What a Week! — Forecast for Aug. 6th – 12th
This week’s headline items: very early on Monday, Mercury makes its second pass over the Solar Eclipse degree (i.e. at 18.5º of Leo). Venus changes signs from Virgo to Libra on Monday evening, Uranus comes to a halt on Tuesday early afternoon, starting its 5-month retrograde phase, Mars starts to slow down again (station) on Wednesday, preparing to end its retrograde phase. The Balsamic Moon phase begins on Wednesday morning, while the Solar Eclipse in Leo becomes exact on Saturday morning. Mercury is also starting to slow down again (station) this week (on Sunday), as it prepares to end its retrograde phase. Mars re-enters Capricorn on Sunday, late evening.
There will be three Moon VoC phases this week: Tuesday early morning (for a little over 20 hours), Thursday morning (for 17 hours), and Saturday morning (for 18 hours).
Before we get to this week’s forecast, I have one quick announcement:
If you missed my Forecasting Forum last week, but want to see how the current Eclipses (and the major shifts they bring) are impacting you personally, check out this 20-min excerpt, and/or purchase the whole 90+ min. webinar here.
For this month only you can get a FREE copy of the entire Eclipse webinar by signing up for either the next two Forecasting Forums (late Aug. & Sept.) in advance. Click here to take advantage of that deal, by joining as a Star or SuperStar Member by the end of the month: click here to join, or upgrade your Universal Membership via your “My Subscriptions” tab inside your Members account by August 28th 😉
Now, this week’s Forecast:
Monday (Aug. 6th): the Moon remains in chatty, versatile Gemini all day; it will journey there until Tuesday night. For the next couple of days, we like to learn, connect and interact as much as possible. “Busy” feels good: connecting online, on the phone, or sharing face-to-face, preferably multi-tasking all the way. The one thing we can do without is boredom: If our mind is not engaged in some way, we might as well curl up and play dead 🙂
This Saturday (Aug. 11th), the last of a series of three Eclipses will occur in 18.5 degrees of Leo; on Monday very early morning, around 2:30am EDT, Mercury moves over that same degree for the second time within a 3-week period, due to its retrograde motion (you may recall that the first time it did so was on July 14th; it will reach that same degree again on Aug. 29th).
This might trigger some communications or thought patterns connected to joy, self-expression, fun, or creativity; these will need to be addressed over the next 5 months.
The key here is to heighten awareness of two things: First, how can we receive more specific information around our Soul’s journey and what’s next for us?
Second: what additional information do we need to tap into, so that we can connect more fully to living from a place of joy? What messages are we receiving today that could bring more clarity?
Monday evening, a challenging Sun/Jupiter aspect becomes exact at 7:27pm EDT. We start to feel this aspect build from last Friday evening (Aug. 3rd) on, it will remain strong until Thursday evening (Aug. 9th). This aspect says “stretch and grow!”. There is a feeling of enthusiasm and excitement in the air; it almost seems as if we could move mountains.
Awareness is key: Be alert for undue optimism, that could lead to overextending or over-promising: As best as you can, stay connected to what’s real — avoid exaggerations, especially when it comes to your “feeling body”.
This is a time for collaboration and for coming together — provided we don’t let ourselves get too overwhelmed by those historically-based emotional demons. As best as you can, take it one moment at a time, staying grounded in your heart.
Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in 11-18 degrees of Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius, or Taurus? If so, you will feel this aspect quite strongly. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Leo or Sagittarius (the Sun rules Leo; Jupiter is the ruler of Sagittarius).
Monday evening, at 7:27pm EDT, Venus changes signs from detail-oriented, practical Virgo to harmony-loving, balance-seeking Libra, where it will journey until Sept. 9th, and then again from Oct. 31st until Dec. 2nd (due to its retrograde phase in October/November). With this placement, we prefer to show kindness, evenhandedness, and a willingness to make our relationships work.
We value our relationships at this time and we prefer entering into equal partnerships. During this time, we can develop an idealized view of what a relationship “should” look like. We do our best to treat others fairly for the next three and a half weeks, seeking the middle ground. We are more likely to appreciate the arts, dance, beauty, entertainment and romance.
Do you have your Ascendant or Sun-sign in Taurus? If so, you will feel more connected to your inner harmony for the next 4 weeks. Your heart will want to connect to others in an equal setting. If you are a Libra Sun- or Rising-sign you are going to have more love and beauty in your life for as long as Venus is in your sign.
Uranus comes to a halt tomorrow (Tuesday). Therefore it will make its presence known for the next three days, this gives us the opportunity to…
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…evaluate how free we actually feel. We might have flashes of insight or new ideas about what needs to change in our lives. Definitely expect the unexpected. As best as you can, stay open and flexible, go with the flow — and pay attention to those messages from the Universe 😉
Tuesday (Aug. 7th) at 3:54am EDT, we enter a Moon Void of Course (VoC), that last for a little over 20 hours, until 12:01am EDT (Tuesday night/Wednesday very early morning). Use this intuitive time as an opportunity to connect with others and share yourself authentically, from the heart — and maybe even have some fun with that!
