The Astrology of August 2021:
Becoming More of Who We Are
August begins with Leo buoyantly leading the way, reminding us to play, laugh, and create, no matter what. This is a catalyzing month of hard lessons and liberation, but later in August, joy, stability, and breakthrough arrive in spades, especially if we’re willing to do the work.
At the start of the month, challenging Saturn oppositions sandpaper us into more refined versions of ourselves. Old patterns may be arising for their reckonings, just before Uranus shakes us from our painful norms. We have no choice but to take responsibility for our actions, enduring the pain of our reality so we can undo past wrongs and move forward with greater integrity, freedom, and resolve.
Later in the month, the transits begin to bless us. Grand Earth Trines emerge, while a rare number of planets inhabit their natural domiciles—the signs that they rule. The Sun is in Leo, Mercury in Virgo, Venus in Libra, and Saturn in Aquarius. Here, they offer us strength, dignity, and flow. Our minds, hearts, and communities are in top form, showing up as the best version of themselves. Meanwhile, the outer planets are in retrograde, and our full collective fruition will not blossom until later on. But on a personal level, we’re making real progress—fine-tuning our visions and establishing new ways of being in the world.
The second Aquarius Full Moon forms conjunct Jupiter—the expansive, auspicious, great benefic. We are ready to step into shared freedom and joy. Negativity can become hope if we embrace the discipline of self-awareness and choose to think differently—releasing painful storylines about our selves, lives, and fellow humans. Jupiter reminds us of the cosmic giggle. We can lighten our touch and laugh, remembering that it’s all a big dream. We can enjoy the humor that emerges when we see our struggles from this higher vantage point, through lenses of love, compassion, and delight.
Sun Conjunct Mercury, Opposite Saturn
On August 1, the Sun and Mercury conjoin and oppose Saturn. This is a somber day of discipline and self-realization. If we’ve been out of our integrity, it’s time to rectify our wrongs and take ownership of past mistakes. The planets will soon square Uranus and shift our patterns, so for now, we can slow down and look at ourselves honestly, seeing where we’re ready to break free of old ruts, comparisons, and self-consciousness.
Leo New Moon
The Leo New Moon arrives on August 8, conjunct Mercury. It activates the ongoing Saturn-Uranus square of 2021, which has been pushing us toward significant, long-lasting change. With the New Moon, we are feeling this collective transit on a very personal level. We may experience this as internal tension or anxiety that’s ready to shock us out of our ruts. Our biggest struggles could now become our most significant breakthroughs. We only have to stay with our discomfort, rallying the courage to recognize our truths so we can employ new thought patterns, perspectives, and expressions.
Mercury Enters Virgo
Mercury enters Virgo on August 11, where he’s happiest—both exalted and in his natural domicile. We can now feel clarity and exactitude permeate our minds, as we bring projects to careful completion.
Venus Enters Libra
Venus enters Libra on August 16, and our love of love begins to infuse our hearts and romantic lives. We can now feel social balance, harmony, and reciprocity. Beauty is amplifying, along with our love for the world and each other.
Uranus Retrograde
Uranus stations retrograde on August 19—the planet of shock and revolution turning inward. With Uranus moving so slowly this month, his powers are amplified. We may notice greater potential for insight and auspicious coincidence. Deep change is underway, but it won’t reach full fruition on a collective level until January 2022, when Uranus stations direct.
Aquarius Full Moon
An Aquarius Full Moon arrives on August 22 at the last degree of Aquarius. This is the second of two Aquarius Full Moon within a month. Now, we complete our lesson and cycle of release. This Full Moon is blessed, as it falls conjunct expansive Jupiter. Our hope is burgeoning, as visions of the future form and clarify. We are ready to shift our internal dialogues so that we can celebrate who we are, rather than denigrating and comparing ourselves to others. Now, we might ask—
Who are our families and communities?
How can we rewrite the scripts of our lives so that we feel more authentic and aligned?
What reinvention are we ready to undergo in all aspects of our lives—work, relationships, home, dreams, and beliefs?
We are finally understanding ourselves better, feeling more comfortable in the uniqueness of who we are. We can celebrate our authentic expressions and make room for the infinite variations of being human. We can show up with integrity as we honor the basic goodness of all beings. From here, we can eventually create new systems and societies that reflect our all of our innate dignity.
August Summary
In August, the planets are pushing us to become more mature, authentic versions of ourselves, with initial struggle that leads to joy. The Sun, Mercury, and Leo New Moon ignite the Saturn-Uranus square of 2021 on a very personal level. We’re facing our blocks and mistakes with honesty so we can make necessary adjustments. This way, we can experience catalytic, long-lasting shifts, both in our internal worlds and outer lives. This month, multiple planets enter a joyous coast through their natural domiciles, presenting their best sides in the signs that they rule. Joy, creativity, mental clarity, love, harmony, and a sense of community are ready to blossom. Grand Earth Trines also form this month, helping us stabilize and ground as we shed old versions of ourselves and step into greater cheerfulness and freedom. Toward the end of August, a second Aquarius Full Moon arrives—the first was in July—and we’re culminating big lessons and breakthroughs. As the Full Moon conjoins with Jupiter, auspiciousness and optimism abound. We’re lightening up and remembering to laugh at ourselves and embrace our differences. We’re celebrating our idiosyncrasies, while feeling less stifled in expressing our true selves. We are who we are, and we can relax with that, feeling our internal freedom expand to include one another. In the dream of being human, how can we laugh at our mistakes and misconceptions, rather than yell and point fingers? How can we manifest a brighter world with less struggle? The future is continuing to take shape before us. Our eyes are glistening brighter as our perspectives shift and our hope swells.
AUGUST ASPIRATION
As we watch the sky during summer storms, may we feel the joy of cathartic, dramatic release. May we shed painful patterns and relish in the truth of who we are, stepping into alignment with our bright, authentic future.
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