#36: Full Moon in Leo Horoscopes
The pleasure’s all mine
Have you ever had a really, REALLY good makeout session?
One that’s impossibly hot, despite the snow on the ground outside?
One that’s achingly familiar, despite being new and exciting?
One that’s firework inducing, dense tangle creating, can't eat, can't sleep, reach for the stars, over the fence, World Series kind of stuff (iykyk)?
I really, really hope you have. And if you haven’t…please believe me when I say that if you desire one, it’s out there for you! If you’re curious about a concrete timeframe for when *really good makeout session* energy might find you, I’d encourage you to book a reading.
Sandwiched between a couple of my own extended, hedonistic days in bed recently, I took a break to see Poor Things (WHILE PLUTO WAS ENTERING AQUARIUS, no less) and, in short, left the theater feeling absolutely giddy.
Bella Baxter, the movie’s protagonist and my newest spirit animal, spends seemingly every scene discovering new sides to herself…embracing the human experience with complete security and curiosity about the world around her. There’s a lot of fucking, a lot of eating, and some magical interpretive dancing.
Her innocence is heartwarming and her uniqueness likely both the fear and envy of every modern day influencer. She belonged solely to herself, and while she luxuriated in the pleasure of the people and experiences around her…her ultimate savior was never being lost to them entirely.
And that part– the part where Bella knows how to engage all of her senses fully and unapologetically without becoming entrapped by them encapsulates both the magic of today’s Full Moon in Leo, and the Strength card in Tarot, our card of 2024.
“Strength opens up the personality like Pandora opening her box. It does so, however, with a sense of peace, a love of life itself, and a great confidence in the final result. Unless we truly believe that the process of self-discovery is a joyous one we will never follow it through.”
- Rachel Pollack, 78 Degrees of Wisdom
There’s a woman on the Strength card depicted with a lion, who appears to be tamed beside her. And, aren’t lions in the wild, actually, a bit “tamed” in that their actions have a purpose? They aren’t acting out on a whim or impulse. When they hunt, they hunt to kill and feed their pack. When they rest, they do so with the intention of recuperating/fueling their next day’s activities.
While the drive within the regal lion is strong, there’s an equal amount of control. Their immense energy has to be channeled and directed so it can have the highest possible return for when it’s the right time for exertion.
“If, esoterically, Strength stands for the actual practice of sexual magic, psychologically it refers again to releasing that energy bound up in our strongest feelings. When we compare Strength with the Devil we will see that the release here is actually a partial one. The lion is controlled and directed rather than allowed to take the self wherever it wants to go.”
- Rachel Pollack, 78 Degrees of Wisdom
I’m getting deja vu as I write this, so I believe I’ve been here before…which leads into another signification of the Strength card. The “8” in numerology, the number of Strength, relates to the infinity symbol. One is also pictured above the woman’s head in the traditional Rider-Waite deck.
This symbolism affirms that while we might question our resolve, our ability to practice patience, our ability to survive until it’s FINALLY time for that next makeout session…our Strength isn’t going anywhere– nor are the opportunities to exercise it.
Not to be outdone by its Tarot counterpart, Leo energy itself reminds us of a roaring bonfire. Unlike Aries, which is like lighting a match, or Sagittarius, more akin to an unpredictable forest fire, Leo is warming and bright, but it’s also sustained and contained. It’s a fixed fire sign and is in no rush to evade the licks of the flames (or its newest lover).
Time and again we see the opportunity within the current energies to be fiercely passionate and creative–while remembering they’re only at full Strength when harnessed. Read on to see what today’s Full Moon in Leo might be asking you to direct.
TBH Horoscopes: Full Moon in Leo
As ever, my horoscopes are written for your rising sign using the whole sign house system. Don’t know your rising sign? Book a reading.
Aries
The pleasure of strength arrives in your 5th house of children, creativity, and romance, and this lunation is very much about sensuality for you. You’re uniquely capable of loving pleasure and being especially creative, without being carried away or too obsessed with your muses. It’s a knife’s edge to walk, the line between inspiration and too-far-gone devotion to what stirs you. Let yourself get lost in romance today (even if that means buying yourself flowers) and pat your own head when you pull yourself back from simping too hard.
Taurus
The pleasure of Strength arrives in your 4th house of home, and this lunation is encouraging you to channel your passions around home and family. While you might have moments of wanting to charge ahead and go into a decorating frenzy…what if you slowed your pace and focused on the items that truly made your heart sing? Use the energy surrounding you today to get clear about what colors, textures, and scents feather your nest best. Bonus points for remembering it’s not your job to entertain any troublesome family dynamics.
Gemini
The pleasure of Strength arrives in your 3rd house of perception and you might be learning something new around this lunation that gets you hot under the collar. As ever with you, though, information is a dime a dozen. You don’t have to repeat the latest office gossip to have something interesting to contribute at the water cooler. You’re most interesting when you share something authentic! Let yourself go down a celebrity rabbit hole instead and report your findings about the *actual* height of Jeremy Allen White in your favorite group chat.