As always with a Moon VoC, as best as you can, don’t start anything brand-new, stick to routine things, or simply go with the flow. You may also want to plan Tuesday all day and night ahead of time.
Tuesday at 12:48pm EDT, Uranus comes to a halt in 2.5 degrees of Taurus, and begins its 5-month retrograde phase (until January 6th, 2019). During the Uranus retrograde phase we are invited to access the Uranus energy from within. Our intuitions will be very strong during this time and we have access to sudden insights and ideas. This aspect has us asking “How free do I actually feel?”
As best as you can, take a look in there at whatever has been thwarting your progress or sense of freedom: Where are the inner roadblocks popping up? Are you expressing your individuality to the fullest? Are you connecting to a larger vision?
Remember, doing the inner work is just as important as making progress in the outer world — the “Inner Universe” informs the outer — one cannot happen without the other 😉
Again, some of us will feel the effects more than others. This is particularly true if you have personal planets in 0-5 degrees of Taurus, Scorpio, Leo or Aquarius — and if you have Aquarius as your Sun- or Rising-Sign. For you in particular, this is a great time to reevaluate future goals — and perhaps to reexamine any group causes that you want to be a part of.
Tuesday late evening, a harmonious Venus/Mars aspect becomes exact at 8:33pm EDT. We started to feel this aspect build from last Sunday (Aug. 5th) on, it will remain strong until this Friday morning (Aug. 10th). We tend to feel passionate, highly creative and energized at this time, with lots of vitality and warmth to share.
We are able to actively bring people together for mutual pleasure and benefit. That’s not surprising, considering we radiate charm, vitality, and enthusiasm — we find it easy during this time to get along with both sexes.
There is also a certain amount of flow when it comes to creativity and athletic abilities: If you knew you could accomplish something now with ease, what would you pick?
Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in 28-29 degrees of Virgo, Capricorn, Taurus, or 0-4 degrees of Libra, Aquarius, or Gemini. If so, you will feel this aspect quite strongly. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Taurus, Libra or Aries (Venus is the ruler of Taurus and Libra; Mars rules Aries)
Tuesday night/ Wednesday very early morning, at 12:01am EDT, the Moon moves into protective, nurturing Cancer, where it will journey until Thursday night/Friday very early morning. With this Moon placement, we are more sensitive to what people say and therefore our feelings are more easily hurt — so be kind to yourself and others. Self-Care is key for the next two and half days 😉
Emotional safety is important to us as well; we like connecting to the familiar and we enjoy nurturing ourselves and others — home and family call to us, for instance. Make sure though, that your own glass is full before letting others drink from it; if you don’t, you might start to feel drained and resentful.
Wednesday (Aug. 8th): the Moon remains in protective, nurturing Cancer all day (see Tuesday night).
Wednesday early morning, the Balsamic Moon phase begins when the Moon reaches almost 4º of Cancer. This lasts until Saturday morning, when the New Moon/Solar Eclipse becomes exact (more on that later this week…however, feel free to watch my video on the subject).
We are being asked to slow down and get quiet, so we can listen to our inner sensing/intuition. For some of us, this might be a stretch. As best as you can: stay grounded, take a deep breath and exhale any tensions. Rather than starting something brand-new, put all that energy into completing existing projects or processes.
This is also a great time for letting go of whatever no longer serves us. What if you could hear the voice of your inner wisdom? What might it be saying?
Wednesday morning, a somewhat challenging Sun/Neptune aspect becomes exact at 7:10am EDT. We started to feel this aspect build from Tuesday morning on, it will remain strong until Thursday morning. This aspect feels “internal” — inner unease and awkwardness — and we need to make a choice. Given that it is an internal issue, we need to develop an inner awareness, if we’re to see what needs adjusting.
Our energy tends to be unrealistically directed — and our sense of self may actually change as we learn that we have wrongly assessed important situations. Our self-trust could takes a hit at this time.
Due to our high ideals, we may take on more than we can physically handle — if we start to feel drained or frustrated, it might be helpful to look at the overall direction we are taking. Do your best to rest and have quiet time alongside your interactions with others.
It is also worthwhile to look for how our ideas are being received by others: Can we involve them in creating/realizing our dreams? Perhaps we are not sure whether we want to keep dreaming our dream privately, or share it with others… As best as you can, slow down: where there is spaciousness, there is flow; where there is flow, there is effortless creation.
Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in 15-17 degrees of Leo or Pisces. If so, you will feel this aspect quite strongly. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Leo or Pisces (the Sun rules of Leo; Neptune rules Pisces)
Wednesday late afternoon, a Venus/Chiron opposition becomes exact at 4:40pm EDT. We started to feel this aspect build from last Sunday evening on, it will remain strong until this Saturday. This opposition asks us to create a balance between our healing process of the masculine energies, and our relationships.
We may feel insecure around others at this time; we need to first heal our own deep fears of not being “good enough”, learning to love ourselves — and then seeing how we can meet our partners halfway. As best as you can, bring the gift of compassion, understanding and forgiveness to your own insecurities or feelings of unworthiness — then gift that to others.
Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in 29 degrees of Virgo, Pisces, Gemini, Sagittarius or 0-5 degrees of Libra, Aries, Cancer, or Capricorn. If so, you will feel this aspect quite strongly. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Taurus or Libra (Venus is the ruler of Taurus and Libra).
Wednesday late evening, a Sun/Mercury alignment in 16.5 degrees of Leo becomes exact at 10:06pm EDT. We started to feel this aspect build from last Sunday evening on, it will remain strong until this Sunday morning. When the Sun and Mercury come together, we are especially sharp, communicative, and open. This aspect indicates a confident mind and an analytical approach to life. Intelligence and communication abilities are strong at this time; however, we may not listen as well as the other speaks — we might be too busy thinking about what to say next.
In general, we have a strong need to take an active role in communications — it is very hard for us to passively listen and absorb information right now. What we say or write now has impact, so as best as you can, choose your words wisely. If people hung on your every word, what would you say then? What would you hold back from saying?
We may be particularly busy/scattered during this time; it may not always be of service to us to take on too much: Choose wisely. Remember that Mercury is still retrograde: Communicate from intuition and make sure that you hear everything that is being said. It could also be that an issue from July 12th is coming up again and needs to be re-addressed…
Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in 13-20 degrees of Leo, Aquarius, Scorpio, or Taurus. If so, you will feel this aspect quite strongly. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Leo, Gemini or Virgo (the Sun rules Leo; Mercury is the ruler of Gemini and Virgo).
Also on Wednesday, Mars starts to slow down (station) in 0 degrees of Aquarius, in preparation to go direct again on Aug. 27th (after its 2 months retrograde phase). This station will last until Sept 14th. Mars represents our assertiveness, independence and “male” energy Also: new initiatives, going after one’s goals, physical actions.
During the station, these energies will be “in our face” — we become more aware of them, but we’re not necessarily able to do anything about them yet. This may be bring up frustration or even outright anger. With Mars on the cusp of Aquarius/Capricorn, we may express our anger in regards to our long-term goals and visions for life, whether that expression is turned inward or outward.
Ask yourself: When I bring my affiliations to mind, what am I most aware of? What do I become most aware of when I consider my accomplishments? What single action step would take me one step closer towards my goals? What might be possible if I took it one moment at a time, staying vry present with “what is”? What would impatience do? What has it done so far?
Is your Sun sign or Ascendant in Aquarius or Capricorn? Or do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in 26-29 degrees of Capricorn, Cancer, Aries, Libra, or 0-3 degrees of Aquarius, Leo, Scorpio, or Taurus? If so, you will feel a stronger connection to this Mars station.
Thursday (Aug. 9th): the Moon remains in protective, nurturing Cancer until 12:18am EDT (Thursday night).
Thursday at 7:21am EDT, we enter a Moon Void of Course (VoC), that last for 17 hours, until 12:18am EDT (Thursday night/Friday very early morning). Use this intuitive time to find a balance between nurturing yourself and focusing on building something long-term. Emotional issues from the past may come up at this time with a loved one or a significant other.
This could drive some tension or oppositional behaviors; as best as you can, remain flexible and practice self-care. Connect to the power of love, rather than the power of fear — especially fear connected to any attachments or aversions. If possible, empower yourself and others — and find a balance between your inner and outer world.
As always with a Moon VoC, as best as you can, don’t start anything brand-new, stick to routine things, or simply go with the flow. You may also want to plan Thursday all day and night ahead of time.
Thursday morning, a somewhat challenging Venus/Uranus aspect becomes exact at 7:57am EDT. We started to feel this aspect build from Wednesday morning on, it will remain strong until Friday morning. This aspect operates more on an internal level. We feel uneasy about something, almost awkward — and we need to make a choice… so we need to develop inner awareness.
Learning to let go of the past means being willing to release relationships we have outgrown. Learning ways to abruptly alter our circumstances without emotional turmoil: This is the way Uranus’s energy urges us to grow. We need freedom “within” our relationships, not “from” them.
It’s also time to reevaluate the ways we’ve imprisoned ourselves in protective behaviors and then rebel against them. While “Different” is not always “improved”, change is essential to our evolutionary process.
Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in 1-4 degrees of Libra or Taurus? If so, you will feel this aspect quite strongly. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Taurus, Libra or Aquarius (Venus is the ruler of Taurus and Libra; Uranus rules Aquarius).
Thursday late afternoon, a somewhat challenging Mercury/Neptune aspect becomes exact at 5:29pm EDT. We started to feel this aspect build from Wednesday morning on, it will remain strong until Friday morning. This could contribute either to some mental confusion and spaciness, or the need to communicate with others from our imagination (but possibly not knowing how to achieve that).
Due to Mercury’s retrograde phase,this is the second of its three aspects to Neptune within the last four weeks; think back to July 12th: What may need to be readdressed from that day? ,
This aspect operates more on an internal level: We feel uneasy about something, sort of “awkward” — and we need to make a choice. Sometimes, imagination and mind can run way ahead of what is actually feasible (and sensible). At these times, the grand vision is best served by focusing on the next concrete step, accepting our own idiosyncrasies as we go.
