astrology & you

THETHE POETRYPOETRY MANMAN

By Frank Fratoe Cosmic Input? Cosmic Input?

Many planets are now hidden behind nebula-dust far away when supernova fired a salvo nobody here could listen to amid the breadth of distance because sunburst was remote and uproar never reached us through vast and deep space.

Yet we begin to acknowledge what is alive beyond Earth culled from radio-telescopes that catch electronic pulses churning wavelengths at us and maybe not so far ahead humanity can listen to talk whispering on other worlds.

Frank Fratoe lives & writes in the city.he loves.

leo comes in with a roar

Leo Season Comes in With a Roar Leo is ruled by the Sun, is a fire sign, and the fifth sign of the zodiac. In Greek mythology, our astrological Leo was the lion (Nemean) that Hercules was tasked to kill as a punishment for killing his own wife and children. Nemean proved impervious to weapons and the arrows just bounced off, making it necessary for Hercules to kill the lion with his bare hands. To make a long story short, Hera (goddess of marriage, women, and family) memorialized Nemean for trying to kill Hercules by placing him among the stars as Leo. Nothing juicier than a Greek myth, right?

Well, today we see Leo in a different light. With Leo comes the reminder to follow your joy, to be creative, and to kick back and have some playful fun. Leo has a warmth and a charisma. There can also be a boldness, a courage to emerge from the watery sign of Cancer and bask in the glorious rays of the Sun. This first week of August 2022 has the potential to be packed full of roaring energy! Here is what to be aware of: On August 1, Uranus, Mars, and the North Node will make an exact conjunction in Taurus at 18 degrees. When Uranus and Mars come together, there can be a great degree of disruptive energy, even if it is a shake-up that ultimately proves positive. Uranus can represent the genius or innovator in each of us, but it can also be the bringer of swift change. Ka-pow, bing-bang, breakthrough or break up, the winds of change can turn into a squall. Things can feel chaotic, uncertain, yet some may feel as if they are experiencing an AHA. With the North Node in Taurus, we may crave stability and predictability, so if these planets are prominent in your chart, take a step back, breathe, and get grounded. Look at your birth chart for any planets that may make an aspect with 17 to 20 degrees Taurus, as these angles make the energies more significant for you.

By Dianne Bachman

On August 9, we will experience a Moon wobble. Back in February 2022 I wrote about the last wobble, which occurs about every 86.5 days. Moon wobbles are when the Sun makes either an exact square or conjunction with the lunar nodes. A man by the name of Carl Payne Tobey discovered the phenomenon in the 1940s, originally calling it "lunar node instability". Mr. Tobey was exploring the relationship between insurance claims and accidents and astrological cycles. He wrote: "When the Sun is conjunct or square the lunar nodes there is human instability. People are excitable. They are more easily confused. Their reactions are emotional rather than intellectual." So, it is not that horrible things happen because of this wobble, but people are thinking less clearly, and it makes us more susceptible to things like fires and accidents. So, we can look at the astrological climate of August and be prepared but it is impossible (in my experience) to predict what will happen. We can use our knowledge of cosmic weather to be prepared and to use it to our advantage rather than being blind-sided.

Here are other significant planetary transits for the month of August:

August 4th Mercury enters the sign of Virgo. Organize, plan. Anything requiring precision is favored as mental acumen is potent. August11th Venus enters Leo bringing relief to the intensity of the first week. Play, love, get artsy and creative. Give the energy of the past week a voice through any artistic medium that expresses. Full Moon in Aquarius, a day busy with cosmic energies! Groups, hobbies, or social activities are favored today. You may be called to humanitarian pursuits or to advocate for issues that impact the collective. This Moon is also conjunct Saturn, which is favorable for focusing on any habits you wish to modify or change. The Moon is squaring Uranus, deepening the energies of the first week, and is a suitable time to remain open to new possibilities if there are situations that come along and surprise you. Finally, the Moon will be squaring the North and South Nodes, which can bring subconscious feelings or legacy issues to the surface. August 20th Mars enters Gemini. Speak up but be careful not to be too impulsive with your words and actions. Also, feed any passions you might have re: learning new things. August 23rd Sun enters Virgo. Precision, planning, working out details and being of service to others are prominent themes. August 24th Uranus stations retrograde. Time to revisit any disruptions from the first week and gain insight or rework solutions. August 25th Mercury enters Libra. Social events, artistic pursuits are favored.

August 27th New Moon in Virgo. Planning, organizing, health check ups and starting new health routines are all supported.

Dianne Bachman is a psychotherapist & astrologer practicing in FXBG. She can be reached at FourwindsastrologyLLC@gmail.com photo “Moon Rise Over Santorini” by Linda Burns of FXBG