Author: Amelia Shea

“Look at those dancers gliding around
Seems as if their feet
Don’t hardly touch the ground
Look at them smiling
Like they knew one another
And they never would come down.” Crosby Stills and Nash

“I sat, a solitary man,
In a crowded London shop,
An open book and an empty cup
Upon the marble table-top.
While on the shop and street I gazed
My body of a sudden blazed;
And twenty minutes more of less
It seemed so great my happiness,
That I was blessed and could bless.” WB Yeats

The week gets off to a bit of an ethereal start as Neptune, the sea god who governs  dreams and visions, opposes the Sun. The early part of the week is very good for daydreams and creativity as well as idealism and compassion.

But Neptune is also associated with illusion – and with the opposition to the Sun  it’s more easy for pragmatic judgment to be off and for trouble with details to occur. So it’s best to use more care with matters of this kind.

Mars moves into the sign of Libra on Tuesday and will transit this sign through October 30. Mars is not particularly comfortable in this sign and so it’s wise – throughout this time frame – to keep moderation and equilibrium in mind.

The Sun is moving up to a harmonious alignment with Pluto this week. This is a good aspect for reclaiming lost power and for inner growth. Pluto is associated with rebirth and wise to provide downtime for relaxation and rejuvenation.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A masked figure performs ritualistic acts in a mystery play.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“With the release of old stories a whole new perspective dawns. Fear can be transformed into presence and excitement. Confusion can open up interest. Uncertainty can become a gateway to surprise.”Jack  Kornfield

“In the beginners mind there are many possibilities. But in the expert’s mind there are few.” Shunryu Suzuki Roshi

Chiron, the asteroid of the Wounded Healer is prominent, not only in the sky now, but in general is an important influence in our time. One of the interpretations  of Chiron is that it governs the “stories we tell ourselves.” With Uranus, the planet of freedom in exact trine to yesterday’s New Moon, this Lunar Cycle (for the next month or so ) offers and opportunity to move away from outdated beliefs and into a new story for your life.

The New Moon in Virgo ushered in a time  which brings the focus to wellness. It is a good month to make improvements- if necessary- to establish a more healthy balance between body, mind and spirit. A more healthy diet, creating a daily routine that strikes a better balance between work and down time and taking the time to care for and nurture the body will be beneficial.

Venus in Virgo is aligning with Pluto this week. This combo can bring up feelings of loss and scarcity but it is also a powerful aspect for letting go, shedding or catharsis. It’s a good time for cleaning out closets and basements and letting go of things that are no longer needed. My friend and Boston based astrologer, Dietrich Pessin has written that Venus in alignment with Pluto provides a good time for purification rituals.

Venus is also making a favorable alignment to Jupiter – the planet of hope and expansion. This is associated with happiness, pleasure and abundance.
it’s a good time for socializing and enjoying the pleasures of life.

As we approach the Fall Equinox (on the 22nd) it bodes well to cultivate inner light as the days grow  shorter.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”The sight of an autumn leaf brings to a pilgrim the sudden revelation of the mystery of life and death.”

“In atomic physics, we can never speak about nature without at the same time, speaking about ourselves.” Fritjof Capra

The Boston astrologer and author, Isabel Hickey, referred to times in astrology when the cast of characters in  your life can change as “when the train pulls into the station, some people get on and some people get off.” This week is such a time with the Sun in Virgo squaring the Lunar Nodes at 6 degrees of Sagittarius and Gemini. It opens a doorway  for new people to come into your life and others to assume more distance. With the Nodes involved it indicates there may be karmic connections involved with the relationships. of people both coming and going.

It’s is a crossroad of sorts too indicating the importance of using discretion in the area of relationships.

On Monday Mercury changes signs – moving into the relationship sign of Libra. Mercury will have a long stay in Libra this year – for almost two months due to the Mercury retrograde period which starts on 27th of September and runs through October 18. This period provides good timing to review partnerships of all kinds. It is a time also when important relationships can come into your life.

Mars continues to travel in opposition to Neptune – gathering strength as it moves up to an exact opposition on Thursday. Mars governs power and Neptune governs fog. Under this influence there can be more confusion, illusion  and things can fall apart more easily than anticipated. It’s a good time to strengthen the immune system which can be more vulnerable.

It bodes well all week to stay grounded and keep pragmatism in the picture.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”An expressionist painter making a futuristic drawing.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda hill

“When we create a better future we redeem the past.” Jack Kornfield

“All we are is the result of what we have thought.” Siddhartha Gautama

Mercury, the god of thought and communication, is busy in the sky now, connecting with Pluto and Jupiter. This configuration indicates a powerful time for transforming of habitual, disempowering thought patterns from the past.

This will be helpful in clearing the path ahead.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A woman is gaining secret knowledge from an ancient scroll she is reading.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“Wisdom is born of the overlapping of lives, the resonance between stories.” Mary Catherine Bateson

“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.” Elie Wiesel

August’s second Full Moon in Aquarius is  Sunday the 22nd. On Saturday night as the Sun sets, the Moon will rise with Jupiter. If there are clear skies where you are, it is a great opportunity to see a beautiful celestial event.

