Photo by Globetrotter
19 via Wikimedia
“When
we were sitting in, it was love in action. When we went on the freedom ride, it
was love in action. The march from Selma to Montgomery was love in action. We
do it not simply because it’s the right thing to do, but it’s love in action.
That we love our country, we love a democratic society, and so we have to move
our feet.”[1]
—Late Congressman John R. Lewis
(February 21, 1940 – July 17, 2020)
Born
with a Moon-Pluto conjunction in Leo
The
Big Picture in August
In August of each year we experience the fiery energy
of Leo for most of the month, and in the last weeks we transition to earthy
Virgo. The Sun is the natural ruler of the sign of Leo. Symbolized by the lion,
Leo is the section of the zodiac that corresponds to the heart, and therefore
it represents love and joy. It is the stage in the development of humans where
we become conscious of the ego needs of attention by others and recognition. On
the other hand, when we reach the stage of Virgo, we learn the gratification of
being of service, in any of its manifestations. Whether or not we have planets
in these signs, we all have access to this energy in our respective birth
charts.
From my perspective, the late Congressman John
Lewis displayed so much of the energy of August. Newspaper headlines following
his recent death described him as a “lion of Congress” as well as the
“conscience of Congress.” In his eulogy at the celebration of life services for
John Lewis, former President Barack Obama said John Lewis “was a man of pure
joy and perseverance,” a perfect description of the melding of Leo and Virgo
attributes. With a powerful natal Moon-Pluto conjunction in Leo and Neptune and
Ceres in Virgo, John Robert Lewis used the power of resistance and law-making
to love and serve the people.
In these pandemic times, we might find it
challenging to feel joyful as we watch the spread of Covid-19 and we face the
consequences of widespread unemployment. As we open the month of August, we
have a Sun-Uranus conjunction, which reflects outward manifestations of
rebellion, but could also suggest that we are capable of genius deeds at this
time as well. This reminds me of the Leonine activists who brought leaf blowers
to the demonstrations in Portland, Oregon and used them to blow back the tear
gas aimed at protesters by occupying federal agents.
In reviewing the planetary aspects for August, I
noted that there were a high number (eleven) of quincunx aspects this month.
Planets forming quincunxes seem to have nothing in common. Consequently, we can
expect situations in our personal lives or on the world stage to mirror this
quality of not being able to find common interests, and therefore no common
ground. Although this aspect alone might not be confrontative by nature, it
does tend to cause stress and discomfort. However, if other more stressful
aspects are present at the same time, it could present some difficult
situations.
The good news about Mercury, the planet of communication,
is that it is now direct and out of its retrograde shadow. During the first
part of the month, this planet is in tense relationships (oppositions) with both
the power planet, Pluto and with the “set limits” planet, Saturn. Mercury moves
from the sign of Cancer into Leo on August 4, perhaps promoting more emphatic
communication. Communication matters might be a little less intense in the
latter part of the month.
Venus, the planet of relating and values, moves
from communicative Gemini to sensitive and emotional Cancer on August 7. For
the first ten days of the month, she hovers around the North Node, the area in
our chart that promotes our emotional growth. During the last week of the
month, Venus is in a tense (opposition) relationship with the retrograde
planets Jupiter, Pluto, and Saturn in Capricorn. We could experience situations
where we are defining what is mine, yours, or ours in all types of
relationships.
Mars continues to be active this month. The “let’s
get things going” planet, Mars, has now moved into its shadow, i.e. the area it
retraces when moving from its retrograde cycle into direct motion. (It will
turn retrograde on September 10). As we enter August, Mars will be squaring
retrograde Jupiter, perhaps accentuating the expansion of situations, some of
which we don’t need growing, like the Covid-19 pandemic. While that aspect
dissipates later in the month, Mars maintains its square relationship with
slow-moving and retrograde Pluto, the planet of death and transformation. By
the second week of August and through the rest of the month, this trigger
planet Mars squares the planet of structures and karma, Saturn. All in all,
this suggests that we must confront weighty issues this month.
On August 15, quirky Uranus joins the other outer
planets, Neptune and Pluto, in retrograde motion. For the rest of the month, this
planet of surprises has easy aspect relationships with other planets.
