Look, there’s quite a bit to talk about in August, and it’s not the easiest month to navigate; however, I still maintain that September will be opening up a whole other bag of complications and setbacks, so enjoy this last month of summer. Soak up the sunshine in every sense of the word so that a protective glow surrounds you and carries you all the way through the rest of the year.
August 1 – Mercury opposition Pluto
August starts off with a Mercury-Pluto opposition which can show some intensity around the way we communicate. Power struggles, harsh words and even extreme thinking could pervade at this time. With Mercury in the sign of Cancer, emotions could be running high as well.
August 2 – Sun square Uranus
This could be felt as a liberating influence but usually the liberation comes after a bit of a conflict. Restlessness, erratic (or even unpredictable) behaviour is possible.
August 3 – The Full Moon shines at 11 degrees Aquarius square Uranus, and Mercury opposes Saturn that same day.
This high point of the lunar cycle shows a focus on parts of life associated with friends, groups, organizations or humanitarian efforts. These parts of life could be coming to a head or a completion with a possible unexpected twist as the Full Moon squares Uranus. And then there’s the Mercury-Saturn opposition. This isn’t the cheeriest of aspects; I usually associate this opposition with restrictive or negative thinking or depression. At best, thoughts, communications or even aspects of transportation or technology could feel restrained and tense.
August 4 – Mercury enters Leo and Mars squares Jupiter
The good news story here is that Mercury finally moves away from these difficult oppositions with Pluto and Saturn and into the sign of Leo. The switch from Cancer to Leo is a bold one where we become much less timid about sharing our ideas. This is a highly expressive and dramatic placement and it will definitely feel as such after being restricted over the past few weeks. Mars also squares Jupiter this same day which gives us a push forward into courage and taking risks. (Just watch that you don’t overdo it as this combination tends to do.)
August 7 – Venus enters Cancer
Venus leaves behind social Gemini where she has been for months and enters soft and sensitive Cancer. Our dealings with others could get a bit quieter, and you may find yourself needing more private time over the next few weeks. Venus in Gemini was quite social and chatty (even with lockdown restrictions). Venus in Cancer needs to sit with a cup of tea, a book and a [insert cuddly animal here] on your lap. So, be sure to take this time to breathe and emotionally stretch yourself.
August 10 – Mercury square Uranus
Our communications might be a bit impulsive, erratic and even slightly confrontational with this aspect. Tune into the flashes of insight you might achieve with this placement, and do your best to hold your tongue.
August 13 – Mars square Pluto
This is the first of three intense Mars-Pluto squares we are in for in the second half of 2020. I expect this one to actually be the least difficult of the three because Mars is in a direct motion. (When Mars goes retrograde in the fall, it will square Pluto and Saturn and these will be particularly tricky to navigate.) Mars is the planet of energy, assertion and action, but it also rules hastiness, violence and accidents. Pluto is the planet of extreme behaviour, compulsion, life and death situations and major transformations. When the two of them get together, I can’t help but get nervous as this is the signature of major confrontations, power struggles and even violence. I would take a Mars-Pluto square over a Mars-Pluto opposition which tends to be even more intense, so I suppose it’s not as bad as it can get. But if you have planets or angles around 20-26 degrees of the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn) I would mark August 11-15 on your calendar as being a time to really watch yourself. The area of life affected by these planets or angles will be related specifically to your chart.
August 15 – Uranus retrograde
Uranus hits the pause button on its forward motion and starts retreating in the sky until mid-January 2021. It will be travelling from 10 degrees of Taurus back down to 6 degrees of Taurus during this time, so if you have any planets between 6 and 10 degrees of fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius), you can expected to be triggered during this time and all the way to May 2021 when Uranus finally passes these degrees. Again, where you’re triggered will be specifically related to the planet or angle in your chart and how it is determined. If you’re having trouble figuring this out, book a session with me. I’m happy to explain it for you.
Uranus retrograde is about giving some thought to the surprises or sudden changes that have occurred over the first part of 2020. (Um, where do we start? Am I right?) I’m honestly not sure whether to take Uranus’s backward motion as a good thing or bad thing at this point. It’s just postponing the inevitable Saturn-Uranus squares we’re going to get throughout 2021, so I suppose it’s one planet that we can put on the back burner (kind of) for the next several months as we start to wrestle with all of these Mars squares.
August 18 – There’s a New Moon at 26 Leo, and Venus is sextile Uranus.
This New Moon in Leo is pretty nice. It’s trine Mars giving it lots of energy, and Mercury makes a conjunction to the Sun the day before, so it’s part of the conversation as well. There’s lots of potential for new ideas and new actions under this influence, and I see it being one of the more favourable placements this month. Leo is creative, dramatic and proud. Focusing on a creative activity or way of expressing yourself as an individual or leader is a great use of this Moon. Venus is also sextile Uranus which adds an insightful component to the set-up for the day.
August 19 – Mercury enters Virgo
Mercury loves being in the sign of Virgo. The Messenger God can relax when it knows that Virgo will think about and present information and communications in a thoughtful, analytical, organized and dispassionate way. So, this is essentially a good news story. With all the big ideas that you’ve likely come up with over the last few weeks as Mercury has transited Leo, it’s now time to see what makes sense and what doesn’t, where to improve and where to begin again.
Aug 22 – Sun enters Virgo
Speaking of Virgo, I hate to say the party’s over, but well, the party’s over as the Sun leaves behind Leo and enters Virgo. Virgo has a reputation for being a hard-to-please perfectionist, and the truth is… yes, it can be this way, but I mean, if you knew the most efficient way of doing everything, wouldn’t it be torture watching people mess things up every day? Wouldn’t you HAVE to say something? Virgo can also be exceptionally giving. Their thoughtfulness and care can be found in the little details. With a Virgo rising mother, as a kid, this double Pisces earth-lacker did NOT get it… but with age, I have developed a fine appreciation for Virgo and have some solid Virgo Ascendant or Virgo Sun friends who are absolutely irreplaceable for their kindness, loyalty, duty and zany sense of humour… in addition to their amazing eye for detail. With a very dominant Saturn in my chart, I actually have more in common with them than not. So, give your Virgo friends some serious love this month. And if you have a project that needs a great attention to detail, this might just be your month to tackle it. Just don’t get too bogged down in the details.
Aug 24 – Mars squares Saturn
Okay, so this is a difficult set-up. The first of three squares (just like the Mars-Pluto square already discussed), I’m expecting this one to be the easiest of the year because of Mars’ direct motion. When Mars and Saturn get together, I always say it’s like hitting the gas (Mars) and the brakes (Saturn) at the same time. The result is, at best, some frustration and resistance met when trying to push ahead with your goals… It’s like having cold water poured over our passions or hitting our heads against the wall. At worst, it can be manifested in a physical way (broken bones, pulled/torn muscles, damaged teeth, joint inflammation, chronic illness and fatigue) but this would be mostly for people who have this aspect natally in their charts, and it would also have to be triggering a key planet or angle again.
Aug 25 – Venus opposition Jupiter
I don’t expect this aspect to make much noise since it’s involving two benefics, but just watch for overindulgence this day.
Aug 30 – Venus opposition Pluto and Mercury opposition Neptune
The month ends with some heavy energy as Venus gets an intense opposition from Pluto which might signal a showdown of sorts particularly in the relationship sphere. And the Mercury-Neptune opposition won’t be helping the situation as muddied thinking and miscommunications are rampant.
After taking a little time off, I’m booking online year ahead sessions for my Leo and Virgo Sun clients, so contact me to reserve your spot!
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