Frank Martin Don LLC - Professional Intuitive & Astrological Consultant

August has something for everyone. Vacation days, focused intent and relationship matters are all part of this month’s makeup. For many of us, August is the time for summer holidays, downtime to recharge our batteries, take a break from our normal routine and re-create. It is also the month when we give thought to the school year ahead. As if conditioned into the belief that the school year start is also the time for us to focus on getting back to work and the work year ahead, August also has us preparing for getting back on track, with purchases for school or wardrobe purchases for the Autumn. With an influence of Libra seeping in, this month also raises the question of our relationships and a desire to spend sultry summer evenings with our special someone.

This August also has highlights of spectacles with first the Summer Olympics in Beijing for much of the month and the Democratic National Convention at the end of the month. And what spectacles each of these two events are likely to be! We may be highly entertained from our armchairs with the extravaganzas and the competitive spirit at its best.

The month begins with a Solar Eclipse at the Leo New Moon on the 1st. The month begins with a Stellium of three or more planets in Leo with the Sun, Moon, Mercury and Venus all occupying the Fixed Fire Sign. Our focus is on fun, creative self-expression and finding venues in which we can stand out and put our imprint on our world.

As we start August, there are five planets in Fire Signs, three planets in Earth Signs, one planet in an Air Sign and one planet in a Water Sign. One planet is in a Cardinal Sign, five planets are in Fixed Signs and four planets are in Mutable Signs. Six planets are in Positive Signs and four planets are in Negative Signs.

We are on fire, impassioned but not blinded by the light. We have a focus on what needs to be done and how we can do it. We are looking for a practical approach to our life’s problems and a pragmatic means by which to find creative outlets for ourselves.

None of us may like some of present days’ circumstances, but they do allow us to stretch, challenge us to take a proactive approach and ask that we come up with a best practices way of doing things and getting things done.

As the saying goes: ‘necessity is the mother of invention’.

We can discover that fun times do not have to break the bank. We might experience the simple joys that cost little except for time and expenditure of energy. We may even come to realize that creating, producing and exerting have incredible side effects that build our self-esteem more so than having something handed to us or done for us as a monetary exchange.

There are two catch configurations we have to watch out for as we start the month.

The Venus opposition Neptune that was exact at the end of July on the 31st influences the beginning of August. We need to avoid becoming infatuated by the image or the appearance without checking the reality of the situation. We could easily see the potential in a person or in a situation, but the appearance may not mesh with reality. This energy configuration is akin to the trickster, a person or situation that appears one way, the reality being totally different. It would be wise not to give benefit of the doubt or accept anything at face value. If we get carried away with our quest for good times without considering the facts and all the facets, we could easily build ourselves a very deep hole from which it would be hard to climb out.

Although we are desirous of realizing the idyllic in our lives, if we do take the time to look deeper than surface appearance, we could find our heart’s desire. For the Venus Neptune opposition also has Venus moving towards a trine with Pluto exact on the 5th. Allowing ourselves time to reflect, consider and experience a situation or a person before we dive headlong into commitment might eventually create a scenario whereby we witness the depth, passion and essence of that person or situation.

Even though we are living fast-paced lives in which there is little time for reflection and deep thought, slowing things down and savoring the experiences give greater depth to our enjoyment and our appreciation of all that life has to offer.

Instead of channel surfing our lives with one experience after another, all the while that each one is becoming a blur in the kaleidoscope of events, activities and interactions; we can manage our time in order to fully experience all the sensations associated with each event, each activity, and each interchange.

The second configuration at the beginning of the month we need to watch for is the Mars opposition Uranus exact on the 6th. The potential for impetuousness is strong, could lead to miscalculations and result in accidents or other disastrous consequences. Physical force can ratchet up and express itself in outbursts and assaults. On the 6th, not only is Mars opposed Uranus but Mercury opposes Neptune. Our thinking may be cloudy, even delusional. We could easily buy into wishful thinking and assume that by our will we can make our desired so.

Around the 6th is a time when we need to count to ten before reacting, consider our actions and their likely consequences before acting, and keep ourselves from rash or impetuous actions. We might want to make changes, assert our individuality but without enough forethought and consideration of the conditions we could race headlong towards precipices.

The 6th ends the Leo Stellium as Venus exits Leo and enters Virgo, creating a Stellium of three or more planets in Virgo as Venus joins Mars and Saturn in the Mutable Earth Sign. Although we are now more likely to critique situations and consider the specifics rather than just enjoying the exuberance of free wheeling fun, people are likely to become increasingly critical. Instead of seeing possibilities, the tendency could shift to only seeing flaws and frailties. Our mind can be laser-like, especially around the 9th when Mercury trines Pluto, but our attitude could tend towards the negative, seeing the dark side rather than the sunny side of situations. This emphasis on Virgo is increased as Mercury enters Virgo, a Sign it rules, on the 10th.

People may be offering their analyses of situations, critical of what is going on and despairing of the prospects for the future. There can be a tendency to lose sight of the forest for the trees as we look at individual pieces and lose sight of the big picture.

Everything may come under the microscope and the critical eye and sarcastic tongue. Even our relationships can suffer as we tend to consider, evaluate, analyze the character, intentions and motivations of another person. This may be especially true on the 13th when Venus conjuncts Saturn.

Although we are still interested in summer fun, our thoughts are moving increasingly to our routine world, our normal experiences and the weight of our daily lives.

The time of the 15th through the 17th could provoke extremes and give witness to the drastic volatility of these times. We might feel schizophrenic as we go from depression to mania. The 15th has the Sun opposed Neptune and Mercury conjunct Saturn. We might be confused, questioning our purpose and second-guessing our goals, feeling as if the wind has been knocked out of us. A sense of resignation could have us giving up our hopes and concentrating on what is right in front of us. If do not give into a disposition of hopelessness, we could use these energies to focus on the right format, the best methods and appropriate action of going step by step to come closer to the realization of our aims.

Certainly the Aquarius Full Moon, a Lunar Eclipse, on the 16th can be inspiring and give us the thrust needed to move forward with our interests and advance our cause. The Full Moon has the Neptune influence so it will be essential that we don’t get carried away by being a daydream believer without connecting the dots, putting plans into action and methodically taking the necessary steps in progressing the realization of our dreams. At the time of the Full Moon, Venus trines Jupiter. We may find the support and encouragement, just what we need to give us the stamina and determination to make our mark upon our world. Some people or someone may provide a sounding board, a necessary grounding, for us to work out the details and specifics as to how we can best proceed with our plans.

The 17th continues the exuberance, thanks to Mercury trine Jupiter. We are feeling upbeat, optimistic, and with Mars square Pluto we might assume that we can move mountains. A most intense configuration, this time of Mars square Pluto can also find people acting out, bomb blasts, explosions and belligerence running rampant. Nothing is likely done in half measure. We would have to be careful not to get caught up in a situation that could escalate quickly and madly.

Mars moves into Libra on the 19th. War and Peace may become the rallying cry on the international front and also on the home front. We have a greater ability to see a perspective other than our own. There is a greater willingness towards conciliation and accommodation.

On the 21st, our soul connection seems strong. The Sun trines Pluto. Impassioned and determined, we are likely to feel transformed with many of the superficial blockages that have often gotten in our way removed. We know what we want from the essence of our being. Our presentations show real strength of purpose. We are coming from our essence, from the core of our very being. Mercury conjuncts Venus, and we have the ability to combine brain and brawn with a diplomatic charm. The 21st can be a very powerful day, a time when we feel that we are more in control of our destiny, when we are convinced that our journey through life needs to have real meaning and express the depth of our individuality. It is also the last day of the Sun’s transit through Leo, and the last time that the Sun will trine Pluto transiting through Sagittarius. Now is a time for us to resolve to focus on the quality of our lives, the essence of our living. No matter the conditions in the world or the circumstances that surround us, we have the indomitable will to follow our heart’s desire and our soul’s intention.

The Sun moves into Virgo on the 22nd, reinforcing the Stellium of three or more planets in one Sign, as the Sun joins Mercury, Venus and Saturn in the Mercury-ruled Sign. Increasingly, our attention is turning back towards our daily lives, our normal routine and what we need to do in order to effectively expedite and carry out our responsibilities. We may have a greater appreciation of the specifics, the details, the different pieces to our lives that make up the fabric of our living.

Uranian energies on the 23rd contribute to a sense of both synchronicity, the asequential reality of these times, and also unexpected situations that challenge our comfort zone. Mercury and Venus both oppose Uranus on the 23rd. One of my least favorite energy configurations for air travel, the Mercury Uranus opposition can wreak havoc with communications, provoke computer glitches with especially internet connections and create difficulties in getting from one place to another. If we don’t get thrown for a loop, this Mercury Uranus configuration also allows for startling insights, revelations, those ‘ah-ha’ moments when things make sense even if they do not fit according to the old paradigm. The Venus Uranus opposition can create tensions in our interactions with others, especially if we or other people are locked into expectations of personal behavior. There could be interesting contacts made, bumping into people in a serendipitous way as if destiny has taken charge. With such strong Uranian energies on the 23rd, this is a time for us to expect the unexpected. We may come to realize that things can virtually turn on a dime, that during these most volatile times there is a friction, a dynamic which instigates dramatic change, changes that we cannot truly foreshadow or perceive, but can only be open to adapting and shifting according to the abnormal patterns of nonlinear sequencing.

