A potent 13-Month Jupiter-Saturn square and a Grand-Crossed Aquarius Full Moon highlight the second half of August. You can also learn the best use of Mercury turning direct, the Sun entering Virgo, and lots of aspect patterns!

This forecast covers this half-month’s most important astrological events. Also check out my award-winning This Week in Astrology audio podcast and YouTube video forecasts!

Click astrology graphics to see larger images. Some resource links may occur more than once. This is because many people link to a specific day’s forecast from social media, and might not see an important resource link elsewhere on this page.

As of August 15 …

The Moon is waxing (there was a Leo New Moon on 8/4).

Mercury is retrograde thru 8/28 at 5:14 pm
Pluto is retrograde thru 10/11.
Saturn is retrograde thru 11/15.
Neptune is retrograde thru 12/7.
Chiron is retrograde thru 12/29.

A Ceres-Uranus-South Node Thor’s Hammer continues thru 8/19.
A Venus-Mars-Jupiter-Pluto Thor’s Hammer peaks on 8/17 and continues thru 8/21.
A Venus-Mars-Jupiter-Saturn T-Square peaks on 8/20 and continues thtu 8/26.
Great Energy for Committed Partnerships (Kite w/ Juno, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto) continues thru 8/30.

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8/15 (Thu)

Two “Fingers of God”

Two “Finger of God” aspect patterns, also known as Yods, kick off the second half of August.

Mercury-Neptune-Pluto Yod Peaks

Mercury is famed for its fleetness of foot, and its aspects usually come and go quickly. The exception is Mercury retrograde periods. That’s why this “Finger of God” with Mercury, Neptune, and Pluto is a Mercurial marathon!

This aspect pattern came into orb (close enough to have influence) back on 7/21 and first peaked on 7/26. It has its retrograde peak today (8/15) and moves out of orb on 8/20. Its last hurrah will start on 9/4, peak on 9/8, and end on 9/11.

Put simply, this Yod’s focus on Mercury empowers learning and communication. Pluto can help you dive deep in your learning, or juice up your message with power and charisma. Neptune can open you to intuitive inspirations, and can help you channel information more easily to yourself and others.

With Mercury largely in Leo, your communication as a leader or entertainer gets special support!

Vesta-Neptune-Pluto Yod Starts

Today’s other Yod puts Vesta at the tip, backed up by Neptune and Pluto. Vesta is the asteroid goddess of service to a higher cause, and is hoping you’ll follow her selfless lead. This Yod starts today (8/15), peaks on 8/24, and ends on 9/2.

8/16 (Fri)

Mars Square Saturn

A Mars-Saturn square is exact today (17°42′ Gemini-Pisces). Rather than deal with this square by itself, I’ve woven it into my interpretation of the T-Square that includes Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Click here to understand this Mars-Saturn square in its larger context!

Mercury Quintile Jupiter

The winged messenger is on a roll. Its Mercury-Neptune-Pluto Yod peaked yesterday, and Mercury quintiles Jupiter today. This magical aspect between the two planets of learning and communication should juice up your mental powers even more!

8/17 (Sat)

Yod #3 Begins

We’re only three days into this forecast, and are already encountering our third “Finger of God.” Isn’t that Yod?

Once again, Neptune and Pluto are holding down the rear. But this time the Sun shines forth at the apex. This Yod starts today (8/17), peaks on 8/22, and ends on 8/26.

This Yod can give you abundant divine power. This can light up anything you do, or help you step out as a leader or entertainer.

You’ll have special support for those two roles while the Sun is in Leo, 8/17 through 8/22 at 10:55 am EDT. The Sun is in Virgo for the rest of the Yod, giving special support to service, healing, and detail work.

Thor’s Hammer Peaks

Peaking today (8/17) is a Thor’s Hammer that includes Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Pluto. It started on 8/13 and ends on 8/21.

This Thor’s Hammer has most of the same opportunities and challenges as the T-Square I interpret below on 8/20. So the following information on Venus, Virgo, Mars, and Jupiter, applies to both aspect patterns.

Venus rules relationships, creativity, and money. Her placement in Virgo supports health, service, and detail work. You can use this T-Square’s potency to empower any of these areas!

Mars can energize your actions as a warrior, initiator, sexual being, or entrepreneur. His (and Jupiter’s) placement in Gemini amps up your ability to learn, write, teach, and communicate.

Jupiter invites you to learn or share higher wisdom and open to expansive foreign influences. Live your life as an adventurous quest, and embrace your full measure of enthusiasm, joy, and celebration!

Pluto adds tremendous power to all the possibilities of the other planets and signs. His presence also makes it easier to release or transform what doesn’t serve you in these areas.

Pluto can help you do the shadow work needed for healing old traumas, and enable you to be more honest, vulnerable, and authentic. And, as the lord of wealth, he can bless you with abundance!

8/18 (Sun) & 8/19 (Mon)

Sun and Mercury Conjoin and Square Uranus

Four related astrology events happen within 31 hours on 8/18 and 8/19: the Sun and Mercury conjoin in Leo, both planets square Uranus, and Uranus squares Vesta.

