Get ready, there is a full moon in Aries in the early morning hours (5:58 EDT) on September 29th. Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, a cardinal fire sign, and opposite air sign Libra, where the sun is now. This full moon, the first of autumn, is the Harvest Moon.
With the Aries/Libra axis, there is a push-pull between me and we, between selfishness and sacrifice, between assertiveness and diplomacy. The moon in Aries is ruled by Mars, which is also in Libra now. With Mars in Libra, there’s a tendency toward passive aggression, so that may be a big vibe this full moon. Better to release your anger in a cathartic, productive way than to try to keep a lid on it, waiting for it to boil over. In the days leading up to the full moon, open the release valve here and there. Have a good cry to Neil Young’s “It’s a Dream.” Journal furiously .
Mars is about physicality, so when the full moon comes, because it’s ruled by Mars, it’s a good time for a physical release. That can be dancing, working out, kickboxing, or primal screaming.
This is the last lunation before the eclipses start, so it’s going to feel a little wild because it’s sort of like a sneak preview of eclipse season.
If you’re an Aries or Libra rising or sun, this opposition is in your first and seventh houses, so it will highlight themes of self vs. partnership, and you may see some strife, culmination, or the fulfillment of a commitment made in your relationships. However, there could be tension between what is best for you and what’s best for your relationship or another partnership or friendship.
If you’re a Taurus or Scorpio rising or sun, this full moon will likely bring up some tension or some change as it relates to your need for solitude vs. what you have to do every day. You may be feeling intense emotions about just having to go to work every day or the stuff you do on a daily basis to care for others. This is a good full moon to reevaluate how much time you allow for yourself.
If you’re a Gemini or a Sagittarius rising or sun, the Aries full moon illuminates the dynamic between your joy and creativity and your community or friend groups. Your friends may be providing the inspiration or motivation you need for a new venture. Try to hang out with people who you have fun with and get out on the weekend. Socializing and/or focusing on artistic pursuits will provide much-needed release.
If you’re a Cancer or Capricorn rising or sun, this full moon will occur on your 10th house and 4th house axis, which encompasses your public, professional life, and your roots and family. There’s a push and pull between your career/public life and back home. You may have to deal with some family stuff that puts a wrench in your professional plans, or maybe you’re wrapping up something in one of these areas that allows you more time for the other. Libra is all about balance, so this is a time for trying to strike a balance between the two.
If you’re a Leo or Aquarius rising or sun, there’s a balance you may need to find between what you’re learning, your spiritual pursuits, and/or desire and plans to travel and the busy-ness and demands of daily life. You may be feeling crushed under the weight of your calendar, when all you want to do is read a book or get away. It’s OK to cancel meetings and reschedule plans if you need to.
If you’re a Virgo or Pisces rising or sun, there may be some flux or movement in money matters, either your own resources or that of your partner. Maybe you’re paying off a loan or you’re finally filing your taxes after getting a couple extensions or your refund is finally coming through. There will be some illumination of themes related to finances or resources, those of your own and those you share with others.
If your sun, moon, ascendant, Mercury, Venus, Mars, or your midheaven are around 6 degrees of Aries, Libra, Cancer, or Capricorn, you’ll be feeling this new moon with some extra intensity. But even if not, it’s likely going to be pretty potent for all of us, so hang in there, and try to let go of whatever is holding you back or driving you nuts. Keep on rockin’ in the free world.
(Astrology is for entertainment purposes only, so please take these full moon interpretations with a grain of salt!)
The sun moves into Libra on September 23rd at 2:50 am EDT, and thus begins Libra season. Mars has been in Libra since late August and is still there, so we have already been feeling some of this Libra energy. Mercury enters Libra on October 4th to join the sun and Mars.
Libra is a cardinal air sign. The cardinal signs occur at the beginning of seasons. Libra season marks the start of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, and it’s a time when our mental faculties are energized. There’s a buzz in the air. Even though the beginning of fall heralds the return of the darker, cooler months, it still feels like a beginning.
Libra is ruled by Venus, the planet that rules relationships, love, values, resources, art, and beauty. Libra is about charm. Libras are disarming, and Libras (particularly Libra risings) are known to be attractive.
The symbol for Libra is the scales, and a keyword of Libra is balance, which makes sense given that Libra season starts on the equinox, when day and night are equal, with a perfect balance between light and darkness. This is a time for assessing and communicating our ideas about balance in our lives. How much time do you spend working vs. not, and is that right for you? Do you feel like your relationships are balanced, or are you giving or taking too much?
The balance that Libra encourages also lends to the diplomacy that is so associated with Libras. Libras are fair, seeking out points of view and considering the thoughts and feelings of others. Libras can see all sides and weigh them judiciously, making them excellent peace brokers. Air signs are about communicating ideas, intellectualizing, and connecting mentally, and Libras are smart and deliberate in their thoughts and expressions. This penchant for diplomacy is what helps Libras excel at relationships. They are generally well liked and attract others. People want to be around them.
The balance exhibited by Libra also lends to its discerning eye. Ruled by Venus, Libras often have great appreciation for art and beauty and carry that through various aspects of their lives (often depending on where Libra falls in their chart): their professions, their own physical presences, through decorating their homes, etc.