The last week of August has Mercury and Venus creating squares to Pluto just prior to their leaving their transit of Virgo and before their entering Libra. This is also the week of the Democratic National Convention in Denver that starts on the 25th and culminates on the 28th with the apparent crowning of Senator Barack Obama as his party’s presidential nominee. With Mercury square Pluto on the 27th discussions can be intense, even heated. Perhaps the most ardent supporters of Senator Hilary Clinton and PUMA may make their case of the railroading of the nomination to Senator Obama. A desire to get to the core of a matter may be evident and passions heated. While our thoughts can be laser-like, piercing and focused on the important specifics of our ideas, we may also have a critical attitude, a tendency to pontificate or heap scorn on those that don’t get our ideas or agree with our reasoning.

Any disagreements around the 27th with the Mercury square Pluto can die down quickly as Mercury moves into Libra on the 28th. Having won or at least made our point, we become more appreciative of other people’s perspective and could become accommodating and conciliatory.

The Venus Pluto square on the 29th may provoke relationship problems. Instead of seeing the qualities of the other person, we may focus on the character flaws or what we perceive as their negative traits. We might even get to the point of ending some connections, figuring that our contact has served its purpose but no longer merits our interchange. While there can be blow-ups with both Pluto squares, such blow-ups are brief as both Mercury on the 28th and Venus on the 30th move into Libra.

With Venus moving into Libra on the 30th, we now have a Stellium of three or more planets in one Sign as Venus joins Mars and Mercury in the Venus-ruled Cardinal Air Sign. Relationships become a key focal point. Even if we have jettisoned certain people from our contact book, we are more interested in our interactions with other people than going it alone.

The 30th also has the Virgo New Moon at the time of the Sun Moon conjunction being within orb of a conjunction to Saturn. We may find that we are becoming more attentive to the Autumn period, getting back on track with our normal, daily activities. At the same time, we might find ourselves going through a walk down Memory Lane, recapitulating and excoriating the demons of our past. The ‘blame game’ is en vogue but not a healthy way of dealing with our present, much less preparing for our future.

As the adage attributed to philosopher George Santayana states: “those who do not learn from their past are doomed to repeat it.”

Why go there? We can learn from the past but it would be counterproductive to harbor ill feelings of the past. If we knew then what we know today, our choices might have been different. We didn’t, they weren’t, so let’s maintain an air of bemusement regarding any so-called foibles of our past.

As we end August, we can strategize the best practices approach for our return to the fast track. We can appreciate the special people in our lives and be grateful for the blessings bestowed upon us.

No matter how difficult situations may seem, it is important to keep in mind that we never get more than we can handle. Problems present challenges and provide the opportunities for us to stretch, grow and devise ways to successfully meet our tests and develop our skills and grow further into our being.

August… something for everyone…

This week can be extreme in its volatility with its ups and downs. Our relationships can take on greater meaning, if we are willing to acknowledge other people having their own point of view. If we are stuck in our perspective and our opinions, we might experience the universe giving us a lateral lobotomy, one of those whacks on the side of the head that force us to see things in a different light, from a different vantage point.

The mid-week can be especially trying thanks to Mars opposed Uranus and Mercury opposed Neptune, both on Wednesday. Unexpected situations might arise that force us to adapt to changing conditions. We may feel knocked off center, confused and even dazed by the shifting circumstances. Accidents could be common but only if we rush to judgment and try to force things to our will rather than evaluating the situation, changing course if necessary and dealing in a measured, considered approach.

Nothing is likely done in half measure. We can soar with the eagles and plummet to depths that seem fathomless. To paraphrase the nursery rhyme: ‘When it is good, it can be very, very good. And when it is bad, it can be very, very bad.”

If we can get off the track, take some time to consider the meaning and purpose of our lives, then we may decide what is important to us and what involvements are merely diversions that waste our time.

This week has two major Pluto energy configurations: Venus trine Pluto on Tuesday and Mercury trine Pluto on Saturday. The Venus and Mercury aspects are made just as both planets are about to leave Leo and enter Virgo. With first Venus on Wednesday and then Mercury on Sunday entering Virgo, we now have a Stellium of three or more planets in the Mercury-ruled Mutable Earth Sign, as Venus and Mercury join Saturn and Mars in Virgo.

These Pluto energy configurations can increase the depth and passion in our relationships and in our thought processes. While there is an easy flow to both, these energy configurations wildly contrast the Mercury and Venus squares to Pluto during the last week of August.

Increasingly, we may become more analytical about situations, more critical and even demanding in our expectations. Even if we are still highly involved in our Summer plans this week, we might begin giving more thought to our normal activities, our daily lives and the coming school / work year ahead.

A week of ups and downs, this week it would be wise to keep in mind the admonition: ‘moderation in all things’.

Monday, August 4th – Stretched Thin – Mars, Lunar T-Square, Uranus, Pluto. We may be on turbothrust as we start the week. Monday has the Virgo Moon conjunct Mars and the Moon creates a Mutable Sign T-Square as the Moon opposes Uranus and squares Pluto. This day could be quite intense with the battle cry ‘take no prisoners’. A prelude to Wednesday’s Mars Uranus opposition, this day can find us switching course, changing direction, all with a self-pontificating divine right of being. We are likely to be highly critical today, even demanding ‘my way or the highway’. We might not be aware of the level of belligerence we may be exhibiting. We could be caught up in the amount that we feel we have to do. While we may have a great deal on our plate today, it is also important to recognize that unexpected situations could arise that also demand our attention. This Monday is a day to have our ‘to do’ list in hand but with the realization that we might not accomplish all that we have intended for the day. We might want to force our will but keeping in mind that the universe has a quirky sense of humor we could be thwarted in our attempts to control situations. Let’s not get too caught up in our plans and projections. The more adaptable we can be, the less frustrating we are likely to feel. We may feel stretched thin today, and to resolve that sense all we need to do is to let go of our expectations. Towards the latter part of the day, we find relief as the Moon moves out of Virgo and enters Libra.

Tuesday, August 5th – Deep and Meaningful – Venus, Pluto. Can we call Tuesday a breather? This day is probably so, since Tuesday is wedged between two very intense days that are likely to spill over their impact even on this Tuesday. The Moon is in Libra. We have a greater appreciation of other people and other people’s perspective. We are less gung-ho about winning our point or looking out for number one, no longer criticizing or placing blame in everything other than our own actions. With the Moon in Libra today, we also have Libra-ruling Venus trine Pluto. Today is a day when our relationships can grow deeper and more meaningful. We are feeling passionate about life and about our special connections. We may want to broaden our realm, explore new territory, all the while that we are in search of the beauty in life and in our interchanges. Today is a good day for heart-to-heart interactions. We are feeling uplifted by those special people in our lives and recognize the importance of the support systems that give our life experience greater purpose and meaning. None of us are islands unto ourselves, and this Tuesday we can both more fully understand that reality and also communicate our gratitude for the people that are part of the fabric of our lives. Today is a good day to express our feelings to another person, to tell them how much they mean to us, and for us to see how our lives are made so much better by those who are in our lives.

Wednesday, August 6th – Beyond the Blue Horizon – Mars, Uranus, Mercury, Neptune, Sun, Jupiter, Venus Virgo. If we got through Monday unscathed, we may find that it was only conditioning preparation for this Wednesday. Today we have the Libra Moon sextile Sun, square Jupiter, trine Neptune, and sextile Mercury. Under such wonderful energy configurations, this day would seem close to marvelous. We would be feeling good about our interchanges with other people, having a sunny disposition, able to see wonderful possibilities for our future and generally walking in sunshine. La-de-da. Nice concept and it would be likely true, IF those were the only energies operating today. But they’re not. We have a couple of energy configurations that could throw real curve balls our way: Mars opposed Uranus and Mercury opposed Neptune. We may be champing at the bit, wanting to make changes in our lives and willing to go extreme in order to do so. People may prove to be terrorists, upsetting the applecart of our attempts at serenity and placidity. Unexpected situations could rise up like a tsunami ready to wash away our plans for the day and demanding immediate reaction to most bizarre situations and behavior. The liability towards accidents and irrational behavior is strong today. While incidents may demand instantaneous action, we might also feel dazed, confused, and unable to figure things out clearly. For some people, such confusion could prove a blessing. It allows them to be oblivious to the drastic shifts occurring. Although today’s energy can be like wild slams amidst a desire for peace and harmony, the less reactive we are, the less driven by things beyond our control we shall be. Today is a day for us to count to ten before reacting to events. Knee-jerk reactions could only ramp up dire consequences. If we could get a handle on today’s energies, then we could also use these energies to make significant changes to our daily lives, intuit a best practices approach to bring about the reformation of our lives, and combine both our intentions and the dynamic of the universe to accelerate the necessary shifts to get us from where we are into a vast new terrain of being. A tall order for us to achieve, but we can do it if we don’t get carried away by the energies of today and instead try to channel those energies into productive outlets. This Wednesday also has Venus leaving Leo and ending the Stellium of three or more planets in the Fixed Fire Sign. Venus moves into Virgo, thereby creating a Stellium of three or more planets in the Mutable Earth Sign as Venus joins Mars and Saturn in Virgo. We may become more discerning, selective and even critical in our interactions with other people.

