Mercury turns direct...Varooom...

Mercury turns stationary direct Sunday, August 19, in the early morning hours.

While retrograde, the ideas may be sloppier as the thinking and un-thought-out actions more prevalent. We can have a better handle on this when Mercury turns direct, but things may change direction once again.

Retrograde Mercury enters its stationary direct period August 19-21 and you may change direction or find out additional information that changes your path. Sometimes more glitches occur before the stationary period ends.

While Mercury is direct August 19, best to let things level out for the next week than to immediately start buying high ticket items, accepting new job offers and the like. Then again, as I always tell people, don't turn down a job if you need one!

Mercury begins to move forward again on August 21, but the shadow period of the retrograde is not over until September 2. At that point Mercury moves forward at its normal speed, and things return to normal, or the new normal if changes have occurred.

The next major change will occur as Mars turns direct on August 27, followed by Saturn on September 6. By then, we will be rolling!

Dog days of summer: 6 planets retrograde but change comes soon!

Between August 8-19, six planets are retrograde. This includes, Mercury, Mars, Uranus, Saturn, Neptune and Pluto. healer.'). We have not seen this many retrograde planets since May, 2016.

This means now is not the best time for launching new activities or starting new projects. What we can expect is to be going back over things started in the past, making corrections, making changes, re-vamping and redoing. In some cases people may decide something isn't right, or to their liking, or it may just seem like paddling upstream to start something new. Things may seem as though they are at a standstill and many people are working to resolve some long standing issue.

Either way, starting businesses, jobs, even new relationships on a retrograde Mars or Mercury is not a good idea because when these planets turn direct and moves forward things may change or not turn out as planned.

Retrogrades are a part of the natural cycle and this should not be viewed as a negative. Sometimes we have to live in the moment, rather than the past or future, and this will be the time to stop and smell the roses, so to speak. And dip your toes into the ocean and just enjoy the summer. After all, we can blink and things will change once again. Change is coming soon, so hang on a short while longer.

Here is how the retrograde cycle will change:

August 19, Mercury turns direct.

August 27, Mars turns direct

September 6, Saturn turns direct

With these three planets turning direct we will see major change. The other faster moving planets won't have as much of an overt affect unless they are hitting something directly in your chart.

Either way, expect issues to start getting resolved by the end of the month, and the pace will dramatically pick up. But, we will still have to go back over certain things to find final resolution.

Venus square Saturn: I will love you if...

Venus is square Saturn and this transit is exact in the evening (EDT) of August 9.

If you have been looking at a troubled relationship through rose colored glasses, they will likely come off at this time. Saturn is the planet of reality and it will clash with the planet of love.

Venus square Saturn can make us feel lonely, rejected or isolated. In some cases if this or something else makes a significant aspect some relationships may end, but this would typically only be the case if the relationship is tottering on the edge.

Issues can come to the surface and be dealt with. Sometimes this coincides with unpleasant circumstances we would prefer to avoid but can't, such as a loved one having surgery (or something else). In cases like this we just plug on and know the transit will pass shortly. Or we could look at love conditionally such as I will love you if...

As this transit becomes part of the eclipse energy of August 11, love or social matters can change one way or another.

This is not a positive transit for financial matters, and it can also relate to friendships, social circumstances and other matters depending on where it falls in your personal chart.

This transit will usher in certain world events. In the US chart it squares Venus in the 7th house of courts, and those considered enemies. It could also relate to financial markets and is not considered positive. We could hear news of issues related to women, endings and separations, or other Venus ruled matters.(justice, juries, art, beauty)

August 6, 1945: Hell unleashed on Earth

73 years ago this week (August 6, 1945) hell was unleashed on Earth with the first nuclear weapon dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. A look at the event chart (chart the moment the bomb was dropped) shows Uranus (Sudden, unexpected events, explosions) on the Midheaven, next to Mars. Mars-Uranus transits relate to sudden, unexpected often explosive events, and we have the same planets in another aspect through mid-August,  (I am not predicting a nuclear attack), and a look at the news certainly shows great tension and stress in the world at this time.

The Sun was conjunct Pluto, and this is a dangerous transit as Pluto rules nuclear situations and weapons.

In Japan's natal chart the previous June solar eclipse (in Cancer) fell in the second house opposing the 8th house of death along with Saturn. At least 90,000 died on impact and as many died in the following months from radiation sickness.

The bomb ended WW11 but set off a nuclear arms race that came close to setting off another, bigger war during the Cold War and the nuclear arms race with Soviet Russia, and the threat unleashed then continues to this day.

May we never see another nuclear weapon put to use on planet Earth.

Eclipse in Leo: Attraction and desire

The next and final eclipse of the year falls at 18 degrees of Leo on August 11. This is a  partial solar eclipse that can be seen from some cities in the US, and you can click here to see the eclipse path.

