AstroForecast August 2003

by Lance Rodriguez

August begins with the majestic Sun traveling through its own ruled sign of Leo. This is the height of summer and strong identification with creativity, confidence, risk-taking, authority, playfulness, entertainment, recreation, and children is emphasized with this Solar passage in regal Leo. Negative expressions of Leo are arrogance, false pride, melodrama, stubbornness, dictatorial and authoritarian behaviors, boastfulness and self-absorption. The angel of the month of August is Hamaliel and the Leo angel is Verchiel.

August 1st is the celebration of Lammas in the pagan calendar and this date is also an astrological Cross-Quarter Day. This first Friday for the month of August has the Moon “Void of Course” from pre-dawn until early Saturday morning after midnight. “Void of Course” Moons usually indicate that “nothing will come of it” especially in regards to new projects, new initiatives or new beginnings launched during a “Void of Course”. The best thing to do with a “Void of Course” Moon is to finish up old unfinished projects as well as finally addressing to stick to a diet regimen that has previously failed.

The first ecliptic shift of the Moon occurs on Saturday the 2nd that symbolizes changes with meteorological, seismic and volcanic activities. This first Saturday of the month of August can also witness a great need to introduce adjustments in regards to pervasive feelings that something is not fully out in the open. A “slippery fish” eludes detection and confounds individuals who want to get at the root of the problem.

Sunday August 3rd is the alignment of the ringed planet Saturn with the Cancer New Moon of June 29, 2003. Saturn symbolizes the great taskmaster, the great scrutinizer and the karma planet of astrology. Saturn has a great eye for intricate details and is always looking for accountability and responsibility whether the focus is on an individual or groups of individuals. Saturn will conjunct this degree of this Cancer New Moon again next January 28, 2004 as well as April 15, 2004 so there maybe some correspondence with these dates especially in regards to national security concerns.

The Sun has an opposition with Neptune early Monday morning of the 4th that can symbolize individuals that are susceptible to confusion, deception, illusion, fraud, drug reactions that can include overdoses, uncertainty and bewilderment. The Sun was earlier this year conjunct Neptune on January 30th so a definition as well as clarification of themes or issues from then may have correspondence to this August date. Escapism is also prevalent with this opposition with the most innocuous form being the enjoyment of film, music or poetry. Late Monday evening is a harmonious contact between Mercury and Saturn that can sort out these issues with a sense of greater mental clarity.

Wednesday the 6th the Moon, Mercury and Mars are quite active. Mercury and Mars are opposite one another that can symbolize fighting words, heated and impetuous arguments, ego posturing that unleashes rash decisions and daredevil behaviors with very little thought to subsequent consequences. Mercury and Mars were last conjunct one another last July 25, 2002 so events from that time period are meant to be defined and clarified with this August date. Combined with this volatile potential is the Perigee Moon (closest approach of the Moon to Earth) that can symbolize strong intense emotions that can come easily to the conscious surface. Mercury on this first Wednesday of the month also makes an inharmonious contact to the Solar Eclipse chart of May 30, 2003. Here is a brief quote from the May AstroForecast 2003 about the Solar Eclipse: “Keywords associated with this lunation are a two by four board is about to slap our collective consciousness. Intellectual smugness and false pride will have its comeuppance. Enormous changes are about to occur and those individuals able to spin on a dime will have their versatility rewarded, those who cannot are caught in the vacuum.”

Thursday the 7th is an inharmonious aspect involving Venus with Neptune that can symbolize disappointment, disillusionment, disheartenment, or discouragement with partnerships, financial matters or differences of values. Depression, despair and despondency can afflict certain individuals due to loss of self-esteem, self-dignity and self-value. Neptune and Venus were last conjunct together earlier this year on March 12th so these two dates may have correspondence with one another.

Mercury again is active on Friday the 8th with an inharmonious contact to the Solar Eclipse chart of December 4, 2002. Here is a brief quote from the December AstroForecast 2002: “Keywords associated with this Solar Eclipse are surrender ingrained prejudices and subjective, pre-mature foregone conclusions. Humility reorients the ego to sacrifice false pride and arrogance.” This same day is the Pre-Shadow Point of Mercury that refers to the degree position when Mercury is stationary direct ending its retrograde on September 20, 2003. Keywords associated with this degree position are partisan bickering can lead to a storm of political hysteria. The searing arguments and the visceral destructiveness of propaganda toss into the bone pile the first casualty: freedom.