The shadow side of Libra, though, occurs when these qualities get unbalanced. The need for diplomacy, conflict avoidance, and the concern for others can take over, causing Libras to not really have a defined sense of self or to sacrifice their own needs for the good of others or for general harmony. Sometimes keeping the peace means selling themselves short.
Libras also get pegged as being wishy washy. They can weigh things too much, and the scales go up and down and up again. And when things are being balanced against each other, how can you can make a decision to go with one option and not the other? Indecision can plague Libras and those with major Libra placements.
For VPR watchers, Tom Schwartz, who has a Libra sun AND moon AND four planets in Libra, exhibits major Libra traits. The more evolved traits are his charm, his diplomacy, his ability to weigh different points of view, and his intelligence. He tries to make others comfortable, even to his own detriment sometimes, and will defend others when he perceives them as being maligned. However, the shadow traits commonly associated with Libra are also on full display with Schwartz. There’s his unwillingness to commit in his relationship with Katie, even to the point of “losing” and not filing their marriage certificate after their televised wedding. On the surface, he’s a people pleaser; he tries to appease everyone (except his partner), and people like what they perceive as his good-naturedness, but ultimately, a lot of that is because he himself feels uncomfortable making decisions or setting boundaries. If you want to see a master class in Libra’s shadow side, go back and watch clips from Schwartz’s most recent appearances on Watch What Happens Live.
Despite Libras’ reputations for being social creatures that are fair minded, they can be internally exhausted by having to be social, and Libras can actually be very judgmental. They usually just don’t show it outwardly unless pushed. Think about Schwartz‘s confrontation with Lala this season, and his past fights with Katie where he got truly vicious. When the nice-guy, diplomatic routine fails him, he lets his true judgments fly. Libras judge and can remain steadfast in their judgement of someone, even nurturing grudges.
This Libra season, let’s try to utilize the more evolved Libra energies. Give all choices full consideration, but call on the cardinal-ness of Libra to move forward with the best option instead of giving into indecisiveness. Use wise judgment but don’t be too quick to judge, and be flexible in changing your mind, but don’t go back and forth on everything.
During the next month, there’s some lively lunar activity. There’s a full moon in fire sign Aries on September 29th. Eclipse season arrives as well, with a new moon that’s also a solar eclipse on October 14th. We may see some big shake-ups in the areas of our chart that are on the Libra & Aries axis. More on that to come.
Read below for the general themes that will likely be highlighted for you over this next month, depending on your rising and sun signs. You’ll feel it more if you have any major placements (sun, moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, the ascendant, or the midheaven) in cardinal signs (Libra, Capricorn, Aries, and Cancer). If you want to know more, book a reading with me!
Libra & Libra Rising: If you’re a Libra rising, the next month is all about you. If you’re a Libra sun, it’s your birthday month! This season gives you an extra oomph and your personality shines through. It’s a time for me time. Assess your wants, your needs, your inner desires, and how you’re balancing those against what others are asking of you. If you aren’t carving out enough space for yourself, Libra season marks the time to take it back. And with Venus finally direct and almost out of its retrograde shadow, you can use this opportunity to change up or beautify your physical self. If you’ve been putting off getting a facial or a haircut, now’s the time!
Scorpio & Scorpio Rising: Libra season marks the beginning of the sleepier months, and this transition into fall will likely find you more tired than usual. Lean into nesting and resting, and pay extra attention to your dreams. As the nights get longer, you’re well served by plumbing the depths of your subconscious through journaling and/or therapy.
Sagittarius & Sag Rising: Sagittarians are social creatures, and with the sun (and later Mercury) in your 11th house, this time of the year lends itself to making the most of your gregariousness to network and to socialize with your friends. Connecting with others is especially beneficial for you right now, so get out there and go to parties (or host them) and/or go to networking events this month.
Capricorn & Cap Rising: Libra season puts a spotlight on your career and how you make a name for yourself. If you’ve been on cruise control in your professional life, this is a good time for reassessing the balance with what you’re putting into your profession vs. what are you getting out of it. If it’s not fulfilling you, this is the time to investigate other opportunities and work on your resume.
Aquarius & Aquarius Rising: You may be taking on new academic pursuits or finding yourself cast into the role of a teacher, possibly through serving as a mentor, or offering trainings at work or elsewhere. This is also a time for more spiritual pursuits, whether that’s diving deeper into a spiritual concept that interests you, or recommitting to a spiritual practice or routine that brings you peace.
Pisces & Pisces Rising: With Libra ruling your 8th house, autumn is a time when you’re thinking about death, mortality, and decay. That’s not necessarily as macabre as it sounds, though. Pisces are very sensitive and highly spiritually attuned, so it’s a time of reflection on the cycle of life. This is a time where you may find yourself particularly focused on others instead of yourself. People may be coming to you with their baggage, looking for some sage advice, or you may be helping someone sort through their finances this month.
