We begin August with three planets, Mars, Mercury and Jupiter moving through Cancer, the sign of home and the homeland. Cancer is the most emotional of signs and while Mars is in Cancer-through August 26, situations and people may seem more emotional than at other times. There will be a deep, perhaps subconscious longing to belong, whether to a country, a group, a family or even a couple, and these feelings will continue as long as Jupiter is in Cancer over the next 11 months. Jupiter, the planet of expansion and gain is also in the sign of the homeland, but August 11-15 it opposes Pluto, and August 21-26 Jupiter squares Uranus with these transits becoming exact on the above dates. The energy of these transits however is building long before the 'exact date.'
This configuration creates what is called a Cardinal T-square between Jupiter, Uranus, and Pluto. The Cardinal signs are Cancer, Capricorn, Aries and Libra and when these signs are involved energy moves faster, and events occur that are of importance.
A T-Square is a planetary configuration involving 3 planets that looks like a T. There is an opposition (180 degrees) and 2 squares (90 degrees) involved. It is considered a stressful configuration and the outcome is change on many levels. It involves the energies of the three planets: Jupiter-money, legal matters, and all things ruled by Jupiter, Uranus-change, rebellion, unexpected events and even explosions and Pluto-power, powers that be and Pluto is the ultimate planet of transformation that is considered out of our hands. This transit will affect the world and if it is hitting a sensitive point in your chart, it will bring change in your life. You may feel as though you have had enough of something, or even someone.
Jupiter-Pluto transits have to do with situations becoming blown out of proportion. You, or those around you can become fanatical in your viewpoints about something, obsessive and over-the-top. Religion could become front and center, along with money, joint finances, or fraud. In the news, Two stars of the "Real Housewives of New Jersey" have been indicted on federal fraud charges. Teresa Giudice, 41, and her husband Giuseppe "Joe" Giudice, 43, of Montville Township, were charged in a 39-count indictment with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, bank fraud, making false statements on loan applications and bankruptcy fraud. This, in part will set the tone for things to come and it is likely we will see more charges of this type among public people and in the world.
This transit can escalate the breakdown in family situations, increase lawsuits, and often we criticize others while neglecting personal improvement.
As Jupiter squares Uranus, we can see situations in our lives/homes change unexpectedly, and money can be affected/losses incurred. This transit can relate to impractical ideas, impatience, lack of discipline, a tendency to jump to conclusions, and issuers surrounding legal, medical, monetary or moral issues. It can also relate to the awakening of human consciousness overall.
On a world level political issues will heat up, and we are likely to see this transit manifest itself publically much in the same way. Home and the homeland becomes important, but remember there are many diverse homelands in the world and we may well see conflict among differing factions and among religions and philosophies.
Jupiter represents young men, money and expansion, religion, legal issues, and is ruled by the sign Sagittarius which is connected to truth seeking, religion and philosophies. Pluto in Capricorn represents the 'powers that be,' sometimes the bullies, (leaders/powers that be) in the world, and when the two meet in an opposition we have conflict in these areas. We will no doubt see legal wrangling, and moral-religious intolerance and debate.
Jupiter will become part of a cardinal T- square between Uranus and Pluto, now at 12 and 9 degrees of Aries-Capricorn, just as Mars did during the last days of July, bringing news the US government is able to track virtually every internet movement made by US citizens using NSA program XKeystone, just as Edward Snowden stated. Whether you consider Edward Snowden a hero or fugitive, he has raised many questions about the amount of power a government holds over its citizens, and as the U-P square continues to come together many more times between now and 2016, these questions will continue to arise.
Astrologer/Author Nicolas Champion writes, "Barbault relates this twelve year cycle to the growth of international terrorism. As a cycle it ought to relate to the development of plutocratic as well as political power. Crawford has evidence of its impact on economic cycles. Ebertin relates this combination to the attainment of power of all kinds, be it physical, material, mental or spiritual."
Pluto also rules the media, and we may see issues or even legal issues connected to the media.
