August comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb — especially when it comes to your relationships. The first few days of the month are quiet, but once Mars enters Libra and your committed relationship sector on the 6th, things begin to heat up! Mars can bring conflict, but also action and spice. If you’re experiencing tension within your closest partnerships, maintaining awareness that this energy is simply at play will go a long way. Remember that what you actually do with this energy is up to you. If secret resentments rise to the surface or you begin to feel the pull of a knock-down drag-out argument, take a deep breath and ask yourself: is this worth fighting about? If the answer is yes, then it’s time to deal with it. If it’s no, redirect the Martial influence by taking a walk or hitting a punching bag. (Or work it out in the bedroom…safely.) Pay close attention to August 8th as Mars locks into a tense opposition with Saturn, emphasizing your needs vs. their needs. Becoming stuck on the limitations of your relationships will only add fuel to the fire. This also applies if you’re single or dating around! Compromise is kind of the only option sometimes. Getting what you want could take a while.

That general vibe melds into the next day’s Aquarius Full Moon, which lights up your friendship and community sector (in fact, something pertaining to those topics could also be tangled up in all the relationship conflict!). Mercury retrograde continues to affect your dating, sex, and parenting life, and this Full Moon stares that down. Do you feel disconnected from your people? Have you been craving more fun? This lunation highlights those feelings while simultaneously comparing/contrasting them with your love life. As you process the emotions this Full Moon awakens, take heart that Mercury will station direct (no more retrograde!) on August 11th. All the rethinking you’ve been doing re: love, dating, sex, creativity, and kids should begin wrapping up, especially after Venus glides into Leo on the 25th to help!

Meanwhile, on the 12th, Cancer Venus indulges a stolen kiss with Jupiter in your 4th house, sweetening family life and smoothing over any growing pains you’ve been experiencing lately. It’s a cute moment during which the two most beneficial planets meet up, so use it! Clean or redecorate your house, invite your nearest and dearest over for dinner, or plan a decadent night in with your favorite snuggle buddy. Finally, August 23rd’s New Moon in Virgo is your annual chance to revamp your health and work routines. If you’ve been meaning to take care of yourself better, it’s an excellent time to begin that journey.

Prepare for a rude awakening this month once Mars enters Libra and your health and daily routine sector on August 6th. At best, the planet of anger and conflict — as well as action and energy — wants you to get organized re: meal planning and hitting the gym. At worst, you could experience a challenging health issue. (Somewhere in the middle lies Mars’s desire to make your life even busier.) Of course, astrology doesn’t exist within a vacuum. If something pops up, you likely know where it’s coming from, so why not use Mars’s presence and get the ball rolling? Additionally, everyone may be a just teensy bit more conflict-avoidant during Mars’s stay in Venusian Libra, preferring peace and balance over action and aggression. Just a heads up! Things heat up for real on the 8th once Mars locks into an opposition with Saturn, planet of limits and boundaries. Mars wants to accomplish things; Saturn loves saying no. I think you can see how that may be an issue. For you specifically, it may involve the current state of your mental health, especially if you’ve been self-isolating. Honestly, the only real way to break through the “my way or the highway” energy of an opposition is with compromise. If you can’t fully merge the part of you that needs to work and be busy with the part of you that is seriously over it and just needs a break, try to go halfsies with both of them (both of you?). Schedule solitude. Schedule rest. If you think you can do it all, I agree with you…but you can’t do it all right now.

The Aquarius Full Moon of August 9th majors in your career ambitions, with a minor in the push/pull of home and family. Mercury has been retrograding through your ancestral 4th house, indicating a rewriting of the script regarding its themes, and this lunation joins in to further emphasize the juxtaposition between not just home and career, but also your inner and outer self. The good news is that Mercury stations direct on the 11th, giving you a chance to integrate the emotional state this combination has left you in. (Also, Venus will enter Leo and your 4th house on the 25th, sweetening up family life!)