Aries & Aries Rising: Libra rules your 7th house of relationships, so there will be an extra spotlight on your one-on-one partnerships, whether it’s a romantic or love relationship with a partner or a business partnership or a close collaborator for a project. There’s a push and pull between your relationship and yourself, so Libra season is the time for calibrating those scales. Are you offering too much of yourself, or are you withholding? Try to find the balance between give and take.
Taurus & Taurus Rising: This month, your self-care routines are illuminated and up for evaluation. Are you carving out time for yourself to relax, to rest, and to exercise? Do you take the time you need to take care of yourself, whether it’s doing a daily skin routine or making your morning smoothie (or both)? This is the month to focus on those routines that nourish yourself and your health. It’s also a good time for getting in some extra vitamin D or starting your morning sun lamp routine to try to minimize the seasonal depression that winter may bring for you.
Gemini & Gemini Rising: Lean into the Venusian qualities of Libra to focus on your creative pursuits over the next month. The sun and Mercury can help you clear any writer’s or artist’s block you have been facing residually as a result of the recent Venus and Mercury retrogrades. You may be feeling extra amorous this month as well, so take advantage and lean into your romantic side.
Cancer & Cancer Rising: Libra rules the roots of your chart, so the sun will be highlighting home and family matters. You may be encouraged to dive deep into your ancestry or connect with elders in your family. This is also a good time for engaging in some home beautification or repair projects to improve your living space and make it more cozy, safe, and inspiring.
Leo & Leo Rising: Libra season has you focusing on the local. You’ll be more inclined to do stuff in the neighborhood, and you may find some opportunity in switching up your daily routines. This is a good time for checking out a new restaurant or forging new connections with neighbors. Or you may try to change up your commute and find that a certain route or train makes your life more pleasant. Small changes to your everyday life can go a long way.
Virgo & Virgo Rising: This season your focus is on finances and your resources. The sun illuminates the part of your chart that deals with how you earn your money. You may get a boost in your financial life, or you may just be putting some extra energy into money matters, investments, and the things you own and hold dear. Investing now in things you care about can pay off in the long run.
As always, these horoscopes should be taken with a grain of salt. They are not fortune telling, but rather they’re my interpretation of the sun’s movement through the various houses of the birth chart.
On Thursday, September 14th, at 9:40 pm ET, there is a new moon in Virgo. A new moon, which occurs when the moon meets up with the sun, marks the beginning of the monthly lunar cycle. With the moon in Mercury-ruled Virgo, a sign that’s all about service and taking care, it’s encouraging us to think about fresh ways to serve and take care of ourselves.
Mercury itself is still in Virgo, its home base, but has been retrograde since August 23rd, so circumstances these past few weeks have made it ripe for us to reexamine and reevaluate our processes, the ways we think, and the ways we work. An example from my own life: I was sick for a couple weeks, and I felt like it was a personal failing. After being annoyed by myself and my body, which I felt betrayed me, I tried to channel the “re” rule of Mercury retrograde and reevaluate why I would feel this way. It helped me accept that I can’t control everything, and I shouldn’t beat myself up. The universe made me rest.
The new moon on Thursday offers a new beginning, and Mercury stations direct the next day on September 15th (huzzah!). This new moon, think about what has come up during this Mercury retrograde for you. What flaws in your systems have been made visible? What fallacies in your thinking have been laid bare? How can you create new routines that will better allow you to fulfill the Virgoan activities of working hard, analyzing, iteratively improving, and nurturing yourself and your goals? For me, I’m going to try to ride the sense of acceptance I learned from my bout of illness into the new moon.
The moon, which will be at 21 degrees of Virgo, is making a helpful aspect with Uranus, which is currently retrograde in Taurus. Uranus is the planet of disruption but also innovation, which can give new beginnings under this new moon an element of surprise or uniqueness. Virgo is a sign for getting things done; the new moon bolstered by Uranus can lend some innovation to the things we are trying to accomplish or the intentions we set during this phase. It’s a great opportunity for manifesting, if that’s your thing. Write your list of goals down, but also write down some steps you can take to try to accomplish those things. There’s a good chance ingenuity will strike, but with the sun, moon, and Uranus in earth signs, it helpfully will be grounded and practical.
The only potential downside of the new moon is that it’s within 5 degrees of being opposite Neptune in Pisces. Neptune casts a fog. We may find that our emotions and our feelings create some illusion or delusion around the goals that are set at this time, which is also why thinking through the tactical steps to achieving your goals will be useful. It’s important to lean into the Virgoan qualities of discerning and critical thinking to counteract any emotional overwhelm you may feel.
To see the areas of your life where this new moon will potentially bring about a fresh start or a new way to thinking, reference your Virgo season horoscope.
On the evening of Wednesday, August 30th, at about 9:35 pm EDT, there is a full moon at 7 degrees of Pisces, opposite the sun in Virgo. It’s referred to as a blue moon because it’s the second full moon in the month. Usually there’s only one, as full moons occur about 29 days apart, so the rarity of a blue moon is why the saying “once in a blue moon” describes something that doesn’t happen often. It doesn’t really have any astrological impact, but because we measure time by months of the Gregorian calendar, it makes the month in which it occurs a little more eventful. (“Blue Moon” is also an excellent Beck song.)
