August 2018 Astrological Forecast
Dearest Friends
Kindly note that the days and times given below are in PST (Pacific Daylight Saving Time). For Rocky Mountain Time (except AZ which is on PDT) add 1 hour. For Central Time, add 2 hours. For Eastern Time, add 3 hours. For Alaskan Time, subtract 1 hour. For Hawaii-Aleutian Time, subtract 2 hours. For Greenwich, add 8 hours. For Central European time (CET) add 9 hours, for Eastern European Time (EET), add 10 hours.
August 2018
RUNE OF THE MONTH: Mannaz “community, protection”. A month to reassess the way we feel nurtured and the way we offer nurturing to others. As we think not just of satisfying our own needs but in terms of what will also benefit the whole, we bring protection to all. Are we in what the Peruvian Q’ero Shamans call “ayni” (reciprocity)? As we give, so we receive. As we receive, so must we also give forward. It is when all are nurtured and grow that we can each individually bloom and vice-versa.
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Uranus turns retrograde on August 8. Its shadow period lasts until April 23rd 2019. The degree covered this month (2º34’-2º20’ Taurus) is symbolized by: “Natural steps lead to a lawn of clover in bloom”. As we gradually free ourselves of everything that no longer serves our higher evolution, whether it be people, situations or objects, we reach a new level of well-being allowing so-called luck to enter our lives. Luck is not a random happy break. It is the result of our positive thoughts and emotions. Now is the month to clear the decks of all that has held us back.
Solar Eclipse in Leo on Saturday August 11! This degree (18º42’ Leo) is symbolized by “A houseboat party”. Eclipses always mark a major turning point in our lives beyond which, things will never be the same. This one points to becoming very clear on what we value, both spiritually and materially. A need also to examine closely our intimate relationships to see how they support or hinder our personal power. It enhances a sense of responsibility in our work, a need for beauty and harmony in our immediate surroundings, as well as balance and joy in our social interactions with others. A vision of our future requires that we integrate compassion for others and benefit those less fortunate than ourselves.
Mercury turns direct on August 18 (21º48’-11º34’ Leo). Its shadow period remains until September 2nd. The degree it goes direct on, is represented in the Sabian Symbols by the following image: “An evening party of adults on a lawn illumined by fancy lanterns”. We are encouraged to be creative, to manifest our uniqueness with passion and joy and reignite a light and loving expression of our truth. It is important that we seek happiness this month. Greater than fame or success, this truly is the greatest achievement of all.
Mars turns direct August 27 (2º43’ Aquarius-28º37’ Capricorn). Its shadow period lasts until October 9. The degree it turns direct on is represented by: “A woman reading tea leaves”. A month to reassess our lives. Did our past actions create the results we wanted? Did they lead to unexpected situations we would rather not have encountered? A chance to pause, become clear on what we really want and redirect our energy towards worthwhile goals.
Saturn remains retrograde this whole month until September 6th. Its shadow period lasts until December 13th, 2018. The degrees traveled this month (3º32’- 2º34’ Capricorn) are represented by: “A group of people outfitting a large canoe at the start of a journey by water” and “A human soul, in its eagerness for new experiences, seeks embodiment”. We are now required to look at the structures in our lives. Are we trying to do too much? Are we not listening well enough to the wisdom of our body? Do we have ambitions that are too great to fulfill? A month to be very grounded in reality and not project ourselves into a hypothetical future that may or may never happen. Let us remain open but realistic, moving one step at a time towards our goals with inner strength and clarity.
Pluto remains retrograde this whole month until September 30th with a shadow period continuing until January 22, 2019. The degrees it travels this month (19º32’-18º58’ Capricorn) are represented by: “A hidden choir is singing during a religious service” and “A five-year-old-child carrying a bag filled with groceries”. Now is the time to free ourselves from any hindrance blocking our truth, power game or manipulative individuals. A month to re-own our power, tap into our deepest inner resources and remember that we are more beautiful than we believe, stronger than we know and more amazing than we are aware.
