Gifts of Love and Self-Expression | August Astrology
By Catie Cadge PhD
Greetings, Santa Cruz County stargazers! Late in July, Venus turned retrograde at 28°36’ in the sign of Leo, the lion. Lots to process inwardly about how or if we are truly seen, loved, and cherished by our most intimate partners. Venus is not simply about romantic or sexual partnership, but also those we are in close one-on-one relationship. Look to see where Venus is moving in your own natal chart. Your relationship needs may be up for reconsideration. Be careful of making any firm decisions until Venus moves ahead September 3rd.
Leo is a generous, big-hearted, passionate sign that wishes to be acknowledged and adored for the gifts of love and self-expression the soul brings to the table. When Leo Venus is retrograde, we reflect and reassess what we need from our partners to feel appreciated and loved. Do your closest partners celebrate the true you? Venus can also refer to our sources of income and creative expression. Ponder how can I better let my passionate heart shine through my artistic gifts? You might also reevaluate how you make money or if your creative side receives proper applause through financial rewards. Do you not deserve to be paid!? Part of feeling the joy and pleasure at the heart of Leo, the lion, is getting properly compensated, either through love and applause or literally bucks in the pocket.
August starts off with a Full Moon in Aquarius, 9°16’ at 11:31 am Pacific time on August 1st. Happy Birthday to the late Jerry Garcia, the biggest, most generous Leo heart of them all! The summertime Aquarian Moon is about finding our unique and authentic soul path. In a wide square to Jupiter in Taurus, seize opportunities to find creature comforts that help you relax and bring peace to your body and mind. They may be unconventional. Aquarius is about freedom and letting “your freak flag fly”!
The New Moon in Leo, 23°17’, occurs on August 16th at 2:38 am and squares Uranus in Taurus. Set intentions for the month ahead by asking yourself what is it I truly value and how do I best let my soul shine? The Leo themes I outlined above can be made manifest in the weeks ahead if we are doing our inner work under the Venus retrograde. This New Moon is about seeing what we need in order to feel fully loved and letting that seed be planted.
August 23rd, Sun enters Virgo, underscoring themes of work, service and honing our skills. Mars, the planet of our will and self-assertion, is in discriminating Virgo most of the month. Virgo seeks to perfect and to be the master craftsperson. Be wary of people being too nit-picky or those finding fault. Most important, don’t be too hard on yourself! We got to love one another, faults and all! A high road of Mars in Virgo is about service; how can I best polish my skills and give those skills to others?
Mercury in Virgo at 21°51’ turns retrograde August 23rd at 12:59 pm. The planet of communication and ideas has been in its “shadow” since August 3rd, providing extra gumption to the month’s Virgo themes of critically analyzing our skills and what needs work, as well as thinking through the details of any long-range plans we are making. Ask yourself, where do I need more improvement in how I communicate? Or what needs perfection so I can be all the best I can be in my craft? The day before, Venus in Leo squares Jupiter in Taurus, while Mars in Virgo opposes Neptune in Pisces. Visualize right partnership and think through the details with your discerning mind about who might help you reach your highest self.
The month ends with a Full Moon in Pisces, 7°25’, August 30th at 6:35 pm. A few days before, Mars enters Libra and Uranus stations retrograde at 23°05’ Taurus. Wake up from within and listen to your inner voices; “they tell me where to go.” Trust your heart and create a vision of what and who truly calms you down the most, fulfills your sensual desires and brings you true inner peace. “Without love in the dream, it will never come true”.
Catie Cadge is Dean of the Forrest Center for Evolutionary Astrology. Classes and more information: forrestastrology.center. Read about Catie and her work at caraevolutionaryastrology.com.
(Image by Catie Cadge)
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