The lunations this month include the Full Moon (11
Aquarius 46) on August 3 at 8:59 AM PDT and the New Moon (26 Leo 35) on August
18 at 7:42 PM. At the Full Moon, we could be assessing matters of the
collective and how there can be more humanitarian approaches to problems. At
the New Moon, our thrust might be towards cultivating joy and enthusiasm
through some endeavor or simply our frame of mind. This might be personal or
for a group or community. Theater anyone?
Significant
Days in August
Below you will find a table of astrological events
for this month. You can assess the quality of significant days by noting when
planets form exact aspects and where all this activity takes place in your
natal chart.
Here is a basic key for understanding the meaning
of the aspects:
The
Conjunction: This aspect represents the merging
and fusion of energies by two (or more planets) that have joined at a
particular degree (or within a specified orb). This combined energy is very
potent. When this occurs, we might feel subjective about a matter in our lives.
The
Sextile (60°): Planets in this formation are harmonious
and lend themselves to cooperation. Astrologer Sue Tompkins says there is a
quality of “coaxing” in sextiles. In other words, if we put in a little effort
at these times, we can take advantage of opportunities in a situation.
The
Quintile (72°): Planets in this aspect represent the type
of harmony inherent in creative endeavors. It might often describe the impulse
to fuse an idea into a tangible substance. Quintiles often describe the talents
possessed by individuals.
The
Square (90°): Planets that line up in this aspect
reflect incompatible energies with contrasting needs. Consequently, we can
describe this planetary relationship as tense and strained. Because these
energies can be working at cross-purposes, the situation at hand may require us
to make choices. The “silver lining” is that squares compel us to take action
and this often results in dispelling tension. If we are conscious of the
dilemma, we can use the excess energy in a matter so that we can achieve
something useful.
The
Trine (120°): There is an ease in the relationship
between planets involved with this aspect because they are of the same element.
At this time, we can perform activities with a flowing energy. We enjoy these
activities, and they often reflect our innate talents. Because this energy is
so comfortable, it often does not promote growth. Yet, these aspects reflect
how we can be healed.
The
Quincunx (150°): Planets forming this relationship appear
to have nothing in common. These planets display energies that are out of step
with one another. There can be an element of irritation and stress because of
this, but it is not a confrontative type of energy. If we are conscious of this
reality, we can make adjustments to the relationship such that we do not feel
so out of sync.
The
Opposition (180°): This relationship between planets brings
to our awareness how something is different from our preferred position. We
could be in conflict with others about a matter. Also, we might shift our
preference from one point of view to its opposite. Yet, we can also find common
ground in this relationship. This aspect has the potential for us to integrate
our perspectives.
|
Date of Exact or Near Exact Aspect
|
Pacific Time
|
Astrological Events
|
|
August 1
|
3:52 AM
|
Mercury
(23
Cancer 20) opposition Pluto (23
Capricorn 20)
|
|
August 2
|
4:18 AM
|
Sun (10 Leo 38) square
