This week is colored by Mercury’s shadow period, as he slowwwws down in preparation to throw it in reverse. His retrograde will begin late at night on 9/9, and may seem particularly visible and newsworthy since the Sun in Virgo takes his marching orders from Mercury, and the boss is about to take a tumble. Take this week to take a breath and consider the ways in which you may be miscommunicating, the potential faults in your thought process, the routes which may become temporarily closed or rerouted. Also, if there’s anything you need to make official vis-a-vis contracts or agreements, it might be prudent to do so before the retrograde kicks in proper, if you’re able. Mercury retrogrades are not all that doomy, but they can coincide with big inconveniences. Double-check that you’re i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed.

Mercury’s retrograde will take place in a harmonious relationship to Mars and in a difficult relationship to Jupiter. As I wrote prior, “this Mercury will highlight the gap between where our heads are at and where we’d like to be more capable, more spiritual, more charitable – the places we’d like to grow and why we aren’t getting there.” Mars’ involvement means that through investigation and effort, we may find ways we’ve been going about expansion all wrong and be able to rework those processes into solutions. 

In addition to that difficult configuration, there may be an air of repression around personal style and creativity, as Venus sees an opposition to Saturn. Saturn in retrograde here, so some of the same “how can we re-” thinking may be useful here; in this case, probably “how can we restructure” around aesthetic, beauty, and relating to others. Venus in Leo can sometimes come off as brash and self-absorbed, and there may be very good reasons for that sensibility to get checked. Conversely, people may wish for you to hide your light in a bushel, and you don’t have to take that shit.

Thursday (9/1) may see the Uranus-North Node “Change Bomb” get triggered by the moon’s movement through Scorpio. Here, it will touch the South Node, which may create an environment that’s fit for emotional purgation. Have a care with how deeply you mine your heart that night, whatever the activity – emotional investment can take many forms. This may be a tense day too, because the moon completes what is known as a Grand Cross, a configuration which may have folks feeling like they’re being pulled in four directions at once. Elements from the above Venus write-up will likely be at play.

Saturday (9/3) sees the moon in Sagittarius oppose Mars, highlighting a wall between what we need (perhaps on a spiritual level) and how we get it (perhaps on an intellectual level.) The Moon will be in a positive relationship to Jupiter and Chiron, opening avenues toward growth and healing, though that doesn’t mean the sensation is a smooth and easy one.

On Monday (9/5,) Venus will head into Virgo. I wrote about this back in my Virgo Season write-up last week: “…on the one hand, it’s said to be where Venus performs her worst, as detail-obsessed Virgo cannot help but find fault in appearance and presentation. On the other hand, Venus has dignity by triplicity here, meaning that she is at home in the earth element. I have known many a thrifty bargain maven to have this placement and Judo that into an affordable-but-unique style. So all is far from lost here, but it is useful to know when it’s okay to splurge and on what; also useful to know when to stop picking at a defect, as overworking a blemish to make it worse is kind of textbook Venus in Virgo.” That last bit is a very real thing, and many astrologers know stories of people with a lot of Virgo who will, for example, sand a piece of wood until it snaps in two. With Venus in Virgo, remind yourself that the painting needs to get hung at some point.

The Moon in Capricorn will usher this Venus into her new lodgings, though this creates another tense day on Monday, as the moon will be in a contentious relationship to Jupiter and Mercury, creating what is known as a T-Square. Without getting too jargony here, the theme of the day may be shutting down from tension and falling back on comforts: comfort foods, old haunts, art and music favorites, family and home life.

We close out on Tuesday (9/6) with another interesting array. This one speaks to intensity, but also to grounding and centering amidst upheaval. The Sun is now in a trine to Uranus-North Node, a conjunction I have discussed many times over the last few months. In short, Uranus is revelation and sudden change, while the North Node is a point of manifestation – together, an engine for sudden material change that gets triggered as fast-moving planets circle the zodiac. Now the sun will be shining a potentially-explosive spotlight on this area for the coming week, and what’s more, the Moon will be doing so late Monday into Tuesday before making a conjunction to Pluto, another intensity-modifier which particularly speaks to what is unseen, powerful, and hidden.