Honesty is crucial here, especially self-honesty; inner awareness is in turn crucial to deep honesty and authenticity. What’s true for you? What might be possible for humanity? Where do those overlap?
Note that I say “overlap”: Don’t look for an exact fit, this is more like two puzzle pieces that came from different jigsaw puzzles. You might keep looking at the imperfect fit and feel a nagging sense that something doesn’t make sense… and it doesn’t — it can’t. The pieces are not from the same game. Just do your best to “hang out” with the discomfort, rather than repeatedly trying to figure it out and fix it.
Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in 1-4 degrees of Libra or Taurus. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Gemini, Virgo or Pisces (Mercury is the ruler of Gemini and Virgo; Neptune rules Pisces).
Thursday late evening, a challenging Venus/Saturn aspect becomes exact at 9:34pm EDT. We started to feel this aspect build from Monday evening on, it will remain strong until Sunday evening. This aspect asks us to stretch and grow beyond how we’ve known ourselves in our relationships up to this point — a process of maturing that requires we adjust and stay flexible.
On the one hand, we want to make harmonious, balanced connections while collaborating; on the other hand, we feel a sharp need to focus on what we want to manifest long-term — what works, what doesn’t, what are our resources to make it happen, how can we move from A to B without missing anything essential — in short, to determine what’s real and can provide us with the best foundation for the next step. Do your best to make space for both of these urges.
We tend to be more cautious when it comes to relationships and finances now — and in fact, this is not the best time to start a brand-new romantic relationship. Financially though, this aspect can be eye-opening; if we can find creative ways to deal with money, we will grow from it.
The key is to approach things in both realms with balance and maturity. Pushing will most likely not get us what we want: better to go one step at a time, slow and steady; that way, we can come back later with a stronger approach and more mature expectations.
Do you hav,e your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in 0-6 degrees of Libra, Capricorn, Cancer, or Aries? If so, you will feel this aspect quite strongly. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Taurus, Libra or Capricorn (Venus is the ruler of Taurus and Libra; Saturn is the ruler of Capricorn).
Friday (Aug. 10th) at 12:18am EDT, the Moon enters self-expressed, attention-loving, joyful Leo, where it will journey until Saturday night/Sunday very early morning. We may lack objectivity and struggle with backing down or compromising.
We all love to be admired — or at the very least acknowledged — for our greatness 🙂 So hand out some compliments — let people know how proud you are of them, tell them how much you love them. Come from the heart in this and all other things… be honest and authentic, as best you can.
Fun, games, and romance are a big part of this energy as well. You might also enjoy spending time with little ones. If there are no actual children around, how about getting in touch with your “inner child” — it’s definitely easier for the next two days. What are you most grateful for today? What would be heaps and heaps of fun? What would be so much fun, you let out a tiny squeak, just thinking of it?
Friday is also the last day before the Solar Eclipse in Leo becomes exact. There is some potent energy coming our way; it would be wise to prepare ourselves to be transformed by it, allowing for our consciousness upgrade to be installed.
This is a good time to slow things down and go within. For many of us, this will be a stretch, as we want to do just the opposite: jump the gun, get started with something new, act impulsively, etc. This is quite common right before a Solar Eclipse. As best as you can, stay grounded, take a deep breath and exhale any tensions and connect to your inner wisdom.
It comes down to this: just for now and just as best as you can… could you simply allow what is… to be? Could you simply be the “observer” until the upgrade is complete?
Rather than starting something brand-new, put all that energy into completing things. Think back to mid February 2018 (the time of the last Solar Eclipse in Aquarius), or late August of last year — the time of the last Solar Eclipse in Leo. What did you start around then? How could you complete it, or move it to the next level?
As best as you can, take the days immediately before and after the Eclipse for meditation, contemplation, journaling — anything that supports an objective understanding of your own thoughts and inner joy.
Of course if, like most of us, you have other obligations: take 5-minute breaks here and there, if you possibly can, get quiet and be with yourself (i.e. your inspirational Self, your higher mind). Ask yourself: What might become possible if you gave this to yourself on a regular basis?
Saturday (Aug. 11th): the Moon remains in self-expressed, attention-loving, joyful Leo until 11:59pm EDT. (see Friday very early morning for details).
Saturday very early morning, a challenging Mercury/Jupiter aspect becomes exact at 2:31am EDT. We started to feel this aspect build from Tuesday on, it will remain strong until next week, Wednesday (Aug.15th). This aspect asks that we grow and evolve in the following areas: how we communicate our vision for the future and how much we share with others. We may have to find creative solutions to communicate; we may have to learn about our thinking process and conditioning.
We want to share ourselves without limitation. We are thus inclined to exaggeration, often unintended — and might struggle to transform ideas into reality. The upside to all this: we can be extraordinarily funny, interesting and creative.
Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in 12-18 degrees of Leo, Scorpio, Taurus, or Aquarius. If so, you will feel this aspect quite strongly. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Gemini, Virgo or Sagittarius (Mercury is the ruler of Gemini and Virgo; Jupiter of Sagittarius).
On Saturday at 5:58am EDT, the Moon aligns with the Sun in 18.5 degrees of Leo, marking the beginning of a new Moon cycle. This is the last of three Eclipses we have experienced this summer and also the last North Node Solar Eclipse in Leo until July, 2036.
During a Solar Eclipse, the Sun’s light is blocked by the Moon, facilitating a reboot of some sort (and a consciousness “upgrade”). Solar Eclipses are thus extra-powerful New Moons, often signaling a time of major endings and beginnings, especially if you have personal planets within 5 degrees of the Eclipse. By the way, I also posted a Solar Eclipse video, you may want to give it a look: https://youtu.be/YWttUW-Pacs
This powerful New Moon is another SuperMoon, just like the last Solar Eclipse from mid-July (i.e. the Moon is at its closest distance to the Earth again)! This increases emotionality — and fosters larger shifts in consciousness.
Eclipses take place approximately every six months — they are a time for clarifying and affirming our highest path; this one will bring a shift that will unfold until the next one becomes exact in early Jan., 2019.
The Sun and Moon are always connected to one of the Moon Nodes during an Eclipse — in this case, the North Node — and North Node Eclipses help us move towards a new exploration of an energy that promotes Soul-evolution.
Solar Eclipses end one 19-year cycle and begin another; they reveal new pathways and possibilities, and grant us an opportunity to take what we have learned to the next level.
The last North Node Solar Eclipse in 18.5 degrees of Leo took place on Aug. 11th, 1999; we are likely to experience a resonance between now and that time — “resonant”, rather than identical — so think back over those 19 intervening years, and ask yourself:
Were there any major endings? Beginnings? What was important to me back then? If the call came now to take those priorities to the next level, what would that call sound like? What is ready for an upgrade?
You may also recall that Aquarius/Leo Eclipses started in 2017; this Eclipse may also therefore be a continuation of a process that started back then.
If you’re looking for more guidance on where this process might bring you, I would suggest starting with your Natal Chart: The House placement of the Eclipse will indicate which area of life you’re most ready to engage with for the next 5 months from an authentic heart-place, and where you’re ready to go to the next level of your evolution.
If that idea appeals, I recommend you check out my 30-minute class, “How to Read My Birth Chart” — you might also want to purchase the video of the most recent Forecasting Forum — we looked directly at our own birth charts to see how this Solar Eclipse will affect each of us. You can also watch a 20-min. excerpt of this 90+min. webinar, if you like, to get a sense of what it’s all about.
Just as a reminder, those of us who have natal planets within 5 degrees of the Eclipse, and the fixed signs (Leo, Aquarius, Taurus and Scorpio) will experience more dramatic changes than others…
As best as you can, until Eclipse season ends (on Aug. 26th), stay both grounded and flexible — and don’t jump the gun: If you feel compelled to do something, do your best to simply observe the urge, rather than acting on it. The exception might be something that just happens organically — but if you are even a little ambivalent about a possible action, better hold off at least until Eclipse Season ends.
This Eclipse chart is unique in my experience: we have seven retrograde planets (bear in mind that there are only 9 planets that can even go retrograde)! This means that we have a chance to be more in tune with all of these planets energies. So which ones are they?
Mercury, Mars, Saturn, Chiron, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are all retrograde at the time of the Solar Eclipse; they are all being accessed from the inside out right now. This turns our attention towards what is no longer in alignment with our inner most Selves.
In other words, it’s an inside job 🙂 You can ask yourself: Is the outside world in alignment with my inner world? If the answer is “No”, ask yourself: where are the gaps? Where could you start to close some of those gaps?
We also have four planets in their own signs (Neptune in Pisces, Saturn in Capricorn, Venus in Libra and the Sun in Leo); this means they are operating at maximum strength and only answer to themselves. What does that mean for us? Let’s look at them one at a time:
Neptune in Pisces likely has us experiencing a heightened sense of universal love and has us seeking after a greater connection to self-compassion and self-acceptance.
Saturn in Capricorn heightens our sense of self-responsibility and we look to connect to our inner authority.
Venus in Libra fosters a heightened sense of justice; we look for collaboration and balance.
Finally, the Sun in Leo brings a heightened sense of joy; we seek connection to an authentic expression of spirit.
With this extra-powerful New Moon in attention-loving, optimistic and courageous Leo, we have another 5 months to learn what brings us joy, and how we have been using our authentic, heart-based, self-expression out there in the world. We can also expect to learn more about what it means to connect to our inner child, about our ability to create, and how we can fully enjoy those moments of creation.
The Eclipse has us looking for heartfelt experiences. It’s important for us to express ourselves, to learn about love — and about how those things work together to gift us the power of creating from the heart, from a place of joy.
Think about the keywords for this self-expressed fire sign: “proud, generous, hospitable, caring, warm, authoritative, active, open, fun-loving”. How could you live into those words for the next 5 months?
