In the Stars August 16-23, 2020...shining light on the astrology of the week: New Moon

Intense, challenging, provocative energy abounds. Mars has just made an exact square to Pluto and now moves on this week to square Saturn. The extreme temperature in the west corresponds with the extreme heat of the planets. Go carefully and mindfully, and keep yourself cool. The Sun shines in its ruling sign Leo for a few more days where it is strong, courageous, and playful. The Moon is in Virgo Wednesday and Thursday, followed by the Sun’s ingress into Virgo on Saturday, both alignments of the luminaries offering practical energy for putting your life in good order. Uranus has joined the retrograde brigade to bring the number of planets moving backwards to eight, adding to the strong energy for re-thinking, reviewing, and re-considering.

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Uranus stations retrograde on Saturday, starting its backward motion for the next five months. When a planet stations, its energy is amplified. Uranus symbolizes change, reversals, and surprises, so expect the unexpected. The Moon aspects Chiron, drawing attention to our wounds, but a Moon-Venus conjunction and a Moon-Ceres trine serve as balms for any discomfort. An early Sunday morning Moon-Neptune trine eases us into the day. And then—get ready to rumble. Sunday is packed with dynamic, powerful, edgy aspects. Get vigorous exercise to meet the challenging energy with resolve. Be on your toes, and tackle a demanding project. Monday is a courageous, passionate, restless day with the Leo Moon as backdrop. The Sun and Mercury conjunct, calling forth strong speech. The day’s plans may veer off course or deliver a few surprises with the Moon’s square to Uranus. In the midst of drama, take some time out for yourself, as the Moon is dark until it forms a New Moon Tuesday evening at 7:42 p.m. PDT. Reflect on the past month’s endings and accomplishments. Tuesday’s New Moon at 26:35 Leo lights the path for the month ahead to express what we are passionate about. Mars is conjunct Eris, and makes a powerful fiery trine to the Sun and Moon. Set new intentions around matters having to do with children, play, and creative expression. Wednesday and Thursday are the days of the month for cleaning house and putting our lives in order, graced by the Virgo Moon. These days hold numerous benefic aspects, and can be profoundly productive. On Tuesday, Mercury also moves into Virgo tropically, where it is exalted. Use these days wisely, and make the most of them. Friday, Viernes, is Venus’ day, and is lit by a Libra Moon, whose ruler is Venus. The Moon opposes Chiron, inviting relational healing. There is an overall ease in this sweet day. Flow with the balancing energies, and feast on beauty. The Sun enters Virgo tropically on Saturday, ushering in the mutable last month of summer. It’s that time of year to go back to school, even if it means distance learning. The month of Virgo is the harvest season, the extracting of the grapes from the vines in the wine country where I live. This is a transitional month to get your life in order and prepare for the turning of the season ahead. Unlike the ease of Friday, the Libra Moon makes hard aspects with Jupiter, Mars, Pluto, and Saturn on Saturday. Lean in and work with the tension and you can get a lot accomplished. On Sunday we dive deep into the mysterious waters of the Scorpio Moon; our emotions are stirred. The Moon makes benefic aspects to the Sun and Mercury. We are attuned to subtle messages that may lurk under the surface. The Moon’s opposition to Uranus later in the day may widen our focus and bring a surprising solution to a problem. Mars and Saturn make an exact square on Monday, creating tension. Mars pushes, and Saturn pulls. The pressure fosters precision, focus, and good problem solving, if worked with skillfully. Numerous benefic aspects help us handle the challenges with honesty, diplomacy, and wisdom.

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The Week in Short: Saturday: Uranus stations retrograde. Expect the unexpected. Sunday: Dynamic, powerful challenging day. Tackle a demanding project. Monday: Passionate, exuberant, restless day that may change course. Tuesday: New Moon in Leo. Set intentions to be more creative, playful, and powerful. Wednesday: Industrious day for putting your life in order. Thursday: Organization, efficiency, and productivity help you handle numerous tasks. Friday: Allow ease and flow and feast on beauty. Saturday: Work with the tension of the day, and a lot can be accomplished. Sunday: Emotions are stirred; consider subtle messages and open to surprising twists and turns. Monday: Mars and Saturn square off, creating tension, pressure, and challenge.

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Ten Things to Do with Venus in Cancer (August 7 – September 6)

1. Take a journey through old family photo albums.

2. Schedule a family Zoom call.

3. Attend to home maintenance projects.

4. Make your home more comfortable.

5. Pull out your family recipes and make some of your favorite family foods.

6. Read a historical novel.

7. Save money and be conservative with spending.

8. Honor your feelings.

9. Express care through a card, call, or gift of food.

10. Gaze at the Moon in the night sky.

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Moon Void-of-Course: This is the time when the Moon makes its last major angular aspect with a planet before it moves into the next zodiacal sign tropically. This void time, when the Moon is not aspecting a planet, but rather floating on its own, is a time when things don’t come together and it is difficult to make good decisions. Purchases made during void Moons often turn out to be unsatisfactory and not work out. Appointments often don’t come together, and meetings don’t result in progress or sound, lasting decisions. We more easily get lost or meander in trying to get somewhere. The VoC Moon times for the next month are listed below so that you can plan meetings, decisions, and purchases at times when the Moon is not VoC; and use the void times for gardening, reading, and routine task work. Void-of-Course Moon times for the month ahead (one lunar cycle): Pacific Standard Time: August 16: 4:59 p.m. – 10:39 p.m. (Moon into Leo) August 18 at 10:39 p.m. through August 19 at 1:20 a.m. (Moon into Virgo) August 20 at 8:37 p.m. through August 21 at 2:16 a.m. (Moon into Libra) August 22 at 9:19 p.m. through August 23 at 3:16 a.m. (Moon into Scorpio) August 24 at 11:27 p.m. through August 25 at 5:49 a.m. (Moon into Sagittarius) August 27: 5:00 a.m. – 10:37 a.m. (Moon into Capricorn) August 29: 12:30 p.m. – 5:36 p.m. (Moon into Aquarius) August 31 at 9:56 p.m. through September 1 at 2:34 a.m. (Moon into Pisces) September 3: 7:34 a.m. – 1:22 p.m. (Moon into Aries) September 5 at 9:44 p.m. through September 6 at 1:43 a.m. (Moon into Taurus) September 8: 5:46 a.m. – 2:28 p.m. (Moon into Gemini) September 10 at 9:48 p.m. through September 11 at 1:23 a.m. (Moon into Cancer) September 13: 5:05 a.m. – 8:32 a.m. (Moon into Leo) GMT (Greenwich Mean Time): August 17: 0:59 – 6:39 (Moon into Leo) August 19: 6:39 – 9:20 (Moon into Virgo) August 21: 4:37 - 10:16 (Moon into Libra) August 23: 5:19 - 11:16 (Moon into Scorpio) August 25: 7:27 - 13:49 (Moon into Sagittarius) August 27: 13:00 – 18:37 (Moon into Capricorn) August 29 at 20:30 through August 30 at 1:36 (Moon into Aquarius) September 1: 5:56 - 10:34 (Moon into Pisces) September 3: 15:34 – 21:22 (Moon into Aries) September 6: 5:44 - 8:43 (Moon into Taurus) September 8: 13:46 – 2:28 (Moon into Gemini) September 11: 5:48 - 9:23 (Moon into Cancer) September 13: 13:05 – 16:32 (Moon into Leo)