Because all three elements are in soft configuration to each other, we get what is called a Grand Earth Trine, often a positive force for feeling rooted and secure. What’s interesting here is that this marshaling of the earth element occurs right along with these indicators of tumult. So many may end up rooting out of necessity to keep their footing after a sudden gust almost blows them ass-over-tea kettle. Mileage may vary, but stay on your toes today and look for the right time to dig them into the soil.

Until next Hump Day!

I will keep remarks brief(ish) this week since I poured a lot of thoughts on upcoming astro weather into a monthly post on Virgo Season 2022.

The Sun and Mars make a real “reluctant rivals forced to work together” action movie duo, coloring the week with an itchy feeling that’s geared toward dynamic problem-solving. The engine under the hood of this mean machine is Mercury in Virgo, clean and calm and ready to research deeply, due to a positive aspect to Pluto. This is a powerful configuration for productivity.

Venus’ position at the start of this week is also notable. She is still looking loud and vibrant in Leo, but may have a little trouble on her hands. For one thing, a trine to Chiron may leave her feeling vulnerable and inadequate, things Venus never likes to feel and especially not in Leo. There is potential to face down insecurities and rise from this stronger, but the process may feel uncomfortable. The real problem is that for the next few days (and especially when the moon runs into Venus on Thurs 8/25,) Venus may trigger the volatile Uranus-North Node conjunction, which may cause irrevocable and sudden change to preferences, values, self-image, etc. Sashay with caution.

Friday (8/26) sees Mercury enter Libra, where he will be taking orders from that very same Venus – so she will be on the brain. Mercury will go retrograde in this sign next month, so the process of rethinking attitudes and pathways around Venusian issues – fashion, aesthetic, self-presentation – may be brewing here. Mercury still performs well in Libra, but while it has a lot of great thoughts and ideas, may lack follow-through. Still, inspiration is more likely to strike even if analytical ability takes a hit. Mercury will spend a lot of time in relationship to Mars in Gemini and Jupiter in Aries retrograde during this and next week, and should get us thinking around how to be more efficient and capable.

The new moon in Virgo is on Saturday, 8/27, and will highlight much of what has already been described as major elements of the coming lunar month. The coming days pass without major fanfare. The only other major aspect to discuss is, unfortunately, more trouble for Venus. It may feel like it all rolls into the previously described business, but late on Sunday (8/28,) Venus will perfect an opposition to Saturn retrograde in Aquarius. Here, we can see that the week’s Uranian volley may have rocked our sense of Venus – again, around aesthetics or attraction, values – and that the structure of Venus’ influence on our lives has become harder to recognize, that it may be in need of revision or overhaul. Mileage may vary big time, though this will have greatest effect on those with fixed placements around 20 degrees. Venus will soon leave Leo, but it looks to me like the upcoming Mercury retrograde, occurring in a Venus-ruled sign, will carry on this story. More on that as it develops.

Until next Hump Day!

Today, the Sun left its natural home in hot and sticky Leo more the harvest fields of Virgo. Here are a few of the big-ticket items to keep an eye on as Sol makes his way through this earthy patch of zodiac.

The solar month begins with a feeling that we’re grinding our teeth toward solutions. This comes from a square – a combative aspect – between the Sun and Mars, which perhaps will make some feel their hard work is being overshadowed while others may feel a marked challenge toward their sense of identity. Luckily, cognition is our friend here, as cool-headed assessment is likely the way to reach satisfaction here. It may not feel nice, but a lot can be accomplished in the friction between these Mercury-ruled planets. This aspect is active through 9/12 or thereabouts. Mars remains in Gemini throughout Virgo season, and in fact, will remain here until March of 2023 due to his retrograde that will begin in late October. More on that as it develops.

Mercury, meanwhile, begins the month in a very powerful place – in Virgo, where his mental acuity is at its most crisp. His trine to Pluto means that he’ll be able to spelunk to the greater depths in search of treasured answers. By the 26th, however, he will enter Libra – still sharp, though perhaps a bit more easily distractable. This Mercury will highlight the gap between where our heads are at and where we’d like to be more capable, more spiritual, more charitable – the places we’d like to grow and why we aren’t getting there. This comes from an opposition with Jupiter in Aries, which will only grow more tense as Mercury begins to slow in preparation of his semi-annual retrograde, but which will be mitigated by Mercury’s positive relationship to Mars.