Saturday the 9th is the inharmonious aspect of Jupiter to the Lunar Nodes that can symbolize a fateful or destined quality involving international affairs, international diplomacy, international trade, international law and worldwide religious matters. Hypocrisy, double standards, overly moralistic tub thumping, smug righteousness and egregious discrimination can explode on the scene. Besides Jupiter’s overboard tendencies on this Saturday, Mars has an inharmonious contact with the Solar Eclipse chart of May 30, 2003 that can stir aggravation, violation and frustration to this primordial mix that can lead to epic proportions of overkill. Refer to the previous paragraph of August 6th in regards to the chart of the May 2003 chart.

A harmonious contact the Sun has with Pluto on Sunday the 10th is excellent for the identification of healthy psychotherapeutic approaches, the creation of deeper intimacy in relationships and intense revelations due to hardcore investigations. Certain artists or entertainers can be quite provocative especially with taboo social themes/issues. Radical approaches break up old, stagnant status quos.

The annual Aquarius Full Moon occurs on Monday the 11th at 11:48pm that symbolizes the release, surrender, and completion phase of the Moon. Issues involving mental cruelty or perversity, extreme emotional detachment, rebelliousness, Teflon behaviors (nothing-will-stick-to- me!) and aloofness are emphasized for release. Let go of stubbornness, ineffective rebelliousness, extreme emotional detachment, anti-social behaviors and the out-in-left-field syndromes. Aziel is this lunation’s celestial angel to invoke for assistance. The Astro*Carto*Graphy Map of this Aquarius lunation sensitizes the following geographic areas: the Eastern Seaboard of the United States especially Raleigh North Carolina, Richmond Virginia, Washington DC, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, Buffalo New York, Niagara and Toronto Canada, Quito Ecuador, Lima Perú, La Paz Bolivia, Galway Ireland, Lancaster and Birmingham England, Madrid and Barcelona Spain, all of Central Africa, Borneo, Indonesia, Viet Nam, and New Zealand. Keywords for this Aquarius lunation are if we, as a collective conscious group, are to put into effect a sense of lasting peace we must hold that intention deep in our hearts and act with forthrightness to be genuine and sincere with one another. The dove of peace emanates from within when we treat all individuals with loving kindness without reservations or conditions. Mutual bestowal of human dignity among individuals and groups grant a universal solidarity.

Tuesday the 12th are some mixed astrological aspects starting with a harmonious aspect of Venus with Pluto that can symbolize a deepening of intimacy, a greater sense of true sharing and everlasting bonding especially in relationships. The stock markets maybe important to pay attention as significant gains or losses can be posted on this day. Precious metals will garner attention. A harmonious aspect involving Mars with Saturn later Tuesday evening is excellent for strengthening one’s resolve, perseverance and discipline with career or domestic matters. An inharmonious aspect of Mercury with Pluto late Tuesday evening can stimulate extreme secrecy involving backdoor manipulations, sarcastic and acid-like discussions as well as deliberate sabotaging of the best laid plans or contracts.

Friday the 16th is the second ecliptic shift of the Moon in August that symbolizes changes with meteorological, seismic and volcanic activities. Immature and adolescent behaviors disturb the equilibrium on the home front for some parents on this day. Roommates can also experience domestic disharmony due to a morose and pessimistic individual who doesn’t want to own any responsibility of self-action and their consequences. “No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land or opened a new heaven to the human spirit” Helen Keller.

Sunday the 17th is the alignment of Jupiter with the Leo Full Moon earlier this year on February 16, 2003 so these dates may have correspondence to one another. Here is a quote from the February AstroForecast 2003 that can shed some light: “There is volatility linked to this lunation that can express itself through civil unrest, rebellion, explosions, acts of terror, earthquakes and upheavals. The A*C*G Map for this Leo lunation sensitizes the following geographic areas around the world: the Western countries of the continent of Africa, a direct hit with Bern Switzerland, Cologne Germany, Nice France, Turin Italy, Alaska, in the United States the following cities have direct hits: Tulsa OK, Omaha NE, Sioux Falls and Pierre SD, as well as Shreveport LA, Wichita and Kansas City KS, and Bismarck ND. Central American countries are also highlighted with Tegucigalpa Honduras in particular, as well as Santiago Chile. Keywords associated with this Leo Full Moon are understand the deeper paradox of the incarnated world. On one hand the gravity of the world is what centers us in worldly reality with all the twists and turns of heaviness and rigidity. Yet on the other hand the momentary release of that same gravity when the body propels away from it gives us the ecstasy of flying and the joy of freedom.”

