Hey, It’s Rebecca. Welcome to Odonata Lens - where astrology meets strategy
Forecasts and insights for August 4th - 19th
Friends,
Hi! I’m thrilled you’re here. After a busy few months of 1:1 readings and consultations (my heart is full), I’m finally kickstarting this newsletter! Welcome to Odonata Lens, a twice-a-month digest of astrology-informed forecasts, insights, and offerings to help you reconnect with yourself, embrace your unique vision for change, and elevate your strategy.
Before diving into this issue (which covers a lot of ground), here’s a quick starter guide to my approach, what to expect in each edition, and how to make the most of it:
First, a little bit about me → Many of you know me already, but for those who don’t: For over 15 years, I’ve worked at the intersection of media, politics, and advocacy, helping leaders combat disinformation, hate, and other threats to democracy and our planet. Throughout this journey, I’ve seen how easy it is to fall into crisis mode, setting aside well-being and the pursuit of bold, creative ideas. I know many changemakers in all sectors regularly find themselves in a similar boat. To help change that, I started Odonata Strategies, where I blend evolutionary astrology with strategic insight to help leaders trust themselves again and embrace their unique vision for a more just, open, and resilient world.
My approach to astrology → There’s a lot to demystify and de-“woo” about astrology and how it can be used as a tool for self-guidance, empowerment, and strategy for good. Some astrologers want us to “build our lives into the stars” - aka, surrender our agency and self-trust to every single transit and aspect. Others want us to subscribe to their brand of determinism and fatalism, believing that astrology can predict fixed outcomes in our lives and in the world. To me, these approaches are nothing but grift and ego clutter. Here’s how I see it:
The planets are always a mirror to what’s evolving and shifting INSIDE all of us - “as above, so below” as the old adage goes - and when we become aware of those shifts and the potential they hold for us, we can consciously work with them to live fuller lives and make the impact we want in the world.
Astrology is most empowering when it’s used as a tool to map potentialities and probabilities (NOT absolutes and fixed outcomes), and shared in a way that gets us back to our inner compass and power. It is a tool to assess what can happen in our lives (and in the world) if/when we work with the shifting energies within us, not what will happen. In that vein, I’ll offer forecasts and opportunities in this newsletter, not predictions.
There are no “good” or “bad” planetary transits + forecasts. I ditch all binaries in favor of nuance and complexity because, well, none of us can fit into neat, little boxes and binaries are antithetical to our flourishing. I’ll talk about key dates and transits in terms of their potential to help us reconnect with ourselves, each other, and the vision for the world that gets us out of bed every morning.
How to work with the insights in this newsletter:
Take what resonates, leave what doesn’t. You are the ultimate authority in your life. Trust that. On timing decisions and strategic moves with astrology —> my belief is that the best timing is when you (and/or your team) feel most aligned with yourself and your purpose. Of course, there are more potent times to act on certain things than others, but ultimately, it’s about alignment.
If you have not had your birth chart read, I highly recommend it to reorient yourself to the unique energies and potential you bring to your life, work, and vision. You can book a 1:1 session with me here, whether that’s for a first-time birth chart reading or an extended session to talk strategy for your org, business, campaign idea, or career pivots. With that, let’s get into it…..
Starting with the bigger picture…
A lot of you have asked what the skies have had to say about developments over the last few weeks. Here’s my take: many astrologers online fixated on what happened outside of us during the most potent planetary transits, including the much-anticipated Mars-Uranus and full moon in Capricorn-Pluto conjunctions (between political violence rearing its ugly head and big endings followed by new beginnings on the campaign trail). However, too few focused on what was happening within us → long-trusted foundations being tested, tipping points reached, and a riptide of contrastive feelings of uncertainty and renewed hope for the future. We felt it ALL - and still are.
While uncomfortable, I believe at the heart of this tumult and the next few months of astrology lies an invitation: to release ourselves from the grip of the past, stop clinging to what we believe is "tried and true," and open up to new possibilities and approaches.