Yes, we get a Mercury retrograde this Virgo season, all the more under the spotlight since Mercury rules Virgo. As ever, it’s important to remember that Mercury Retrograde is not just code for “everything sucks.” It’s an opportunity to reflect on and revise our thinking around a certain sector of life – in this case, wherever Libra lies in your chart, and in how your head connects to your values and what you’re drawn to. During this time, yes, it is important to be aware of and stay ahead of potential brain farts. Are you about to get on the highway during rush hour? About to hit “send” on an email you shouldn’t? Some things will be out of your control, but you’d be surprised at just how many problems you can “think ahead of” during Merc Retro; at least, that is what I have found. Mercury will begin its retrograde on the full moon in Pisces on 9/10/22. It will dip back into Virgo and station direct at 24 degrees Virgo on 10/1/22.

Venus remains in Leo for the moment, slinging glam and drama. But she begins the solar month in a trine to Chiron, which may feel a little uncomfortable, as Venus is drawn toward some insecurities around personal capability and even *gasp* confidence. Those drawn to confront these reflections may find healing and peace around these issues. The moon will be with Venus on 8/25, lending a special night-time spotlight on this area of the chart. On 9/5, Venus will be with the moon again (by trine this time) as she dips into Virgo. Venus in Virgo is a sticky wicket. On the one hand, it’s said to be where Venus performs her worst, as detail-obsessed Virgo cannot help but find fault in appearance and presentation. On the other hand, Venus has dignity by triplicity here, meaning that she is at home in the earth element. I have known many a thrifty bargain maven to have this placement and Judo that into an affordable-but-unique style. So all is far from lost here, but it is useful to know when it’s okay to splurge and on what; also useful to know when to stop picking at a defect, as overworking a blemish to make it worse is kind of textbook Venus in Virgo.

It is also worth noting – with gravity – that the contentious aspect between the conjunction of Uranus and the North Node square to Saturn Retrograde is still very active. For those new to this concept, it’s basically created a background atmosphere of oily rags left around gasoline, that things could be set alight at any given moment. Uranus is unpredictable revelation, accident, surprise, a blot from the blue. His conjunction to the North Node means that these lightning bolts will have material effect, and the square to Saturn seems to indicate that they will smash against the wall of structure and authority. That system may be internal, the routines and hierarchies which shape a life, or it may be more obvious than that. Anyway, this array is going to be triggered several times over the course of the month. In fact, the Sun’s movement through Virgo will add an oil-lamp to this oily rag-gasoline pairing, and that aspect will perfect on 9/10, which may also be a trigger.

I’ll be continuing my weekly Wednesday write-ups, so I’ll stick with these broad strokes for the time being. Here is a chronology that may prove useful:

8/23 Sun enters Virgo, square to Mars in Gemini.

8/25 The moon in Leo may potentially trigger the Uranus-Saturn configuration.

8/26 Mercury enters Libra.

8/27 New Moon in Virgo. May potentially trigger the Uranus-Saturn configuration.

9/1 The moon in Scorpio may potentially trigger the Uranus-Saturn configuration.

9/4 Venus is particularly weak, anaretic at 29 degrees.

9/5 Venus makes ingress into Virgo.

9/6 Mercury really begins to slow down in preparation for his retrograde. Big highlight on his relationship to Mars and Jupiter, discussed above. Today, we also have a Grand Earth Trine, meaning that three planets in earth signs are very tightly configured in a positive, grounding way. However, one corner of that triangle is Uranus, so this may be another trigger date. Incidentally, the trines are between the Sun in Virgo, the Moon in Capricorn, and Uranus and the North Node in Taurus.

9/7 Another Grand Trine! This time in Air, meaning that ideas and freedom of thought, conversations and games and abstract thinking are all at a premium. This trine is completed by the moon in Aquarius, Mercury stationing in Libra, and Mars in Gemini.

9/8 The moon in Aquarius on top of Saturn retrograde may potentially trigger the Uranus-Saturn configuration.

9/10 Mercury retrograde begins! Full Moon in Pisces on top of Neptune! This day may take on a dreamy and disorienting quality. A great day for escapism, less so for administrative, left-brained duties.

9/14 The moon in Taurus may potentially trigger the Uranus-Saturn configuration. So may Venus in Virgo, who is configured by trine through 9/25ish and who will make an exact trine to the North Node on 9/16 and to Uranus on 9/19.