This will also be a great time to begin new projects connected to creative self-expression, fun, taking a risk or being bold and colorful, the enjoyment of life, and so on — also projects involving children — or to continue anything that we started last year around this time, related to the above-mentioned areas.
Leo is ruled by the Sun, symbol of consciousness and the unique light we came to shine forth in this lifetime — this being what we were born to explore, and in particular to express… Where could you shine your unique light more brightly? What brings you joy? Not just in general… but in this very moment?
Of course, answering these questions is easier if you know where your Sun-sign is in your birth chart (what sign? House?) Again, if you are not clear on where it might be… feel free to check out my 30-minute class, “How to Read My Birth Chart” 😉
Leo also represents our creativity. There are as many ways to be creative and self-expressed as there are “selves” — indeed, we are all creators — we create with every thought, word, and action.
Highly effective creativity requires innocence, curiosity, courage, and play. To live it out, we must tap into the unique spark inside of us in a joyful way — and allow ourselves the freedom to make mistakes — creativity thrives on love and permission; it is stifled by judgment and fear.
What are some of the aspects of this Eclipse chart? The Eclipse conjuncts Mercury in Leo, quincunxes Pluto in Capricorn and squares Jupiter in Scorpio. Let’s start with Mercury:
Mercury is still retrograde in Leo, until Aug. 19th. This provides a chance to honor and reorganize our thoughts, working from the inside to the outside; it’s a good time to rethink, retool, and release what no longer works… Take time to investigate your own thought processes — think twice and check in with your intuition as well as the facts, especially around authentic and heartfelt self-expression.
Ask yourself: What is going unsaid? What might the payoff be for not saying that? Where do I hold back out of fear or concerns about ridicule or rejection? What if I got really clear about the impact of that? What if I could step into my courage with an open heart, and talk about myself and what I perceive in an authentic, playful way? What might be possible if I dared to speak from, for, and with love? What if my thoughts did the same? Might it be worth the risk of rejection, just sometimes?
Mercury turns direct on August 19th; until then, we are invited to think back to our childhood and question what messages we received back then around authentic self-expression, joyful sharing, and creating.
Ask yourself: Was I allowed to have an opinion back then? Was it safe to be playful and self-expressed? Was I able to play and create with others? Was I acknowledged for creating? Was I loved unconditionally?
Mercury retrograde asks us to think about what self-expression was for us growing up and notice if we are still exhibiting the same kind of behaviors. Ask yourself: Could I give myself permission to let go of childhood conditioning and move with this a different way? What “old” thought forms could I release to bring me into closer alignment with my heart? With my joy?
Mercury’s journey through Leo is prolonged due to its retrograde phase — it thus triggers the Eclipse point several times.
The first trigger came on July 14th; the next will be on August 6th, then again on Aug 29th. Pay attention to what comes up at that time — those messages are important for the next 5 months!
Let’s also talk about some of the other aspects of this Eclipse chart:
The Eclipse is making a Quincunx to Pluto, indicating that we still need to make some inner adjustments around our personal and collective empowerment process; ask yourself: Where am I coming from survival, rather than love and joy? Where have my passions tipped into obsessions? Might my focus on accomplishing things actually be taking away from my enjoyment of life? What attitudes are asking to be adjusted or eliminated?
Pluto retrograde compels us to face our shadows and reclaim our power; we are currently experiencing this both on the collective and individual levels, changing and growing in ways we can’t comprehend right now. This naturally feels uncomfortable at times, and so for now we are invited to simplify, be patient, and focus on our inner journey towards empowerment, staying as open and observant as we can.
Ask yourself: What am I committed to, long-term? What do I need from myself, to stay passionately engaged with those commitments? What do I need from others? What motivates me? What’s holding me back? What am I afraid of happening? Could I let go of any weird sense of wanting (or at least expecting) that to happen? Could I decide that, no matter what my past experiences, in this now moment I am ok? And maybe even that I am going to be ok?
The Eclipse is also making a Square to Jupiter, indicating that we still hold some beliefs that merit investigation, so we can turn the corner and be fully engaged with others and with ourselves.
Ask yourself: What do I currently believe about life that is bringing up fears, past traumas or disempowering circumstances? What if all of these are showing up simply to be released and transformed? How might a brave, open heart and mind contribute to setting these beliefs free?
Check and see: In what ways am I feeling “out of control”? Now, notice if there is an accompanying desire to be in control… And then ask yourself: Could I let go, just for this now-moment, of wanting control? If that’s challenging, just notice the word “wanting” — it’s not the same as “having” — and sometimes, if we let go of wanting it, we are no longer expressing a sense of lack, which in turn will actually give us the experience of having it vs. wanting it.
This Eclipse chart also has one T-Square; it involves Saturn in Capricorn (as the Focus Point), and Venus in Libra opposing Chiron in Aries. This places a lot of stress on Saturn, which is currently retrograde, indicating that we have a strong sense of inner commitment and obligation right now; we thus tend to be very hard on ourselves and may start “should-ing” on ourselves quite a bit. When we “should” on ourselves, we tend to feel disempowered, and therefore inclined to rebel. But then of course, when we rebel, we also tend to feel guilty about that… the result is a heavy heart.
