By Angel Lopez:
August opens up with a ton of astrological action in its first week, mostly starring the Sun in Leo and Uranus in Taurus.
When the Sun moves through the energetic, inspired sign of Leo, it compels you to shine your inner light out into the world. Your whole self is called into the spotlight, flaws and all, and the goal is to get comfortable being seen for what you believe and standing in your truth.
This is amplified by Uranus, whose big job this year is to challenge you to disrupt any of the personal structures or routines you’ve had in place that block you from living your most authentic expression. Challenge yourself in this first week to shake things up, to get out of your comfort zone, and to share the thoughts and ideas that reflect either the work you’ve been quietly putting in or the awakenings you’ve been undergoing. Mercury, the planet of thought and communication, is also looped in and is moving through the sign of Leo, which makes it a little easier to talk about yourself, even if that’s usually uncomfortable. It’s time to speak your dreams into reality by making others your witnesses to manifesting them. Just know that this may come with some questions and even criticism, but you get to decide what resonates with any truth and what just feels like someone else’s need to assert their ego.
August 8th brings on the Leo New Moon, a monthly time of new beginnings. This new moon continues the narrative of putting yourself out there in ways that haven’t been your status quo. For instance, if you’re the kind of person who would never consider posting a selfie, do it. You could find that it generates a bunch of responses that can help boost your confidence and fuel any projects, ideas, or changes that you’re trying to inspire. Now of course, you don’t literally have to do this, but what’s an equivalent that makes sense for you? There’s also an opportunity here to generate some surprising connections who can help you generate movement on anything you’re working on. Just make sure that they’re soulfully aligned with you and your mission.
Ask the right questions and feel into your intuitive senses. It’s easy to fall for any praise right now, so make sure to read in between each and every line being spoken your way.
Two exciting planetary shifts occur in the month, with Mercury entering Virgo on the 11th and Venus shifting into Libra on the 15th. Both of these planets find themselves in what are considered their home signs, which allows them to express in their purest forms. However, that doesn’t always mean smooth sailing. Mercury’s move into Virgo sharpens the mind, helping you catch all the details and make decisions for the greater plan of your life. But you can also slip into self-critical mode a bit more easily, striving for a perfection that doesn’t exist.
Mercury will be here through the rest of the month, so make sure to use this time wisely and apply your mind toward practical matters.
Put those new systems and routines into place that will better your finances, health, and time-management. Venus also thrives in Libra, allowing for congenial connections, fair exchanges with loved ones, and charmed meetings. You can fall in love with love here, so it’s important to focus that toward yourself most of all. It’s also necessary not to get into such a giving mood that you put your needs in the back seat. Always make sure that you’re taking care of yourself first in every situation, as it will only help you to show up for others in a more secure, confident, and present fashion.
The third week of the month has some rollicking energy to it that’s ripe for your advantage. Venus and Mars are meeting up on the 18th, which makes it easier to get things done. People come together, and the plan comes into focus. You may find yourself moving forward in getting into business with folks, or you could execute some plans that have long been in the making. Uranus then moves into its retrograde phase on the 19th, which always brings a strong transition energy with it. Necessary changes get solidified. Intriguing ideas fly in. Propositions come up. And you are the one who has to decide what personal shifts should be made to move more closely toward activating the life that feels in tune with the person you’ve grown into.
Don’t shy away from big goals. In fact, between now and October, you may just need to double down or perhaps even recommit to them in ways that can bear some tangible fruit in the Fall.
On the 21st, Mars comes along to add momentum to this work, giving you a burst of energy or even just some sort of cosmic reminder that you’re still in process but also making progress.
August 22nd is the busiest moment of the month. It opens with the Aquarius Full Moon, which is actually the second one of this year. The first one occurred last month, which stirred up ideas around the role you’re here to play in the community. What is your contribution? Is your way of being in the world making any sort of difference, but also in a way that isn’t forcing you to be inauthentic? This full moon portal allows you to grow anything you’re trying to build for the sake of the community, the world, or even just your own inner sense of pure happiness. But it’s important to ground everything at this time around your needs. You can only be helpful to others if you feel like your true nature gets to come through in the process. Otherwise, you’re just living in a façade, and you must banish experiences and relationships that support that. The Sun also enters into Virgo that day, which brings on a season of harvest, of service, and of the tangible. You have to be your clearest, most radiant self as you go into this season to make the most of it. Virgo grounds and puts you to work, so it’s better to put your favorite version of you to work rather than grinding away with outdated tasks and jobs that don’t ignite your joy.
The end of the month offers a couple more moments of note. The 26th offers an influx of emotion, as Mercury partners with Pluto, the planet in charge of our deepest realms of feeling and soul growth. There may be a chance to push through an old emotional response pattern. Maybe you don’t have to react but instead can just recognize and respond without overwhelm. You could also have an old relationship show up, or have some sensitive feelings triggered by a present-day one. If this is the case, be gentle with yourself and allow the emotions to flow in. But again, do what you can to move through them and release them. Holding on to the old keeps the new from finding its way in. Then, the 30th brings a shift for Mercury into Libra, which softens the mood. If you’ve been missing friends, now’s the time to check in. But you can also check in with yourself and make sure that you’re feeling in balance. Are all the pieces of your identity getting enough time and energy? You can assess where there’s disparity and bring yourself back into better alignment. Without that grounded sense of self, you won’t be able to continue building on the foundation for all the big life changes in process right now. Commit to them by committing wholeheartedly to yourself—and wildly loving yourself too.
Angel Lopez is a film producer, writer, astrologer, and co-host of the podcast, THE SPIRITUAL GAYZ alongside his husband, our Spiritual Guru Brandon Alter. Angel has been studying and working with both tarot and astrology for twenty years. He hosted the astrology web-series, ASTRO TALK WITH ANGEL, and writes the blog ASTROLOGY REALNESS. He has also had pieces published on Upworthy.com and The Huffington Post.
On the film side, Angel produced the Sundance Film Festival award winning film DEAR WHITE PEOPLE, as well as the features THE DINNER and STATE LIKE SLEEP. He also wrote and directed his own short film, I CAN’T WITH YOU, which had its premiere at the 2016 HollyShorts Film Festival, and he recently finished producing filmmaker Justin Simien’s second feature, BAD HAIR.
Visit www.thespiritualgayz.com to learn more. To sign up for The Spiritual Gayz newsletter and get these Tarotscopes delivered to your inbox, click here.