Mercury is the planet of communication, information processing, and short trips. When it is retrograde, this energy is focused inward. It is a time to pause and reevaluate, review, and eventually revise the way your attitude and expression around the themes of the sign it is retrograding through.

Early Wednesday morning the Moon and Sun will meet at 23 degrees of Leo, forming a New Moon. New Moons are chances for new beginnings. Seeds are planted. Things started under the New Moon will not show immediate results. The cycle requires some time for these seeds to take root.

August starts and ends with a Full Moon. This is the first Full Moon this month, happening at  2:13 PM EDT when the Sun  at 9 degrees of Leo opposes the Moon at 9 degrees of Aquarius.  The Leo - Aquarius axis calls for balance between self empowerment and leadership (Leo) and contributing your unique gifts to humanity so the world benefits. 

On July 18, the Moon's nodes shifted from Taurus - Scorpio into Aries - Libra. This is a pretty big deal, especially as it came on the heels of the New Moon in Cancer. So let's get a feel for this energy. 

All planets are a specific type of energy. Venus is the planet that expresses the energy of connection. Venus is how we relate to the important others in our life. It is what we find attractive and worthwhile in life and how we show the regard we have for ourselves and others.

Monday morning at 7:38 am (EDT) we have a Full Moon in Capricorn. The Sun at 11 degrees of Cancer will be directly opposite the Moon at 11 degrees of Capricorn, illuminating it and bringing things to light. Full Moons are oppositions, and oppositions are always about finding balance.

On July 18, the Moon's nodes shifted from Taurus - Scorpio into Aries - Libra. This is a pretty big deal, especially as it came on the heels of the New Moon in Cancer. So let's get a feel for this energy. 

Pluto is the last planet of our solar system, at least for now. It takes approximately 240 years to make one complete orbit around the Sun. The slower a planet moves, the longer it takes to move through a sign. Its energy is intensely focused on the themes of that sign and effects are noticeable on both a macro as well as a personal level. The farther from the Sun a planet is, the more influence it has on a macro level. World events reflect the focus of the planet.

We have a New Moon in Gemini just after midnight on June 18, 2023. The Sun and Moon join at 26 degrees of Gemini, starting a new cycle which highlights the Gemini themes of communication, connection, and sharing information.

Gemini and Sagittarius tend to be relatively easy going signs. It would make sense then, to expect that the Sagittarius Full Moon on June 3 right before midnight would be a sweet respite from the intensity of the recent eclipses. So, about that... nothing in astrology happens in a vacuum, just like the rest of your life. This Full Moon reflects and hopefully helps clarify some of the challenges we are facing.