This same Sunday is the inharmonious alignment of the Sun with the Lunar Nodes that can symbolize a fateful or destined quality that is coalescing on this date. August 9th was the alignment of Jupiter with the Lunar Nodes and now the Sun is following up with that earlier alignment. Refer to the earlier paragraph of August 9th to further amplify what is occurring with these Lunar Nodes. The Sun symbolizes those individuals in positions of power, authority, the executive branch of government, leaders, corporate executives and in general, fathers. Due to Jupiter’s strong association with all international matters and the Sun’s association with leaders, international leadership or the lack thereof will be an important focus.

Monday August 18th is a beautiful conjunction of the Sun with lovely Venus that is excellent for romance, generosity, favorability and the Enrichment of fun and pleasure in life especially with children. Healthy identification of personal values is to be emphasized. Identify financial goals for the future as well.

Wednesday the 20th is the ecliptic shift of Mercury that can symbolize shifts within commerce, trade, communications, contracts, negotiations and hardware technology. A potential for power outages due to either Mother Nature or the taxation of physical power plants because of high usage can also occur. Sudden surprises can catch many individuals off guard as well.

Continued harmonious energies of Venus spill over to Thursday the 21st as a conjunction with Jupiter occurs then. This is the astrological classical signature of beneficial marriage or business partnerships. The true appreciation of tolerance and broadened perspectives is important as well. Jewelry and/or precious metals or stones begin to appreciate in value. This conjunction of the two benefic planets of the zodiac is a “seeding” time period that can come to full light when these two are opposite one another next January 29, 2004.

The annual conjunction of the Sun with Jupiter occurs Friday the 22nd that symbolizes the identification of growth, expansion, progress, advancement and targeting future personal aspirations for the next calendar year. This is the Sun’s “seeding” time period with Jupiter and these two planets will oppose one another next March 4, 2004. This is also an excellent day to target future educational pursuits.

This same day is the ingress of harmonious Venus into the sign of discerning Virgo at 6:35am and will remain in Virgo for the following 28 days. The health and nutrition industries will have a financial focus during this period of Venus' transit. Personally, value new health/diet regimens and seek out services that cater to the physical body's need and care. Massages, acupuncture, Reiki, pedicures, facials and other similar body care services are highlighted with this passage of Venus. “Health is not a condition of matter, but of mind, nor can the material senses bear reliable testimony on the subject of health” Mary Baker Eddy. Resolve budgetary issues by adhering to thriftiness, prudence and bargain hunting.

Late Friday evening of the 22nd is an opposition aspect of Venus with Uranus that can indicate shocking, surprising and destabilizing behaviors that adversely affect relationships and finances. These two planets were last conjunct one another earlier this year March 28th and so a definition and clarification of all relationship and financial matters from that time period is up for review. Nervous stress, tension and anxiety with partners or finances can lead to excessive worries that can affect some individuals with the gastrointestinal area of the body, the feet or the collapse of the immune/lymphatic system.

Saturday the 23rd at 8:08am is the annual ingress of the Sun into the sign of meticulous Virgo launching a 30-day journey in this zodiac sign that symbolizes work, health, improvement, quality of life themes, fastidiousness, hygiene, service, and changes that improve day-to-day life. Negative associations Virgo can get caught up in are criticism, perfectionism, nagging, browbeating, hypochondriac behaviors, extreme micro-management, faultfinding, and hairsplitting. The angel associated with Virgo is Hamaliel.

The annual opposition of the Sun with Uranus occurs Sunday August 24th that wants to clarify and define important priorities, teamwork, community outreach, friendships, alliances and allegiances as well as innovation. These two planets were last conjunct one another earlier this year on February 17th so these two dates may correspond to one another. Volatility, explosive temperament, civil unrest, rebellions, catastrophes and social mayhem can also be exhibited.

Venus and Mars have an opposition with one another on Tuesday the 26th that can symbolize what needs to be defined and clarified in relationships especially sexual issues, financial issues and differences in personal values. “You mustn’t force sex to do the work of love or love to do the work of sex” Mary McCarthy. These two planets were last conjunct one another on May 10, 2002 so these two dates may correspond to one another. Another potential is that strong passions are ignited especially new partners that meet one another and later after the embers of passion have died there is no viable relationship left in existence. This can be considered the death flight of the attraction of the moth to the flame. Sexual assault can also be highlighted no matter which gender is the perpetrator.

