Note to Readers: I will be a guest on the Diva Carla program Monday at 5 pm ET. The context will be the Vesta New Moon and the topic will be an honest conversation about sex. You will have the opportunity to listen live and toward the end of the discussion we will open up the lines to listeners. I believe the system can handle 100 live participants. If you cannot listen, the program will be archived both on Planet Waves FM and on Diva Carla’s website. Join us live on the phone by calling (206) 402-0100, then enter PIN code: 477707# It is also possible to attend via webinar, however, only those who call in by phone will be able to participate in the discussion. — efc
August combines the passion of the fire signs with the empathy of the water signs. Let’s start with the two lunations — the Leo New Moon of Aug. 6 and the Aquarius Full Moon of Aug. 20.
![Fire spinning in Krakow, Poland. Photo by Eric Francis.](https://i0.wp.com/planetwaves.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/aug2-38-2013.jpg?resize=375%2C282&ssl=1)
The Leo New Moon is nothing short of a magnificent chart. In the Northern Hemisphere, the New Moon takes place at Lammas or Lúnasa — the First Harvest. It’s the midpoint between the summer solstice and the autumn equinox, one of the eight most potent moments of the solar year. Those points include the solstices and equinoxes (the quarter days) and the midpoints of those locations (the cross-quarter days).
The New Moon is conjunct the asteroid Vesta. The brightest asteroid, and also one of the most complex, it describes some of humanity’s most profound gifts and its deepest shadows. Her theme is service, though when Vesta is in the picture so prominently, there’s the question of whether the needs of one who offers himself or herself are met. Vesta seems to insist on total devotion, though we walk the line between that and sacrifice.
Vesta’s symbol is a chevron with a flame and is symbolic to the goddess Vesta, the Vestal Virgins of Roman times, and the sacred flame they would tend and never let go out. The real devotion that the astrological Vesta represents is to the inner fire that we all carry, the creative and sexual passion at the core of everyone.
Yet because our culture tends to corrupt the topics that Vesta honors, she can represent a diversity of shadow themes — shame, for instance, or the obsession with appearance and glamour — and that in turn can point to where we are distracted from true inner devotion.
In this chart, the Vesta New Moon is square the asteroid Psyche in Scorpio, calling for a real inner investigation of our erotic psyche, which connects directly to our sense of existence. This connection is often overlooked. Vesta is shining a light on this inquiry, opening up access to the sacred space of self.
![Leo New Moon conjunct Vesta, set for Kingston, NY.](https://i0.wp.com/planetwaves.net/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/aug2-40-20131.jpg?resize=400%2C490&ssl=1)
The Aquarius Full Moon takes place on Aug. 20. It’s the second Aquarius Full Moon, since the Sun and Moon also opposed each other immediately after the Sun entered Leo on July 22.
The Sun and the Moon reach opposition at the end of the Sun’s run through Leo, giving the event an edgy quality. This is often true of the Sun’s last days in a sign, though especially if there is a significant solar-lunar event right then.
Minor planets are involved — the Sun is conjunct Ceres and the Moon is conjunct Nessus. The subject matter here involves the ways in which complex emotions become subject to power struggles. We are so accustomed to this in our relationships that many people will tell you it’s normal: for example, the notion that if you have deep feelings you can expect someone to use them against you.
There is a special caution to be aware of power dynamics between mothers and daughters. These can be difficult to identify, especially if the dynamics have continued unconsciously for generations. Discerning that will take some special honesty or a knack for the obvious. Honoring the independence of young women, including the right, responsibility and necessity to make mistakes, is an essential message of this chart.
In the background of this astrology is the grand water trine. Jupiter is now in Cancer; so too is Mars. Chiron and Neptune are in Pisces. Saturn and the North Node are in Scorpio.
The message: everything has an underlying emotional dimension, and that’s the one that will dominate the experience of being alive. Emotional contact is essential, which means getting these subjects off of the intellectual level and liberating the emotional level from our obsession with obsession.
Water in any form moves; where there is a blockage, look for where it’s necessary to let go and let flow. The grand water trine needs to be handled consciously and carefully — it’s like a whirlpool. It’s easy to get drawn into, and difficult to get out of, so you must be careful as you experience and express your emotions.
I suggest you invest extra energy into understanding what you are feeling and what other people are feeling, remembering that there is a difference between the two. Honoring that difference is called having boundaries, though it’s more often said than done. The month begins with a beautiful New Moon encouraging you to define your own space, set your purpose and recognize that you cannot help others if you don’t help yourself.
That said, being of service to others and to humanity can be a healthy way into a larger world and into true participation. It’s a way to honor the existence that we all share, and the mutual presence we all thrive on.
A top level Al Qaeda communication has been intercepted warning of “something big” to happen, presumably against U.S. This might be the Pluto square to Uranus and opposition to Jupiter- Pallas-Athene, combined with solstice sextile (Uranus-Pallas) being engaged by now-transiting North Node in Scorpio.
There is also the transit of Nessus (trickery) conjunct the U.S. Sibly Moon (conjunct Pallas-Athene) that is quincunx trans. Mercury (transportation) at 27+ Cancer who is sextile trans. Makemake (Birdman) and Logos (trademark), who form a yod with point at the U.S. Moon. Possible airline threat?
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Another caution to be aware of in tomorrow’s New Moon is the conjunction of Jupiter and Pallas-Athene (9+ Cancer) exactly opposite Pluto (9+ Capricorn).
In the June Solstice chart (June 21), Pallas-Athene was then at 12+ Gemini and sextile Uranus at 12+ Aries where he still is. Now the North Node has reached 12+ Scorpio and will form the pointy part of a yod (the “release” of all that intense [months of built up] Uranus energy) to the June Solstice sextile. Uranus could mean it will be “unexpected” and Pallas-Athene suggests it might be pre “planned”, but the NN in Scorpio conjunct Saturn and others like House (of Reps?) and Siwa (breakthrough just before insight is achieved) might mean a secret operation (trapping Snowden?) will take place. The North Node opposes the South Node making it (all combined) a Boomerang (!) pattern with the South Node (old habits) the final target for the combined energy.
And not only that but because Jupiter conjunct Pallas-Athene at 9+ Cancer (opposite Pluto!) is right in the grand water trine with Saturn-North Node in Scorpio and Neptune and Chiron in Pisces. It could mean the dam breaks – for real or maybe just emotional – and we will all be running for the hills!
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