Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer

An old classic from Nat King Cole.

A perfect accompaniment to the Leo New Moon on July 30.

"Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Those days of soda and pretzels and beer
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
Dust off the sun and moon and sing a song of cheer"

Enjoy!



You'll wish that summer could always be here....

With love,
Mandi
www.mandilockley.com

Astrology for July ~ Pt. 3 The Lion and the Maiden

My astro-preview this month is split into three parts, published a few days apart. A summary list of all July’s events and links is included at the end of each post. Click for Part 1 and Part 2 

July 22/23*: Sun enters Leo

The Sun is out and proud! In loyal Leo, the Sun leads by the heart and it’s time to express yourself with pride, vitality and warmth. This is a great Sun placement for anyone who wants to be noticed and enjoys a sense of drama. If you’re going to do it, do it large while the Sun is in Leo! The Sun in Leo also stimulates our creative energy, along with our innate magnanimity. What could possibly go wrong with the Sun in this lovely sign? Well, watch out for childish behaviour, stubbornness and excessive ego/arrogance when the Sun is in Leo. Instead, remind yourself of the lessons of Leo - to lead honourably, to behave generously, to live life creatively and dramatically and to shine without leaving others in the shade.

Enjoy the Sun in Leo and a happy birthday to all you Lions out there! Here are some quotes from some very well known Leos.

The Sun will be in Leo until August 23.

July 28: Venus enters Leo

Venus the planet of love and affection joins the Sun in Leo. This placement urges us to express our affections with warmth and enthusiasm. Venus in Leo needs to remember though that there are two people in every relationship and it’s not appropriate for one partner to take up all the emotional space, there needs to be space for both partners to feel and express themselves. On the upside, Venus in Leo gives affection generously and enthusiastically and receives affection with good grace and an open heart. Most of all, Venus in Leo is a highly creative and sociable placement which urges us, through our relationships, to bring our inner child out to play. Enjoy!

Venus will be in Leo until August 21

July 28: Mercury enters Virgo

Mercury feels right at home in the exacting sign of Virgo. This is a time to think logically, critically, analytically and to use our words, minds and hands to be helpful and provide service to others. The energies for this Virgo placement are great for paying attention to detail, thinking things through with a healthy does of scepticism and communicating in a matter of fact, down to earth way. This can also be a humbling placement for Mercury, but perhaps that’s a good thing to counteract the ego centric energies of Sun and Venus in Leo. Just be careful of not being overly negative, taking on too much or losing sight of the bigger picture.

It would be wise to tackle anything complex or detailed and to have any difficult conversations before Mercury in Virgo turns retrograde in early August.

Mercury will turn Retrograde in Virgo on August 2/3. It re-enters Leo on August 7/8. It turns direct on August 26 and re-enters Virgo on September 8/9 where it stays until September 25.

July 30: New Moon in Leo ~ Lions in the Shade

The New Moon is the dark time of the month. This New Moon is in Leo, the sign that loves the brightness of the Sun, so what happens when you put Leo in the shadows? Well, simply put, the Lion takes a nap. He might be the king of the jungle, but he’s lazy at heart and can’t be in the spotlight all of the time!

For all of us - but particularly those with the Sun or Moon (or to a lesser extent other planets and angles) at 6-8 degrees of Leo or Aquarius - this New Moon is a time to recharge our batteries. Enough of work already, it’s time to rest and it’s time to play. Indulging in any kind of play now, in the widest sense of the word, is a great way to stimulate your inner child and get those creative juices running for the month ahead.

If you do anything this New Moon, make sure you do it with pride, warmth, confidence and generosity. Make those lions proud.

Summary of July’s Main Events

July 1: Eclipsed New Moon at 9 degrees Cancer 
July 1/2*: Mercury enters Leo 
July 3/4*: Venus enters Cancer
July 9/10*: Uranus turns retrograde at 5 degrees Aries 
July 13: Venus in Cancer square Saturn in Libra (11 degrees) 
July 14/15*: Full Moon at 22 degrees Capricorn
July 22/23*: Sun enters Leo
July 28: Venus enters Leo
July 28: Mercury enters Virgo
July 30: New Moon at 7 degrees Leo

Click for Void of Course Moon times for July

Click for Astroair’s three month Solstice Forecast

NOTE: *Where two dates are given, the event occurs on the earlier date in American time zones and on the later date in European time zones. This is due only to time differences on the clock, in reality the event occurs simultaneously everywhere. In the summary of July’s events the degrees have been rounded up or down to the nearest degree.

