Cosmic Forecast August 2023
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Illustration by Jess Stanley
The journey through August is like an adventure through deep forests and picturesque mountains. There are as many challenging climbs as there are beautiful views. This month, the Sun moves between Leo–the sign most closely associated with our egos and identities–and Virgo–ruler of generosity, diligence, and being of service to something greater than yourself. August teaches us how important perspective is when it comes to life (and astrology). What some call a hike, others call being lost in the woods. The astrology of this month gives us the opportunity to change the way we think about ourselves and our lives and to create meaning out of any obstacles we’re currently facing.
August begins amidst a pack of retrograde planets. Venus, Saturn, Neptune, and Pluto are all moving backwards through the zodiac, pulling our energy and attention with them. Retrogrades may cause delays and make us rethink and revisit the past. We can use them to take a step back, slow down, and deepen our wisdom by integrating the things we’ve gone through and the lessons we’ve learned.
We’ve been feeling Venus retrograde since July 22nd. Travelling through Leo, this Venus retrograde asks us to engage with loving and being loved—both by ourselves and others. Leo is the sign of adoration and idolisation. It’s a shimmery sign that’s not afraid to be bright. Venus amplifies this energy and directs it towards our hearts. Venus retrogrades invite us to turn inward and focus on how we relate to and treat ourselves, which includes the type of love we let into our lives. Through this retrograde, take the time to admire yourself, and explore what it is that makes you love yourself. This process is not always easy or comfortable, but retrogrades rarely are. When we get clear with ourselves about how precious and wonderful we are, we raise our standards for how others treat us.
Saturn and Neptune are both moving through the still waters of Pisces. As the month goes on, the Sun, Mars, and Mercury will all be in opposition to Neptune and then Saturn in Virgo. These are challenging aspects that can evoke friction. These planets start a dialogue between Pisces and Virgo, which are opposite signs. Caught in between these two opposites, our everyday lives may feel more rooted in Virgo’s methodical, generous energy while the collective consciousness flows through a Pisean dream state that doesn’t feel quite real. This experience might feel something like watching the news and having a sense that you’re witnessing events unfold as if in a movie.
During the latter half of the month, when these oppositions are happening, it’s worthwhile to focus on the smallest pieces of your life—just getting through the next hour, just taking care of chores around the house, just making weekend plans with friends. The Piscean energy reveals how little we have control over our collective fate. Meanwhile, Virgo inspires us to keep our small corner of the universe as organised as possible and to put our energy in areas that we really do have an impact: whether that’s filling up your local community fridge or cooking up a casserole for a friend who needs a break.
Pluto retrograde travels through Capricorn, making it a part of a Grand Earth Trine that starts on the 12th. In the trine, Pluto joins with Jupiter and Uranus in Taurus, and Mercury and Mars in Virgo. This astrological event offers us the sense that we’re in a protective container. During this time, it might be easier to find the spaces in real life that make us feel the safest and connect with the parts of ourselves that help us feel safe. With Jupier and Mars in the mix, there’s the possibility of expansion and good fortune—perhaps some of the things you need to feel safe in the world will come to fruition. Pluto and Uranus’ presence indicates that powerful transformation might take place in the areas of life associated with the earth signs—abundance and well-being (Taurus), your job and everyday routines (Virgo), and your long-term goals related to your vocation or career (Capricorn).
August also has an exciting and profoundly magical lunar event, a Blue Moon which happens when there are two Full Moons within a calendar month. Our first Full Moon is in Aquarius on August 1st, and the second is the Full Moon in Pisces on the 30th. Two Full Moons indicate a completed cycle. Again, the astrology is creating a container or a bubble in which we can get a bit of a break from overwhelming expectations and really tend to our emotional and psychological needs. Aquarius and Pisces are both associated with maturity and elderhood—the seasons of life where we have a rich, wise perspective on what truly matters to us. These Full Moons bookend the month, and allow a portal to be opened through which a compassionate older self or our loving ancestors can communicate with us.
The Sun passes into Virgo on August 23rd, and on the same day, Mercury (Virgo’s ruling planet) heads retrograde in the sign. Uranus also joins the retrograde party on the 28th. There’s a real emphasis on slowness as we wrap up the month. It’s not a time to rush into things or put pressure on yourself to start or finish projects. During this time, your goals for the future can wait. The astrology gives you permission to be right where you are, to focus on the blessings you already hold in your hands, and to appreciate the life you have now—just for a while, release the need to be anything other than the miraculous person you are.
Keagan (she/her) is a writer, tarot reader, and astrologer. Find her on Instagram @moonsingemini to book a reading. Subscribe to her monthly tarotscope newsletter here.
