We are heading into the last hurrah of summer. We begin the month of August with the fiery energy of Leo before settling down to the more practical and efficient earth energy of Virgo when the Sun changes sign on August 22nd. I thought it would be interesting to reflect on how we can use the dynamic energy of Leo to our full advantage before focusing on slowing down and anticipating the details of the routines and daily needs that come with the end of August.
Where do you still need to increase your confidence and get noticed or recognized for what you have set out to do during this summer? Are you close to accomplishing your goals? Have you committed to showing up for yourself and creating more visibility for your projects?
As we move closer to August 22nd when Virgo will steer the ship, think of the ways in which you can best serve yourself and others. What do you need to pay attention to and where can you stream-line your life? Do you need to pay more attention to your health and wellness after a summer of travel and indulging?
The Universe provides clues about the direction of energies and how to navigate every month with the planetary transits. It is always so interesting to me how they move in tandem with the energy of the signs.
On August 4th we will have a New Moon in Leo to give us that push forward. This New Moon is providing us with creativity and the ability to use our personal self-expression in matters of the heart, our passions, and also romance and connection. It is a time to let the Universe know what your intentions are in moving toward the Full Moon phase in the next couple of weeks. What is it that you really desire? Are you ready to step into the spotlight? What energy can you bring to the table for the highest good of not only your own needs but those of others?
On the same day, Venus enters the sign of Virgo. Venus is the planet of love, beauty, personal values, and our pursuit of harmony and happiness. When Venus enters the sign of Virgo, all of these qualities are expressed in more practical forms. You may find yourself expressing your love in ways that make others feel special and cared for. If you are looking to strengthen your bond with a partner, this is a wonderful time to do that. This transit promotes mutual respect, understanding, and faithfulness, and being an earth sign, quite a fair amount of sensuality.
The third retrograde of the summer occurs on August 5th. Mercury goes retrograde in the sign of Virgo until August 27th. During this time, I would suggest taking a break from moving forward with any new plans you have in the works. Until Mercury stations direct once again on the 27th, take those 3 weeks (give or take a week on either side) to slow down and review your thoughts and the plans you are making for the future. Reflect on the best ways to really make your dreams work. Perhaps revisit attempts on similar projects that were started in the past that you didn’t finish or that didn’t pan out. Return to those ideas with renewed focus and a better plan for completion. This is a period with an emphasis on more reflection and less action. Look at this as a wake-up call designed to slow us down and give us the opportunity to do some things over in a different way. Embrace this time to see things from a different perspective, reassess your strategies, and use it as a tool for growth.
On August 7th, the Sun in Leo is in a sextile to Jupiter in Gemini. A sextile aspect is always one of opportunity, but it must be acted upon to produce any talents or benefits available. This is a pretty short connection between these planets, about a week, so if you are presented with an opportunity or situation during this time that could expand your life in ways that you want it to develop, I would suggest having faith in the process and taking advantage of what is being presented to you.
As the lunar cycle progresses, on August 12th the Moon moves into her 1st Quarter phase in Scorpio. This is the time in the lunar cycle when we start to develop and fine-tune our thoughts, ideas, and intentions that occurred during the New Moon. Things really start to gel at this point. However, be aware that during the 1st Quarter phase, the Moon is in a square aspect to the Sun. A Leo Sun is an extremely strong position since it is in the sign of its rulership. So, you may feel passionately led to develop your dreams in a very creative way, yet have a deep knowing that there are things from the past that need to be unearthed, acknowledged, and worked on as well. It is important to check in with yourself and make sure as you develop your intentions, that you are on the right track and in balance with your goals.
Mars connects with Jupiter in a conjunction aspect on August 14th. What does this mean when the fiery planet of Mars blends his energy with optimistic and expansive Jupiter? Well, for the next 2 weeks you feel like you can conquer anything. You will feel courageous and enthusiastic about all areas of your life. You may feel very adventurous and have the desire to travel during this time to broaden your horizons. Or you may feel extremely confident about your goals and will want to go full steam ahead. This is a very empowering energy, which is great, but do not overestimate. Try to keep a balance between your vitality and a self-awareness of the reality of life.
On August 15th, Mars connects with Saturn in a square aspect which cools things down a notch. Saturn is cautious and wants us to be responsible and have discipline. Also, remember that Saturn is in its retrograde station right now. You’ve got all this positive steam building up with the Mars/Jupiter conjunction, you want to go faster and be more brave than ever. But now Saturn is telling you to put the brakes on a bit. During this time, before plunging ahead, re-evaluate your personal, professional and social decisions, before moving forward. Just take some time to slow down and decide if your activities are in your best interest and then see what comes to light.
