Molly's Astrology for August 2006
The big picture
In August 2006, Saturn opposes Neptune for the first time since 1972. This powerful contact has several layers of meaning. On a personal level, it’s about integrating your ideals (
Neptune) into your physical reality (
Saturn). If there’s a discrepancy, some place where the two aren’t matching up (for example if you’re in a job you don’t believe in), then you may find yourself in the middle of a struggle between your higher and lower nature. This generates a lot of energy that could ultimately land you in an ideal situation, if you consider making some changes. But Saturn demands that you approach your dreams and creative longings realistically—don’t just jump right in; have a plan.
I hold onto hope that the system is not too far gone to rein in rogue politicians who have not been honest with the people they are supposed to serve. In 1971 and 1972, the last time Saturn opposed Neptune, the Watergate scandal began. For those who are too young to remember or slept through history class, the New York times published papers that linked President Nixon to an illegal break-in at the Democratic offices at the Watergate hotel. Nixon was subsequently re-elected, but later resigned after being impeached. Those papers were published under the last Saturn-Neptune opposition in Gemini and Sag, the signs governing journalists, informants and publishers.
This year’s contact happens in Leo and Aquarius. Leo governs presidents and other leaders. Aquarius is a group sign, and may represent Congress. Leo’s involvement also suggests that figures in the entertainment industry may play a part. Aquarius is the technology sign and points to the power of the internet. Will bloggers make history?
August 1-5
Tuesday and Wednesday, everything in moderation. The Leonine Sun squares off with optimistic yet Scorpionic Jupiter, and as much as this lifts our spirits and promotes healing changes, we’re all a little more likely to overdo it, or bite off more than we can chew. Jupiter rules over salesman-like people. Don’t let yourself get talked into something you don’t really need. Thursday the 3rd, we feel drifty the Moon is void of course all day. Don’t force a decision or expect yourself to have all the answers when the Moon is V/C. Stick to routine, and all will be well. Friday and Saturday, the Moon is in upbeat Sag, which favors adventure and exploration.
August 6-10
Sunday, the Moon pulls into serious Capricorn, and the Sun meets up with Cap’s ruler, Saturn. Many of us will find ourselves in the mood to get things done. It’s a good thing too, as Mars and Jupiter meet up in a sextile, a marker of opportunity, exact Tuesday afternoon. In traditional astrology, there is no luckier combination than Mars and Jupiter. Doors are open—take the lead, put your ideas out there, ask that cutie to lunch.
The rest of the week starts getting weirder, artsy-fartsier, and less logical as the Sun carries Saturn’s energy over to Neptune, uniting these two forces: the practical and solid with the intangible and ethereal.
August 11-12
Mars opposes Uranus on Sunday morning. This combination can be highly creative or explosive—high energy and speed meet inspiration and sudden change. Be careful what fuses you light between Thursday and Sunday, especially with the Moon in impulsive Aries.
You may feel an additional burst of fiery energy as Mercury and Venus enter Leo on Friday and Saturday. Mercury is associated with the weather, and Leo is the hottest sign of them all. The dog days of Summer (or maybe we should call them the cat days) are upon us1. (Except in the Southern hemisphere, where the cat days of Winter are underway.) Venus in Leo shifts the love vibe from nourishing, feed-me Cancer to generous, adore-me Leo, sign of grandiose romantic gestures. At this point, five of the ten major planets are in fire signs (Sun, Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Pluto)—that’s a lot. Fire is idealistic, energetic, inspiring, explosive. Although fire signs are typically dry in nature, all of this heat may stir up some powerful ocean storms, or some crazy wildfires. Be sure to drink plenty of water.
August 13-27
Sunday’s fiery Aries Moon gives way to a more settled Taurus Moon that takes us through Monday and Tuesday. Rigid attitudes may rule the day as the Moon sets off other planets in fixed signs. But don’t let that distract you from this week’s big interplanetary kiss: the Sun trines healing Pluto through Wednesday night, setting the backdrop for finding solutions to vexing problems, building bridges with others, visiting helpers and healers, transcending the petty stuff and getting to the heart of the matter.
Mercury squares optimistic Jupiter on Thursday. Don’t rush to a decision or succumb to pressure. Mercury is making his way through a confusing and dangerous T-square that begins to form this month and will be exact in September. As he squares Jupiter, he begins the process. It’s a time when we need to power through obstacles, but carefully. Keep your head on, don’t succumb to fear. Stay above-board and practical in your decisions and actions at this time.
You want to know what I think about this time? I’ll tell you. I think there’s a lot of energy percolating under the surface. It’s subconscious on many levels. Individually, politically, spiritually, there’s a new vibe, a new idea, a new flow that needs to emerge. We respond to this on many levels. As individuals, as nations, as a species, as spiritual beings. All of us will respond to it in different ways. Some with fear, some with denial. And hopefully many of us will rise to the challenge, and respond to others with compassion as we figure out how best to support our own process.
August and September bring the first occurrence, the first pass of three of the Saturn-Neptune opposition. It marks the appearance of the energy. The second pass will happen in February when Saturn is retrograde. This is often the most difficult, because retrogrades signal the energy affecting us all on a deep, internal level. It really gets us in the gut, in other words. The third pass represents completion, culmination. We begin to see how it’s going to pan out. That will be next June.
Anyway, August 17-21, Mercury touches all three points of the forming t-square, representing complications in communications, transportation, weather and commerce. August 22-26, Venus does the same, signaling complications in relationships and finances. Thursday is the best day of the week for your most important work, as Mercury lines up in a trine with healing Pluto.
I hope you won’t let this get to you in a scarey way—fear and anxiety are the problem now, not the solution. Plus, being fearful is really bad for your health. Instead, be realistic, be compassionate toward yourself and others, and keep things in perspective.
Just knowing what’s happening with the planets gives you a head start. Having this cosmic perspective, being able to put a name to it, knowing what it is and how long it lasts, is incredibly helpful. I consider myself immeasurably blessed to have found this path, and I hope you do too.
August 14-28
How interesting that while there is so much stress in the skies issuing from this forming T-square, there is also a Jupiter-Uranus trine forming in the heavens. Trines signal disappearance or removal of obstacles, and usually signal positive conditions which create a favorable environment. Jupiter represents travel, education, sales, and abundance. Uranus represents new ideas, innovation, technology, astrology, unusual, unique, and progressive ideas and people. In the midst of all the complicated things happening this month, this trine brings positive conditions for trying things a new way, especially if you feel stuck in that same old rut. With all that swirling around us, you can break through to a solution, or find an application for a new idea that has been percolating for the past six months or so. This is the third of three passes of the Jupiter Uranus trine, the one that heralds the end result, the tangible expression of the ideas and opportunities that you found and worked through during the first two passes.
August 23-31
The energy begins to settle on Wednesday the 23rd, and continues on Sunday the 27th, as the Sun and Mercury move from idealistic and party-hardy Leo to hardworking, detail-oriented Virgo. This lowers the “fire count” in the sky to a dull roar. But the sparks will continue to fly between Sunday and Tuesday as Mars squares Pluto. This is a high energy contact that can be dangerous if you find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Stay out of the line of fire, and give volatile people a wide berth during these few days. Regenerate yourself; recharge your batteries instead.
Mark your calendar!
The best days for your highest priority plans are August 6-8, 16, 24-27.
Take it easy on August 1, 5, 10-13, 17-22, 28-31.
1 Definition and origin of the dog days of Summer. It comes from the Sun’s proximity to Sirius, the dog star, this time of year. I don’t actually think it’s more correct to refer to the cat days, I’m just amused by the idea. Leo! Cat days! Get it?
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Molly Cliborne
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Thanks for the August update with the incoming Saturn-Neptune opposition information. I can already feel the energies swirling around!
Astrology IS truly a Blessing. Thank goodness we have this instrument to help us make use of various energies, lessons and to support growth!
And Thank You Molly for writing your updates and using your knowledge to guide others as well!! :)
PS-I think this opposition is important for us as individuals and an entire world-society. It is high time for each person to do a reality check and breakthrough ‘illusions’ (Nep) where they need to view ‘reality’ (Sat) more clearly…
Have a great August!
Check this out, Molly.
http://www.prisonplanet.com/911.html
I feel strongly that the winds of change may be blowing from this quiet, global grassroots investigation of an extraordinary evil in our midst.
I’m excited! Yeaaay! This is fantastic energy for the Department of Insurance to fix our insurance crisis in Monroe County, FL. They came yesterday for an Evidentiary Hearing and are accepting written testimony for 6 more days before they deliberate. I feel like everything is fixed – done deal. I can picture the celebration!
Molly, you are the GREATEST! This is so much better than the other ‘guides,’ datebooks and forecasts that other astrologers have. Nothing compares! You are the VERY BEST! I love how you write. I love the positive edge. I love the direction on how to use the energy.
:) Thank you! :)
Thanks Maya! I have a lot of self doubt about my writing ability so your words are very nice to hear.
I was chatting with my friend Mattie (hi Mattie) this afternoon, and it occurred to me that Mel Gibson’s now famous slip-up is a manifestation of Saturn-Neptune. Now he has to be accountable for his own dirty secret (his antisemitic views), even though he tries to pretend it was only because he was drunk. Yeah, right! Somehow when my friends and I have gotten drunk, no spontaneous antisemitic tirades happened! He is so busted.
Saturn-Neptune shows us what’s behind the veil. Hopefully this is just the tip of the iceberg!
True! So true. You’re completely right!
I totally relate to you. All great writing comes from the heart and truth. Open up, spill, organize a little and serve to the hungry crowd. It’s great. Spun gold!
[Universe] Bring it ALL on (and out into the open)! I LOVE it!
I’ve been working on an issue for 2.5 years that culminated 7 months ago. Had it’s own private little return mid-July. My private Watergate investigation hit the fan. The “bad” people in authority have to answer for their “crimes.” Excellent. It’s about to have it’s final return and the energy is like a loving mother holding her happy baby. You made my day when I read the August Astrocast.
Much love!