Leo rules the fifth house of children, friends and love affairs, and our attention will be focused here, It is ruled by the Sun, which begs the question how do you shine? What puts sparkle in your life?

Eclipses are like wildcards, and one of the ways we learn how and what we need to change and evolve. An eclipse can seem good or bad, depending on what it aspects in your personal chart, and often an eclipse is dramatic, or reveals important information if it aspects a significant point in your own chart/life.  An eclipse often brings news pertaining to life's biggest events. The energy of an eclipse can go for months and in some cases years.

Almost always unexpected information comes to light and at this time something may be eclipsed completely out of your life, or into your life. Eclipses can bring positive or negative events depending on what it aspects in your personal chart.

Leo rules royalty, drama and theatre. Don't be surprised if things and people seem overly dramatic at this time and of course this could include drama Kings and Queens!

Relationships, fun and entertainment will be a focus during this eclipse, but Venus squares Saturn August 9-10, so this becomes a part of the eclipse energy.

Venus/Saturn energy can be difficult for relationships, and some relationships and other situations may end that are tottering on the edge.

An eclipse like this one occurred August 11, 1999, at 18 degrees of Leo. An eclipse can never be exactly the same as the other planets in the sky are always changing. However, if it hits a significant point or planet in your chart, the same themes and issues can repeat themselves.

Mars square Uranus may bring sudden and unexpected events, or explosive events in the world.

Jupiter is trine Saturn and this is a compassionate and creative transit that can bring harmony to different equations.

Also as Saturn is trine Uranus we can effectively combine the old with the new.

As Mercury is retrograde, events connected to the eclipse may be delayed for days or even weeks.

This eclipse is less harsh than the previous two and now is the time to enjoy some summer fun under the Leo moon. Happy eclipsing!

August 2018: a time of reflection/6 planets retrograde

Between August 7 and 19, six out of 10 planets will be retrograde. This includes, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus and Pluto. We have not seen this many retrograde planets since May, 2016.

This means August is not the best time for launching new activities or starting new projects. What we can expect is to be going back over things started in the past, making corrections, making changes, re-vamping and redoing. In some cases people may decide something isn't right, or to their liking, or it may just seem like paddling upstream to start something new or even complete current activities.

Either way, starting businesses, jobs, even new relationships on a retrograde Mars/Mercury is not a good idea because when either planet turns direct and moves forward things may change or not turn out as planned.

Retrogrades are a part of the natural cycle and this should not be viewed as a negative (although it is frustrating). Sometimes we have to live in the moment, rather than the past or future, and this will be the time to stop and smell the roses, so to speak. And dip your toes into the ocean and just enjoy the summer. After all, we can blink and things will change once again.

Here is how the retrograde cycle works for August:

August 7, Uranus retrogrades along with Mercury, Mars, Saturn, Neptune and Pluto.

August 19, Mercury turns direct

August 27, Mars turns direct

September 6, Saturn turns direct

Things will start to pop once Mercury and Mars turn direct!

Upcoming eclipse in Leo August 11

The next and final eclipse of the year falls at 18 degrees of Leo on August 11. This is a  partial solar eclipse that can be seen from some cities in the US, and you can click here to see the eclipse path.

Leo rules the fifth house of children, friends and love affairs, and our attention will be focused here, It is ruled by the Sun, which begs the question how do you shine? What puts sparkle in your life?

Eclipses are like wildcards, and one of the ways we learn how and what we need to change and evolve. An eclipse can seem good or bad, depending on what it aspects in your personal chart, and often an eclipse is dramatic, or reveals important information if it aspects a significant point in your own chart/life.  An eclipse often brings news pertaining to life's biggest events. The energy of an eclipse can go for months and in some cases years.

Almost always unexpected information comes to light and at this time something may be eclipsed completely out of your life, or into your life. Eclipses can bring positive or negative events depending on what it aspects in your personal chart.

Leo rules royalty, drama and theatre. Don't be surprised if things and people seem overly dramatic at this time and of course this could include drama Kings and Queens!

Relationships, fun and entertainment will be a focus during this eclipse, but Venus squares Saturn August 9-10, so this becomes a part of the eclipse energy.

Venus/Saturn energy can be difficult for relationships, and some relationships and other situations may end that are tottering on the edge.

An eclipse like this one occurred August 11, 1999, at 18 degrees of Leo. An eclipse can never be exactly the same as the other planets in the sky are always changing. However, if it hits a significant point or planet in your chart, the same themes and issues can repeat themselves.

Mars square Uranus may bring sudden and unexpected events, or explosive events in the world.

Jupiter is trine Neptune and this is a compassionate and creative transit that can bring harmony to different equations.

As Saturn is trine Uranus we can effectively combine the old with the new.

 Mercury is retrograde and events connected to the eclipse may be delayed for days or even weeks.

This eclipse is less harsh than the previous two and now is the time to enjoy some summer fun under the Leo moon. Happy eclipsing!