August 19th is a day of intense alignments; Jupiter is square Saturn, Saturn is in opposition to Venus, the Sun is square Uranus, and to top it all off there is a Full Moon in Aquarius. Let’s look at this transit by transit.
1. Jupiter square Saturn: optimism and abundance vs. structure and limitations. A good way to look at this transit is to combine hard work with faith and creativity. You may be very motivated to achieve at this time, but could run into some barriers. Recognize that there may be some limits that occur at the moment, but open your mind to how you can work around those limits and make adjustments to your beliefs and perspectives.
2. Saturn opposite Venus: structure and limitations vs. harmony and love. Don’t be surprised during this transit if you experience some hardship in gaining the love and appreciation from your partner or others who are important to you. Take some time for yourself to reflect on what you want and expect in this area of life and work on your own self-development and values. This will bring more clarity to what is in your highest good.
3. Sun square Uranus: usually we see sudden changes in ourselves emerging in different ways during this transit. You may feel a need for more independence or freedom during this time, or an urge to rebel against the mundane or norms of your life. Take time to process what is encouraging these feelings and how you can align with your true self through new opportunities.
4. Full Moon in Aquarius: this Moon is in line with the Sun/Uranus transit in the respect that it is calling you to embrace your uniqueness, to think outside the box, and open your heart in how you can help others in a humanitarian or societal level. It is about finding your place in the world.
Because the points of opposition are between the Leo Sun and Aquarius Moon, it may be time to decide how you are going to let go of some self-centered qualities and learn to be of service to others. Leo and Aquarius are both leaders, so perhaps using your personal leadership qualities to aid society instead of purely supporting personal ambitions. Aquarius can learn from Leo how to look at more individual needs instead of the big picture all the time. Overall, the Full Moon is allowing you to see everything leading up to this point fully illuminated and to see both sides of any given situation. You can satisfy both the need for personal expression and the need to serve others.
On August 22nd, the Sun enters Virgo. The sign of Virgo is an earth sign and is known for having a very grounded and practical energy. Take advantage of the Sun’s month long stay in Virgo to use this energy in the most efficient way as possible. After all, Virgo is known as the organizational genius of the zodiac. This is the perfect progression of the signs. As the Sun leaves the dynamic and radiant Leo, it is time to take those creative ideas and focus on finding practical outlets for them and concentrate on the details. It may not sound exciting, but it is a great time to organize your daily routines and responsibilities. Give some thought of how you can best be of service to others both personally and professionally. You actually may feel better energetically during this time by having put structures in place. This would also be a good time to make any medical appointments you have been putting off and to adjust your health and wellness routines if you feel your diet and exercise routines have suffered over the busy summer months.
On August 26th, the Moon moves into her Last Quarter phase. This phase is the half-way point between the Full Moon and the New Moon. We have hopefully realized what is important post the Full Moon which occurred on the 19th. It is now time to reevaluate and reorganize our philosophies and belief system. It is time to again make room for the new and to re-invest in what may still be valuable in anticipation of the New Moon which is rapidly approaching on September 2nd. Use that Virgo energy to help you take care of things you have been putting off. Clean up the clutter both emotionally and physically, complete any unfinished paperwork, catch up on daily chores, and most importantly let go of any negativity or things not in your highest good.
On August 28th, Mercury stations direct. Yes! This particular retrograde is over, but give yourself another week to get through the shadow period. You’ll find your communication skills improving with fewer crossed wires, and you can begin to create momentum again on projects, goals, and relationships because hopefully during retrograde you were able to slow down and reassess, revise, and rethink your approach to whatever area of life this retrograde was affecting.
Venus then enters Libra on August 29th as the month comes to a close. This is a lovely way to end August. Venus is in her rulership in Libra. She is very comfortable and has full access to the highest expressions of the sign. You can take advantage of this energy for a little over 3 weeks before it moves into Scorpio on September 23rd. You can expect a great deal of harmony and love to enter your orbit while Venus is moving through this sign. Reach out to an old friend, nurture your connections to those you are close to, allow your romantic nature to flow, and embrace the beauty of everything that enters your life.
August offers a rich tapestry of astrological events, each presenting unique opportunities for growth and transformation. By aligning with these cosmic energies, you can navigate the month with greater awareness and intention.