Neptune remains retrograde this whole month until November 25. Its shadow period lasts until March 16, 2019. The degree covered this month (16º01’-15º17’ Pisces) is symbolized by: “An Easter parade” and “In the quiet of his study, a creative individual experiences a flow of inspiration”. The veils between dimensions are thinning. Our intuition becomes clearer. A month to become more aware of inner anxieties, disillusionments, as well as reconnect with our dreams for the future. Our enhanced imagination is best channeled through the creation of art or developing our healing abilities. A time to nurture ourselves and honor our needs to relax and have fun while connecting or re-connecting to our higher purpose.
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The Moon will be Void of Course (V/O –forming no major aspect with any planet before entering the following sign-):
· From Thursday 8/2 at 7:52 PM till Friday 8/3 at 12:51 PM: when the Moon enters Taurus.
· On Sunday 8/5 between 4:46 PM and 6:32 PM: when the Moon enters Gemini.
· On Tuesday 8/7 between 0:55 AM and 9:01 PM: when the Moon enters Cancer.
· On Thursday 8/9 between 4:20 AM and 9:18 PM: when the Moon enters Leo.
· On Saturday 8/11 between 2:58 AM and 8:59 PM: when the Moon enters Virgo.
· On Monday 8/13 between 9:37 PM and 9:57 PM: when the Moon enters Libra.
· On Thursday 8/16 between 0:56 AM and 1:54 AM: when the Moon enters Scorpio.
· On Saturday 8/18 between 8:07 AM and 9:45 AM: when the Moon enters Sagittarius.
· On Monday 8/20 between 4:47 PM and 8:59 PM: when the Moon enters Capricorn.
· On Thursday 8/23 between 7:19 AM and 9:56 AM: when the Moon enters Aquarius.
· From Friday 8/24 at 9:39 PM and Saturday 8/25 at 10:32 PM: when the Moon enters Pisces.
· On Tuesday 8/28 between 6:54 AM and 9:35 AM: when the Moon enters Aries.
· On Thursday 8/30 between 4:04 PM and 6:30 PM: when the Moon enters Taurus.
Mark these periods in red in your calendar and avoid scheduling anything of importance during these times as they would amount to… NO thing!
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Scheduling our activities using the zodiacal position of the Moon:
Moon in Aries until Friday 8/3 at 12:50 PM + between Tuesday 8/28 at 9:35 AM and Thursday 8/30 at 6:29 PM: Perfect for intense physical activities, anything requiring forceful, direct action and self-assertion. Good also for leadership, spontaneity, good will, being a way shower, initiating new projects or bringing our car to the mechanic….
Moon in Taurus between Friday 8/3 at 12:51 PM and Sunday 8/5 at 6:31 PM + between Thursday 8/30 at 6:30 PM and Sunday 9/2 at 1:01 AM: Perfect for any financial matter: paying our bills/debts, asking for the money that is owed to us, investing in real estate, buying and selling. Perfect also for a stroll in the park, going to the countryside, connecting with our Mother the Earth… Good also for gardening, pottery, sculpting, as well as bodywork…
Moon in Gemini between Sunday 8/5 at 6:32 PM and Tuesday 8/7 at 9:00 PM: Excellent for multi-tasking, curiosity, any form of communication, exchanging information, sending e-mails, calling friends and acquaintances. Great also for social activities, attending conferences, reading a book, watching a documentary, gathering data on various topics, connecting with new people….
Moon in Cancer between Tuesday 8/7 at 9:01 PM and Thursday 8/9 at 9:17 PM: Perfect for family activities, especially those involving children. Good for spending more time at home, cooking, nurturing ourselves and those we love, inviting the people we cherish over for dinner. Excellent also for drawing, creative writing, humor and anything requiring imagination and a touch of craziness….
