August starts with a Full Moon on the 1st and ends with another one on the 30th.
The signs are positive with each of the Full Moon charts, but also with the chart for the New Moon. Jupiter rises before the Sun and is in Square on the 1st. The chart for the New Moon is Conjunct Retrograde Venus; Venus rises before the Sun. The Full Moon on the 30th is with Venus, (which is Square Jupiter) rising before the Sun. Great expectations are with us all month.
Mercury is in Virgo and turns Retrograde on the 23rd, before completing his Trine to Uranus in Taurus and Pluto in Capricorn.
We can look at this as a practical master plan that will not be implemented. Instead, it will be back to the drawing board, with scaled-back demands that will be implemented next month as Mercury Trines Jupiter twice, then Uranus and Pluto. August is a time of revision.
Venus remains Retrograde in Leo all month.
This shows emotional cleansing. In the last week of August, Mercury will have turned Retrograde as the Sun enters the sign of the virgin. This opens the door to re-evaluating all things. This is a gift moment. We put life’s experiences through a strainer.
Mars enters Libra on the 27th.
Forcefulness will involve collusion to be effective. Libra is ruled by Venus. In her Retrograde motion, Venus backs through the second decanate of Leo (the Sagittarius part of the sign). The fighting spirit of Mars is mitigated by an emotional need for harmony through seeking a higher value.
The Full Moon
The Full Moon is on the 1st at 2:31 PM EDT on the 9th degree of Leo/Aquarius. The fixed T-square, Jupiter Square both Sun and Moon, makes real change difficult. We tend toward seeing ourselves as an exception to the general rules that everyone else lives under. Mars Trine Jupiter shows that we make progress by feeling the competition. Others set the pace and we strengthen ourselves by keeping up with them. With Mercury Opposite Saturn, we may need extra discipline to fulfill our desired goals of the moment. We need to do our own thing, but still be aware of how others are doing. Uranus in Square to Venus, while being Trine Pluto and Sextile Neptune, we can feel overwhelmed by changing circumstances in the world writ large. We have to embrace our uniqueness without disparaging others.
The New Moon
The New Moon is on the 16th at 5:37 AM EDT on the 23rd degree of Leo. Sun and Moon are Square Uranus. Letting go of things, people, and situations from the past is necessary now. Retrograde Venus Square Jupiter brings luck, but it is not an easy trick to see what the luck refers to. Mercury in Virgo is Conjunct Mars and Trine Uranus. Analysis, discretion, and practical grounding are necessary to make quick, accurate, and satisfying steps forward. Advice from friends and associates, while well-meaning, can mislead us. Mars Opposite Neptune has us looking for the needle in the haystack, without recognizing that we are in the middle of a pile of hay that is on fire. Real practicality now means being able to keep track of the larger context of our environment, society, and the world.
The Sun enters Virgo
The Sun crosses into Virgo on the 23rd at 5:02 AM EDT. Virgo’s purpose is to create order and to label the contents of our experience. Mercury (ruler of Virgo) is Stationary turning Retrograde. Whatever we are working on needs to be to scale back. With the Moon in Scorpio Opposite Jupiter, and Uranus in Taurus, eliminating the things that must go is a cleansing and purifying act. Mercury is Sextile the Moon and Trine Jupiter/Uranus. Well, we know what habits must change in order to experience the freedom we long for. Mars in Virgo is in a Grand Trine in earth (substantive) with Pluto and Uranus. The Opposition of Mars to Neptune triggers this very practical pattern into motion. Throughout this Solar Month, we must aim, and take determined steps, to manifest our higher ideals.
The Full Moon
The Full Moon is on the 30th at 9:35 PM EDT on 7 degrees 25 minutes of Virgo/Pisces. Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto are in a harmonious relationship with each other. However, since the Moon has just crossed over Saturn (restriction) and both Mercury and Venus are Retrograde, we may see a Divine promise that we can manifest right now. It’s a waste of time and energy to attempt projects now that have no chance of working out. This is a time for observing and planning. Much of our activities must be available for major alterations next month.
Bob Mulligan is available for personal appointments, astrology classes, and astrological material. You can email him here. Visit his website here.