Normally, a full moon in Pisces lends itself to big emotional releases. Crying. Letting it out. It’s the opportunity to take a break from the brass-tacks, to-do-list nature of Virgo season to just give in to our feelings and say “fuck it.” Turn on the waterworks.
This full moon is happening close to Saturn, which is also in Pisces, where it’s been since March. With Saturn’s presence in the mix, we may find ourselves less able to just let go and dissolve into our emotions.
Saturn is all about structures, boundaries, and responsibilities. So this could mean that you aren’t letting yourself really lean into your emotions and are setting boundaries for yourself, or it could mean that others are thwarting you. Maybe it’s that you really just can’t get motivated to work hard today, but your boss keeps asking you for stuff anyway. Or maybe you want to lock yourself in the bathroom for alone time and your kids are pounding on the door, demanding your attention.
If it’s others who are intruding on the time you need to just laze, gaze, or weep, use the Saturnian energy to say, “I need to step away from my desk for an hour to run an errand,” and then just do whatever, or “Children of mine, I need some alone time, go watch Bluey.” And if it is you that isn’t letting yourself take the time you need, keep in mind that this is a full moon. Full moons are our regular reminder to let go of the stuff we don’t need or don’t want to hang onto. Not that it’s now or never, but it’s a window of opportunity that we’d be wise not to pass up.
Of course, that’s easier said than done, but remember that you can take space for yourself at some point over the next couple days if you need to. Put on Sea Change and cry yourself dry.
The sun moves into Virgo on August 23rd, and for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, thus begins the summer’s denouement.
Virgo is a mutable earth sign. Mutable and earth may not seem compatible, but I think of Virgo as a sign that reacts to change pragmatically, working through the nitty gritty of what needs to be done to adapt. Virgos can roll with the punches because they’re quick-thinking and practical.
Some of my favorite people are Virgos. Virgos know better than you, but sometimes they will let you think you are right. Virgos can sometimes be critical and judgmental, but they are prepared and detail-focused. Virgos are girls of 100 lists. Virgo is about routines and regimens. It’s about the beauty and the joy in the details.
Virgos are also very nurturing. Cancer is often thought of as the most mothering sign of the zodiac, but Virgos are also major caretakers. Virgos often look out for others. Sometimes they come across as nitpicky buttinskies, but when they are looking over your shoulder, it’s out of a place of concern. Did you remember your scarf and gloves? Did you put on sunscreen? Virgos care. I always feel safe with Virgos.
In the Bravo universe, Lisa Vanderpump is a Virgo and embodies many quintessential Virgo qualities. She’s always hyper aware of how she appears, she’s big- hearted and nurturing of her menagerie of pets and her ne’er-do-well band of SURvers and their partners, and she’s canny enough to know what makes for good business and compelling TV.
Virgo season is about getting to work. It’s about making our to-do lists, recalibrating when necessary, and taking pride in a job well done. This Virgo season may feel a little more stressful than usual because Mercury, also in Virgo, will be retrograde for most of it. This means that the activities we associate with Virgo—organizing, taking care of ourselves, acts of service, editing, studying, practicing, and cleaning—are likely to need a couple or more tries before they are executed as we want. As with all Mercury retrogrades, but especially with it being in Virgo, double check everything. Dot the i. Cross the t. Make sure you receive the confirmation email. But the Mercury retrograde shouldn’t stop you from project managing whatever it is you want to get done.
Read below for the topics most likely to be of focus for you over the next month, as the sun and Mercury move through the area of your chart ruled by Virgo. Of course, your full horoscope for the next month depends on your individual birth chart and how the transiting planets interact with your natal placements, but these are the broad brushstroke themes you can expect to arise. My suggestion is to read for your rising sign first if you know it, then for your sun as the secondary focus.
Virgo & Virgo Rising: For Virgo risings, this next month focuses the warmth of the sun on you. For Virgo suns, it’s your solar return. You may have been feeling unsettled and more in your feelings than usual since Venus went retrograde in July, but this period should embolden you with some much needed vitality. Focus on you, your wants and needs, and what gives you life this month.
Libra & Libra Rising: Virgo rules your 12th house, and with the Sun and Mercury transiting there, this month will have you plumbing the depths of your psyche. Your dreams may be more potent than usual. You’d be well served by journaling about them and examining them. Take extra care with your sleep routine during this time; it’s important to rest. Keep your therapy appointments. This is an opportune time for working through any subconscious sludge.
Scorpio & Scorpio Rising: During Virgo season, the sun is in your house of friendships and community. Get out there in the world. If new friendships present themselves, be open to them, and nurture existing friendships. You may feel your sense of community deepen during this time and enrich you. This area of your chart also relates to hopes and dreams, so this is a good time to start thinking through and charting out a path to what you really want.
Sagittarius & Sag Rising: The sun is in your 10th house of career and legacy. You may be getting more attention and praise than usual this month, especially related to whatever you do in your public life, and/or you may be feeling renewed focus on your career. It’s a good time for reviewing your resume, editing it, and reviewing it again to ensure it truly captures your essence and what you want to present to the world.