Thursday, August 7th – Deeper and Deeper – Pluto, Venus. Thursday starts the day with the Libra Moon sextile Pluto. This week has some strong hopscotch qualities to it. Yesterday had some reminiscences to Monday and this Thursday has some reminiscences to Tuesday. The Moon Pluto sextile that starts this Thursday allows our interactions with others to broaden, expand and be uplifting. We want people in our lives that have a depth of character and with whom we can share meaningful relationships. This disposition is reinforced as the Moon moves into Pluto-ruled Scorpio and sextiles Libra-ruling Venus. We are looking to spend time with those people who have something to offer us. We are not interested in wasting our time with those who can only talk about the weather, fashion design, sports or other mundane interests. We want passion, intimacy, to feel the earth move under our feet by means of the intensity in our relatedness. This day is a time when we can evaluate and take account of our address book and our contact list. We may gravitate towards people that can help us strip away some of the distractions and diversions in our lives that have so little meaning except to fill up our time. Today is a good day for inventory taking, cleaning up the clutter and stripping down to the essentials. Going through our closets, through our cabinets and through our files to clear out the extraneous and outmoded would be a good way to use today’s energy. We could also come up with budget plans, figuring out how we can utilize our revenue stream in the most productive ways during these inflationary times. Where can we cut back? What can we cut out? We may find that the more we seriously look at our life and our life’s expenditures, we actually become more focused on those things that carry great import for us. This Thursday is a day when we can go deeper and deeper into the substance and essence of our being.

Friday, August 8th – Let the Games Begin – Saturn, Jupiter, Sun. Friday has the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. In so doing, China is fully stepping onto the world stage to take its place as a leader in the global community. Today has the Moon in Scorpio sextile Saturn in Virgo, sextile Jupiter in Capricorn and square the Sun in Leo. Presentations can be very structured, even minimalist but done with precision. For some people, they might question the showmanship, or lack thereof, but such a questioning would only be the result of cultural differences. For each of us, this Friday allows us to plan, strategize and prepare to work smarter rather than harder. We may not be able to be as grandiose or showy as we like, but we can also stretch our finances, find bargains, and focus on getting the most out of situations. This Friday could hammer home the reality that life has changed. The excesses of the 1990’s and early 2000’s, what Yale economist Robert Schiller referred to as ‘irrational exuberance’, are gone. While the so-called easy days of those times, although not truly so fulfilling, may be behind us; we can increasingly appreciate the concept that ‘living simply is not simply living’. The opportunity and challenge of these times is making more out of less. This Friday provides us a time when we can commit to being proactive rather than reactive, evaluate present conditions and devise ways by which we can be productive, successful and fully engaged in making our lives a wonder-full journey. Let the games begin!

Saturday, August 9th – Finding the Needle – Mercury, Pluto, Uranus, Lunar T-Square, Neptune, Mars. Saturday has our thinking cap fully placed on our head thanks to Mercury trine Pluto. Our thoughts are penetrating, our ideas cutting to the core. Whatever problems we might have faced, or are facing, today allows us to come up with the solution. Our mind is able to cut to the fundamentals and find the proverbial needle in the haystack. Our communications can be forceful but inspiring and right to the point. The Scorpio Moon trines Uranus and sextiles Mars so we also have the ability to shift and change on a dime. Things might come up that throw our plans off kilter, but no worries. We can adapt and change easily, all the while focusing on the most important areas to prioritize. The Moon also creates a Fixed Sign T-Square by squaring Neptune in Aquarius and squaring Mercury in Leo. We may not like the fact that some of our desires and assumptions no longer hold water. We could even be adamant about continuing with plans or situations that we know within our being no longer work. If we want to go there, then we can emulate ‘wrong way Corrigan’ heading off in one direction, only to wind up somewhere else. If we don’t become too pig-headed about what we want and how we want it, then we might open the door to the magic and wonder of synchronicity, the ‘asequential’ reality of letting the universe operate without trying to master it. Today is a day when we can truly know what is right for us, even if it flies in the face of our old beliefs. The question is whether we will acknowledge the changes, both in situations and in our understanding, or whether we will be dragged to the changes kicking and screaming. Our choice, always our choice is to work with the universe or try to master it. The latter will be increasingly unattainable. In the latter part of the day, the Moon moves out of Scorpio and into Sagittarius. Our intensity is likely to lighten up and we can consider spreading our wings and not feel quite so constipated.

Sunday, August 10th – Not So Fast – Venus, Saturn, Mercury Virgo. Even though the Moon has moved into Sagittarius and we are looking at spreading our wings to fly away, today’s Moon squares both Venus and Saturn in Virgo. We may feel a real tug of war between summer fun times and our daily obligations. Even if we are away on vacation, the thoughts of what we need to do can come creeping in and haunt us with the phantoms of our normal routine. Already, back to school specials are blaring on the sound waves of radio, internet and television. Print media are bannering sales and specials. It’s hard to keep our mind on our holidays when we are now being reminded that it’s getting time to get back on the track. This tendency to look at the specifics of our lives is reinforced by Mercury moving into Virgo today, reinforcing the Stellium of three or more planets in the Mercury-ruled Mutable Earth Sign as Mercury joins Venus, Saturn and Mars in Virgo. Today is a day when no matter how hard we try to escape from our daily lives, there may be constant reminders. Although we might feel our wings clipped, we don’t have to capitulate to the consumer-inciting emphasis. We can still enjoy our summer activities, all the while cognizant of the fact that summer is coming to a close. What we do need to avoid is glossing over details and specifics in order to have a few more moments of sun and fun. Increasingly, life is calling for us to balance, to blend, to be adaptable and juggle various activities, different interests and unexpected situations arising. It may seem like a wild kaleidoscope but let’s just call it life.

This week allows us to step out in style, focus on outstanding matters needing to be resolved, and reconnect with friends present and past. We are able to juggle our responsibilities and still have some good times. We don’t want to leave the summer behind, but we are likely to get reminders that it’s nearing time to get back on track with our normal, daily routine.

We start the week in high gear, adding variety to our activities and spicing up our life. We are feeling enthusiastic but may need to make necessary shifts to our plans and to our health regimen. Concentrating on how we can operate at our optimum all the while that we are surfing the crests and troughs of these most interesting, albeit challenging, times can be front and center for us this week.

Let’s keep in mind that the month began with the Solar Eclipse at the Leo New Moon providing an influence for the fortnight and beyond with an emphasis on redefining ourselves and seeking to manifest our creative potential. The energies call for us to determine our personal best and set out to achieve it.

The week does build up to a crescendo as we come to the weekend, which could prove fairly intense thanks both to the Lunar Eclipse at the Full Moon on Saturday and Mars square Pluto on Sunday just before Mars leaves Virgo to enter Libra. We might want to go all out over the weekend. We may want too good a time and might have to pay the consequences. Let’s just watch for excesses, both with indulgences and in actions.

Monday, August 11th – Outta Here – Sun, Neptune, Lunar T-Square, Uranus, Mars. Monday starts the week by kicking up the energy. Today’s energy configurations are truly paradoxical with the Sagittarius Moon trine the Sun and sextile Neptune on the upbeat side, and the Moon creating a Mutable Sign T-Square by squaring Uranus in Pisces and squaring Mars in Virgo on the downside. While we can feel very optimistic and enthusiastic about our plans and future prospects, we have to be careful that we don’t get caught up in a frenzy of activity whereby we are doing as much as we possibly can with a few monkey wrenches thrown into the mix for us to juggle as well. If we could get out of town and have a relaxing day today that would be great. But along our journey we could experience unexpected situations cropping up that force us to shift, adjust, change. Today is a day for flexibility and not to get locked into how things are supposed to go. Our preconceptions could be dashed. We also have to watch that we are not so focused on having some free time to spread our wings and explore new activities that we negate our tasks and responsibilities. This day is one of those times when we could hurry through what needs to be done in order to be out the door and engage in recreational pursuits. Only problem is that we could miscalculate, skirt some important details and gloss over specifics just to be finished with what had been hanging over our head. Juggling, balancing and picking up the pace would be the best way to have our cake and eat it too --- dealing with our obligations but having enough time to enjoy ourselves.

