August 2008

Two eclipses occur this month: a Solar Eclipse on the 1st at 9 degrees Leo and a Lunar Eclipse on the 16th at 24 degrees Aquarius.

Eclipses focus on important issues and areas of an individual’s chart which will be subject to change within the next year for a solar eclipse and six months for a lunar eclipse (see specific indications for sun signs). Leo and Aquarius are opposite signs of the zodiac and can relate to opposite issues and interests. Leo is the sign of leadership, creative potential, the entrepreneurial spirit and performing. The negative expression is selfishness, ego and showing off. Aquarius is the sign of community, groups, friends and humanitarian goals. Aquarius can be intellectual and innovative but it can also lose itself in what everyone else thinks just to belong to the group. However, these two signs can work together if leadership uses its power to do what is right for the collective. Dane Rudhyar makes these observations regarding the degrees of these eclipses: “The building of a new society and of one’s renewed personality as well, is just as much a process of artistic creation as the making of a delicate glass vase or a symphony; the constructive use to which difficult past experiences can be put as examples for those who are still striving to overcome their passions.” The Sun in Leo until the 22nd supports leadership, charisma, children, romance, hobbies, talents, sports, performing, entertainment, creativity and any type of self expression or entrepreneurial activities. The Sun in Virgo after the 22nd supports service, specializing, organization, analysis, details, forecasts, planning, lists, calendars and timelines. Virgo is pragmatic, practical and supportive in meeting everyday obligations.

Mercury (communication, writing, contracts, commerce, workers) in Leo until the 10th supports entertaining, performing, activities with children, vehicles, short trips and working with your hands doing mechanical activities. Mercury in Virgo from the 10th to the 28th lends mental focus to planning, organizing, forecasts and time lines. Mercury in Libra after the 28th supports team meetings, consideration for others, arbitration, mediation and cooperation. It also brings awareness of others with differences of opinion, leading to debates, arguments and opposites coming to agreement.

Venus (values, money, social connections) in Leo until the 6th values performing, children, hobbies, sports, entertaining and fun activities such as car meets and cruises. Venus in Virgo after the 6th values planning, organization, details, analysis and focus on frugality and attention to everyday living. Venus in Libra after the 30th values one-to-one partners as well as relating in general.

Mars (initiation, energy, aggression) in Virgo until the 19th lends energy to any activity which requires planning, analysis or details such as lists, calendars, timelines and forecasts. Not everyone has the capacity or motivation to focus on paperwork, but all businesses, homes and lives require attention to these tasks. While Mars is in Virgo, we are encouraged to engage in them and catch up on incomplete projects. Mars in Virgo can also increase discrimination. The positive side is analyzing a person, project or attitude to weed out what is not good for us. The negative side is rejection of a person, group, entity or idea because it doesn’t fit with our views, background, ethnic group or belief systems. Mars in Libra after the 19th focuses on connections with others.

Jupiter (expansion, opportunity, optimism, travel, education, foreign trade, religion, legal matters) retrogrades from 14 to 12 degrees Capricorn, where it was in February and will repeat in September/October 2008. Jupiter turned retrograde on May 9th until September 8th. Birthdays most affected are January 2nd-5th, October 5th-7th, July 4th-6th and April 2nd-4th as well as companies or persons whose charts have planets or angles from 12 to 14 degrees Cancer, Capricorn, Aries or Libra. Jupiter in Capricorn brings opportunity thru organization, consolidation, restructuring, responsibility, leadership, land, property, control, career, real estate and matters of security such as investments, insurance and homes.

