August 2017 Newsletter
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August is our second eclipse season for 2017 with both a lunar and solar eclipse activating the Leo / Aquarius polarity. The eclipse path moves across the US and is being called “the Great American Solar Eclipse’ as it is the first eclipse that will be visible across the whole USA in 99 years.
Both the lunar and solar eclipses feature Mars prominently so we will all need to be mindful of not giving in to anger and aggression, especially where we feel wounded pride.
Blessings
Christine Rothwell
0438 730 133
Email: christinerothwell@outlook.com
Website: www.christine-rothwell.com
This newsletter is free. To subscribe just send a blank email with the subject SUBSCRIBE from the email address you wish to subscribe from – likewise to UNSUBSCRIBE.
August is our second eclipse season for 2017 with both a lunar and solar eclipse activating the Leo / Aquarius polarity. The eclipse path moves across the US and is being called “the Great American Solar Eclipse’ as it is the first eclipse that will be visible across the whole USA in 99 years.
Both the lunar and solar eclipses feature Mars prominently so we will all need to be mindful of not giving in to anger and aggression, especially where we feel wounded pride.
Blessings
Christine Rothwell
0438 730 133
Email: christinerothwell@outlook.com
Website: www.christine-rothwell.com
Contents
August begins with Saturn, Neptune and Pluto retrograde while Uranus and Mercury join them as the month progresses. All the dates below are for Australian Eastern Time.
The August Eclipses
August Full Moon / Lunar Eclipse
The August Full Moon falls at close to 15 Aquarius on August 8 and is also a partial lunar eclipse. The eclipse is opposite both Mars and the Sun in fiery Leo and this theme continues at the New Moon / Solar Eclipse later in the month as the Sun, Moon and Mars all align in Leo. The Martian archetype can dynamic, assertive and courageous as well as impulsive, hot headed and aggressive: our personal challenge is to channel this energy constructively and try to put our ego aside.
The Leo / Aquarius polarity of this lunation highlights our needs to be part of something larger [the Aquarian domain of friends, community, and humanitarian movements] with our need to be acknowledged for our individual creativity and uniqueness [the Leo domain of creative self-expression]. The Leo archetype encompasses the performer and the monarch [King and Queen] while the Aquarian archetype includes the rebel, the reformer, the humanitarian and the social worker. Leo’s challenge is to master the ego while the Aquarian challenge is to be a vehicle for reform and social change.
With the Moon in Aquarius opposing the Sun in Leo, it is asking us to find a way to balance our personal, ego based needs with those of others - friends, family, partners, and members of the local community or the wider global community - and it invites us to share our thoughts and feelings in a balanced way that acknowledges our needs with the needs of others.
This full moon /eclipse is a logical time to review our friendships and group commitments and see whether we feel validated in those relationships. It also invites us to see how we can make a contribution to society or our community as Aquarius always seeks to make a difference on a larger scale.
- August Overview: The Eclipses
- Mercury Retrograde
- Consultations and Gift Certificates
- 2017 Astrology Classes
August begins with Saturn, Neptune and Pluto retrograde while Uranus and Mercury join them as the month progresses. All the dates below are for Australian Eastern Time.
- August 1: Venus to Cancer
- August 3: Uranus retrograde
- August 5: Jupiter squares Neptune
- August 8: Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse in Aquarius
- August 13: Mercury retrograde
- August 22: New Moon/Solar Eclipse in Virgo
- August 25: Saturn direct
- August 27: Jupiter sextile Saturn
The August Eclipses
August Full Moon / Lunar Eclipse
The August Full Moon falls at close to 15 Aquarius on August 8 and is also a partial lunar eclipse. The eclipse is opposite both Mars and the Sun in fiery Leo and this theme continues at the New Moon / Solar Eclipse later in the month as the Sun, Moon and Mars all align in Leo. The Martian archetype can dynamic, assertive and courageous as well as impulsive, hot headed and aggressive: our personal challenge is to channel this energy constructively and try to put our ego aside.
The Leo / Aquarius polarity of this lunation highlights our needs to be part of something larger [the Aquarian domain of friends, community, and humanitarian movements] with our need to be acknowledged for our individual creativity and uniqueness [the Leo domain of creative self-expression]. The Leo archetype encompasses the performer and the monarch [King and Queen] while the Aquarian archetype includes the rebel, the reformer, the humanitarian and the social worker. Leo’s challenge is to master the ego while the Aquarian challenge is to be a vehicle for reform and social change.
With the Moon in Aquarius opposing the Sun in Leo, it is asking us to find a way to balance our personal, ego based needs with those of others - friends, family, partners, and members of the local community or the wider global community - and it invites us to share our thoughts and feelings in a balanced way that acknowledges our needs with the needs of others.
This full moon /eclipse is a logical time to review our friendships and group commitments and see whether we feel validated in those relationships. It also invites us to see how we can make a contribution to society or our community as Aquarius always seeks to make a difference on a larger scale.
August New Moon / Total Solar Eclipse
The August New Moon falls at close to 29 Leo and is also a total Solar Eclipse. It is the second New Moon in Leo in a row, the first being on July 23 at 0 Leo.
