August begins with the effects of the Cardinal Cross at its most intense but if we don't think we've had our fair share of "interesting" times yet, perhaps we need a Mercury retrograde cycle to shake things up?

Like the two previous Mercury retrogrades of 2010, this upcoming cycle will be happening entirely within an Earth sign, this time in Mutable (changeable) Virgo. The new year began during a Mercury retrograde cycle entirely within the raw Earth power of Cardinal Capricorn, shaking Haiti, Chile and elsewhere, telling us that this would indeed be an Earth-focused year.

In April and May, Mercury went through its retrograde cycle completely within the sustainable (Fixed) Earth of Taurus, exposing us to the failures of relying on fossil fuels for our energy needs during the calamities in our coal (WV) and oil industries, the Deep Doo-doo Horizon mess for one blatant and crude/cruel example. Oy, if we could only emulate an evolving pelican, flying away toward a more enlightened energy future...

August begins with Mercury in its traditional ruling sign Virgo, forming a beneficial trine to Pluto as one clue for how to maneuver August successfully, urging us to trust our direct link to our life source (Sun) by utilizing our intellects, imaginations and our communication skills (Mercury) to deal with life/death/rebirth Plutonian issues, with Pluto being the main focus of the Cardinal Cross. But the clearer chances for success are hidden in plain sight, right above the Western horizon after each sunset with Venus, Mars and Saturn clumped together all month, a visual treat highly recommended to meditate on.

Venus and Mars get together every year or two, but rarely along with Saturn in the same sign. We have to go back to May 2002 to recall the last time these three met up simultaneously in any sign, eight years ago in the Mutable (changeable) Air of Gemini, this time in the Venus-ruled Cardinal Air of Libra. If Saturn in Gemini was trying to expose the flawed nature of Gemini dualism in the take-down of the Twin Towers on 9/11, Saturn in Libra has already been showing us where a lot of our imbalances and injustices are, on steroids at the height of this Summer's Cardinal Cross.

And as mentioned in the CC forecast, most (if not all) of our collective maladies are the direct result of unfulfilled Sixties idealism needing closure and assimilation at this time, with issues regarding equal rights and justice for all, peaceful settlements of our disagreements, loving and protecting our Mother Earth, and the knowingness that we're all in this thing called life together. Sadly however, we find ourselves engaged in a paranoia inducing debate based on delusional and irrational fears from the extremes, over the very nature of what is good and decent versus what should obviously be seen as so terribly wrong, This has "just" been a function of Saturn (Libra) opposing Uranus (Aries) which has been exposing who is working for responsible (Saturn) and Promethean change (Uranus) versus those who are stuck squarely (Pluto) in the greedy failures of the past, further proof that we are indeed seeing a parallel Universe splitting apart, right in front of our eyes.

We can rest assured however that the planets are also showing us the way out of our various dilemmas, led by Venus in Her ruling sign of balancing Libra while welcoming Saturnian justice into our global awareness, right when we need it the most. Saturn reentered Libra on July 21 where the Good Professor will remain until October 2012, just two short months before the end of the Mayan calendar, whatever that means for humanity's future. And, as if we need it - and some misguided folks still certainly do - the next two and a half years will be showing us all where our more of our imbalances are, where beauty doesn't exist, whom is causing disharmony, what institutions are behaving unjustly and in short, everything that is anti-Venus, all that is anti-love.

Be here now, and let's roll up our sleeves. This won't hurt a bit.

Mercury Retrograde Aug 20 - Sep 12
See How This Mercury Retrograde Influences You

Full Forecast

"Make love, not war" certainly needs a comeback these days, as does "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." These two life-affirming paradigms perfectly describe the exalted nature of Venus and Saturn working together in the balancing scales of Libra, but not so much for Mars also in the picture. With any luck, and a whole lot of dedicated prayer, Venus and Saturn will be putting the constraints on the foolish misapplication of the bad boy's inner warrior, which will unfortunately be working Mars' shadow side in the news. Mars entered Libra July 29, kicking and screaming from the looks of it, held back by a gracious Saturn (conjunct) July 31. "No! Not into the Lady's room!," the poor bastard cried, but Saturn demands "Surrender you fool, Venus will be catching up to you, remember her?" Oh yeah...;-) Mars can chill out in Venus' digs, as if he really has any choice.

Just keep in mind that poor choice of language can often be more hurtful than weapons, especially during a Mercury retrograde, so if we can't say something nice, say something surreal. But also know that Saturn will be exposing those misguided souls who would rather kick than kiss, and those who are living in fear of delusional threats, while simultaneously helping those of us who are striving for Saturnian wisdom and Venus' harmony.

We'll be all set by (literally) keeping an eye on Venus each evening as the celestial representative of the Universal Divine Feminine graces the Western horizon, and by using the exit-ramp coping mechanism of the fourth (empty) point of the Cardinal Cross, Cancer the sign and never the disease. It's all about leading from the heart (Cancer) by being able to skillfully locate and peacefully remove the diseases of fear, hatred, intolerance and ignorance, which points back to the spiritual imperatives of the Cardinal Cross, the intensity of which will be dissipating as August rolls along.

