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ASTROLOGY FORECAST
August 1st is the celebration of the 3rd cross-quarter day of the year. Lammas is the fire ceremony celebrating the first grain harvest in the Celtic and Pagan traditions. It is an acknowledgment of earth harvest and manifestation. At the same time we are paying homage to our Earth connections, we have some of the year's most visible lights in the sky to remind us of our star family.
The month begins with 4 active meteor showers. Two of them are minor with only a few meteors/hour. The Alpha Capricornids, and the Kappa Cygnids. Next is the Southern Aquarids with 20 meteors/hour. The prominent display in almost every year is the Perseids shower, active from 7/15 - 9/01, peaking on 8/11-14 with 100 meteors per hour. Next week I will discuss the Perseids in more detail as the peak dates approach.
Before I discuss some of the particular sky features this week I want to discuss the approaching Lion's Gate, the annual return of our sister star, SIRIUS, from her voyage behind the SUN. This energy is well known and revered by many cultures for most of human history. In review, this is some of what I wrote about the return last year.
“LION'S GATE
Each year from late July to mid August there is a powerful line up of celestial bodies while the Sun is in Leo. This lines up Earth, the Sun, the Dog Star Sirius, and Orion's Belt to form a powerful portal that peaks on 8/8. Manifestation is favored and supported. The leadership capabilities of Leo are enhanced by the other spheres allowing us to create from the palette of our most cherished hopes and dreams. Adding to the efficacy is the influence of the numeral 8. The 8 is the infinity symbol turned 90° and stands for abundance and proper use of power. All of these elements combined assist you to be the star of your own creative life.”
I want to add another layer of thought to the wisdom this year, and it is particularly apropos for the current imbalance of male/female power dynamics.
Each year when the SUN moves into Leo, it has just come from Cancer, where the energies of home, hearth, and motherhood are at their peak. This reminder is high in our summer sky. The Cancer Crab squarely faces the Leo Lion, reminding us that the power/leadership of Leo is always preceded by the renewal of love, home, and the Mother energies. The proper use of Leo/Sun power and the approaching Lion's Gate will always be best if tempered with the balance of love and light. This balance can also be tempered with the two air signs that are sextile to Leo - Gemini and Libra. They both have planets/points currently active in residence at the moment. I will discuss them in more detail below, and in the next week's column.
This year there is another aspect to this annual return. In Numerology, this is an 8 year. The digits of 2024 add up to “8.” The number of the date is also interesting; 8/08/2024 = 8+8+8=24, making the qualities of the number 8 particularly strong this year. Those qualities are: the Infinity wave, universal love, the proper use of power, personal sovereignty, abundance, etc.
ASTROLOGY FORECAST
(August 1 - 8)
VENUS moves into Virgo on 8/4 until 8/28. VENUS also returns from a trip behind the SUN as our Evening Star. Sirius shines in the dawn east, Venus in the dusk west.
Virgo is not one of the most comfortable placements for VENUS. The extreme organization and attention to detail does not always mesh well with beauty loving Venus. The tendency to be overly critical is a concern. A useful application of the combined qualities might be to bring beauty to chaos through a more organized approach. This can refresh the flow of life enhancing energy.
The NEW MOON is on 8/4 in Leo at 7:13 am EST. This alignment has much to offer this month with the supporting aspects, the return of Venus and Sirius from behind the Sun, and the meteor showers.
New beginnings are always enhanced with the New Moon. This day finds the conjunct Sun/Moon in Leo sextile the conjunct Mars/Jupiter in Gemini. The fire and air elements work well together. Sextile in the other direction on the zodiac wheel is air sign Libra where LILITH is in residence at the moment. LILITH is the plain speaker who will lend tremendous strength for needed changes to the mix. As much as possible, try to flow with the energies rather than force things to get the most out of this New Moon.