With love, Mandi
http://www.mandilockley.com/

Leo Full Moon Round Up

Everything becomes clearer under a Full Moon phase. This is payoff or payback time for plans hatched and actions taken during the New Moon and First Quarter Moon phase. The Full Moon and the few days leading up to it, press us to ACT, especially as February 18th's Full Moon falls across 29 degrees of Leo and Aquarius, the fifth and last Full Moon in a row to fall in the urgent last degree of its sign.

A Full Moon draws our attention to the two signs the Sun and Moon fall in, so what are the issues for Leo and Aquarius? The Leo-Aquarius axis symbolizes the need to balance the individual need for personal gain and acclaim with the need to help, support and be equal to everyone else. Aquarius will never deny Leo’s right to be king, but will absolutely insist that the king serves his people with integrity and honesty. Teamwork and delegation of authority is everything to Aquarius and selfish greed is just not acceptable. Aquarius teaches that ultimately it is through serving the group, the community, the team, our friends, that we gain the honor and significance that is so crucial to Leo. Conversely, Leo teaches Aquarius that sometimes you have to take the lead if the cause is important enough. Somebody has to stand up for the masses, rebel against the status quo and shake the system up, if there is to be any chance of a lasting change for the better and what better than Aquarian energy to do this!

Given the current line up of planets in Aquarius right now, the Leo Moon is injecting spirit into the Aquarian energy, calling for balance, as well as suggesting potential opposition:

Sun in Aquarius = energy and goals directed towards working together for the common good, towards brother/sisterhood, helping out
Mercury in Aquarius = new ideas/commonality of mindset/social networking/forward thinking/rule breaking
Mars in Aquarius = action for equality/fighting for a cause/rebellious anger
Neptune in Aquarius = collective idealism/humanitarianism/vision
Ceres in Aquarius = nurturance/comfort within a group

The events currently sweeping across the Middle East exemplify these Aquarian energies at work, as well as the revolutionary energies of the applying Uranus-Pluto square.

Here’s a quick round up of what some fine bloggers are saying about the Leo Full Moon:

From Virgo Magic: Breaking Open The Heart - Approaching the Leo Full Moon

Full Moon from Tracy's Astro Salon

Join moonpluto's Full Moon in Leo discussion over at ElsaElsa

From Gemini Awakening: Leo Full Moon 

Sun Conjunct Neptune from Cosmic Life Coach

Enjoy the Leo Full Moon!
With love,
Mandi
http://www.mandilockley.com/

Leo New Moon ~ Lions in the Dark

The dark of the Moon comes around approximately every 28 days. This next one is in Leo, the solar ruled sign which prefers the brightness of the Sun to the Lunar darkness.

Yes, Leo likes to bathe in the spotlight. He loves to be adored and adores to be loved, so put him in the dark for too long and you end up with a very grumpy Lion.

Yet, The Offstage Leo, Moll Frothingham’s excellent article for The Mountain Astrologer*, explains how Leos need regular downtime, offstage, to recharge their creative batteries, after which they are ready to step back into the light, to shine once again.

So, perhaps this New Moon’s message to Leo types, and to all of us, is that too much light can be blinding. Amidst constant dazzle, we lack clarity and can lose our way, so we must switch off the lights now and again and take some time to rejuvenate.

The Leo New Moon and the T-Square

The wider backdrop to this, and all the recent lunations, is of course the 2008-2011 T-Square alignment between Pluto in Capricorn, Uranus in Pisces/Aries and Saturn in Virgo/Libra. In July and early August 2010 the T-Square has become more dynamic, with all three planets aligned in Cardinal signs. Jupiter in Aries has also joined in the fun and very recently, Mars and Venus in Libra have fanned the fire as well.

These T-Square times have been marked by an ongoing process of deep change in our personal lives, reflected by changes in the outer, collective world.

Some of the themes that have emerged during these T-Square times have included the upsetting of the status quo; the necessity of letting go of the old and building new structures in our lives and the need to face our fears and insecurities, which goes hand in hand with the need to assess just what safety and security means to us.