Now, simply RSVP-ing “yes” to this invitation won't be enough to move us in this direction. This moment requires us to fundamentally “collude with possibility,” as Sonya Renee Taylor would say. This is more than just a mindset shift—it’s a full embodiment of curiosity and openness. In the thick of chaos and uncertainty, it needs to become muscle memory for us to prioritize seeing the possibilities and opportunities in this moment.
Kickstarting this week is the (lovely) new moon in Leo and Mercury moving into retrograde (more on that below). We are all being asked to step into leadership that courageously acknowledges and lets go of what’s crumbling in our lives and the world to make room for the new.
This isn’t about throwing caution to the wind—I want to be clear about that. We still need to ground ourselves and build solid structures for any new plans or changes. But we also need to get real about how sticking with what’s most familiar might be holding us back, and consider what new possibilities could bring. Let's crack that window open and see what fresh air comes in—both personally and collectively.
Here’s how we can all work with the energies of the next two weeks:
The New Moon in Leo kicks off this week, inviting you to step into bold, courageous, and authentic leadership in your life and work. Over the next few days, while the moon's initiating energy is most potent, think ahead six months—what do you want to achieve by February 2025? What fruits of your efforts do you want to reap? Set intentions and plan from there.
For Strategy:
Authentic Brand-Building: If your organization, business, or campaign needs a reboot, this week is a great time to plan a rebrand or expansion. Leo’s energy at its strongest and most secure encourages bold, authentic self-expression. Remember, YOU are fundamentally the brand—beyond your website, social media, and relationships— and the primary vehicle for the impact you want to make. If your brand doesn’t fundamentally reflect you, your team, and your values right now, then it’s time to reevaluate.
Audience Assessment: Related, assess who the audiences, clients, and communities you want to ultimately reach and impact are. Evaluate if your current audience aligns with your values and what you have to offer. Map out a plan to shift your strategy over the next six months accordingly.
For Soul-Care:
Redefine Courage: I’m not being corny here. All of us need to define courage (Leo’s primary flex) on our own terms. It’s too often defined as daring to do something outside of us that frightens us, right? But what if we defined it as daring to be who we are at our core? Daring to embrace and embody our unique vision for change? Related ↡↡↡
Reassess Your Relationship with Attention: The insecure side of Leo energy can lead to giving everything your audience wants at the expense of your desires and needs. Set intentions around how you’d like to be seen and what you’d like to be known for, in full alignment with yourself. Also related ↡↡↡
Unmask (figuratively): If you feel the need to constantly keep up appearances with others, set intentions to show up as your whole self in your relationships and express your needs clearly.
Incorporate More Play and Creativity: Don’t roll your eyes. Please bring more joy and playfulness into your life and work. Adults need this too. Find new creative outlets to explore and enjoy.
It’s time to ditch our understanding of Mercury retrograde as a havoc-wreaker. As one of my teachers reminded me, the focus of our attention determines the quality of our experience. If you see retrogrades as such, you’re more likely to notice the havoc, glitches, and imperfections. Instead, remember that the skies reflect what’s happening within us —> this is fundamentally a time for radical review, reflection, energy retrieval, and recalibration.
Mercury will be retrograde, first in Virgo, then in Leo. Initially, there will be an invitation to fine-tune and make adjustments in the Virgoan spirit of precision and practicality. Then, as Mercury moves into Leo, the focus will shift to reassessing our approaches to authentic self-expression, creativity, and leadership.
For Strategy:
Assess What Strategies/Tactics Aren’t Working: During this period, anything that isn't working will likely come up for review. This could include newfound realizations of issues, glitches in internal team processes, or uncomfortable feedback from your audiences. First, show yourself and your team a lot of compassion when this happens, and use the energy to recalibrate from a place of openness and possibility.