There are very good aspects for all kinds of relationships at this time. The Moon conjunct Jupiter speaks of increased optimism, generosity and pleasure.

Saturn will be making a favorable aspect to Venus.  This aspect bodes well for responsibility, practicality and longevity in partnership. Under this influence increased stability can be brought to existing relationships. Relationships started under this influence tend to be long lasting and often are karmic in nature.

Mars trine Uranus can increase courage and  a sense of adventure. It is often a time when people are willing to take risks and explore territory  that would open up new horizons. With Mercury in good aspect to Uranus there can be breakthroughs in thought and communication.

The recent Uranus station and  the second Full Moon in Aquarius with a strong  Jupiter influence speaks about humanity and a the need to see ourselves as a global community. It is a good time to envision a healthy sustainable future for the planet.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”Moonlit fields, once Babylon are  blooming white .”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“Uranus has an affinity for Aquarius which comprises the whole community of creation. Intuition connects us the larger dance of creation and through the agency of synchronicity, keeps us all in touch with each other.” Caroline W. Casey

“We draw upon Mars for courage, dynamism, passion and kinship with life.” Caroline W. Casey

Uranus, the planet of the future and the unexpected, is a strong influence now as it stations retrograde on Thursday. The influence of Uranus comes early and it’s usually a time of unexpected events.

Mercury and Mars will be travelling together this week in Virgo. This is a great time for organizing and executing projects as Mercury in Virgo gives good discrimination and Mars adds energy and drive.

The Sun in Leo will be opposing Jupiter this week . This influence is associated with increased optimism and hope. Just watch for overdoing as Jupiter is  is also the sign that tends towards excess.

Uranus will station retrograde  on Thursday at 14 degrees of Taurus and will travel retrograde for five months , turning direct at 10 degrees of Taurus on January 18. This time period provides good time to explore innovative ideas and to grow in awareness about how to express  your uniqueness.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”An old man is attempting with a degree of success unsuspected by him, to reveal the mysteries to a motley group.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Don’t go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want
Don’t go back to sleep
People are going back and forth across the doorsill
Where the two worlds touch.
The door is wide and open
Don’t go back to sleep.” Rumi

Mercury is now in Virgo through the end of the month. This opens up a new cycle that bodes well for planning and organizing. It’s a good time for strategy and clarity of thought. It’s best to take advantage of this alignment before August 20 when Mercury will move up to an opposition to Neptune.

Mercury is moving up to a conjunction with Mars now and this adds extra energy to get tasks done. This will be in effect through the 2oth.

Venus has been making a favorable alignment to Pluto- providing a good time to get in touch with what you feel passionately about. It is also a good influence under which to bring change or transformation to financial matters or relationships.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,” a fine lace ornamental handkerchief.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“Sometimes life is so surprising, there is nothing to do but live.” Emily Dickinson

“The bamboo for prosperity,”a Japanese friend told me,”the pine for long life, the plum for courage… the plum for courage because the plum puts forth blossoms while the snow is still on the ground.” Anne Morrow Lindbergh

The New Moon – an excellent time for starting something new- is Sunday at 16 degrees of Leo. The closest aspect the Sun and Moon make at this time is a square to Uranus indicating the next 28 days are likely to hold surprises and unexpected events. It’s  wise to be open to new perspectives and to remain flexible.

Other aspects that indicate that courage can arise more quickly than usual if challenges present themselves.

Making a conscious effort to stay in the present moment will be beneficial.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is ,”Native Americans perform a ritual to the sun.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

ALl times mentioned are EDT

“New ways of thinking about familiar things can release new energies and make all manner of things possible.” Charles Handy

“Play is self discovery in the here and  now. It is spontaneous, yet has its own discipline. It is light yet potentially passionate. It is discovery, and it is enjoyment of one’s own and other’s possibilities, capacities and limitations. Most of all, if not all, great discoveries, even in science, have been the result of intense effort along with playful curiosity and joy of exploration on the part of the discoverer.” Edward Whitmont

“Margaret Mead defined an ideal community as one that has a place for every human gift.” Mary Pipher

The Sun and Mars are now in Leo and Mercury will join them this week. The sign of Leo, which governs the fifth house in the astrology chart, is associated with recreation-  but in the sense of re-creation. Fun which breaks up the hum drum of every day life and helps to bring to light a renewed sense of self. This is the season for it -for the next several weeks.

Wednesday Jupiter will retrograde back into the sign of Aquarius where it will remain until December 28. This transit bodes well for inventive thinking. It an awakener about the significance of community and the benefits of working together. It’s a  good time to collaborate with others of like mind.

Venus is moving up to a square to the Lunar Nodes. This provides a time that bodes well for the reconsideration of all things Venusian – self esteem, relationships and finances. It’s a good time for organizing things and catching up on paperwork as Venus in Virgo is a lover of order.

Mars will be widely opposing Jupiter this week. This can lend enthusiasm and energy. Just watch for “overshooting the mark” and for the tendency to be unnecessarily critical of others.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A merry go-round.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill