Posted on August 1, 2025 by Henry Seltzer of ASTROGRAPH.COM
|
|
This August month is another doozy, to use the technical term, with many of the characteristics from the previous month that were so transformationally active and confounding, engendered by the outer planet correlations in trine and sextile, now even more greatly accentuated. These are, this time, in quite close aspectual alignment with the recent Leo New Moon that began the current cycle. This New Moon from the middle of the last full week of July took place at 2° of Leo, opposite Pluto at 2° of Aquarius, and in sextile and trine to Uranus at 0° Gemini, plus the close Saturn-Neptune conjunction in early Aries, at about 2° there as well. When we add all these up, we can see that many areas of life, corresponding to the various houses caught up in this, are affected by the connections made to Pluto, the lord of Death, Rebirth, and Transformation.
Since Uranus has entered the pattern, in Gemini, there could now be a bit more of his archetype of Trickster surprise and unexpected revelation, as we go through. Another difference from the previous July month is that now, Mercury is retrograde – leading to many self-reflective and introspective moments – right from the August month’s very beginning. The pattern of these outer planet and New Moon influences is based on trines and sextiles in the early degrees of signs encompassing more than half the zodiac. Aquarius (Pluto) is sextile to Aries (Saturn-Neptune) is sextile to Gemini (Uranus) is sextile to Leo ( Sun and Moon). The transformational meaning in all this is clear: everything must change. As Bob Dylan was able to remind us in the ferment of the storied 1960s when Uranus and Pluto were in their conjunction, “everybody not busy being born is busy dying.”
The questioning and self-reflective implications of Mercury in retrograde might be subtle, and yet they are there, reminding us to think carefully, and to think twice, before we are satisfied. This attitude of slowing down is bolstered by Saturn being so strongly configured in this planetary pattern of the New Moon. We are indeed moving quite slowly; and yet this is where the lessons are to be found. Meanwhile, Uranus is in another Air sign, ruled by Mercury, and his presence constantly tells us to forget the rules, the a priori structures, the past. Representing “freedom from the known,” Uranus combines with Mercury in discarding previous conceptions; or are they misconceptions? And he similarly urges us to embrace new information, provided that it is not misinformation.
The first week of August also includes the entrance on the 6th of Mars into Libra, opposing Saturn and Neptune at about 2° of Aries, and making a grand trine in Air signs with Uranus and Pluto. Can we spell 1960s anyone? The energy may be a bit frenetic, perhaps rebellious, and this is also a somewhat dangerous configuration because with Mars and Uranus highlighted, actions can be impulsive and often come to accidents.
Immediately thereafter, with that grand trine aligning even closer as Mars comes to 1° of Libra, we have the Aquarius Full Moon of August 9th that brings Pluto front and center once again, as it was in the New Moon phase two weeks prior. Now ego-oriented and energetic Leo is balanced by the Aquarius sign that connects us socially in community, and with Neptune murmuring “one-ness” at the same time at 2° Aries in sextile with Pluto. So this Aquarius Full Moon might come upon us as a rather kumbaya moment.
The Saturn-Neptune conjunction that is common to all these configurations is worth discussing all by itself. One basis there is that the close sextile to Pluto, and on the other side of Aries to Uranus in Gemini, greatly stimulates this archetypal convergence and its relevance for us both individually and collectively. In terms our private individual lives there is a “stop and go and stop” set of impulses with one foot on the brake at the same time as we are pushing hard on the accelerator; that’s just Saturn. The best thing there is that are important lessons to be learned in every minute of this. That is also Saturn. Meantime what of Neptune factored in? The lessons are at least in part very spiritual ones. We in this current culture, as opposed to the previous millennium, are so rabidly rational and materialistic that we must constantly remind ourselves that as well as the 3D material world, to be truly human, we must open ourselves up to the mystical. The great 20th century psychologist C. G. Jung tapped into this with his Principle of Synchronicity, which also frames how astrology can work. Sometimes the Universe just allows a miracle to step in, and it goes beyond simplistic rationality. With Neptune so wrapped up with Saturn, the lessons of this time can encompass this salient perspective that really does help us mere mortals to understand what it is that we really have going.
In terms of the collective implications of Saturn with Neptune, we have the cogent statement from master astrologer Rick Tarnas, who references for this combination our current state of political polarization, “red states and blue states,” and the further characterization that neither side can see anything of value in the other perspective. That red state/blue state phraseology comes from 2004, when it was coined, and when Saturn and Neptune were in opposition. We used to hear the phrase “working across the aisle” as the way to get things done in an almost balanced congress, which seems like a distant memory these days. The only way beyond this impasse would seem to be that we collectively begin to honor the Goddess, or the Universe, or by whatever name we can give it, in order to allow the re-entry of the Mystical into the societal world.
In this very volatile and transformative planetary pattern there is also Pluto- Haumea to consider, as their square alignment draws even closer. Haumea represents profound connection to Nature and as well to a species of natural law, of right action and of truth-telling, as my research has been able to confirm. In the recent New Moon, the Pluto- Haumea square is matched by Saturn-Neptune and by Uranus, in close sextile and trine to Pluto, also making an extremely tight yod to Haumea at 1° of Scorpio. I mentioned this in connection with the previous July month, when I referenced the meaning of this square as “the truth of the matter coming out, the lies exposed” and that has indeed been somewhat the case in our recent national politics here in the US. It might be important to note that Haumea is now even more closely aspected by these powerful outer planets, with the same consequence foretold of the lies exposed.
Uranus with Saturn, and with Neptune, is also a prominent characteristic of these very strong outer planet patternings, and as we must remember also, Uranus represents “freedom from the known,” the impossible suddenly becoming commonplace, and “making a way out of no way.” In this regard it might be well to quote anthropologist Margaret Mead, herself born in 1901 with Uranus semi-sextile Mars and Jupiter, conjunct Mercury, and opposite Pluto, who once said "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it's the only thing that ever has."
So, in the midst of these fractious times, we all have to simply do the best that we can, putting one foot ahead of the other. We can. In spite of everything, we can go to our inner knowing, what we most deeply in our hearts believe. We can assert those principles and values that are uniquely our own, espousing as we are able the principle of fairness and fair dealing with all of our fellow beings on this beautiful earth we call home; and remembering as well that we in actuality have no choice, as there really is no Planet B. Instead, we are enjoined to make the most of what we do have. And here at AstroGraph we wish you the best with that, together with utmost blessings.
|