powerful season is ahead, and not only because it’s your birthday, Leo. Between July 22 and July 29, deep transformation is the name of the game for you, which will be reflected in your appearance, your relationships, and even in the way you process information. This “new way of being in the world” is born at the July 23 New Moon, which is all about setting intentions for both your short-term and long-term goals.
The August 9 Full Moon is one of the most important lunar events of the year for you, bringing insight into ways your relationships are changing. A personal bond might crystallize now, or a business relationship might show signs of development. Should you need to make important decisions around this time, call in the help of Pallas, the Greek goddess of logic and wisdom. The asteroid named after her is currently traveling in your sign, giving you the gift of clarity and strategy.
Your Mercury Retrograde Story
This retrograde activates your sector of self, identity, and outward appearance.
You might notice a shift in the way you interact with people at this time, Leo, especially when it comes to your closest relationships. How are people perceiving you, or how would you like to be perceived? You might also notice a desire to dress differently or upgrade your appearance, aligning it with a newer, up-and-coming version of yourself.
The antidote: During these three weeks, Leo, dare to play around with your looks. Dress in different colors and styles, and deeply look at yourself in the mirror to see how each one of them feels. You might be surprised at the conclusion you arrive at.
Virgo
Big awakenings are on the table this season, Virgo, as the July 24 New Moon in Leo opens the door for previously hidden information to come out and find you. These realizations could very well be related to the events that transpired at the end of Cancer season, which might be related to the desire to change your lifestyle and maybe even your career-related habits. The results of the lifestyle changes that you make now will be visible pretty soon, two weeks later, as the August 9 Full Moon rises in the sky.
Along those lines, the six-week transit of Mars through your second house of money that begins on August 6 brings the need to set financial boundaries either for yourself or for your entire household. This influence will be particularly strong if you share expenses with a romantic partner, which you can expect to reach Peak between August 6 and August 17. The changes that you make now could have positive financial effects in late August and the beginning of September.
Your Mercury Retrograde Story
This retrograde activates your sector of solitude, transcendence, and the subconscious mind.
This Mercury retrograde reinforces one of your yearly themes, Virgo, which is all about removing distractions and unwanted energies as a way to reconnect with the deepest part of yourself. You might feel tired and in need of time alone, especially starting August 3, which is when Mercury activates Pluto.
The antidote: This Mercury retrograde is not a time of action—instead, it is a time to rest, recuperate, and listen to your inner voice. Inviting the sacredness of silence might be exactly what you need now to feel grounded and aligned.
Libra
Good thing your sign is the zodiac sign of diplomacy, Libra, because this is a characteristic that is going to be very useful this season. Venus entering Cancer on July 30 brings the need to have serious career-related conversations with either partners or collaborators. Reviewing deals made before is also an option, as retrograde energy is greatly activated now. While the beginning of August might hold a little bit of a tense vibe, as the season progresses, good news could hit your inbox as August 11 arrives.
A similar energy is brought to you by the transit of Mars in Libra. Spanning between August 6 and September 21, driven Mars brings certain relationship situations to a head between August 6 and August 17. But once this clears out, you will experience some of your most active and productive days of the entire year. Between August 17 and September 21, Mars helps you achieve even the impossible, dear Libra.
Your Mercury Retrograde Story
This retrograde activates your sector of friendships, community, and hopes and dreams.
At a surface level, your social circle is highlighted now as people come in and out of it. Since Pluto is involved, there is a transformation happening within your friendships that has been a long time coming, but that you might have been resisting. After all, you are cordial and diplomatic.
The antidote: At a deeper level, this retrograde is about upgrading your list of wishes, hopes, and wildest dreams. What is no longer on “that special list,” and what needs to be added to it? The astrology of 2025 is like a quantum leap upgrade, so it only makes sense for your wish list to experience the same, Libra!
Scorpio
Once every two years, every zodiac sign experiences a time during which the universe requires deep introspection, rest, and reflection. For you, that time arrives between August 6 and September 21. Whenever you feel tired, it is your cosmic cue to rest instead of pushing against the current. It is during these restful times that you might actually find creative solutions to problems—after all, Leo season is the first of many seasons that inspire reviewing and reconsidering past actions. By doing so, you ensure that you can recover your energy for the upcoming six-week period, which will ignite you with fire and productivity!
With your planet, Mars, traveling in the sign of Libra between August 6 and September 21, relationships of all kinds become a priority this season. You might be organizing, negotiating, and most likely making use of your people and diplomatic skills to either begin a partnership or push a project through the finish line.
Your Mercury Retrograde Story
This retrograde activates your sector of career, reputation, and public visibility.
Prepare to experience delays with some of your projects due to the classic tech-related Mercury retrograde effects. For this reason, these three weeks are more about keeping your process afloat and working and less about “advancing.”
The antidote: At a deeper level, this retrograde grants you the opportunity to truly think and reconsider your career-related goals. Are you still in the “right job or industry”? Does your soul yearn to make a bigger collective impact? Try answering these questions within the two weeks spanning between the July 24 New Moon and the August 11 Full Moon.
