What July's New Moon in Leo means for you: A horoscope reading for every star sign

Cosmopolitan

a day ago

New Moons are a time for rejuvenation and manifestation. If you have a lack in your life, then this is the time the collective will work to fill it, whether through a new experience, person, or item. We must make space for beginnings and foolish behaviour during new moons. Mind you, we're all fools when beginning something new, so don't be scared to get experimental.
For newbies, a New Moon is when the moon conjuncts the sun to the same degree. New moons are for setting intentions and goals to manifest. Take the theme of each new moon (manifestation period) as inspiration to bring forth the best version of yourself! If you find your horoscope helpful or have any questions, please share your horoscope and tag me on social media @monishaholmes.
July's New Moon in Leo will happen on 24th July, 2025 emerging like a sunrise on an unpleasantly cold day and making Leo season the perfect time for shedding personal layers and melting the social ice. Get ready to step out — adorned in your baddest attire — and draped in unshakable confidence.
But this New Moon isn't just about flaunting your shine — it's happening in the 10th House of career and legacy, so your outfit isn't the only thing at stake; your reputation is. With Mercury Retrograde also in Leo, people are feeling an emotional pull to defend their egos, preserve their narratives, and secure their spot in the world's memory. This isn't performative confidence — it's ancestral. It's the version of you that refuses to be erased.
And here's where things get layered: Saturn and Neptune in Aries are trining this New Moon, which means people may start leaning into masculine-coded power — authority, intimidation, superiority — not necessarily to be oppressive, but to let those optics work for them if it helps get the job done. Intention may be quiet, but impact is loud. Thankfully, Uranus in Gemini is sextiling this lunation, and that's your pressure valve. Think fast. Speak smarter. There's always a third perspective no one's thought of, and if you can surface it, you might shatter the whole illusion that's cornering you.
Still, beware: Chiron in Aries squaring the New Moon, and Pluto opposing it, means people are fragile right now. There's cultural resistance to transformation — especially if you don't struggle for it. You might even notice folks clutching onto pain like it's a badge of honour. Let them. That's not your cue.
This New Moon is not asking you to invent a new version of yourself, nor does it have any need for you to create a solution for other people's lack of excitement. Instead, you may gain most from finding new ways to look at the features of your uniqueness. How do you move when no one is watching? What if that is your truest dance?
What to do for this New Moon in Leo
Schedule the shoot, wear the silk, and post the photo that makes your inner critic sweat. Leo rules performance, not for attention's sake, but because self-expression is divine worship. Make your mirror a stage. Let your authenticity rehearse in front of the spotlight until you remember that you were never pretending.
Some people will never applaud until you shrink. You don't need their validation — you need your fire back. Notice where you dim your light to make others feel less insecure. This New Moon is your permission slip to stop treating your joy like it's disruptive. If they think you're too much, let them go find less.
Take yourself on a date that rivals your Pinterest board. Dress up for no reason. Serenade your reflection. Leo energy lives for love — but the highest octave of Leo love is the kind you give yourself before someone else earns a seat at your table. Wholeness looks good on you.
The moments you once felt humiliated by? They're part of your mythos now. Reclaim the plot. Make a podcast episode about it. Write a poem. Turn your heartbreak into a one-woman show. Leo doesn't just survive — it makes the pain into art and the healing into a performance. Let your legacy be one of unapologetic colour.
This New Moon in Leo invites you to break character and become the star you forgot you already were. Don't just rise. Erupt. Become the sun that the world was waiting for. And if someone tells you to tone it down, just tell them: babe, this is the toned-down version.
Read your horoscope based on your Sun, Moon, and Rising signs. Read for your Sun sign to gain insight based on the version of yourself you're maturing into, your Rising sign to reflect on your present state, and your Moon sign for guidance on caring for your inner child.
It's okay to want to be adored. This Leo New Moon is blessing your 5th House of joy, romance, and risk. But what happens when the applause fades? With Mercury Retrograde in this same space, you're being asked to revisit how you create, why you perform, and what you hope to receive in return. This lunation is not just about being seen — it's about being felt. Ego may want to steal the mic, but your spirit needs something softer. Create like you've already won. Love like you're not auditioning. And remember: pleasure that's conditional is just performance in a prettier outfit.
You've outgrown pretending you're fine at home when you're not. The Leo New Moon is sitting in your 4th House of roots, lineage, and emotional interiors. With Mercury retrograde here too, you may notice yourself rehearsing old lines just to keep the peace. But who does that peace actually serve? This lunation encourages you to re-establish your authority over your own private world. You can't build a legacy on someone else's rules. And you don't need to prove anything to earn protection. Make home a sacred theatre — not a stage for keeping up appearances.
