The Astrology Blog 6 August 2018
All times given are stated in BST
Venus opens the show this week, arriving in one of her own signs in the early hours of Tuesday. This ingress coincides exactly with the Sun squaring up to Jupiter as both events happen at 29 minutes after midnight. Uranus switches direction the same day. With Mars still retrograde, and now back at the beginning of Aquarius, the “love planets” the harmonize in these two air signs in the early hours of Wednesday. Here’s the sequence –
Tuesday 7 August
- Venus ingress Libra 00.29
- Sun 14 Leo square Jupiter 14 Scorpio 00.29
- Uranus Stationary Retrograde 2.34 Taurus 17.50
Wednesday 8 August
- Venus 1 Libra trine Mars 1 Aquarius 01.34
With the current backdrop of retrograde Mercury and Mars causing double trouble this start to the week really does have the feel of a breath of fresh air, even if it’s only a little one! This last week has been an unending series of tales of woe concerning computers, cars, illness, stings (Mercury rules flying things, Mars rules anything sharp or stinging!) administrative nightmares and conflicting information. Expect more of the same! Mercury doesn’t turn direct until the 19th and Mars until the 27th, but in the meantime we have some interesting astrology this week.
Back to Venus and Mars. Venus entering her own sign is generally good news for relationships – of all kinds. From my book Be Your Own Astrologer –
Venus in Libra
Venus teaches us all about relating and she is therefore powerful in the sign of the Scales, the symbol of partnership. There is absolutely nothing that one half can do without affecting the other. These Venus people simply need their other half to be there, they are inextricably linked, and make heaven sent partners although they can tip over into too much neediness. They have conventional ideas about togetherness so, unsurprisingly, affairs or long distance relationships have a short shelf life. They admire beauty and sophistication, and more often than not their partner is a good looker, but ultimately they seek someone who is easy going, relaxing to be with and equally invested in The Relationship. One of my Libra Venus clients has been with the same partner for over forty years, they never married or had children, but they run a highly successful business in home decor. They are together 24/7 and suffer no claustrophobia.
Even this dignified Venus, however, suffers from the notorious Libran balancing act of indecision. In the words of a client:
“I often stand at crossroads – can I be a mother and still have my career, can I travel and still be in a relationship – all choices are difficult because they always involve someone else.”
In terms of aesthetic values this Venus tops the bill. My favorite anecdote is from a client who told me that, in his seriously broke days, he once spent his last five pounds on a bunch of flowers, on the basis that they would cheer him up and last a lot longer than food.
So, if you’re with a partner you may be tested in terms of how much you are invested in the relationship – or how much your partner is. With Mars retrograde there is a question mark over how much you may or may not be pulling in the same direction or whether sexual desire is equal or not. Reaching agreements of any kind will probably need more collaboration and negotiation than usual.
If you’re single the alignment of Venus and Mars bodes well for meeting someone new or for making progress with someone you’re already attracted to. But, again, it’s unlikely to be plain sailing, especially if one of you is still involved with someone else. There are a lot of logistics in the mix.
But as I said last week the Greater Benefic Jupiter is the only planet who is moving forwards, and this week’s aspect to the Sun – even though it’s a square – occurring exactly at the same time as Venus opens her new cycle suggests that unfolding events will point the way forwards. For some there may be feelings of overwhelm, both in terms of feelings and in terms of how on earth are we ever going to get this sorted, but hang on in there. If you are both genuinely prepared to compromise for the good of the relationship then solutions will come.
Circle Wednesday evening for the crux point of Mercury’s retrograde journey –
Thursday 9 August
- Sun conjunct Mercury 16 Leo 03.07
Every time Mercury goes retrograde, which happens three times a year and always for about three weeks at a time, roughly in the middle there is always a conjunction to the Sun. This is when Mercury is said to be “cazimi” – within 17′ of arc to the Sun’s position, or within the heart of the Sun. This lasts for a couple of hours either side of the time for the exact conjunction, and is the stuff of light bulb moments, anything from a great idea to a snippet of information that you can tuck up your sleeve for later in the month. It’s also the stuff of pivotal conversations so if you need a heart to heart, if you want to know what someone else really thinks or if you need advice, grab your moment! Windows of opportunity or moments of illumination will have their part to play.
Uranus’ change of direction is another part of the backdrop, especially if you have planets or angles in the first three degrees of the Fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius. Because Uranus is an outer planet and very slow moving he will stay retrograde for months, until the beginning of next year – during which time he will reverse back into the late degrees of Aries – but the exact turning points are worth watching. Uranian symbolism, as I said last week, includes shocks, surprises, the thing you couldn’t possibly have seen coming, a sudden and unexpected turn of events. He rules unpredictability itself so in some sense he’s the astrologer’s nightmare, you never really know what he’s up to or what he’s going to spring on you.