Saturn (structure, foundation, responsibility) transits 7 to 11 degrees Virgo, where it was from November 2007 thru January 2008. Saturn’s transit thru Virgo from September 2007 to July 2010 will strongly affect those born between 1958 and 1972, which is the generation born when Pluto was in Virgo. Between now and early 2010 they will begin to gain more responsibility and power. Virgo relates to health, everyday routine and doing what is practical, frugal and orderly in daily life as well as specialty careers. Most affected this month are those born August 30th-September 3rd, May 28th-June 1st, February 26th-March 1st and November 26th-29th as well as those people or entities whose charts have planets or angles from 7 to 11 degrees Virgo, Pisces, Gemini or Sagittarius. Saturn’s last transit thru Virgo was 1978 to 1980. Review what was happening in your life about 30 years ago, during the half-cycle of 14-15 years (in Pisces), the quarter cycle of 7 years (in Gemini) and 21 years, the third quarter cycle (in Sagittarius) to understand what Saturn in Virgo from September 2007 to July 2010 will mean for you.

Uranus (freedom, rebellion, surprise, invention technology) retrogrades from 22 to 21 degrees Pisces where it was in April/May 2008 and will repeat in February/March of 2009. Birthdays most affected are March 11th-12th, June 11th-12th, September 13th-14th and December 12th-13th as well as persons or companies whose charts have planets or angles from 21 to 22 degrees Pisces, Virgo, Gemini or Sagittarius. Between April 2008 and March 2009 they will have needed freedom, experienced chaos or made radical changes in their lives. Uranus will be in Pisces until 2011 and supports social revolution. During 1920, the previous Uranus in Pisces, Congress granted women the right to vote and the “Roaring 20s” began. Uranus in Pisces supports artistic creativity with innovation and intellect with sensitivity, leading to ways of helping those in need and suggesting that the only way humanity will survive is by caring for each other and doing what is best for all, addressing humanitarian and global issues such as disaster relief, global warming, health care and political decisions made for the good of the masses, not just special interests and the wealthy.

Neptune (sensitivity, inspiration, escapism, dreams, trust) retrogrades from 23 to 22 degrees Aquarius where it was in March 2008 and will repeat in January 2009. During the retrograde, May 26th to November 2nd, is a good time to release and heal from addictions. Neptune relates to intangibles such as imagination, inspiration, creative writing, art and dance as well as prayer, healing, dreams and escapism. Birthdays most affected are February 11th, August 14th-15th, May 12th-13th and 14th-15th as well as charts with planets or angles from 22 to 23 Aquarius, Leo, Scorpio or Taurus. Neptune transits can also bring a lack of direction or focus, a sense of drifting or the inability to see a betrayal, weakness, error or disappointment until it’s too late. The past dissolves to open space for the future. On the positive side this can be a time for faith, healing, psychic insights and artistic creativity. Under Neptune in Aquarius you can develop intuition, musical talents, practice meditation and honor your own inner guidance. You may also need to watch your back and balance faith with fact to see events clearly, not with wishful thinking or being attached to the dream or vision of what you think might have been.

Pluto (power, control, resources, transformation) retrogrades at 28 Sagittarius, where it was in February, March and December 2007 and will repeat in September/October of 2008, completing Pluto’s transit thru Sagittarius. Most affected birthdays are December 20th, June 19th, March 18th-19th and September 21st as well as charts with planets or angles at 28 degrees Sagittarius, Gemini, Virgo or Pisces. Between February 2007 and November 2008 they will have experienced major changes in life such as marriage, divorce, relocation and career/financial challenges. These are times when counseling or therapy may be required and self-awareness or motivational work necessary. As Pluto completes its transit thru Sagittarius, it has brought focus, transformation and paradigm shifts in travel, education, religion, politics and global trade. It has also brought religion to the forefront of world politics, war, conflict and the need to control. It will enter Capricorn to stay in December 2008, shifting the focus to security and control.

Specific indications for the twelve signs are as follows:

Note: In addition to reading about your sun sign, you can gain more understanding by reading the signs of your Moon, rising sign and the sign on the midheaven or career house of your chart.

Nancy Bahlman is a professional astrologer with special interests in relating persons to locations using Astro*Cartography and Local Space Charts. Classes now forming.
(248) 546-5407 chartmates@aol.com