The eclipse is conjunct fiery Mars, energizing the warrior archetype and challenging us to find constructive outlets for this powerful energy. The eclipse also forms a grand trine with Uranus in Aries and Saturn in Sagittarius; a very potent and dynamic mix that could lead to constructive change or wilful destruction. This is certainly a time to carefully examine our motivations and not allow ourselves to get carried away with our anger, especially over wounded pride. Mercury is retrograde at this eclipse so there is the potential for misunderstandings.
The eclipse path moves across the US and is being called “the Great American Solar Eclipse’ as it is the first eclipse that will be visible across the whole USA in 99 years. In traditional astrology eclipses are said to be more powerful in the areas where they fall, but modern astrology takes a different viewpoint - they are potent whenever they activate key points in any horoscope - but this eclipse does put the USA and its leader, Donald Trump, in the spotlight. Trump’s Mars and Ascendant are both at late degrees of Leo so the eclipse is highlighting both his personality projection [ASC] and his anger, aggression and combative nature [Mars]. We are already seeing the manifestation of this eclipse in Trump’s behavior but be prepared for more explosive outbursts.
The August New Moon falls at close to 29 Leo and is also a total Solar Eclipse. It is the second New Moon in Leo in a row, the first being on July 23 at 0 Leo.
The eclipse is conjunct fiery Mars, energizing the warrior archetype and challenging us to find constructive outlets for this powerful energy. The eclipse also forms a grand trine with Uranus in Aries and Saturn in Sagittarius; a very potent and dynamic mix that could lead to constructive change or wilful destruction. This is certainly a time to carefully examine our motivations and not allow ourselves to get carried away with our anger, especially over wounded pride. Mercury is retrograde at this eclipse so there is the potential for misunderstandings.
The eclipse path moves across the US and is being called “the Great American Solar Eclipse’ as it is the first eclipse that will be visible across the whole USA in 99 years. In traditional astrology eclipses are said to be more powerful in the areas where they fall, but modern astrology takes a different viewpoint - they are potent whenever they activate key points in any horoscope - but this eclipse does put the USA and its leader, Donald Trump, in the spotlight. Trump’s Mars and Ascendant are both at late degrees of Leo so the eclipse is highlighting both his personality projection [ASC] and his anger, aggression and combative nature [Mars]. We are already seeing the manifestation of this eclipse in Trump’s behavior but be prepared for more explosive outbursts.
Solar eclipses occur at certain New Moons when the Sun, Moon and Earth align with the transiting Nodes of the Moon and the Moon eclipses the Sun. Solar Eclipses are essentially turbo charged New Moons that signify potent endings and beginnings. Eclipses tend to be neutral energetically but they often bring to the surface whatever has been buried, hidden and repressed, especially regards the sign and house where the eclipse falls in the personal horoscope. Any personal planet that is found close to the eclipse degree [around 29 Leo], or opposite that point [around 29 Aquarius], will be in the spotlight, as will the house that the eclipse falls in. Eclipses can herald a crisis, but they also provide the opportunity to wipe the slate clean and start again.
A Solar Eclipse in Leo illuminates the area of our chart [and psyche] where Leo is located… the area of life where we want to discover our gift for creative self-expression and may have a need for recognition, appreciation and validation. The New Moon is always an opportune time to make resolutions and begin new projects, hence the Leo Eclipse challenges us to embrace our need to shine, feel special and appreciated as well as discover outlets for self-expression and romance. The proviso here is to beware the shadow side of Leo and Mars … egotistical, aggressive and grandiose behavior.
This Solar Eclipse falls on the same degree as the powerful August 1998 eclipse and is part of the same Metonic cycle whereby about 70% of eclipses fall at the same degrees every 19 years. You may like to reflect back 19 years and what may have begun or ended around that time, especially if you have planets that fall around late degrees of fixed signs [ Leo, Aquarius, Taurus & Scorpio] or early degrees of mutable signs [Virgo, Pisces, Gemini & Sagittarius].
A Solar Eclipse in Leo illuminates the area of our chart [and psyche] where Leo is located… the area of life where we want to discover our gift for creative self-expression and may have a need for recognition, appreciation and validation. The New Moon is always an opportune time to make resolutions and begin new projects, hence the Leo Eclipse challenges us to embrace our need to shine, feel special and appreciated as well as discover outlets for self-expression and romance. The proviso here is to beware the shadow side of Leo and Mars … egotistical, aggressive and grandiose behavior.
This Solar Eclipse falls on the same degree as the powerful August 1998 eclipse and is part of the same Metonic cycle whereby about 70% of eclipses fall at the same degrees every 19 years. You may like to reflect back 19 years and what may have begun or ended around that time, especially if you have planets that fall around late degrees of fixed signs [ Leo, Aquarius, Taurus & Scorpio] or early degrees of mutable signs [Virgo, Pisces, Gemini & Sagittarius].
All lunations [new moon and full moons including eclipses] have a powerful effect on the earth’s electro-magnetic field that can also affect our personal energy fields. Eclipses intensify this effect and the disruption they produce can create the opportunity to reorganize these fields in a more coherent way. It is possible to see where we are sabotaging or connecting with our soul’s desires and align ourselves with our inner truth.