These times have also been about adjusting and remaining flexible amidst changeable circumstances and conversely, about breaking down barriers that have been holding us back. Emotionally, many of us have faced difficult times, when we have had to re-learn how to relate to others and how to set healthy emotional boundaries.

This Leo New Moon makes a series of awkward (semi-square and sesquiquadrate) aspects to the T-Square planets. Tackling the difficult challenges of the last few months might be top of your list of priorities now, but remember that New Moons, representing the dark of the Moon are best for planning and planting the seeds of future actions, rather than for moving full steam ahead. By the time of the First Quarter Moon, around August 16th, the best way forward should become much more apparent, making this a better time to take action.

So, for now, practice being an offstage Leo. Rest, play and preserve your bright and vital energy for a better and shinier day.

Recommendations

*The Offstage Leo article mentioned above was published in the Dec 2009 edition of The Mountain Astrologer. Back issues of the magazine can be ordered here: http://www.mountainastrologer.com/back_issues/bi_2009.html

See also the latest installment of The Happiness Project from astrologer Hiroki Niizato, this one focusing on living from the Center of Your Being, inspired by the Leo New Moon. Also check out Auntie Moon’s New Moon in Leo ~ Please Acknowledge Me, on how we all need a little appreciation now and again and Starcana's creative visualization for the New Moon on her latest Astrological Happenings blog post. 

Data

This New Moon occurs with the Sun and Moon at 17 degrees and 24 seconds of Leo

Greenwich Mean Time: August 10 2010 @ 3.08am

British Summer Time: August 10 2010 @ 4.08am

Eastern Daylight Saving Time: August 9 2010 @ 11.08pm

Pacific Daylight Saving Time: August 9 2010 @ 8.08pm

With love,

Mandi

http://www.mandilockley.com/

Lions Roar ~ Quotes From Some Very Famous Leos

As the Sun moves into the sign of the lion, all you lovely Leos out there will be busy planning your extravagant birthday celebrations...To get you in the mood, here are some inspirational quotes from some very famous Leos (is there a Leo who's not famous, really???) As always, the quotes also reflect their Moon sign. Enjoy!

Everyone will be famous for 15 minutes.
Andy Warhol, Artist
Sun Leo – Moon Aries

Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.
Mick Jagger, Singer
Sun Leo – Moon Taurus

So many worlds, so much to do, so little done, such things to be.

Alfred Lord Tennyson, Poet

Sun Leo – Moon Gemini

I have as much privacy as a goldfish in a bowl.
Princess Margaret
Sun Leo – Moon Cancer

I spent a lot of time with a crown on my head.
Halle Berry, Actress
Sun Leo – Moon Leo

Like a Virgin, touched for the very first time. Like a virrrrrgin, feel your heartbeat next to mine.

Madonna, Singer

Sun Leo – Moon Virgo

Film is a very, very powerful medium. It can either confirm the idea that things are wonderful the way they are, or it can reinforce the conception that things can be changed.
Wim Wenders, Director
Sun Leo – Moon Libra

I just feel like sometimes I'm a force to be dealt with. My talents are sometimes overused and also sometimes underused. It's not easy being me.

Ben Affleck, Actor

Sun Leo – Moon Scorpio

This is one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.
Neil Armstrong, Astronaut, First Man on the Moon
Sun Leo – Moon Sagittarius

If you work hard and play by the rules, this country is truly open to you. You can achieve anything.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Actor, Politician

Sun Leo – Moon Capricorn

It's great to be queen!

Helen Mirren, Actress

Sun Leo – Moon Aquarius

Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.

Coco Chanel, Designer

Sun Leo – Moon Pisces

Quotes from http://www.brainyquotes.com/

With love
Mandi
http://www.mandilockley.com/

Mars Retrograde News Watch [Update]

I spotted this at Victoria Station in London the other day and thought it was such a perfect poster for Mars in Leo.

You’ve got the big cat (OK, it’s not a Lion, but let’s not split whiskers)!

There’s the direct reference to the red planet in the band name Thirty Seconds to Mars

The album title is This is War (astrologically, Mars rules wars)

Finally, as if that wasn’t enough, another reference to regal Leo: Includes the Hit Single ‘Kings and Queens’

You couldn’t make it up!

Anybody know this band, are they any good?

