A Dance Between Summer’s Last Glow and Autumn’s First Call
This week has the feeling of full throttle forward, as if we’re ready to set the world ablaze with ideas and actions — yet, just as our momentum builds, family matters, responsibilities, and those perfectionist leanings tied to the past may occasionally tap the brakes.
The early part of the week offers mental sharpness and physical stamina, an alignment of brain and brawn that can propel us toward big visions. But as we move deeper into the days, reality has a way of knocking, calling us back to the necessary tasks at hand.
By week’s end, the Sun exits Leo, and the Sun enters Virgo, and we encounter a Virgo New Moon — a signal that it’s time to gradually exchange sandals for schedules, even if our hearts are still in the golden light of August evenings. The message? As the Taoists remind us, we need to “bend like a reed, or break like an oak”. Adaptability will carry us farther than rigid adherence to “how it’s always been.”
Monday, August 18 – Passion Fizzles into Practical Demands – Sun, Moon Void-of-Course, Lunar T-Square, Saturn, Neptune, Mercury, Mars
Tone of the Day: A burst of “let’s go!” energy in the morning, followed by the gentle thud of reality.
- The Gemini Moon sextiles the Sun early, sparking mental clarity and enthusiasm. The mind is nimble; conversations flow; the ‘to-do’ list feels conquerable.
- The Moon then goes Void-of-Course for over 7 hours [7:53 AM – 3:05 PM EDT] with the Moon making no further connections to the planets as the Moon finishes its transit of Gemini and before the Moon enters Cancer. A Void-of-Course Moon pushes a cosmic pause button.
- As the Moon enters Cancer, it triggers a Cardinal T-Square with the Cancer Moon squaring both Saturn and Neptune both in Aries and heading toward a square with Mars in Libra early Tuesday. Emotional tides run higher and demands from home or work can pull our focus from our grand plans.
Best Practice: Use the early hours to tackle creative or strategic thinking, then pivot to practical chores as the day grounds out.
Pitfall to Avoid: Interpreting delays as defeat—this isn’t a no, just a ‘not yet.’
Bigger Picture: Squares to Saturn-Neptune test our ability to hold dreams while addressing reality. Today reminds us to pace ourselves for the long game.
Tuesday, August 19 – From Friction to Comfort – Lunar T-Square, Mars, Jupiter
Tone of the Day: Morning challenges give way to a softer, more supportive evening.
- The Cancer Moon completes the Cardinal T-Square, with the Moon having squared Saturn and Neptune both in Aries yesterday, and the Cancer Moon square Mars in Libra today. Obligations may feel heavy; other people’s needs could tug at us.
- By nightfall, the Moon cozies up to Jupiter, with the Cancer Moon conjunct Jupiter, shifting the mood toward optimism, nourishment, and emotional renewal.
Best Practice: Maintain clear boundaries — help, but don’t carry burdens that aren’t yours.
Pitfall to Avoid: Playing savior. As the saying goes: “You can help someone lift their burden, but you cannot carry it for them.”
Bigger Picture: The evening’s Jupiter influence is a reminder that replenishment is not a luxury—it’s fuel for what’s next.
Wednesday, August 20 – Summertime Reclaimed – Venus, Moon Void-of-Course, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto
Tone of the Day: A domestic start that blossoms into playful spontaneity.
- The Cancer Moon conjuncts Venus in the early morning hours providing connection, pleasure, and beauty in the familiar.
- The Moon then goes Void-of-Coursefor 11 hours [8:27 AM – 7:17 PM EDT] of fallow, perfect for nesting, decluttering, or simply letting the day drift.
- Evening: The Moon enters Leo, with the Leo Moon trine both Saturn and Neptune, the Moon sextile Uranus, and the Moon opposed Pluto. The transcendental planets activate, inviting us to break from routine and step into joyful, even magical experiences.
Best Practice: Follow impulses toward creativity or social engagement — especially those that surprise you.
Pitfall to Avoid: Over-managing the magic. Let spontaneity have room to breathe.
Bigger Picture: Uranus-Neptune-Pluto activation reminds us we’re living during a paradigm shift, a time of sweeping change; tonight offers a glimpse of its more exhilarating side.
Thursday, August 21 – Riding the Glow – Mars, Mercury, Moon Void-of-Course
Tone of the Day: Fun-first, responsibility-later energy.
- The Leo Moon sextiles Mars and the Moon conjuncts Mercury—a lively, confident, expressive combination.
- The Moon goes Void-of-Course for over 35 hours (2:13 PM – 1:24 AM Saturday EDT], and we’re on the ‘dark side’ of the Moon prior to Saturday’s New Moon.
Best Practice: Lean into collaborative adventures or creative brainstorming with a trusted partner-in-fun.
Pitfall to Avoid: Expecting big progress on serious matters — this is a play day, not a productivity day.
Bigger Picture: The ‘dark side’ of the Moon before Saturday’s New Moon invites release; play is one form of letting go.
Friday, August 22 – The Last Golden Hour – Moon Void-of-Course, Sun Virgo
Tone of the Day: The curtain call for Leo season’s carefree sparkle.
- The Leo Moon remains Void-of-Course all day, perfect for lingering in leisure mode.
- The Sun exits Leo and enters Virgo at 4:34 PM EDT, beginning a shift toward order, refinement, and daily structure.
- Mutual reception occurs: Sun in Virgo (ruled by Mercury) and Mercury in Leo (ruled by the Sun) amplify the dance between creativity and precision.
Best Practice: Savor today’s unstructured freedom before the Virgo energy calls us to sharpen pencils and set the calendar.
Pitfall to Avoid: Feeling rushed to ‘get back to it’ before we’re ready — this is still a day for enjoyment.
Saturday, August 23 – The Call to Order, with a Twist – Virgo New Moon, Sun, Uranus
Tone of the Day: Fresh-start energy meets unpredictable currents.
- Early morning Virgo New Moon (Sun-Moon conjunction at 2:07 AM EDT) squares Uranus, setting a two-week tone of surprises and necessary adaptations.
- Virgo energy loves order, detail, and steady rhythms; Uranus delights in shaking that order to awaken new possibilities.
Best Practice: Keep plans flexible, and view disruptions as hidden opportunities.
Pitfall to Avoid: Clinging to ‘same old, same old.’
Bigger Picture: This is part of a broader paradigm shift —learning to weave technological and innovative tools into our daily lives for greater ease and effectiveness.
Sunday, August 24 – Lightening the Load – Jupiter, Sun, Uranus
Tone of the Day: Streamline, simplify, and make space for new methods.
- Virgo Moon sextiles Jupiter—a productive yet optimistic vibe.
- The Sun squares Uranus, continuing yesterday’s theme of sudden change or new tech integration.
Best Practice: Experiment with tools, systems, or habits that free up time and energy.
Pitfall to Avoid: Expecting mastery overnight. Trial, error, and persistence will pay off.
Bigger Picture: Just like recent bumps during AI rollouts (remember the Mercury-retrograde launch of GPT5.0), innovations may stumble before they soar. Adopt a light-hearted approach — As the English author G.K. Chesterton wrote: “Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly.”