9/18 A potentially tense day. Three planets configure again (Mercury in Libra retrograde, the moon in Cancer, and Jupiter in Aries retrograde,) but this time, by disharmonious aspect…what’s more, of all these cardinal signs, there is a piece missing in Capricorn. We call this aspect a t-square, and proceedings in the day may take on a Capricorn shape in order to account for the missing piece of this puzzle.

9/21 The moon in Leo may potentially trigger the Uranus-Saturn configuration.

9/22 The Sun enters Libra. A special day because Mercury’s close conjunction with the Sun creates a condition known as cazimi, as rare day in Mercury’s retrograde where communication is said to be clear and sharp, like a structure suddenly visible in the eye of a storm.

Some of the cumbersome and heavy blockage of last week may linger leading into this one, as the Sun moves past a number of tough-but-instructive aspects, which may have called into question how to restructure oneself – the Sun caught a rough opposition to Saturn, a trine to Chiron, and square to Uranus. A big call to reorganize, heal, and switch up the gameplan in double-time, may have included a few metaphorical dodgeballs aimed for the head, thrown by the universe.

Well, it’s game on at the start of this week, as the moon will trigger some of that volatile, revelatory current from Uranus the next few days, while the Sun walks into a Mars’ outstretched fist. The Sun is personality, identity, vitality, and it’s strongly expressed in Leo. Mars, our will to achieve our goals and defend from threats, is less strong in Taurus. Or it would be, if it were not conjunct two of the most powerful fixed stars in the cosmos: Algol and The Pleiades. This is sounding like big personalities biting off more they can chew, or grappling with the idea of asserting one’s will under sensitive conditions. The Pleiades story is often one of loss and sacrifice; Algol’s is about being mindful of those who have been victimized and of not losing one’s head in obsession. With these unpredictable conditions, it will be best to take time to breathe through difficult situations, and if time permits, to try to assess strategic pluses and minuses coolly before taking action.

These shenanigans culminate on Thurs (8/18.) A mitigating player in this equation may be Mercury, the planet of cognition, who is very strong in Virgo. He is positioned to dialogue with some of those “big angry change” forces and help us to put them to positive use. All the more reason to assess dispassionately. The messenger god is welcome everywhere, even the oft-shelled battlefield. In fact, Mercury will creating what is called a Grand Earth Trine by his aspect to Pluto, which gives greater grounding and practical perspective to the entire proceedings. The fly in the ointment here is our sense of fantasy and grandeur, the dreams which inspire and the nightmares that cast doubt, all personified in the planet Neptune, which will be in opposition to Mercury at this time. Thus, we can say that Mercury may be able to help us makes use of unpredictable change, but he may not help us see a way to use that to realize our hopes or protect us from our fears…at least, not yet. But in that the two planets are speaking, there may be a breadcrumb trail to stumble on.

Along with these conditions, we’re treated to a positive relationship between Venus and Jupiter, which speaks to me of dynamic fashion, to visual and performing arts, to looks and attitudes exuding a range of confidence, from dapper to fierce. This may also be a good time to cultivate such a style.

Saturday (8/20) is kind of a big day, in that it sees Mars’ ingress into Gemini. This is notable for a couple of reasons: a) Mars’ presence in Taurus has been like an oily rag moving through a powder keg, and this bumpy August weather should mellow a little in the wake of its departure, and b) Mars is about to spend quite a long time in Gemini, as he does not leave until 3/25/23. This is because of Mars’ retrograde cycle, which sees the red planet’s apparent backwards movement through the heavens. More on that mischief as it unfolds. For now, suffice it to say that Mars in Gemini may open myriad avenues to achieve our goals, to keep safe, to hurt someone. This is the Mars of a detached strategist, of one who loves to game-ify things, of a massive shit-talker, of one who knows the power of a cutting word, of a damning exposé.

Venus, radiating confidence early in the week, may run into some self-doubt and insecurity from this weekend through next Hump Day, as she runs into a trine with Chiron. Still, this is not a hard aspect, and may provide good opportunities to heal from past trauma, especially around living one’s truth and loving what (or who) one would choose to love.

