August Astrological Outlook: Embracing the Realities of Retrogrades

Mitigating Through the Energy

August is often referred to as the 'dog days of summer,' both figuratively and literally. During this hot and sultry month, there isn’t much movement in the sky. Besides the Moon, which changes signs every couple of days, only the Sun, Mercury, and Venus will ingress into new signs. This is the time of retrogrades, where everything slows down, like pouring molasses out of a jar—thick, sticky, and dense. (By the way, the term “dog days” came from the ancient Greeks and Romans and refers to the fixed star Sirius, which can be seen through August 11th with the rise and set of the sun. During the rest of the month, you can see Sirius in the predawn hours. Sirius is the brightest star in Earth's night sky and is part of the constellation Canis Major, which is where we got the term 'dog days of summer.')

Mercury and Its Retrograde

The central theme for August is Mercury and its aspects. Mercury will go into retrograde and remain in this state for most of the month. Mercury governs communication, thinking, intellect, words, and the instruments (technology and transportation) that facilitate the flow of messages. In retrograde, Mercury beckons you to reflect and not start on anything new. And Mercury is a trickster, so even your best-set plans could go a little haywire.

The month will begin with Mercury in Virgo, the sign of perfectionism. This is detail-oriented energy; it is sharp and collects data to bring forth its findings. In the United States, expect a lot of fact-checking to happen on the political front, especially on the things that were said while Mercury was in bold and brazen Leo. People who are in service or who are taking on a role to help society will put others in check. So, if you decide to talk about a candidate in generalities that you learned from a meme, you most likely will get pushback with facts derived from multiple channels. You won’t be able to dispute what they are saying because of your feelings or beliefs. With Virgo Mercury Square to Gemini Mars on the first, you will want to have your facts verified to prevent any conflicts, i.e., bring the receipts.

The energy shifts as Mercury goes into retrograde shortly before midnight on August 5th. Virgo, the sign of work, service, and daily routines, influences this retrograde. Expect disruptions at work; you may experience issues with your computer or internet, work conflicts, delays, product shortages, shipments that don’t arrive on time, and other workplace annoyances. This is a time to look at your current systems and processes and reevaluate their efficiencies and determine where there are holes and gaps. But it is not a time to fix the issues; that would come later when Mercury goes direct. You want to do a thorough analysis first when Mercury goes back into Virgo on the 9th of September. For now, be careful not to have arguments or finger-pointing; not every process can prevent every possible setback.

But wait, there is more to this Mercury Retrograde since it actually ingresses back into the sign of Leo on the 14th. Leo is the sign of play, romance, dating, and children, which is ironic since many school systems resume classes mid-August when the prior year’s lessons are reviewed. Not every Mercury retrograde is about a former romantic interest coming back into your life, but with Leo, this could be one of those scenarios, especially if you are an Aries, Aquarius, or Capricorn rising. For Aries, it may be a former crush or someone you dated; for Aquarius, it could be someone with whom you had a committed relationship; and for Capricorns, it could be someone with whom you had a deep intimate bond or someone that held joint resources with you.

While Mercury is in Leo, it will be squared to Uranus and trine to Chiron. With that Uranus square, expect some past shocking words to come to the surface, especially sentiments that could wound. For instance, and I say this because we are in an election cycle, we may hear more details about our former president and inappropriate things he has said about others; I would not be surprised if it is sentiments about his contempt for his base. But with Uranus and Chiron, we could possibly hear or revisit bold statements that actually bring us together and heal past injustices. Let’s just say I don’t think Uranus is just going to be sitting pretty and not have any influence on us just because Mars left the sign of Taurus. There’s still more surprises on the way.

Around the 21st of August, Mercury will be sextile to Gemini Mars while still in square to Uranus. In addition, Mercury is conjunct to the Leo Sun. There will be lots of communication on this day, a huge buzz of ideas, and the energy will feel electric. It will also be the second to last day of the Democratic National Convention. Expect some energized dynamic speakers - possibly a huge star to perform or give a speech. We could experience Beyonce, Taylor Swift, or Miley Cyrus (or even all three!) on stage that night as a planned surprise, or other younger, highly relevant performers. Whatever happens, I could see it being iconic.

