August 2016 Monthly Forecast

Hello New Dawn!

What have you been paving the way for so far this year? It’s all about to happen! This month, many planets support stepping into dreams. The first half of the year was about preparation and now it’s time for action. Imagine you’re a singer putting together a band. The first half of the year was about choosing the right band members, writing music and booking venues. August is now about the band enjoying its early gigs and finetuning further in rehearsals.

Venus, Mercury, Jupiter and the North Node in Virgo team up to bring waves of enthusiasm and a desire to shout ‘yes’ to everything. Remember how back in January and also June, Jupiter and the Destiny North Node paired up to help us dream our big dreams? Venus and Mercury from 6th to 30th August stimulate them again, and from the 23rd, the Sun joins in when it enters Virgo too.

Venus, Jupiter, Mercury & Destiny Node in Action

This is both exciting and nerve-wracking. Let’s say you’re putting on a ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ later in the year and you’re in charge of the food. In August, you serve up the dishes in your family restaurant as part of a new menu to trial them before the wedding. The feedback helps you improve some dishes, give up on others and add new inspirations. The pros in any field need to practise a few versions before perfecting their skills. Venus, Mercury, Jupiter and the North Node in Virgo, the zodiac sign of perfecting details, give us the confidence and energy to do just that.

A Rare Treat – 5 Visible Planets this Month

Look West in the early evenings soon after the sun has set or is setting and there you’ll see Venus, Mercury and Jupiter shining their help and exuberance. Look overhead and you’ll see bright red Mars and yellowish Saturn also together. It’s quite unusual to have five planets visible in the night sky all at the same time – Mercury is the hardest to see, but Venus, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn all stand out. Here’s the dates of their exact conjunctions:

• Mercury and Jupiter together exact 22 August
• Mars and Saturn together exact 24 August
• Venus and Jupiter together exact 28 August

As you can see, the last week of the month has some powerful astrology with strong energies joining together.

Motivated to Follow a Deep ‘Yes’

So what’s going on with Mars and Saturn? On 13 August Saturn turns Direct after being retrograde since March. Anything important that felt stalled or that needed extra skill-building since March can now start to move ahead. Mars is beside himself with joy. He’s left no stone unturned in his deep contemplations since January, particularly about what he most needs in order to live and love as fully and genuinely as possible. Mars in Sagittarius now wants to shoot forward and get out and action everything he’s decided upon. In the first couple of weeks of August the doors are open to grab onto this passionate flowing vibe.

Yet on 24 August, Mars comes up against Saturn. Think of it this way. A man spends months working out if a certain woman really is the one for him. He broods deeply about her, their love and whether he should propose. Finally by 3 August when Mars moves into Sagittarius, he’s made up his mind. He either dashes for his freedom or he decides ‘yes’, in which case he proposes to his love. But on 24 August, he’s got to shine his shoes and look his best as it’s time for him to meet the father of the bride, Saturn.

Mars Meets Saturn… A Chance to Show Self-Mastery

Saturn says I know you love my daughter but I will only agree to you marrying her if you show respect to this family by attending all our Sunday roasts. You’re vegetarian, hate roasts and always play soccer on Sundays, plus you didn’t even think it was necessary to have a ‘man-to-man’ with the father of the bride in this day and age, but it was important to your beloved. You need to stand up for yourself and negotiate but you also need to take on board that the Sunday roasts are a big deal and you will not be welcome as part of the family unless you attend. What do you do? The first half of the year was about taking note of what is immovable about reality so that you won’t fight the wrong battles or think life will bring you success simply because you’re living from your heart. Actions need to be taken in reality and this month is about making new moves based on the way the world is.

In the first two weeks you capitalise on the vibrant energy for whatever project or life experience you’ve been longing to dive into, but from mid-month, you’re aware you need to prepare to be assessed or critiqued. The father-of-the-bride says, ‘Prove yourself to me. What’s your background?’ Or perhaps it’s the bank saying prove to us why we should give you that loan for your new home, big holiday, time off work to study etc.

Mid-month Partial Lunar Eclipse

There’s an Eclipse in Aquarius on the 18th at the Full Moon. Why not take a look in the mirror then and see how different you are from the start of the year. This Eclipse helps you notice how rapidly you’ve grown into more of who you are and gives permission to get out there and take this further, but first you might need to tweak something about yourself that is just a bit too individualistic or out there and might go against you.

All month you might think you have one in the bag because the optimism of Mars in Sagittarius (plus Venus, Jupiter, Mercury and the North Node together) gives such a feeling of luck, but don’t count your chickens before they’ve hatched. Keep grounded until you’ve passed the Eclipse on the 18th and the Saturn checkpoint on 24 August. Yet equally, under the major Jupiter conjunctions on 22 (Mercury & Jupiter) and 28 (Venus and Jupiter), things could take off!

Love, Worth, Values & Offers

Love is one of the big topics this month with beautiful Venus in all her glory next to Jupiter. Particularly look out for them on 28 August, the date of their exact conjunction. Mercury is with them too, which means there’s a lot of thinking and talking about love, tastes, likes and dislikes, and the personal values at the bottom of everything. We look at our words, behaviours, body, health, image, finances, employment and assets and wonder what we can do to bring out the best in our opportunities. Offers and counter offers are exchanged. Our updated truest needs tussle with old expectations.

A Big Month for Soul Messages

Neptune’s influence in Pisces on the South Node is strong this month. If you’re fatigued or drifting off into daydreams, consider whether this is soul nourishment or zoning out. Your soul might be taking you into otherworldly moments to impart a message, which is important to surrender to at this time. But if you’re feeling lost in these spaces, lethargic and confused, grab onto the big Virgo emphasis this month, by doing small practical things that move your life forward. Especially take control of your own diary, your own schedule, and watch for ways time might get frittered away each day which could lead to disappointment setting in.

Mercury’s Pre-Retro Shadow & Helpful Influence

Mercury’s getting ready to take the floor in September given he goes retrograde on 30 August, right at the end of the month. He moves into the shadow pre-retrograde period on 10 August. For more information on Mercury Retro and Shadow periods, go here. The great thing about Mercury slowing down in Virgo is that he keeps the Jupiter & Destiny North Node pair alive. These two awaken opportunities to follow our best destinies, so with Mercury there too, our chances increase of life bringing a choice of ideas, information and connections our way to get everything on track!

Check out the five visible planets in the night sky this month as a reminder to keep believing in yourself and to bolster the confidence to action what you know you need to do, even if it feels daunting.

August’s New Moon

For information on the New Moon in Leo on 3 August, go here around that date. The interpretation will stay online until the next New Moon four weeks later.

August’s 1st Quarter Moon

For information on the 1st Quarter Moon in Scorpio on 11 August, go here around that date. The interpretation will stay online until the next 1st Quarter Moon four weeks later.

August’s Full Moon

For information on the Full Moon Eclipse in Aquarius on 18 August, go here around that date. The interpretation will stay online until the next Full Moon four weeks later.

August’s 3rd Quarter Moon

For information on the 3rd Quarter Moon in Gemini on 25 August, go here around that date. The interpretation will stay online until the next 3rd Quarter Moon four weeks later.