Tuesday, August 12th – Focused Intent – Pluto, Mercury. Tuesday starts with the Sagittarius Moon trine Pluto. We may awaken impassioned, determined and ready to put ourselves into drive with a turbothrust. We know what we want to do and feel like nothing can get in our way. The Moon then moves into Capricorn where it trines Mercury. From our fervor to begin the day, we can now put plans into action. We can figure the best ways to proceed, create a structure and be certain of the details to come up with a best practices approach to accomplish what we feel needs to be done. This day offers a great combination of spirit into action. We have the passion to achieve results. If we had some screw-ups yesterday, then today allows us to sort them out and straighten things up. This day is a good time for us to methodically plan our steps. We have the interest and also the reasoning ability to see what needs to be done and then devise the most expeditious means to do so. Not a day to be lost. We can blueprint, strategize and devise the activities to enhance the quality of our living. If we are traveling now, we might seek out cultural artifacts or cosmopolitan venues in which to roam.

Wednesday, August 13th – Positive Paybacks – Venus, Saturn, Jupiter. Wednesday builds upon Tuesday’s productive qualities. This Tuesday has Venus conjunct Saturn. People may be a little critical of other people, critiquing their behavior and holding them to a high standard. But a rigidity in interactions can be assuaged by the Capricorn Moon trine both Venus and Saturn and conjunct Jupiter. There could be interesting reconnections with people from our past. Reunions or contacts may allow for a walk down Memory Lane, as we reminisce about times shared. We might also experience a token of appreciation, someone indicating their gratitude for something that we had done in the past. This day is a good day to contact those people we have been meaning to get in touch with but just haven’t done so. We do need to cut people some slack, recognize their individual qualities and not hold great expectations. None of us would want clones in the people with whom we associate. If there have been arguments, irritations or slights, this day allows us to clarify and smooth over past relationship sticking points. We can create the right format to provide presentations in a clear and visually appealing manner. We might look at purchases of clothes or having a personal makeover. Our tendency would be to go more conservative than normal but for school or work wardrobe we could come up with a stylish, classical design.

Thursday, August 14th – Timely Adjustments – Uranus, Mars. The Capricorn Moon on Thursday sextiles Uranus and trines Mars. We can add a little panache, spicing things up, today. Today is a great day to streamline our activities and find ways by which we can be more effective with less expenditure of energy. We may find that we are working with time in a qualitative manner rather than a quantitative factor, able to accomplish more in a shorter period of time than usual. We are operating on all cylinders, able to juggle and master various activities virtually at the same time. Things fall easily into place today. There’s little stress and the more we can accomplish today, the more we can prepare for a fun-filled weekend ahead. As the day progresses, the Moon moves out of Capricorn and enters Aquarius. As productive as we may have been earlier in the day, on Wednesday and on Tuesday; we might now feel as though we need to take a breather, concentrate on fun activities enjoy ourselves and gather together with friends or make plans for social gatherings.

Friday, August 15th – Which Way is Up? – Sun, Neptune, Mercury, Saturn. After the mid-part of this week, when we could have been humming, dealing with what needed to be done in a most effective manner; we come to Friday and we may feel at sixes and sevens, wondering what we should be doing or even questioning what me might want to be doing. It is often hard to shift gears, and yet the gears have shifted. Today the Moon is in Aquarius but not making any planetary connections. The Sun opposes Neptune and Mercury conjuncts Saturn. We could feel confused, not at all clear about what we should do with ourselves. Possibilities may come to mind, but we might not have the energy to bring things from the abstract into concrete reality. We have to be careful not to be too judgmental today. We could be hard on ourselves and hard on everyone else around us. Although our mind can be concentrated and very much focused on the microscopic, this is one of those times when we could lose sight of the big picture and instead see only from tunnel vision. Let’s avoid definitive decisions today, allow ourselves to evaluate and reconsider before committing to anything. And if we do commit to anything, it is essential that we check our agenda and where we are coming from before we launch ahead. We’re not operating from our greatest strength today, so it would probably be a good idea to take a break and air out.

Saturday, August 16th – Endless Possibilities – Venus, Jupiter, Lunar Eclipse, Neptune, Sun. Saturday might continue with an air of confusion that hung over us yesterday. With the Lunar Eclipse at the time of the Aquarius Full Moon with the Moon opposed the Sun and conjunct Neptune, we may feel very moody, lost in our reveries and absorbed in our daydreams of endless possibilities. Venus also trines Jupiter today and the likelihood of excess and indulgence can’t be discounted. Today is a good day to have a firm hold on our monies, keeping our budget in mind, and watch for a tendency to overspend. We may be tempted to buy the biggest and brightest of anything, but our draw may be more to cover up our feelings of insecurity or our desires rather than based upon real needs. This is a day when we could easily fall prey to that slogan: ‘when the going gets tough, the tough go shopping’. Don’t go there! Of if we do, let’s be certain that we keep the sales slips in case of a desire for returns. Life is about possibilities and this Saturday could offer a myriad of possibilities and even impossibilities that seem plausible.

Sunday, August 17th – Explosive Forces – Mars, Pluto, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn. Sunday is another of those paradoxical energy days. On the one hand, Mercury trines Jupiter. Our thoughts might be bright and scintillating. We might feel we have the answer and the way for all of our problems. On the other hand, we have one of my least favorite energies: Mars square Pluto. Like a volcano percolating below the surface building up its force until finally ready to blow, today could be extremely forceful with the possibility of explosions, blasts and violent outbursts. Discussions could turn into debates and heated debates at that. People may push the envelope and take everything to the edge or beyond. In the early morning hours, the Aquarius Moon sextiles Pluto and then the Moon moves into Pisces where it opposes Saturn. The liability toward extremes is strong today with a wild swing between manic – depressive tendencies. This is a day not to take ourselves too seriously but to engage in tai chi moves whereby we take note of the energies and the changing tides and keep a distance from any potentially volatile situations. No knee-jerk reactions today. It is far better to count to ten before acting or reacting on this day. If we can harness the energies, a tall order in deed, then we could also strip away non-essentials and focus on the fundamentals. But it is important to be aware that these energies are incredibly powerful and intense. Caution is key and diplomacy in all interactions a wise behavior.

This week ends one of this month’s two major spectacles and prepares for the second of the month’s major spectacles next week. The Summer Olympics in Beijing continue through the week and end on Sunday, the 24th. Next week, starting on Monday, the 25th, the Democratic National Convention convenes in Denver to anoint their US Presidential ticket of President and Vice-President for the November election campaign.

Like life itself, this week has its share of ups and downs. The week starts off with people feeling at sixes and sevens. Hypercriticism can be in the air with a sense that nothing is truly going right. Even glimmers of hope and bright spots seem doused under the spray of unexpected situations and conditions. This is a week not to take anything for granted but rather to keep our eyes wide open and ready to adapt to immediate changes and radical shifts going on. If we try to force anything this week, we could feel quite frustrated. Not only could there be significant delays, there can also be some major distractions that get in our way.

Thursday and Friday seem primo days, and may reinforce the notion that when things are good, they can be very good in deed. We are likely to be driven by passion and determination. But our drive is not ego-based as much as being truly connected to our life purpose and our life’s meaning. As if by our destiny, we can fit various pieces into the puzzle of our lives. Even if things didn’t seem to fit at the beginning of the week, everything can come together towards the end of the week.

Increasingly, we are getting the sense of Autumn approaching, the days of Summer drawing to a close, as our attention turns increasingly back to our normal, daily routines.

The weekend, like last weekend, can be somewhat challenging. Conditions and circumstances may seem to alter quickly and dramatically. What we might have assumed to be the case and the parameters in which we are operating suddenly can reveal issues not taken into account or matters arising that force us to reconsider and try a different approach. We may have to be nimble and quick to ride the wave of shifting tides. Reliance on the status quo or a semblance of stability could prove to be an illusion and may be very challenging and exhausting to us.

If we can roll with the punches this week, not get caught up in a frenzy of activity, then we can both create and cross the suspension bridge between Summer holidays and back on track, and between normal routines and altered plans.

Monday, August 18th – Backbiting – Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Uranus. Monday starts the week a little off kilter. We may be reeling from the explosive intensity of Sunday that still has its influence on Monday. Today, the Pisces Moon sextiles Jupiter, opposes both Mercury and Venus and conjuncts Uranus. We may want to expand our scope, do things on the fly and could easily resent obligations or commitments that take us away from our being able to do our own thing. We could easily gloss over situations, find fault with others and refuse accountability for our own actions. There could be wild swings between feeling completely victimized to lashing out with irrational criticisms. This Monday is one when we need to avoid knee-jerk reactions, count to ten before acting and to cut each other plenty of slack. If we are initiating new projects or expanding our present activities, let’s do so after having fully considered the big picture, the specifics with the details and the integration of the two. If we can get a handle on the whipsaw energies today, we could get some interesting insights into how to create a best practices approach of dealing with our responsibilities while exploring areas that spark our interest. The main thing today is not to let the energies get the better of us. Step by step and being sure we have dealt with the particulars can keep us on track and avoid nasty blow-ups based on grand expectations that just cannot be met.

