New Moon in Virgo - Monday, August 25th, 2014 at 7:13 AM PST

This New Moon in Virgo is heralding a perfect time for self-improvement and organization. Both the sun and the moon will be located in the 12th house, which is not an auspicious placement normally. Although the 12th house is associated with spirituality, the 12th house is also associated with secrets and wounds. The 12th house has a tendency to hide or redirect the energies of the planets, so you might feel more overlooked or alone.

On the west coast, the sun and the moon will both in the sign of Virgo and in opposition to Neptune (the planet associated with the 12th house), which might suggest this time of introspection is purposeful. Neptune is calling your attention to who you are and what you feel in an effort to do some internal and external housekeeping. Virgo is an analytic sign, and with the placement of the sun and moon, there will be an emphasis of self-examination related to how you are managing your body and environment. Are you eating or drinking excessively? Are you letting your housework get a little (or a lot) behind? You are feeling less in touch with your body or more spacey? Are you having a hard time making decisions because of a lack of clarity? These are some of the possible effects of the current placement of the moon, sun, and Neptune. 

Thankfully, we have some help coming from the direction of Pluto. Historically, Pluto can be a bit of an instigator, but in this context, he is providing a way to resolve the tension created by Neptune. Pluto forms a trine with the sun, the moon, and mercury, which will help force the truth into awareness. You will have an opportunity for greater understanding about how to better take care of yourself by examining old patterns originating from your family of origin. 

Mercury, also in the sign of Virgo, will be in opposition to Chiron the wounded healer. How you communicate what you think and even feel might be difficult. Or, the other possibility, you might have a hard time resisting expressing your hurts and wounds to others. Chiron is encouraging us to examine our communication and see how we can improve the way we express ourselves to others. 

Mars, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn will all be interacting closely with one another while Uranus gives them the chance to work through their issues without losing their uniqueness. Relationships (romantic and platonic) might have a little extra emotional charge, but like the other placements, this energy is meant to help resolve long-standing relationship issues.


Concise Considerations

1. Intentions focused on self-improvement and organization will be strengthened. 
2. Intentions focused on dealing with old wounds will be strengthened. 
3. Intentions focused on improving physical health through nutrition and exercise will be strengthened. 
4. Intentions focused on domestic improvements will be strengthened. 
5. Intentions focused on being heard or communicating differently will be strengthened. 
6. Intentions focused on mental clarity will be strengthened. 
7. Intentions focused on improving problem-solving will be strengthened. 
8. Intentions focused on connecting with your personal spirituality, religion, or philosophy will be strengthened. 
9. Intentions focused on removing barriers to immediate work problems (but not necessarily long-term career plans) will be strengthened. 

Sunday, August 10th, 2014 at 11:09 AM PST - Full Moon in Aquarius - Supermoon

On Sunday, the moon will be in Perigee, which means the moon will be as close to the earth as she can be given her orbit. The event has been termed "Supermoon" by more mainstream media, and the moon will look larger than normal in the night sky. Astrology does not offer a lot of information regarding Supermoons, but many would consider the closer proximity of the moon to intensify the lunar energies experienced on earth to some degree.

The moon will be shining in the astrological sign of Aquarius. Locally, the energies will be focused on family and career needs once again. However, the strain is much more substantial. The sun and mercury are both sitting in the fiery sign of Leo (in the 10th house of career), and they are both in direct opposition to the moon in Aquarius (in the fourth house of family and close relationships). A lot of tension is being created in the resolving career and job needs, so that you can restore balance and harmony to work and home. The strategy for resolution lies in the moon's placement in Aquarius.

Leo is well known for passion and getting what he wants. The problem is Leo's tactics can sometimes be off-putting because other human beings also have needs and desires, which do not always register with the Leo. Assertiveness and confidence can sometimes be perceived as aggressiveness and arrogance. If you are noticing you are not getting what you want through normal direct strategies, then perhaps you might have to consider the wisdom of Aquarius.

Aquarius is the polar opposite of Leo. Remember, polar opposites also share common themes despite their differences. The lessons for Leo and Aquarius have to do with identity. Leo rules over our sense of self and individual identity while Aquarius rules over our collective identity. Leo might say, "What I need matters." Aquarius might say, "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one." Leo has a personal approach, and Aquarius has an impersonal approach. That does not mean Aquarians do not have feelings or do not feel deeply--quite the contrary. What this means is Aquarius is going to make decisions based on what is in alignment with deeply personal principles regardless of what people think about them, and the principles tend to have a broader view of the whole.

In addition, Aquarians prefer collaboration and including others in decisions and processes. Although they often have their own ideas, they understand that learning from others can enhance their own good ideas and therefore help them grow. Female Aquarians often exhibit the collaboration tendency more often than males, but even Aquarian males seek some sort of input from others even if the input does not change their minds.

The theme of the upcoming full moon could be something like this:

"Allow the ideas of others to mix with yours to create truly genius results." 

Allow yourself to be open to the energies of others in order to create the most incredible internal alchemy that will manifest in the external world.

Concise Considerations

1. Consider asking for help from close friends or family members if you are having trouble overcoming a specific problem--especially work-related problems. 
2. Collaborate, network, and see the strengths of others in order to achieve your goals more effectively. 
3. If you are feeling stuck, then set intentions for seeing the bigger picture. 
4. Intentions focused on improving mental clarity and holistic thinking will be strengthened. 
5. Intentions focused on generating new ideas and solutions will be strengthened. 
6. Intentions focused on combining elements (i.e., ideas, people, things, projects) into a cohesive whole will be strengthened. 
7. Intentions focused on connecting with your uniqueness and expressing your own creativity are strengthened.