Related articles:
Mars Retrograde News Watch
Mars in Leo – A Retrograde Cat Fight
Planetary Retrograde Dates for 2010

Mandi
http://www.mandilockley.com/

Mars Retrograde News Watch

When the planets change direction (Retrograde or Direct), it’s always a good time to keep an eye on the news for stories that reflect this. This is a great way to see astrology in action and learn just how the movements of the planets really do seem to reflect life here on planet earth.

Below I’ve listed a few themes to look out for during the Mars in Leo Retrograde period, but see my last blog, A Retrograde Cat Fight, for a discussion on the timings and the general and personal themes.

General stories about young men
For example, last week it was reported in the UK that a growing number of young men are opting to stay living at home with their parents well into their late twenties and thirties. This is partly because they like being looked after and partly because they can't afford to move out.
A young man, Joe McElderry, won the UK X Factor. [Update 20th Dec: in the biggest and most exciting music chart battle ever, on the day Mars goes Rx, Rage Against the Machine's song Killing in the Name becomes UK Xmas #1, following a grassroots facebook campaign aimed at questioning the entitlement of Simon Cowell's X Factor winner for the Xmas #1 spot. Joe McElderry & Cowell respond to the bad news with dignity and grace & Rage, who had nothing to do with the inception of this rebellion, decide to donate £65,000 to homeless charity Shelter.]

Stories about Gold and other precious metals
See this fascinating article by astrology Bill Herbst on Gold and Silver as commodities
There were a number of news items last week about the increasing numbers of people selling off their gold and silver jewelry to raise cash. The report said that many of them were being ripped off. [Update 20th Dec @greensummit on Twitter (check out her profile) mentioned to me that purchases of gold for body decoration is down!]

Cat fights, literal or otherwise
Last night for the first time ever to my knowledge, my cat’s cat flap was breached by another cat. Sharpen your claws Milton because territorial wars are bound to ensue!

Wars, soldiers, the military, military retreats
It’s bad news that the US, UK and UN have all pledged extra troops for Afghanistan. Let’s hope it’s for a strictly defensive mission because under Mars Retrograde, he who strikes first always loses.

Sexual affairs coming out of the woodwork
Tiger, the big cat of golf is exposed. He has now decided to retreat (retrograde) from public life.

Stories about gangs of youths, particularly with their issues of respect and pride

Stories involving blades, knives and other sharp metal objects

Stories about brave young heroes
[Update 21st Dec: Princes William and Harry send a heartfelt message to the families of grieving young war heroes.]

I will add stories as they pop up in the news.......and I'm sure you can think of more examples.

Mandi

http://www.mandilockley.com/

Related posts
Planetary Retrograde Dates for 2010
Retrograde Planets in the Birth Chart
Uranus Direct and Uranus Transits
Uranus Direct and the Iraq Inquiry
Neptune Direct & The Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron Story
Mercury Retrograde

New Moon in Leo: Finger of God

On 20th August, the Moon joins the Sun for a Leo New Moon, carrying the loss and healing themes of the last few weeks with it and taking them inward for assimilation.

That the chart for this New Moon features a Yod is very significant.

A Yod is an aspect pattern comprising planets in Sextile (in this case between Mercury and Saturn in Virgo and Venus in Cancer) which make Quincunx (or Inconjunct) aspects with a third planet or planets, in this case the Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron Conjunction in Aquarius. Jup-Nep-Chi, therefore, find themselves at the powerful apex point of this formation, otherwise known as the ‘Finger of God’.

In the chart below you will see Jup-Nep-Chi at the bottom of the chart, connected to Mercury, Saturn and Venus by the green dotted lines which denote the two Quincunxes.

Yods very much bring into focus the planet/s at the apex. They call for awkward, possibly downright uncomfortable, adjustments. They want us to find clarity and move forward with our purpose. In a clear echo of the themes of the recent Aquarius Lunar Eclipse this Yod urges us to seek a fresh perspective. We are being asked to expand our consciousness, let go of beliefs/habits/emotions we no longer need and move on. It is no longer relevant to feel unworthy or unqualified for our purpose, we need to just do it! If others do not like it, we must, with compassion, let them go, then find or create our new team, reorganizing ourselves accordingly and progressing forward.

This age we are living in is a milestone time, we need the new generation of healers, visionaries, artists, poets and spiritual warriors to emerge. We need them to embody the highest Aquarian values of humanitarianism, true equality and freedom. We are not asking for old style leaders, we are asking for the forerunners of the new-style leaders. Leaders who can teach others to take responsibility for themselves, for others, for our world and who understand that they will need to step aside with grace when their job is done.

