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| image by astroccult |
I struggle to find
an entry point into this
chaos, so why not stand
in the middle of it— locate
its beating heart
and find the spine that this
apparent mess hangs on?
---
I guess the only way to enter
Leo season is to enter dramatically. And WOW! Does this Leo season make an
entrance!? Here’s what accompanies the sun moving into Leo on July 22nd:
July 26th Mercury
stations retrograde in Leo
July 27th Mars Rx
opposes the sun in Leo
July 27th Total
lunar eclipse. Full moon in Aquarius.
No sudden moves please. This
Leo season has edge. It cuts. It has the potential to be clean and conscious or
a dumpster fire that leaves everyone confused and pointing fingers (we got big
retrogrades too). Whichever way this season shakes out, it’s begging us to revolutionize
our attitudes about leadership and how we IDENTIFY ourselves AND the people we
consider “other.” It’s asking us clarify who we are as individuals and
understand that those nameless, faceless, masses of people that we lump into
categories are made up of unique individuals as well. Human beings.
It’s easy to dismiss those
who seem different from the things we IDENTIFY with. Adopted and projected
values and definitions are easy to understand, manipulate, and give us a sense
of control. They “insure” a sense of personal safety—that we might not be
challenged to grapple with the messier nature of our own personal make up: all
the ways we don’t make sense, all the ways we don’t fit in, all parts of our selves
we find repugnant or shameful or just plain confusing. So much easier to
disown. Until they show up in someone or something else.
This season gives us front
row seat to SHADOW. Our own personal shadow and the shadows we cast in our
relationships, friendships, and group associations. It is a time that is ripe
for violent conflict or a productive reckoning with all that we consider “not
me” “not us.” We are going to be challenged to understand and own all of it.
This is the very foundation of true leadership. The ability to see our whole
selves unflinchingly, creates identity based on something real. A person who
has owned their whole self has the ability to love and respect a wide variety
of people and has the potential to lead them. It’s leadership based on an
expression of self that’s authentic and recognizes that a wide variety of
people are acceptable and worthy. When we embrace who we are authentically the
flimsy labels, and superficial constructs fall by the wayside and we are free from
the tyranny of definition.
And so begins Leo season.
Join Margherita Tisato and I on Wednesday, July 25th at 7PM at Juniper Yoga & Healing Arts so we can approach how some of these
ideas resonate in the body. We’ll spend most of our time exploring the archetype
of Leo. There will be lots of energy to work with! Here’s a peek at my Leo
notes to Marghe. You can use it as a jumping off point to shape your movement
practice so it harmonizes with the season. Enjoy!
Leo Body Astrology Primer:
Leo is super yoga friendly.
Here are some obvious practices:
Leo is ruled by the sun, so sun
salutations! Get out there and bask!
Leo rules the heart and spine
(love and courage). Open your heart to send and receive love. Strengthen your
“backbone.” In French “couer” means “heart,” and is the origin of the word
“courage.” Leo knows that to love and to allow yourself to be loved is not for the
faint of heart.
It rules the ego. Meditation:
Do you rely upon others for your sense of pride and confidence? Do your pride
and confidence radiate from a place of self-knowledge and acceptance?
The symbol is the lion:
lion’s breath.
It’s a fixed fire sign:
breath of fire.
It’s the sign of royalty and
regalness: king dancer pose, queen’s pose (restorative), and goddess pose.
Leo represents life’s rich
pageant. Drama. Ceremony. Theatricality. Romance. Share and show off! (As long
as your joy TRULY comes from sharing and your happiness is not based on
impressing others.)
Leo rules children, play, and
all the “creations” (including procreation and recreation): Child’s pose,
games, playful sex.
It’s everything we do to feel
alive and vital. Laughter.
More About Leo:
MODALITY: Fixed. Sustained
energy.
ELEMENT: Fire. Contained and
nurtured energy. It’s the warm glow of the campfire (in contrast to the spark
of Aries or the wildfire of Sagittarius).
Polarity: Yang. The EXPRESSION of love and pride in self.
More Embodied Explorations:
Heart openers, chest
expanders
Spine and back strengtheners
Taking up space without
infringing on the space of others. Tricky*
Showing your SELF to others.
(“Look at what I can do!” 5-year-old energy).
What does it feel like in
your body to take a risk? Where in your body, or
what physical practices make
you feel confident enough to take risks?
What does it feel like in
your body to turn any situation into a game?
Where does shame live in the
bodymind? How do we find compassion for these places so that we may express
more of ourselves? Shame is injured
Leo energy. Shame dims the light. The
sun’s purpose is to shine. How do we nurture our fire so it continues to glow?
What is there to love about
myself? My life? Every person I meet?
Happy Leo Season! XC