Tuesday, August 19th – No Quarter Given – Pluto, Mars, Mars Libra. We start Tuesday with the Pisces Moon square Pluto. If we didn’t hold our tongue or restrain ourselves from lashing out yesterday, then Tuesday might begin with a knock-down, drag-out fight. Despite all evidence to the contrary and in spite of our own best judgment, we could be itching for a fight or looking to avenge any emotional slight or perceived hurt. Why go there? It would be far wiser for us to channel the intensity into preparing to race out of the starting gate and put our imprint on our activities and our personal interests. We may want what we want no matter its impact on those around us. Mars exits Virgo and enters Libra, a Sign uncomfortable for the martial force. The Moon exits Pisces to enter Aries where it opposes Mars. Any resentment and anger early in the day now can be the impetus for us to do what we want to do no matter how it affects our relationships. We might become very self-focused, self-absorbed and even selfish, putting on blinders seeing only what we want to see and blocking everything else out. Monday and Tuesday can be two difficult days, days when nothing seems to fit, when we might be hypercritical finding fault with everyone and everything, and when we care only about our own personal interests to the detriment of everyone and everything around us. Impulsive actions could create situations that need to be corrected further down the road. Let’s realize that we may be itching to get on with things and that we might want to make changes just for the sake of change. Catching our breath, taking time before impulsively racing ahead and recognizing that life goes in phases and cycles could help us avoid some nasty blow-ups and painful incidents.

Wednesday, August 20th – My Way – Jupiter. The tendency for people to be so self-involved that they don’t notice the signs or hear the cautionary warning sounds is strong in the first half of this week. People may be acting out, wanting to stretch their wings but all without considering the impacts or the conditions in which they are doing so. This tendency towards self-absorption continues on this Wednesday as the Aries Moon squares Jupiter. Our impetuousness could get the better of us. We might push ahead without the proper tools or even a directional map. If we could restrain the urges to do something, anything early in the week then we can avoid creating messes for ourselves, messes both in inappropriate actions and in our interactions with other people. People could be belligerent, pontificating and unwilling to hear anything but their own opinion from their limited viewpoint. Heated discussions, arguments and people being just downright intense can all be part of the makeup during the first half of this week. Although we might want to focus on our own personal interests, let’s not forget our commitments and our obligations. We may not want to get back on track quite yet, especially if the Summer has not lived up to our expectations, but it is essential that we try and maintain a semblance of balance between our responsibilities and our desire to do things on a lark. The energy shifts dramatically tomorrow, but this Wednesday is the third day of an intense, self-absorbed phase that could spell trouble for us if we don’t put on the brakes and be attentive to the conditions around us.

Thursday, August 21st – Getting it Right – Sun, Pluto, Mercury, Venus, Neptune, Lunar Grand Trine. Phew! We don’t have to do a T.G.I.F. [thank goodness it’s Friday] on this Thursday, but we might all heave and hear a collective sigh of relief. After an irritating and annoying early part of this week, Thursday breaks far more bright and beautiful. We feel far less uncomfortable in our own skin. We might even feel as though we had shed a skin. After a several day phase of clunking about with emotional tantrums and blow-ups along the way, this Thursday lets us get things right. What a difference a day makes! This Thursday has the Sun on the last full day of its Leo transit trining Pluto, Mercury conjunct Venus and in the early part of the day the Aries Moon sextile Neptune and creating a Fire Grand Trine by trining Pluto and trining the Sun. This Thursday can make up for all the craziness and dysfunctionality of the past few days. We seem far more on top of things today, less likely to take things out of context or personally and able to rise above the mundane concerns and fault-finding we might have experienced over the past few days. We are driven, determined and passionate about putting our imprint on things and in a creative, impressive manner rather than with a primal scream of self-assertion that might have characterized earlier actions. Yes, this Thursday things can easily come together and one reason might be that we are far more together. We want to shine. We’re not looking at hogging the spotlight merely to be on the stage. We want to express ourselves in a creative manner, find the enjoyment in our daily activities, and engage in activities that re-create our energies and give us a sense of self-fulfillment. We are less likely to be making comparisons and judgments and more likely to concentrate on our personal best and those things that truly speak to us. Thursday is a great day to lay the foundation stones in our mind regarding the activities we wish to pursue and the involvements that will be truly meaningful for us. We give off an aura of having our lives together, confident, radiant, knowing where we want to go and enthusiastic about the journey. As the day progresses, the Moon moves into Taurus. From today’s Grand Trine in Fire, the Moon tomorrow creates a Grand Trine in Earth. Today we can make our plans, prepare ourselves to put those plans in action and garner up the self-confidence to make manifest our hopes and dreams.

Friday, August 22nd – Putting it Together – Lunar Grand Trine, Saturn, Jupiter, Sun Virgo. Friday has the Moon in Taurus where it creates a Grand Trine in the Earth Signs by trininig Saturn in Virgo and trining Jupiter in Capricorn. From yesterday’s impetus whereby we got ourselves together, focused on the essence of our being and reinforced our soul connection, this Friday allows us to execute and make manifest our plans. Things can fit neatly together today. Bargains can be found. We can create the right structure and the most expeditious methods to accomplish our goals. Today is a great day to get back on track, concentrate on our daily routine and line our ducks up in a row. We could easily prioritize, blueprint our strategies and create a Master Plan of the things we want to accomplish and the deadlines for doing so. We have replenished our tanks, feel far more self-confident and effective and recognize that we can meet even the most challenging of circumstances. What we do have to watch for is getting overly cocky, especially in light of the fact that tomorrow might pitch us some curveballs in order to see whether we are adaptable to unexpected situations that could arise. If we build the proper foundation stones, then we can withstand disruptions that arise. Today is a good day to lay down the basics, figure out the ground rules and be aware that the process has a life of its own with varying circumstances causing for adaptations to changing conditions. We can accomplish a great deal today, so let’s not waste the day dithering about. The Sun goes into Virgo today and even if we are off on holiday, we are likely to be focusing ever more on our daily life’s routines.

Saturday, August 23rd – Between the Extremes – Mercury, Venus, Uranus, Moon Void-of-Course, Neptune, Sun, Mars. After two splendiferous days, Saturday provides some blips on the screen, although these blimps may seem more like Alpine mountains than anthills. Saturday has both Mercury and Venus opposed Uranus. To some degree, this Saturday could be like Murphy’s Law whereby ‘whatever can go wrong will’. Unanticipated situations could arise that throw us off center. The energies patterns are my least favorite for travel, especially air travel. Disruptions can occur. Communications can be off. And computer problems can arise. This day demands flexibility and the ability to adapt to changing situations. Whatever plans we have today we might have to alter. If we are not body slammed by the energies, we could also discover that we have entered the magic world of synchronicity, asequential reality, whereby things come about in a most unexpected manner rather than a linear, sequential progression. The question is whether this magical world proves to be dreams come true or instead a mawkish nightmare. Today is not a day to jump to conclusions for no matter how well we might have researched issues and no matter how well we might have prepared the particulars, something can come up that throws monkey wrenches in the spokes of the wheels. Spontaneity can be strong today but let’s watch for impulsive actions that could lead to misunderstandings, accidents and delays. Slow down, for we might be moving too fast. The day does start off with the Taurus Moon trines Venus, sextile Uranus and trine Mercury, but also square Neptune. Let’s keep our antennae up, our eyes wide open, for we could discover that the day does not go according to plan. There can be some exciting opportunities today but we do have to be careful not to leap before we look at what is truly going on. Later in the day, the Moon moves into Gemini where it squares the Sun and trines Mars. We may have so much going on today that it proves exhausting. This Saturday is a kaleidoscopic day with a myriad of events, people and situations that are constantly shapeshifting, changing and altering. We might be filled with awe and wonder or could experience a lateral lobotomy, one of the universe’s whack on the side of the head. Saturday is a day to be nimble and quick and not swept away by the rapid currents off constantly changing events.

Sunday, August 24th – Thud – Saturn. After Saturday’s whirlwind of frenzied activity with extremes of highlights and lowlights, we might come into Sunday with a thud. The intensity of yesterday could have taken it out of us. We might have felt that was more was compressed in that one day yesterday than we normally deal with in a week’s, or longer, time. On Sunday the Gemini Moon squares Saturn. If we got carried away yesterday made all kinds of outrageous statements, purchases or other extreme actions, this Sunday could be a day to make amends. We might want to revisit, correct any outlandish situations that we were involved in. Today is a day to go back over things, look at the details that we might have glossed over, return things we might have bought on impulse and just deal with outstanding matters. We might feel somewhat exhausted today, especially after this week of ups and downs. Time out would be an appropriate call. Whether we need to catch our breath, address unresolved issues for the past few days or just to get some rest; Sunday is a day to turn down the energy, slow the pace and have some quiet time to reflect and recharge. No point in self-critiquing today. If we went there, we likely would go there in a very critical mindset. What’s done is done. We might have to refine, temper or change some of the past but we certainly can’t undo it. So why judge it? Today is a day to have some quite time. The ups and downs of this week, and the intensity of the past few days, may be revisited during this coming week, so let’s enjoy some time to chill out and just relax.

