MONTH OF August
Address those loose ends and bring some order back to your life, Pisces. The Sun is making its annual trek through Leo and your sixth house of health, organization and systems. While others are still at the shore, you’ll be in a back-to-school state of mind. You’re ready to dial down the intensity (even the fun kind) and simplify, getting life into a steadier, more manageable groove. Whether it’s disconnecting from your electronics an hour before bed or fitting in extra “me” time in the morning, home in on a simple (but effective!) ritual to give yourself some much-needed downtime after an action-packed Cancer season.
Don’t rush to sign up for that master class or gym plan, though. This year’s Leo season packs an extra zing that could make it difficult to get situated off-the-bat. For starters, Mercury is retrograde for much of the month—its “shadow” period began July 16 (coinciding with an epic Y2K-esque global IT outage in the process). Throw in an action-packed meetup of Mars and Jupiter on August 14 plus a major moment of reckoning at the Aquarius full moon on August 19, and you’ve got yourself a combustible cocktail of cosmic weather—poised to throw a few curveballs into your plans.
The get-‘er-done vibe will be amplified on August 4, when the year’s only Leo new moon beams into your sixth house of wellness and order and prompts you to purify and plan ahead. Anything from your desk to your diet is fair game. Set ambitious fitness and organizational goals now—and reap the rewards of your efforts over the next six months. If you’ve thought about jumping ship to another role or team, la luna’s moonbeams can be supportive (the sixth house also rules your workplace). You might also consider taking on additional responsibility, like fostering or adopting a pet.
Hold tight before you set any major plans into motion, though. Right after the Leo new moon, Mercury turns retrograde, from August 5 to 28. Mercury splits its time between Virgo (messing with your partnership zone until August 14) and Leo (your ruler of health and organization, until August 28).
Shore up your defenses around travel, technology and communication, all areas that can be affected when Mercury does its chaotic backflip. Triple-check reservations, back up data and practice extreme patience!
During the Virgo leg of Mercury retrograde (August 5 to 14), take extra precautions in your closest relationships. Explain yourself with explicit clarity and check to make sure the other person REALLY heard you (or that you’ve REALLY heard them). Try the mirroring technique: repeat back what someone says, such as, “What I hear you saying is…” and then adjust as needed.
Be mindful of your stress levels when Mercury backs into Leo (your wellness zone) from August 14 to 28. Avoid multitasking or taking on too much because you may be susceptible to a late-summer illness. Wash your hands regularly and avoid anyone who’s sniffling! With the Covid “FLiRT” variant making the rounds, the last thing you need is to get sidelined.
On August 14, action planet Mars links up with outspoken Jupiter in Gemini, and brings a burst of momentum to your fourth house of home, family and heartfelt emotions. Since Jupiter rules long-distance travel, you could be offered an opportunity to relocate for work or to check out a real estate investment. Take your time to mull it all over (Mercury is retrograde, remember!), but don’t shy away from exploring the details. Sometimes even the process of considering an offer can lead to valuable insights.
For couples, the Mars-Jupiter meetup could inspire you to merge your lives in a big way: exchanging keys, buying a home or starting a family. If there was ever a day to be honest about your most vulnerable feelings with loved ones, this is it.
Got something to release? You can do it on August 19, when the year’s only Aquarius full moon illuminates your twelfth house of closure and transitions. Since control is an illusion anyway, rather than trying to corral the chaos, just let the chips fall. On the upside, this could be a richly creative or romantic full moon. Your imagination is at its peak, and artistic Pisces could inspire you to produce some of your finest work.
Have you been in denial about someone’s true motives? This full moon could bring a moment of healing and spiritual clarity—even a big epiphany about where you’re headed next. Focus on conclusions, not illusions. Read the proverbial writing on the wall and ask for the support you need. Your subconscious has a LOT to process now, so you might want to disappear for some solitude, self-care and sleep. Take the much-deserved rest now if you can.
Bonus: This full moon also packs a double dose of letting-go energy, so surrender all that inner heaviness to those alchemizing moonbeams, Pisces! The skies feature not one but TWO rare T-squares on August 19, a three-way tug of war between planets that can pull you in polarizing directions. Expect the intensity to rise, and we don’t just mean the political landscape—the Democratic National Convention kicks off the same day, after all.
The first T-square involves the heavy lifters of the zodiac—antagonistic Mars, optimistic Jupiter, restrictive Saturn (retrograde) and tender Venus—all at odds in adaptable mutable signs while the second features the full moon, Mercury retrograde and disruptive Uranus competing in stubborn fixed signs.