Finally, Tues (8/23) sees the Sun leave its Leonic manor for the harvest fields of Virgo, where personalities demure and focus on practical concerns. This is not to say Virgo cannot have the Sun’s confidence, rather that it is expressed less through force of personality and more through capability. This is amplified by Mercury’s co-presence and by Mars’ entry into Gemini – though it should be notes here, the Sun and Mars are still at odds. But while the conflict began as one that pitted raw personality against values and practical concerns, now the combative parties are joined together by a common interest in solving the puzzle, in getting the motor fixed, in getting the assignment finished before the deadline. A wonderfully active current to ride, though the moon’s opposition to Pluto may make whatever the problem is feel more serious and doomy than it really is. When I worked hospitality and things got tense, I used to ask my team to take a deep breath and repeat after me: “We’re not saving lives here.” And if it does happen to be your job to save lives, still do take that breath and do your best. Stay frosty.

Until next Hump Day!

This week may feel heavy and intense; small emotions getting super-sized, annoyances into emergencies, drowning in birdbaths, etc. This is because the moon is passing through the two signs ruled by Saturn, and so our hearts may feel oppressed, constrained, crushed under the weight of our troubles. Not only that, but the moon will first ping Pluto, today on Weds 8/10, before building up to the full moon on top of Saturn in Aquarius which occurs tomorrow night, Thurs 8/11.

Pluto takes our hearts down to the plumb their depths, and if we do not panic and thrash, we may find glittering treasure within – for a start, are the things rattling us the ACTUAL problem, or a symptom of other matters? Something left undone? Which, if addressed at its root, could potentially nip other problems in the bud and raise the overall quality of life? Venus opposes this conjunction of the Moon and Pluto, and so it may be a place that seems unattractive and to be avoided (and perhaps with good reason!) But even if the antidote is covered in centipedes, it’s still the antidote, and you might want to take that medicine.

The Sun also may have us feeling icky and uneasy this Hump Day – his trine to Chiron may call attention to insecurities of personality and how to move past them, but the exact square to Uranus and the North Node may throw unseen banana peels into ego’s path. I may be downplaying this aspect, but it’s only because I’ve been harping on about hard aspects to Uranus-North Node for a while now, so to reiterate: expect monkey wrenches and substantial surprises. The Sun is also moving into an opposition with Saturn, which will feel especially potent on Thursday with the full moon, so many of these obstacles may feel insurmountable. But all escape rooms are solvable, and the key here may be Saturn’s retrograde, which calls into focus the directive to redefine structures and boundaries. A detached approach to one’s heart may serve here, at least in this moment, as a means to analyze the way your emotions are serving, are hindering, and are perhaps losing at the whole risk/reward, return-on-investment thing.

On a brighter note, Thursday night sees Venus exit the deep well of feeling that is the third decan of Cancer, and enter the hot girl summer savanna of Leo. Venus will soon meet many of the same challenges that plague the Sun this week, but for now, styles can get wild, looks can get curated, freak flags can fly. Express yourself!

I wish I could say that Friday (8/12) keeps the sunshine and lollipops rolling in, but no, Friday brings a conjunction of Mars and the very malefic fixed star, Algol, for the remainder of the week. Both are volatile forces known for severing connections, and Algol in particular is known for making folks lose their heads – literally, in historical record, but more often these days, the act is figurative. Either way, there may be some gruesome outbursts this week. Algol is also known to expose those who victimize the weak, so hopefully we’ll see some of that in the news. Justice against the powerful is a best-case scenario, but we may also be subject to horrors that have little to do with that.

Meanwhile, Mercury in Virgo slides closer into a trine with Uranus-North Node. Unlike the contentious relationship that the lights had with this array (discussed earlier,) Mercury is in a position to receive benefit from this relationship, though it may still come in way that is unexpected or even jarring. Smells like a brain breakthrough. This aspect persists throughout the week, and may be triggered (and also possibly challenged) by the moon’s opposition to Mercury on Saturday (8/13,) which may mean the heart isn’t ready for some of what the mind has manifested.

Sun (8/14) seems a touch softer. The Sun itself is still being assailed by tough aspects to the planets in Taurus, but the Moon is first wading through the waters of Neptune, which usually seems a harmonious relationship (at least, for those who can go with the flow,) before joining Jupiter late Sun into midday Monday, enflaming a spirit of competition and self-betterment. Just remember the state of Mars – don’t lose your head!

