August 14 Leo New Moon: Smile!

In the 1970s, random guys on the street would always exhort me to “Smile!” I perceived this as a come-on, and enjoyed it about as much as those obnoxious “happy face” stickers that were everywhere then.

But times have changed. People are more guarded now – nobody expects us to smile on the street. So when I read about six-year-old Jaden Hayes, who’s trying to change all that, my curiosity was piqued.

Jaden lost his dad when he was four and his mom last month. But he wasn’t content to sit around and nurse his heartbreak. A few weeks ago he told his aunt, and now guardian, Barbara DiCola, that he was sick and tired of seeing everyone sad all the time. Jaden asked her to buy a bunch of little toys and bring him to downtown Savannah, Georgia near where they live.

“I’m trying to make people smile,” he explained.

Jaden approaches folks who look sad and gives them a toy. He has never failed to elicit a smile – and often a hug as well. In fact, he’s made over 500 people smile already, with a goal of reaching 33,000.

Jaden’s aunt says the reactions have done wonders for him. “It’s like sheer joy came out of this child,” said Barbara. “And the more people that he made smile, the more this light shone.”

So there you have it – a perfect expression of the upcoming Leo New Moon (shining self-expression) conjunct Venus (loving kindness). Because Venus has been retrograde (July 25 – Sept. 6), many of us have been reviewing the past – perhaps feeling nostalgic for people we’ve lost or times gone by. A lot of us (myself included) have also been doing intense but effective work on excavating and transforming old pain – and wondering how much longer it will take! (Hint: Probably till Venus turns direct and Saturn finally leaves Scorpio in Sept.)

Now, at this New Moon (Friday, August 14, 7:53 a.m. PDT), we’re asked to take a time-out from being so serious and celebrate the power of love. The New Moon’s trine to open-minded Uranus urges us to think outside the box, as we ponder what we can give others to make them smile. For example, I brought my Starcaster oracle to a barbecue last weekend and gave mini-readings, to everyone’s delight. Then, I included some out-of-town friends-of-a-friend in our monthly New Moon collaging. It doesn’t take much to touch peoples’ hearts and make their day.

If you need help feeling more joyful, do the Leo New Moon ritual from my book, Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in Your Home and Life. There’s also a short video at the bottom of the page showing how I helped one person transform her Creativity and Children gua to bring more joy into her life.

Have a great New Moon, and remember to smile!