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The overall "cosmic weather" affecting everyone

August 2010

by Benjamin Bernstein

Whatever your Sun Sign, this forecast will help you make the best use of each month’s astrological energies. Events are most powerful on the dates listed. However, their influence will be active for at least several days before and after. All dates and times are in the U.S. eastern time zone.

While everyone is affected by these global transits, you will be most powerfully impacted when moving planets activate natal planets and other sensitive points in your personal horoscope.

HEADLINES

8/3 Jupiter squares Pluto
8/9 New Moon
8/13 Uranus retrogrades into Pisces (technical end of Cardinal Climax)
8/20 Mercury Retrograde thru 9/12
8/21 Saturn square Pluto
8/24 Full Moon

VOID-OF-COURSE MOONS

It's best to avoid starting important new projects or making major purchases during these times. "Business as usual" is the best strategy for these periods, which occur when the Moon has made its last major Ptolemaic aspect but has not yet moved into the next sign. Learn more about working with void-of-course Moons here.

8/1, 11:55 pm – 8/2, 4:14 am (Taurus)
8/4, 8:45 am - 12:56 pm (Gemini)
8/6, 5:22 pm – 5:51 (Cancer)
8/7, 2:46 pm – 8/8, 7:24 pm (Leo)
8/10, 3:10 pm - 7:02 pm (Virgo)
8/11, 8:04 pm – 8/12, 6:44 pm (Libra)
8/14, 4:06 pm - 8:28 pm (Scorpio)
8/17, 1:25 am - 1:35 am (Sagittarius)
8/19, 9:59 am - 10:19 am (Capricorn)
8/21, 9:09 pm - 9:39 pm (Aquarius)
8/24, 4:30 am - 10:12 am (Pisces)
8/26, 10:00 pm - 10:51 pm (Aries)
8/29, 4:48 am - 10:37 am (Taurus)
8/31, 7:14 pm - 8:21 pm (Gemini)

THE STORY SO FAR: Five planets are retrograde as August opens: Pluto (thru 9/14), Chiron (thru 11/5), Neptune (thru 11/7), Jupiter (thru 11/18) and Uranus (thru 12/5).
August opens in the midst of the Cardinal Climax. In a nutshell, the Cardinal Climax -- a planetary firestorm superfueled by the energies of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Pluto -- is the most powerful astrological aspect pattern of our lifetimes! Its core theme is to release absolutely everything that has outlived its usefulness, while embracing new hope, transformation and paradigm shift.

8/1 (Sun). Let your creative juices flow with help from today's biquintile of the Leonine Sun and Pluto!

8/3 (Tue). The energy of the Cardinal Climax gets a kick in the pants with today's Jupiter-Pluto square! Powerful through mid-September, this is a potent catalyst for powerful new beginnings. You can also use this energy to give a new burst of energy to an existing situation. Dark side possibilities of this square include extreme violence or megalomania, so stay on the high side!

8/4 (Wed). Mars wades into the heart of the Cardinal Climax today, opposing Jupiter and squaring Pluto. This takes the opportunities and cautions described on 8/3 and kicks them up to a whole new level! This is a potentially explosive time, so exercise an appropriate level of caution. Remember, however, that it also takes a massive explosion to launch a rocket into space. The key is to have the detonation planned, controlled and properly directed. Whatever can benefit from fiery, high-octane energy – be it sex, passionate creative expression, athletics, a bold financial undertaking, or the timely destruction of something whose time has come – it won't get much hotter than this!
Even if the sex sets off skyrockets today, it doesn't guarantee that your partner is a keeper – not with Venus quincunx Neptune, anyway. Relationship matters can be a bit fuzzy under this aspect. So unless you're getting a crystal-clear intuitive signal, postpone any important relationship decision-making if possible. However, there is a big green light for sacred sexual practice with the right person!

8/6 (Fri). Venus' quincunx to Chiron is good for refinements and adjustments in relationships, creativity and finance.
And Venus' entry into Libra, where she'll transit thru 9/8, will push the energy of relationships and creativity more into the forefront.

8/7 (Sat). Next on Venus' social calendar is an opposition to Uranus, as she follows Mars into the heart of the Cardinal Climax. While relationships, finances and creativity may experience more volatility, the opportunity for breakthroughs, awakenings and paradigm shifts is also strong – especially if you follow your intuitive flashes!

8/8 (Sun). Got relationships? With Venus conjunct Saturn, the strong ones can get stronger foundations, while the shakier ones may well be tested to see if they're worthy of your continued time and attention.

8/9 (Mon). Venus continues her extraordinary string of aspects with an opposition to Jupiter, providing fresh hope and expansion to relationships, finance and creativity.
The Cardinal Climax's New Moon is, appropriately enough, in the fiery sign of Leo! It happens on the 9th at 11:08 PM (17°24' Leo). Given what's going on with Venus, new creative beginnings are especially supported. Leo New Moons are also great times for new initiatives relating to leadership or generosity.
This New Moon's Sabian Symbol is, “A chemist conducts an experiment for his students.” This symbol beautifully reflects what a grand experiment humanity is currently engaged in, as well as the extraordinary alchemical possibilities that lie the open before us. Don't settle for just being one of the students, though: now is the time to make your entire life a grand experiment!