On the 12th, sweet Cancerian Venus meets up with Jupiter to cast a blessing on all things having to do with siblings, learning, short trips, and your neighborhood. It’s the cutest day of the month, so bask in the vibes! (There may be decadence involved, but if you find yourself elbow-deep in wine and chocolate it’s okay to blame it on the stars.) As Virgo season kicks off on the 22nd, it’s accompanied by an almost immediate New Moon in your dating, creativity, and pleasure sector. This is a life area slated for major change in the form of releasing old, unhelpful patterns, and this New Moon has an element of liberation embedded in its darkness. Something new needs to fill up this space — what can you let go of? My advice: organize, clean house, and rewrite your standards Virgo-style. There’s an off chance that this lunation could rope in some financial themes; my advice still stands.

August is hot, especially once Mars enters your sex and pleasure sector on the 6th! For the next couple of months, this life area will light up as you pour more energy into its themes. Mars symbolizes action and activity, but it can also bring conflict and breakups, so try to navigate this transit as best you can without causing any rifts (unless you want to). The day to keep an eye on is August 8th, when Mars is slated to face buzzkill Saturn. This tense opposition has the power to deliver a variety of issues related to dating, friendships and community, and/or creative expression. (If you have children, it could also affect them!) Perhaps it manifests as not getting something you really want, or a friend expressing frustration over your dating life, even sadness over how unfair it is that real-life responsibilities are ruining your fun — however it plays out, remember there’s always a compromise to be made. If you can’t have the entire pizza, you can at least have a few slices, right? Oppositions involve planets in opposite sign with nothing in common. The key to stop them from butting heads lies in finding ways to satisfy them both. Ergo: compromise. Can you give that friend a little more attention, even though you’re really wrapped up in a new, exciting romance? If you’ve been spending all your time parenting, is it possible to get out for a bit? Can you let go of worry over what your community will think of that new creative project just waiting to be birthed?

As you deal with that, the next day’s Aquarius Full Moon illuminates your 9th house of long-distance travel, higher education, and spirituality. This lunation signifies a period of peak activity within those topics, maybe even heralding the completion of a project (or application, publishing opportunity, religious sojourn, etc). It also ropes in the energy of Mercury retrograde, so make sure to double check your work and communicate clearly. Thankfully, Mercury stations direct on the 11th, so you won’t have to worry about that for much longer! There’s an ego-clash-y element to this Full Moon as well. Try to do what’s best for you and the collective. If you’ve been working some money magic, the 12th is an extremely lucky day for all things related to your finances, resources, and possessions. As Venus completes her special tryst with Jupiter, they’ll work together to initiate some sweetness and growth. Try not to spend too much at this time, however — the combination of these two planets can be extremely decadent! 

On the 23rd, a Virgo New Moon initiates a new phase in all things home and family. A surprise is possible; you may gain a new sense of freedom. This life area was a hot spot of activity not too long ago, so use whatever you learned or experienced to guide its new direction. The month closes out with Venus moving into Leo on the 25th, a celestial shift that will bless anything having to do with siblings, education, communication, learning new skills, and your neighborhood! If you’re single, it’s a lovely time to hit that new local spot you’ve been meaning to check out. If you’re not, try it anyway!

A clash between career and home life kicks off the month, beginning on the 6th as Mars enters your home and family sector — and peaking on the 8th once Saturn joins the chat. Mars is the planet of action, energy, courage, and aggression. It symbolizes conflict, as well as initiative. Mars desires. In contrast, Saturn negates, imposes boundaries, emphasizes responsibility, and loves to say “no.” If there’s been a dynamic building between these two life areas (home and career), the 8th is when the tension will break. Mars and Saturn are the two “malefic” planets of the zodiac, the ones with the ability to throw a wrench in the works, and at that moment their clashing interests are the issue at hand. Is the amount of time you’ve been spending at work affecting your family? Are you exhausted and aching for a staycation? Do you need a raise just to pay rent? These are just a few examples of how this energy could manifest. The solution is compromise. How can you recalibrate those life areas to ensure more harmony and balance? It’s definitely the tensest day of the month, but it’s possible to redirect the energy towards something constructive!

