Hi Friends,
We have a strange cosmic month ahead and we can expect strong feelings of nostalgia as we experience and remember situations that only occur “once in a blue moon.” That is exactly what this month brings in, two full moons, one occurring on August 1st (in Aquarius) and the second one on August 30th (a blue moon in Pisces). This means that it will be a highly emotional month—full of endings and revelations. Luckily, with a total of six planets in retrograde, the pace of life will be slow, giving us time to rest and recalibrate. This will be especially true during the last week of August when Mercury and Uranus will also go retrograde.

August begins with a Full Moon in Aquarius and Venus retrograde in Leo. The Aquarius -Leo polarity will be amplified quite strongly with some tension arising very quickly. The Leo Sun is proud and intensely individual–not content with simply being just one of the team, especially with Venus retrograde in Leo. The Aquarius Moon, while individualistic as well, values independence and the team, community, and group spirit. This Full Moon illuminates this struggle.

When a Full Moon occurs, we can suddenly burst forth with proclamations and outpours that seem fresh and new, simply because they are not yet rationalized. In fact, a Full Moon illuminates feelings, attitudes, and circumstances that are already in existence. This is a time of awakening to the need for others or to answer to humanitarian impulses, however, indecisiveness will be strong during this lunation. This full moon will square Jupiter, suggesting some over-the-top energy connected to our realizations and epiphanies.

Venus—the planet of pleasure, relationships, and money will be retrograde all month, meaning we are still in the process of reviewing all these aspects of our lives. Whenever necessary, seek time alone so you can have time to think about what is truly important to you. If a relationship, habit, or project is no longer bringing you joy, you’re now receiving cosmic permission to abandon it! The truth is that we will be feeling rebellious now, especially under the August 16th New Moon in Leo. By illuminating previously repressed emotions, this lunar event can help us deal with the past, so we can move into our future once Venus goes direct in early September.

This month’s New Moon in Leo is an excellent time for formulating goals regarding “all things Leo.” For example, we might concentrate on new ways to enhance our creative endeavors and hobbies, and relationship with children, as well as build up our self-confidence. Some of Leo’s lessons involve taking pride in ourselves as unique individuals, assuming responsibility for our lives, and giving ourselves warmly and generously to others.

This New Moon period is an excellent time to meditate upon some of the characteristics of Leo. Keywords for this self-expressive Fire sign — such things as proud, noble, generous, hospitable, caring, warm, authoritative, active, and open — are traits that we might enhance, develop, and incorporate into our personalities. We all have Leo somewhere in our charts. Seek the coming month to improve those areas of life. It’s time to awaken our “inner child” and find ways to express ourselves more. With this potent Leo energy, we can make significant changes in our lives that will benefit us well beyond this Moon cycle. This lunation is tightly squared by Uranus, suggesting surprises, rebellion, and sudden events.

Our focus shifts on August 23rd when the Sun leaves Leo and enters the meticulous sign of Virgo. When the Sun transits this sign, we tend to look at all the little pieces of the puzzle to see how they fit together. It is now time to take care of practical concerns. Attending to the details of everyday life may not sound like loads of fun, but it can certainly free us from unnecessary stress that results from “collecting” odds and ends of unfinished business.

This is an ideal time to get organized, to do detailed work, and improve communication on the job. We take more pride in our work, chores, and health efforts. We also want to be more organized and informed during the Sun-in-Virgo cycle. We’re learning humility and the benefits of developing skills, some level of fastidiousness, and the importance of attention to detail. It’s a time of down-to-earth practicality when we prefer to invest our time and energy in things with realistic potential. We’re not inclined to ambition or going big. Attracting prosperity involves honest, careful, and attentive work and dedication.

Right after the Sun moves into Virgo, Mercury begins her retrograde motion in Virgo. As the planet of communication, Mercury retrograde tends to breed a certain level of confusion. Mercury rules our “lower” mind–how we perceive and interpret information that we receive from our environment, and how we relay that information to others. Mercury has rulership over such things as speaking, negotiating, buying and selling, listening, formal contracts, documents, travel, mail and shipping, and so forth. All of these areas of life are affected when Mercury is functioning in a sluggish state. Decision-making is challenged during Mercury retrograde.

Needless to say, it is not advised to sign contracts, engage in important decision-making, or launch a new business. Delays and challenges are more probable with Mercury retrograde. It’s a time when being careless with money, our personal information, or paperwork can be costly. While Mercury is retrograde, we may be rethinking a previous opinion or idea. Looking at the signs and houses it transits can give clues as to what we may be reconsidering.

There is absolutely a positive side to Mercury Retrograde. This period is best used for re-organizing and reflecting. We look at the world a little differently–through different filters–and can come up with some very important inner revelations. It may be difficult to communicate with them under this influence, but not everything needs to be rationalized.

Unfortunately, our motivation becomes even more wishy-washy on August 27th when Mars enters Libra. Mars in Libra is in its detriment — a place where the expression of the planet’s natural inclinations is confined by the rules and regulations set out by the qualities of the sign. Mars, God of War, is not at all happy to be in a sign where polite conversation and tact are the rules of the day. He doesn’t like all that pussy-footing around. Understandably, from time to time, he has a little explosion and tells it like he sees it.

When Mars is in Libra, we all become a little feistier, perhaps shooting off our mouths, only to recant upon hearing the next reasonable argument. On the plus side, we have lots of energy to put into getting our party together and throwing an all-together perfect bash with all the harmony we can stand. This transit can make us very indecisive and restless as well.

The final planet to go retrograde this month will be Uranus Retrograde in Taurus on August 28th. During this cycle, our desire to make changes in our lives can turn inward as we get in touch with what may be holding us back from living more spontaneously and authentically. We may be less overtly rebellious and more inclined to follow the rules while Uranus is retrograde approximately four months a year. As the shift occurs this week, however, Uranian energy is more challenging, and we can experience some tension until we adapt to the directional change.

And finally, the second Full Moon (blue moon) on August 30th will highlight the imaginative sign of Pisces. This lunation is a time of culmination and the promise of fulfillment of what we started at the New Moon. It is an emotional time – a time of desire, fertilization, and relationships. This lunation occurs along the Virgo-Pisces polarity, which is the service axis. This axis deals with the balance between day-to-day functions and routines, physical health, and the need for order (Virgo) and vision, spiritual health, disorder, and the infinite (Pisces).

Virgo rules our personal set of tools and techniques that we use to deal with day-to-day life, while Pisces rules the tools that we use to deal with our spirituality. The key to balance lies in identifying and expressing our spiritual needs while maintaining order in our everyday lives. Neglecting either end of the axis will surely backfire–we would either be living in chaos or in excessive order.

The Moon is conjunct Saturn around the time of this Full Moon, suggesting a serious, sober look at our emotions. There may be a tough decision or choice, a reality check, or we may feel some pressure to make changes. Watch for fear-driven moves. Instead, aim to strengthen and safeguard your intentions.

 

August 2023 Video Horoscopes

 

Do the best you can this month folks!

Joseph P. Anthony