8/10 (Tue). Venus squares Pluto today, engaging the Lord of the Underworld's tremendous power. Be open to any needed transformation in the three Venusian life areas that you may very well have memorized by now – relationships, finance and creativity. Once that process is complete, the doors will be open for you to receive Pluto's gifts of wealth and power!
Just when you thought there couldn't be any Venus aspects left, she pulls out a biquintile to Neptune! This radiates divinely inspired creativity and facilitates conscious union with the divine.

8/11 (Wed). Whichever of its names you choose to use – quadriform, arrowhead, Thor's Hammer or God's Fist – we've got us a strong aspect pattern today!
        I'll call it an arrowhead just to keep things simple.
        An arrowhead's stressful, dynamic energy is caused by its challenging aspects: a 90° square and two 135°sesquiquadrates. In this case, the Sun is at the tip of the arrowhead. Pluto is at one back corner, while Uranus and Jupiter occupy the other back corner.
        If the names of these slower planets sound familiar, it may be because I've talked about them so much as part of the Cardinal Climax. This means that this arrowhead provides yet more stimulation to this world-shaking aspect pattern.
        So what does a leonine Sun do when simultaneously stimulated by Pluto, Uranus and Jupiter? For starters, he gets intensely bright, and struts his creative stuff on the spotlit stage for all he's worth! Then, if he's smart, he opens himself to transformation, paradigm shift and radical expansion. But he steers clear of power trips and excessive volatility, and keeps reminding himself that whatever gifts, talents and other positive attributes he possesses flow from the divine.
        Then he can launch into the world like a blazing fire arrow, dynamically radiating his talents in a way that serves the highest need of all!

8/13 (Fri). The Cardinal Climax technically ends as Uranus retrogrades into Pisces late today, but I wouldn't count on the intense energy letting up much just yet. Continue releasing, transforming and paradigm shifting!

8/16 (Mon). Hope or despair? Joy or sorrow? Expansion or contraction? If areas of your life seem polarized between these extremes as Jupiter opposes Saturn, you may find that the first choice in each pair will serve you better. These are also the two main planets of business astrology, so be sure to look for opportunities in the world of work!

8/20 (Fri). Divinely inspired creativity is available like a flowing waterfall, thanks to a Sun-Neptune opposition and a Venus-Mars conjunction. The latter aspect may help you find new possibilities in challenged relationships as well.
Reflect on those relationships – along with everything else of importance – during the Mercury Retrograde period that starts on the 20^th at 3:58 PM. (It lasts through 9/12 at 7:09 PM.) Mercury retrograde is always a time to be especially careful about travel, communication, technology and data. Delays and glitches in these areas may be more common than usual. Be sure to back up your critical data!

8/21 (Sat). What things, people and concepts have outlived their usefulness in your life? Voluntarily releasing them as Saturn squares Pluto may save you from having them taken away without your consent. This is also a time when business ideas with a solid foundation can be supercharged by a fresh infusion of energy and capital.
Part of this energy may come from a consultant or advisor, whose presence is supported by a Sun-Chiron opposition.

8/23 (Mon). Are you experiencing jangling nerves, tapping foot syndrome or nervous tics? The less desirable manifestations of a Sun-Uranus quincunx can be alleviated by making adjustments to follow your intuitive flashes!
The Sun enters Virgo today. Good timing, too: with all the intense things that have been going on this month, we'll all need some of Virgo's organizational energy and attention to detail! Helpful service, another Virgo specialty, will be appreciated by many at this time.
Law of Attraction aficionados may find their visualizations receiving some extra sparkle, thanks to today's Saturn-Neptune biquintile. (Neptune supports visualization and imagination, while Saturn supports physical manifestation.)

8/24 (Tue). The August Full Moon peaks on the 24^th at 1:04 PM (1°25' Pisces). Even more than most Piscean Full Moons, this is a time to feel how well you're able to connect with Spirit and receive the flow of creative inspiration and intuitive guidance.
This Full Moon is intensified by aspects to all of the Cardinal Climax planets: it conjuncts Neptune, semi-sextiles Jupiter and Uranus, sextiles Pluto and quincunxes Saturn. However, since the most challenging hard angles are not represented, the energetic intensification should only be moderate.

8/26 (Thu). Step out and serve with your full primal power as the Virgoan Sun trines Pluto today.

8/28 (Sat). Relationships and finance get a boost of creative empowerment with Venus quintile Pluto.

8/31 (Tue). Physical activity and new relationship energy get a magical boost with Mars quintile Pluto.

QUICK GLOSSARY OF ASTROLOGICAL ASPECTS

Conjunction. Two planets in the same place (0° apart). Union; merging.
Opposition. Two planets opposite each other (180º apart). Opposition; relationship.
Square. 90° angle. Conflict; challenge for growth.
Trine. 120° angle. Easy, flowing connection.
Sextile. 60° angle. Flowing, high-energy connection.
Quincunx. 150° angle. Difficulty making connection; adjustment required.
Quintile. 72° angle. Inspiring, creative connection.
Biquintile. 144° angle. Like a quintile, but more subtle.

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