The Jupiter-Saturn-Venus T-square mashup serves as an inflection point that stems from the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, on December 21, 2020. Many astrologers suggest that the seeds of the Age of Aquarius were planted when Jupiter and Saturn appeared from our vantage point on Earth as a single, extra-bright star that day. Great conjunctions happen every 20 years, which means we’re at the first-quarter mark of this one. This Jupiter-Saturn conjunction injected a fresh dose of Aquarian values (community, belonging and individuation) into your twelfth house of surrender and now—a progress report is coming, and your homework gets delivered August 19.
The catch? Jupiter and Saturn have opposite agendas: Jupiter is generous and wants everyone to get along;Saturn is strict and cautious. Trying to balance both energies at once can bring on cosmic whiplash:One moment you’re hopeful, and the next you’re frustrated.
Jupiter in your fourth house of home and family suggests an expanded perspective around your upbringing while Saturn in YOUR sign offers a reality check on your identity and reputation. With Venus in your partnership-oriented seventh house, you need to explore where you’ve gotten overly enmeshed, even codependent, with certain people in your life. Examine where you might be playing out old familial roles in your current relationships, ones that leave you serving others more than yourself.
The Aquarius full moon T-square features an opposition between the emotional moon, communicator Mercury (still retrograde) and the dramatic Leo Sun, with changemaker Uranus (in Taurus) wedged in the middle. Talk about a celestial pressure cooker! This fixed planetary party could bring on edginess, stress and potentially a breakthrough (or a breakdown) in relationship matters, perspective and self-actualization. The full moon illuminates where you’ve stubbornly resisted change in the past and could offer a burst of clarity around your true preferences.
Hard as it might be to navigate, this clarity helps set you up for more balanced relationship dynamics during Virgo season. The Sun moves into Virgo on August 22, heating up your seventh house of relationships and mutuality. Had it with the flakes and users? Start partnering with people who truly have your back. Give your energy to those who are capable of an equal give-and-take. Work out any kinks that are disrupting your most important bonds and move the superficial folks to the sidelines.
You might even borrow a dollop of self-respect from the late Beverly Hills 90210 actress Shannen Doherty’s playbook: She left behind a list of people she did not want present at her funeral. Whoa! But Pisces, your energy is precious and deserves to be protected as such while you’re here on this Earth.
Love gets serious in August as Venus hunkers down in Virgo and your commitment zone for most of the month (August 4 to 29). You need to know: Is this relationship going anywhere? If not, you may decide to make the painful decision to part ways. Fortunately, Mars is in Gemini and your domestic zone all month, so you have the courage to talk through every possible scenario before you cut and run with your nearest and dearest. If your relationship is solid, start talking about romantic plans.
Be wary of pointless oversharing or callous below-the-belt remarks while communication planet Mercury is retrograde from August 5 to 28. When Mercury backpedals, it can add a sprinkle of confusion to verbal exchanges. Are you genuinely looking for a meaningful compromise—or just venting into the abyss? Remember to listen as part of a healthy exchange and to gain perspective. Mercury’s reversal can give you a lens to see life through while moving forward.
On August 29, Venus relocates to Libra and your house of permabonding. Until September 22, you have a rare (three to four weeks a year) opportunity to create a loving, committed union. But you can’t build a solid foundation if you’re sitting on the fence. If you’re happily coupled, Venus in Libra can bring your partnership to a new level= of closeness—especially with love planet Venus immediately forming a harmonious 120-degree trine to transformative Pluto in Aquarius in your twelfth house of surrender.
You’re in worker-bee mode with the Leo Sun heating up your administrative sixth house until August 22. Get ready to tick items off your to-do list and whip your work life into fighting shape! If you’ve been searching for a dream virtual assistant, service provider or an efficient new system, that savvy solution could arrive near the August 4 Leo new moon.
But proceed with caution if you hire, fire or implement new policies. Communication and technology planet Mercury is retrograde from August 5 to 28. This cycle can cross wires and tempt you to make impulsive decisions you may need to walk back. The second leg of the retrograde (August 14 to 28) could stir up some drama and a comedy of errors at work—you might want to double-check the dates on those calendar invites. Pardon our language, Pisces, but are you getting paid enough to handle all this BS?
Mercury’s retrograde can prompt you to evaluate if you’re ready to close one work chapter to make way for a new one. The August 19 Aquarius full moon in your transitional twelfth house could bring nothing short of a miracle—if you’re willing to surrender what you’ve to past its prime. With the Sun moving into Virgo and your partnership zone for a month on August 22, you’ll clear a path for a new and possibly better fit. Consider finalizing contracts or agreements in September, post-Mercury retrograde (if you’re able to wait!).
Love Days: 29, 6
Money Days: 14, 22
Luck Days: 12, 20
Off Days: 4, 9