Sagittarius
Leo season promises to be a busy time for you, Sagittarius. After deeply working on a project during Cancer season, Leo season is more about connection, collaboration, and community. As Mars enters Libra on August 6, you begin six weeks of social interactions. As you make your public rounds in both your personal and professional lives, you might notice the lines between friendship and collaboration being blurred, with friends becoming colleagues and the other way around.
Love and romance are also highlighted for you this season. If you’re single, the July 23 activation between Venus, Mars, and the Lunar Nodes could bring a fated or destined person into your life. If you’re already committed, the most awaited astral meetup of 2025 could be what dreams are made of. Venus and Jupiter set the perfect stage for an August 9 Full Moon getaway with your darling. As you enjoy each other’s company, how will you serenade your partner under the moonlight?
Your Mercury Retrograde Story
This retrograde activates your sector of philosophy, travel, and higher education.
Prepare for your mind to be challenged and therefore, cracked open to new ways of seeing the world. You might notice your position on key issues being swept away during this retrograde, making room for new belief systems to be born, helping you adapt to the changing times.
The antidote: You love to learn, and this retrograde is the perfect opportunity to absorb any type of knowledge that you’ve been feeling attracted to. Get lost in a book, take a masterclass, and learn something new. This retrograde’s message for you: “knowledge equals personal power.”
Capricorn
Your career is strongly highlighted this season, Capricorn! Once every two years, every zodiac sign experiences a time during which the universe pushes forward your goals and projects. For you, that time arrives between August 6 and September 21 as Mars enters Libra. At first, you might need to make important decisions (between August 6 and August 17), requiring you to get crystal-clear and ultra-focused to avoid confusion. But once this dust is settled, you’ll experience some of your most productive weeks in 2025.
Romance is also written in your stars this season! The Grand Water Trine formed in the sky between August 9 and August 19 sets the stage for you to meet new romantic prospects if you are single. If you’re already dating someone, you are receiving one of the most romantic alignments of the entire year as Venus and Jupiter meet, activating your seventh house of partnerships. Talks about elevating your bond to a new status could crystallize around the August 12 Full Moon.
Your Mercury Retrograde Story
This retrograde activates your sector of intimacy, regeneration, and transformation.
This retrograde is sure to bring you inward, Capricorn, as you question the reasons and the ways you relate with those closest to you. Conversations around money, intimacy, and boundaries might take place, needing honesty, open-mindedness, and open-heartedness.
The antidote: This is a process that requires time to develop, and most likely more than one deep conversation. At the July 23 New Moon in Leo, set the intention to open your heart to what this retrograde unfolds, setting your eyes on the days surrounding August 17 for the answers to arrive.
Aquarius
For you, Aquarius, Leo season highlights themes around identity, transformation, and personal power. Between July 22 and July 29, you’ll feel the need to shed your old skin, making room for a new, more empowered version to come out to play. As you continue to build this “new you,” learning becomes increasingly important as Mars enters Libra, perhaps seeing you taking a masterclass, course, or certification between August 6 and August 21.
Career-related projects are an area where you will excel, with Venus and Jupiter helping you land contracts, jobs, or partnerships. The days between August 6 and August 17 are particularly lucky, allowing you to expand your horizons in exciting new ways. But the most exciting part about this season is the sextile between Saturn and Uranus that is active all month! You, out of all zodiac signs, know how to blend tradition with modern brilliance. With this in mind, how can you infuse your new plans with the genius of your past learnings?
Your Mercury Retrograde Story
This retrograde activates your sector of marriage, partnership, and relationships.
Your relationships come front and center now! From friends and exes coming back from the past to redrawing boundaries in an existing relationship, this retrograde of Mercury changes your mind about the way you interact, communicate, and commit with those closest to you.
The antidote: Observe, digest, and integrate. Being mindful about the way you speak with others gives you insight into how your bonds are evolving now into much deeper, richer connections. The July 23 New Moon opens the door for a new relationship to begin; two weeks later, the August 9 Full Moon begins crystallizing it.
Pisces
You welcome the season with big news concerning your career as Venus and Mars activate a destiny-type of energy around July 23. This could mean new projects landing on your desk or new collaborators coming into your orbit. This season, however, is one to be extra mindful about your spending, as on two different occasions (July 30 and August 8), you might be tempted to overspend.
On a more fun note, you’re receiving some stellar aspects for love and romance as Venus cozies up to Jupiter between August 6 and August 17. The weekend of the August 12 Full Moon, in particular, seems glorious for meeting not only romantic partners but friends, too. If you’re already partnered, you’ll feel in your element during the Grand Water Trine that is active between August 9 and August 19. These sweet days come with plenty of opportunities for rapport and connection.
Your Mercury Retrograde Story
This retrograde activates your sector of daily work, wellness, and life processes.
When Mercury goes retrograde in your sector of daily habits, you can expect unexpected events to arrive, throwing wrenches into your plans, forcing you to switch your routine and course-correct. At times, you might feel like you’re swimming against the current without making the progress you’re used to making.
The antidote: While most of these delays and changes are certainly annoying, what this retrograde helps you realize is that something about your daily routine is no longer working. How can you make adjustments that are positive in the long run? Dare to test new ways of approaching your routine during this retrograde period, Pisces.