Maybe you are still unclear about your purpose, or what you should do next, still in the dark about what lies ahead on your path? Remember that the seeds you plant now, under this New Moon, must by necessity germinate in the dark. You cannot yet know the final outcome.

If you feel the urge to seek out solitude during this Leo New Moon phase to work things out and if you have the opportunity to do so, then take it. Then, in the spirit of Leo, plant the seeds of your future with pride and creativity, confident that one day they will find the Sun.

While these themes touch everyone, this New Moon will particularly affect the fixed signs: Leos, Aquarians, Taureans and Scorpios (especially those with the Sun, planets or points between 20-28 degrees of those signs). Additionally, anyone with planets or points between 20 and 24 degrees of Cancer or Virgo may also feel these energies intensely.

If you do not know your chart and want to see if the New Moon in Leo is in close contact with your chart, you can quickly and easily download a free birth chart from http://www.alabe.com/ which also includes a basic interpretation or email me at mandi@mandilockley.com if you would like a personal consultation.

More articles by Mandi Lockley at: http://www.mandilockley.com/

I offer personal consultations, based on your time, place and date of birth. If you are interested, email me at mandi@mandilockley.com or see my website at http://www.mandilockley.com/

Idealism, Hope and Healing: Sun in Leo opposes Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron

Astrology: 13th to 18th August 2009

Still hot off the back of the Aquarius Lunar Eclipse, the Sun in Leo meets the Aquarius energies again when he opposes the current and rare Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron triple conjunction. Hope and idealism are fine keywords for both Jupiter and Neptune and healing is a reliable keyword for Chiron. But we must also remember that with Neptune we are also in the world of scandals and deception, a nebulous place where nothing is ever quite what it seems and our physical and emotional boundaries can easily crumble. This is also the space where Chiron brings his healing through pain and suffering. At worst, Jupiter exaggerates and spreads the negative effects of Neptune and Chiron, but at best, Jupiter will also boost their most positive expressions.

During this triple conjunction, we have already seen the swift spread of the Swine Flu outbreak and the media and government reaction in the UK, which has been vastly overblown and disproportionate in many people’s opinion (which is not to belittle the suffering of those affected of course). The MPs expenses scandal in the UK is another example of the effects of this conjunction, especially when viewed in the wider context of the ongoing Saturn-Uranus oppositions.

As for examples of the conjunction’s positive expressions, astrologer Hiroki Niizato nails it when he describes how the recent release of the two American journalists from North Korea by former President Bill Clinton reflects the conjunction's themes of hope, faith and humanitarianism. Read his blog here: holisticastrologerblog.

On a personal level, while we may feel invigorated by the energies of the Sun in Leo, and relieved to have let go of some of our old ‘stuff’ during the Lunar Eclipse, we may still be licking our wounds and mourning what we have lost, for even in negative emotions, relationships and situations, we feel the comfort of habit and inevitably miss them when they are gone. Such is the human condition.

Jupiter, Saturn and Chiron are currently all Retrograde (in apparent backward movement). In fact, any planet that opposes the Sun will always be Retrograde (except the Moon, which is not strictly a planet of course). This means that whenever the Sun opposes a planet, it provides us with a counterpoint, an opportunity to view things from a different perspective.

So, during mid-August it might be wise to review the last few months and make adjustments as necessary. Are your old hopes and dreams still appropriate, or even possible? From this fresh perspective, are your recent disappointments really as bad as they once seemed? Has the healing process reached the point where you can finally let go of past hurts? Mars in Gemini’s helpful Trine aspect to Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron over the same period should provide the mental dexterity needed to negotiate these difficult questions and Mars’ square to Uranus on the 19th August, will provide the energy boost needed to make the necessary changes following your review*.

Leos with birthdays between 13th and 18thAugust will particularly resonate with the Sun opposition Jupiter-Saturn-Chiron themes and they will carry these energies with them during the coming year, in their Solar Return charts**. The opposition will also affect Aquarians born between 9th and 15th February; Taureans born between 11th and 17th May and Scorpios born between 12th and 18th November, as well as anyone with planets or points at 19-26 degrees of the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius).

