August 2023 Astrology Forecast

August 2023 Astrology

August 2023 Astrology features two Full Moons, the stationing of Mercury Retrograde, and the juicy middle part of Venus’s Retrograde story with Jupiter and Uranus!

Full Moon in Aquarius: August 1st

The first Full Moon of the month is in Saturn-ruled Aquarius on August 1st, which is also the Witch’s holiday of Lughnasadh, the first harvest. This special day signifies a time of thanksgiving and abundance as we mark the height of Summer. It’s a busy day astrologically, as it coincides with two major planetary aspects.

On this day, meticulous Mars in Virgo is in a harmonious, practical Earth trine to Jupiter in Taurus (13° 46′), helping you move forward fearlessly, embrace a competitive spirit, and take bold action to get what you want. This is a lucky transit showing success, growth, and serious conquest.

At the same time, Mercury is opposite dutiful Saturn Retrograde (5° 39′). Mercury has just entered studious, analytical Virgo where he’ll be until October 4. Mentally-focused Mercury loves being in Virgo, the sign of his exaltation, where we have an easier time attending to tedious tasks, staying organized, and improving systems with efficiency and discernment.

But this year Mercury is Retrograde in Earth signs, and he’ll be entering the pre-retrograde shadow phase on August 3 at exactly 8 degrees Virgo. His retrograde stretches from August 23 to September 15, and the shadow continues through September 29.

Mercury opposite Saturn Retrograde can put a slight damper on your enthusiasm, reminding you it’s time to get serious, pulling your thoughts to more somber realities, or confronting you with nibbling self doubt. It can slow you down enough to really think before you take action, which could be to your benefit. Rely on the intelligence of Mercury-Saturn to make smart choices and remember to take your time.

Interestingly, with the Full Moon in Aquarius decan 1 (9° 16′), there’s also a theme of winning but it not really feeling like a win. You could be overcoming something and winning a battle, but that’s not quite the same vibe as, say, winning the lottery. But there’s reason to celebrate all the same. This Full Moon is the culmination of the New Moon in Aquarius that we had on January 21st, also in this first decan of the sign.

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May 2023 Astrology: Taurus Season

May 2023 Astrology

May 2023 Astrology Overview

May 2023 astrology gives us our second eclipse of the season, a revelatory lunar eclipse in Scorpio. This is followed by a fresh New Moon in Taurus that’s tied into the current Mercury Retrograde. Jupiter enters Taurus as well for the next year, driving new growth to this area of our charts. This month we’ll also see Venus seeking comfort in empathetic Cancer while Mars drives us to venture forward in bold, daring Leo.

Although Mercury Retrograde officially ends in the middle of the month, the shadow period extends through the end of May. This means that themes covered during the retrograde will still be subject to review all month long.

The midway point in Mercury’s retrograde cycle comes on May 1, along with Pluto stationing. This is a powerful combination that starts us off on a new chapter with our communications and inner processing. We’ll be more focused on relationships and meeting others eye-to-eye.

With last month’s Solar Eclipse, we walked through a fiery gateway or rite of passage, and there are now many important changes pending in our lives, especially as concerns the Aries, Taurus, and Scorpio parts of our charts.

Mercury Cazimi in Taurus (May 1)

Mercury’s inferior conjunction with the Sun is at 11° 20′ of Taurus. Our new cycle begins in the symbiotic middle decan of Taurus. This is the 6 of Pentacles in the Tarot, Lord of Success, which has to do with reciprocity – giving and taking in equal measure. Ruled by the Moon, there’s a rhythm and synergy at work here, one that makes for fertile ground when the energy’s in its proper flow.

This cycle builds up to Mercury’s maximum brilliance on June 30 in the 1st decan of Cancer. This is the 2 of Cups energy in Tarot, the Lord of Love. Ruled by Venus, it represents the trust and intimacy between two people who are deeply bonded to each other, such as the bond between mother and child.

During this Mercury Retrograde, we’re starting a new chapter that focuses on relationships, intimacy, and the equal exchange of energy.

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April 2023 Astrology: Solar Eclipse

april 2023 astrology

April 2023 Astrology Overview

April 2023 Astrology brings in a Full Moon in Libra followed by a Solar Eclipse in Aries. There’s a special emphasis on the Aries/Libra axis at this time. Themes of independence, balance, and interpersonal relationship dynamics are prominent. In between these lunations, we have a fortunate, growth-spurring Jupiter Cazimi — also in Aries!

