Illustration by @kyinskies
By Mystic Sandwich aka Andrea Javor
@mystic_sandwich
August begins with Mars and Mercury still retrograde–they both go direct later this month (Mercury on the 18th, Mars on the 27th). This lull in the ordinary business-as-usual-forward-movement of the energy offers us some time to get our affairs in order, do the inner work, and receive the planetary lessons before we move on. On August 11th (night of August 10th), we’ve got a Partial Solar Eclipse in Leo (New Moon), offering another piece of the eclipse story that began in the winter of 2017, and is now mostly ending, although there will be a postscript (partial eclipse) next winter (2019). By the end of the month, the planets offer some respite, with a beautiful Full Moon in Pisces and a Grand Earth Trine. Together, these create a golden opportunity to make our dreams manifest in the real world.
Aries
At the beginning of the month, the Mars and Uranus square link your social life to your income: never underestimate your social connections for bringing about surprising new opportunities. The Solar Eclipse on August 11st lands in your 5th house of creativity, pleasure, children, and leisure. What new endeavors light up your inner child? What sparks enjoyment? Commit to creativity, follow your bliss, find your flow. With Jupiter in the eighth, perhaps your new undertaking involves studying the occult (tarot, astrology, magic, witchcraft, etc.). The Full Moon at the end of the month lands in your twelfth house of dreams, spirituality, and the unconscious. The simultaneous Grand Earth Trine links up your money and career houses: use this dreamy Pisces Moon to imagine your way to the career you dream of. The message of this moon is: the quiet invisible forces of the imagination are more powerful than the external means of going after our desires.
Taurus
On August 7th, your ruling planet, Venus enters one if its favourite signs, Libra, bringing balance, and harmony. Venus squares Saturn quickly thereafter which is a less lovely vibe, but very practical as it offers a reality check to your relationships, finances, work life, and health. Get practical now while Venus and Saturn are talking. The Leo Eclipse on the 11th lands in your fourth house of family and home, making this an ideal time to begin a new project in the home, or to better understand your roots, your ancestry, and the family dynamics that have shaped you. The Full Moon at the end of the month is one of the juiciest and loveliest lunations we’ve had in a while; landing in your 11th house of social contacts and community, this is a time to celebrate your friends and connections. With a grand earth trine you are bound to feel more yourself: earthy, grounded, and sensual.
Gemini
As Mercury is your ruling planet, you likely feel the effects of Mercury retrograde more than most: Mercury is now backtracking through your third house of communication, offering you until the 18th to revise, redo, rewrite, reconsider what you’ve said or written or communicated in some other way. The New Moon eclipse on the 11th lands in the same place suggesting all this reworking will lead to a new beginning in this area–or, as Mercury is still retrograde, it may be a new-old beginning: getting back to an old writing or art project for example or getting in touch with an old friend or sibling. The delicious Full Moon at the end of the month lands in your tenth house of career, highlighting the polarity between work-life, family-career, home-world, inner-outer. Harness the Pisces dreamy flow to intuit rather than think your way to balance.
Cancer
Mercury retrograde in your second house suggests reworking or reconsidering your finances, income, and/or your values and worth. While it may feel slow going, this is precious time to get your business in order, before the New Moon Eclipse on the 11 initiates a new beginning in this area for you. Observe that when you recognize your own worth, others do as well. As a water sign, you’ll be especially attuned to the lush Pisces Full Moon at the end of the month. The Full Moon lands in your ninth house, bringing expansion to your mind through contemplation, philosophy, education, and/or travel. The Full Moon coincides with a lovely Grand Earth trine connecting up your social houses, so enjoy the fullness and flow of this time with your friends and loved ones.
Leo
Leo, this year, you get not only a New Moon, but a New Moon Eclipse in your sign. An eclipse is a potent new beginning, a rare opportunity to renew yourself entirely. An eclipse can be intense and destabilizing (especially if it contacts a planet in your chart), so make sure you take plenty of time to rest. That said, this astrology is calling on you to share yourself more fully with the world—everyone lights up when in the glow of your warmth and creativity. There is no right or wrong way to express yourself, but expression is the key. Let go of expectations, release the past, and seek to find your voice here and now. Mercury is retrograde in your sign until the 18th, so don’t fret if things are slow. This is the time to figure out within yourself how to move forward. By the end of the month, you’ll be flying. The Pisces Full Moon on the 26th lands in your eighth house, bringing to culmination a story around intimacy, shared resources, or loss. Whatever the specifics, seek self-renewal and inner transformation.