On August 9th, the Aquarius Full Moon illuminates your shared resources and closest connections. (Maybe you’re moving in with a partner or splashing out more money than you’d like). This lunation is moody and laced with a certain darkness, one that encourages transformation. Try to get some rest and let the feelings wash over you. It’s just a vibe and it will dissipate. On the 11th, Mercury finally completes its retrograde cycle through your financial sector, where it encouraged you to reevaluate your relationship to money and material possessions. Things should begin to move forward again within those topics! However, the most beautiful day of the month — especially for you, as it happens in your sign — is August 12th, when Venus and Jupiter meet up for a little tryst in Cancer. This is a moment of luxury, decadence, romance, faith and luck. It’s super cute and you should use it to do something fun.

The Virgo New Moon of August 23rd lands in your 3rd house of siblings, education, communication, short trips, and your neighborhood (a lot or random seemingly unrelated topics, I know, but trust me, they’re symbolically related!). This is a chance to steer your experience in these topics towards a better, more organized and efficient direction. If something isn’t working out, feel your feelings about it and let it go. There’s also an element of surprise to this lunation. On the 25th. Venus, planet of love and value, glides into your financial sector, ushering in a sweet period in money matters. Venus loves to connect, so treat this as an opportunity to collaborate on a project, hire a financial coach, or even just to recalibrate your financial values.

Try to take a few short breaks from basking in the sunshine this month to strategically funnel energy into educational upgrades and working on projects that involve writing, communication, or the internet. (Ditto for hanging with siblings or cousins, planning short trips, and exploring your neighborhood.) That being said, those topics are also the most vulnerable over the next several weeks. The reason? Mars. (It’s always Mars.) As the planet of action and aggression moves into Virgo on the 6th, you’ll begin to feel its trademark push/pull energy begin to flood those topics — but it’s up to you to guide it. If you sense conflict in the air, especially around August 8th as Saturn enters the chat, take a deep breath and consider if you truly want to engage. Honestly? You might! But if you don’t, channeling the Martial energy into something constructive (exercise, primal scream therapy, breaking things) can help. Mars desires…and Saturn likes to say no. Something you want to accomplish/do/own could face delays or obstructions (possibly from a distance), and the only way to mitigate the effects is by compromise. As a fixed sign, you can be a little stubborn, but don’t let your pride get in the way of eventually getting what you want.

This could also involve relationships in some way, which brings us to the next big cosmic event: August 9th’s Aquarius Full Moon, which lights up your seventh house of committed partnerships. You may be in the process of reevaluating your identity or life direction (Mercury is still retrograding through Leo…), and this lunation could have you thinking about finding the space to form (or maintain) close relationships. Listen to your feelings and trust in their wisdom. Thankfully, Mercury stations direct on the 11th so no need to worry about that anymore! The 12th is an interesting day: Venus and Jupiter, both in Cancer, join forces in your twelfth house of isolation and mental health. These are the two most beneficial planets in astrology, and when they meet up like this, it usually indicates love, abundance, and decadence. And it still can, but this time around, you may want to celebrate behind closed doors. You can also use this energy for healing, especially the non-physical kind.

August 23rd’s Virgo New Moon could bring a financial surprise. It lands in your second house of money, resources, and possessions, and ushers in a new cycle within those topics. You’re in the process of shedding and reworking your financial experiences, and this is a good lunation to shake free of something holding you back! The 25th is a super-cute day for you — Venus moves into Leo! You’ll be extra magnetic and charming, so use this brief-but-sweet transit to flirt and upgrade your look! 

As the Full Moon shines its light on your closest relationships, August wraps up with Venus entering your sign — go forth and be extra hot! Plus, your money journey continues.  

Money is the vibe this month, beginning on August 6th once Mars enters Libra and your 2nd house of finances and material possessions. Your current circumstances may feel a little…expensive, but you might just have to suck it up, buttercup, especially around the 8th once Saturn joins the chat. As the planet of limits and boundaries locks into a tense opposition to Mars — essentially staring him down like a sniper — you’ll seesaw between moving forward at full speed and reigning it in a bit, or at least imposing some order on your financial situation. Compromise, as well as structure and having a plan, are integral to avoiding the worst of this tension. 