Mercury will go direct on August 28th at 21 degrees Leo and will carry us through the rest of the month. This Mercury retrograde can be healing if we allow ourselves to revisit the past and accept the revelations that occur during the last couple of weeks of August. Issues regarding justice, income inequity, two-party systems, systemic racism, democracy, body autonomy, capitalism, corruption, and more will capture our collective consciousness. How we respond and what we learn from this retrograde season is what will shape us when Pluto goes back into Aquarius after spending time in Capricorn on January 20th, which just happens to be inauguration day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The New Moon

After our dive into Mercury, let’s backtrack to the New Moon on August 4th. At 6:11 AM CDT, the new moon is at 12 degrees and 33 minutes in the sign of Leo. The new moon is sextile to Mars and Jupiter in Gemini. Though we will have Mercury in Retrograde the next day, and we have Saturn, Neptune, and Pluto in retrograde as well, I would say that any manifestation would work best if it is about healing the collective. Why? The retrograde energies, especially those of Neptune and Pluto, encourage us to look at the world around us and evaluate what we can do to correct past societal, economic, and power issues. It would be a shame not to take this into account when we experience the opportunities that the new moon brings forth.

There are more details about this new moon. The new moon is at 12 degrees in Leo, which is a Pisces degree. The moon is also in the second decan, which has a rulership of Jupiter. Leo energy at its pinnacle is magnanimous and generous. Leo energy can champion the underrepresented, the downtrodden, those that are neglected, and people who have been taken advantage of or who do not have equal rights. Pisces energy is a mashup of all of the prior energies in the zodiac; it is humanitarian from a spiritual standing. We can take this energy, and with the extra oomph of Mars and Jupiter, manifest giving power to those voices that are rarely heard or acknowledged. By tapping into the higher vibration of the zodiac energy at play, we can be in harmony with the requests from the universe.

The Full Moon

The moon illuminates into its full glory on August 18th at 1:26 PM CDT in the sign of Aquarius. The full moon is at 27 degrees, represented by the sign of Gemini, and in the 3rd decan of Libra and Venus. It occurs the day before the Democratic National Convention. Even if you are not into astrology, you probably know that Libra is the sign of the scales, which represents balance, justice, and harmony. Venus is feminine energy, and Aquarius represents the masses, networks, and in nature, is rebellious to the status quo, especially when it comes to the restrictiveness of Saturn, its ruler. Women’s rights, our children’s safety, and how to make a society that works for everyone will be the focus of conversation. This full moon is the kickstart to exhilarating energy that will transpire over the next few days.

I would be remiss if I didn’t discuss another aspect that occurs during this full moon. Virgo Venus will be in opposition to Pisces Saturn in Retrograde. Both Venus and Saturn will be squared to Gemini Jupiter and Mars. This transit is a mixed bag and may bring confusion and frustrations in your relationships, especially those of the opposite sex. This has to do with the interplay of masculine and feminine energy in a harsh angle and Saturn limits to the normal jovial Jupiter. Most likely, in the U.S., couples or friends may argue about women’s rights and their ideologies could be at odds. The excitement that some feel from the full moon may be dampened by people who are close to them not understanding the significance of what lies ahead. Mercury in retrograde poses discord. My advice is to revisit these conversations when Mercury is direct next month in the sign of Virgo.

However, on a personal level, the above transit does give you permission to delve into entertainment and a reprieve from current stresses. Those that champion equality and equity may be able to detach from the current chaos and align themselves with like-minded people and enjoy this full moon. Pick your battles wisely or best delay them until next month.

Venus Ingresses Into Virgo and then Libra

At 9:23 PM CDT on August 4th, Venus ingresses into its fall sign of Virgo. I can’t help but laugh at the irony, and honestly, I don’t take as much stock in exaltation, detriment, and fall as some other astrologers do. I understand the theory, but in modern times, I question the validity, but here I am talking about the subject. You see, Venus is the planet of beauty, love, harmony, attraction, and aesthetics. Venus is assigned feminine or receptive energy. Virgo, on the other hand, is about service, keeping things neat and tidy, and taking care of the needs of others. In a traditional sense, one may think of Venus as the attractive, wanton woman whose allure attracts the eager young man. But then, after marriage, the Virgo energy kicks in, she takes care of the home, cooks, and cleans, her looks become more practical, and to the man, she is a servant. When we look at womanhood in this light, I would definitely say it is a fall, with neither Venus nor Virgo accurately representing the diversity of womanhood.

This month, expect a dichotomy of the definition of a woman. There will be one group that has pressed the “traditional” view of a woman’s role onto our society. Yet, there is another group that will show the strength of womanhood with an interpretation that is creative, independent, and believe it or not, eventually it will be unifying. With the Mercury retrograde happening just a few hours after Venus’ ingress into Virgo, old themes will be rehashed: everything from childcare, women’s health, pay equity, work/life balance, education, justice, the environment, and personal safety and respect. It is as if the sleeves are being rolled up to take on the task at hand before Venus moves into its domicile at the end of the month. I expect that the democrats will have a well-defined plan that will be integral to the party’s platform. It will be the antithesis of Project 2025.