Check this out too, Molly et al.
http://www.wtc7.net/
Again, I feel strongly that the winds of change may be blowing from this quiet, global grassroots investigation of a profound and active evil in our midst. Not a biblical evil, but a very human evil.
Finally, see this:
rtsp://video.c-span.org/60days/ap072906_theories.rm?mode=compact
Hi Molly!
I worship your writing!
And I got the “cat days” reference without the footnote. : ) (Meaow, hi Stevie!)
The people who need to hear your words find you, and how lucky they(we) are!
I’m picturing Donald Rumsfeld wearing baby doll pajamas—egad! what will it be?!?
Also, question—the Perseid meteor shower is Aug. 12, I think? Any thoughts on that—it goes with the “fiery bursts of energy” you mention!
love ya!
You are so blessed, and so caring. Thanks for opening up healing channels for all.
Is there a positive planet line-up for purchasing property?
My husband and I have jobs that have become ultra stressful, frustrating and horribly unsatisfactory from accomplishment and integrity standpoints. We have been talking about moving (for several years) from not our jobs and the area where we live (very stressful, expensive, high traffic, rude folks abound). We found some great property in my home state that would allow us to bring my elderly mom with us and that has satellite internet access so we can work from our home.
Any tips would be helpful…and I promise to order my next 6-month!
Thanks Molly…blessings to you
We won! Citizens Insurance was denied the requested rate increase and ordered to reduce our wind storm policies and issue a refund to all policy holders who over paid! YES! I love this Trine!
I have a question about what you to refer to as the energy that affects us on a deep level during the second pass of an opposition while one of the planets is retrograde. My boyfriend is a Virgo at 10 degree (I think in the first or second house) who has been caring for his mother who recently had surgery on her shoulder and has been visiting since May 28. He will also be leaving in a few weeks to accompany her back home since his father has health issues related to his heart. His Mars is also in Virgo at 12 degrees and Uranus will be opposing this natal point during its retrograde around the third week of September. It looks like he might be leaving for his month long visit around this time and I’m wondering how you think this might play out regarding his family?
I personally believe that they have been very demanding of his time and he seems helpless as to putting up certain boundaries with them. I’m wondering if this opposition would present any kind of realization of this on his part considering the situation he’s in (this is why I think his Sun is most likely in the first house). I don’t mean to sound insensitive towards his family but I think each parent has expected him to put his life on hold for a considerable amount of time with no regard to his career. The father’s health seems to have diminished since the mother’s absence and I sense they have problems within the marriage and are putting my boyfriend in the middle of it. He as alluded to this but I think he’s embarresed by it and doesn’t seem willing to open up about it.
Hi Elen--
I don't know what to tell you except that I think you need to step out of it and let him work this out. You sound like you're taking on the mother figure role, like you know better than him what's best for him. That's dangerous territory, not a good foundation for a healthy relationship. Stand down, he'll talk when he's ready. Uranus is retrograde now, this means these transits are hitting him on a deeply internal level, and it's not surprising that he's unwilling, or maybe even unable, to language it right now. If you're prodding him to talk, you'll likely come off as needy, a further drain on him rather than a support. Uranus will change direction in November. Until then, I suggest you just consider it "his business" and let it go. Family patterns run deep and don't change overnight. Sometimes they never do. You either love him how he is (baggage included), or you don't. It's possible this Uranus transit will shift his perspective, but it's not a guarantee. It's up to him.
I don’t suppose we’re going to dump poor old Pluto, now that Astronomers have demoted it to a sub-planet.
I enjoy reading your words here. You ARE a good writer, and from what I can see, a mighty good Astrologer.
I am just now starting to study Astrology. It has facinated me for a long time, but I’ve never got past reading the daily horoscope until now. But I have to tell you something that might cause a wee bit if a stir here. I don’t believe in Astrology. That is to say, I don’t have any faith in it, nor do I believe in some kind of esoteric energy from the planets. Howsumever, I know that Astrology works. This sounds contradictory, but in truth, its a validation of what we know to be true. I don’t have to believe in electricity, or nuclear physics to know that these forces are always at work in one form or another. I don’t have to believe in Black Holes, but the astronomical evidence points to the fact they exist.
Astrology works because of the many years of watching the patterns of the sky, and how it seems to effect life on earth. At a certain time and place, on a given month day and year, the planetary alignment is just right to produce an Alexander the Great, or a Julius Ceasar. Astrology is as natural as rain. Those that scoff at it, or try to disprove it do so out of ignorance about it.
Thanks for your wonderful monthly outlook.
Hi Molly.
How does the decision to demote Pluto from being a planet, affect astrology and particularly the signs ruled by Pluto?
Franky,
I totally agree with you. Astrology is not a question of faith, but a fact of nature. You do not have to “believe” in the weather to get caught in the rain!
Lori,
Check my latest blog entry, it’s right there.
strology September 3rd 2006 in The Mountain Astrologer Magazine Links I think I love all her articles I have printed all of them. Thank you Molly. Love & Light Renee (I forgot to put a . after The Mountain Astrologer Mountain Links I think. I love all her articles Sorry!}
This is great.. please visit Vedic Astrology