Venus has yet to be directly involved with the Cardinal Cross but She cleans up a lot of the messes left by it, beginning to form a series of complex yet exhilarating aspects to all of the main players involved. However, right as She begins, Jupiter forms a square to Pluto on August 2, and Mars opposes Jupiter and squares Pluto on August 4, making Venus' janitorial duties more difficult with those two guys pissing Pluto off. Regardless, the Venus clean-up begins by Her forming an inconjunct aspect (150°) to spiritual Neptune on August 4 before She enters Her ruling sign Libra on August 6, just hours after forming an inconjunct aspect to Wounded Healer Chiron. This indicates just how closely Chiron and Neptune still are, working together with each other in Aquarius, offering spiritual (Neptune) healing (Chiron) for anyone who has been feeling their Universal mandate over the past year-plus. It's "only" been the official dawning of the Age of Aquarius if we've been losing track.

Venus then opposes (180°) radical Uranus on August 7, and the next day Venus swings past Saturn in a slow-motion call-out for peace (Venus) and wisdom (Saturn). August 9 sees Venus opposing Jupiter, which along with Uranus has been the boundless (Jupiter) inventiveness and creative change (Uranus) corner of the Cardinal Cross. By doing so, it's a symbolic cosmic gesture of Venus bidding a fond (?) farewell to the fifth and final Saturn/Uranus oppositions that we've been going through since November 4, 2008, for all the good that the spirit of responsible (Saturn) change (Uranus) has been meaning for us. In a lot of ways, the heavy lifting along these lines is just beginning but Saturn in Libra can, should and hopefully will, be "gently" removing the obstacles for the changes our world so desperately needs.

Venus then forms a square (90°) to Pluto on August 10, an action-oriented aspect that requires life/death/rebirth tough-love to sweep whatever Cardinal Cross crapola that remains - out the door and out of our lives. Not to single out any one group of believers, but Ramadan begins on August 11 for our Islamic friends, so there might be some feminist rumblings (Venus square Pluto) among them, perhaps especially in places where women are considered second class citizens. Oh well, Venus then momentarily conjoins Mars on August 20, the same day the Sun opposes Neptune and begins opposing Chiron, and also the same day that Mercury begins its aforementioned retrograde cycle entirely within it's traditional ruling sign Virgo, yikes!

Taking control of these various wild horses, while Mercury is moving direct through its retrograde (future) shadow, will require that we soberly come to terms with all of the ramifications that the Cardinal Cross has been presenting to us. And within this maelstrom of concluding weirdness is the New Moon of August 9 at eighteen degrees Leo, an ideal time for new beginnings for those of us who are unafraid of acquiring knowledge as to how to put all of the pieces back together, in more sustainable and enlightened ways.

The Sabian* image for this New Moon is showing "A chemist conducts an experiment for his students. In inquiring into the hidden process of nature, the human mind experiences the thrill of discovery."

In other words, within this one image, all of the planets involved in the Cardinal Cross - the "hidden process of nature" - are represented. This can allow us to finally (?) make some sense of our current situations, instead of feeling like all of the planets - and therefore the entire Universe - are somehow out to get us. It's that "thrill of discovery" that keeps we astro-geeks going, so let us all join in with our fellow class mates because the Sabian keyword here is "alchemy."

First, this chemist is a wise professor (Saturn) who wouldn't be showing us this lesson if it hadn't already been first safely performed in a laboratory, conducted by scientists who were utilizing their boundless (Jupiter) inventiveness (Uranus). Neptune rules chemicals, all the ones that heal, kill, the legal safe ones and the illegal ones that cause illusions, and the resulting concoction could easily be a new medicine, which would be ruled by Chiron. But if it's a destructive new and untested formula, Pluto can enter the room and - bang! - we are all reduced to splinters, it's really that simple. So, Saturnian wisdom is essential, the same as it ever was.

Yet the keyword here is alchemy, the ancient and occult (hidden) pursuit of turning base metals like lead into gold, turning water into wine, and also the craft of finding the cures for all diseases. Pluto rules the wealth that lies beneath the surface like gold, and also the wealth of information that lies hidden within our subconscious minds, the dream-space of our natural existence that keeps our conscious awareness healthy. When we're living in fear and ignorance of whatever is in our subconscious minds, it can erupt like a Plutonian volcano when we're not paying attention, hurting innocent bystanders in the process and exposing our lava-like apprehensions, which is not recommended in any of life's classrooms.

So, it would behoove us to take advantage of this life-learning lesson New Moon, in order to see some progress toward a higher level of understanding at the Full Moon of August 24. And by properly ritualizing this New Moon any exalted way we want to (with the clearest and purest of intentions), some answers should be guaranteed in just two weeks. But ouch, we need to endure just a little (?) bit more of the Cardinal Cross before we can get there, loving each learning opportunity (oh no!) along the way.