Moon in Leo between Thursday 8/9 at 9:18 PM and Saturday 8/11 at 8:58 PM: Excellent for anything glamorous, dramatic performances, being in the public’s eye, throwing or attending an elegant party, playing with children, romance and creativity in general…
Moon in Virgo between Saturday 8/11 at 8:59 PM and Monday 8/13 at 9:56 PM: Excellent for starting a new fitness program, learning, healthy nutrition, fasting, clearing our closets, cleaning our home, reorganizing our drawers…. Perfect also for detailed work, the focused use of our intelligence, and taking care of small pets….
Moon in Libra between Monday 8/13 at 9:57 PM and Thursday 8/16 at 1:53 AM: Great for relationships, associations, diplomatic exchanges with others, anything related to beauty (a haircut, buying new clothes, a make-over…), art (especially painting and decorating…), a pleasant social event (concert, art exhibition…).
Moon in Scorpio between Thursday 8/16 at 1:54 AM and Saturday 8/18 at 9:44 AM : Perfect for scientific research, esoteric studies, self-transformation, shamanism, dealing with the mysteries of life, death, and sexuality, as well as insurances and issues involving personal power.
Moon in Sagittarius between Saturday 8/18 at 9:45 AM and Monday 8/20 at 8:58 PM: Perfect for traveling, religious and/or philosophical activities or matters related to higher education and the law. Excellent for lecturing, learning, perfecting a foreign language, exploring other cultures… Perfect also for athletic training and tending to large animals (horses….).
Moon in Capricorn between Monday 8/20 at 8:59 PM and Thursday 8/23 at 9:55 AM: Good for furthering our ambitions, asking for a promotion, enlisting the support of people in positions of authority, making a good impression, re-structuring our business and redefining our long-term goals…
Moon in Aquarius between Thursday 8/23 at 9:56 AM and Saturday 8/25 at 10:31 PM: Perfect for philanthropic activities, charitable organizations, meeting with friends, making new acquaintances. Good also for inventions, far out, progressive ideas, inter-dimensional and time travel, anything related to UFOs, computers and technology in general….
Moon in Pisces between Saturday 8/25 at 10:32 PM and Tuesday 8/28 at 9:34 AM: Great for meditating, sitting by the ocean, anything related to the sacred, dancing, painting, swimming, dreaming, music, photography, film, sleeping, channeling, connecting with the mystical, the magic and the oneness of all that is…
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This month’s intentional meditation is particularly powerful since both dates fall on an eclipse. It started on Friday July 27 when we took out as many blank sheets of paper as you will have intentions and placed them near a window, on a balcony or in a garden so that they would bask in the light of the Full Moon in Aquarius. Once that moment had passed, we gathered our Full Moon charged blank sheets and placed them in a folder.
On Saturday 8/11 on the New Moon which also happens to be a Solar Eclipse, take out your blank full moon charged papers and write on each a concise, positive intention. Place them on a balcony, in a garden or near a window so that they are out by exactly 2:58 AM. Once that moment has passed, staple them together and put them away in a folder expecting the manifestation of all your dreams…
Next month’s intentional meditation which is also particularly powerful, starts on Sunday 8/26. Take out as many blank sheets of papers as you will have. intentions and place them near a window, on a balcony, or in a garden so that they bask in the light of the Full Moon in Pisces at exactly 4:56 AM. Once that moment has passed, gather your Full Moon charged blank sheets and place them in a folder.
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Wednesday 8/1: Mars Square Uranus (7:41 PM)
Sudden, unexpected changes could disrupt our routine and significantly reroute our plans. Situations and people could be volatile, prone to stress and rash behavior. Best to be careful while operating a motorized vehicle or handling sharp objects.
Monday 8/6: Venus enters Libra (4:28 PM, until 9/9), Sun Square Jupiter (4:28 PM)
During the next month, we seek harmony, balance, beauty and companionship. Constructive, enriching, as well as diplomatic relationships are favored. We are drawn to the elegant resolution of a possible conflict. A good time for artists, for bringing peace or simply for a make-over. Today, more specifically, it is important to avoid excesses, particularly financially and physically. We should also question our integrity and favor humility and gratitude.
