An insanely complicated aspect pattern highlights the second half of August. Like most of the other aspect patterns in this forecast, it invites you to use any committed partnership challenges to take that relationship to the next level … or let it go. We also have a fiery Leo New Moon, the Sun entering Virgo, and more!

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

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8/17 (Mon)

Committed Partnership Mystic Rectangle Begins

As I noted in my 8/7 forecast, “75 Days of Committed Partnership T-Squares,” a Mars-Juno opposition is the foundation for 2-1/2 months of T-squares and a Grand Cross. These aspect patterns can bring significant challenge to any committed partnership, romantic or otherwise.

To balance all this challenge, it’s nice to have Mars and Juno as part of a harmonious aspect pattern. And that’s what we have starting today (8/17): a 40-day Mystic Rectangle with Mars, Juno and the lunar nodes. This aspect pattern peaks on 9/3 and ends on 9/25.

This Mystic Rectangle offers flowing support to committed partnerships that align with your soul purpose. (If they don’t, all those hard aspect patterns will bring that fact to your attention!) With the lunar nodes in the Axis of Communication (North Node in Gemini, South Node in Sagittarius), harmonious communication between the two of you is smoothly supported.

Grand Trines Peak

Ready to stand out as a leader or entertainer? Two overlapping Grand Trines give you harmonious support.

The first Grand Trine – with the Sun, Mars and the South Node – started on 8/9 and ends on 8/20. The second, with Mercury, Mars and the South Node, started on 8/13 and ends on 8/22. Both Grand Trines merge 8/13 through 8/20 (pictured), and all three variations peak today (8/17).

Whether it’s the Sun and/or Mercury in the aspect pattern, they’re in Leo. This is the sign of the performer in the spotlight or the sovereign on the throne. Mars in Aries brings forth the energy of the leader, warrior, pioneer or entrepreneur. And the Sagittarian South Node invites you to bring forth your past life experience as an adventurer or wisdom-giver.

Grand Trines give a certain amount for free, then get lazy. So “mine the trine” to rock its full potential!

8/18 (Tue)

Leo New Moon

A New Moon arrives at 10:42 PM EDT (26°35′ Leo). Like any Leo New Moon, it’s a great time for pumping new energy into leadership and being the “performer in the spotlight“. It’s also great for playing with kids, nurturing your inner child, and enjoying some R&R.

Here’s my favorite Leo joke: “But I’ve talked enough about myself. Why don’t you talk about me for a while?”

This joke pokes fun at the less evolved Leo. Immature and insecure, they constantly draw attention to themselves in a vain attempt to fill the gaping hole inside them. If positive attention isn’t available, negative attention will fill the bill.

Then there’s the more evolved Leo. They’ve tapped into the ever-flowing life force within themselves. They no longer require energy from others, since they now have more than enough for themselves.

This next-level Leo now seeks leadership or the spotlight for a different reason: to give back. They have no need for your applause or approval. They seek your attention now for a different reason: without it, they can’t serve you.

If your own Leo still has some evolving to do, my free Embodied Awakening Invocation might help.

Aspects

Kite

This New Moon’s most important aspect pattern is a Kite. It includes the Sun and Moon, Mars and the lunar nodes.

This Kite invites you to boldly step out and share your message with the world! It’s so assertive because its underlying Grand Trine is in the fire signs: Sun and Moon in Leo, Mars in Aries and the South Node in Sagittarius.

The North Node in Gemini, which is this aspect pattern’s Kite point, focuses this aspect pattern on communication. While disseminating information is the most obvious interpretation, this harmonious aspect pattern could also support learning.

Yod

This New Moon’s other aspect pattern is a Yod, or “Finger of God”. The Leo luminaries and Gemini North Node on the back end point to Capricornian Saturn at the tip.

Since everything but Saturn is in the Kite we just discussed, the theme of putting yourself in the spotlight to communicate remains. Retrograde Saturn suggests that you contemplate your message deeply before you deliver it. Once you do, you’re invited to prepare your work carefully, then communicate it with the energy of the authority or wise elder.

Venus Semi-square

The final notable connection to the luminaries is a Venus semi-square. This minor hard aspect suggests some relationship challenge – not a major surprise, since this theme is so dominant throughout the second half of August! You might also experience some difficulty in the areas of creativity or finance. As always, challenge is an invitation to process challenging emotions skillfully and take your game to the next level.

Sabian Symbol

This New Moon’s Sabian Symbol is, “Daybreak – the luminescence of dawn in the eastern sky”. This, of course, is the classic symbol of new beginnings and new hope.

Be grateful for the good things you already have in your life, and hold a clear vision of what you want to accomplish. However difficult your situation, there are many who have had it even worse … yet used their challenges as a springboard to create their most wonderful life ever. You can too!

Cradle Peaks

How can you make a heart-connected relationship (Venus in Cancer) even better?

Be your authentic self, follow your intuitive hits and try some new things (Uranus). Do whatever shadow work is needed to clear your own psychological baggage (Ceres). And employ strategic techniques (Pallas Athena) designed to promote harmony and win-win outcomes, such as Nonviolent Communication.

All these planets are part of a Cradle aspect pattern that started on 8/11, peaks today (8/18) and ends on 8/24. This Cradle also provides flowing support for Venus’ other meanings: creativity and finances.

8/22 (Sat)

The Sun enters Virgo at 11:45 AM EDT. For the next month, it will be easier to serve others, focus on health, get better organized and get the details right!

