The Planets This Week: August 28 — September 3
How will this week’s planetary influences be affecting you?
It’s a busy astrological week! The big news is the Solar Eclipse on Thursday which presents an opportune time for big new starts and beginnings over the coming months. There may be a feeling or a desire brewing within for some sort of change. This is a time for planting seeds, for birthing new ideas and starting afresh.
Creatively speaking, inspiration can be residing somewhere just beneath the surface, barely breaking into conscious thought. Give yourself ample space to listen to the little voice inside you. Evaluate the various areas in your life that you would like to make changes in or put energy into.
Also this week, love planet moves into Libra so your social life could be in full swing over the next few weeks. Gracious manners come naturally and our charms are irresistible. Many of us will easily attract friends and lovers and may find ourselves to be quite popular, with social calendars booked solid.
We might also go out of our way to avoid conflict or confrontation during this transit, smoothing over differences of opinion to keep the peace — even if that means sacrificing our own needs or desires.
On Tuesday, Mercury turns retrograde in Virgo. This influence may generate some frustration as we charitably give our support and assistance to others in need. Although we may see a lot of obvious solutions that could elude other minds, our insistence to help save the day may be misinterpreted and resented by the recipients.
Sunday 28th
Mercury conjuncts Venus in Virgo — more potent than usual as Mercury is about to turn retrograde and Venus is about to change sign.
Minds and hearts merge for several days during the course of this transit. The mood is romantic and we can be much more articulate in expressing our emotions than normal. Any form of creative communication is highlighted: love letters and cards, phone calls, emails, poems, music, art…you name it, it’ll be effective. In fact, this is an excellent time to develop any type of relationship, not just romantic ones. People feel more flexible than usual, so negotiations go well and contracts are favorable for both parties. We seek win-win situations. We’d rather be diplomatic than combative. The rules that govern social interactions seem to make sense now. People conduct themselves with courtesy and decorum. We’re polite, well-mannered and cooperative. It’s a shame we can’t always behave this well!
Monday 29th
Venus moves into Libra where it will stay until September 23rd. This is great news for the Air signs or anyone with Air planets.
Under the influence of Venus in Libra, your social life could be in full swing. Gracious manners come naturally to you now, and your charms are irresistible. You easily attract friends and lovers and may find yourself to be quite popular, with your social calendar booked solid.
If you’re single, you may long to be in a partnership, and might even compromise your ideals, preferring to be coupled up than alone. You’re also more likely to see the good in everyone, so you’re less critical of potential mates. If you’re in a relationship, this can be a sweet time for rekindling the romance and bringing out the best in each other.
You might go out of your way to avoid conflict or confrontation during this transit, smoothing over differences of opinion to keep the peace — even if that means sacrificing your needs or desires. You’re an excellent diplomat and negotiator, able to see both sides of a situation and find the common thread that brings people together.
Collaborative projects flow easily; you’re able to work harmoniously with others and cooperate toward a shared goal. Justice and fairness are important to you now, so you do your best to create results that are a win for everyone involved. Just be sure that you’re receiving as much as you’re giving.
Tuesday 30th
Mercury turns retrograde in Virgo until September 21st. It’s more potent than usual as it turns retrograde at 29 degrees called the aneretic degree and means things really need to be wrapped up. This retrograde is more potent for the mutable signs and that’s Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces.
Let’s take a step back and I will explain retrogrades…
We’ve all heard about Mercury Retrograde — how communication gets confused, traffic slows down and luggage gets lost when this little planet appears to start moving backward in the heavens. Mercury, however, is not the only planet that turns retrograde. In fact, all the planets except the Sun and the Moon go retrograde regularly.
So, what is this mysterious retrograde motion? It’s a simple optical illusion that occurs when a faster-moving planet passes a slower planet in its orbit. It’s like driving down the freeway at a very high rate of speed. If you pass a car inching along in the slow lane, it will appear that the slower car is moving backward. It’s not, of course, but it appears that way to you, in the faster car. In astrology, retrogradation is the apparent temporary ‘backward’ motion of a planet when measured against the background of the celestial zodiac.
