August carries forward many of the transits from last month, maintaining a signature of extroversion and activity. Additionally, it continues some of the volatility and destabilizing events of recent weeks, while also giving us a few opportunities to digest and come to terms with swiftly developing events. As predicted, July proved to be an exciting yet turbulent month. In this month’s astrology, we will recap significant events and the transits that triggered them, setting the stage for what August has in store.
July in Review…
First off, it seems appropriate to discuss the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on Friday, July 13, 2024, leading up to the Mars Uranus transit. I pointed out last month, Mars and Uranus together are a potent and combustible combination and with the exact conjunction to Algol we get the theme of beheading with the near headshot and wound to the ear. I did a dedicated video unpacking the astrology of the attempted assassination. You can find that here.
Next, exactly one week later, we have the CrowdStrike IT systems meltdown that crippled operations for companies worldwide, influenced by Mercury square Uranus on Friday, July 19, 2024. This incident can be partially attributed to the lingering effects of the Mars/Uranus conjunction. While Taurus isn’t typically associated with significant disruptions in technology systems, the critical factor here is Mercury. As the ruler of transportation, communication, and technology, Mercury’s square to Uranus at 24 degrees Leo to 26 degrees Taurus, with Mars still in Taurus, intensified the situation. This alignment resulted in a catastrophic systems failure with a global impact, affecting industries beyond technology, including retail and banking, fields traditionally associated with Taurus.
And finally, Joe Biden exited the 2024 Presidential race on July 21st, 2024, nearly coinciding with Mars’ ingress into Gemini. This timing highlighted Mercury, Gemini’s ruler, in Leo—the sign of leaders and kings. Additionally, the Sun at the critical anaretic degrees of Cancer was square to Neptune and Saturn, emphasizing the impact of age and cognitive decline on his decision. This event concluded a series of unexpected and disruptive occurrences in July, all marked by Uranus’s influence.
Onward to the astrology of August…..
Gemini and Leo take Focus….
The astrology of the month places significant emphasis on the signs of Gemini and Leo. This combination is both curious and generous, as well as frenetic and loud. The benefic planets, Venus and Jupiter, are both situated in Leo and Gemini, respectively. They orm a sign-based sextile that adds a harmonious and fun-loving backdrop to the month.
But, we did need to address Red Planet in the room. Mars will be in Gemini throughout the month of August, which can introduce a provocative and contentious environment. This will be particularly the case for Jupiter as he will be co-present with Mars in Gemini. Jupiter will attempt to use Mars red-hot, impulsive action towards the greater benefit where possible, though.
Mars will enter Cancer, the sign of its fall, in early September. We will explore that more next month as it leads into the Mars retrograde later in the year, a major astrological event. For now though, we can expect Mars to add an element of shit-talking and shit-posting to the astrological sauna of August while he moves through the communicative sign of Gemini.
Rings and Squares….
Another key transit this month involves three distinct events that form a cohesive narrative. These include the Mars-Jupiter conjunction in Gemini, followed by Mars and then Jupiter perfecting squares with Saturn in Pisces within a few days of each other. These transits highlight themes of courage and contention, particularly relevant given the backdrop of the presidential elections.
The Mars-Jupiter conjunction brings a gladiatorial spirit, fanning the flames of confrontation. However, the subsequent squares to Saturn introduce obstacles, likely presenting challenges to instigators and potential legal battles. The Jupiter-Saturn square, the first since the start of the 200-year Air Triplicity Epoch in 2021, marks a significant astrological event, hinting at important developments in the realms of law and order.
Buried Beneath the Throne….
Finally, the month features a Mercury Retrograde starting on August 4th. Mercury, moving through its shadow degrees for most of the month, will retrograde in the early degrees of Virgo, its sign of exaltation. This period offers opportunities for organization, self-improvement, and well-being, with seeds planted now bearing fruit when Mercury returns to Virgo on September 9th.
AUGUST 2024 Important transits
8/4 – New Moon in Leo – We kick off a new lunar cycle in the sign of the sovereign Sun. This lunation is in a tight sextile to Mars and Jupiter in Gemini bringing up themes of how we communicate our individuality, creativity, confidence, and how we receive recognition. Expect to see these themes unfold over this coming lunar cycle and also consider how seeds planted now concerning how we express ourselves will unfold over the coming year.
8/4 – Mercury stations Retrograde – Mercury begins his Chthonic underworld journey where he will explore the dark shadows of the throne room of Leo. Out in the world we may see this play out through behind the scenes maneuvering for position and power. There will also be a chance to uncover deeper meaning in the disruptive events of prior weeks and revisit projects that need more attention to reach finality.
8/5 – Venus enters Virgo – Venus enters the sign of her Fall. Those she does loses some dignity in Virgo, where her need for beauty and desire become more subdued in the lieu of the project of detailed analysis and intellectual refinement.
