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Writer's pictureAstro Anarchist

August 4th's New Moon in Leo and Mercury Retrograde in Virgo: There May Be A Dramatic Shift


A big tree.
Essentialism.

It’s the thick of summer and we are knee-deep in the new lives we are building. The changes are coming fast and furious, but also slowly and it’s hard to see any evidence of them at all. Planetary sign changes are being felt more dramatically because of Pluto at 0 degrees of Aquarius, and Neptune at 29 degrees Pisces. These two signs are pushing us out and asking us more of us.


In the morning of August 2nd, 6:10 am PST/ 9:10 am EST, Venus in Leo will make a fixed square with Uranus in Taurus at 26 degrees which suggests that we will come to learn, understand, or know something unexpected. This could test our values, enjoyment, or relationships. This energy could make us insecure in what’s solid, or potentially feeling exposed or seen in the wrong way. There may be a dramatic shift, a test of values, a revelation in our relationships, and this could be more public than desired. Alternately we may find ourselves needing to step up, lead, or receive the changes that are revealing themselves. We might be dealing with how we want to be seen or received. Again, what is firm and secure for you? 


We have some mounting pressure coming in the form of an applying conjunction of Mars and Jupiter in Gemini, which perfects on August 14th. We may feel a strong impulse to communicate our beliefs, and say our piece.  This conjunction will fuse our determination and desire with our growth and expansion. This sounds lovely but remember, that this is happening for everyone; and everyone has different beliefs and things to say. This mounting pressure is shared with a lot of people who have different beliefs, and desires than we do. There is a lot of information that wants to come out and be spread. So it’s probably a good idea to make sure that your words and beliefs are founded in what’s essential, right? If you’re going to expel a bunch of energy, hopefully that energy is aligned with what you believe to be True. 


The other mounting pressure is the applying square between Saturn in Pisces with Jupiter in Gemini. This one perfects on August 19th. Jupiter in Gemini is fresh and curious with new ideas and a social calendar. This gets into some ego work, our belief in the self and how we see ourselves. Saturn in Pisces is the emotional and spiritual taskmaster. This Saturn is going to remind us, again and again, what structure is needed to carry you through. We prefer Saturn work to be physical or material work, mostly. This Saturn is rooting around in the corners and is ready to show you how flimsy your ideas and beliefs can be. This is a mutable square. Neither sign is fond of focus and form, and yet, Saturn is still a boundary in the vast ocean. Those boundaries hit profoundly when you crash against them, so this energy will expose what is shallow and deep, light and dark, flimsy and solid. This is going on in the background.


On August 4th we have a New Moon in Leo at 12 degrees, at 4:12 am PST/ 7:12 am EST. This is the beautiful genesis point of something personal. Something has ended and a new seed is planted. What seed do you want to plant? There is a sextile from Jupiter in Gemini in this new Moon (and also Mars) so there is some real zeal here. This is a social vibe, there is something here about being in the mix, moving and shaking with people, and this idea of your fire and where you want to put it. 


Where is your energy going and who is getting your attention? 


Where does your heart want you to put your energy?


Still on August 4th, Venus enters Virgo at 7:23 pm PST/ 10:23 pm EST.  She is going to double down on this theme of who and where your energy goes because she values what is real, tangible, growing. This Venus doesn’t fall for flourish. She wants to make sure everything works, and everyone is ok. She values the essentials, and connects with basics. This is love, connection and abundance at core level. Virgo is humble, in-service, and earthy. This is a time to look at your connections, preferences, and finances and understand what is of greatest value to you. This will be clarified throughout this transit, and you will find yourself needing proof, or you may need to get down to the brass tacks. The analytical nature of this Venus can feel critical, but it’s searching for the essential.


As a grand finale on the 4th, we have Mercury, the ruler of our newly anointed Venus, stationing retrograde at 4 degrees at 9:56 pm PST/ August 5th 12:56 am EST. Mercury is our way of understanding, learning, communicating, teaching. Mercury is our data processor, and in Virgo, Mercury functions very well. Mercury will backtrack into Leo to where it was on July 16th and will station direct on August 28th.


When Mercury retrogrades, it’s a chance to review what has happened. There’s an opportunity to look back at what we thought, did, learned, and notice something. So again I bring up this essentialism theme, because it seems to me that all of August will be a lesson asking us to define what and who is most important to us. 


Our words are important. That includes our texts. Our emails. 


We can get lost in belief and goals and our desire to get there, and forget that words are tools, and we use them to get what we want. What do you want?


With so much change around us, it’s easy to get lost in the day to day of life. We are all trying so hard to hold on, do our best, but have we taken the time to look at what is essential? If not, no worries– you are in the finest Human Academy-- learning how to be you, and you’re doing great. This Mercury retrograde isn’t coming to mess you up, it’s coming to help you more easily focus on how you want to be seen, how you want to lead, and what you actually want to receive. Mercury rules transportation the movement of goods, and this transit is going to slow this roll down or cause delays. 


August, socially, has a lot of oomph. Choose your words wisely.


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