If you do not know your chart and want to see if the Sun opposite Jupiter-Saturn-Chiron is in close contact with your chart, you can quickly and easily download a free birth chart from http://www.alabe.com/ which also includes a basic interpretation or email me at mandi@mandilockley.com if you would like a personal consultation.

*For more on Mars’ aspects this month, see Astrogrrl’s excellent blog at: As Above, So Below

**A solar return chart is cast for your birthday, when the Sun is at the exact same degree as when you were born. The chart is said to reflect the themes of the coming year.

More articles by Mandi Lockley and details of personal consultations at: http://www.mandilockley.com/

Obama & The Aquarius Lunar Eclipse

On 5th August (in US time zones) and 6th August (European time zones), we experience the third and final Eclipse of the season, a Lunar Eclipse in Aquarius. During a Lunar Eclipse, the Moon has completed the exact half way point of her monthly circuit around the Zodiac and is in an opposition with the Sun, the position of the Full Moon. The Full Moon is usually the brightest and fullest of times, when the Goddess is in her incarnation of the fertile mother. However, this month, as the Sun and Moon face each other off, the Moon passes behind the Earth, where she can’t receive the energizing rays of the Sun. At her ripest time she is Eclipsed.

The Lunar Eclipse, therefore, is a time of deadlines and endings, a time to let go of stubborn ideas and worn out attachments, a time to play out the themes of the Leo-Aquarius opposition.
The Leo-Aquarius axis symbolizes the need to balance the individual need for personal gain and acclaim with the collective responsibility to abide by rules set to benefit all of society (and if you think that following rules is not very Aquarian, pause to remember that Aquarius’ ancient ruler is none other than stern father Saturn).

Aquarius will never deny Leo’s right to be king, but will absolutely insist that the king serves his people with integrity and honesty. Teamwork and delegation of authority is everything to Aquarius and selfish greed is just not acceptable. Aquarius teaches that ultimately it is through serving the group, the community, the team, our friends, that we gain the honour and significance that is so crucial to Leo.

Conversely, Leo teaches Aquarius that sometimes you have to take the lead if the cause is important enough. Somebody has to stand up for the masses, rebel against the status quo and shake the system up, if there is to be any chance of a lasting change for the better and what better than Aquarian energy to do this!

That this Eclipse occurs the day after Barack Obama’s birthday and falls on his Sun in Leo can be no coincidence! In fact, the Leo-Aquarius axis is very prominent indeed in his horoscope and his mission is surely to be an influential catalyst for these themes.

Obama has Aquarius rising and Jupiter in Aquarius, with Sun, Mercury and Uranus in Leo in the public-seeking Western hemisphere of his chart. The karmic, lesson-giving nodal axis also falls across Leo-Aquarius in Obama’s chart. (4th August 1961, 7.24pm, Honalulu, Hawaii - the chart is posted below).

“Yes We Can” – is such a wonderfully positive Leo-Aquarius refrain, so let’s hope that that the fervor of the election spirit is revived and put to beneficial use, following this Eclipse time.

On a personal level, look for help from the significant groups to which you belong (your community, your team, your friendship circle etc) during this Lunar Eclipse for clues about what might need to be released in your life right now, then seize your power, remembering to act in a way that will benefit the group, whilst still honouring your own unique, highly individual needs.

Mercury, who moved into discriminating, rational Virgo on 2nd August, will be there to assist in this process and a helpful aspects to Pluto on the 3rd will make it easier to think deeply, weigh up the pros and cons and make level headed decisions. Additionally, on the 10th, a hard working square between Mars and Saturn will give you the energy and resolve to follow through.

This Eclipse, at 13 degrees and 43 minute of Aquarius will affect Aquarians born between 31st January and 4th of February and Leos born between 3rd and 7th August, as well as as well as people who have other planets or angles between 11 and 16 degrees of Leo or Aquarius. Additionally, any planet or point at 11 through 16 degrees of Leo or Aquarius will be activated by the August 6th Lunar Eclipse.

If you do not know your chart and want to see if the Eclipse is in close contact with your chart, you can quickly and easily download a free birth chart from http://www.alabe.com/ which also includes a basic interpretation.

If you want to go deeper, please also see my article Working with Eclipses, for information on how to work with Eclipses which closely aspect your natal horoscope.