8/7 – Venus / Mercury conjunct – This conjunction of exalted, yet retrograde Mercury with fallen Venus in Virgo presents a unique dynamic. While Venus and Mercury strive to assist each other, the pursuit of beauty and perfection may not fully materialize. However, it is in the earnest effort to reach these high ideals that we find the potential to accomplish greater achievements.
8/13 – Mars conjunct Jupiter – When feisty Mars joins expansive Jupiter in Gemini, we can anticipate an increase in spirited discussions and a strong drive to champion causes through words. This alignment is likely to result in a surge of events unfolding rapidly on social media platforms. This conjunction also highlights the square to Saturn in Pisces where both planets will face obstructions to express their key significations of speed and expansion. We may feel ready to take on the world but the managerial structures and institutional bureaucracies are sending a clear message of “Not so fast….”
8/15 – Mars square Saturn – Mars perfects the square to Saturn. This is a decidedly difficult transit where we are getting the green light and red light at the same time. Saturn likely wins out here, but do expect a fight at least in words with Mars in Gemini. Saturn now retrograde in Pisces wants us to revisit something from the past weeks and months. This may look like an emotional wound that still needs to be tended to or some deeper issue that requires some deep sea diving to come to resolution.
8/17 – Venus opposes Saturn – Saturn brings further melancholia to fallen Venus by opposition. Here we may feel a hard stop on projects centering around art, music and beauty. If we look hard and are disciplined we can tend to a latent silver lining here as Saturn is in Venus’s sign of exaltation. If we can be steadfast with our vision we can express a hidden truth around non-attachment and universal truth. Woman in positions of prominence or power may experience a setback at this time.
8/18 – Mercury Cazimi – Mercury enters the heart of the Sun during his retrograde phase. Here we get the semi-regular meeting of Hermes and the Lords of the Underworld. Depositing souls, projects and treasury notes into the hidden catacombs beneath the Solar throne room. Mercury will now begin his ascent out of the underworld as we begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel or mercurial projects. Various ordeals will begin to unwind and find resolution over the coming days.
8/19 – Jupiter square Saturn – The Jupiter-Saturn square represents a tense interaction between the greater benefic and the greater malefic. This aspect serves as a critical checkpoint in the 20-year Jupiter-Saturn cycle, marking the first square since their conjunction initiated the 200-year Air Triplicity in January 2021. Notably, this square occurs with Saturn in Jupiter’s sign of Pisces. We can anticipate a reassessment of trends and tensions related to globalization, demographics, religion, spirituality, institutions tied to law and justice, class struggle, and the transmission of ancient wisdom. In particular, look for developments around the Supreme Court in the US and efforts towards peace negotiations for various wars and conflicts.
8/19 – Full Moon in Aquarius – The Full Moon in Aquarius prompts us to reflect on our contributions and roles within the realms of civic duty and community identity. Coinciding with a Mercury cazimi, this lunation highlights the swift advancements in disruptive technologies like AI and society’s need to adapt to these changes. This period may expose the covert use of such tools in politics, propaganda, and power dynamics.
8/22 – Sun enters Virgo -Harvest season arrives with the Sun’s ingress into Virgo, marking a time to focus on health and wellness, perfecting our fitness routines. The Sun illuminates our efforts toward organization and efficiency, offering an opportunity to reap the benefits of humble, well-done work in various areas of life. With Virgo’s ruler Mercury in retrograde, the beginning of Virgo season may feel more inward, awkward, and reflective. As Mercury moves forward and re-enters Virgo in September, we will navigate through the maze of tasks and details, eventually seeing projects progress towards completion.
8/28 – Mercury stations Direct – Hermes now returns from his Underworld journey where he discovered long forgotten treasures and ornate objects related to our self-worth, sovereignty and identity. Over the coming days as Mercury picks up speed events will begin to resolve themselves and take on a more cohesive form. Events related to the squares of Mars and Jupiter to Saturn will also have the opportunity to take on more cohesive meaning and substance now.
8/29 – Venus enters Libra – Venus, now in her evening star phase, returns to her diurnal domicile of Libra. With benefic Venus in position, the world welcomes the bounty and beauty of autumn, bringing luck, good fortune, and harmonious relationships. Expect a renewed excitement in areas such as food, music, cinema, and art. Upon entering Libra, Venus will encounter the South Node, leading to a more subdued initial expression in her sign. However, by late September, we can anticipate experiencing Venus in her more fully-flowering form.
8/31 – Uranus stations retrograde – The Promethean planet Uranus stops at 27 Taurus for a siesta. The planet has been hard at work disrupting the worlds of finance, supply-chains, food and value over the past 6 years in Taurus. He will backtrack for some months until early 2025 when he will finish his final leg through Taurus before entering Gemini in Summer of next year.