August Highlights
We start August under a Leo Sun which emphasizes courage, creativity and self-expression until the 22nd when the Sun moves into Virgo, so let your light shine these next 3 weeks! Be playful and know that there will also be some drama. With assertive Mars having followed charming Venus into the Mutable earth sign Virgo for the first 2 weeks of the month, we can get moving on our organization projects and make some headway in beautifying our indoor and outdoor spaces. Giant Jupiter retrograde has ventured back into Aquarius where it will remain for the rest of the year, bringing further opportunities for expansion with humanitarian projects, technological breakthroughs and in personal friendships and group endeavors.
Mercury aligns with the Sun and opposes responsible Saturn during the first two days of August. This can be a bit tricky as you have the ability to express yourself, but may feel inhibited by an imposing figure or someone you look up to. Recognizing your own inner authority is important to effective communication.
On the 3rd, Both Mercury and Venus interact with that rebel Uranus and you have an ingenious idea a minute! Write it down, then enjoy brainstorming and sharing your intellectual insights with others. This is a great time for thinking outside the box and discovering a new viewpoint! Three days later, on the 6th, the Sun squares off with Uranus causing people to get locked into their own original ideas and the need for freedom. Acknowledging that each person has a right to their own point of view is key to any kind of compromise and progress.
The New Moon in Leo fires up on the 8th of August! Traits of open-heartedness and generosity of spirit attract others to you for the fun and warmth exuded. Some themes from the first week are carried forward, so go easy on yourself, especially if you want to enlist the support of others. On the 9th, the Goddess of love and beauty, Venus, finds herself in opposition to Neptune which can build romantic castles in the sky if fantasy is allowed to take over. Guide those creative thoughts into an artistic or spiritual endeavor that will bring tangible rewards. The 10th sees Mercury on its’ last day in Leo in a polarity with Jupiter in Aquarius. We need to be wary of exerting our own will or ego just to get our way.
Venus and Neptune have some similar qualities of gentleness and caring and both value beauty and the arts. But one is more grounded, that’s Venus, than the other which is more ethereal, and that’s Neptune. On the 9th, at 9:20pm, Venus in earthy Virgo opposes Neptune in watery Pisces and we are able to see the balance or imbalance of our beliefs, fantasies and/or desires. This polarity may involve the unknown, causing us to falter in our intentions to clarify what is of value, what is real and what is merely a pipe dream. Ask yourself what you want to remain and what needs to drift away.
The next day, August 10th, is the opposition of Mercury in Leo to giant Jupiter in Aquarius. Thinking, logic and reason are best employed to avoid making a mountain out of a mole hill! This could show up in making big plans, committee meetings, or any educational or religious endeavor. Tread lightly and hear both sides rather than decreeing it’s all or nothing. Balance and harmony are especially needed here if the ego charged its way in first, or blurted out this is the way it is…
On August 11th, curious Mercury enters Virgo, one of the signs she rules., for the rest of the month. This is really helpful for all writing projects, communication that involves detailed instructions, or organization of thoughts and/or space. We can work well within the guidelines or boundaries that are set. A cautionary note here… checking off your to-do list is great so long as you don’t write off the thoughts and feelings of your co-workers. There is a tendency with Virgo to get too concerned with every little detail and thus become overly critical, judgmental, or impatient with others. The same evening, Venus in Virgo makes a harmonizing aspect with powerful Pluto in Capricorn for helping to make some small changes that can have a bigger effect. It took a long time to get to this point… whatever it is, so don’t expect things to change over night. It’s a work in progress.