August 2009 Astrocast

Key Events:  

Full Moon (Lunar Eclipse 13:43 Aquarius):  August 5, 2009

New Moon (27:32 Leo):   August 20, 2009

Retrograde Planets: 

Pluto:  April 4 - September 10, 2009

Neptune:  May 29 - November 3, 2009

Jupiter:  June 15 - October 12, 2009

Uranus:  July 1 - November 30, 2009

Moon Void of Course Table

Lunations and Long-term Aspects

There's another eclipse this month, reinforcing the pair we had in July.  This is another Full Moon/lunar eclipse that occurs on August 5 in your 1st House of personality.  As you may recall, the theme of this eclipse series, which is identified as 11-South of the Saros series, is to institute sudden reforms, find new and innovative ways for solving existing problems, and the sudden or even forceful removal of obstacles, probably without intervention on our part.  If your birthday is on or within a day or so of February 2nd this will have an even more dramatic effect on you that you're sure to notice.  A lot of this will be going on without any effort on your part, but it behooves you to know what's going on so you can recognize it for what it is and derive any potential benefit or lessons the Universe intends.

The aspects accompanying this eclipse will color its influence.  First of all, it includes a Triangle of Potential that comprises Pluto, Venus and Mercury at the apex where it will serve as mediator to resolve the opposition between the other two.  Pluto is in your 12th House of spirituality, dreams, inspiration, enlightenment, confinement, institutions, hidden enemies and charity.  The god of the Underworld is going to be hanging out in that neighborhood for quite a while where he will effectively tear up these somewhat esoteric, unseen and intangible elements in your life.  Pluto's job is to unearth anything that requires renovation then eventually allow it to settle down again.  The good news is that over the long haul Pluto has a healing effect as he exhumes anything corrupt or rotten that needs to be removed.  When he's in the backhoe stage of digging things up it's typically not pleasant.  The best you can do at that stage is recognize he's there with a job to do and is going to proceed whether you like it or not so it's in your best interest to cooperate.  Now is the time to be honest with yourself regarding this part of your life and acknowledge anything you lack, haven't handled correctly, or need to incorporate into your life. 

It isn't likely you'll enjoy this transit, but you can minimize it somewhat by recognizing it for what it is and learning as quickly as possible.  If some part of our life is really honked up and a planetary transit comes along you're going to feel it.  If that part of your life is in order, however, it will be far less painful if noticeable at all.  Thus, you can gain a form of "transit immunity" by not needing the lesson at hand.  If you've already learned a particular lesson you can recognize it as familiar and cruise though it much easier.

So back to the eclipse.  Pluto, who's doing a number on your spiritual plane, is opposite Venus in your 6th House of work, health and pets.  Venus is a benefic planet and rarely brings anything horribly nasty your way.  "Work" as included in this house includes your daily tasks in your day job as well as any other projects you may be pursuing at home, including avocations and hobbies; work is what you "do" with yourself and time provided it's productive; sitting and watching TV or playing video games don't count unless you're being paid to do it and are included in the 5th House which covers entertainment.  Venus is thus doing what she can to make those productive things that occupy your time pleasant while Pluto is probably making your spiritual health situation unpleasant.  It's your mission, should you choose to accept it, to determine what these two planets are trying to tell you. 

Maybe you need to be grateful for the job you have or, if you're one of the unfortunate people who have lost your job lately, be grateful for the experience and talents you have that you need to figure out how to market elsewhere.  Maybe you need to find a job that is more rewarding to your soul and be less materialistic.  If you haven't worked as hard as you should, maybe it's time to do things better than you have in the past so you don't paint a target on yourself for the next layoff.  Maybe you need to look for another job, which could be enhanced by this placement, and thus increase your contribution to a better world.  Your work and the satisfaction you derive from it are definitely tied together, so having this conversation with yourself is definitely warranted.  The mediator in this conversation is Mercury who is making a pass through your 8th House of transformation, sex, death, debt and other people's resources.  Mercury stimulates our thoughts and ideas, rules conversations and also data and information.  He will thus help you figure out whatever it is you need to determine, incorporate the lessons into your psyche and take any needed action.  It's a bit of a "no pain, no gain" situation but it should come out well if you're willing to change and learn.