Meanwhile, August 9th’s Aquarius Full Moon illuminates work, everyday routines, and physical health, signifying a peak moment in these topics as well as the completion of a cycle. A Full Moon can often bring things to light (you know, that whole symbolic illumination), and since this particular one sits across from retrograde Mercury in Leo, it also opens up an interesting juxtaposition between ego and detachment, especially in relation to your physical and mental health. (Or your job. Especially if you’ve been feeling a little subservient lately.) Even if this energy weighs you down, you can use it to your advantage by understanding its purpose, which is balance. Work/life balance. The delicate balance of taking care of your physical form to promote a healthy psyche. The balance of what you want vs. what’s best for the whole crew. If any emotions arise, sit down with them. Remember, the Moon doesn’t cause feelings, it illuminates one that already exist. The good news is that Mercury stations direct just two days later, ending its backwards journey through your psyche and lightening your subconscious load a bit. 

The 12th is the sweetest day of the month, featuring a conjunction between Venus and Jupiter, both in Cancer, where they’ve been busy pouring love into your friendships and communities. This is a lovely moment of togetherness; use it to call or visit a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while. You could also meet a potential romantic interest via your social circle. As the Sun enters Virgo on the 22nd, your astrological season officially begins! This is usually a time of increased confidence and vitality. The annual Virgo New Moon arrives the next day, providing an opportunity to finetune your life direction. A New Moon in one’s sign is potent and can be utilized in a variety of ways: the categories are purpose, identity, and embodiment. Why not jot down where you’d like to steer your life in the near future, debut a new look, or start that fitness routine you’ve been talking about? On the 25th, Venus will move into Leo and your 12th house, a transit that’ll fully bloom come September, but one that will gild the end of August just enough to provide some mental relief. Watch out for any relationship-related deceptions during this time, however — Venus will be hanging out in a secretive spot.

August kicks off with some energy, spice, and possible conflict — all due to Mars entering your sign on the 6th! Let’s get theoretical for a moment. As a Libra, you’re deeply connected to the characteristics of the planet Venus. Try to imagine your life as a car, with Venus at the wheel. She’s navigating you through every aspect of life using relationship, harmony, beauty, and balance. You have a problem? It’s solved with tact and social intelligence. Just landed a win? It’s celebrated with friends sharing delightful food and drinks. Now, imagine that Venus has to begrudgingly share her driver’s seat privileges with Mars for a while, whose style is much more aggressive, rash, and self-interested. And once Mars gets his chance to steer, you can bet he’ll do his best to lead you towards his neck of the woods, wheeling you right into Conflict City with a detour through Action Avenue and, if you’re lucky, a cruise through scenic Lusty Lane. All this is to say that, from August 6th until nearly the end of September, you’ll have more Martial experiences than you normal would, i.e. fights, risk-taking, and decision-making — with everything going much faster than you’re generally comfortable with. Mars is also unabashedly targeting your relationships, especially around the 8th, once he clashes with sober, slow-and-steady Saturn, who’s currently camping out in your committed partnership sector. This is a day to watch out for; its energy could manifest as relationship conflicts or delays, but also as a nudge towards courage and action. Saturn prefers lasting foundations, so solidifying a partnership may also be in the cards. If you sense an impending conflict, decide for yourself if you want to engage or not. You may be ready to fight, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best tactic. Of course, if you really, really need to conduct a long-overdue battle, this is your chance. If this is the case, Mars is coming in to help. You’ll also likely feel a general uptick in energy, but watch out for unexpected injuries!

