August 2012 Forecast

Whatever your Sun Sign, this forecast will help you make the best use of each month’s astrological energies. Events are most powerful on the dates listed. However, their influence will be active for at least several days before and after. All dates and times are in the U.S. eastern time zone.

Everyone is affected by these global transits. However, you will be most powerfully impacted when moving planets activate natal planets and other sensitive points in your personal horoscope.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The pervasive energies of revolutionary transformation (Uranus-Pluto square), as well as universal love, compassion and spiritual awakening (Neptune in Pisces), are now active, and will be for years to come.

VOID-OF-COURSE MOONS

It's best to avoid starting important new projects or making major purchases during these times. "Business as usual" is the best strategy for these periods.

8/3, 3:25 am - 10 am (Pisces)
8/5, 1:57 pm - 5 pm (Aries)
8/7, 4:05 pm – 8/8, 3:30 am (Taurus)
8/9, 2:56 pm – 8/10, 4:12 pm (Gemini)
8/12, 5:50 pm – 8/13, 4:29 am (Cancer)
8/15, 4:22 am - 2:06 pm (Leo)
8/17, 1:56 pm - 8:35 pm (Virgo)
8/18, 7:27 pm – 8/20, 12:47 am (Libra)
8/22, 3:14 am - 3:55 am (Scorpio)
8/23, 5:35 am – 8/24, 6:52 am (Sagittarius)
8/26, 2:40 am - 10 am (Capricorn)
8/28, 6:34 am - 1:40 pm (Aquarius)
8/30, 1:49 pm - 6:33 pm (Pisces) 

8/1 (Wed). August opens with a Full Moon at 11:27 PM (10°15' Aquarius). For starters, take stock of how fully you've developed your uniqueness, and how well you're expressing it. Are you using your special talents for the greater good? And are you following your intuitive flashes?

You can enjoy expansive support for all this, along with an extra measure of luck. And the intuitive flashes mentioned above are significantly empowered.

The Sabian Symbol for this lunation is, “During a silent hour, a man receives a new inspiration which may change his life.” Inspiration is abundantly available. Now it's up to you to create that “silent hour” so that you can hear the still small voice within.

8/2 (Thu). What will you be doing with the extra vitality that's available today? Possibilities include fun in the sun, sharing your creative gifts with others, and stepping into appropriate positions of leadership.

8/3 (Fri). Let today's actions be based on true intuitive guidance, rather than egoic delusion. Sacred sexuality is empowered, and there's a nice mix of productivity and inspiration.

8/4 (Sat). Fuzzy or confused thinking is a possible pitfall now. But the more conscious you've become of your true divine nature, the more you can receive the turn-by-turn directions of “divine GPS.” There's also plenty of creative inspiration in the air.

8/7 (Tue). Venus enters Cancer today, where she will remain through 9/6. This is a good time to harmonize relationships with family, both the blood relatives you grew up with and your own spouse and kids (assuming you have some.)

8/8 (Wed). Mercury completes its retrograde today, turning direct at 1:41 AM. Rather than jumping into those new projects right away, consider waiting until after the New Moon on 8/17. New initiatives tend to fare better under a waxing Moon.

Relationships, creativity and finance could experience both stimulation and challenge. This phenomenon starts today, peaks on 8/15 and wraps up on 8/22. Stay open to revolutionary transformation in these three areas. Also, pay special attention to paradigm shifts and transformation in your dealings at home and with your birth family.

8/9 (Thu). Ready for an easy flow of divinely inspired creativity? How about a closer connection with the divine, or with the divine essence within someone or something here on earth? It's all available now.

8/11 (Sat). Be sure you're communicating clearly: wires can get crossed right now. Tune in to your intuitive guidance if your rational mind isn't firing on all cylinders. However, it can be a great time to bless others with the fruits of your creative inspiration.

Are old wounds being unexpectedly triggered? If so, listen for intuitive flashes that tell you how to heal them. Your own healing and mentoring skills may also be electrified. And you have plenty of time to work with this energy: it will persevere into the early 2020s

8/12 (Sun). The theme of potential wounding arises again today. But it's also a good time to smooth any ruffled feathers in your close relationships.

There's a tremendous amount of energy being focused into individual expression today thru 8/17. Whether that expresses as egomaniacal self-aggrandizement, or truly serving others with your creative gifts, depends on you.

8/15 (Wed). There's a challenging but powerful opportunity to bring meaningful transformation into your relationships (especially family), creative expression and finance. There's also a powerful “Energizer Bunny” effect now in play to amplify your endurance.