Another aspect that is tied into this eclipse and has been out there for a while is that stellium comprising Jupiter, Neptune and the asteroid, Chiron.  I really don't trust this trio which seems to be operating like a bit of a toxic cloud.  If your birthday is between February 8 - 15 it will be more noticeable.  If you've had a hard time concentrating, been more dreamy that usual, and felt as if you're lost in a fog, this is the aspect to blame.  They are all retrograde currently, making their energy even more internal.  All Aquarians will feel this to some degree.  Jupiter tends to expand anything he touches and is usually benefic, but Neptune can't be trusted.  He can bring inspiration, but also delusion and tends to dissolve anything he touches.  He could also represent someone or something who is trying to diminish you in some manner.

Chiron, the wounded healer, could also be causing some trouble.  In your Natal Chart, Chiron is the significator of where you'll encounter suffering of one kind or another, depending on the Sign and House placement.  This will incur a wound that will never entirely heal, but your charge is to take your hard lessons and use the compassion they teach you to help others similarly affected.  Thus, Chiron can be about the injury or about helping others.  With him in your 1st House he could be bringing trouble, relief, or opportunities to help others.  As always, you best bet is to harness the energy in a positive way and help others however you can.

Another aspect associated with this eclipse comprises the Moon trining Mars which should be a positive influence for stimulating activity with your children, a romantic involvement, your creativity, self-expression or perhaps finding a new means of entertainment.  Yet another is a square between Mars and Saturn, which may be warning you not to ignore the more serious issues going on in your life right now by playing too much.  If you have problems, you need to face the music.  This is not to say you shouldn't enjoy yourself at all or seek some stress relief but simply to not fall into a frantic effort to support denial of reality.

The New Moon on August 20 is exceptionally busy with aspects that involve all of the planets in a variety of ways.  They are having quite a party out there and exchanging energies in several directions that will certainly come across if you're paying even the slightest bit of attention.  It comprises three ToPs, a T-Square, a double yod, and further emphasizes that Jupiter/Neptune/Chiron stellium discussed above.  A New Moon usually brings something new into our life or at the least a new phase of an existing situation.  This one takes place in Leo, your 7th House of relationships.  Bear in mind that this includes close friends and relatives, business partners, your significant other, and anyone with whom you have a one-on-one relationship.  If you happen to be in business for yourself, this also includes your cliental.  So the bottom line is that this lunation is about your relationships, even more-so if your birthday is right around February 16.

Two of the ToPs involve the New Moon, perhaps giving more clues to its affect.  For one, the Sun/Moon conjunction or definition of a New Moon, is opposing that Jupiter/Neptune/Chiron stellium.  This by itself implies that someone close to you could be the delivery vehicle for the effects of that trio this month.  The mediator, however, is Mars, resident as noted earlier in your 5th House of entertainment, creativity, children, lovers and self-expression.  Thus if someone is pulling you down or diminishing your identity in some way, all that energy can be used to keep it at bay and not bring you down.  Spend more time with your kids or love interest, be creative and enjoy yourself to a reasonable level while avoiding the denial noted earlier.

The next ToP that involves the New Moon also involves Pluto and Mars.  In this case, the New Moon is the mediator, implying that a new relationship may be the answer to the Mars - Pluto opposition which seems to be saying that too much time is spent on entertainment, your children, hobbies, or some other element resident in the 5th House at the expense of developing more depth as a person.  Maybe you'll meet someone who will inspire you to find a new path and reduce your stress through meditation, service to others, or some other form of enlightenment.  Mars and Pluto are far from friendly, and this could also indicate some hassles from someone such as a former lover or some other hidden enemy.  This is another case where you need to use the energy in the most  positive way as possible to minimize any of the negative effects.  Balance is something we should all strive for, yet isn't easily achieved with our spiritual health often the most neglected in this busy, materialistic world.

The third ToP involves Saturn, Mercury, Uranus and Venus.  Saturn and Mercury are both in Virgo, your 8th House of transformations, sex, death, debt and other people's money.  These two are bringing you information and enough discomfort to help you learn something that will have a lasting effect and both are opposite Uranus.  Uranus, your Sign Ruler, is in your 2nd House of finances and possessions where he's been bombarding you with all sorts of disruptions, unexpected events, and surprises that have had a detrimental effect on your material goods.  Thus, there's a lesson pertaining to money and finances out there for you.  The good news here is that the mediator is Venus in your 6th House of work and health.  Venus is a "friendly" and should provide something that will help with these hard financial lessons.  Maybe you'll get a better paying job, have the chance to put in some overtime, or maybe someone on the job will be able to give you some helpful hints on money management, help you save money in some way or what-have-you.  Keep your eyes and ears open and see what benefits are waiting for you to invite them into your life.