Tuesday 8/7: Uranus turns retrograde (9:49 AM until 4/23/2019), Venus Trine Mars (5:33 PM)
Regarding Uranus retrograde, kindly refer to the opening paragraph. Today, more specifically, our social life should be more harmonious than usual. We are able to achieve a happy balance between the masculine and the feminine within and without. Exchanges with others are pleasant and peaceful. A good day to begin a love relationship, pacify an existing one and feeling generally content in our interactions with others.
Wednesday 8/8: Sun Conjunct Mercury (7:06 PM)
Excellent for direct, positive, constructive, clear, efficient communications with others. Our work gets done. E-mails are written effortlessly and phone calls are returned promptly.
Thursday 8/9: Venus Square Saturn (6:34 PM)
We could feel more alone than usual, with little to no support. We may need to face the reality of an existing relationship with total honesty. And if not in a partnership, the weight of isolation is felt more heavily than ever before. It is however best to avoid social interactions as they could seem unnecessarily cold. We might be more concerned than we normally are, with security issues.
Friday 8/10: Mercury Square Jupiter (11:32 PM)
If what we are being offered seems too good to be true, it might just be so. Over-enthusiasm or extending ourselves beyond what we can possibly achieve, is not recommended. Too much of a good thing financially, physically, turns into its opposite.
Saturday 8/11: Solar Eclipse (2:58 AM)
Kindly refer to the opening paragraph.
Sunday 8/12: Mars enters Capricorn (7:13 PM until 9/10)
During this coming month, Capricorn natives have the upper hand. Our actions are deliberate, grounded and solid. Our sense of purpose and ambitions are particularly strong. We are disciplined and efficient. Great for any project requiring focus, structure, self-sufficiency and hard work.
Saturday 8/18: Mercury Sextile Venus (8:36 AM), Mercury turns direct (9:25 PM)
Communications are pleasant. Social exchanges are nice and peaceful. A good day to gather with friends. There could however still be some misunderstandings today, as well as lost keys or missed flights. Tomorrow, communications return to normal.
Sunday 8/19: Jupiter Trine Neptune (0:48 AM)
A wonderful day. We could feel generous, hospitable, relaxed and optimistic. Positive visions for the future inspire us to be more considerate towards others less fortunate than ourselves. Our imagination is triggered by mystical topics.
Wednesday 8/22: Sun enters Virgo (9:09 PM until 9/22)
An excellent month to reassess our nutrition and start a healthy exercise program. Getting back in shape could be easier than at any other time. We are attentive to details. A good period to return to school to perfect our knowledge or acquire new skills. Our healing abilities expand. Selfless service is favored.
Saturday 8/25: Sun Trine Uranus (9:36 AM), Sun Trine Saturn (3:07 PM)
An exciting day filled with unpredictable events that both challenge our minds and free us from the known. Implemented with discipline and structure, these changes become new building blocks towards the fulfilment of our ambitions.
Sunday 8/26: Venus Square Pluto (12:18 PM)
Power games, manipulations and ultimatums are quite likely today. A love relationship could feel particularly intense. Jealousy, control, violence or possessiveness are not impossible. Staying on our own is recommended. If we need to interact with others, compromising for the sake of peace, is best.
Monday 8/27: Mars turns direct (7:05 AM), Mercury Square Jupiter (10:31 PM)
Regarding Mars, kindly refer to the opening paragraph. Today, more specifically, blind trust or over-spending are not recommended. We could be tempted to promise more than we can deliver and be offered glitter that isn’t gold. Important to curb our enthusiasm and keep our communications, social exchanges, finances, business and personal affairs within healthy boundaries.
Wishing you a very special month of August!
In Loving Light.
Michelle Karén, M.A., D.F.Astrol.S.
Astrologer, shaman, international conference speaker
Author of Astrology for Enlightenment (Atria Books, Simon & Schuster)
3961 E. Chandler Blvd.
Suite 111-161
Phoenix, AZ 85048