Uranus (10
Taurus 38)
|
|
August 3
|
8:59 AM
|
Full Moon (11 Aqu 46')
|
|
August 3
|
2:00 PM
|
Mercury (27 Cancer
38)
opposition Saturn (27
Capricorn 38)
|
|
August 4
|
6:06 AM
|
Mars (19 Aries
45)
square Jupiter (19
Capricorn 45)
|
|
August 4
|
3:07 PM
|
Venus (27 Gemini 33) quincunx Saturn (27 Capricorn 33)
|
|
August 4
|
8:32 PM
|
Mercury
enters Leo
|
|
August 5
|
9:05 AM
|
Venus (28 Gemini 13) conjuct North Node (28 Gemini 13)
|
|
August 7
|
8:21 AM
|
Venus enters
Cancer
|
|
August 8
|
11:02 AM
|
Mercury (9 Leo 05) trine Chiron (9 Aries 05)
|
|
August 10
|
5:52 AM
|
Mercury (10 Leo 41) square Uranus (10 Taurus 41)
|
|
August 10
|
11:34 PM
|
Sun (19 Leo 03) quincunx Jupiter (19
Capricorn 03)
|
|
August 11
|
4:14 AM
|
Vesta enters Leo
|
|
August 12
|
7:32 AM
|
Sun (20 Leo 20) quincunx Neptune (20 Pisces 20)
|
|
August 12
|
3:43 PM
|
Venus (4 Cancer 57) quintile
Mars (22 Aries 57)
|
|
August 12
|
8:48 PM
|
Saturn (27
Cap 00'Rx) quintile Chiron (9 Ari
00'Rx)
|
|
August 13
|
12:14 AM
|
Mars (23 Aries
05) square Pluto (23 Capricorn 05)
|
|
August 14
|
4:28 AM
|
Mercury (18 Leo 45) quincunx
Jupiter (18 Capricorn 45)
|
|
August 14
|
10:13 PM
|
Mercury(20 Leo 16) quincunx
Neptune (20 Pisces 16)
|
|
August 15
|
3:13 AM
|
Sun (23 Leo 03) quincunx
Pluto (23 Capricorn 03)
|
|
August 15
|
7:27 AM
|
Uranus goes
Retrograde (Ura
10 Tau 41')
|
|
August 16
|
6:38 AM
|
Mercury (23 Leo 01) quincunx
Pluto (23 Capricorn 01)
|
|
August 16
|
7:02 AM
|
Sun (24 Leo 09) trine
Mars (24 Aries 09)
|
|
August 16
|
4:59 PM
|
Venus (8 Cancer
53) square Chiron (8 Aries 53)
|
|
August 16
|
10:29 PM
|
Mercury (24 Leo 21) trine
Mars (24 Aries 21)
|
|
August 17
|
8:07 AM
|
Sun (25 Leo 10) conjunct
Mercury (25 Leo 10)
|
|
August 18
|
2:17 AM
|
Mercury (26 Leo 41) quincunx Saturn (26 Capricorn 41)
|
|
August 18
|
12:01 PM
|
Mercury (27 Leo 29) sextile North Node (27 Gemini 29)
|
|
August 18
|
12:28 PM
|
Venus (10 Cancer
42) sextile Uranus (10 Taurus 42)
|
|
August 18
|
7:42 PM
|
New Moon (26 Leo 35')
|
|
August 18
|
8:48 PM
|
Sun (26 Leo 38) quincunx
Saturn (26 Capricorn 38)
|
|
August 19
|
2:08 PM
|
Sun (27 Leo 20) sextile
North Node (27 Gemini 20)
|
|
August 19
|
6:41 PM
|
Mercury
enters Virgo
|
|
August 22
|
8:45 AM
|
Sun enters Virgo
|
|
August 23
|
7:00 PM
|
Mercury (7 Virgo 44)
quintile
North Node (25 Gemini 44)
|
|
August 24
|
6:35 AM
|
Mercury (8 Virgo
40) quincunx Chiron (8 Aries
40)
|
|
August 24
|
11:19 AM
|
Mars (26 Aries
19) square Saturn
|
|
August 25
|
8:18 AM
|
Mercury (10 Virgo
39) trine Uranus (10 Taurus 39)
|
|
August 25
|
3:26 PM
|
Venus (17 Cancer
55) opposition Jupiter (17 Capricorn 55)
|
|
August 26
|
7:56 PM
|
Mars (26 Aries
48) sextile North Node (26 Gemini 48)
|
|
August 27
|
2:12 PM
|
Venus (19 Cancer
57) trine Neptune (19 Pisces 57)
|
|
August 29
|
6:28 AM
|
Mercury (17 Virgo
44) trine Jupiter (17 Capricorn 44)
|
|
August 30
|
0:55 AM
|
Sun (7 Virgo 24)
quintile
North Node (25 Gemini 24)
|
|
August 30
|
2:42 AM
|
Venus (22 Cancer
36) quintile Uranus (10 Taurus 36)
|
|
August 30
|
6:31 AM
|
Venus (22 Cancer
46) opposition Pluto (22 Capricorn 46)
|
|
August 30
|
11:44 AM
|
Mercury (19 Virgo
53) opposition Neptune (19 Pisces 53)
|
|
August 31
|
1:54 AM
|
Sun (8 Virgo 25)
quincunx
Chiron (8 Aries 25)
|
[1] Congressman
John Lewis in an interview with Krista Tippett. “John Lewis: Love in Action,” On Being, July 23, 2020, https://onbeing.org/programs/john-lewis-love-in-action/
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