Virgo
With your ruler, Mercury, retrograde in your twelfth house, pay special attention to dreams, symbolism, and coincidences for messages from your soul. The Leo New Moon Eclipse on the 11th lands in this same area, initiating a new cycle with regards to your deepest self–the part of you that is beyond ego or even personality, and is connected to the cosmos and ancient wisdom. Vow to know this part of yourself more intimately. The Sun enters your sign on the 22nd, bringing the focus up from the depths and to your conscious self and your worldly endeavours. Enjoy the vitality the Sun in your sign offers for the next month. The Pisces Full Moon at the end of the month brings culmination and fullness to your relationships, and offers a grounding Earth Trine. As far as Full Moons go, this one is sweet and is a beautiful time for gathering with friends, and for accomplishing things in the world as guided by your imagination and vision.
Libra
Your ruling planet, Venus, shifts into your sign on the 6th, bringing harmony and balance. Soon thereafter, though, Venus squares Saturn, which can feel a little lonely and serious, but offers a helpful reality check and fosters practical real world manifestation of your desires. The Leo Eclipse on the 11th lands in your eleventh house, initiating a new cycle with regards to your social connections and community as well as your hopes and wishes for the future. What do you desire? The Full Moon at the end of the month in your sixth house offers insight with regards to your work life, the daily grind, your health, and daily routines. With an Earth Trine at the same time, the energy is there to make healthy changes as guided by your imagination.
Scorpio
On the first day of the month, your ruler, Mars (still retrograde) squares Uranus. When these two get together, they can spell endings or surprises. Make the most by expecting the unexpected and be open to spontaneous and creative action. The New Moon Leo Eclipse is in your tenth house of career and public presence: it’s the time to shine, Scorpio, not just with those whom you’re intimate with, but out in the world. Maybe by the end of the month, with the lush Pisces Full Moon in your fifth house of creative self expression, you’ll have found your voice and the courage to share it.
Sagittarius
Sag, you are a natural philosopher–you know how to ask the right questions. And all your seeking and journeying bring you closer to your truth. This is one of the themes of the month: Mercury retrograde as well as the Leo Eclipse in your ninth house bring you back to yourself, to assist you in sorting through the beliefs you’ve acquired, to pick and choose which ones to hold, so that you may self-determine your world through your vision and your faith. What is your personal philosophy? What is your worldview? The Pisces Full Moon at the end of the month lands in your fourth house of home and family; what a juicy time to spend with your closest love ones and in your most beloved places.
Capricorn
The Leo Eclipse on the 11th initiates a new cycle in your eighth house, having to do with intimacy, shared resources, sexuality, loss, transformation and renewal. Let go of something or some part of yourself (could be a belief, or idea) in order to open more fully to other people and to the world, and allow yourself to be transformed by your experiences. The Full Moon on the 26th highlights your thought processes and means of communication: be prepared to receive a message. At the same time, the Sun comes to complete a grand earth trine with your ruling planet, Saturn, in Capricorn, and Uranus in Taurus. Stabilizing and supportive and at the same time flowing and easy, the last week of the month is sure to feel grounding after all we’ve been through. It’s also an incredible opportunity to make dreams come true, to manifest in the real world and in practical ways.
Aquarius
With last month’s eclipse in your sign, chances are you released something you were holding to, you let go of the past and who you thought you were. (The energy of eclipses lingers for weeks or months, so if you feel you still have work to do in releasing, it’s not too late). And now you’re more prepared for the Leo Eclipse to initiate a new cycle in your relationships and your means of relating. With Mercury retrograde in the same area, you may be reconnecting with old friends and acquaintances. You may also find that it’s the people in your life who are most affected by this eclipse, and you may be playing more of a supporting role this time. The dreamy Pisces Full Moon at the end of the month brings fruition to your finances, your income, and your self worth. You may literally receive a raise or the raise may be to your self esteem–which will surely affect your income in the long term anyway. Go within to manifest your dreams in the world through your vision and imagination.
Pisces
The Leo Eclipse on the 11th begins a new cycle in your house of work, service, health, and daily routines. How can you finesse the structure of your days to offer you productivity for free and easy health? Try a couple minutes of meditation first thing in the morning to set yourself off on the best foot and observe how that simple act ripples through the rest of your day. The last week of the month offers sweet grounding and imaginative vibes with a Full Moon in your sign and a Grand Earth Trine to boot. You more than anyone understand the power of the imagination to dream reality into being. This is a fortuitous time to plant your dream seeds.
Andrea Javor is an astrologer, writer, and yoga teacher based in Vancouver BC. Her offerings include private readings, event readings, workshops, and yoga classes. She’s passionate about using yoga as a tool to understand astrology in a deeper, more embodied way. Currently she’s studying Evolutionary Astrology in the tradition of Jeffrey Wolf Green. For more information, see her website,www.mysticsandwich.com/.
