Starcodes reading for the week of August 9-15, 2024
This week could feel like a movie, but it’s up to us whether it’s a drama, slapstick comedy, political theater, or summer romance with a meet-cute when a car breaks down. The movie might be a sequel or redo of a familiar plot; Mercury is retrograde until August 28, so problems and joys from the past return to be dealt with, with a chance of healing, on this round of the great karmic spiral.
This Mercury retrograde can also help us find missing items and old friends, savor familiar stories, and remember what brought us hope before. But if we find our mind stuck in the past or we start to act out old scenarios, instead of re-inscribing the old process we can build a new blueprint and decide what to do differently in the future.
It’s usually safe to travel with Mercury retrograde as long as we check for wrong turns, tough weather, bad directions, and never ignore the blinking engine light. With those provisos, it can be a wonderful time to wander without a schedule and maybe see where a wrong turn takes us.
These stories are all played out with the Sun in expansive, dramatic, panache- filled Leo. Mercury and Venus start the week in nervy, thoughtful Virgo and square Mars and Jupiter in nervy, verbal Gemini. On a good day, this combination can lead to great conversation over a delectable summer’s dinner or productive political debate. On a bad day, our busy mental hamsters become stress-muffins, angsting over all the details, obsessing about the future. We have to choose carefully what we focus upon and be ready to use all our stress management skills.
That Jupiter – Mars conjunction in Gemini peaks midmonth and keeps that competitive edge sharp but also feeds arguments worldwide. Jupiter expands whatever it touches, so all things Mars related enlarge; our potential for heroism, physical competence, breathtaking Olympic Athletics, verbal machismo, accidents related to distraction and being in a hurry, and that belligerent bully boy streetfighting attitude with a desire to blow things up. Let’s lean in on that wonderful heroism and manifestation.
If the debate starts with a loved one, make sure it actually serves the purpose instead of being just a triggered muscle that accidentally hurts beloveds. If an unnecessary argument starts, find a neutral corner, take a few deep breaths, and come back to basics. Slow down. Debate cleanly. React calmly. Make the most of any situation. Savor that peach ice cream of summer.
Friday, August 9: Take advantage of a sociable day. Friendly competition and competent willingness can help us deal with background anxiety as the Libra Moon trines Mars and Jupiter. If the week brought opportunities within the snafus, water that garden. The evening brings a more serious edge as the Sun quincunx Saturn, take sudden worries with a grain of salt; don’t predict the future, just deal with the moment.
Moon trine Mars 6:39 AM, Moon trine Jupiter 11:54 AM, Moon sextile Sun 3:44 PM, Sun quincunx Saturn 11:26 PM.
Saturday, August 10: Enjoy a pleasant meander this morning under the friendly Libra Moon, work on old projects and connect with old friends. The mood grows stormier as the Moon enters broody Scorpio and squares Pluto this afternoon. If the storm clouds gather over your picnic or over the head of your beloved, consider changing plans in a spacious and calm way. Deal with rolling feelings that roll up from deep within, but don’t get lost in that cloud. It furthers to have something creative to concentrate upon instead.
Moon enters Scorpio for 30 3 PM, Moon square Pluto 5:26 PM, Moon sextile Mercury 9:41 PM.
Sunday, August 11: A remarkably stubborn day, but which is great for catching up with ourselves. After a kind moment this morning as the Moon sextile Venus, any effort to push someone, chivvy them out of a mood or into our adventure, will backfire. Let people unwind. Make the conversation deep and real or be quiet; listen more than speak and tend to personal homework.
Moon sextile Venus 8:40 AM.
Monday, August 12: The weather could be snarky with attitude this morning, we can wake up with a belligerent, opinionated, chip on our shoulder as the Scorpio Moon squares the Sun. We may not feel particularly happy about change but know something’s got to shift as the Moon opposes Uranus later on. Keep this impatience out of relationships if beloveds just don’t want to do what we want them to do. Let it inspire personal work instead.
Moon trine Saturn 4:29 AM, Sun square Moon 9:18 AM, Moon opposed Uranus 10:23 PM.
Tuesday, August 13: Shake off recent resentments, get some fresh air, and step in a good direction. After a busy morning as the Moon aspects Neptune, Pluto, and Mercury, the Moon enters more upbeat Sagittarius. Our attention scatters, people tend to be more open-minded, nervy, but willing to consider possibilities. Track important items carefully and let the rest float by on a river of time.
Moon trine Neptune 3 AM, Moon enters Sagittarius 4:01 AM, Moon sextile Pluto 4:44 AM, Moon square Mercury 6:08 AM.
Wednesday, August 14: Our minds can perseverate over problems as Mercury quincunx Pluto, choose carefully where the mind focuses. Dance with the present moment while driving or walking, it’s easy to hurry and think about where were going or not where we are and trip or bump when we’re distracted. Work through some frustrations midday as the Moon opposes Jupiter and Mars and squares Saturn, restlessness can really set off an argument. Evening softens Mercury enters Leo; take turns telling stories, laugh, and offer support.
Moon square Venus 1:33 AM, Mercury quincunx Pluto 7:02 AM, Mars conjunct Jupiter 9:21 AM, Moon opposed Jupiter 11:35 AM, Moon opposed Mars 10:40 AM, Moon square Saturn 1:38 PM, Mercury enters Leo 6:15 PM, Moon trine Sun 10:57 PM.
Thursday, August 15: It was the most competent of days, and the lease competent of days. The Moon enters Capricorn midday and amps up strategic thinking, but also brings out a Machiavellian streak. Think twice before taking action, and then do so; it will be easy to imagine problems or miss key details as Mercury quincunx confusing Neptune. Mars squares Saturn and can exacerbate generational and political differences or bring a fight within each one of us between what we want and what we feel we must do as responsible adults. Competence unfolds if we can get our warring factions, within and without, to work together.
Moon square Neptune 10:50 AM, Moon trine Mercury 10:52 AM, son trine Chiron 11:12 AM, Mercury quincunx Neptune 11:18 AM, Moon enters Capricorn 11:51 AM, Mars square Saturn 11:30 PM.
Provided by Heather Roan Robbins www.roanrobbins.com
