By Dorene Carrel at AstroConnections.

August is a moderately active month, highlighted by three planetary stations that include Saturn, Mercury and the dwarf planet Ceres.  The Saturn station in mid-month allows us to achieve more stability and focus.  This is welcome after the dynamic,  wilder energies of July that brought some unexpected and unsettling changes.   Later in the month, Mars in Sagittarius will align with Saturn and square Neptune, which can help us follow our ideals and accomplish important tasks.  The challenge will be to stay positive and focused, as it will be easier to get distracted.

The New Moon occurs on August 2 at 11 Leo. This month will emphasize being more self-expressive, creative, generous and self-confident.  The shadow side of Leo is being arrogant and self-centered.  The harmonious trine to Saturn will help to keep us on a productive track.  The Sabian symbol for this degree, “Children play on a swing hanging from the branches of a huge oak tree,” suggests that we honor new emerging forces as well as the power of tradition.

Also on this day, Mars makes its final move from Scorpio to Sagittarius, where it will travel for the next two years. It already made a brief visit into Sagittarius from March to May.  Mars is more energetic and assertive in this fiery sign, which will encourage more risk-taking.  There will be a desire for more freedom and expanded horizons.   The areas of philosophy, education, travel and recreation will also become more popular and have innovative trends.

The shadow period of Mercury retrograde begins on August 10.  In my experience, the potential for unexpected changes, delays, etc., at that time is nearly as potent as the retrograde cycle itself.  Be careful to communicate clearly and check all important documents for possible errors.  Mercury will turn retrograde on August 30.  See below for more details.

On August 13, Saturn turns stationary direct at 10 Sagittarius.  It has been retrograde since last March, which may have brought a re-evaluation of our priorities. Today Saturn also forms a challenging square to Venus in Virgo.  It may be hard to come to an agreement now in our relationships, or we may feel isolated and misunderstood.  Saturn can help us to stay focused on our true personal goals and plan steps to their achievement.  Also on August 13, Jupiter in Virgo forms a quincunx aspect to Uranus, allowing us to make important adjustments in our openness to change and innovation.  Venus aligns with the North Node on August 15 and trines Pluto on August 17, which favors making positive advancement in our relationships.

The Full Moon occurs on August 18 at 26 Aquarius.  It aligns with the asteroid Pallas and forms a harmonious sextile to Uranus.  With the Aquarian emphasis, this lunation opens us to see a clearer path to making positive changes in our lives.  Pallas brings new ideas in the form of pattern perceptions that may provide important insights.

We can better see how our unique talents can benefit humanity and our personal community.  The Sabian symbols for these degree areas, “After the heavy storm, a rainbow,” and “A garage man testing a car’s battery with a hydrometer,” suggest that after a period of testing, we will now begin to see benefits and rewards.  Some calendars list this Full Moon as a lunar eclipse.  However, according to the Mountain Astrologer, replies to their inquiries from NASA experts indicate that this lunation is a “near miss” and does not qualify as an eclipse.

On August 24-25, Mars aligns with Saturn and squares Neptune in Pisces.  The aspect with Neptune can heighten our intuition, but also encourage illusion and deception.   Mars/Saturn is also in a challenging sesquiquadrate aspect with Uranus, which can increase the chance for accidents and volatile events.  It is best to be cautious and alert during this period, although it is favorable for accomplishing detailed tasks if one can stay focused.

Mercury turns stationary retrograde on August 30 at 29 Virgo.  It will travel backward through Virgo until September 22, when it turns direct at 15 Virgo.  It is best to postpone signing contracts or making important purchases during this cycle. It is a period of introspection when it is best to cut back on a busy schedule and live more simply.  These weeks can best be spent reviewing, researching and taking a spiritual retreat.   Ceres stations on August 31, helping us to make improvements to our diet and lifestyle.  This is a good time for self-nurturing, as well as to give and receive support in our significant relationships.    Blessings for a joyful summer!

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Dorene Carrel is a professional astrologer with over thirty years of experience.  Donations towards this column are appreciated.  Paypal accepted. Please use my email, dorenea5@yahoo.com as reference.

Do you have a question or concern that can be addressed through astrology/numerology?   I am now offering focused email readings. Please contact me for more information.

Check out my astrology blog at www.astroconnections.blogspot.com for ongoing astrological observations on current events.

All references to Sabian symbols are from An Astrological Mandala: The Cycle of Transformation and Its 360 Symbolic Phases, by Dane Rudhyar.