Mandi Lockley's Astroair Astrology: articles, details of consultations at: http://www.mandilockley.com/

August Astrology: The People's King

THE POWER OF THE DARK GODDESS

Over the last couple of months I’ve been writing a lot about the need for us as individuals and for the world, to acknowledge the power of the feminine, Ying energies and bring them into balance with the masculine, Yang energies. It feels like its time for women to seize their power and for both sexes to respect and embody those qualities associated with the feminine, such as compassion, gentleness, yielding, giving to others and nurturing. The world sorely needs this.

I sense that these issues came to a head, in a very personal way for many of us, during the July 22nd Total Solar Eclipse. A Solar Eclipse is a very special New Moon, a dark Moon phase which plunges the Sun into darkness with it. The Moon’s special mission, in her incarnation as the dark Goddess, was to guide the Sun through the dark minutes of the longest Eclipse of the 21st Century. That the Sun and the Moon were at the very last degree of the sensitive, receptive, feminine sign of Cancer, underlines the urgency of the mission.

How many of you felt relief the day after the Solar Eclipse? I for one felt a sense that, after all the stress in the build up, the path was re-set and all was as it should be.


OUT OF DARKNESS, COMETH LIGHT

This relief, I’m sure, was partly because the day after the Eclipse the Sun emerged out of the darkness and into the majestic sign of Leo. In Leo, the sign of its rulership, the Sun is in a place of splendour and dignity, like the great Sun God Ra sailing across the heavens in his sky boat, powerful and glorious.

With the Sun in Leo, our hearts are warmed and we feel hopeful and optimistic, magnanimous and generous. But following his journey through the underworld, the Sun King carries with him a renewed understanding of the power of the Goddess. He must understand that his Leonine generosity should truly help others and not merely be used to boost his popularity, that as King his power should be used responsibly to serve and benefit his people. He must learn that he is his people’s servant, not the other way around. This is also the lesson that Aquarius brings to Leo and it becomes a major theme for August. It is a lesson that we as individuals, as well as the politicians, leaders and bosses who represent us, would do well to absorb.

That the Leo-Aquarius axis is very prominent in the horoscope of Barack Obama is no coincidence. Obama has Aquarius rising and Jupiter in Aquarius, with Sun, Mercury and Uranus in Leo in the public-seeking Western hemisphere of his chart. The karmic, lesson-giving nodal axis also falls across Leo-Aquarius in Obama’s chart. (4th August 1961, 7.24pm, Honalulu, Hawaii).

“Yes We Can” - what a wonderfully positive Leo-Aquarius refrain!

ECLIPSED AGAIN

As early as 6th August, we are reminded that our hero the Sun will never be done with Lady Luna, when they meet again during the Eclipsed Aquarius Full Moon. The Moon has completed the exact half way point of her monthly circuit around the Zodiac and is in an opposition with the Sun, the position of the Full Moon. The Full Moon is usually the brightest and fullest of times, when the Goddess is in her incarnation of the fertile mother. However, this month, as the Sun and Moon face each other off, the Moon passes behind the Earth, where she can’t receive the energizing rays of the Sun. At her ripest time she is Eclipsed.

The Lunar Eclipse, therefore, is a time of deadlines and endings, a time to let go of stubborn ideas and worn out attachments, a time to play out the themes of the Leo-Aquarius opposition.
The Leo-Aquarius axis symbolizes the need to balance the individual need for personal gain and acclaim with the collective responsibility to abide by rules set to benefit all of society (and if you think that following rules is not very Aquarian, pause to remember that Aquarius’ ancient ruler is none other than stern father Saturn).

Aquarius will never deny Leo’s right to be king, but will absolutely insist that the king serves his people with integrity and honesty. Teamwork and delegation of authority is everything to Aquarius and selfish greed is just not acceptable. Aquarius teaches that ultimately it is through serving the group, the community, the team, our friends, that we gain the honour and significance that is so crucial to Leo.

Conversely, Leo teaches Aquarius that sometimes you have to take the lead if the cause is important enough. Somebody has to stand up for the masses, rebel against the status quo and shake the system up, if there is to be any chance of a lasting change for the better and what better than Aquarian energy to do this!

