Astrology Hot Zones in August 2005 for Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces

by Robert Wilkinson

August is a fiery month, and you can bet there will be hot zones enough for anyone! The month kicks off under the influence of the powerful and difficult Mars square Saturn and Venus opposition Uranus aspects that are exact July 31, thus insuring that the influence will be intense in the days immediately before and after this aspect. Oppositions bring things to the surface, and squares from Mars to Saturn test our ability to stay focused, not get distracted or deflected by conflicts that aren't truly ours, and stay sensitive to details that could influence major consequences. Disregard that which is lesser in the need to focus on issues of greater importance. Narrow your affairs to get a better handle on the whole picture, don't jump to conclusions or overextend, and make sure that what you're doing is sound. There is some tendency to trust too much to luck when things need to be made more stable and predictable. Definitely know your limits, and don't go one step farther than is safe or reasonable.

These configurations will have a wide-reaching impact. With the Mars-Saturn aspect, the parts of our lives ruled by Aries and Scorpio will be in conflict with the areas ruled by Capricorn and Aquarius. As it is a waning square, there is a culmination and fulfillment, with a strong need for positive Aquarius and Scorpio traits and behaviors to balance out the stubborn, stuck stuff. We can also expect the activation of the "cosmic visitation" portended by the Mercury stationary point of April 2004 discussed here. It's mainly going to influence people born around January 20-24, April 20-24, July 20-24, and October 20-24, though of course it will have a huge effect on anyone with planets in the first three degrees of the Fixed signs (Aquarius, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio).

The Venus-Uranus opposition, on the other hand, shows that the Taurus and Libra sectors of our lives will be in opposition with the Capricorn and Aquarius sectors. An opposition indicates opposing trends, but also the surfacing of realizations and so this will bring some things into manifestation in the Venus areas of life, i.e., relationships, resources, values, and unexpected opportunities. This opposition heralds the Sun opposition Uranus the last day of August, and the Mercury opposition Uranus on September 8. This opposition will affect everyone born at the end of February, May, August, and November, as well as those born in the first few days of March, June, September, and December. Of course, if you have planets around 8-11 degrees Mutable (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) you will see some things come to surface, polarize, or fall away.

Another prominent hot zone involves the Sun quincunx Uranus, always an unpredictable, high-strung, and potentially explosive aspect. This will force adjustments of our Cancer and Leo sectors relative to our Capricorn and Aquarius sectors. This could show as a collective health issue, and will help us all to be more balanced, just, refined, responsible, mature, and organized. The Sun then quickly follows with its opposition to Neptune, challenging us to be clear about what roles we're playing, and drop the ones that are not interesting or diffusing our power and sense of order in our lives. It's the great Light bringing something Neptunian to the surface, so we'll see larger collective patterns that should help us both define our role and see that we can't take some things personally. In fact, we shouldn't take most things personally, since that is usually not a helpful response.

The Mercury retrograde opposed Neptune at the beginning of August will bring back certain uncertainties of July, and not be resolved until the end of the month. This series of oppositions will help our minds get clear about some ideals, realities, and the larger situation we're in.

The last major hot zone is August 24-28, featuring a Lunar fixed T-square, Mercury square Mars, Mercury opposed Neptune, and Mars square Neptune all in short order. This is a very powerful T-square throwing energies into Scorpio, anticipating the volatile periods throughout the Autumn with various planets in Scorpio opposing Mars in Taurus while squaring Neptune in Aquarius and Saturn in Leo. This period at the end of August will affect all signs, since there are so many planets involved. I'll comment more on this series of T-squares over the next few weeks, since it ushers in a very intense several months that will shift certain areas of our lives forever.

© Copyright 2006 Robert Wilkinson. Last update: 8/27/2006; 10:54:06 AM.