August 9: Aquarius Full Moon

The Full Moon at 17° Aquarius at 3:55AM ET on August 9th, illuminates the quality of our consciousness and the connection between thoughts and reality. Leo season puts the focus on who we are, what we want, and how we're going to make it happen from July 22-August 22th. But at the peak of this deeply personal moment, we're asked to consider the collective.

Aquarius is a cerebral air sign that possesses incredible powers of abstraction. The Sun (Leo) can't see itself, and is quite busy calling the shots, but the outsider (Aquarius) is aware of all that is missed by the sovereign. The Mercury retrograde in Leo has made us aware of what needs work in this area of life. Pay attention to how things start to change when Mercury stations direct 04°15 Leo, in opposition to Pluto in Aquarius, at 3:29AM ET on August 11th. If things have felt at a standstill, you can expect slow yet steady movement forward in the week after the Full Moon.

This lunation is ruled by Saturn in Aries, which is the sign of the Sun's exaltation, asking us what we will fight for even when the odds are not in our favor. We are asked to make a principled stand even when it comes at a personal cost. This is not martyrdom because we do not seek our rewards in heaven. The outrage of watching unjust authority destroy the structures that hold what little peace and justice we've managed to create on Earth is too much to bear. It is better to die on our feet than live on our knees but we may feel knocked off balance by the opposition between Mars and Saturn that is active between August 6-16th. Honestly, things are pretty yucky between the two of them until the Virgo New Moon on August 23rd.

This is why we can't have anything nice: Mars entering Libra at 7:23PM ET on August 6th, creates an unbalance that threatens to throw the whole world off kilter. Things have been consistently difficult in the Libra area of life for the past several years and although from the human perspective it feels like we should have earned a minor break by now, Mars in opposition with Saturn is only interested in breaking bones. Watch your head, don't drive recklessly, take plenty of water on hikes because your kidneys will be a bit more vulnerable, and stay away from needlessly dangerous situations because the opportunity to fall down and go boom is written in the stars for the next several weeks.

It will be easier to get mad in an unproductive way, or drawn into other people's conflicts, but Aquarius invites us to consider the higher perspective and detach from outcomes–the people, places, and things in our lives making us crazy–as much as possible. Aquarius is an imaginative inventor who delights in trying new configurations out on earth. If the old way isn't serving, then Aquarius wants to evolve the system. 

Of course there is a tension between the freedom both Leo and Aquarius seek and the relationships that bind us together in society. You might find yourself at odds around compromise, but don't lose hope if a stalemate ensues.

This month really mixes together the good and the bad and the Venus-Jupiter conjunction at 14° Cancer on August 12th is a moment of pure bliss mixed in with a whole lot of mess. Astrological influences either hit people in the build up (before), peak of aspect (during), or dissipation (after). Notice what is going down for you and when. It's fair if the Full Moon feels like too much! Its OK to say, WTF? But don't spend too much time letting the haters get you down. Be like an Aquarius and ignore them–ha ha. But all jokes aside, this is a time when we must choose where we direct our energy. And that is an important practice. 

Aquarius' wisdom directs us to focus on the good we wish to see and not what we don't want to be. You create your own reality by building something new, rather than staying trapped in the dysfunctional past or irreconcilable present. Unfortunately, the Moon makes a conjunction with Saturn on August 12th, which is pretty much raining on the love fest that Venus and Jove are trying to deliver. 

Thankfully, the vibes get a lot better on August 15th, when la Luna enters Taurus, the sign of its exaltation, and sextiles these two lover planets. Life starts to feel extra yummy when the Moon in Cancer, its happy home sign, moves between Jupiter and Venus on August 20th in what's known as bonification. Sweet, tender relief at last.

The next two weeks are a wild time astrologically but you can take care of yourself by remembering that this too shall pass. When in doubt, don't get involved. Be cool and aloof like an "I can't relate to empaths" Aquarius.

This is a period when each day may feel really different. Take it as it comes. If you have to compartmentalize to do your job or show up for your kids or an ailing parent so be it. Tell people you have limited capacity if you need to stay home and hide from the world. But if you feel up for smelling the flowers and frolicking with the birds and bees then by Goddess take advantage of the sweet honey that flows. The universe is serving up a lot of naughty and nice mid-August. We may not be able to choose which we get, but this Moon is encouraging us to improve our quality of mind by noticing what you talk, think, write, and profess about it.

Good luck, and let me know where it lands for you! For a more in-depth analysis of these wild skies, you can book an astrology reading through my website here.