The T-Square is typically a challenging aspect pattern and this one involves Saturn and Mercury again, playing tutor in your House of transformations, debt and other people's resources; Uranus stirring things up over there in your house of finances and possessions; and Mars in your House of entertainment, ego, children, and romance.  This looks like it may have a message pertaining to how and where you spend your money, perhaps too much on entertainment, kids, dating, or lotto tickets since speculation is also included in the 5th House.  Now is a good time to take a close look at every dollar you spend and how much you may squander on such things as being a regular at Starbucks or going out to lunch every day.

The yod has its eye on that stellium that could be causing you to be a bit too dreamy, in denial or some other form of delusion that is effectively hurting you in some way.  The other two planets involved are Saturn and Mercury who are trying to tutor you in a very serious way and Venus, the sole "friendly" hailing from your house of work and health.  A yod always implies a change of course and this one seems to say that there are forces out there trying to help you address any issues that are keeping you from seeing things as they are.  A positive manifestation of that trio may be to bring your attention to the fact you haven't been as realistic as you should be in the past and it's time to wake up and smell the coffee, so to speak.  We are all largely the architects of our own destiny and reap how we sow.  Hard times and troubles come upon us all, but maybe you've inadvertently made yourself an easy target.  Maybe it's time to be objective and take some serious steps to improve your situation, whatever it might be.

Or maybe that trio has me entirely fooled.  Every aspect has a positive and negative vibration and maybe this will be the most inspirational time of your life.  If so, all the better, but I tend to cater to those who will have challenges to face so tend toward the negative interpretation which as a “gloom and doom” Cappy comes all too easily.

Short-term Aspects

August 1 - 3:  Your work in whatever form it may take is probably going well, but there may be part of your life that you're neglecting.  Maybe someone at work could use your moral support or help in some other way.  Get outside yourself and see what you find.

August 5:  The Full Moon/lunar eclipse occurs on this date as noted above.

August 7 - 10:  News or thoughts related to work will leave a deep and lasting impression on you at this time.  If you've been on a bit of an ego trip lately, you could have your sails trimmed today in a way you won't forget.

August 13 - 14:  Your creative efforts, children or self-expression will bring you some positive attention today.  Just don't let it all go to your head.

August 17: The planets are giving you a prologue as they line up in preparation for the New Moon.  Someone close to you may provide an opportunity to enjoy yourself or perhaps offer a creative idea; romance is also a possibility.  On the other hand, a realization of where you need to be more responsible in your life is trying to get your attention as well.  If someone is trying to diminish or ignore you, you should be able to figure it out and make a few adjustments.  Inspiration relative to your creative efforts is out there as well.

August 18:  As a Fixed Sign you don't like change, but it's unavoidable these days and it's in your best interest to go with the flow.  Listen to what those close to you are telling you with an open mind.  Someone, possibly a child, could cause an unexpected expense today.

August 19:  An opportunity at work to increase your responsibilities is likely today along with a change of course related to your finances.  You will be noticed favorably, which will make your day.

August 20:  The New Moon occurs on this date as noted earlier.

August 21 - 23:  A surprising development relative to your finances will make a lasting impression on you and possible inspire you to change directions.  The Sun enters Virgo on the 22nd, bringing an increased likelihood for transformational change.  More favorable  events related to work could bring another change to your finances.  It's also a favorable time to take a long, hard look at your spiritual health and anything you should be doing to find better balance in your life. 

August 25 - 26:  Mercury goes into Libra, your 9th House of beliefs, expectations, higher learning, legal matters, other cultures and long-distance travel on the 25th while Mars enter Cancer, your 6th House of work.  On the 26th Venus goes into Leo, your 7th House of relationships, which is good for them but not so good for work.  Don't be surprised if the climate there changes and you encounter some confrontations.  Your beliefs may be challenged today by something you hadn't seen before.  Conflict at work may arise that indicates someone is trying to undermine you.  Someone close to you will help you figure things out and make any appropriate adjustments.

August 28:  Someone close to you may provide an opportunity to pursue something such as a long trip, relocation, educational endeavor, encounter with a person from a different culture, or simply give you something to think about that will affect your beliefs.

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