Full Moon in Leo: Illumination, Courage, and the Call to Authentic Expression
- Maralee Burnett
- 4 days ago
- 6 min read
What Creates a Full Moon
A Full Moon occurs when the Sun and Moon stand opposite one another in the sky, with Earth between them. Symbolically, this is a moment of culmination, revelation, and heightened awareness. What began at the New Moon in Leo six months ago, reaches visibility now. Emotions intensify, truths surface, and something asks to be acknowledged, released, or celebrated. Full Moons illuminate what has been hidden and bring matters to a peak so clarity can emerge.
The Impact of a Full Moon in Leo
When the Moon reaches fullness in Leo on February 1st, 2026, the sign of the heart, creativity, and self-expression, the collective focus turns toward authenticity, confidence, and visibility. This lunation asks: Where am I dimming my light? Where am I ready to be seen? Leo Full Moons can stir a desire for recognition, passion, romance, and creative fulfillment. They can also highlight wounds around validation, pride, or fear of being judged. At their best, Leo Full Moons empower courageous self-expression rooted in joy rather than ego.
Power, Leadership, and Authentic Expression
Because the Sun rules Leo, this Full Moon highlights authentic leadership. The question becomes:
Are we expressing ourselves from ego or from purpose?
Are we seeking attention, or offering contribution?
This lunation favors:
Heart-led leadership
Creative contributions that inspire others
Visibility aligned with values, not vanity
It can expose performative behavior or false pride, while elevating genuine self-expression that uplifts others.
Venus and Mars Conjunct the Sun in Aquarius
During this Full Moon, the Sun in Aquarius is closely joined by Mercury, Venus and Mars, adding relational, social, and activist undertones to the lunation. Aquarius emphasizes community, collective ideals, and future-focused thinking, while Venus and Mars together blend attraction with action. Mercury in Aquarius mobilizes the 'people', creates inventive solution for sharing information among the people as well. This combination can spark bold conversations around love, values, equality, and autonomy—both personally and societally. The Leo Moon asks for heartfelt self-expression, while the Aquarian Sun reminds us that our individuality has meaning within the collective. Tension may arise between personal desires and group responsibilities, urging a new balance between being true to yourself and honoring the greater good.
Neptune’s First Full Moon in Aries
This is the first Full Moon since Neptune’s entry into Aries, marking a significant energetic shift. Neptune in Aries dissolves old identities and inspires new visions of courage, leadership, and spiritual independence. Under this influence, dreams become more personal and action-oriented. However, there may also be confusion around direction or impulsive idealism. This Full Moon may bring flashes of inspiration about who you are becoming, while also asking you to release outdated roles that no longer align with your emerging sense of purpose.
This full moon is solely focused on the balance of power in the 'me' vs 'we' narrative. There are no other planets adding energy directly to this full moon. In the background we still have the sextile between Saturn and a retrograde Uranus. This supports healthy boundaries and surprising shifts in our values. Chiron in Aries and Mercury in Aquarius are working together to teach the community how to heal. Lastly, the South Node in Virgo makes contact with the Sun in Aquarius, reminding us of the unhealthy behaviours of large groups in the past. There is a lesson that those who are driven by power need to remember in order to not repeat the mistakes of the past.
Full Moon in Leo by Rising Sign (Whole Sign Houses)
Each sign will have a unique experience with the energy of this Full Moon in Leo. Read below first for your rising sign, then Sun sign, and lastly your Moon.
Aries Rising – 5th House: Creative projects, romance, or matters involving children come to fruition. A moment to reclaim joy and passion. This is the balance between what you want and what other want from you. How can your needs better align with what others need from you?
Taurus Rising – 4th House: Emotional revelations around home, family, or your inner foundations. A release tied to belonging. This is balance between how you are seen in the world and how you are seen at home. How can you brings these two version of yourself into alignment?
Gemini Rising – 3rd House: Important conversations, news, or mindset shifts. Your voice carries weight now. Are you always wondering what's next instead of focusing on the here and now? This is about being satisfied with what you have achieved within your community instead of always needing and wanting more.
Cancer Rising – 2nd House: Culmination around finances, self-worth, or personal values. Time to honor your true worth. Living through the needs of others leads you to depleting your own reserves. This is the time to ensure your needs are met by you, not only by others, especially financially.
Leo Rising – 1st House: A personal spotlight moment. Identity, confidence, and self-expression are fully illuminated. You know who you are and what you want now. You are ready to shine. Just remember your partner who has supported your journey to the top.
Virgo Rising – 12th House: Emotional release, spiritual insight, or closure. Rest, reflect, and let go of what drains you. Ideally our mental health and physical health are in perfect healthy alignment with one another. If you not, you will be able to release what no longer serves you on a subconscious level, so that your physical health improves.
Libra Rising – 11th House: Shifts within friendships, networks, or long-term goals. Your role in the collective evolves. Your need for solitude and your need for belonging are reaching a point where they have to find a way to coexist. Your desire to give of yourself to keep others happy is draining you. There are choices made involving friendships that no longer fill your heart with joy.
Scorpio Rising – 10th House: Career or public recognition reaches a peak. Visibility increases—choose authenticity. At home your family is reminding you of their sacrifices while you have made this climb to the top. It will be important to remember them, and reward them as you are rewarded for your success.
Sagittarius Rising – 9th House: Beliefs, travel, education, or spiritual truths come into focus. A worldview expands. As you grow and expand its important to remember what brought you to this level of achievement. It will be worthwhile to acknowledge your community that supports you and this new level of success.
Capricorn Rising – 8th House: Emotional intensity around shared resources, intimacy, or transformation. Deep release possible. This transformation you are going through can be life changing. A sudden financial resource could become available to you, however don't forget all you have learned creating financial security on. your own. Those skills will be needed to manage this unexpected gain.
Aquarius Rising – 7th House: Relationship dynamics culminate. Clarity around commitment, boundaries, or mutual goals. You may have finally found the one, but that does not mean abandoning who you are. This is all about balancing your needs with a partners needs, but remembering at the core, who you are and continuing to shine your light brightly.
Pisces Rising – 6th House: Work, health, or daily routines reach a turning point. Time to realign habits with purpose. If there is something that is a part of your daily life, that is unhealthy for you, then this is the time to release it. This is the perfect time to break bad habits, or programs that are running subconsciously keeping you stuck or holding you back.
Full Moon in Leo Ceremony: Reclaiming the Heart
You will need:
• A gold, orange, or red candle
• A mirror
• A small bowl of water
• Paper and pen
Ceremony Steps:
Light the candle and sit comfortably. Gaze into the flame and take several deep breaths.
Look into the mirror and softly say: “I allow myself to be fully seen.”
Write down what you are releasing—fears of judgment, self-doubt, or old roles that no longer reflect who you are.
Fold the paper and hold it over the bowl of water, imagining emotional release. (Do not burn it—this is a heart-centered Full Moon.)
Speak an affirmation of courage and self-love aloud.
Close by placing a hand on your heart and thanking yourself for showing up authentically.
Integration Message of This Full Moon
The Sun in Aquarius ruling a Leo Full Moon asks us to integrate:
Heart (Leo) with Mind (Aquarius)
Self-expression with social impact
Personal truth with collective evolution
When the heart and the future face each other, illumination happens—not through dominance, but through alignment.
This Full Moon in Leo reminds us that self-expression is not selfish—it is essential. When we honor our light, we give others permission to do the same.
With Love from A Guiding Light
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