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!