Pema Chodron tells us in her book “When Things Fall Apart” that things falling apart is a kind of testing and also a kind of healing. With last week’s Mars/Pluto square, and Pluto stationing on the threshold of this weekend’s Solar Eclipse, the world was stretched beyond its capacity. Things fall apart, but with Chiron in the picture, we are also given tools to bring it back together. 

Pluto stations direct this week as it is square the Nodes, and Mars in Libra. Mars/Pluto/Nodal energy can be intense. But it can also be the very catalyst needed to transform our lives. Channel it into something constructive and useful. Use it to transform your environment, your life, your body and mind. Do something hard. Fight for something good. And if you’re going to make some trouble, make it good trouble. 

The Full Moon on Friday is a Super Moon in the sign of Aries. The Harvest Moon is the Full Moon closest to the Equinox (in the Southern Hemisphere it’s the Full Moon closest to the Aries Equinox), and this year it is the last of this year’s Super Moons. Look for the Full Moon rising in the East in the evening and setting in the early morning. Accompanied by Saturn shortly after Moonrise and then in opposition to Mercury rising as it is setting, this should be a Moon to watch. To learn more about what the Full Moon might mean for us this week, click below. 

As the days will soon shorten here in the North, the Sun diminishes in strength, and thus the Solar God gradually appears to succumb to the darkness on its journey back into the underworld. Like Persephone leaving a trail of flowers behind her, both will soon return to Hades, even as we mortals celebrate the annual dance of the Sun through its own ritual of birth, death and rebirth each year. And so we now pause for the Libra Equinox.

There are 2 significant events this week: 1) the direct station of Mercury on Friday, coming right within the ambit of the New Moon in Virgo, a Mercury sign. And 2) the Sun’s opposition to retrograde Neptune, in which the Sun shines a light on our vulnerabilities, our doubts, our fears, and uncertainty. For what this all might mean for you, click below.

We are creatures of habit and familiarity, and so we have a tendency to do things the same way over and over again. But when Uranus comes along as it is with the New Moon in Virgo on September 14th/15th, and Mercury simultaneously stations direct, we are more inclined to venture into unfamiliar territory. And if we are willing to do so even just a little bit, Uranus can reward us with a whole new perspective and outlook. 

This week, no sooner does Venus station for its Direct phase on September 3rd/4th, then Jupiter stations for its retrograde phase as well. Trading places, both benefic planets station in less than one day. And then on September 6th we have the inferior conjunction of Mercury, the beginning of the New Mercury Cycle which will last until December 22nd. To find out more about what each of these mean for us, click below. 

This is a busy week astrologically. Perhaps the astronomical highlight of the week might be the Super Full Moon on the 30th, the brightest and largest Full Moon of the year. And a blue Moon at that, as it is the 2nd Full Moon in the month of August. Uranus stations on August 28th for its retrograde phase which lasts until January 27th, and this weekend Mars enters the sign of Libra. All of these are significant for their own reasons. 

On August 23rd, Mercury stations (appears to stand still) for its retrograde phase which lasts through September 15th. Strong in its own sign of Virgo, Mercury stations this week with an illuminating trine to Uranus. Although this may not help to avoid some of the usual mayhem of the retrograde phase, it could prove to be both an inspiring as well as insightful retrograde phase.

No sooner does Venus dance across the heart of the Sun this weekend, then we will soon have our New Moon in Leo on August 16th. One of many New Moons in aspect to Uranus, we are being primed for some sort of growth and evolutionary change, both in society, and in our private lives. The Leo New Moon is a moon filled with creative potential, vital energy and a passion for life. To read more about the New Moon click below.