8/16 (Thu). The more you follow your intuitive flashes in the areas of relationship, finance and creativity – even if a paradigm shift is called for -- the less you'll have to endure unexpected craziness and chaos! And healing in all of these areas can flow smoothly and easily now.

8/17 (Fri). Vitality and creative expression get a boost today, as do stability and productivity.

The August New Moon lines up today at 11:54 AM (25°08' Leo). It supports new energy directed into leadership, performance, playfulness, children, and risk-taking, as well as relaxing and having fun! The “Energizer Bunny” aspect mentioned above lends endurance to whatever new beginnings you make.

The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon is, ”After a heavy storm, a rainbow appears.” It doesn't take a genius to interpret this one: it clearly alludes to new hope and opportunity after a period of significant challenge. Keep this in mind if you're going through a rough patch.

8/18 (Sat). It's an amazing day to question sacred cows, open to new possibilities, and receive intuitive flashes. Giving or receiving mentoring, as well as healing (mental or hands-on), is also supported. Some of this may require some potentially uncomfortable adjustments -- but what meaningful change doesn't?

8/19 (Sun). Empowerment of creative productivity, inspiration on how to transform relationships, and fresh insights on financial management are all in the air today.

8/20 (Mon). Feeling an extra buzz of vitality? How about indulging in some creative expression, playing with the kids, or just having fun?

8/22 (Wed). The Sun enters Virgo today, whence it will radiate the energy of health-consciousness, meticulous attention to detail, and service. Practical inspiration is also in the air, along with the urge to gather and share information.

8/23 (Thu). Mars enters Scorpio today, and transits the Sign of the Scorpion through 10/6. Mars is the ancient ruler of Scorpio, so the energies of transformation, sexuality, new beginnings and fighting for a worthy cause are all more easily available.

8/24 (Fri). Feeling an expanded desire for altered states? Rather than overdoing drugs, alcohol or escapism, consider the more natural and life-affirming high available through meditation, or the flow state of immersive creative expression.

This is also a great opportunity to flow divine energy to others. This invocation will do the trick: “Spirit, please flow the energy through me to serve [name of person's highest good.” Then passively observe your breath and feel what the divine pours through you.

8/26 (Sun). Tantric sex, anyone? Today's energy is ideal for infusing carnal ecstasy with the infinitely more ecstatic energy of the divine. Other activities in which prana is consciously experienced during physical activity – such as ecstatic dance, yoga, tai chi and chi gung – are also supported. This also a great time to take action on your dreams.

8/29 (Wed). Lots of energy is available for healing and service, as well as your usual daily activities, today. Learning, writing and verbal expression are also strongly and smoothly supported, as is creative expression.

8/30 (Thu). Unexpected circumstances may call for a necessary adjustment, especially if you earlier failed to heed an intuitive flash. (You know, the one that would have prevented all this bother in the first place?) Or perhaps any challenge you're experiencing is in perfect divine order, since the current astrological energies are tailor-made to bring up old wounds for healing.

8/31 (Fri). The final day of August brings us a Blue Moon: the second Full Moon in a month. It shines forth today at 9:58 AM (8°33' Pisces). Take stock of how “full-filled” you are with your level of intoxicant use, escapist activity, spiritual awareness, and divinely inspired creativity.

All of the slowest planets aspect this Full Moon, empowering it to an unusually high degree. Chiron highlights the themes of wounding, healing and mentoring. Pluto suggests transformation and some sort of death-and-rebirth process, while Uranus calls for paradigm shift and awakening to your authentic self. And Neptune reminds us that deepening our divine consciousness makes it a whole lot easier to work with everything the planets are throwing us

Finally, as if things weren't intense enough, aspects from Mars and Jupiter bring the pot to a rolling boil

The Sabian Symbol for this Blue Moon is, “The race begins: intent on outdistancing his rivals, a jockey spurs his horse to great speed.” This dynamic image certainly matches the intense vibe of this lunation! To cultivate inner growth from this symbol, imagine the jockey as your consciousness, the horse as your concentration, and the “rivals” as the thoughts and emotions trying to distract you from the pure awareness that leads to spiritual awakening.

Or you can just go place a bet at the track ;-)

The final astrological event of the month is Mercury's entry into Virgo, where it will remain through 9/16. This amplifies the same energies the Sun is currently illuminating: health-consciousness, meticulous attention to detail, and service. Virgo can have a tendency to undervalue its service, so be sure to get as good as you give.

Benjamin Bernstein, ItsAllGoodAstrology.com, is based in Asheville, NC. He  is an astrologer and shamanic healer with clients worldwide. and hosts This Week in Astrology, on iTunes. He can be contacted at info@ItsAllGoodAstrology.com
 828-338-9852.