Vedic Astrological Monthly Newsletter: August 2023

Transiting Mars moves on and ends its opposition aspect with Saturn:

     After  8/18, transiting Mars makes it way out of Leo and ends its opposition with Saturn transiting in Aquarius. Mars also loses the aspects coming from Jupiter and Rahu. Mars will transit through Virgo from  8/18 – 10/3  when it then moves to Libra. After  8/18, the frustration, push and pull, stop and go qualities that characterize the Saturn/Mars opposition aspect will abate. It will be a bit easier to make progress with projects, as compared to the month of July. While in Virgo, Mars is transiting through a position ruled by Mercury and it promotes attention to detail, analysis, organizational and planning qualities and repositioning one’s focus and priorities. This is a good position for engineers, computer scientists, surgeons and accountants, for example. 

     During the last half of August, through September, you may find yourself critiquing and scrutinizing writings, speech, grammar, spreadsheets, theories and other intellectually-oriented materials for errors and inaccuracies.  There is more analysis, finding fault with situations and pointing out other individuals’ flaws and weaknesses, as well as the desire for precision and perfection, which will permeate the atmosphere. It is a good time to plan for the school year, get organized, prepared and to consider and set up one’s most important goals and priorities.  This dovetails well with Mercury’s retrograde motion that beings later this month on 8/23, described below. 

     There is less struggle with Mars separating from Saturn’s aspect, and the sense of being forced to go slow and be patient is gone once Saturn ends its battle with Mars after  8/18.  The intense heat wave that has swept the world should also begin to subside, as was discussed in last month’s July newsletter.

     Saturn will also function at an improved level since it is transiting through Aquarius, its own sign, and loses the irritation posed by Mars’ aspect after  8/18.  This begins an improved period for organizational development, group work, networking, getting rid of unhealthy habits or behaviors and trying new or alternative healing regimens to resolve health issues. Saturn will continue to transit through Shatabhisha nakshatra in August, as it retrogrades through Aquarius. With Saturn in Shatabhisha, there is a need to make some type of personal sacrifice to experience gains, improvement or achievement. If someone is addicted to smoking, the effort, discipline and consistent hard work it takes to let go of that attachment will then result in many health benefits over time, for example. This is a great month for starting a smoking cessation program, or kicking out unhealthy habits and attitudes, physical or emotional, that need to go. 

     It is also noteworthy that Saturn at 11 degrees Aquarius will form an exact aspect with Mercury at 11 degrees Leo on  8/1 – 8/2.  This Saturn/Mercury aspect reflects serious communications, some inhibition or fear or worry about expressing oneself openly and possibly appearing foolish or unprepared.  It brings up self-doubt and insecurity about getting the facts straight and being sure you understand and can present information accurately.

      It also reflects the need to let go and release certain ideas, expectations or desires. Mercury is transiting in the nakshatra of Magha, which is one of the death-related nakshatras.   Mercury transiting through this position provides the spiritual opportunity to cleanse your mind of erroneous ideas, clinging desires or wishful thinking and to remove that which is no longer relevant to your life situation.  This refers to the death of ignorance. In sum,  August is a good month to cleanse, delete, organize, plan, remove negativity, falsehoods, unhealthy habits and to clear your mind of extraneous clutter, in order to prioritize and focus on what is truly most important for your well-being and sense of peace. 

Venus retrogrades back to the sign of Cancer on 8/7:

     Venus is currently in retrograde motion in the sign of Leo and will retrograde back to Cancer on  8/7 and continue to retrograde until  9/3.  Venus will then move ahead to Leo on 10/1.  While Venus transits through Cancer starting on  8/7, Venus will lose the challenging aspects of both Saturn and Mars, which is a great improvement.  The retrograde motion of Venus intensifies and focuses more energy on Venus-oriented areas which include: relationships, artistic and music endeavors, enjoyment, pleasures, purchases and decorating/design/real estate matters. This is a period where relationship partners from the past are more likely to show up, possibly to revisit or resolve some old matters.

     With Venus in retrograde motion and its combustion with the Sun, which is exact at 13 degrees Cancer on  8/13, some of these above Venus-ruled areas become excessive and problematic.  For example, a person with combust Venus in their natal horoscope may be very talented, artistic or very charismatic and beautiful. However, relationships and marriage tend to suffer, while the individual also expresses those finer qualities simultaneously.   While Venus is both combust and retrograde, this energy will permeate the atmosphere for most of August.  In general, there may be great desire and interest in relationships, romance, dining, theater, entertainment, the arts, real estate, design and making purchases. The downside is taking it too far, and not using good judgment, moderation or discipline in these areas. 

Mercury turns retrograde on 8/23:

     Mercury continues to transit in Leo, influenced by simultaneous aspects of Saturn, Jupiter and Rahu for the month of August. On  8/23, Mercury turns retrograde until  9/15, in Leo. This Mercury retrograde reinforces the discussion earlier in regard to promoting planning, organization and reevaluation of priorities, as well as hesitation and insecurities in relation to one’s decisions, communications and mastering information. This Mercury retrograde promotes and focuses attention on the reevaluation of relationships and marriage, due to its passage through Uttara Phalguni and Purva Phalguni nakshatras, respectively.  Combining the influences of both Mercury and Venus’ retrograde motion later this month, puts greater emphasis on this relationship/marriage domain.

     As in most Mercury retrograde transits, misunderstandings, mistakes, communication errors, mechanical breakdowns and travel delays,  are more likely.  With Saturn’s aspect on Mercury, these problems are even more likely this time around.   Allow extra time for appointments and travel.  Review and double check appointment dates/times.  It is also a good time to review and reevaluate financial and estate planning, especially while Mercury transits through these two nakshatras.  Since mechanical malfunctions and breakdowns are also more likely during this phase of Mercury retrograde, it’s wise to back–up data, and check mechanical equipment for potential problems.