On the 9th, the relationship theme continues with the Aquarius Full Moon, which lands in your dating and pleasure sector. Full Moons are illuminating; something once hidden could be brought into the light. They can signify endings or simply a period of peak activity within the topics of the life area it’s hitting. This Full Moon could also involve children or your friends. Continue to watch for miscommunications, especially within your extended social circle, though any friend group drama or mishaps should begin to clear up once Mercury stations direct on the 11th! Meanwhile, the 12th is the cutest day of the month, with a conjunction between Venus and Jupiter — the two most beneficial planets — right in your career sector! This is a lucky moment for all things career-related, especially if you utilize connection and empathy. August 23rd’s Virgo New Moon will make you crave solitude. It’s a perfect time to swim in the waters of your own psyche (and perhaps clean house). Then, on the 25th, Venus moves into Leo to add some sparkle and drama to your social life!

Long-buried anger and resentment could rise to the surface this month, especially once Mars enters Libra and your mental health sector on the 6th. Find ways to constructively express your feelings; if you don’t, they could affect your health, especially around the 8th when a Mars-Saturn showdown swoops in to toss cold water on your best-laid plans. That sounds dramatic, but as the planet of desire and action faces trademark Saturnian coldness, delays, and obstacles, be aware that things may not play out the way you’d like. (Or when you’d like.) This cosmic conflict will affect both your mental and physical health; it could also mean workplace drama. If you’re feeling this energy, it’s good to remember that you don’t have to engage — and that willingness to compromise (no matter how feigned) may save your ass down the line. Act strategically. And rest. You’ll be exhausted. Regardless of how this particular cosmic clash manifests, use the next two months to work on your mental health and (especially) work-life balance.  

On the 9th, the Aquarius Full Moon highlights home and family life, a topic that may be currently tangled up with your career ambitions. Emotional Full Moons indicate a peak period within the topics they illuminate, and this one could point you towards fostering a healthier balance between self-interest and how it affects others in your life, especially your family. However, any career mishaps (and possible reevaluations) should clear up by the 11th once Mercury stations direct! If this Mercury retrograde has left you confused and addled, never fear — Venus will arrive on the 25th to sweeten everything up a bit. The loveliest day of August, however, is the 12th. As Venus and Jupiter meet up in sweet and sensitive Cancer, expect an extra bit of good luck, especially while traveling, applying to college/grad school, or with spiritual pursuits. These life areas are receiving the full blast of Jupiter’s benevolence through next Spring, but if you’re wrapped up in any growing pains, reach out for help. Venus loves to foster connection! (This is also a classic summer travel romance transit!) (And a great time to publish your work!)

August 23rd’s Virgo New Moon ushers in a new friendship and community cycle. You’re currently in the process of figuring out where you belong; use the darkness of this New Moon to look within for guidance. Ask yourself if the people you surround yourself with are helping you evolve and grow. You are who you hang out with.

The beginning of the month highlights how your friendships and community have begun to take second place to your romantic, creative, and/or parenting life. It all begins on the 6th as Mars slides into social Libra and your community sector, bearing its trademark burst of fiery energy. Mars inspires action — you may feel compelled towards devoting more time to hanging out with friends or becoming more active within the groups you belong to. Your friendships have generally been a life-long saving grace and, with all the recent developments in your dating and creativity sector, you may have been neglecting the homies a bit. Since Mars also symbolizes discord and separation, it’s also possible someone close to you is feeling the burn. They say defense is the best offense, so reach out to anyone you feel deserves more of your time and attention (before their resentment bubbles over). While you’re at it, take a moment to consider your current role in your chosen community. Do you still feel like it’s a good fit? If the answer is yes, act like it. If not, maybe it’s time to break free. This celestial theme will linger for a couple of months, but the tension builds quickly, peaking on August 8th as Mars locks into position across from Saturn, planet of obstacles, limitations, and responsibility. There’s likely a super-legit reason your social activity has slowed down, and this cosmic showdown is essentially a giant exclamation point calling attention to the inescapability of it all. There are some responsibilities and commitments you simply can’t deprioritize — it’s up to you to manage how they affect other life areas. Additionally, a Mars-Saturn conflict can be about wanting something and either not getting it, or having to wait a long time for it. Again, the way out is compromise.