Wednesday the 27th at 4:26am is the entrance of the largest planet of the solar system, Jupiter, into the sign of Virgo for a 1-year journey. Jupiter is the amplifier of the zodiac so the enlargement of themes/issues associated with Virgo will be important to observe. Virgo rules health, work conditions, budgets, quality of life, the military, the services industries, accounting, domestic pets and veterinary services as well as hardware technologies. This is a once in twelve-year alignment of Jupiter in the sign of Virgo. Fellow earth signs, Taurus and Capricorn, can reap benefits during the upcoming year as long as careful scrutiny of health matters, financial budgets and healthy self-constructive criticism is employed. Gemini and Sagittarius are challenged to bring about changes that augment streamlining, efficiency and the tweaking of creating a better “mousetrap”. Pisces is defining and clarifying what was launched back in 1997 and if what was launched back then is still effective or what is no longer effective needs to be shelved to start all over again. Opinions of the general populace will be interesting to observe. A surprise assault by an open enemy is very strong as well. Workers’ unions as well as worker strife, complaints or strikes garner attention. The Astro*Carto*Graphy Map of this Jupiter ingress Virgo sensitizes the following geographic areas around the globe: Juneau Alaska, the Hawaiian Islands, the far Northeastern United States, Eastern Canada, Puerto Rico, Caracas Venezuela, Guyana, Surinam, Belém, Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro and São Paolo Brazil, Perth and Darwin Australia, New Guinea, the Philippines, all of Japan especially Sapporo and Tokyo, most of the Middle East especially Jerusalem Israel, Syria, Jordan, Baghdad Iraq, Mecca Saudi Arabia as well as Ankara Turkey. Moscow Russia is also sensitized as well as most of Eastern Africa especially the Horn of Africa, Addis Ababa Ethiopia, Djibouti, Nairobi Kenya, Dar es Salaam Tanzania, Mozambique and Madagascar.

The annual New Moon in Virgo occurs this same Wednesday the 27th at 12:26pm that symbolizes the new beginnings/new initiatives phase of the Moon. Launch new nutritional and exercise programs with this lunation. Begin a new savings account, get a medical check-up done, get the clutter out of the home (good Feng Shui!), re-organize filing cabinets, sift through those closets and toss out clothing not seen since Moses left Egypt! Learn how to say an occasional healthy no to attract a yes situation in your life. Create a workable budget and stick to it. This lunation’s angel is Abdizuel. The A*C*G Map of this lunation sensitizes the following geographic regions: in the United States Atlanta Georgia, Tallahassee, Daytona Beach and all of Southern Florida around Miami, Charleston South Carolina, Raleigh North Carolina, Charleston West Virginia, Roanoke Virginia, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, Cincinnati Ohio, Lansing Michigan, and around the world with emphases on Toronto Canada, Havana Cuba, Honduras, San José Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panamá City Panamá, Quito Ecuador, Lima Perú, Caracas Venezuela, the entire mid-section of the continent of Africa especially Cape Town and Johannesburg South Africa, Tripoli Libya, the southern boot of Italy as well as Sicily, Athens Greece, Tiranë Albania, Sofia Bulgaria, Bucharest Romania, Budapest Hungary, Krakow and Warsaw Poland, Riga Latvia, Vilnius Lithuania, Tallinn Estonia, Minsk Byelorussia, Kiev Ukraine, Moscow Russia, the Indochina Peninsula, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Borneo and Perth Australia. Interestingly enough the planet Jupiter will conjunct this Virgo New Moon degree on September 15, 2003 so these two dates may correspond with one another. Keywords associated with this lunation are sometimes caution and danger are strange bed partners. When excessive caution stifles the individual due to misperceived fears of dangers all growth stops and opportunities rapidly fade. A negative self-prophecy can take hold to the detriment of the individual. The beauty of folkloric tradition assuages the agonized soul.

Thursday August 28th several significant astrological occurrences happen. Mercury station retrogrades on this day at 8:41am launching the classic Mercury retrograde Murphy’s Law associated with snags, snafus and snits about schedules, delivery systems, transportation, mechanical breakdowns and computer viruses or dysfunctions over the next three weeks. The classic Mercury retrograde is also a time period to review, reevaluate, reanalyze or reassess documents, contracts, important signatures, learning or teaching materials, and important communications. Be sure to back up all important computer related materials before this retrograde of Mercury by at least a week. The last two weeks of the following signs are strongly affected by this retrograde in descending order: Virgo, Sagittarius, Gemini and Pisces. Once Mercury is in forward motion in mid-September the degree position of this August date will be witnessed again on October 4, 2003. These two dates can have much in common with one another. Keywords associated with this degree position of Mercury are special privileges are brought glaringly to the public’s eye. The common man feels taken advantage of and quite duped. Sleight of hand trickery either through words and/or actions stirs great deception and duplicity.

