Grace McGrade is an intuitive astrologer and priestess based in Los Angeles. She is the co-founder of ASTRAL ORACLES and author of Palpable Magic; a website exploring prose about sex, love, Los Angeles and the occult. Her sessions include natal chart readings, energetic clearing and activations, and tarot readings.

Things are heating up in the heavens, and after a sensitive voyage through July in the watery sign of Cancer, August pushes us out of our shells, as we move into our confidence and creativity in the sign Leo. We are encouraged to connect with our own uniqueness, and to let our talents and skills shine with loud, proud expression. Ruled by the Sun, the sign of Leo energises us and sparks our desire to feel seen and revamp our relationship to our own light. 

It’s time to sharpen up our focus on what makes us lovable, take bold moves and connect with our sense of artistry. The more we can invoke fun and celebrate our individual importance, the better, even if our usual summer schedules have changed. We are invited to take what we have learned about ourselves through these collective changes, and display it proudly, owning a new updated version of self. Leo pertains to our inner child, and although we are encouraged to celebrate our need for playfulness, we may be quick to jump to child-like antics, as our appetite for drama increases.

As our individual stories unfold, so does the collective story. Pluto (planet of lasting change, intensity and transformation) will be hovering close to where it was in January, when the first whispers of a virus that would influence all of our daily lives began spreading across the globe. We can anticipate seismic change returning to our societal structures. We are encouraged to draw down the Leo strength and fight to protect what we love, with bold leadership and an activation of personal purpose. Despite the atmosphere of unpredictability, we are anointed with a sense of energetic support and pride for how far we have come and how much we have adapted. Take time for self-acknowledgement and self-care, as better change awaits ahead.