The Aquarius Full Moon of August 9th blooms in your 3rd house of siblings, learning, communication, short trips, and immediate surroundings. It indicates a peak period for those topics; Full Moons also bring completion and endings. They’re emotional, occurring when the Moon, the very symbol of the emotional realm, is at her biggest and brightest, illuminating the dark and bringing hidden things to light. This one has a touch of Mercury retrograde baked into its energy, so put aside your pride and focus on what’s right for the collective. Thankfully, Mercury stations direct on the 11th, bringing an end to any communication snafus, especially re: travel, higher education, and spiritual pursuits. If you’ve been rethinking any of these topics, focus on regaining clarity. And by the 25th, Venus will have begun her journey through these life areas, sweetening them up a bit.

The 12th is also a super sweet day, featuring a Venus-Jupiter conjunction in nurturing Cancer in your shared resources sector. Allow yourself to really feel the financial blessings coming your way. Permit yourself to transform; to witness the darkness that comes before the dawn. (Honestly? This is also a great day to buy a lottery ticket…) Virgo season arrives on the 22nd, beaming its focus on your career and highest ambitions (which are also probably going through a dark night of the soul in their own way). The Virgo New Moon of the 23rd is an ideal time to set intentions for how you’d like them to grow and evolve.

How’s your career going? How’s your home life? Are they playing nice with each other? These are good questions to ask yourself at the beginning of August because, once Mars moves into Libra and your career sector on the 6th, a lot can happen. Mars brings energy and action…as well as conflict and separation. If you’re ready to roll your sleeves up and pour some more blood sweat and tears into climbing the ladder, this is for sure the right time. And if you’re thinking of quitting your job and moving to Bali (or finding a better job, let’s be real, you’re a Capricorn) — it’s also the right time. Your home life has been through a lot of ups and downs recently; it finally seems to be settling down, or at least finding its current shape, thanks to the presence of Saturn in your 4th house. However, once Mars locks into position across from Saturn on the 8th, you could experience some tension between those life areas. It’s a day to watch out for; Mars symbolizes a desire, Saturn an obstacle or limitation. (Or responsibility, or delays, or tangled red tape). Whatever that means for you, the best method of containment is through compromise. An opposition creates conflict between opposing interests. There is no way around them, and the only way out is through. You’ll find a way — if anyone can, it’s you! 

The Aquarius Full Moon of August 9th illuminates all things finance. This life area is undergoing deep long-term transformation and, since Full Moons illuminate the darkness of your own emotional state, it’s worth tapping in to see how things are going. At the time of this Full Moon, retrograde Mercury is still buzzing around, affecting your shared resources as well as other people’s money (i.e. taxes, inheritances, passive income, etc), so those topics could show their face too. (It’s a money moon whichever way you look at it!) My advice is to release any pride or ego-based patterns surrounding your personal resources. Allow yourself to think outside the box, Aquarius-style. The good news is that Mercury stations direct towards the end of the month (on the 25th), signaling an end to communication and tech issues, especially within your shared resources.   

Prepare the rose petals, because the 12th brings a Venus-Jupiter conjunction in your committed partnership sector! This planetary combo signifies good luck, abundance, faith, and connection; it brings healing, nurture, and emotional vulnerability. Enjoy it. Get decadent. The universe supports it. On the 23rd, a Virgo New Moon lands in your travel, spirituality, and higher education sector, an excellent chance to plant seeds of intention involving any of those topics. If you’ve been feeling a lack of faith, get organized about it — the Moon will be in Virgo, after all. Do your research — just don’t let perfection get in the way of action.

August starts off mild, but things get spicier once Mars enters Libra and your travel, higher education, and spirituality sector on the 6th, infusing those topics with fiery energy and action! This will ignite your wanderlust, guide you towards expansive experiences, and push you to learn. However, Mars is an initiator and an instigator — if you’ve already got your hand in the pot re: any of those topics, Mars could also deliver more challenging experiences. Triple check airline tickets and grad school applications, especially around August 8th, when Mars faces off with obstacle-loving Saturn to throw a wrench in your plans. This inflammatory confrontation is a master class in patience; in desiring something so much you’re able to wait for its arrival. Obstacles and limits will persist for the next two months or so, possibly stemming from a sibling or educational institution, but the tension truly peaks at this time. Compromise, responsibility, and patience. Repeat it like it’s a mantra. This may be less common, but for any of you that belong to a more traditional, established religious group, and are rethinking your involvement, the Mars-Saturn opposition will create enough momentum for you to change course.

