About that new moon . . .

August 8th, we had the mother of new moons, and opposing Saturn retrograde in Aquarius, it highlighted our desires and goals to be in the spotlight and put ourselves out there more versus Saturn’s call: that we each have a duty to serve the collective. Since this moon was on the Lion’s Gate or near as could be, it was generally a nice new moon and a great launching point for manifesting business endeavors. That said, it’s not without a rocky start, like getting a wagon or a cart out of the mud.

As I mentioned last week, when the sun opposes Saturn in the sky, the opposition creates a delay in the collective energy, and with the sun in sometimes-indolent Leo, it means a lazy weekend at best accompanied by a nagging need to do something thanks to Saturn. At worst, it’s a persistent sluggishness that might follow you for a while – could be both. Specifically, if you have anything in the first decan (10 degrees) of Tropical Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius, or Taurus. If your birthday is at the end of July, October, January, or April, you have my sympathy.

Good news: this sluggishness will likely turn around with the full moon at the very, very end of Leo next week. Bad news: those who were feeling industrious might lose a little spark as the full moon flips signs. Now, this full moon is unique because in Tropical astrology, the sun will change from Leo to Virgo while the moon is full and the moon will change signs forty-five minutes after the full moon is done, so we’re going to get a double-whammy opposition highlighted in our chart (which will be the subject of next week’s rundown).

Venus in Libra

This week, Venus is in the spotlight as it’s going to change signs. Last week, the moon stopped by to say hello, which it does once a month with every planet. Since said conjunction was in Virgo, we could expect small favors, whether we were giving or receiving them. Virgo’s not the best sign for Venus to be in, as Virgo is all about the mundane, practical, everyday details of life and Venus is the planet of beauty. So you may not have got a big boon last week, more like a “thank heaven for small favors” situation.

But enough about Virgo since Venus is kissing the Virgin goodbye on the 16th. Side note: Virgo will get her turn next week when Virgo season begins. Venus will be in one of her two homes for the rest of the month: Libra. Unlike Taurus, Venus’s other ruling sign, Venus in Libra has more of a focus on manmade aesthetic rather than natural beauty. There’s also an element about collaboration and partnership rather than strict material gain or pleasure.

People born at the beginning of air signs or with planets at the beginning of Libra, Aquarius, or Gemini will begin to feel more creative and uplifted this week. People with planets in the beginning of Cancer, Capricorn, or Aries might be feeling more indulgent and may need to fight off the urge to splurge – or the desire to have one too many lazy days.

Uranus Retrograde

Also this week, Uranus stations retrograde and the planet of innovation and social & technological advancement is gonna be going backwards. This isn’t a terrible thing; progressive Uranus has been miserable in slow-moving, fixed-earth Taurus for the last few years, a process we’re nearly halfway through – three years down, four to go, blech!

I would love to say that we’re getting a reprieve from the unexpected events and setbacks that have defined the last few years, but I’ve learned never to say never. This is more the time to assess how we can expect more of the unexpected, especially for the next four years. You’ll also notice it’s back-to-school-time, and if you read the news, you don’t need astrology to know this time of year is unusually chaotic. Expect this fall to be very touch-and-go, trial-and-error, to find a system that works in our new world order. Pay attention next month when the sun trines Uranus and again when Uranus is opposing the sun early November; from these aspects, trouble spots will be highlighted in early September, but a SNAFU in early November will bring in a need for new solutions, possibly to change horses midstream.

Also like the rest of this year, pay attention to when Uranus makes the final square to Saturn in December. These big boys have been fighting all year and have come to heads in February and again in June. This energy has been in the air all year, manifesting itself in the vaccine rollout, the big push further into the digital world (work-from-home, virtual school), and cryptocurrency.

However, that’s a way away. Since the moon is waxing, it’s high time to work on bringing abundance in, so last call to summon manifestations you started last week at the new moon. Next week, the moon will be waning, bringing in better times to purge, cleanse, banish, and reassess what you need to manifest for the next moon cycle.

Until then, happy stargazing!