This week begins with a Stellium of three or more planets in one Sign and ends the week with a Stellium in another Sign. The Stellium with which we begin the week is in Virgo and the Stellium at the end of the week is in Libra. In the interim, we have two squares to Pluto, first Mercury on Wednesday and then Venus on Friday, just as both planets are about to exit Virgo. There are two Sign changes this week as both Mercury and then Venus move from Mercury-ruled Virgo into Venus-ruled Libra. In addition, the weekend gives us the Virgo New Moon.

The past two weeks have provided the grand spectacle of the Summer Olympics in Beijing. This week provides another spectacle as the Democrats gather in Denver for their National Convention to nominate their candidates for President and Vice-President.

This week has a great deal of activity with various doses of extremes and intensity before we move into a more placid and accommodating time. We are also likely to find ourselves getting back into our routine, focused more on our normal activities and putting aside our vacation time and recreational pursuits. We may become far more serious about what we need to do, far more aware of the conditions around us and far more attentive to the details and the specifics of our lives.

In the process of moving from being hypercritical and exacting to being appreciative and accepting, there are some blips on the screen that allow us to vent, bellow and even eliminate situations and possibly people from our life experience. As if having scalpel in hand, this week can see its share of incisions, removals and reconfiguring. The more focused we can be, the less likely we are to make nasty cuts and more likely we are to strip away the irrelevant and superfluous from our lives.

Monday, August 25th – Possibilities, Realities and the Whole Ball of Wax – Neptune, Lunar Grand Cross, Uranus, Venus, Mercury, Pluto. Monday starts the week in high gear, even overdrive. We may have a great deal on our plate as daily routines demand our attention, unexpected situations crop up and plans for our future ask for consideration. We could be juggling a great deal today, dealing from a high level of nervous energy and going from one thing to another without a moment’s rest. This Monday has the Gemini Moon trine Neptune and creating a Grand Cross in the Mutable Signs as the Moon squares Uranus in Pisces, opposes Pluto in Sagittarius and squares both Venus and Mercury in Virgo. The energy today is ramped up severalfold with a need to pick up the pace in order to cover all the bases. People may be very much on edge today, glossing over matters due to overload. The potential for explosive actions is strong today and virtually every other day this week. Although there may be a great deal going on, it would be wise to slow down the pace to a reasonable rhythm whereby we can juggle various issues without doing so in an off-handed or casual manner. We need to keep on top of things today, otherwise things can back up and come crashing down on us later in the week. Maintaining focus can be hard today. Let’s watch out for distractions that take our eye off what needs to be done. While we might feel on overwhelm, it would be important to keep in our mind’s eye the big picture and long-range goals. This day is one of those times when me might lose sight of the forest for the trees. Let’s work with time in a subjective and qualitative manner rather than an objective and quantitative manner. In other words, let’s be aware of our productive time cycle --- whether it be an hour, thirty minutes, twenty minutes or less --- and work with that cycle whereby we concentrate on one thing during our productive time cycle and then switch gears for the next productive time cycle. Attempting to have a singular focus today seems close to impossible and could prove an even greater waste of time. Later in the day, the Moon moves out of Gemini and enters its own Sign of Cancer. A respite at home late in the day can help us catch our breath and recharge our batteries.

Tuesday, August 26th – Towing the Line – Sun, Saturn, Lunar T-Square, Mars, Jupiter. Tuesday has the Cancer Moon sextile the Sun and sextile Saturn. We can be more on top of things today, less frazzled than yesterday. Today is a day to take care of outstanding matters, possibly even drawing upon past solutions for present problems. The Cancer Moon also creates a Cardinal Sign T-Square by squaring Mars in Libra and opposing Jupiter in Capricorn. We might be more accommodating today, taking care of other people’s needs and be a shoulder for someone to cry on. Although our nurturing sense is strong today and our sense of being the fix-it to other people’s issues, we do need to avoid taking on other people’s karma, taking away their lessons and being co-dependent or a caretaker of other people’s problems. We can move things around, make our living space more comfortable and functional, and can help other people see ways by which they can resolve their problems. This Tuesday is a day when we might try to fit in, to gain someone’s acceptance and win approval. The question arises as to how much we shall give to the situation and whether what we give is balanced by what we receive in return. If we go out of our way, then we have to be careful for the boomerang effect where we might later resent being taken advantage of.

Wednesday, August 27th – Double Indemnity – Mercury, Pluto, Uranus, Venus. Wednesday could prove a real mixed bag, even paradoxical. Mercury squares Pluto. Our thoughts can be sharp, penetrating, even to the point of our giving critical voice to our opinions and our judgments. Although our mind can cut to the core and find the essential factors involved, our communications can also be cutting, even harsh with little diplomacy or decorum. Criticisms can be strong today and conversations could turn into heated discussions and nasty arguments. Little quarter will be given once the silver tongue is unleashed. On the flip side, the Cancer Moon trines Uranus and sextiles both Venus and Mercury. While judgments can be harsh and criticism rampant today, there is also a nurturing side that suggests alternatives and other possibilities that are well-considered and provide a practical means of dealing with situations. If we don’t give into explosive rages, then we could use our incisive thinking processes to see what needs to be gotten rid of, what is essential to maintain and the methods by which to both resolve outstanding matters and bring us into better days. We could feel victimized or made to feel in such a way and we could lash out in frustration and a venting rage. Instead of feeling disempowered, let’s consider our options, affirm that we can pull ourselves out of our mess and commit to better days. Later in the day, the Moon moves out of Cancer and enters Leo. We may now feel more of a sense of uplift.

Thursday, August 28th – You and Me Together – Mars, Mercury Libra. Thursday falls between two Pluto squares, yesterday’s Mercury square Pluto and tomorrow’s Venus square Pluto. Thursday may prove something of a respite from the frayed nerves of the past few days. Like a warm comforter, the Moon in Leo today sextiles Mars in Libra. We may feel more on top of things and sense the support of those special people in our lives. We are more creative, more self-possessed and able to hold out the olive branch to anyone whose toes we might have stepped upon. We do have to drop our expectations regarding how others are likely to receive us or our attempts at reconciliation for tomorrow does have Venus square Pluto. If we can be open to others in an unconditional manner, just giving of ourselves, without expecting anything in return, then later this week there can be benefits and greater appreciation. Expecting immediate gratification could only raise the stakes and even create a wedge in our relationships. Mercury exits its own Sign of Virgo and enters Libra. Our intense focus to details and our sharp tongue shift to more of an interest in how we relate to others and expressing ourselves in a more accepting and less critical manner. We don’t want to go it alone but we are less likely to hold people to the unattainable standards we may have set for them over the past month.

Friday, August 29th – Stepping on Toes – Venus, Pluto, Neptune. As Yogi Berra philosophized: ‘It ain’t over ‘til it’s over’. Friday may prove the truth to that statement for today we have the second of this week’s squares to Pluto. Wednesday gave us Mercury square Pluto and today we have Venus square Pluto. The Moon in Leo opposes Neptune and trines Pluto. While our thoughts yesterday might have revolved around cutting other people some slack and not measuring whether they had attained our standards or not, today could have us back on critiquing and criticizing other people’s behavior or mannerisms. Venus is not comfortable in Virgo and with today’s square to Pluto, we could come up with all sorts of reasons to jettison certain people from our lives. Interactions with people today might be a little dicey as people hold the bar high with unrealistic expectations for each other. Instead of fully appreciating what other people bring to the table, we might have a tendency to see what we offer and what we provide and find other people wanting in the equation. We may seem impassioned today, wanting what we want with scant consideration regarding how it could impact others. If we avoid being self-focused and self-absorbed and can be receptive to heart-to-heart interactions, there can be greater depth and meaningfulness to our contacts and connections with other people. But the tendency of either or, whereby we see people as either with us or against us could be strong today and provide difficulties in our interactions and our long-term relationships.

Saturday, August 30th – Strategic Planning – Virgo Lunation, Sun, Saturn, Venus Libra. Saturday has the Moon coming into Virgo and the Virgo New Moon with the Moon conjunct the Sun and also conjunct Saturn. We may take on a more serious disposition towards life and our living. We may be looking at how we can deal with our obligations, take care of our responsibilities, all the while concentrating on the details and the specifics and perhaps giving little attention to the big picture. Although our focus could be on the particulars, it would be important for us not to close the door on options and alternatives. We could have the tendency of putting on blinders and merely seeing what is straight ahead of us. While this is a good time for strategic planning, devising best practices methodology, and dealing with the details, it is important that we not lose sight of our goals and our hopes. Saturday has Venus coming into its own Sign of Libra and creating a Stellium of three or more planets in Libra as Venus joins Mars and Mercury. We are looking for balance in our lives, seeking companionship and certainly not interested in doing our journey solo. We may feel less critical of situations and people and more desirous of finding peace, serenity and enjoying the beauty in our lives.