The periodic backward motion of the planets was first observed many thousands of years ago, and in fact, the urge to understand retrograde motion was a driving impulse in the development of mathematics and sciences.
When a planet is retrograde, it’s as close as it can get to Earth, and if it’s visible, it’s very bright. These facts give us a clue as to the importance of retrograde planets: Their effects are strong!
A retrograde planet makes three crisscrosses over the same few degrees of the zodiac within a limited time span. That illuminates another clue for interpreting its effects: During a retrograde period, you’ll have to try extra hard to focus, and sometimes, you’ll have to do things more than once before you get the job done right.
Often planets in retrograde are considered to have a negative effect, but this is not true. A much better interpretation is that retrograde motion turns the energy of the planet inward. That energy is now in concentrated form, helping us to understand and integrate it more holistically and completely. You could look at retrograde motion as a planet inhaling, and direct motion as the planet exhaling. It’s the breath of the solar system.
The most important points in the retrograde cycle are the degree at which the planet turns retrograde, and the degree at which it once again returns to direct motion. At these points, the energy of the planet is particularly noticeable and strong.
Mercury retrograde…
Mercury Retrograde is a phenomenon that has worked its way into mass consciousness. The moment a communication snafu occurs, folks blame Mercury Retrograde! The truth is, not all miscommunications can be laid at the feet of this little planet. But it does behoove us to observe a few simple principles about this event.
Mercury appears to turn backward in its path around the Zodiac three times every year, for about twenty-one or twenty-two days at a time. So every four months, you get a three-week pause in which to catch up on old correspondence, read the book that’s been sitting on your nightstand and make phone calls to friends and family.
Everyone knows that Mercury Retrograde is a great time to do things that start with ‘re’: repair, reduce, reconsider, recreate. But what else can you do to bring out the best energy of this period? Certainly, thoughts turn more inward than outward, so taking care of personal affairs is a great idea. Follow your gut instead of following your head. This is a great time to practice yoga, meditation or any activity that centers your mind and body.
If you can avoid signing a contract during Mercury Retrograde, fine. If not, go through it carefully a couple of times and get help if you need it. Try not to buy electronic equipment during this period, or travel, because delays and snafus seem to abound. Above all, don’t worry! Life moves forward even when Mercury seems to be going backward.
Mercury retrograde in Virgo…
The retrograde Mercury in Virgo may generate some frustration for you as you charitably give your support and assistance to others in need. Although you may see a lot of obvious solutions that could elude other minds, your insistence to help save the day may be misinterpreted and resented by your recipients. You could also be resentful of others who try to help you, insisting on solving a problem that you feel only you have the brainpower to solve. During this planetary period, expect to expend a great deal more time deciphering technical issues. Things are not always what they seem.
There tends to be a close-minded response to mental challenges that arise during this time when creativity and openness could actually be of benefit. A stubborn, narrow desire to tackle it all yourself is what makes this planetary influence especially daunting. An effective use of this time would be to revisit old projects that have been on the back burner for a while. If you’ve left a software manual half unread, now is the time to wade through remaining chapters. Organize and systematize the clutter off your desk. Be careful with investments, and avoid any new projects.
What does Mercury retrograde in Virgo mean for your sign and what are the areas of your life where you should take care?
Aries –health, diet and fitness, daily routine, employees, pets and being of service
Taurus- romance, courtship, entertainment, amusements, pleasure, creativity and children
Gemini — home, family, parents and ancestors
Cancer — intellect, thought, learning, communication, short trips, siblings and neighbors
Leo- spending and saving money, possessions and attitudes toward money in general
Virgo — self, appearance, individuality
Libra — the subconscious, seclusion, the intangible, intuition, institutions, karma
Scorpio — friends and acquaintances, groups, clubs, associations, hopes and wishes
Sagittarius — career, status, achievements, prestige, authority
Capricorn — publishing, higher education, legalities, overseas, inlaws, religion, philosophy
Aquarius — shared resources, taxes, inheritance, insurance, recycling, sex and regeneration
Pisces — marriage, business partnerships, agreements, and rivals
Thursday 1st
Solar Eclipse in Virgo. It’s 9 degrees and occurs at 2:03 am PT and 5:03 am ET. It’s even more intense than a usual Eclipse (and that’s saying something) as it forms a square to Saturn and an opposition to Neptune…yikes! Where do I even begin with this one???