Capricorn & Cap Rising: With Virgo season here, the sun is transiting through the part of your chart dealing with education, spirituality, and foreign cultures, so these themes are illuminated. It’s a great time to hit the books, sign up for classes, or to take a long-distance trip to another country. With Mercury retrograde, though, triple check all registrations and itineraries.
Aquarius & Aquarius Rising: The sun will be highlighting the part of your chart that deals with others’ resources and baggage. You may find yourself acting as counselor more than usual this month as people seek your level-headed advice. It’s also a good time for assessing your investments and debts, if you have any, and/or those of your partner, to see if there are better payment plans, interest rates, etc. Be on the lookout for unexpected fees and bills this month and confirm that those are correct before you actually pay them. With Mercury retrograde, everyone is more prone to mistakes.
Pisces & Pisces Rising: There is a focus and energy around one-on-one relationships for you when the sun is in Virgo. All of us have likely been feeling the effects of the Venus retrograde in our relationships. This gives you the boost you need to spend quality time with your partner if you have one and work on your communication with them. The same goes for other non-romantic partnerships. If you aren’t in a relationship, this month may have you thinking on what you do want out of a relationship and partner.
Aries & Aries Rising: Your focus will be drawn toward work and routines–the perfect manifestation of Virgo season and Mercury retrograde in Virgo. You are really great at starting new projects, but this is the month to work slowly and steadily through what you have already begun, paying extra attention to the details, to see things through to completion. On August 24th, Mars, your ruler, makes a trine to Pluto, so this can give you the stamina and focus you need to delve deep and get into the nitty gritty of the tasks you need to do.
Taurus & Taurus Rising: This is a time for joy, for fun, and for creative pursuits. If you have been contemplating a new artistic endeavor or have already started one, Virgo season and the Mercury rx offer a chance to reassess your routines to build in more time for your creativity. Write your morning pages and let your hair down. Get high by the beach.
Gemini & Gemini Rising: Your focus during this time likely will be largely on home and family. You may be feeling the urge to nest. With Mercury in this part of your chart and retrograde, it’s a great time for surveying your home and assessing what needs to be repaired or reinforced. What needs resealing and recaulking to prevent future leaks? Are your window blinds about to come loose from their brackets and need to be tightened? As the cooler weather comes (we hope), there’s a batten-down-the-hatches vibe that you can make good use of now.
Cancer & Cancer Rising: There’s going to be even more of a focus on your communications this month than there would be anyway with just Mercury retrograde. Examine how you can improve your communication style to better express what you are truly trying to convey to others. This Virgo season could mean you’re presenting at work or you’re emailing and coordinating something with neighbors. It’s an opportunity to take stock of your words and edit. This is also a time for focusing on your daily routines and making improvements, e.g., finding ways to alter your commute to make it faster or less crowded.
Leo & Leo Rising: Virgo season lights up the area of your chart focused on your resources and income. This could be an excellent time to ask for a raise, but in using Virgo’s influence, you’ll want to make sure you do your due diligence first and get all the necessary details and arguments lined up before pitching anything (especially with Mercury retrograde). It’s also a time to assess how you make and manage your money and tweak anything that isn’t paying off.
As with all astrological content, this is intended to be taken with a grain of salt and is for entertainment. These are my interpretations of the planetary placements and transits, not fact or fortune telling.
For the past two weeks, Mercury has been slowing, gearing up for its retrograde, and on Wednesday, August 23rd, it begins its retrograde journey through Virgo. This will last until September 15th, when it will once again station and start moving direct.
The Mercury retrogrades this year have all been in earth signs, which has made them a little more grounded than they would be in the other elements. Mercury is the ruler of Virgo and it’s also exalted there, which means that not only is Mercury not answering to another planet during this time, it’s in the sign it loves to be in. So while the typical Mercury retrograde is very annoying, this one should be a little less so (one hopes).
The start of it may be rocky, as Mercury stations retrograde while approaching a conjunction with Mars, which is still in Virgo and a day prior (August 22nd) formed an exact opposition to Neptune in Pisces. Mars wants action, and Neptune represents delusions and doubts, so when tough Mars-Neptune aspects hit, we feel irritable and unsure. This is the state of things at the start of this particular Mercury retrograde. However, as Mercury backs away from Mars and Mars continues to head toward Libra, that should dissipate.
When Mercury is retrograde, as always, it makes for a time of reflection and reconsideration. Is that stuff that’s going haywire totally out of the blue, or can we make it easier for ourselves in the future by, say, leaving a little earlier before we’re scheduled to be somewhere, or by cleaning out the gunk in our sink drains before everything backs up? I use those two examples because Virgo is a sign generally associated with punctuality and cleanliness, so Mercury’s lessons during this retrograde may manifest in those two areas.
Virgo is all about routine, so it’s time to rethink your everyday routines to mitigate future snafus.
On September 4th, Mercury makes a nice aspect to Jupiter, the planet of growth and expansion, which will be at 15 degrees of Taurus. Then right around 7 am EDT on September 6th, Mercury is exactly conjunct the Sun (in cazimi). Those are the only major aspects it makes during the retrograde, and those are generally pretty pleasant.
The rule of Mercury retrograde is patience. Frustrations may present themselves, but you knew they were coming. Be patient and remember that Mercury retrogrades don’t last that long.