The end of the week sees Venus in difficulties –
Friday 10 August
- Venus 3 Libra square Saturn 3 Capricorn 02.35
Any Venus (or Moon) and Saturn combinations are difficult. When the aspect is an inharmonious square and Saturn is retrograde, then they are even more complex. Saturn is very, very slow moving right now as he’s approaching the degree at which he’ll turn direct again (2 degrees Capricorn on 6 Sept) so there’s definitely a sense of staring a brick wall in the face or coming to terms with something – or someone – that can’t be changed. Check your expectations and move away from anything that can never meet your needs.
This message is strongly underlined at the weekend with Mercury squaring up to Jupiter – textbook stuff for expecting/saying too much or for things being inflated and exaggerated. Not that we should always try to keep things contained. If something’s gotta give then let it happen, but keep one eye on your perspective and how you’re using your precious energy.
This aspect is followed by the last Eclipse of the current series of three –
Saturday 11 August
- Mercury 15 Leo square Jupiter 15 Scorpio 07.33
- New Moon/Solar Eclipse 18.42 Leo 10.59
Here’s the sequence –
- The first Solar Eclipse was 13 July at 21 Cancer
- The Lunar Eclipse was 27 July at 5 Aquarius
- This second Solar Eclipse is 11 August at 19 Leo – the Sun’s own sign
- If you have planets or angles within 2 degrees of any of these positions then these dates are milestones on your personal journey, especially with regard to major changes and the opening of new cycles
Eclipses are often considered as “power points” in a developing situation, or in any chain of events that are about change. It is said that they can stay potent for months but, in my own practice, I’ve found that sometimes events show literally within hours of the Eclipse, other times up to several days either side, but not usually more than two weeks (ie before the next new or full Moon). They are milestones, markers on the tracks and signal the moment when it’s time to change trains. One journey ends, another begins, so there’s often death/rebirth imagery at work.
For example, being overshadowed by another, or coming out of the shadows, a light going out and then coming back on again to reveal a new landscape, or power battles and decisive moments/events in triangular matters (three bodies are involved in Eclipses, the dance between the Sun, Moon and Earth) again such as affairs. Something tilts the balance, matters come to a head, light and power are transferred, ready or not. In a Lunar Eclipse a woman may feature more prominently, a man in a Solar Eclipse, but this is not a hard and fast rule.
This Eclipse falling in Leo – sign of royalty – features strongly in the charts of the Queen, Prince Philip and their children with their synastry of shared planets and angles between of 21 Cancer and 17 to 22 degrees Leo –
- The Queen – Moon 12 Leo, Neptune 22 Leo, in 7th House (marriage, partnerships) and Descendant (beginning of 7th House) 21 Cancer
- Duke of Edinburgh – Moon 22 Leo also in 7th House
- Princess Anne – Pluto 18 Leo, Sun 22 Leo
- Prince Charles – Pluto 17 Leo, Descendant 5 Aquarius (conjunct the Lunar Eclipse)
- Prince Andrew – Uranus 18 Leo (Beatrice Sun 16 Leo, Mercury 22 Leo)
- Prince Edward – Midheaven 21 Cancer, Moon 10 Aquarius
Watch this space but the ever present questions of possible abdication and transference of power fit Eclipse symbolism to the letter.
Last word goes to Mars, who retrogrades back into the late degrees of Capricorn in the early hours of next Monday –
Monday 13 August
- Mars Retrograde ingress Capricorn 03.15
- Mars will turn direct at 28 degrees Capricorn on 27 August
- Mars ingress Aquarius for the second time 11 September (five days after Saturn turns direct)
If you have planets or angles in the late degrees of Capricorn in particular (or the other Cardinal signs Aries, Cancer, Libra) or in the early degrees of Taurus in particular (or the other Fixed signs Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) then the combination of the Mars and Uranus activity will be especially significant for you. It’s definitely a rocky road, with lots of going backwards and forwards, so it’s text book stuff for two steps forwards and one step back. But the evidence is stacking up for resolution at the end of this month and during the first two weeks of September so keep spinning those plates and keep your eye on the longer term picture.
The first major turning point for the better will be Mercury getting back on track on the 19th and I’ll be talking more about this week.
Until then, wishing you patience!
With love from Greece
Joanna