I’ve been wondering how to begin this Newsletter given the mess 2020 has turned out to be. Do I stick to the basics and give each of you a brighter look at the future? Do I continue to reiterate that much of this mess will continue until 2021? Or, do I look to find the best possible take on all the transits and aspects this month? Of course I opted to make lemonade out of lemons. It’s not only my personal nature, it’s my POV as an astrologer. Remembering that nothing is written in stone in Astrology, we must all take stock in the reality of our lives, the possible influences this month, and learn how to navigate for the best possible outcome. I’m going to endeavor to help everyone do that.
Wish me luck.
2020 really is a mess. That’s the first reality to face. It really is a mess. It’s not being overblown. It’s not hyperbole. It is in fact, one of the worst years I’ve ever lived through, and I’m not a young person. I’m old. I’ve seen a lot. It’s also the most challenging year I’ve ever seen astrologically, and again, I’ve been doing this for decades. I’ve seen quite a number of years in my astrological career. It’s challenging for me to counsel and advise in a year like this because I’ve never seen anything like it before, and astrology is an observable art. That said…
We must all adapt. I urge everyone to stop looking for a return to ‘the way things used to be’, and instead focus on how to adapt to existing conditions, and then expand on those adaptations.
We must all move forward, and continuing to look back after everything that’s happened, serves no useful purpose. Adaptation is the key. So use every bit of energy you have, and adapt to changing circumstances.
These are all the lessons of the Saturn/Pluto conjunctions. This is the lesson of 2020. Many of these changes will be permanent. I’ve tried to reiterate this since January of this year.
Many of these changes are permanent. Let that sink in.
They will be permanent. Resisting these changes will only delay your adaptation and your success in moving forward. Keep what you can, change what you must, and recognize those mandates in your life in 2020.
If things move back to the ‘old normal’, fine. You can quickly revert to doing things as you remember and prefer. But, resisting these changes is not helpful, and can actually be harmful.
[Note: This month is filled with challenging aspects. There are some pretty intense squares coming up, and learning to deal with the tension of a square aspect is important for all of us if we are going to navigate the rest of the year. I’ve included a description of a square aspect for your education. While many astrologers feel they are negative, I feel they are the impetus for major change and growth. It just won’t feel like it while it happens. But, it will create growth and maturity in the end.]
The Square aspect is a 90-degree angle between two planets and/or the luminaries (Sun and the Moon). The square is a stress producing aspect that is internalizing by nature, thus it draws the stress into a native, and it can be difficult to externalize.
Squares in general are crisis oriented, forcing us to act in a specific manner that then allows for growth and increased self-awareness. Planets involved in square aspects interact in a somewhat defensive manner, and so do not easily synthesize the way planets in trine or sextile. They seem to follow the path of most resistance. Let that sink in. They follow the path of MOST resistance.
The planets tend to block and thwart each other’s basic intentions. But while the urges of the two planets resist smooth, peaceful interaction, they are also prone to challenge each other’s right of expression. The friction that results gives this aspect a vital sense of push, forcing each planet to push back and thereby sort of fight for expression. This acts as a catalyst for growth in the planet’s expression.
While this is stress producing, the square also provides us with the powerful thrust of concentrated energy needed to confront and overcome major obstacles. Squares challenge us to act rather than continue to endure the pain and discomfort they generate.
The Square is probably the most situational of all aspects in that it forces us to eventually confront conflicting circumstances that can only be resolved (or understood) though a head-on, no-nonsense encounter.
The square does not feel unpleasant unless the energy backs up on you. Tension can feel exhilarating as long as it flows in action and is not dammed up. It is only frustrating when you do not take action, or have no outlet for expression. Most importantly, although the square aspect is felt internally, it is not meant to be resolved internally. It is meant to find resolution through action in the world.
August 2-3: The Leo Sun forms a square to Uranus on August 2 causing some disruption in [covid] daily routines. Frustration at the sudden changes in your day are not harmful, just irritating. Your will is being challenged, use it to assess the situation and move forward.
In addition, on August 3, at Full Moon, Mercury makes an opposition to Saturn in Capricorn, and Mars forms a square with Jupiter in Capricorn. It takes a lot of strength to bear this tension. Where impatience and frustration have become too great, loss of control, and frustrated and angry outbursts may dominate. It is important to [try] and think before you act or talk. What you believe to be true, may not be accurate. Your thought process is clouded by the full Moon, and the challenging aspects. Be aware that you may encounter obstacles, as this time is still under the influence of the Saturn-Pluto conjunction. Communicate clearly and distinctly when you extend or cross boundaries. You may otherwise face strong resistance.
August 3-5: Mars 19 degrees in Aries square Jupiter 19 degrees Capricorn.
While Mars is transiting Aries, it will continue to make square aspects to Jupiter, Saturn, and/or Pluto [all] in Capricorn for the rest of the year, I mention this particular date because it is an exact aspect @ 19 degrees and the 19th degree is more important.
It is the last degree before planets travel into the 3rd decan of a sign while in transit. In essence, each transit is a journey through a sign, but it is a growth process as well. Beginning in the first decan [0-9 degrees] the planet expresses through the sign in a more primitive manner. I call these degrees physical degrees. The 2nd decan is 10-19 degrees, and the planet expresses itself in a more reasoned and logical manner. I call these degrees mental degrees. And lastly, 20-29 degrees are called spiritual degrees.
You can see that the expression takes on a journey of awareness first physically interacting with the environment, then mentally scrutinizing it, and finally understanding its purpose. The last degree in each decan is important due to this, as the planet is culminating in that decan.