Meditation and quiet self-reflection allow both the space for the messages from our soul /unconscious to be heard and the stillness needed to align with the creative / re-organizing potential of these celestial events.
If your birthday is five days either side of the solar eclipse it could mark the end of a period of difficulty. It will be very empowering to set new intentions for your life and create a small ritual to honor this event.
Mercury Retrograde
Mercury moves retrograde on August 13 at close to 12 degrees of Virgo and remains retrograde until September 5 when He turns direct at close to 28 degrees of Leo, very close to the solar eclipse degree of 29 Leo, suggesting the eclipse could be a catalyst for major changes that may not become clear until Mercury moves direct.
Please be aware that the retrograde phenomenon is activated from the time that Mercury enters the loop to the time that it leaves: from around July 25 to September 19. The most chaotic times are when Mercury stations – the few days around August 13 and September 5 when Mercury adjusts to the change of direction.
Summary of the key dates & degrees
- Exact dates: retrograde from August 13 to September 5
- Sensitive degrees: 11 Virgo to 28 Leo
- Full time of influence: July 25 to September 19
- Time for insight: around September 13 when the new Mercury cycle begins at the Inferior Conjunction of Mercury and the Sun at 3 Virgo 27.
- Time to act on new ideas / beliefs: September 5 to 19
The whole retrograde phase is a potent time for reflection and review … a time when we can become aware of habitual beliefs and thought patterns and make the adjustments necessary to align our thinking with the person we are now. This is a great time to meditate, reflect, research, seek answers, sort out your paperwork, return calls and generally attend to all the things you have been too busy to do earlier.
Mercury is retrograding between earth and fire signs this year, challenging us to become more GROUNDED and PRAGMATIC. The retrograde cycles are a call to re-evaluate how we relate to the MATERIAL WORLD and the EARTHY domains of career, finances, ambition, work, daily routines and our relationship with our bodies.
Mercury retrograde in Virgo focuses our attention on the area of our chart where Virgo is found and where we may have a natural tendency to worry, over analyze, criticize and get stuck in the detail; however it may also be an area of life where we function efficiently and have good attention to detail. Virgo is well known as the perfectionist of the zodiac so this retrograde asks us to reflect on our perfectionist and self-critical habits and look at how we can function more efficiently.
Currently Mercury is still visible in the evening sky but he will disappear for about two weeks when he is lost in the blaze of the Sun from around August 21 to re-appear in the sky just before sunrise around September 2. In esoteric terms this is the most intense and powerful part of the retrograde process as this when Mercury assumes his alter ego as Psycho-pomp and Guide to the Underworld. In this role Mercury is associated with the Egyptian scribe Thoth, who has access to the Halls of Record [Akashic records]. It is during this phase that we may have our most powerful insights and shifts, peaking around August 27 when the new cycle begins at the Inferior Conjunction of Mercury and the Sun at close to 4 Virgo. Esoteric writers suggest that the retrograde phase of Mercury creates an opening that allows access to the wisdom of our soul and the wisdom of the Cosmos.
Remember, Mercury retrograde always provides us with the opportunity to free our thinking from habitual ruts and develop a more conscious set of mental attitudes and beliefs. Concerns may arise early in the retrograde phase but around the time the new cycle begins on August 27 when new solutions and insight may emerge. Sit with your insights until after September 5 when Mercury goes direct. The next few weeks are the time to express your insights and put new plans into action.
May the Goddess & God Bless You All
Christine
www.christine-rothwell.com
christinerothwell@outlook.com
2017 Astrology Classes
Please contact Christine for more information
Christine offers an in-depth psychological and mythological approach to astrology. These classes are suitable for those individuals who are wishing to learn more about themselves as well as those interested in becoming a professional astrologer.
Classes can be taken on a term by term basis and sound files are provided for any classes you miss.
First Year covers all the basics that you need to begin to understand a birth chart.
Second Year goes deeper into horoscope and looks at predictive techniques.
The Advanced Classes gives you the opportunity to integrate what you have learned through a seminar format that allows exposure to more advanced techniques and psychological perspectives.
Consultations & Gift Certificates
Are available as:
Personal Consultations
Mail readings
Skype Readings
Telephone consultations
All consultations are recorded and will be sent to you via an email link.
Gift Certificates are available for most consultations.
AN INITIAL CONSULTATION explores the soul’s journey as revealed through the personal symbol of the birth chart. The focus is on the potential inherent in the birth chart and the challenges that need to be embraced in order to realize this potential.
Other readings available include:
In-depth Consultation: Two one hour sound files exploring both the soul’s journey [see above] and the year ahead.
Chart Up-date: The Year Ahead: Explores the year ahead from a psychological perspective.
Understanding Your Child: A wonderful gift for new parents and explores a child’s unique needs, motivations, potentials and challenges.
Relationship Analysis: Helps explain the dynamic between two people to facilitate their understanding of each other and their relationship.
Relocation: Explains how a different location may impact on your psyche. This can be helpful if you are thinking of re-locating and can be included with any of the above consultations.