As stated in the Full Moon overview, Venus will have a transit that starts on August 14th, which will amplify that expression of restriction and expansion of women’s issues. However, Venus makes its square first with Mars, which starts on the 12th and lasts throughout the month. This is push-pull sexual energy, attraction, and assertiveness rolled into one. If you start a new relationship during this time period, you could be subject to it being no more than a fling. If you are in a relationship, there may be some pent-up energy that yearns to be expressed.

On the 22nd and the 23rd of the month, Venus will have a weak opposition to both Saturn and Neptune, which can signify the need to put dreams into structure. By the 24th, Venus will leave the influence of Saturn as it heads closer in opposition to Neptune. With the retrograde energy, we will relook at our agendas and relationships, deciphering what is real and what is an illusion. During this time, Venus is also making a trine to Uranus in Taurus, creating an air of excitement and momentum. Since the shooting incident with Trump occurred during Uranus' conjunction with Mars, it is possible that we learn something more about the event during this time, be it about the secret service, the law, or a spin that was done about the incident in vain.

Venus makes its second ingress during the month into the sign of Libra, occurring on August 29th at 8:23 AM CDT. The end of the month energy with Venus is about transforming power as our path forward, which will be one of the themes for September.

The Sun Opens with Leo and Closes with Virgo

When we start the Month of August, the sun will be in the sign of Leo. Leo energy is bold, bright, and dazzling, just like the summer sun. It makes you feel warm, and it invites you to play, enjoy life, and embrace your inner child. Yes, it can be dramatic, and I do expect we will see over-the-top moments during the first three weeks of the month.

We open the month in harmony; the sun is sextile to Mars, bringing optimism to our actions. Most of us will have a boost of energy, completing tasks and getting things done that align with our life’s path. As mentioned in the new moon, Jupiter will also sextile the sun during the Mars and Jupiter conjunction, adding more luck and enthusiasm to the mix. Expect good vibes through the 8th. The sun eventually makes a trine to Chiron, which doesn’t squash the good vibes, but it does alert us that we can take this buzzing, feel-good energy to help heal ourselves and others. Healing comes in many forms; laughter and pleasure can bring levity to our past and present us with a sunny future.

However, there is a shift with the Sun that we need to discuss. Keep in mind this energy goes along with Mercury Retrograde and encompasses the Full Moon. From August 13th through the 25th, the Sun will be squared to Uranus. Yes, that dang planet that sometimes throws a wrench into our plans. The combined energy is where we will see breakdowns in machinery and other disruptions, from arguments to break-ups. And yes, this energy occurs during the Democratic National Convention (does anyone know why they don’t ask an astrologer before picking their dates?). There is j lots of activity during this time period, so I recommend being careful. Lean into the retrograde energy and take things slowly, double-check your plans, read everything a couple of times to ensure you comprehend, pay extra attention when on the road or in crowds, and do as much diligence as possible. It is not time to act rashly, even though the Leo Sun and Taurus Uranus will want you to do so. Even if you are in a state of euphoria, remember to take deep, slow breaths and keep your head clear.

On August 22nd at 9:56 AM CDT, the Sun will ingress into the sign of Virgo. Virgo energy is reserved in comparison to Leo, but it is action-oriented. Whereas Leo’s action is more about the party, Virgo is about the work that needs to be done. In this regard, the Democratic Convention ending on this day makes sense because there will be work to do. This election cycle will not be easy for any candidate, regardless of political affiliation. Each candidate will feel like they are on a roller coaster; polls will not reflect their actual work, nor will the polling be accurate.

In regards to your personal life, you may be shining a light on all of the little upsets, setbacks, and surprises that have occurred through the month. It will feel like as you move forward, something will pull you back, needing to fix or evaluate a situation. With a Virgo sun, you may be striving for perfection, which is unattainable. On the last day of the month, the sun will be in opposition to Saturn, which may feel frustrating if you try to move things forward before it is time. Instead, remember that Saturn is here to let you know that there are limits, even if the restrictions are temporary. Take the positive of the Virgo Sun’s energy and be of service to your own needs and those who truly need help. By prioritizing your efforts and not trying to take care of everything, you can end the month in a better frame of mind.

Summary of August

If I were to characterize August, it would be with the term 'potential energy'—the energy held by an object because of its position relative to other objects, internal stresses, electric charge, or other factors.¹ There is an ongoing tension and buildup of excitement, but a feeling that can’t be released. You may curse at the Universe when you lock your keys in the car, break a glass, or get in an argument with a significant other or co-worker. Your best bet is to take this month slowly and treat yourself and others with kindness and patience. There is a reason for retrogrades; they help us to analyze what is truly working in our lives and they help us to evaluate what we value. With so much on the line in our personal lives, our nation, and our planet, we need this reprieve from non-stop action. If you can allow yourself to breathe and tune out the distractions, this month could be rewarding for you.

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1.  Wikipedia, Potential Energy, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potential_energy