MERCURY begins a retrograde motion in Virgo on 8/5 until 8/28. This will provide the usual opportunity to review everything, with emphasis on detail while the planet transits Virgo. This might be a good time to change things around, furniture, files, bookshelves, routine, etc. Anything that may get a boost from a different angle would be a good use of this retrograde transit. MERCURY will meet VENUS as she moves into Virgo. The conjunction between the two is quite beneficial. It bestows grace in expression, both written and spoken. Skill in diplomacy, mathematics, and science is featured. This energy is bolstered by the New Moon.
August arrives with a great deal of hope and power. Flow with the energies and know you are divinely guided to help you find your Grace.
ASTROLOGY FORECAST
(August 9 - 16)
This week features the peak dates of the Perseids meteor showers from the 11th to the 14th.
The meteors from the Perseids’ origin is the Perseus constellation on the northeastern horizon at approximately midnight during August. The meteors come from the orbit of the Swift-Tuttle comet. Spirituality, you can think of each year's meteors as new light and information. The comet trails our solar system passes through each year come from their orbits in deep space, containing deep wisdom, love, and light. I encourage you to believe that every meteor trail you see has information that you were meant to perceive within its light.
The Perseids meteors can create fireballs, and often also leave colorful trails. This year on the peak dates, (8/11-13), the 1st quarter moon will set around midnight, leaving us with dark skies for optimal viewing. Hopefully we will have clear skies to enjoy the show.
Asteroid JUNO moves into Libra on 8/9. In mythology, JUNO is the wife and sister to Jupiter. Her energy is about relationships, honesty, and loyalty - even in the face of betrayal. She behaves well, even when others close to her do not. She knows her own value and divinity.
JUNO will be in Libra through 11/03. This combination of Juno and Libra can be very powerful! Libra is about justice and balance. JUNO is the deity who longs for honesty and integrity. She is willing to stay loyal, even when pushed. Relationships are important to her. Libra will, perhaps, balance out the dynamics in troubled relationships to bring balance to all parties involved. We could be closer to achieving win/win scenarios where everyone can feel comfortable.
Now let us discuss an astrological point that we have not visited much in recent months. LILITH is measured in 3 ways. There is a physical asteroid in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter. There are two mathematical points that are calculated as well. The one most commonly used is the mean, which is a measure of the apogee of the Moon's orbit, or the farthest point from Earth. It is our shadow self, and perhaps our greatest opportunity to find self-love. It points out our weaknesses and areas for growth. LILITH is given a bad reputation in our heavily patriarchal societies, but is critical for finding a healthier balance in the Aquarian Age.
She has a very erratic orbit that has her moving from one sign to another, back and forth, for several months. LILITH has danced between Virgo and Libra for most of 2024.
In August she moved into Libra on 8/2 and stays there until 8/19. This is the energy in your personality that will set boundaries and defend yourself when lines are crossed. It will care for you even if society and others do not.
LILITH in Libra is a good partner for JUNO. The time when imbalances are favored and supported is drawing to a close. This time has been coming for a while. Each individual has free will to decide how smooth the transition toward balance and fairness will be. For those who resist, LILITH is there to say, “So be it.” She will help you, or is willing to let it be harder. Perhaps her greatest ability is to lend strength where it is needed to honor the self. That is certainly not deserving of a bad reputation!
LILITH will move on to a Libra/Scorpio pattern by October. So feel free to open to her energy along with JUNO in Libra. Justice, fairness, honesty, well placed loyalty, are all favored.
MERCURY'S retrograde motion takes it back into Leo on 8/12. After spending a few days in conjunction with Venus, Mercury may go back into Leo with a different perspective.
Virgo will have given expressive Mercury some better ideas for utilizing the inherent power and leadership skills of Leo. Venus may have contributed some grace and elegance for Mercury to take with it back into Leo.
The second week in August is a bit quieter, and lends itself to introspection. The later part of August will feature several sign changes. Remember that we are in a retrograde season at this time which also lends itself to review. MERCURY, SATURN, NEPTUNE, PLUTO, and asteroids CHIRON and CERES, are all retrograde right now. This is a collective energy of reinvention.
May it help us find our Godspeed.
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