The remainder of the week sees Venus close in on a tight trine to Jupiter, reiterating earlier comments on style and expression. New horizons may be found by ambitious creatives here, or really anyone looking to more confidently do what they love. After a week front-loaded with heavy feelings, it’s nice to close out with a little self-care. So whatever form that takes, take the time to indulge.

Until next Hump Day!

It’s still “big change season,” as we just saw the exact conjunction of Mars, Uranus and the North Node in Taurus. I’ve been making a lot of noise about it these past few weeks, and will continue to do so for a few more, as it’s a volatile force that will really shake things up in a material way for many. Transformation can be beautiful, but none of the forces at play here are known for being gentle.

That said, we’ve POSSIBLY seen the worst of it. The array will continue to be triggered by the moon and other fast moving planets, but Mars is already making its way through the gauntlet and onto more placid pastures. As Hump Day dawns, many of the relationships from last week continue – Venus is still also within range of the “big change” array, though her influence remains more gentle and offers the possibility for pleasant surprises. Also though, Venus is approaching an opposition with Pluto, which will perfect on Monday…more on that later. The Moon opposes Chiron, inviting us to ponder the impasse between our capabilities and our insecurities. Mercury is hanging onto the edge of Leo, the person dominating the conversation is running out of steam. Senses of self have been nurtured into greater agency by the Sun’s relationship with Jupiter, and that confidence may be tested both by its incoming trine to Chiron and its own contentious relationship to Mars-Uranus-North Node.

Thursday (8/4) sees Mercury’s ingress into Virgo, where he is most comfortable and capable. The running monologue of Leo gives way to cooler, more reserved voices, keen on assessment and analysis. A fine time to truly take stock of a situation’s nuts and bolts, to commit to a left-brained project, to administrate like the devil’s day planner. Mercury is not catching any major aspects out of the gate, but will soon.

The change array may be set off by the moon’s movement through Scorpio on Friday (8/5,) when she is conjunct to the South Node. The South Node is a negating force, a vacuum which can disintegrate, and therefore it may be a good chance to consciously uncouple from some toxic influences, to excise some poison in one’s heart. The moon will also be in a tough relationship with Saturn during this time, so there may be some fundamental, structural hurdles to clear in order to do this, or some you may run into if the choice to do so is made for you – also a possibility here. It is also worth noting that the Sun is well within orb to be a part of the activity here, which creates a condition called a “Grand Cross” – people may feel as though they’re being pulled in multiple directions on this day.

Saturday (8/6) is a little less eventful, the moon creating a harmonious relationship with Pluto, offering the possibility to touch bottom on one’s emotional deep end before the moon moves into more hopeful Sagittarius by evening. Its movement through Sag the following day, Sunday (8/7) should generally be pleasant and stoke growth – a good day to train or engage in art, though potentially a frustrating one for study or number crunching-adjacent activities.

By Monday (8/8), the aforementioned Venus-Pluto opposition will be exact. This aspect has been tightening throughout the week and its presence was likely felt beforehand, but it will be highlighted by the moon’s midday movement into Capricorn. Venus in Cancer is the actively sensitive, nurturing lover; Pluto in Capricorn represents deeper appetites, the taboo, control issues, and may even shine a light on places where the structure of relationship has rotted and is in need of shoring up.

Finally, on Tuesday (8/9,) the Sun’s slide into a combative relationship to Mars-Uranus-North Node is just about complete, and will loom large for the coming week. This represents the way personality and consciousness is assailed by some irrevocable changes in one’s life, a thing that’s not hard to believe given the news cycle of the last…I don’t know, all of recent memory? It feels like that square is active all the time, to be honest. But while mileage may vary as to the scope of its personal effect on the native, it is worth taking a breath in the eye of the storm and taking stock of exactly how the tumult has affected what makes you yourself. Because there have been a lot of changes for just about everyone lately, and recognizing and accepting those changes is the only healthy way to roll with them. Thus, I encourage the reader to do just that. Alternately, I know that a Uranus transit can feel electric and energizing, so after taking a pause to breathe through it, if you feel compelled to work off that energy – ideally on something that needs changing in life – then I encourage the reader to ride that lightning. We’re in the build-up to a full moon here, and the charge in the air may reflect that.

Until next Hump Day!