Venus enters social Gemini, while Mercury enters hard-working Taurus and stations retrograde, just in time for Taurus Season. Let’s dig in beginning with the current lunar cycle, which started on March 21 in Aries decan 1.

The Full Moon in Libra (April 5)

The Full Moon in Libra decan 2 (the 3 of Swords) is in direct conversation with the wounded healer Chiron. This continues to bring up Chiron in Aries wounds around independence, leadership, worldly desires/goals/ambitions, warrior mindset, self-assertiveness, anger/frustration, etc.

In Tarot, the middle decan of Libra is associated with the 3 of Swords, Lord of Sorrow. There’s a pessimistic or cynical side at play, but it’s more about having realistic expectations and being ground in reality — even when the truth is hard to face. There can be issues around relationships causing separation, loss, or disruptions that can throw us off. It’s important to not lose sense of yourself in these situations and to keep a clear head.

Continue reading April 2023 Astrology: Solar Eclipse

New Moon in Capricorn: 3 of Pentacles, “Works” (January 2022)

New Moon in Capricorn

New Moon in Capricorn

The first New Moon of the year is on January 2 in Capricorn (at 12° 20′, falling in the middle decan). The Tarot card for this Moon is the 3 of Pentacles, Lord of Material Works.

With Jupiter having just ingressed into Pisces on December 28th, he now sits at the South Node bending, in a 90° square to the karmic lunar nodes. During this lunar cycle he will encourage and support our soul growth by helping us release the past. His position in the first decan of Pisces tells a story of moving away from a difficult situation, seeking a spiritual solo journey that moves us away from stagnation.

There is a strong emphasis on Earth element energy as we begin the new year. The New Moon examines the same territory as Venus Retrograde which will be a dominant factor this month. This energy harmonizes with Uranus in Taurus, who will station Direct shortly, tying into a larger theme of change we’ve been experiencing since 2018-19.

Mercury is also in relation to the Nodes at this time and preparing to station Retrograde in Aquarius. This will be similar to last year’s Mercury Retrograde in Aquarius, except that it dips back into Capricorn, bringing Hermes the messenger into the New Moon / Venus Retrograde story as well.

New Moon in Capricorn 2022 Astrology Chart set for Portland, OR
Continue reading New Moon in Capricorn: 3 of Pentacles, “Works” (January 2022)

New Moon in Libra & Planetary Retrogrades: October 2021

New Moon in Libra

The New Moon in Libra falls on Wednesday, October 6 in the wee hours of the morning (4:05 am Pacific). This strange New Moon is in cahoots with aggressive Mars and a rather mischievous Mercury Retrograde in Libra. Both of these planets are readying to be reborn in the heart of the Sun over the course of the next few days – Mars on October 7th and Mercury on the 9th.

Pluto stations direct, ending a Retrograde journey from 24° – 26° Capricorn on the same day as the New Moon in Libra. The Moon, Sun, Mars & Mercury will all square Pluto over the course of the next month as this drama unfolds. These Libra planets, with their diplomatic skill and carefully honed strategies do have an upper hand over Pluto, but are heavily influenced by him to slow down and dig deep at this time.

With the New Moon in Libra directly opposite the wounded healer, Chiron, there can be a feeling of woundedness and personal injury now. We can be acutely aware of any wrongdoings and injustices that have thrown off the sacred balance of Libra’s scales. This constellates around the theme of independence and having the freedom to be ourselves. This is a motif that Chiron has been navigating since 2018-19.

This chart is ruled by Mercury Retrograde in the 2nd House. This is a time of going inward and contemplating what matters or has value, including our own sense of self-worth. Venus is the secret puller of strings behind the scenes. She sinks to the bottom of the chart in the final degrees of Scorpio. Just after the New Moon, she makes a bold move into Sagittarius. Here, she and the Moon join up with the South Node, activating the cosmic release hatch.