Revisit Comms Plans: Don’t be surprised if media and comms campaigns you launched or messaging you tested over the last few weeks come back up for review. Mercury in retrograde tends to highlight where our messaging/comms is falling short in reaching our intended audiences. Again, exercise self-compassion and be open and responsive (when necessary) to the public feedback you receive. This is a great opportunity to go back the drawing board and map new approaches (see more on Mars in Gemini below).
Triple Check and Fact Check: Send ALL public-facing materials through a more rigorous cross-check and fact-check.
For Soul-Care:
Embrace the Unknown: If your uncertainty and fear of what’s next in your life are triggered at this time, know that you are seen and not alone. Reevaluate your relationship with the unknown as fertile ground for reconnecting with yourself and finding the clarity you need.
Assess What Soul-Care Rituals Are No Longer Working: You will likely be more aware of what rituals you lean on to reconnect with yourself are no longer serving you. Be open to making shifts and changes where needed.
Energy Retrieval: Identify areas where you're expending energy with little return. Reclaim your time and energy, and establish firmer boundaries.
It's already giving Brat, "weird," coconuts and context, trending topics on steroids, but also endless streams of gloves-off vitriol and distraction. The conversations online and offline encompass all of the above. We think we've already hit a fever pitch, but it's likely we're headed for more around August 14th when Jupiter and Mars in Gemini join hands.
Now, what exactly is happening within all of us? I’d say there’s an urge to break free from absolutes, get radically curious, test-drive new approaches, and fearlessly share our ideas and stories. Here are a few ways we can embrace it:
For Strategy:
**Comms folks, you’re TOTALLY having your moment right now (I see you). Reach out to me if you want to explore specific plans you have.** But the following, of course, is for everyone here:
Get Radically Curious: Open doors you haven’t opened before and test-drive new approaches you’ve long dismissed as too “unconventional” without discarding everything else. Experiment with multiple plans simultaneously, but be realistic about capacity and follow-through.
Fend Against Toxic, Hateful Rhetoric (Judiciously): You know what I’m talking about. The gloves have come off even more in the last few weeks. Take great care to not respond to vitriol with JUST light-hearted barbs. Articulate the real impact of harmful rhetoric on people’s lives and make sure you avoid giving the biggest amplifiers of this rhetoric too much oxygen. To take extra precaution, make sure that you and your teams have digital security protections and protocols in place. Reach out for guidance if needed.
Engage Younger Audiences: If you haven’t already, develop and expand strategies to reach younger audiences on alternative social media platforms and through younger influencers.
Don’t Rely Solely on the “Court of Internet Opinion”: While social media can gauge public sentiment, remember it’s not the whole picture. Digital platforms can amplify extremes and create echo chambers. Ground your strategies in the offline impact you want, and ensure your strategy is informed by a diverse range of perspectives, not just the loudest voices online. With that ↡↡↡
Encourage Offline Engagement: The temptation will be to amp up online engagement right now, but it is imperative to promote messaging that motivates followers to also get offline to organize, mobilize, and connect with others.
Don’t Forget to Reach Locally: Tailor your messaging and campaigns to resonate with the hyper-local audiences you care most about. Explore how your cause, services, or solutions impact them specifically and strategize accordingly.
For Soul-Care:
Hit Pause and Unplug When You Can: Our nervous systems are being tested in ways they haven’t before. During this period, the temptation to stay glued to your phone will be strong and so will the “need” to respond + have a hot take every step of the way. It’s imperative to hit pause and step away from the screen when you can. Don’t underestimate how important this is for reconnecting with yourself.
Honor Your Needs, Don’t Overcommit: Your social schedule will likely be packed more than usual. Check in with yourself and honor any desire to stay home, unplug, and bow out of plans. Over-committing will leave you…you know…exhausted.
Embrace Flexibility: Allow yourself to be adaptable and flexible in all areas of your life, as long as you stay true to your needs.