It’s a busy week amongst the planets. The world is changing, anything is possible, and we’ll see the evidence. Mercury retrogrades turns our thoughts inwards for a review of the past, but also squares urgent, chaotic Uranus and can help us change gears, change our minds, and switch things up.
But change can leave us uncertain, this line up can wear on already frayed nerves, worrying those facing the potential for a difficult change and possibly increasing our resistance. It can even rumble the ground under our feet. We can chafe at the bit in a hurry to get on with it.
We still have to take some basic Mercury retrograde cautions: thoughtfully practice extra safety care, be careful to say what one means, check any strange thing we hear, confirm appointments, and schedule in time for delays. In the process – listen to what people say because a slip of the tongue may reveal truth hidden before.
It can steady us to also reminisce about the good days, wherever we thought those were, as Mercury retrogrades and Venus in Virgo opposes history-loving Saturn and they both square Mars and Jupiter conjunct in Gemini. Along with the stories may come memories of our trust issues, poking us to ask what we trust and where we should fact check. It will be important to bring our attention to what is true, solid, and is there for us.
If we want to do ordinary things, like find a job or sell a house, this can be a tricky month. While we’ll see come key things finally come to fruition, many new decisions could be delayed or will need to be re-negotiated next month. In meantime it’s good to contact old friends and connections.
Back to that lingering Mars-Jupiter conjunction in talkative air-sign Gemini, words will fly through the air this week. Jupiter expands whatever it touches, Mars can bring up either a nasty adolescent fight, real war, or a heroic step forward and moments of astounding bravery in word and action. We can look for inspiring speeches and wild tales, rabble-rousing pontification, potential negotiations, big winds, and enjoy long talks late into the night.
The weekend begins under a busy Moon in Capricorn that can help us get to necessary tasks. Watch major strategic moves on the chessboard or in the tectonic plates. Even though we want to be efficient, check those lists before walking out of the house and allow for some humorous slapstick along the way.
Saturday through Monday brings full Moon in Aquarius, exact 12:25 PM Monday, one of the most sociable, outgoing, collaborative full Moons of the year, a great time for a party, rally, or festival.
Next Monday is a key pivot point, just as the Democratic National Convention opens. Jupiter squares Saturn -felt throughout the season but exact on Monday, and we’ll tend to talk about politics at right angles. Expansive Jupiter and contractive Saturn are called the social planets, together the tension between them holds society in a good way, ideally we need a balance. But when they square off, we’ve seen the government shut down in the past because no one can agree on the budget. This year watch the differences between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party be clearly delineated and set at odds.
This political season has been defined by full Moons. Harris, Biden, and Trump were all born on a full Moon, Biden’s announcement that put Harris on this trajectory came on a full Moon, and this Democratic convention begins on a full Moon. Full moons highlight the difference between our conscious and unconscious minds, between our concrete needs and our inner world. And they tend to polarize in either/or and have trouble seeing things in a both/and perspective.
We come back to ourselves and may feel an emotional hangover Monday night through Wednesday night under the Moon in sensitive Pisces, time for summer self-care and subtle negotiations. It will bring our attention to the victims of the world. The week ends more amped up under in Aries Moon next Thursday which could add feistiness to our arguments and power to our trajectory.
Image by Evgeni Tcherkasski from Pixabay
Friday, August 16: Get it done. In a month of wildcards this could be an unusually competent day- if we have the patience to see each step through rather than drop the ball in the middle. We will tend to think in wholistic Gestalts but need to operate sequentially, one step at a time. The afternoon brings the potential for good meetings about future plans as the Moon trines Venus and sextile Saturn, but let’s take them as possibilities rather than probabilities. It may be hard to quit work this evening, we could either feel like we have work to do or socialize like it’s our job as that Capricorn Moon sextile Saturn.
Moon trine Venus 1:08 PM, Moon sextile Saturn 6:48 PM.
Saturday, August 17: We may be a little slow off the mark this morning but if we have the patience to check our lists, we can do what we need to do and have a good time doing it as the Moon trines Uranus and sextiles Neptune. The emphasis shifts from accomplishment to connection this afternoon as the Moon enters Aquarius, though as it conjunct Pluto soon after, we could connect over serious concerns. Stay situationally aware and, rather than be tripped up, use the somewhat discombobulated energy for good. Leave room for the breath of serendipity.
Moon trine Uranus 10:58 AM, Moon sextile Neptune 2:43 PM, Moon enters Aquarius 3:44 PM, Moon conjunct Pluto 4:13 PM.
Sunday, August 18: A day of wildcards and egos clashing, of celebration and humor as retrograde Mercury and the Sun conjunct in Leo and they both square Uranus. We want enthusiasm, not logic. Tonight brings extra emotions as Venus squares Jupiter, it can be a creative time, an opening time, a romantic time, but we need to suspend expectations and enjoy what is. Look for felicitous meetings and re-connections.
Mercury square Uranus 3:46 AM, Sun conjunct Mercury 7:58 PM, Moon trine Jupiter 8:21 PM, Venus square Jupiter 11:52 PM.
Monday, August 19: Morning could bring logistical challenges as Venus opposed Saturn; systems help. We may want to trust but it’s hard to believe. Under stress, use good relationship skills and do the right thing even if others are off-track or grumpy. Change is in the wind; the world can feel like it shifting underneath us as the Sun and the Moon square Uranus. Be cautious around electrical systems and mechanical contraptions. Evening brings a touching bittersweetness as the Moon enters Pisces.
Moon trine Mars 12:07 AM, Venus opposed Saturn 2:29 AM, Moon opposed Mercury 10:31 AM, son square Uranus 10:45 AM, Moon square Uranus 12:19 AM, Moon opposed the Sun 12:25 PM, Jupiter square Saturn 3:46 PM, Moon enters Pisces 4:51 PM.
Tuesday, August 20: Take a deep breath, catch up, process recently churned-up emotions. Our differences can be laid out, but it doesn’t have to be an argument as the Moon conjunct Saturn and squares Jupiter. Trip down memory lane but take a lantern of love into those memories, remember what feeds the soul rather than do a review of sore points. Honor those feelings yet choose carefully what to bring into the present.
Moon conjunct Saturn 8:44 PM, Moon square Jupiter 9:09 PM.
Wednesday, August 21: It’s easy to move into oppositional behavior as the Moon opposes Venus and squares Mars. Misunderstandings abound as the Sun quincunx Neptune, but it could be a great day to paddle one’s feet in the water. Watch for tangential relationship moves that end up hurting feelings; if our feelings do get hurt, try to understand the other before insisting on being understood. The energy level cranks up as the Moon enters Aries tonight; let people follow their own drum.
Moon the opposed Venus 12:43 AM, Moon square Mars 2:34 AM, Moon sextile’s Uranus 12:31 PM, son quincunx Neptune 3:28 PM, Moon conjunct Neptune 3:53 PM, Moon enters Aries 5:01 PM, Moon sextile Pluto 5:21 PM.
Thursday, August 22: School supplies look more interesting as the Sun enters Virgo. Some event asks us what really matters as that Sun forms an uncomfortable quincunx with Pluto; tend to urgencies. We may want to blurt our truths, be real -but not belligerent. Begin to warm up possibilities but wait until September 1 to really look ahead.
Sun enters Virgo 8:55 AM, Sun quincunx Pluto 1:34 PM, Venus square Mars 9:20 PM, Moon sextile Pluto 10:04 PM.
Provided by Heather Roan Robbins www.roanrobbins.com
