Cat by Isoda Koryusai (1766–1788) Only lived to be 22, but still managed to leave us something of note. {{PD}}

You may feel a little like you’re living in the proverbial fish-bowl this coming year, through to your next birthday, dear Leo; thoughts, feelings, and actions will all be both exaggerated and broadcast, in one way or another, during this period. In a way, it may seem like you can’t catch a break; from your point-of-view if could feel as if you’re just expressing yourself, but others may see you as having dark or hidden motives, as trying to be deliberately mysterious (and so deliberately provocative), as grabbing for power, or as trying to change the world (or just your corner of it), which can on its own attract both praise and accusations of pretentiousness. What’s a Lion to do? Whatever the f*ck she wants, that’s what. Let them talk; you need to spend the year acting and being who you are to the fullest, and if that means things soar successfully or go wonky once in a while, well, that’s the only way you’ll learn, isn’t it?

On the use of an asterisk to tone down profanity: I think it looks like a little sparkle, which is what you get when you use that kind of spicy word in the first place–so rather than feeling like I’m dodging the word, I’m making it more graphic, like those terrible poems trendy 50 years ago, where the word ‘bottle’ fills the shape of a bottle–it may be a tad tiresome, but you get the picture–

‘Music’ Matisse {{PD}}

What happens when we are caught between enacting our social role and turning away from it in order to deal with things we’d rather avoid, or to establish ourselves in a position respected by others? We live a year like the upcoming one for you, dear Leo! You may be entirely caught up in identity and role matters, and so have little time or mental room to accommodate those emotional, home, and mate issues that may arise. That’s okay; the partner will give you some slack when they see how important it is (and extra so for a Solar Leo!) for you to make it clear to all just who you are, what you want to do, and how you want to be treated. Don’t forget to thank your support system, and to offer them empowerment through your own gains and advances. You may end up making a lot of changes this year, through to your next birthday, and they will be permanent ones–take your time as you do change things, and you’ll finish the year in a much more suitable power situation than when you started it. Happy Birthday, Leo, and good luck!

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‘At the Moulin Rouge’ Henri Evenepoel 1897 {{PD}}

This may be a very interesting Solar year for you, dear Leo, as through to your next birthday you may be dealing in equal measure with opportunities and those matters you’d rather ignore–and sometimes these will be one and the same. Interacting with others, and especially their level of cooperation, will take on added importance for you–you are working out a creative power arrangement that allows you the greatest productivity and latitude, and you’ll find sometimes that you’ll need the aid of others to make this happen. Pay special attention to this: emotions will be the key to everything this coming year–how you handle feelings will make or break your success at this time, so good luck, and Happy Birthday, Leo!

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Francesco del Cossa – Allegory of April – Triumph of Venus (detail) {{PD}}

Dear Leo, this coming Solar year, through to your next birthday, you may be in for experiences that reveal what’s been in your blind spot and that delivers some serious wisdom–and, as much as you’ll benefit from this, it might be a little bit stressful. Communications may be stressed, too, and material matters may force you to stand up for yourself and to face what you’d rather not–but what comes from this is a firm identity, true respect for yourself, and the discovery of just who in your world loves and supports you and who doesn’t, which should help you sort out where and with whom you want to spend your energy and your time. The best thing that comes from this period will be a growing sense of personal power and effectiveness, which will pave the way for you to bring dreams from their place in the imagination and into reality.

Dynamism of a Biker (1913) by Umberto Boccioni {{PD}}

Dear Leo, it looks like you might find yourself involved with repeated emotional showdowns over wounding behaviors (yours or another’s) and the nature of reality, specifically how much of creativity, imagination, inspiration, and connection to the Cosmos is ‘real’? It will be an interesting time, when you’ll be assessing the costs and rewards of going after your ambitions and goals, taking big, bold action, and you may exhibit a definite willingness to experiment with the reality picture, trying to make it fit your own ideal more closely. Those are all good–just be wary of believing that strong words equal strength (both in the speaking of them and in the hearing of them–someone may try to intimidate or persuade they are more formidable than they are), and take special care that your actions and choices first do no harm. Otherwise, have a Happy Birthday, Leo, and a wonderful year!