8/23 (Sun)

Relationship Grand Cross Begins

Talk about adding fuel to the fire! As I said in my 8/7 forecast, we’re already well into 75 Days of Committed Partnership T-Squares. These feature a Mars-Juno opposition squaring 2020’s most important aspect: the mighty Jupiter-Saturn-Pluto Triple Conjunction. One or more of these T-squares is in effect between 7/18 and 10/2.

As if that wasn’t intense enough already, Venus joins Mars, Juno, Saturn and Pluto for 2 weeks to form a Grand Cross, astrology’s most challenging aspect pattern! This Grand Cross begins today (8/23), peaks on 9/1 and ends on 9/7.

What I said in my 8/7 forecast about these T-squares becomes even more true with this Grand Cross: even the best committed partnerships might feel challenge. As usual, I recommend Nonviolent Communication to work out any issues with your partner, and my free Healing Invocation to assist with your personal shadow work.

The greater the challenge, the greater the possible breakthrough. Committed partners who work skillfully with these intense energies can emerge with their relationships functioning at a whole new level of awesomeness!

This Grand Cross also massively energizes Venus’ other meanings. The energy you have for creative accomplishment could go off the charts. Financial matters are also amped up, but be careful: with this setup, your fortunes could turn either way.

8/24 (Mon)

Unto itself, today’s Mars-Saturn square (26°19′ Aries-Capricorn) can help give you Energizer Bunny endurance. Mars in Aries provides the raw power, while Saturn in Capricorn rations the energy so it lasts. The fact that both planets are dignified – in signs that they rule – makes the square especially powerful!

This Mars-Saturn square is also part of a larger pattern. Learn about that in my 8/13 post, “5 Months of Mars Squaring Pluto, Saturn and Jupiter!”

8/25 (Tue)

Relationship Shadow Work Hard Rectangle

Like we don’t have enough aspect patterns showing relationship challenge already? This Hard Rectangle featuring the Sun, Venus, Ceres and Pluto adds even more emphasis to a theme already being trumpeted so loudly! It starts today (8/25), peaks on 8/29 and ends on 9/1

Venus carries the relationship theme. Pluto and Ceres represent old emotional wounds and shadow work. Finally, the Virgo Sun represents healing. It also suggests a methodical, well-organized approach to your healing journey.

Why would you welcome challenging catalyst in your key relationships? Because (1) it’s coming anyway, and (2) it will spur shadow work that can help you wake up faster!

At the risk of sounding like a broken record (remember vinyl records?) I once again recommend Nonviolent Communication to work out any issues with your partner, and my free Healing Invocation to assist with your personal shadow work.

8/26 (Wed)

Communication/Creativity Mystic Rectangle

Powerful and harmonious communication and creativity are supported by a Mystic Rectangle that starts today (8/26), peaks on 9/1 and ends on 9/5.

Communication

Virgoan Mercury supports learning and communication, and also helps it to be precise and service-oriented. Cancerian Venus allows you to engage in heartfelt relating.

Neptune helps inspire communication, and can help dissolve the boundary between those who are relating. Finally, Saturn and Pluto let you communicate with power and authority, and help you achieve practical outcomes.

Creativity

Cancerian Venus represents emotionally moving artistry, while Neptune represents the flow of divine inspiration. Saturn and Pluto help you work without inhibition and get a ton done. Mercury supports verbal or written creativity. Finally, Mercury’s placement in Virgo can help you polish up the details after you’ve flowed the initial inspiration into your project.

8/29 (Sat)

Insanely Complicated Aspect Pattern Begins

Welcome to one of the most complicated aspect patterns I’ve ever seen! It has no official name I know of, so I’ll just call it a “Double Grand Cross / Double Mystic Rectangle”. It starts today (8/29), peaks on 9/2 and ends on 9/4. It contains Mercury, Venus, Mars, Juno, Saturn, Neptune, Pluto and the lunar nodes!

With amazingly tight symmetry, it weaves together the following aspect patterns:

• Grand Cross: Venus-Mars-Juno-Saturn-Pluto
• Grand Cross: Mercury-Neptune-Lunar Nodes
• Mystic Rectangle: Mercury-Venus-Neptune-Pluto
• Mystic Rectangle: Mars-Juno-Lunar Nodes

How simply can we interpret such a complicated aspect pattern? At its heart, it boils down to communication (Mercury, lunar nodes in Gemini in Sagittarius) in committed partnership (Juno, Venus). If that relationship serves highest good (lunar nodes), you can relax into flow state (Neptune) and communicate exactly what your partner needs to hear.

You’re invited to initiate this communication (Mars in Aries), to speak with the authority (Saturn) of your inner knowing (Neptune), and to catalyze transformation (Pluto) with your words.

There now — that wasn’t so bad, was it?

Hard Rectangle Peaks

The Sun-Venus-Ceres-Pluto Hard Rectangle that started on 8/25 peaks today (8/29) and ends on 9/1

8/30 (Sun)

Thor’s Hammer Begins

Your ability to serve others, focus on health and catch the little details is powerfully juiced by a Thor’s Hammer that starts today (8/30), peaks on 9/4 and ends on 9/7. The Virgo Sun is at the tip of this aspect pattern, while Mars in Aries and Saturn in Capricorn hold down the back end.

Since this is a semi-hard aspect pattern, there could also be difficulties. Mars can symbolize aggression or attack, and Saturn loves to manage things. If you find yourself being challenged like this, do what you can to analyze the situation before acting.

Finally, consider whether a challenging situation could actually help you, perhaps by inviting you to step more fully into your power. Is this happening to you, or for you?

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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