August 9th’s Full Moon lands in your sign and signifies a time to let go of one version of yourself to make way for an inevitable upgrade. Full Moons illuminate your emotions (yes, you have feelings!), and if you actually listen to them, they can provide a treasure trove of raw data for you to analyze. At the time of this Full Moon, check in with yourself about literally everything. Are you happy with your current life trajectory? Your relationships? Career and family? Gauge how you feel as you ponder each question. Your intuition often communicates what logic can’t. This is the only Aquarius Full Moon of the entire year, so put it to use! If you’ve been rethinking your closest partnerships, blame Mercury retrograde in your relationship sector. Thankfully, the planet of information and communication resumes forward motion on the 11th — clarity is on its way. After the 25th, once Venus slides into your relationship DMs, things will be much sweeter.

The 12th provides a lucky boost for anything having to do with physical health, daily routines, and work. If you’ve been thinking about joining the gym or restocking your supplement drawer, it’s an excellent day for things of that nature. The energy is a little decadent, so don’t blame me if you overindulge! The 23rd delivers a New Moon in Virgo, one that offers a fresh start (or at least a redirect) within themes of shared resources, investments, passive income, taxes, and inheritances. (This sector of your chart also governs death and transformation as well as the occult.) There’s an element of liberation and inventiveness at play during this New Moon; vet your crazy ideas before you implement them of course, but don’t discard them without giving them a chance. Organize your stock portfolio (or whatever) (hey, it’s a Virgo New Moon).

Your bloodiest battle this month is financial in nature, and it’s one you’re getting kind of used to. Aggravator Mars enters your 8th house of shared resources and passive income — as well as money going out — on the 6th, igniting your fears, as well a desire to conquer them. Conquer what, exactly? Well: stocks, taxes, inheritances, child support. Living with a partner. Death, transformation, symbolic underworld journeys. The occult. These are the topics of your 8th house, and they’re not for the faint of heart. However, while Mars is indeed an instigator, he also governs energy and action. The next two months or so are a prime time to get some of your financial affairs in order! (Try not to spend too much, however. Mars likes to lead us towards rash decisions.) There will be tension and challenges, and they actually peak quite quickly, on the 8th once Mars locks into place opposite Saturn, a planet that likes to dole out obstacles, limitations, and responsibility. Mars desires; Saturn denies. Mars is fast; Saturn is slow. You get the drift. This day may be inflammatory, but a willingness to compromise — to accommodate the several factors at play, all with clashing interests — will get you through it. 

Keep your chin up however, especially around August 9th’s Aquarius Full Moon, which lands in your mental health and isolation sector. This lunation has the power to unearth some unpleasant feelings; just remember that there is a reason for it. (Hint: it’s so you actually process them.) Fears are fears; they’re not always true, or real. Make that your mantra. There could also be something about work or your physical health at play during this Full Moon. Thankfully, Mercury, which has been retrograding through your work and health sector, resumes forward motion on the 11th, signaling an end to miscommunication and confusion (in general, but especially within those life areas). Once Venus scoots into Leo on the 25th, you’ll find yourself actually wanting to work out/get organized/meal plan.

August 12th features a gorgeous Venus-Jupiter conjunction in your 5th house of sex, dating, pleasure, creativity, and children. It’s a super lucky day for those topics, so shoot your shot! It’s also decadent, healing, nurturing, and vulnerable. August 23rd’s Virgo New Moon lands in your committed relationship sector and offers an opportunity to think outside the box. To liberate yourself from old patterns. To start fresh. This life area is under repair; this lunation is a good time to think about what you need out of your closest relationships. Break out the journal or talk it out with a partner or close friend. Plan, strategize, and organize your standards.