These Mars squares to Jupiter, Saturn, and/or Pluto will be affecting us from late March through December. It will take up almost 3 entire seasons, leaving only winter unaffected directly by Mars aspects, but Mars will still be in Aries at the end of the year. This cannot be underestimated.
8/6 Mercury enters Leo: Things will be dramatic, perhaps even chaotic for people. There could either be an extreme sense of faux confidence, or a lack of confidence for no reason. Whatever it is, it will be over the top and people will be extremely unsettled. The most important thing is to keep calm. Remember that this and other transits are all being affected by the over-bearing Mars-Jupiter-Saturn-Pluto squares.
It’s important to take decisive action because the square aspect will push too hard if you don’t, but it is also important not to be reckless or to act without thinking things through. This is not the month to rely entirely on instinct or doing things the way you always have done. It’s a time to adjust your thinking and make decisions using a combination of instinct [Mars] and experience [Saturn].
8/8 Venus enters Cancer: Venus enters Cancer and we can look forward to a time of feeling close to those we love. We feel the need to touch base with family members and children. Feel free to act on this impulse, it will feel good. The one thing that may occur is a feeling of melancholy and a feeling of not being loved by family and friends. Loneliness and a feeling of being isolated from the warmth and affection of loved ones can cause deep feelings of depression due to the pandemic and the isolation. There are ways to keep in touch with loved ones. Find them and let yourself not only love others, but be loved.
August 14-16: Mars forms an exact square to Pluto, but its influences will be felt from 8/6-8/16 using a 3 degree orb.
There is a real danger that misjudging a situation could lead to impulsive and uncontrolled actions that add to the general chaos. This square demands that calculated action be considered before acting in haste. It’s vital to be as thoughtful and calculating as possible during all of this month in order to obtain the best results.
8/20 Mercury enters Virgo:Mercury in Virgo is home as Virgo is ruled by Mercury. Use the discriminative and analytic powers of Mercury in Virgo this month to get clear on the ways that you can streamline your life in the areas of health, daily routine, mind/body awareness and work/service. Use this period to focus on the details of your life that have not been attended to recently. Use this Mercury period to clean up any energy drains in your life. You will find that you will be clearer and have more energy to focus on your highest priorities as a result.
8/22 Sun enters Virgo: As the sixth sign of the zodiac, Virgo represents the sixth stage in the evolution of man and his place in the universe. In Leo the need is to discover and develop man’s individuality and creative potential. In Virgo the need is to find ways to put the native’s individual talents to the best possible use. Here in the sign of Virgo the Sun finds the perfect space to express talents and achieve mastery. Here the healthy ego develops. Gone is the bluster and arrogance of the earlier signs, and in its place is a cooler, calmer native who is well aware of his/her talents and how to use them. This is why Virgo is known as the sign of service.
Here in the sign of Virgo the native finds a useful and practical use for his talents and it is also why all mastery of any discipline springs from either a healthy ego developed in the 6th house or from the dedication and attention to details that most Virgo natives possess in abundance.
This is a delicate position in the evolution of the individual and the last real chance to enter into relationships with others on any level as a healthy individual. Because of this the Sign of Virgo in Astrology and its primary purpose is widely misunderstood. While it is easy to reduce the sign to the detail-oriented person of service, to do so would be missing the point entirely.
Here through either the 6th house or the sign of Virgo each and every native does the finishing touches on their individuality. A healthy ego, one that is cognizant of its abilities, what it can accomplish and what it has to offer to others, is a NECESSITY before any native can enter into a more intimate and responsible relationship involving partners. Without a healthy respect and an understanding of one’s own abilities and talents, one cannot hope to feel adequate in any relationship of any merit. This sign speaks volumes to the maturity of any native and it is the lesson of the Virgo to know and understand when – enough is enough.
Virgos adapt to change. Virgos react to what they experience by assessing its practical worth. Before taking physical action, before sorting out emotional involvement, and before reasoning it out intellectually.
8/24-8/28 Mars Square Saturn and 9/28/20-10/1/20 but using a 3 degree orb the square will be felt from 8/10/20-10/10/20, which is a long time to be under a square of the malifics. This isn’t just any square either, both planets are in their rulers, and exerting a strong influence. Mars is ruled by Aries, and Saturn is ruled by Capricorn pitting these two against one another in a classic square standoff.
Advising and writing about this particular square has been problematic for me. I’ve considered one thing and then another. It’s one of the more problematic squares and I’m not sure how to counsel others when it comes to navigating these coming times.
Mars will demand action while Saturn will demand caution. These two energies perfectly describe the square aspect. One pushing to take action and the other resisting acting too soon. This is the dynamic each of us will be facing during the time of the square influence. We will feel pushed to ‘do something’ ‘anything’, while each time we act too quickly it feels like failure looms everywhere. And on the other hand, Saturn demands caution and reflection, but each time we give into that, we also seem to face consequences for delay.
My advice is to take action in calculated ways. That’s it. That’s all I got. We will find that we must do something—and soon, but we don’t have to be reckless. This will require more attention be paid to problems and circumstances. Our attention will be on the crises we must face and handle. We may not get enough sleep due to worry over these circumstances, but we must ‘think’ before we act, because we will be required to take action. It may be time consuming and divert your attention from the love and attention of others. But, this is a time of extreme concentration, deliberation, and swift action born of careful consideration. Please remember this. It’s important.
Well, that’s it for August. My humble wish for each of you is that you are safe, your families are safe, and the trials of these square aspects result in growth, awareness, and success.
~ Cait