On a personal level, look for help from the significant groups to which you belong (your community, your team, your friendship circle etc) during this Lunar Eclipse for clues about what might need to be released in your life right now, then seize your power, remembering to act in a way that will benefit the group, whilst still honouring your own unique, highly individual needs.
Mercury, who moves into discriminating, rational Virgo on 2nd August, will be there to assist in this process and a helpful aspects to Pluto on the 3rd will make it easier to think deeply, weigh up the pros and cons and make level headed decisions. Additionally, on the 10th, a hard working square between Mars and Saturn will give you the energy and resolve to follow through.

This Eclipse, at 13 degrees and 43 minute of Aquarius will affect Aquarians born between 31st January and 4th of February and Leos born between 3rd and 7th August, as well as as well as people who have other planets or angles between 11 and 16 degrees of Leo or Aquarius. Additionally, any planet or point at 11 through 16 degrees of Leo or Aquarius will be activated by the August 6th Lunar Eclipse.

If you do not know your chart and want to see if the Eclipse is in close contact with your chart, you can quickly and easily download a free birth chart from http://www.alabe.com/ which also includes a basic interpretation.

If you want to go deeper, please also see my article Working with Eclipses, for information on how to work with Eclipses which closely aspect your natal horoscope. http://www.mandilockley.com/working_with_eclipses.html


IDEALISM, HOPE AND HEALING

Between 13th and 18th August the Sun in Leo meets the Aquarius energies head on again, this time when he opposes the current and rare Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron triple conjunction.
Hope and idealism are fine keywords for both Jupiter and Neptune and healing is a reliable keyword for Chiron. But we must also remember that with Neptune we are also in the world of scandals and deception, a nebulous place where nothing is ever quite what it seems and our physical and emotional boundaries can easily crumble. This is also the space where Chiron brings his healing through pain and suffering. At worst, Jupiter exaggerates and spreads the negative affects of Neptune and Chiron, but at best, Jupiter will also boost their most positive expressions.
During this triple conjunction, we have already seen the swift spread of the Swine Flu outbreak and the media and government reaction in the UK, which has been vastly overblown and disproportionate in many people’s opinion (which is not to belittle the suffering of those affected of course). The MPs expenses scandal in the UK is another example of the effects of this conjunction, especially when viewed in the wider context of the ongoing Saturn-Uranus oppositions.

On a personal level, while we may feel invigorated by the energies of the Sun in Leo, and relieved to have let go of some of our old ‘stuff’ during the Lunar Eclipse, we may still be licking our wounds and mourning what we have lost, for even in negative emotions, relationships and situations, we feel the comfort of habit and inevitably miss them when they are gone. Such is the human condition.

Jupiter, Saturn and Chiron are currently all Retrograde (in apparent backward movement). In fact, any planet that opposes the Sun will always be Retrograde (except the Moon, which is not strictly a planet of course). This means that whenever the Sun opposes a planet, it provides us with a counterpoint, an opportunity to view things from a different perspective. So, during mid-August it might be wise to review the last few months and make adjustments as necessary. Are your old hopes and dreams still appropriate, or even possible? From this fresh perspective, are your recent disappointments really as bad as they once seemed? Has the healing process reached the point where you can finally let go of past hurts? Mars’ square to Uranus on the 19th August, will provide the energy boost needed to make the necessary changes following your review.

The Sun opposite Jupiter-Saturn-Chiron will particularly affect Leos born between 13th and 18th August; Aquarians born between 9th and 15th February; Taureans born between 11th and 17th May and Scorpios born between 12th and 18th November.


PLANTING IN THE DARK

On 20th August, fresh off the back of the Sun’s opposition with Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron, the Moon joins the Sun once again for a new Moon, carrying the themes which came up in the preceding week and taking them inwards for assimilation. You may be unclear on what is next for you, in the dark about what lies ahead on your path. However, the seeds planted now, must germinate in the dark, we cannot yet know the outcome. But, in the spirit of Leo, be sure to plant your seeds with pride and creativity, confident that one day, like the great God Ra, they will find the Sun.

On 22nd August, the Sun moves into exacting, discriminating Virgo, where, by mid September he will add his energy to the third exact hit of the long-running Saturn-Uranus oppositions on September 15th.

More on that and on all the other major aspects during the Sun’s passage through Virgo in my next article/blog. In the meantime, enjoy the Sun’s passage through bright Leo and don’t forget to wear your shades if things get too bright.

I offer personal consultations, based on your time, place and date of birth. If you are interested, email me at mandi@mandilockley.com or see my website at http://www.mandilockley.com/