I include these four events in my 8/19 Full Moon interpretation. You can learn all about them there!

Here’s the technical info on these four events:

8/18

Mercury square Uranus, 5:47 am EDT, 27°10′ Leo-Taurus.
Uranus square Vesta, 7:10 pm EDT, 27°10′ Taurus-Leo.
Sun conjunct Mercury, 9:58 pm EDT, 26°35′ Leo.

8/19

Sun square Uranus, 12:45 pm EDT, 27°11′ Leo-Taurus.

8/19 (Mon)

This is August’s most potent astrology day! It includes a Grand-Crossed Aquarius Full Moon, a 13-month Jupiter-Saturn square, and …

Venus Aspecting Jupiter and Saturn

Venus gets a major boost from astrology’s social planets in the wee hours of 8/19. We kick off with a Venus-Jupiter square at 1:53 am EDT (17°21′ Virgo-Gemini), promptly followed by a Venus-Saturn opposition at 4:30 am EDT (17°29′ Virgo-Pisces).

This adds some energy to today’s Jupiter-Saturn square. But the main effect of these aspects is to empower Venus’ strongest themes.

Jupiter and Saturn are complementary opposites. Jupiter is more joyful and expansive, while Saturn is more sober and constricting. You can make good use of both planets with a balanced, persistent and optimistic approach in the Venusian areas of relationships, creativity, and money.

With Venus in Virgo, these aspects also empower service to others, supporting the health of yourself and others, and enhanced attention to detail.

Grand-Crossed Aquarius Full Moon

A Full Moon, electrified by a potent Grand Cross, illuminates the sky at 2:26 p.m. EDT (27°15′ Aquarius).

Any Aquarius Full Moon is great for release or adjustment in several areas. Are you embracing your individuality inwardly and expressing it outwardly? Are you following your intuitive hits? And are you serving others with the special talents you most love to use?

Are you spending enough time with your “tribe”? Are you cultivating your genius? And are you working for the good of the collective?

Aspects

Grand Cross

This Aquarius Full Moon is potently amplified by a tight Grand Cross. Astrology’s most intense aspect pattern can bring both challenge and opportunity. This six-planet Grand Cross includes the Moon, Sun, Mercury, Pallas Athena, Vesta, and Uranus.

Because of Mercury, a central theme of this lunation is learning and communication that genuinely electrifies you!

What knowledge gap are you passionate about filling? What information are you excited to share with the world? Mercury and the Sun are in Leo, which invites you into the spotlight as a leader or entertainer.

The warrior goddess Pallas Athena can help you do this with appropriate assertiveness. She can also help you be clever and strategic. And Vesta, the asteroid goddess of selfless service, encourages you to consider how your actions support the greater good.

What about Uranus? He has the same meanings as Aquarius, so we’ll be getting an extra helping of the Aquarian energies already mentioned!

Two More Aspects

The Moon also makes two other aspects. A Chiron sextile empowers your work as a healer or wisdom giver, and can ease your personal healing work. And a Neptune semi-sextile can subtly support your spiritual awakening, inspired creativity, and unconditional love.

13-Month Jupiter-Saturn Square!

Expand or contract? See the glass as half-full or half-empty? Dance in ecstatic celebration or top off your emergency supplies? With Jupiter square Saturn (17°27′ Gemini-Pisces), you might be pulled in both directions.

Jupiter and Saturn came into orb (began to influence each other) on 7/6, and make an exact square today (8/19).

Because Jupiter will turn retrograde on 10/9 with this square still in orb, this aspect’s influence will last an unusually long time: nearly 13 months! There will be two more exact Jupiter-Saturn squares on 12/26/24 and 6/15/25. This aspect’s influence will finally end on 7/31/25. This will give you plenty of time to make the most of its opportunities!

Be flexible. Sometimes Jupiter, the planet of expansion, optimism and celebration, will lead. Jupiter may also invite you to focus on philosophy, religion, and foreign travel or influences.

At other times heed Saturn, who embodies seriousness, maturity, boundaries and limitation. He may call for you to focus on your goals, plan your work and work your plan, and keep your nose to the grindstone.

The signs of the social planets add other life-affirming potentials. Jupiter is in Gemini, while Saturn is in Pisces. The supports intuitively inspired thinking and communication, as well as enhanced Law of Attraction juju.

It will be easier to brainstorm to achieve practical outcomes. And you can balance blissfully productive periods “in the zone” with downtime for playful celebration!

This is the waxing square of the Great Conjunction of 2020. This marks the first major turning point of that momentous Jupiter-Saturn conjunction, one of this decade’s most important influences. To learn how to make the best use of this Great Conjunction cycle, click here.

8/20 (Tue)

T-Square Peaks

There’s so much you can do with the tight T-Square that started on 8/11, peaks today (8/20), and ends on 8/26! It includes Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.

As noted above, the Thor’s Hammer that peaked on 8/17 has much in common with this T-Square. Please pardon the repetition as I briefly remind you of the opportunities both aspect patterns light up with Venus, Virgo, Mars, and Jupiter.

Venus rules relationships, creativity, and money. Her placement in Virgo supports health, service, and detail work. You can use this T-Square’s potency to empower any of these areas!

