As the week opens Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are all retrograde and by the weekend Mercury will join them. The appearance of so many planets in backward motion correlates to a lack of movement or growth happening in our external environment as the processes related to those planets are internalized. So rather than allowing ourselves to be continually distracted by the non-stop stream of click bait headline news, we could take this time to look at revelations quietly emerging from the depths of our own psyche.
The Lunar Eclipse on August 7th is a super-charged Full Moon that could shake loose new material into conscious awareness. This is the culmination point of the current lunar cycle that began at the Leo New Moon on July 23rd conjunct Mars and square Uranus, which was primed for self-determining disruption. As this lunar eclipse unfolds Mars is still conjunct the Sun, adding heat to an already intense vibration. Symbolically, the Sun in Leo represents the will to create. The Moon in Aquarius represents our primordial awareness as a unique being. Leo’s gift of “Simplicity,” according to Dane Rudhyar, offers its radiant creations freely without making others feel less than. Aquarius’ gift is that of “Service,” which relates to the ability to assume the responsibility of one’s inimitable power to deliver humanity into the New Aquarian Age. This Lunar Eclipse may re-awaken our soul’s purpose to offering our unique creations in the service to humanity just for the sheer joy of it. For a more in-depth look at the August 2017 eclipses, read Jim Sher’s post in his new blog, Musings from the Philosopher’s Den.
On the heels of the dramatic lunar eclipse, the Sun, Jupiter and Saturn form a “mini grand trine” (two sextiles and a trine) August 10th through 13th that may offer a stabilizing and optimistic point of reflection on what emerged after the emotionally cathartic eclipse. The Sun in Leo is about individual creativity and its sextile to Jupiter in Libra opens the creative spirit to collaboration that honors the truth of each participant. The Sun’s trine to Saturn in Sagittarius instills the action with a foundation of purpose and integrity. Unfolding during this “inertia busting” eclipse season we may be inspired to explore the heart of a problem, which can lead to greater understanding of what is needed to resolve it. The truth isn’t always easy to look at, but truth to oneself is the basis for becoming individualized. Not listening to our own truth is generally what causes problems to begin with. Saturn is at its most potent now, holding at 21° Sagittarius since July 20th in preparation for stationing direct on August 25th. For creative inspiration with a cosmic outlook, check out the spectacular images from NASA’s Cassini mission of the first ever dive between Saturn and its rings that commenced back in April when Saturn stationed retrograde. If a probe we send into deep space can reveal such tremendous beauty, just imagine what we’ll find when we probe the depths of our consciousness. This is the miraculous truth of “as above, so below.”
The last aspect Mercury will make before turning retrograde is a sextile to Venus in Cancer on August 10th. Symbolically, Mercury in Virgo focuses on details and analytics, naturally leaning towards being of service to others. Venus in Cancer correlates to an attunement to the undercurrents of feelings in close relationships in a family or intimate group of friends or colleagues. One way we may experience this aspect is by nurturing efforts to communicate about each others’ needs. Mercury’s retrograde period commences on August 12th and on August 31st it backs into Leo where it will turn direct on September 5th. With the retrograde period infused at the outset with the Mercury/Venus emanation, its review of our thinking processes and how we communicate may reveal how we can better utilize the best tool we have to reach mutual agreement about shared experiences.
Venus, the planet of beauty and love, taps into the archetypal state of compassion when it trines retrograde Neptune on August 11th. This alignment elevates the expression of love towards others in a way that does not assume the experience of another. While it takes awareness to see other as they are and not as a reflection of our own perceptions, this flowing alignment has the potential to correlate to a feeling of cosmic connection or could manifest in a situation that teaches us about the unifying nature of love. In effect for about eight days, this planetary vibration may offer a much-needed soothing balm to a hot and stressed world.
Here’s the data (Pacific Time and rounded to the nearest whole degree unless otherwise noted):
August 7 – Moon opposite Sun (Full Moon Lunar Eclipse) at 15° Aquarius/Leo at 11:11 a.m.
August 10 – Mercury sextile Venus at 11° Virgo/Cancer at 2:03 a.m.
August 10 – Sun sextile Jupiter at 18° Leo/Libra at 2:24 p.m.
August 11 – Venus trine Neptune at 13° Cancer/Pisces at 10:18 p.m.
August 12 – Mercury station retrograde at 12° Virgo at 6:01 p.m.
August 13 – Sun trine Saturn at 21° Leo/Sagittarius at 2:06 p.m.
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