We are nearing the halfway point of the Venus retrograde period, and a Venus cazimi will occur on Sunday, August 13th, at about 7:10am EDT. “Cazimi” is an astrology term that refers to the configuration formed when a planet is conjunct the Sun, or “in the heart of the Sun.”
Cazimis happen fairly regularly, but this Sun-Venus alignment, which will occur at 20 degrees of Leo, is noteworthy because it marks Venus’s transition from evening star to morning star, as it crosses the sun in its retrograde journey.
It’s also an opportune time for reflection, clarification, and manifestation. This is because of the combination of energies that will be present with the Sun and Venus meeting up.
The Sun, which represents the true self and our purpose, meets up with the planet that rules relationships, love, beauty, money, wealth, and that which we value. This conjunction will assist us in sussing out our hearts’ true desires from what we don’t actually want. Venus will still be retrograde until September 3rd, but this second phase of that trajectory should feel a little easier than the first and should offer more clarity on anything Venus-ruled you have been feeling confused about over the last 3 weeks. Use this cazimi’s influence to reflect on what you really, truly want in your life and put that out into the universe.
Leo season always brings with it an Aquarius full moon. This year’s Aquarius full moon falls on August 1st, at 2:32 pm EDT. The full moon occurs when the moon is opposite the sun, which will be at 9 degrees of Leo.
Leo is hot fire and Aquarius is cold air. The Aquarius full moon acts as a cooling agent, offering a chill in the midst of this extra heightened Leo season.
At the same time, Jupiter is at 13 degrees of Taurus, so it’s broadly forming a t-square with the sun and the moon, meaning that it’s close to 90 degrees (give or take) away from both. Jupiter is the planet of expansion, and squares are angles that cause tension but ultimately usher things along. With Jupiter forming squares with both the sun and the moon, there’s friction, potential conflict, and momentum with the expansion of both our egos and our emotions. Full moons typically bring about cathartic releases and often they’re accompanied by acting out because emotions are boiling over, so with Jupiter in the mix, we may feel a greater emotional need to break out of any sort of repression we’re feeling.
However, with the moon in Aquarius, this should be a little more tempered. And Mars, which is still in Virgo, is making a helpful aspect to Jupiter, both in earth signs, lending some additional pragmatism to the moment.
This full moon is an opportune time for a self-assessment. Using the Aquarian lens of cool detachment, you can take a step back and assess your ego and your emotions. What are you feeling, how are your needs being met, and what needs to be realigned so that you’re feeling emotionally fulfilled? It also allows us to take a step back from the ME!-ness of Leo season to consider how our needs and desires fit with the greater collective, which is Aquarius’s concern.
Also on August 1st, Mercury, which is now in Virgo, the sign it rules and loves, is making an exact opposition to Saturn in Pisces. A Mercury-Saturn opposition creates some tension between our communication and the structures of our lives. We may feel like the rules or the systems within which we’re forced to operate are oppressing our expression of ourselves. However, there’s some helpfulness here in relation to the full moon. You can work with Mercury and Mars both being in Virgo to edit, declutter, and clean house, to ultimately move forward in a way that fills the gaps you’ve taken stock of. A word of caution is that Virgo can sometimes pedantically be focused on details, but Aquarius wants us to pull back and see the forest for the trees, so be conscious of not getting too micro and try to be a bit more macro in your thinking.
(“See the forest for the trees” always makes me think of the song Different Drum, written by Michael Nesmith of the Monkees and performed by Linda Ronstadt and the Stone Poneys, which, if you haven’t heard it, is great, and has a song ever been more appropriate for Venus retrograde?)
Another thing to note about a Mercury-Saturn opposition is that this can also see some technological roadblocks and clamp downs. Don’t be surprised if you reach your iCloud storage limit or get suspended from Twitter or whatever it’s called now this week.
This full moon will be felt more impactfully if you have any personal planets (the sun, moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars) or sensitive angles (your ascendant, descendant, Midheaven, or IC) near 9 degrees of Leo, Aquarius, Scorpio, or Taurus. But even if you don’t, given the multiple planetary aspects in the sky at this time, you’ll likely be feeling a lot around this full moon. As always, try to rest up as best you can and take care of yourself in the midst of all the activity.
This past week was wild, astrologically. There was a new moon in Cancer that was followed by the nodes shifting signs, going from Taurus and Scorpio to Aries and Libra (where they will be initiating the start of a new story in our lives over the next couple years), then a Mars opposition to Saturn, the Sun opposing Pluto, and Venus stationing retrograde. So if this past week has felt intense for you, you’re not alone! Big shifts, stops and starts, power struggles, relationship drama, and deep introspection are all afoot.
Pluto is in Capricorn at 29 degrees, so as the Sun ingresses into Leo, it’s also pushing past its opposition to Pluto, so between that and the transition out of Cancer season, we should feel a little bit of an emotional catharsis now. As of the evening of July 22nd, we are out of the moon-ruled, emotional territory, and we have entered the realm of the sun. It’s daylight.
Leo is the only zodiac sign ruled by the sun. The sun is the life-giver of the solar system, with the planets all revolving around it. Similarly, Leos are often the center of attention. Leo is a fixed fire sign. It’s like a campfire or a fire burning in the hearth. And Leos attract others, who bask in their warmth.
Leos are confident, and they are natural leaders. They got this. The tarot card associated with Leo is Strength, and it usually depicts a woman taming a lion. Tame a lion? Step aside, non-Leos, and let a Leo handle this.
With the sun in Leo, it is in its domicile, the place it feels most comfortable. With Venus also in Leo the entire time the sun is here, it’s a potent combination. The Leo energy will be strong. This will be especially true on August 13th and the couple days before and after, when the sun and Venus form a conjunction. Both will also be making a square to Uranus at that time, so we may be compelled to push forward with changes we’ve been considering during this Venus retrograde, or forces outside of ourselves may take care of that for us. If you have been feeling the effects of the Venus retrograde in a way that’s been draining, this may bring a bit of relief. An oasis in the midst of the Lawrence-of-Arabia-esque journey that Venus is undertaking in the sign of the sun over the next few months. (Not surprisingly, T.E. Lawrence was a Leo.)
Read below to see the themes this Leo season is illuminating for you. I recommend reading for your rising sign first, if you know it, because those themes will resonate during the month. Then read for your sun sign, because those themes will likely play out for a briefer period of time, as the transiting sun aspects your natal sun.
Leo – It’s your season, but you already knew that, I’m sure. For Leo suns, your solar return is coming, so happy birthday (month). For Leo risings, the sun is moving through your first house, lighting you up, illuminating you and making you even more radiant than usual. Use the vitality you feel over the next month to think about your goals and go after what you want.
Cancer – The sun is going into the area of your chart that deals with money, values, and resources, so you’ll find your attention focused there at this time, especially with Venus, the planet that rules those same things, in this part of your chart. With Leo as the ruler of this area for you, it means that you can make money by being yourself, so you may find yourself curating a successful Poshmark or Depop closet or leveling up one of your hobbies or interests to earn an income off of it.
Gemini – Leo rules your 3rd house of socializing, communications, siblings, and neighbors, so you’ll feel rejuvenated in this area. It’s the time of year for you to be out and about. You are a social person generally, but at this time of year, that’s what really fortifies you. You’ll also feel more inclined toward self-expression than usual, so this is a productive time for putting your thoughts and your projects out into the world.
Taurus – This part of the summer usually pulls focus on your home and your family. You may be traveling to see family now, and you’ll likely be thinking about putting down roots as Venus is retrograding through this area of your chart. The sun gives you some extra energy, so this is a great time for doing stuff to make your home feel like a source of vitality for you.
Aries – Aries is a fellow fire sign, and the sun also loves Aries (it’s exalted there). So Aries risings and suns may be feeling a boost when the sun is in another sign it relishes. With the sun moving through your 5th house of creativity, fun, and joy, this is a time to live your bliss. It truly could be the summer of love for you, with a new romance blossoming or your sex life getting energized. Get out of the house and have fun.
Pisces – It’s time to work. For most, the dog days of summer are a time of relaxing and taking vacation, but especially for Pisces risings, it’s a natural time to focus on your routines. While others are off and disconnected from work, you may be feeling an enhanced ability to get stuff done and improve your work habits and productivity in the quiet times. This is also a great time to commit or recommit to a health routine, which will in turn give you more energy.
Aquarius – This will be a time of focus on your relationships. Aquarians have some natural resistance to Leo qualities. Leo is about the self, Aquarius is about the collective. For example, many Aquarians find the concept of a birthday month absurd. However, this is a good time to embody some of those Leo qualities in your relationships. Focus on you. What do you want to get out of a relationship, and what do you need to feel emotionally fulfilled and vital? The Venus retrograde will have you thinking through these issues. Use the sun in Leo to lean in to the “me” of “me and you.”
Capricorn – With the sun in your 8th house, you will likely be seeing a focus on the resources of others during this period. It could be that your partner has some change to their finances during this time, or that investments of yours begin to pay dividends for you. You may also be considering refinancing or realigning your portfolio in some way. With Venus retrograde, it’s an auspicious time to take stock of your investments and your obligations, but you’ll likely want to hold off on actually making changes or taking action until Venus goes direct in September.
Sagittarius – The sun will be lighting up themes that are already very resonant for your sense of self: study, adventure, and travel. With Venus retrograding through this area of your chart, you may be thinking about how what you learn (and/or teach) matters to you. It may be a time to sign up for classes or lay the groundwork to go back to school. You’ll also feel energized by planning some travel. It’s a great time, especially during the earlier part of Leo season, to think about taking a trip to a country or continent you’ve never been to before.
Scorpio – You’ll be feeling some extra energy in your area of career or how you want to leave your mark on the world. You’re likely contemplating what is important to you in this area of your life as Venus is retrograde here, but the sun gives some extra boost to these considerations. This is a good time for putting yourself out there, on display, and trumpeting your own talents and experience, to make strides in your career or your legacy.