When “should” comes up, ask yourself: What if I ran my “shoulds” through a computer that could only answer “Heck, Yes!” or “No way”? What if I turned the “shoulds” into “coulds”? What if I just chose, one way or another?
Let’s look at an example: “I should clean the cat’s litter box” becomes “I chose to do the cat box right now” or “I am choosing to not do the cat box right now, I am choosing to do it later”. It’s a bit easier to live with, in my experience 😉
Since the empty leg of this T-square lands in Cancer, we are invited to focus our energies on self-care. Ask yourself: What would self-responsible self-care look like within my relationships? Elsewhere in my life? How might nurturing myself support true acceptance and kindness towards myself? Others? The world at large?
We also talked about this in more detail and in relationship to our own birth charts in the last Forecasting Forum, so feel free to check that out, if you haven’t already.
For this month only, you can get a FREE copy of the entire Eclipse webinar by signing up for either of the next two Forecasting Forums (late Aug.& Sept.) in advance. Click here to take advantage of that deal, by joining as a Star or SuperStar Member by the end of the month — or click here to join, or to upgrade your Universal Membership, via your “My Subscriptions” tab inside your Members account by August 28th 😉
To sum it all up: This Eclipse invites us to reconnect to what lights us up, to what we love, and helps us see how we want to express that in the world. It wants us to meet the challenges and find the courage to choose a life of joy supported by the framework of self-responsibility and self-care.
For the next 5 months, I invite you to pause occasionally, and ask yourself these questions: What are my special talents? If I had a superpower, what might that be? What kind of world do I want to be a part of? How might my talents help bring it into being?
The Eclipse also invites us to tap into our “day-to-day mind” from a place of joy and communicate authentically from the heart. Ask yourself: What might it feel like to create, not for the sake of achievement or gain, but from love, joy and fun?
Please also remember that Eclipses catalyze a major reset of our reality, making it a very powerful time to focus on what we wish to manifest; as best as you can, allow yourself to be in a quiet, receptive state on the day of the Eclipse, and watch out for important insights. Better yet, meditate on the days immediately before and after — you could also take walks in nature, or engage in creative or spiritual endeavors — anything that supports going within and tapping into your inner divinity.
In the following weeks, planets transiting the Eclipse degree offer additional “downloads and activations”; I will discuss those transits in my upcoming Weekly Forecasts in more detail.
As mentioned in previous videos, Eclipses are Uranian in nature, and thus times of uncertainty. Anything could happen between now and Aug. 26th, so allow for the new templates to download, staying centered and doing your best to ground from within. Breathe consciously, practice flexibility — and best of all, see if you can move to the “observer position” when it comes to the emotional and mental body.
Finally, if all else “fails”, remember: this won’t last forever — in another two weeks, the downloads are complete 😉 Again, feel free to also watch my video on the subject
Now let’s talk “Intentions” 🙂
The Solar Eclipse is also the best time to set some powerful intentions for this Eclipse cycle — and remember, the cycle runs for 5 months. Solar Eclipse Intentions are best done 48 hours after the Eclipse becomes exact — as we are downloading new templates at the time of an Eclipse — and definitely not during a Moon void of course phase.
So, wait 48 hours before setting your intentions. On Monday (Aug. 13th), I’ll be talking about setting some powerful intentions, not just for the next month as is usual for a New Moon, but for the next 5 months — and I’ll give you the very best times for setting them.
Do you have your Ascendant (or any personal planets) in one of the following placements: 13-24 degrees of Leo, Aquarius, Taurus, or Scorpio? Or do you have your Ascendant or Sun-sign in Leo or Cancer? This Eclipse may feel stronger to you… and may affect you more than it does others…
Also on Saturday at 5:58am EDT, right after the New SuperMoon/Solar Eclipse becomes exact, we enter a Moon Void of Course (VoC), that last for 18 hours, until 11:59pm EDT. Use this intuitive time to tune in, pamper yourself, and get in touch with your inner child to see what he/she needs.
As always with a Moon VoC, as best as you can, don’t start anything brand-new, stick to routine things, or simply go with the flow. You may also want to plan Saturday all day and evening ahead of time.
Saturday late evening, a somewhat challenging Sun/Pluto aspect becomes exact at 9:29pm EDT. We started to feel this aspect build from Friday evening on, it will remain strong until this Sunday evening. We feel uneasy about something, sort of awkward; we need to make a choice. We need to develop inner awareness, so we can make adjustments.
This might concern compromising with others. Our fear of being manipulated might make us stubborn or manipulative ourselves. As best as you can, keep choosing the “better” alternative/the higher road, adjusting as needed.
We might be forced to focus, time and again, on details we would prefer to ignore. When life slows down, or becomes uncomfortable, simplify and be patient. We are changing and growing in ways that we can’t comprehend right now. Stay as open and observant as you can.
