Venus transits Leo from June 5 – July 18, 2015
Click here to learn about Venus. Click here to learn about Leo.
Venus now moves from Cancer into fixed fire Leo. Venus embodies the Divine Feminine: romance, beauty, pleasure, happiness and fine art. As she spins from sign to sign, changes take place within the heart. Venus concerns attraction: what vibes are you exuding and what attracts you? If Venus in cardinal water Cancer was the eternal bond of motherhood, Venus in Leo is a heat wave pouring from the heart chakra, blossoming and combusting into a huge flowery fireball. We’re ready to transform the heart so that it stands proudly, no longer cripplingly sensitive.
For the last month or so…
Our focus for the last month was on safety, comfort and security: getting rooted. Venus in Cancer asked: what makes you feel at home? The cardinal aspect of this transit manifested in the basic nature of our desires: settling down, getting in touch with the emotional body, feeling “in tune.” We were more sensitive and touchy than usual. I like to visualize Venus in Cancer as an exposed nerve, a soft underbelly: tender, moody, vulnerable. The crab allows fear and worry to override everything when imbalanced.
Last year, Venus was the last of the inner planets to transit Leo. This year, she’s the first. What to expect as the Goddess of Love slinks into the realm of the lion?
Channeling the Divine Lion
The move now is from a protected heart to a prowling one. Leo rules the heart in classic astrology, so in a way Venus is quite at home here, being as she is the Goddess of Love. As with Venus in Cancer, you may feel an overwhelming desire to love and be loved, eager to share your dedication, affection and devotion. Venus in Leo desires acknowledgment. The lion loves nothing more than to feel needed and appreciated. Our love, for Self and others, is grandiose, glowing, sparkling. We are more generous, both with our feelings and our money. After the soft, gooey energy of Cancer, Venus now encourages us to be assertive (feelings –> action). Emerge from the cool lake to broil in the sun. Feel the flames burn away any remaining insecurity.
Love and ego are intertwined now. Venus in Leo is warm and expressive but also a bit of a tease. Indeed life may begin to feel like a game. Leo is perpetually infatuated with all people, places and things - no one loves romance more than the lion! This is the source of the lion’s enthusiasm and buoyant persona – Leos know how to see the best in everything, masters of leisure and fun, maximizing each moment for the greatest possible enjoyment. Although the lion has a reputation for egoism, it is important to understand why. The balanced Leo priority is to love AND be loved. Yes, Leos like to be pampered, but they like to pamper others just as much.
The axis of identity
The last time Venus transited Leo was from August 12 - September 5, 2014. Themes that surface now are a reflection of our progress since then. Studying the polarities of the zodiac wheel is an effective method to learn more about the signs. You may recall that fixed air Aquarius is Leo’s opposite sign, 180 degrees across on the wheel. Leo is the confident one, the attention-grabbing actor; Aquarius the selfless public servant, the martyr. Venus in Leo clings fiercely to love in order to free the Self from the ego’s vice grip. She lives fearlessly from the heart, often saying things in the heat of the moment that may be perfectly true but perhaps not so pretty on the ears. The Leo-Aquarius polarity therefore works to achieve balance between the heart (ruled by Leo) and the mind. The heart looks out for the Self, naturally; the heart is like the Moon – deeply internal and categorically personal. The mind is rational and all-inclusive, serving as a bridge between the Self and the collective. Venus in Leo seeks freedom through the trials and triumphs of the heart, and Venus in Aquarius through the expansive force of the mind.
In her natural habitat, Venus enjoys a certain level of bounty and luxury. At home in Libra, she plays the part of peaceful diplomat, master of balance and fairness. At home in Taurus, Venus reclines. What abundance can Venus in Leo provide? What becomes scarce? When the Goddess of Love sinks her claws into the lion’s mane, we are gifted with a divine capacity for self-appreciation. Venus in Leo is delightfully narcissistic. Leos have self-serving tendencies because this is precisely how they create and maintain reality: from the inside out, radiating from the center of the heart 
Leo is an odd placement for Venus, as she is unaccustomed to neither fire nor fixed energy. It may take a few days to find your groove.
Drama king
When taken to the extreme, Venus in Leo creates drama just for the sake of making life interesting. Leonine fixed energy is forceful and expansive and needs somewhere to go! If caught in a weak moment of boredom or stagnation, we may overstate reality to create momentary excitement, respite from the humdrum. Another possibility is over-indulgence: spending too much money, going out excessively, taking on multiple lovers, etc. Venus in Cancer was inclined to retreat inward, but now we deal with conflict head-on. The crab may have had you crying: no one understands me, and no one loves me! Cancer energy can make us feel like we care too much and love too hard. I hope that you found solace beneath the waves, curled up inside your crab shell
If you were born with Venus in Leo, this month is your Venus Return! If you don’t know your personal Venus sign, click here. If you are curious about how this transit affects you personally, please contact me for more insight.
Mantra: my power is in my heart