Ok, let’s take a step back and I’ll explain a Solar Eclipse…
A solar eclipse can only occur during a New Moon, when the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun to create a ‘Moon sandwich’ effect that gives the visual illusion of an eclipse.
Solar eclipses last only a few minutes and should always be viewed with protective glasses. Never look directly at the Sun with the naked eye, because eye damage may result — and quickly! Since Earthlings are dependent on the Sun’s rays for light, warmth and agriculture, it’s no wonder that common folk have historically feared eclipses, when the Sun appears to be eaten up by an invisible, but incredibly powerful, mysterious being.
The Virgo New Moon Solar Eclipse turns you toward more serious matters after a period of playful indulgences has passed. You may be mulling over the nuts and bolts of your daily life. Work may be a concern or perhaps a health matter, or even how to run your life more efficiently. Evaluate the areas that need improvement.
You may want to start listing a few areas that need your attention. Don’t worry too much about the details yet; just work on identifying what it is you would like to change. If you find that walking up a flight of stairs causes a strain on your heart, perhaps it’s time to start an exercise routine. A job that seems to be a complete waste of your time may very well be. Consider how you can accomplish the same ends by adjusting the ways and means of completing them.
Spend time in contemplation without the distraction of music or chatter. Make notes to yourself citing several areas you want to improve. Look around your home and your workspace. Is something particularly glaring? Any visible clutter? Make a mental commitment to change. Brainstorm on possible tools you might need to help make the job easier. Allot yourself several days to really get organized, including a detailed checklist to help you remember every step along the way. You’ll surely feel much clearer once you’ve created the space to do so.
As I mentioned, this Solar Eclipse is forming a square to Saturn. This means
This is one of those times when a lot of us feel defeated, as if we’re working at cross purposes. Authority issues raise their ugly heads and some folks find themselves backed into a corner, forced to explain themselves when they come under attack by bosses, coworkers, teachers or parents. Even though crawling under a rock feels like the preferable course of action, each of us has to take care of business.
There are limitations now on individual leadership, especially when it bumps up against corporate values or hierarchy. It’s easy to let this heavy energy get us down, but don’t linger on feelings of rejection, loneliness or isolation. They’re only temporary. Avoid confrontations by working alone. Keeping our noses to the grindstone and promising ourselves a good reward at the end of the week when this is all finished will help us get through it.
Painful or restrictive emotional memories affect our perceptions and moods during this short but intense transit. Folks are very hard on themselves and critical of others at the same time. Feelings of loneliness and inadequacy are pervasive and it’s very difficult to feel sympathetic to another person’s problems or even their point of view.
We just don’t feel very tolerant or forgiving at the moment. In fact, we can feel quite judgmental, inflexible and severe. Needless to say, this is not the best time for tackling thorny emotional issues. Wait till tomorrow, when this troublesome energy has passed.
The Solar Eclipse is also forming an opposition to Neptune. Don’t worry, everyone else is feeling just as confused and unmotivated as you are. The astro-weather forecast is partly cloudy, with a chance of fog and a very low energy level. Our skin is just a bit too thin now so our feelings are easily hurt; we’re rather like sponges, absorbing energy indiscriminately, whether it’s positive or negative.
So why frustrate ourselves by trying to get anything done? Whenever possible, we should all take a break from business and other projects and get a little alone time. Reading, naps and movies are all great ways to stimulate the imagination while passing the time until we’re more clear-headed. Meditation and any type of spiritual practice are also beneficial. And if we feel the unavoidable urge to escape, let’s do it with headphones or an art book instead of drugs, alcohol or other addictive behaviors.
Avoid business decisions during the course of this transit if you possibly can, for most of us don’t have the data or other concrete information we need to make the best choices. In fact, we could easily be deceived right now. Our ideals and dreams operate like blinders to the truth.