Libra – For Libra risings, you’ll feel strengthened through your friendship groups and communities this month. This is a time for being social. The Leo sun and Venus will both be making helpful aspects to your ascendant, if you’re a Libra rising, or sun, if you’re a Libra sun, giving you some extra shine and energy this month. People will want to offer help if you need anything, so don’t hesitate to put out feelers. This is also a good time for focusing energy on your longer term goals and discussing them with friends and acquaintances, because they may be able to help set those wheels in motion.
Virgo – You may be thinking more introspectively than most during the next month, as Leo rules your 12th house of inner thoughts, the subconscious, and things that are hidden. It’s a very good time to pay attention to the dreams you have. Especially as your ruler, Mercury, moves into Virgo at the end of July, you should write down what you can remember of your dreams and plumb their meanings, as they will likely give you some insights on your deepest feelings and fears.
As always, take these horoscopes with a grain of salt. These are based on my interpretation; astrology is not fortune telling. Also, the transitory impact of the sun and other planets depends on your entire birth chart, so some of the above may or may not hold true for you depending on what else is going on. (If you’d like a full birth chart reading, email me at dreamlogicastrology@gmail.com!)
Mars moves into Virgo on July 10th and will be moving through Virgo until August 27th. Mars has been in fire sign Leo, where it’s been acting out and doing the most. Mars is the planet of action and aggression, assertiveness and drive. In Leo, it’s about the self and getting ours. In Virgo, a mutable earth sign, it’s about ruthless prioritization.
Mars in Virgo is cutting. Mars rules needles and sharp objects, and I think of Mars in Virgo as scissors (or maybe a machete). While Mars is in Virgo, it’s wise to assertively embody the more evolved Virgo qualities of preparedness, organization, efficiency, critical thinking, and discernment, but try not to lean into the less evolved Virgo qualities of being hypercritical and a perfectionist. It’s a good time for focusing our drives and energy on getting organized, making to-do lists, editing anything that needs it, and weeding out the superfluous stuff in our lives.
I think of Mars in Virgo sort of like Tracy Flick, the main character of Election. She knows she’s right, knows she’s the most qualified, and is singularly focused on her goals, but she alienates even the teachers (Saturn) in her pursuits. (I also recommend reading the sequel from last year, Tracy Flick Can’t Win, in which life has tempered her most abrasive qualities and she’s operating from a more evolved Virgo energy but of course still chafing against a misogynist society, people who aren’t as smart as her, and her own inability to get out of her own way.)
Transit-wise, Mars makes an opposition to Saturn later this month. That’s then followed by some more pleasant aspects in August and then finally an opposition to Neptune on August 22nd. Since it’s coming up, I want to focus on the Mars-Saturn opposition for now.
Mars opposes Saturn on July 20th. In traditional astrology, Mars and Saturn are the two malefic planets, meaning that they bring with them some difficulty, and you have to learn how to work with them instead of just letting them do their thing. The way they will be situated, in opposition to one another, lends to culminations but also conflict. It’s a push-and-pull energy. Mars and Saturn were conjunct in Aquarius back in early April 2022. This opposition is another phase of that cycle, which would mean there’s a climax or wrapping up of whatever narrative began when Mars and Saturn aligned back in early April last year.
Mars rules drive, and Saturn rules structure. Mars in Virgo is the car, Saturn in Pisces in the bascule bridge that lifts for the boat on the river below, causing you to be late on your way to an appointment. The way to avoid the situation is to have left earlier in the first place. So the second week of July, leave lots of extra time. Be prepared for obstructions of your efforts.
These obstructions then can lead to pushing boundaries. That can manifest literally, mentally, and physically, like with endurance. I was listening to The Astrology Podcast’s July forecast, and on it, the hosts agreed that while it’s OK to push yourself mentally during this time, physically you probably only want to push 80% because with Mars and Saturn, there’s a risk of injury. (The Astrology Podcast, if you aren’t familiar with it, is the gold standard of astrology podcasts, so if you’re interested in learning a lot more about astrology, it’s my first recommendation.) So please be cognizant to not overdo it in the days around July 20th!
Mars then moves on to form a trine with Jupiter in Taurus on August 1st. A trine is formed when planets are at a 120-degree angle from one another, and generally they are considered to be a helpful aspect, with the better parts of the planets’ energies in harmonious communication with one another. The best parts of Mars in Virgo will be given an expansiveness that comes from Jupiter. Mars also makes a trine with Uranus in Taurus on August 16th, which can bring disruptions. During this time, Mercury will be following closely behind Mars. Mercury never quite catches Mars, though, because it stations retrograde on August 22nd, then moves backwards through Virgo until September 15th.
Finally, Mars will oppose Neptune on August 22nd. I’ve written about Mars-Neptune aspects before. With Neptune in Pisces, for all of Mars in Virgo’s ruthless efficiency and clear-eyed discernment, Neptune will be doing its best to make things murky and throw the to-do lists and mission statements into question. You may find yourself looking back at the plans you’ve laid out over the few weeks and thinking, “Do I really want to do this?” Best to let the Neptune fog burn off and wait a few days before making any adjustments.
So that’s that on Mars in Virgo, which will take us through most of the summer. I’ll say more about Virgo (I love Virgos!) when it’s actually Virgo season.