New Moon in Libra
New Moon in Libra – October 6, 2021 Astrology Chart
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Full Moon in Pisces & October Astrology: 10 of Cups

Full Moon in Pisces

The Full Moon in Pisces falls on Monday, September 20, 2021, just two days before Autumn Equinox, the changing of the seasons and the turning of the Wheel. In the last part of Pisces, alongside daydreaming Neptune, the Full Moon invokes the 10 of Cups card in the Tarot, the Lord of Satiety.

As every Full Moon is an opposition, we also have the Sun representing the 10 of Pentacles (Wealth), nearly ready to forge a new path when he initiates Libra season on Wednesday. Both of these cards signal completion: Emotional & Physical. Relationships, family, and security are major themes at work with this Moon. The 10’s of the Tarot serve here as a reminder that we’re at the end of the season and new energies are definitely incoming.

Mercury forms a perfect, uplifting trine to the Full Moon in Pisces’ ruler, Jupiter, during this lunation. In the same moment, he makes an intense square to purgative Pluto. Both aspects will be repeated during Mercury’s forthcoming Retrograde (September 26 – October 18). Pluto will be a main player as we wrap up this Lunar cycle and during the entirety of the Next, stationing Direct on the New Moon and nowhere near stopping at that.

An abundance of free-flowing Air energy will be stimulating mentally, making this Full Moon a good time for research and investigation. We can bring things into the light more easily now, confronting truths we buried long ago.

Full Moon in Pisces
Full Moon in Pisces astrology chart
Continue reading Full Moon in Pisces & October Astrology: 10 of Cups

New Moon in Virgo & September Astrology: 9 of Pentacles, Material Gain

The New Moon in Virgo

The New Moon in Virgo is on Monday, September 6, 2021 at 5:52pm pacific. This is the beginning of the Mercury Retrograde shadow period. Mercury Retrograde in Libra lasts for the next two Moon cycles. The shadow period ends near the New Moon in Scorpio at the beginning of November, with a New Moon in Libra in between.

New Moon in Virgo
New Moon in Virgo 2021 Astrology Chart

9 of Pentacles: Lord of Gain

The New Moon occurs in the 2nd decan of Virgo, corresponding to the 9 of Pentacles card in the Tarot. This is called Material Gain and is ruled by luxurious Venus. This part of Virgo represents the work and attention to detail that goes into making something of value. Artisan crafts and objects of beauty require painstaking attention to detail. The bird of prey in this image is sent to root out pests from the garden and guards against theft.

Continue reading New Moon in Virgo & September Astrology: 9 of Pentacles, Material Gain

Full Moon in Virgo: The 8 of Pentacles [February 2021]

Full Moon in Virgo Decan 1: the 8 of Pentacles

Full Moon in Virgo 2021

This month’s Full Moon is on Saturday, February 27 at 12:17am Pacific Time. The Full Moon in Virgo is at 8° 57′ with Venus and Neptune sharing a presence with the Sun in Pisces.

The Full Moon is a time of culmination, fulfillment, and spiritual realization. The subconscious and psychic Moon is in a state of maximum illumination. At this stage in her process, she brings our daily affairs to a head and demonstrates that certain themes and patterns are at work behind our experiences.

Continue reading Full Moon in Virgo: The 8 of Pentacles [February 2021]

New Moon in Aquarius 2021: The 7 of Swords

New Moon in Aquarius

New Moon in Aquarius 2021

This month’s New Moon occurs at 23° 16′ Aquarius on Thursday, February 11, 2021 at 11:06am PT.

The New Moon is a time to bring your energy back inward, grounding and centering in the moment. From here we can focus and prepare for new growth. During the Dark of the Moon, we have a natural inclination to contemplate what we’re leaving behind us and what we’re aspiring to in the future.

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February 2021 Astrology (Mercury Retrograde in Aquarius!)

Mercury Retrograde in Aquarius (January 30 – February 20)

Mercury stations Retrograde in Aquarius (26° 29′) on Saturday, January 30, 2021. February 20 will bring the end of Mercury Retrograde (11° 01′), although the total shadow period is January 14 through March 12.

This Mercury Retrograde period happens about three times a year. Visually in the sky, Mercury appears to move in reverse. He slows down and draws to his closest point to the Earth. As Mercury enters this part of his cycle, it’s as if our minds and daily mundane affairs — which are ruled by Mercury — are operating on a different wavelength.

Continue reading February 2021 Astrology (Mercury Retrograde in Aquarius!)