An opposition of the Sun with Mars can potentialize aggression, violation, hatred, domineering behaviors, confrontation, great impatience, too impulsive, impetuous or reckless behaviors and grandstanding on this last Thursday of August. “One of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they seem to sense once hate is gone that they will be forced to deal with pain” James. Baldwin. These two planets were last conjunct one another last August 10, 2002 so these dates may correspond with one another. A definition and clarification of executive action or inaction comes into great focus.

This last Thursday of August is also the direct station of intense Pluto at 10:34pm and interestingly enough this station of Pluto is at an astrological critical degree. International military issues can be quite prominent with diplomatic debates raging especially with accusations of hypocrisy, double standards and strong negative judgements. The media smells a scandal and irresponsible individuals or groups are looking for a scapegoat. The A*C*G Map for this station of Pluto sensitizes the following geographic areas: in the United States Fairbanks Alaska, Tucson Arizona, Aspen Colorado, Milwaukee Wisconsin, Chicago Illinois, Detroit Michigan, St. Petersburg Florida, Virginia Beach Virginia and Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Around the world the emphases will be on Mexico City Mexico, Belize, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Panamá, Ecuador, Perú, the far western nations of Africa, Baghdad Iraq, Kuwait, Riyadh Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bombay India, Mandalay and Rangoon Burma, Bangkok Thailand, Indonesia, New Zealand and Siberia Russia.

Friday August 29th is a rare third ecliptic shift of the Moon that symbolizes changes with meteorological, seismic and volcanic activities. Excesses of cruelty, perversity, rebellion, procrastination, apathy and indifference can literally create chaos and pandemonium. Within an hour of this lunar ecliptic shift is the opposition of Jupiter with Uranus that can be a powder keg ready to explode. Air transport safety and security can be on a high alert. These two planets were last conjunct one another February 15, 1997 so these two dates are important to one another. A good question here is how are we as a collective going to define and clarify our most important community priorities for the future? Budgets, health care and health reforms, water resources especially fishing and maritime affairs, workers’ rights and compensations, religious and spiritual directions as well as international diplomacy and subsequent responsibilities will garner focus and attention.

The greatest celestial phenomenon of the month of August is the Perihelion (closest approach of a planet to the Sun) of Mars on Saturday the 30th and its spectacular closest approach to Earth since approximately 60, 000 years ago! Mars is retrograde in the sign of Pisces, the sign of the zodiac that is deeply spiritual and that also symbolizes the Christ light, the Christ love, the Christ consciousness and the Christ energy. Unconditional forgiveness and unconditional love are the two greatest teachings of the Christ. Here Mars can literally be the Spiritual Warrior of the zodiac. “Within a man of light, there is light, and he illuminates the whole world. When he does not shine, there is darkness” Saint Thomas. Mars retrograde in Pisces is symbolic of review, revision and reintegration of all actions that embrace true compassion, charity, mercy and empathy. The martyr/victim syndrome is no longer a viable game for some individuals to play. A new paradigm is being instilled to replace the worn out savior, rescuer and redeemer syndrome that either plays out with an individual wanting to save, rescue or redeem someone or its inversion of the individual wants someone else to save, rescue and redeem oneself. The only effective resolution with this syndrome is through self-salvation, self-rescue or self-redemption. This new paradigm can also be applied to groups of individuals. A harmonious aspect of Venus with Saturn on this day of Mars’ Perihelion symbolizes that greater stability can be achieved once self-love and self-responsibility is integrated.

A rare second Perigee Moon (closest approach of the Moon to Earth) that can symbolize strong intense emotions that can come easily to the conscious surface occurs on the last Sunday of August. Minor irritations can arise especially with strong impressions of negative ulterior motives of certain individuals that deliberately want to hide information. Sabotaging behaviors and betrayals can annoyingly rise to the surface. Fiscal irresponsibility as well financial fraud, corruption and/or graft can rock some communities.

"Each one of us comes into the world with her or his unique possibility – which is like an aim, or, if you wish, almost like a law. The job of our lives is to become, day by day, year by year, more conscious of that aim so that it can, at last, be realized".