Sunday, August 31st – Reach Out – Jupiter, Uranus. The last day of August has the Virgo Moon trine Jupiter and opposed Uranus. Today is a good day to reach out, broaden our scope, and consider things different to our normal routine. Although unexpected events could force us to reevaluate how we are doing life and may demand a change in plans, any surprises could be the trigger point for us to consider other possibilities in our lives. Getting off the track, getting into unfamiliar terrain could do wonders to opening our eyes and broadening our perspective. Insights can come forward whereby we figure out how to take concepts from the abstract into practical manifestation. The more we can do things on the spur of the moment, the more we will come to appreciate that in our lives we don’t have to make everything happen but that in fact there are times when the universe steps in and makes us aware of possibilities we might never have considered. Spontaneity today would be important but with spontaneity we would also need to be adaptable and flexible to the shifting tides.

September is a month when we seem to get back on track with our normal routine, and this September seems no exception. Even if we have gotten back to our normal routine before the month began, September is a time when we give more focus to our day-in, day-out experience.

This September begins with the influence of the Virgo New Moon that occurred on August 30th. The influence of the Virgo New Moon continues through the mid-part of the month, until the Full Moon on the 15th. With a T-Square by Sign in the Mutable Signs, with the Virgo Energy opposed to Uranus in Pisces and square to Pluto in Sagittarius, we have to be mindful of atmospheric and geophysical conditions. This first half of September could see intense storm systems with deadly force precipitation and increased geophysical activity with strong magnitude earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

We also need to be mindful that unexpected situations could arise that force us to change plans. Now is a time for us to engage the key characteristic of these volatile times: flexibility. Adapting to changing conditions, being able to shift and change on a moment’s notice, and accepting the fact that we cannot always master the universe but rather be co-creators with the unfolding parameters; are fundamental to successfully dealing with these times. As the Chinese proverb, some would call a curse, states: ‘May you live in interesting times’. In deed we do and our challenge is to break free of the reliance on the mindset of tradition and the semblance of security and embrace the new reality of constantly shifting and changing circumstances.

The month begins with two Stelliums of three or more planets in one Sign --- Virgo and Libra. The month starts with one planet in a Fire Sign, four planets in Earth Signs, four planets in Air Signs and one planet in a Water Sign. We have four planets in Cardinal Signs, one planet in a Fixed Sign and five planets in Mutable Signs. There are five planets in positive Signs and five planets in negative Signs.

There is a great deal of imbalance as we begin September --- the emphasis upon Earth and Air, with Virgo and Libra respectively accentuated. There is also a real swing between the initiatory characteristics of the Cardinal Signs and the adaptability of the Mutable Signs. With the lack of Fixed Signs, we could find that there is a start and stop quality to begin the month. We might start certain projects only to find ourselves diverted and distracted from their completion, even to the point of switching gears, leaving some projects started unfinished and moving from one thing to another.

This tendency of switching gears is due to a high level of nervous, even frenetic, energy we might be feeling and exhibiting. For the month begins with a Mutable Sign T-Square with the Moon opposed Uranus and the Moon square Pluto. Our mood swings are likely to be strong. We might want to make changes but like the Queen of Hearts in Alice’s Wonderland, our battle cry might be: ‘off with their heads’.

We have to be careful that we don’t fall into an either / or pattern. We could be very judgmental, very critical but possibly without all the facts. Even in our decision to make changes, the changes can change without a moment’s notice. We may have a tendency toward extremes and not able to do anything in half measure. We may have an all or nothing attitude, which could prove dangerous on the long-term, for some of our decisions and actions may be impulsive and even precipitous.

This month is a good time to strategize, plan but to avoid a rush to judgment or a rush to action. It is a good time to blueprint, focus on both our ambitions and the means of achieving our goals.

We just have to be careful of our swinging emotions. Like the Stellium of planets in Libra, the key characteristic to keep in mind in the early part of the month is balance. Let’s recognize that the scales may swing wildly before finding balance, but eventually the ideal is to fine equilibrium and equanimity.

The whipsaws may be strong on the 3rd and 4th when we have the Sun conjunct Saturn on the 3rd, followed by the Sun trine Jupiter on the 4th. Outstanding matters may need to be resolved before we can forge ahead with our goals. We might have to pick up the pieces, reorganize and restructure before we can expand our interests and broaden our scope. The old patterns may need to be seen as ineffectual for the present before we can come up with new ways that are more appropriate and far more effective for our future.

The 7th, 8th and 9th seem a high-energy time when we have to watch for taking on more than we can productively handle. The Stellium in Libra squares Jupiter in Capricorn, as Mars squares Jupiter on the 7th, Mercury squares Jupiter on the 8th and Venus squares Jupiter on the 9th. Also at this time, we have both Jupiter and Pluto changing direction on the 8th, as they go from retrograde to direct motion. Also on the 8th, Jupiter in Capricorn trines Saturn in Virgo.

This period of the month can be explosive with bursts of energy, impelling us to go beyond reasonable expansions and blasts of energy that could be seen with storm systems, geophysical movements and pontificating, self-righteous expressions of judgments and opinions. This is a time when it would be important for us to maintain a strong rein on our emotions, our expressions, our actions and our expenditures. We could easily be seduced to go over-the-top. What is essential to keep in mind is the volatility of these times and the realization that we do not have ALL the information, that we do NOT have all the facts and that we are living during a time when CHANGING CONDITIONS are like a kaleidoscope changing the way things seem suddenly and dramatically.

If we can keep a firm grip on our actions and reactions, we can also use these most dynamic energies to come up with a best practices approach for the realization of our hopes and dreams. We shall have to be responsible, accountable and willing to maintain detachment in order to shift and change, fine-tune and temper, as we go along with our projects and our involvements.

This September is a month when it is important for us to keep our wits about us. Making assumptions could be deadly. Observing the shifting tides and then making tentative steps that can always be changed immediately are the ways of this month and of these times.

During the first half of the month we have the Libra planets re-energizing themselves by the conjunctions to one another. Mercury is on top of Mars on the 8th, Venus conjuncts Mars on the 11th, and Venus conjuncts Mercury on the 14th. Our focus and our interest are very much centered around our relationships this month and throughout the month. Even when Venus exits its own Sign of Libra to enter Scorpio, a Sign in which it is uncomfortable, on the 23rd, we maintain the Libra Stellium with the Sun entering Libra at the time of the Autumn Equinox on the 22nd.

Yes, relationships are a dominant part of this month and quite possibly necessary as we use other people both as a sounding board regarding what they see as the changes going on and also as a support system as we might feel incapable of surfing the waves of these dramatically changing parameters.

The intensity of the month influenced by the Virgo New Moon at the end of August that impacts the first half of September is reignited by the Pisces Full Moon on the 15th. The Moon Sun opposition has by Sign and wide orb a square to Pluto with the Moon also conjunct Uranus. Expecting the unexpected can be much of this September period, and reinforced during the second and third weeks, both by the Pisces Full Moon on the 15th and the Sun opposed Uranus on the 12th and the Sun square Pluto on the 20th. Intensity and the unexpected would be predominant characteristics at these times and for much of the first two-thirds of the month. Our moods can go through wild swings with us often feeling uncomfortable in our own skin, shifting and changing as if to throw off some monkey on our backs. Extreme actions are likely. We are looking to shapeshift, to change, to be more independent, autonomous but we may not be fully aware of how to do so and what we want to morph into as far as our new identities.

The less judgmental we are and the more open we are to experimenting and testing the waters without feeling the need for a definitive decision or a firm commitment, the more we can roll with the ever-changing landscape and parameters.

While we may feel uncomfortable in our own skin into the fourth week of September, we may feel comfortable and find sanctuary in our friendships and special relationships. For just as we are going through the paroxysms of the Mutable Sign T-Square, we also from the mid-part of the month through the end of September have various Neptune trines as first Venus on the 17th, Mercury on the 19th. Mars on the 21st and retrograde Mercury on the 28th, all transiting through the relationship Sign of Libra, trine Neptune. Not only can other people be a valuable support system during these times and a significant sounding board, but their objectivity to our own personal issues may help us to see more clearly the true possibilities that lie ahead for us.

Much of September is enjoyed in the company of others. Late Summer – early Autumn Fairs and Festivals can be uplifting and enjoyable. Despite the adversaries of these times, we are able to also see the beauty and perfection in life.

Autumn begins with the Sun moving into Libra on the 22nd, in numerology the number of the Master Builder. With the Sun moving into Libra and Venus sextile Pluto also on the 22nd, we can go through a checklist of those people that provide true meaning, purpose and importance to our lives.

Venus moves out of Libra into Scorpio on the 23rd. We might be pulling names from the rolodex, be more discerning in our associations and focus on those people that offer depth to our interactions, all the while removing ourselves from more shallow connections.