Mars can energize your actions as a warrior, initiator, sexual being, or entrepreneur. His (and Jupiter’s) placement in Gemini amps up your ability to learn, write, teach, and communicate.

Jupiter invites you to learn or share higher wisdom and open to expansive foreign influences. Live your life as an adventurous quest, and embrace your full measure of enthusiasm, joy, and celebration!

Saturn, the one planet in this T-Square the Thor’s Hammer lacks, can keep all this focused. He can help you be mature, responsible, and productive. He’d like you to take enough time for yourself (the hermit) and share what you’ve learned with others (the wise elder).

Whatever you choose to create, you can manifest it more quickly and efficiently by using the Law of Attraction. This is supported by Saturn in Pisces: Pisces rules visualization, while Saturn excels at physical crystallization.

8/21 (Wed)

Envelope Potentiates Relationship Optimization and More

A powerful and harmonious Envelope empowers relationship optimization, creative collaboration, insight into financial matters, and more. This flowing aspect pattern combines Venus, Pallas Athena, and “gods of change” Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. It starts today (8/21), peaks on 8/28, and ends on 9/3.

The themes of relationship, creativity, and finance come from Venus. Pallas Athena supports optimization, collaboration, cleverness, and strategy.

The theme of creativity is empowered by Neptune in Pisces. The planet and sign both energize inspired creativity.

Pluto, lord of wealth, boosts the financial theme. And Uranus can help bring these changes with surprising speed!

More broadly, all three outer planets firing up Venus and Pallas Athena give massive energetic support for any of their potentials. Make hay while the sun shines!

8/22 (Thu)

There are three notable astrology events today.

Sun Yod Peaks

The Sun-Neptune-Pluto Yod that started on 8/17 peaks today (8/22) and ends on 8/26.

Sun Enters Virgo

The Sun enters Virgo at 10:55 am EDT. For the next month, more energy is available to empower your service to others. Do you enjoy your service, and does it make the best use of the special abilities you most love to use?

Health is also energized, whether you’re supporting yourself or others. Finally, no sign beats Virgo when it comes to editing, refinement, and attention to detail!

Venus Square Mars

A Venus-Mars square fires up relationships, creativity and more. With a 90° square, you may need to “turn a corner” in these areas. Challenges may come up for resolution, while you can take good situations to the next level!

Venus rules relationships, creativity, and money. Her placement in Virgo supports health, service, and detail work.

Mars can energize your actions as a warrior, initiator, sexual being, or entrepreneur. His placement in Gemini amps up your ability to learn, write, teach, and communicate.

This Venus-Mars square is part of the Thor’s Hammer and T-Square I interpreted above. Its full potential is described in those aspect pattern interpretations.

8/24 (Sat)

Vesta Yod Peaks

The Vesta-Neptune-Pluto Yod that started on 8/15 peaks today (8/24) and ends on 9/2.

8/27 (Tue)

Potent Assertiveness Supported by (Yet Another) “Finger of God”

Assertiveness is potently supported by a “Finger of God” (Yod) that starts today (8/27), peaks on 9/3, and ends on 9/12. This emphatic aspect pattern includes Mars, Pallas Athena, and Pluto.

Mars, at the apex of this Yod, empowers masculine aggression. Pallas Athena rules feminine assertiveness, which can achieve its goals using subtler methods. These can include negotiation, diplomacy, and mediation.

Finally, Pluto rules raw power, which you can use however you wish!

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8/28 (Wed)

Mercury Direct

Mercury turns direct at 5:14 pm EDT (21°24′ Leo). The winged messenger has been retrograde since 8/5 (4°6′ Virgo).

With Mercury direct, the decks would seem to be clear to initiate any major new beginnings you’ve been delaying. However, significant new beginnings are better supported by a waxing Moon. So consider waiting another five days until the Virgo New Moon on 9/2 at 9:56 pm EDT.

Have you been reflecting on the Virgo and Leo themes of this Mercury retrograde? Now that Mercury’s direct, you can start putting your new insights into action.

To review these themes, as well as additional opportunities offered by Mercury’s retrograde aspects, click here.

Envelope Peaks

The Envelope that started on 8/21 peaks today (8/28) and ends on 9/3. This aspect pattern includes Venus, Pallas Athena, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.

8/27 (Tue) thru 8/29 (Thu)

Three Venus Aspects

Venus makes aspects to the outer planets on three consecutive days, 8/27 through 8/29. At the most basic level, this massively empowers relationships, creativity, and finances.

All three aspects happen around the peak of an Envelope aspect pattern which includes Venus, the three outer planets, and Pallas Athena. For a deeper understanding of what’s happening with Venus and these other planets, click here.

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Whatever your Sun Sign, my forecasts can help you make the best use of the current astrological energies.

All dates and times are in the U.S. eastern time zone. Events are most powerful on the dates listed, but their influence will be active for at least a week before and after.

Everyone is affected by these global transits. However, you’ll be most powerfully impacted when moving planets activate sensitive points in your natal chart. Discover how these transits will personally affect you by booking a session with me.

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