Do you have your Ascendant, Career Point (or personal planets) in 18-20 degrees of Capricorn or Leo. If so, you will feel this aspect quite strongly. This is also true for those of us who have our Ascendant or Sun-sign in Leo or Scorpio (the Sun rules Leo; Pluto rules Scorpio)
Saturday at 11:59pm EDT, the Moon moves into detail-oriented, practical Virgo, where it will journey until Monday night/Tuesday very early morning; turning our focus toward the practical and wholesome. We are generous with our time/services and we love to help others. We also have a fondness for science and anything that makes sense in our world — things and knowledge we can apply and use.
Health might come also into focus at this time. We notice the parts that make up the whole; this is a great time to see if our daily routines (eating, work, self-care, etc.) align with our long-term goals.
Sunday (Aug. 12th): the Moon remains in detail-oriented, practical Virgo all day (see Saturday night for details).
Sunday late evening, at 10:14pm EDT, Mars (still retrograde) changes signs from forward-thinking Aquarius to accomplishment-oriented, status-oriented Capricorn. Mars re-enters this practical sign until Sept.10th. Due to Mars’s Retrograde phase, it already journeyed through Capricorn from March 18th until May 17th. Think back to mid May 2018, when Mars was in the 28/29 degrees of Capricorn. What did you focus on back then? What were you trying to accomplish?
This is a time when we like to go after concrete plans for the future. A systematic, practical approach to reaching our goals is now favored; we are good at focusing on practical matters and getting down to the essentials.
We do not waste any actions at this time — what we do is practical and has purpose. We see reality very clearly now — and it might not look as rosy as we thought. As best as you can, use this time to get in touch with what’s real in your life — without rushing anything or going down the “rabbit hole” of pessimistic inadequacy 😉
Do you have your Ascendant or Sun-sign in Aries? If so, you will be more serious and possible more eager to accomplish concrete goals. Do you have your Ascendent or Sun-sign in Capricorn? If so, you will most likely feel more energized for the next 4 weeks.
Also on Sunday, Mercury starts to slow down again (“stationing”). It’s getting ready to come to a halt, ending its 3.5-week retrograde phase, on Sunday of next week, Aug. 19th (more on that next week…). For the next 14 days (until Aug. 24th), we need to be patient with ourselves and others — especially if there is a connection with communication or transportation, and their associated technologies. This is not the best time to start anything brand-new, especially if it contains new information that needs to be processed.
We might experience delays or misunderstandings, and things tend to feel “off” or stagnant. It might be a good idea to give yourself some extra time to get ready for travel somewhere — especially if you intend to use public transportation or drive (For more details on Mercury Shadow Phases and Retrogrades, click here)
Some of us will feel the effects of this station more than others: those of us with Gemini or Virgo as our Sun- or Rising-Sign (Ascendant) — and those of us with personal planets (or angles) in 10-15 degrees of Leo, Aquarius,Taurus, or Scorpio.
A heads up for next Monday (Aug. 13th): the Moon remains in detail-oriented, practical Virgo all day. The Moon in Virgo sextiles Jupiter in Scorpio at 12:09am, it also opposes Neptune in Pisces at 1:25am EDT, and trines Pluto in Capricorn at 7:12am EDT. At 12:37am EDT, (Monday night/Tuesday very early morning), we enter a brief Moon Void of Course (VoC), that last for 20 minutes. More about the details in next week’s forecast 🙂
One More Announcement:
Join me for my next FORECASTING FORUM on Tuesday, August 28th at 2pm PDT/5pm EDT/10pm BST (London-time). Please note that we’ll talk about the Mars Station in 28.5º of Capricorn (goes direct on Aug 27th), and the Saturn Station in 2.5º of Capricorn (goes direct on Sept. 6th)
If you want to know how to align yourself with these planetary movements, join me live or sign up for the mp4-video presentation. To join for FREE, become a Star or SuperStar Member on my site To register at the regular fee, click here
Here is a testimonial from one of our participants right after joining our most recent Forum:
“Sonja, just wanted to let you know how much I am enjoying being a member of your evolving community. As a highly energetic sensitive …I love sitting in the energy field and feeling all the new members, and energetically sensing their appreciation of the community your are gathering. It is such a joy for me to see you, and next few generations coming of age, and stepping out so beautifully to share your wisdom. This is why I have joined your community. So that I may sit in the virtual circle, and hold an open loving supportive space, as we continue to unfold, co-create and co-evolve as a conscious community. With Much Love and Gratitude.” — Kate N. (UK)
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Have a fantastic week!
Many blessings,
Sonja
PS: To apply my forecasts and videos to your own birth chart, watch my 30-minute class on: “How to Read Your Birth Chart” and feel free to go to my Facebook Fan page for my daily forecasts 😉

Sonja’s passion is for connecting with people and helping them transform their lives. This led her to train as a life coach, in addition to her lifelong study of Astrology. With her Readings, her coaching and her Soul-Based Astrology Courses she aims to empower and support people in fulfilling their life’s potential and aligning with Soul Purpose.