The 24th begins the third and final of this year’s Mercury retrogrades. As Mercury retrogrades back through Libra, we may have certain reconnections or contacts with those people with whom we have an outstanding issue to resolve. With Mercury retrograding initially through the Gemini decanate of Libra, it will be important that we be clear in our communications and be certain that we are covering all the points we wish to make in any discussion or presentation. Communications can be off. People can misspeak and engage tongue before enlisting thought. Mercury retrograde into the 15th of October, it will be important for us to be alert to possible communication problems, travel issues and computer glitches. Any significant decisions would be best made before or after the Mercury retrograde.

The month ends with the Libra New Moon on the 29th, a time when retrograde Mercury is trine retrograde Neptune. We may be more interested in other people’s situations but we also have to be very careful that we don’t accept what is being told us without us considering the facts, checking the agenda and being certain that we are taking good care of ourselves and our own personal interests.

This September is a time of dramatic changes, internally and externally. We can determine where we want to go, how we want to go and with whom we want to get there. But let’s always recognize that changes are a process and that as we initiate change, that process might also change the intended destination.

September… all we need are some friends….

This week starts off the month of September under the influence of this past Saturday’s Virgo New Moon and the Libra Stellium of three or more planets in the Cardinal Air Sign.

The influence of last Saturday’s Virgo New Moon will continue through this week, next week and until the Full Moon on the 15th. With a T-Square by Sign in the Mutable Signs, with the Virgo Energy opposed to Uranus in Pisces and square to Pluto in Sagittarius, we have to be mindful of atmospheric and geophysical conditions. This two-week period could see intense storm systems with deadly force precipitation and increased geophysical activity with strong magnitude earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

This week, we are likely to be feeling torn between getting back into our normal daily routine and spending pleasant times with our special someone[s]. This is a week for us to focus on outstanding matters, tie up loose ends, cut away the superfluous and consider how we can stretch without expanding into overwhelm. There are some pleasant energies this week. The adrenaline rush from the spectacles of August --- the Summer Olympics and the Democratic National Convention --- has passed and we are more likely to be grounded in our reality than distracted by the special mesmerizing effects of extravaganzas.

Attending to details along with seeking to create balance in our lives can provide a marvelous opportunity to put things in their proper perspective. We can see what we want to participate in and cut away those things that have merely contributed to busy work. Like the ebb and flow of the oceans’ tides, we might be both expanding and contracting this week. The contraction may be dealing with our responsibilities and those situations that belong more to our past than our future. The expansion can be associated with seeking a best practices approach, focusing on those areas that bring us joy and self-fulfillment but doing so in a streamlined, expeditious manner.

We might make contact with various people, make them aware of our projects and our plans and start to lay the foundation stones for our intended Autumn projects.

The weekend could end on a stressful note, so the more we can line our ducks up in a row, sort through our affairs, prioritize and consider our future options, the less likely we may be on overload as we begin next week.

Monday, September 1st – Going Out of Our Way – Pluto, Venus, Mercury, Mars. In the early morning hours of Monday, the Virgo Moon squares Pluto. Our sleep state might be disturbed and things could be happening far afield that might upset our applecart. Although situations beyond our control can impact our normal routine, we awaken to the Moon having moved into Libra where it conjuncts the Libra Stellium of three or more planets in one Sign and conjuncts Venus, Mercury and Mars. In the US, this day is Labor Day, the last day of the long holiday weekend that signals the unofficial end of Summer. Whether we have the day off or not, we are looking to our relationships. Either getting together with those special people in our lives or going out of our way to assist someone in dealing with their affairs, our focus is more likely on the people in our lives than our own personal self-interests. We are not looking for conflict today but could be very accommodating. We want peace, serenity and balance in our lives, sprinkled with vivacious and sparkling types. Even if we have a great deal to attend to today, we are far more interested in getting together with others, being on the phone or meeting up for a leisurely lunch or lengthy coffee at a café.

Tuesday, September 2nd – Reaching Beyond – Jupiter. Tuesday continues with the Libra Moon that squares Jupiter today. We may be so conciliatory to other people that we take on more than would be appropriate. This is a day when we might just have to say ‘no’ to more than one occasion or else find ourselves with our ‘to do’ list overflowing. An element of conservatism would be suggested. Our generosity could know no bounds as we try to garner the appreciation and gain the approval of someone else. Other people could encourage us to stretch and expand, but it would be wise for us to consider the details and the specifics and not get caught up in the exuberance of the moment. We may be looking to join forces with other people in regard to certain projects and activities. If we do so, then let’s be sure that we are creating a win-win scenario and not merely assisting someone else to reach their goals at our time’s expense. Good feelings are strong today but we just have to watch for overconfidence and enthusiasm based upon intentions rather than the means of achieving our goals.

Wednesday, September 3rd – Getting Down to Business – Sun, Saturn, Neptune, Pluto. Wednesday has the Sun conjunct Saturn. This fortnight’s signature was imprinted by the Virgo New Moon last Saturday on the 30th. A sense of seriousness and getting down to business is a strong focus of these two weeks and this Wednesday could find us strategizing, planning, mapping out and deciding a best practices approach to achieve our aims. Early in the day, the Libra Moon trines Neptune and sextiles Pluto. We can consider where we want to go and with whom we want to go there. Lining up our social calendar now allows us to consider those events that are worthwhile, provide us with a sense of purpose and may also be a great deal of fun. We could lay down the foundation stones of our future endeavors and feel impassioned by our goals and even gain support of others regarding our plans. As the day progresses, the Moon exits Libra and enters Scorpio. We may have made our plans, but we might go over them and see where we can cut out the excess and focus on the essential.

Thursday, September 4th – Keeping it Real – Sun, Jupiter, Saturn. If yesterday offered us the ability of focusing on a best practices approach, Thursday provides us the ability of starting from the fundamentals and broadening our perspective and widening our scope. With the Sun trine Jupiter today, we may feel far more confident, exuberant and ready to expand our base. From dealing with past issues yesterday, we can clear away the dross and concentrate on the future. The Scorpio Moon sextiles Saturn and the Sun both in Virgo and sextiles Jupiter in Capricorn. By focusing on the core issues in our lives, we can prioritize and determine a best practices approach both to deal with the details of our normal responsibilities and also with the big picture of our goals and ambitions. Today could be a highly productive day. We are feeling on top of things, in control and able to juggle both our obligations and the expansion of our interests.

Friday, September 5th – Change with Reservations – Uranus, Neptune. Friday has the Scorpio Moon trine Uranus and square Neptune. We may want to do things on the spur-of-the-moment, change our plans and act spontaneously even precipitously. While change is an important aspect of these times, it would also be wise for us to consider the possible implications before launching forward. Something may seem great but we have to be careful not to be snookered by appearances without taking into account the particulars. Any changes we make today should be done either in a gradual manner or with an exit strategy in mind. Things may not be the way they seem. We could easily be swayed by events that seem different, exciting and thrilling. What we have to watch out for is getting involved in a situation that we can’t get out of or an involvement with a huckster selling us a bill of goods. We may be looking to make changes today but let’s do so with reservations and constantly evaluating and re-evaluating as we go along our merry way.

Saturday, September 6th – Far and Near – Venus. Saturday gives us a Sagittarius Moon which sextiles Venus. We can be feeling upbeat, tired of cutting to the bone or working on merely a minimalist level as we might have done over the past two days. We want to spread our wings, get out and about and if our journeys take us to visit a good friend or someone special, all the better. Social interactions with others can be great fun. We might want to get outdoors, hiking, playing a round of golf, enjoying a tennis match or other recreational pursuits. We don’t want to be cooped up on this Saturday. If we can get out of Dodge, then we are likely to be ready to go and explore the four corners of the world. We don’t want to go it alone, so either we want a companion for our journeys or someone we plan to meet up with along the way. This Saturday is a fun day to kick up our heels and enjoy the vivaciousness of life and living for the weekend.

Sunday, September 7th – Criticizing, Pontificating and Skipping over the Details – Mars, Jupiter, Mercury, Lunar T-Square, Saturn, Sun, Uranus. Sunday is an energy-packed day but could prove to be a mixed bag. Mars squares Jupiter. We may have various social engagements today, some of which seem like obligatory meetings rather than pleasurable encounters. People may seem to be generous to a fault, the fault being the unwritten expectations in whatever is being offered. The Sagittarius Moon sextiles both Mercury and Mars in Libra but also creates a Mutable Sign T-Square with the Sag Moon squaring Saturn and the Sun both in Virgo and squaring Uranus in Pisces. Quality of time is far better than quantity of time. Today is one of those days to make the rounds and not stay too long in any one locale. People could be rather opinionated today, even to the point of expecting other people to agree with their perspective and judgments. If people start discussing their issues and problems, then it might be time to leave. If we stay too long in any one situation, it could open the door to people critiquing and expecting us to take care of their problems. This day is a high-energy day so while it is best to go from one thing to another, we also have to be careful that we don’t skip over details or leave out salient points. The day could be exhausting especially in light of the fact that we are likely to have a great number of talking heads critiquing, pontificating and blowing a great deal of hot air. Keeping on the go, getting out of town, and spending brief moments with people are the best ways today to stay nimble and quick.