Misperceptions are almost certain to occur, with subsequent disappointment. It’s best to avoid important responsibilities today and trot out our favorite spiritual practice instead. A soul yearning provides the impetus we need to realign ourselves on our soul path. Escapist tendencies will be powerful now, particularly for the less attuned.
How will the Virgo Solar Eclipse be affecting your sign?
Aries –health, diet and fitness, daily routine, employees, pets and being of service
Taurus- romance, courtship, entertainment, amusements, pleasure, creativity and children
Gemini — home, family, parents and ancestors
Cancer — intellect, thought, learning, communication, short trips, siblings and neighbors
Leo- spending and saving money, possessions and attitudes toward money in general
Virgo — self, appearance, individuality
Libra — the subconscious, seclusion, the intangible, intuition, institutions, karma
Scorpio — friends and acquaintances, groups, clubs, associations, hopes and wishes
Sagittarius — career, status, achievements, prestige, authority
Capricorn — publishing, higher education, legalities, overseas, inlaws, religion, philosophy
Aquarius — shared resources, taxes, inheritance, insurance, recycling, sex and regeneration
Pisces — marriage, business partnerships, agreements, and rivals
Friday 2nd
Mercury retrograde conjunct Jupiter in Virgo
This is an excellent period mentally, when our minds are stimulated and we’re ready, set and anxious to learn; in fact, we crave new knowledge! The bigger the idea and the broader the concept, the more receptive we are to it. Mental stretching never felt so good. How big is the universe, anyway? This is a good time to explore the heights, depths and edges of any subject.
We respond to new information and may even be a teacher or mentor ourselves during this period. We speak quite persuasively now, inspiring others, but we may overdo it in the preaching department. We may also exaggerate, talk too much or in a loud voice, or be overly confident of our ideas. And the problem with knowing it all is that then we can’t learn anything! Trying to stay humble will help us articulate our big plans for the future. Expansion never looked so good.
Here’s your Weekly Horoscope…
ARIES
What could you do now to improve your overall health and vitality? The Solar Eclipse urges you to take better care of yourself, so that you are well equipped to achieve your ambitions and follow your dreams.
TAURUS
Find your joy. Life has become too staid, too dutiful and too boring recently. Use the Solar Eclipse energies to rekindle your enthusiasm for living. Do much, much more of whatever makes you smile and laugh.
GEMINI
Domestic and real estate matters get a huge boost from the Solar Eclipse, but be sure to keep the whole family involved and informed. If you can’t find your dream home, it could be that your dream needs adjusting.
CANCER
Sign up for a new training course or qualification and put the Solar Eclipse’s intellectual energies to good use. This vibe isn’t just about learning, but teaching too — do you have valuable skills and insight you could share with others?
LEO
The solar eclipse brings major financial news which could be positive or negative — what really matters is how you react to it, and how you nurture and cultivate your non-materialistic inner values too.
VIRGO
Your head is spinning, with so much planetary activity in Virgo. This week’s Solar Eclipse marks an important turning point in your self-esteem, so be sure to put your renewed sense of confidence into positive action.
LIBRA
Venus arrives in Libra this week, helping you feel serene and relatively insulated from the drama of the Solar Eclipse. It’s a good time to change your personal image or to reinvent yourself — it’s never too late to have a go.
SCORPIO
Your social conscience kicks in during this week’s Solar Eclipse. Look for ways you could get involved with local charities or good causes. Opt to give your time or your expertise, rather than your money.
SAGITTARIUS
The Solar Eclipse propels you into the limelight at work, whether you’re ready for it or not. This is your chance to excel and to prove how talented you are. No matter how daunting the task, accept it and exceed expectations.
CAPRICORN
Restlessness and boredom prompts you to seek out new experiences this week. The Solar Eclipse favor travel as a life-changing experience, but remember that travel doesn’t have to be exotic — nearby places have plenty to offer too.
AQUARIUS
Your psychic development is in the spotlight during this Solar Eclipse. Expect to have some weird experiences, or to wonder if you’re seeing or hearing things. You’re getting a rare glimpse into what lies beyond.
PISCES
Your closest relationship is strengthened considerably by the Solar Eclipse; you’ve been through a lot together, and now you are a united team. Enjoy the romance; this could be a turning point in your lives together.