Cancer
The pleasure of Strength arrives in your 2nd house of finances and you’ve got resources on your mind. It’s easier for you than most to attract money from interesting places…and by simply showing up as yourself. The tricky thing to notice is how easy it also is for you to align your self worth with the numbers in your bank account. While money does offer security in the 3D world, what about the security of your soul? Think about the ways you feel secure in yourself that are intangible, and celebrate them.
Leo
The pleasure of Strength arrives in your 1st house of self and may very well be stroking your ego. But remember, this energy isn’t about selfishness. It’s about knowing what’s enjoyable and being able to explore it under certain conditions. It’s important to remember that the Sun doesn’t shine 24 hours a day, nor are you responsible for being an Oscar worthy performer in every social interaction. Enjoy the attention you receive simply by showing up as your authentic self.
Virgo
The pleasure of Strength arrives in your 12th house of surrender and reminds you of your limitless ability to create behind the scenes. You probably have a very active dream space and should notice anything surfacing around the time of today’s lunation in the astral realm. Remember, though, that you’re allowed to shine in public, too (and that you do without even trying). Your support of others doesn’t go unnoticed, and when it does…the people you’re supporting aren’t worthy of the effort. Say it with me now: symbiotic relationships.
Libra
The pleasure of Strength arrives in your 11th house of collective consciousness, and you’re likely deriving enjoyment from your communities around this lunation. What do your friends do that makes your heart sing? As you recognize their special gifts, know that they’re a reflection of your own. You have the uncanny ability to have fun, but not too much fun, when you realize this reciprocal shine in its highest potential. Bordering on calculated friendships when in shadow, you know who the Sun is shining on and at your best, how to share the prolific spotlight with them.
Scorpio
The pleasure of Strength arrives in your 10th house of career and public reputation and you’re probably feeling busy this week. The expectations placed on you have always been high, and while you can easily rise to the occasion…now is the reminder that it’s most important to show up for yourself. When you’re authentic within your own truth, people will gravitate to you without extreme effort. It’s true that life’s a stage, but you don’t have to replay imperfect performances– or allow other people to exploit them.
Sagittarius
The pleasure of Strength arrives in your 9th house of travel and higher beliefs this week and it might be one full of deep learning. Pay attention to the conversations happening around you and what you’re uncovering within them. How you feel about what’s being said is just as important as the words being spoken (if not more so). While you want to be seen as a verdant traveler and someone with worldly knowledge, what if you focused on inner-exploration? What does your ultimate inner destination look like? Ponder the road to get there.
Capricorn
The pleasure of Strength arrives in your 8th house of shared resources and there’s no better time to practice gratitude for the mutual aid that regularly finds its way to you. You’re a natural when it comes to sharing yourself, deeply, with others…but that raw honesty can easily be taken advantage of. It’s not your job to save others from financial woes, nor is it their job to save you. You’re at your best when you can collaborate from a pure and generous heart space, without expectations. Practice the mantra: “I will receive a gift today” and see what lands on your doorstep.
Aquarius
The pleasure of Strength arrives in your 7th house of committed partnerships, and while you might personally be known for a high level of detachment, your relationships are anything but. This lunation is an opportunity to shine a light on the people in your life that help everything feel a bit brighter, and to know that you reflect it back to them. If things are feeling dramatic in any of your relationships, know that you have the ability to pull back. Your best friends and lovers know how to take turns performing and sitting front row to your latest act.
Pisces
The pleasure of Strength arrives in your 6th house of health and daily routines. This lunation is highlighting the tremendous power you wield in your mundane life, while also reminding you that the Sun doesn’t shine 24/7. When you need a break, take it and don’t apologize. If you’ve been considering any new wellness rituals, now is also a great time to release anything holding you back from starting them. A sauna moment might be just what the doctor ordered.
Emma Stone has talked about what a special character Bella was for her to play in numerous interviews, and that she misses her. I’ve felt the same way after seeing the movie and wonder if this shared experience isn’t because there’s something in her that all of us (women) desire…and that, deep down, we all already contain the power to access: to be the queens of our own castles without needing to sacrifice our carnal desires in exchange for what we’re told to look like/act like/fuck like/talk like/eat like/etc.
Whether you’re penciling in a hot makeout session of your own over the coming days, or are channeling this creative and passionate energy into some other area of your life– take time to recognize your abundant Strength today and the power of directing it like only you know how.
As always, please don’t be shy about reaching out! My 6th grade teacher used to say that the “Sun came out when he saw my handwriting” and the Sun comes out for me when I see your little names in my inbox/comments section letting me know what’s resonant for you + any other feedback about this newsletter.
In-between reactivating my sacral chakra, I’ve been baking, reading, and generally “wintering” as this time of year asks of us. And tonight I’ll be candle gazing with some friends to honor this fiery Full Moon in Leo! How’s 2024 treating you so far?
Through time and space + a sprinkling of furious jumping ;)
Erin River Sunday