The stories you tell about yourself are sacred. This New Moon is lighting up your 3rd House of communication, memory, and inner monologue. With Mercury Retrograde here, expect a resurgence of voices — internal and external — that once made you doubt your clarity. But you're different now. You can speak without shrinking. You can teach without performing. Not everyone will understand your expression, but that doesn't mean it's not resonant. You are allowed to change your mind and still be taken seriously. You are allowed to be radiant and still tell the truth. Especially when the truth comes out dressed in gold.
This New Moon is testing the frequency of your self-worth. Leo rules your 2nd House of value, and with Mercury Retrograde dancing in the same space, old insecurities may resurface through your spending habits, your reflection, or your need for validation. But you don't have to fix it all — just face it. If you've been taught that you have to struggle to deserve abundance, this lunation might challenge that narrative. You're not a project. You're not a price tag. You're a person who deserves nice things without performance. Don't let wounded egos set the cost of your glow.
This is your New Moon — and the world feels like a mirror. Happening in your 1st House of identity and personal expression, this lunation challenges the version of you that's still trying to be palatable. Mercury Retrograde in your sign adds extra static, tempting you to defend past performances or rework your image. But there's nothing to defend. You're not an explanation. You're a revelation. There's a difference between being perceived and being known. Let this moon teach you the difference. And when people start treating your presence like prophecy, remember — you wrote the story. They're just catching up.
This lunation dips into your 12th House — your inner sanctuary and sometimes your subconscious exile. New Moons here don't always feel exciting. They feel like whispers behind closed doors, like sleep that won't come, like shame that never got spoken out loud. With Mercury retrograde also lurking in this space, you may find yourself tangled in thoughts that belong to a past self. Be still. Let her speak. But don't let her drive. You don't need to armour up in intellect or disappear behind your duties. Your softness is not a liability. Let this moon mend your inner altar.
This New Moon is giving main character energy to your 11th House of friendship, community, and future dreams. But with Mercury Retrograde in the mix, don't be surprised if the group chat feels…off. There's a difference between being liked and being aligned. Some people orbit your light just to say they've been close to it. That's not loyalty, baby, that's proximity. This lunation is about finding people who aren't just watching your rise — they're rising with you. You don't need to explain your evolution. Just keep becoming. The right ones will find you mid-flight.
The spotlight is burning through your 10th House — career, visibility, public perception. This New Moon is asking you to redefine what 'success' means when you're not performing for praise. With Mercury Retrograde here, past achievements (or public missteps) may come back for review. Don't spiral. Legacy is not built on optics—it's forged in integrity. You don't have to dominate to be impactful. You don't have to post to prove you're powerful. You just have to know. Let this moon teach you the quiet confidence that doesn't ask for applause.
You're used to looking far ahead, but this New Moon wants you to go deeper—time to confront your feelings sweetie. Leo is your 9th House ruler — home of purpose, philosophy, and the stories we tell about meaning. With Mercury Retrograde here, questions may arise about whether you still believe in the thing you're chasing. You're allowed to pivot. You're allowed to be moved. You're allowed to outgrow the spiritual narrative that once saved you. Let this moon rewire your truth — not with logic, but with fire. You don't need new doctrine. You need devotion that doesn't shrink your joy.
This New Moon glows in your 8th House — the place where we hold power, pain, and the pieces we've merged with others. This transit might make you feel a little raw. Mercury retrograde here is resurrecting emotional debts and psychological secrets. You're not being punished. You're being purified. This lunation doesn't want to control you — it wants you to remember what's yours. Reclaim your energy. Release the shame. Reframe the narrative. You don't owe anybody a performance of composure. Let the rupture make room for rebirth.
Your partnerships are under divine review. With the New Moon in your 7th House — and Mercury Retrograde parked there, too — relationships may feel like a hall of mirrors. You might feel like you're being studied instead of loved. Like you're being managed instead of met. But connection is not choreography. You don't have to over-explain your boundaries or shrink your autonomy to maintain peace. This lunation is about choosing union without erasure. It's about being known and free. If someone can't hold both, they might not be the one holding you next.
You don't have to disappear to be of service. This New Moon lands in your 6th House of routine, wellness, and work — and with Mercury Retrograde here, your body and schedule are sounding alarms. The pressure to prove your usefulness is not the same thing as being valuable. You don't owe your energy to every inbox, every role, every silent expectation. Real devotion is sustainable. Real care includes you. Let this lunation invite you to rest not as rebellion — but as ritual. You're not behind. You're just healing in public.