August 2012

This month the Sun, the Moon and all the cosmic forces come together to help us realize our life dreams. Key to our Self-realizing is the Aug 6-7 mid-Leo Lammas celebration and the ongoing dance of the planets and stars.

August begins with Leo Sun in fortunate trine with Uranus and Athena allied in Aries bringing exciting new technological (and magical!) breakthroughs that will (with Uranus square Pluto) totally transform the global status quo.

This month we take the initiative and bring forward those bold new projects; it’s time to put our best foot forward and make that proposal. We are given opportunity to come out onto the world stage now, each in our own way.

Venus rises powerfully before the Sun fresh out of her shadow loop aligned with El Nath, the bright star Hindus call Agni, the source of cosmic fire. Venus parallels Arcturus the wizard hermit star identified with Gandalf in Lord of the Rings. Venus/Arwen allies with the new Gandalf the White to bring forth the true king and begin a new order of things.

August begins a 5-month period when we come to realize the special gifts we each bring and the part we’re to play in this new creation. Now begins the Global Initiation when Earth and humanity as a whole enter a state of enlightened awareness. This universal shift in consciousness starts on August 22 as the rising of Venus before the Sun with the great star Sirius signals a new Great Renaissance and dawning of a New Age. Venus is the Bennu Phoenix rising, a new world is being born and Love will be Queen.

August 1-7 – Illumination Lammas Day / Lughnasa August begins with Lughnasa celebrating the Celtic Sun god Lugh. Also known as Lammas or Loaf-mass, it is traditional to share bread of the first harvest now. “Lammas bread” grounds and makes flesh the illumination of this time. The Lughnasa celebration culminates Aug 6-7 when the Sun is at the mid-Leo “power gate of fire,” the mid-Summer cross-quarter. Say “White Rabbit” on Aug 1 for luck throughout the month.

Leo Full Moon, Aug 1-4 (exact 11:27 pm 8/1) Love and Revelation Each Full Moon brings revelation and opportunity for healing body, mind and soul. Meditation, deep breathing, music and dancing help us open to receive. Leo rules the heart and it is home sign of Sol, the cosmic source of love. The meditation keynote of this Sun in Leo Full Moon is: "May the wellspring of Love find in us an unimpeded channel."

Lammas/Lughnasa Cross-Quarter, Aug 6-8 Illumination The Lammas cross-quarter (exact 10:40 pm 8/6) culminates at the mid-Leo “power gate of fire.” This is a time for mountain top picnics. Bread shared now (hence Lammas or "loaf mass") is imbued with special energy like the Hobbits “Lammas bread” which sustains them in their Quest. Dreams and portents now predict what will be. The Aug 6 Feast of Transfiguration celebrates the mountaintop illumination of Jesus. At this mid-Leo power gate solar prana flows down to the tops of mountains all over the world.

3rd Quarter Moon, Aug 9-11 (exact 2:55 pm 8/9) Realizing Dreams This Moon cuts away all that distracts from putting dreams into action. 3rd Quarter integrates new ideas into creative expression; it's time to follow our bliss and do what feels good in concert with the whole.

Balsamic Moon, Aug 13-16 Make a Wish! This wishing Moon with New Venus, Sirius and Mercury Prometheus brings opportunity to invoke new love, peace and creative prosperity. The deeper we feel, the more Moon magic is invoked for this new lunar cycle. Shadows before New Moon are cleared by deep breathing with attention to the light of the crown.

Dark of Moon/New Moon Aug 16-18 Going Within The day before New Moon until Sunset a day after is ideal for psychic and physical house clearing to make way for the new cycle; outer activity is favored after the crescent appears. New Moon (11:54 am 8/17) is a great cosmic spring that flows freely as we just slow down.

Crescent New Moon, Aug 19-23 A Time to Sow It's time to bring forward what we wish to be realized. Moon magic is strongest Sunset to Moonset when the Moon is in the 7th House. Meditation now opens doorways, wishes take wing, and prayers bring blessings through the lunar cycle.

1st Quarter Moon, Aug 24-27 (9:54 am 8/24) Time to Choose It's time to cut free from trappings of the past and affirm our purpose moving forward. Choices made now are likely to be the right ones. Breathing deeply through the light of the crown frees energy flow up and down the spine to power our dreams.

Going Out of the Signs Aug 24-31 Breaking Habits, Liberation The best time to break addictions or eliminate attachments is when the Moon wave moves down beyond vital organs from Sagittarius (thighs) to Pisces (feet). Now we can more easily let go outmoded patterns of being and eliminate toxins physical and psychic.

Women’s Equality Day, Aug 25 Balance and Be New This culminating 5^th day of the old Egyptian New Year is celebrated by honoring women and the yin as equal to the yang and to men. As this balance is achieved we discover the answer to the riddle of the Sphinx and Heaven and Earth are joined as one. As Bennu Venus rises we are all given the opportunity to be new, balance and be reborn, raise the spirit and transform.

Moon Hare Full Moon, Aug 30-Sept 2 (exact 9:58 am 8/31) Illumination! This is the Harvest Moon, the time to separate wheat from chaff. The Moon Hare pounds herbs extracting the “Elixir of Immortality” as our psyches extract the good from the year. Gathering the Elixir now is key to psychic alchemy. The Full Moon is like a pitcher pouring out elixir, we raise our cups to receive.

Steve Nelson is a professional astrologer who uses Tarot, name analysis, and traditional astrology to help clients understand personal myths and realize natural abilities. He can be reached at 704-375-3759 or email [email protected] and move freely (dance!) to shed old ways and be present to the power and possibilities of the time.