First, a retrograde Uranus turns down some of the electric heat on the proceedings by reentering Pisces "backward" on August 13, and Jupiter follows suit in early September but not before a retrograde (more subdued) Jupiter precisely opposes a direct Saturn on August 16 for a second time. (The first Jupiter/Saturn opposition was on May 23 and the third and final Jupiter/Saturn opposition will take place in late March of next year.)

Saturn then forms a third and final (Yay!, and good riddance) exact square to Pluto on August 21, reminding us to fully appreciate the lessons learned during their previous two exact squares, formed back in November 2009 and again in January/February of this year. Those Saturn/Pluto squares were exposing our deadly reliance on fossil fuels, the greed that keeps too many of us enslaved to our failing Capricornian institutions, and this last Saturn/Pluto square happens simultaneously with Mercury beginning its retrograde cycle in Virgo. Please pray for peaceful transitions throughout mid August...

And the Sabian image for Mercury in it's stationing (stopping) degree of twenty degrees Virgo shows us a good news/bad news scenario of where we need to be heading, and perhaps where we shouldn't. "A caravan of cars headed to the West Coast, the need of cooperative effort in reaching any 'New World' of experience."

While cooperative effort toward a New World is always a good thing, migrating anywhere during a Mercury retrograde is not the best idea, toward an earthquake prone zone or not, especially as the concluding Saturn/Pluto squares and the previous Mercury retrograde cycles have shown us some really shaky Earth. And while this image mirrors America's mass migration to California during the last century, it can also be seen as a lemming-like herd mentality, with too many folks running mindlessly toward an extreme, even toward the intellectually crippling mind pollution amassing on Jersey Shore. We should all be wary and mindful of any of these energetics playing-out during this retrograde Mercury because they have little to no chances for success.

Ideally, a Mercury retrograde cycle allows for some truly amazing and inventive outside-the-box mental processes, in solving whatever problems are ailing us. But this Mercury retrograde is completely disconnected from the creative arm (Jupiter/Uranus) of the Cardinal Cross as it is winding down, so the whole month of August may easily feel as if we were on a semi-permanent Mercury retrograde spin-cycle. Even our life source Sun joins in with the general confusion by forming inconjunct aspects to Jupiter and Uranus the entire third week of August, so the entire Universe is once again showing us that an eclectic spiritual approach is the clear winner in making connections where none seem to exist. For instance, "everything happens for a reason" fits comfortably into any and all exalted paths, as should "everything is connected."

So, in order to make some clearer connective sense of all of the shifting energetics of mid August, it should become more evident why it would be so important to ritualize the New Moon of August 9, in order to be receptive to the beneficial messages awaiting us at the Piscean Full Moon of August 24. This Full Moon is connected to Chiron and Neptune even though they're just over the line in Aquarius, yet they are still offering spiritual (Neptune) healing (Chiron) for anyone who truly wants it. And the Sabian images for the Sun and Moon opposing each other need to be taken together so that we can find our centers, right here on our changeable Virgo Earth.

For the Sun at 2° Virgo, "A large white cross dominates the landscape, the wisdom and compassion which only the experience of suffering and isolation can bring," and for the Piscean Full Moon, "A squirrel hiding from hunters, the individual's need both to ensure his future subsistence and to protect himself from aggressive social elements."

On one exalted level, this Full Moon offers a chance to heal (Chiron) any spiritual (Neptune) woundedness for anyone who has ever felt threatened by "aggressive social elements," for instance by groups and institutions that hide behind whatever culture's "large white cross" they would honor as sacred. Those would be the misguided people who would justify their hateful bigotry based on how they interpret their various holy books, much like in those bad movies where the "wise" elder thumps the scroll and scowls in a fake accent, "It is written." No matter where we live or which predominant God we pray to, these evil forces are basically the cause of all of our woes, and the spiritual imperative of this Summer's Cardinal Cross is to do away with those levels of religious intolerance, once and for all.

On another level, the large white cross speaks to how martyrdom is the spiritual dead-end it literally is. It's been done before and we shouldn't feel the need to repeat the mistakes of the past, just ask any suicide bomber who proves this point. Instead, crucifixion can be seen as a strictly symbolic act we can do for ourselves in any here-and-now moment during meditation, where we can die a metaphorical death and become reborn any time we want to, a Plutonian act of self-grace also known as self-redemption. Suffering and isolation though? Shift happens, this too shall pass, this too shall pass...

Further, if we don't like how we express ourselves, or if there is some aspect of our lives that we want to get rid of, simply sit down in our happy zones, chill out, breathe in the white light or whatever we do, be here-and-now as best we can, and presto change-o - it's gone - simple as that, end of the story, end of this forecast

And if a tree falls in the forest, and nobody is there to hear it, does the squirrel still grab his nuts and run?

See the July Forecast here
See the June Forecast here
See the May Forecast here

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