Édouard Joseph Dantan 1880 {{PD}}

Dear Leo, your creative energy is at a peak this coming Solar year, through to your next birthday, and you can make the most of your imagination, your spiritual inclinations, and all matters of the House in the natal chart with Pisces on the cusp as well as any energies ruled by Neptune. That’s a powerful mandate that’s exciting but could also be confusing or overwhelming, as you try to activate all your inspirations at once; take things one at a time, and you could enjoy one of the most creative and productive years of your life. At some point you could be looking at a seminal moment in terms of forming your identity, and/ or living out your Life Purpose–and that means you need to be aware that what you do now will be more important to you than surface matters may indicate. You can be highly original this year, particularly if you give that creative energy material form–to make the most of all this, you’ll need to be open to dealing with at least a few things you’d rather not–but nothing truly good comes without a little struggle, does it? Happy Birthday, and good luck, Leo!

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‘Dance’ Alfons Mucha 1898 {{PD}}

Are you still basking in the glow of a recent, big success, dear Leo, or are you just getting ready to launch that big effort or project? In either case, optimism is at a peak, and during this coming Solar year, through to your next birthday, you’ll need to make sure skills and what you visualize as your next goal are in accord; nothing will halt progress more quickly than having ambitions that aren’t supported by abilities. That shouldn’t be a problem for you, though, and you should have confidence in your ability to express talents, use assets or funds, and find the right relationships to make things happen. Be aware of two things that could stall forward momentum: know that money does not solve all problems, and that Love is in reality the biggest change-agent of all. Happy Birthday, Leo, and good luck!

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Anthony van Dyck – Daedalus and Icarus c1620 {{PD}}

You may feel like things are taking off, dear Leo–and they are–but what you’ll face this coming Solar year, through to your next birthday, will be a series of challenges concerning your creativity, your sources of inspiration, your spirituality, and your ability to sort fact from fiction, and your response to these will determine whether those take-offs lead to a successfully completed trip or a crash-and-burn situation. Working for you: your intense energy, your generosity, and your sensitivity, particularly acute at this time; working against you: a temporary but significant tendency toward a hair-trigger temper and taking premature action. It’s not exactly make or break for you this year, but it is a time when many important steps will be taken and vital situations put in place–good luck, Leo, and Happy Birthday!

‘Bal du moulin de la Galette’ Renoir 1876 {{PD}}

You may be on pins and needles this coming Solar year, dear Leo, as so much big, new, and exciting is forming in your life–but timing will be what makes or breaks your efforts at expansion, at reaching out, and at making your world a more dynamic and rewarding place. It may be particularly difficult to know when to take action–but, inspiration and optimism will be plentiful, and will get you over any false starts or dead ends you may temporarily take. Home, mate, and values will not only be your bedrock, but will help you fulfill those goals and dreams–use values as your guide, heed the mate’s counsel, and use home as a refuge–plenty of rest will be extra important in this period, as you may tend to tire yourself out with big efforts and big plans. Good Luck, Leo, and Happy Birthday!

‘Dinner at the Casino’ by Gaston La Touche 1902 {{PD}}

Dear Leo, this may be a spectacular year for you–but that doesn’t mean fireworks, prestige, and money delivered in buckets to your door–it doesn’t deny them, either, it’s just that your rewards may actually be on the quieter side, with this year being one you look back on for the rest of your life as both fulfilling and rich with experience. The House(s) in the natal chart (Sagittarius and Pisces, using traditional rulers) ruled by Jupiter are the likeliest areas for abundance, the acquisition of knowledge, experience, or influence, the development of a philosophy of life that can carry you through, and/ or the expansion of your world and your reach so that you permanently and positively change the way you engage with your surroundings forevermore. Know too that this year the emotions are likely to enjoy real stability and to heal so completely that you may feel like a ‘new you’ by the time you reach your next Solar Return. Good luck, and Happy Birthday!

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