The last time Jupiter aspected Pluto was November/December 2007 just before the housing market bubble burst in the US, resulting in a worldwide economic decline. Jupiter conjuncted Pluto in the latter degrees of Sagittarius.
In November of 2007, Automaker Chrysler announced plans for cutting an additional 12,000 jobs worldwide, the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged over 360 points, its worst daily loss since February 27, A suicide bomber attacked a bus carrying Pakistan Air Force personnel, and we saw deadly hurricanes with mass death and flooding in Mexico. Also Al-Qaeda attacks occurred , and there was tension and fighting in the Middle East.
In May of 2001 Jupiter opposed Pluto in Gemini-Sagittarius. Of course, Saturn was also in Gemini, opposing Pluto when the world changed and the World Trade Center was attacked. The US economy was in a major slowdown that would become a recession post-911 requiring fiscal and monetary stimulus the US had not seen in a generation.
As Jupiter retrogrades, these transits will occur again during the latter part of January 2014, and In April of 2014 Jupiter, Pluto and Uranus form a major T-square that also includes Mars. This Cardinal T-square will fall on the US chart natal Sun, bringing situations and issues we have heretofore not experienced.
In 1931, after the Stock Market crash of 1929 Jupiter was conjunct Pluto in Cancer, and became part of a Cardinal T-square between Uranus in Aries and Saturn in Capricorn. The rest, as they say is history.
Some other transits of importance in August:
August is the month the Sun is in Leo, the ruler of the fifth house of love affairs, fun, and children. An astrologer friend used to say July is the month for family vacations, August the month for singles. As the Sun shifts to Leo we think more about having fun, and enjoying the last part of the summer.
August 2, Venus sextiles Mars and this can be a positive transit for social affairs your love life. Enjoy it! August 4,the Sun trines Uranus and this is an upbeat transit indicative of new ideas and expansion. Also on August 4, Mercury returns to its stationary retrograde degree of 23 Cancer. This marks the end of the long post retrograde shadow period and Mercurial events return to normal.
The August new moon falls on August 6, at 14 degrees of Leo. Make the most of it. New moons are about new beginnings.
August 7, Jupiter opposes Pluto, becoming exact at 7;43 p.m EST.
August 8, Mercury enters Leo, the sign of royalty, and ruler of the fifth house. Mercurial energy (talk and communication) will become less emotional and more dramatic over the next month or so.
August 11, Mercury squares Saturn and this is a tiring, negative transit. Watch out for bad moods and bad news. August 14, amp up your thinking as Mercury trines Uranus and this brings new ideas.
August 16, Venus enters Libra, the sign of romance and marriage. Partnerships may take on greater meaning over the next month and this is a positive placement for Air and Fire signs.
The August full moon occurs on August 20, at 28 degrees of Aquarius at 9:45 p.m CST. Aquarius is the natural ruler of the 11th house of groups and organizations. You may want to be with friends, and explore new ideas, things and places.
August 21, Jupiter squares Uranus, becoming exact at 3:14 a.m CST.
The Sun enters Virgo August 22, at 07:02 p.m. This sign rules the changeable part of the summer and is the natural ruler of the sixth house of work and health and fitness. Wherever the Sun goes, the spotlight shines.
August 23, Mercury changes signs again entering Virgo. Virgo is critical in several senses of the word, both in terms of critical (or analytical) thinking and people may become more discerning, choosier and in some cases critical and demanding.
August 25, Mercury opposes Neptune. Watch out for lies and confused thinking. Things previously unknown could be revealed. Trust nothing you hear and only half of what you see over the next few days. This can be a discouraging transit, or it could open psychic channels. By August 26, the Sun opposes Neptune as well as Mercury creating a double cloud of confusion. Venus opposes Uranus and Venus rules love and money and fluctuations in both. Make sure you have all the facts before you act. Some relationships could end, and we can see big fluctuations in money matters or even the stock market.
August 27, Mars leaves Cancer to enter Leo, the fifth house ruler. Actions and people become more dramatic during this cycle. Venus squares Jupiter and this is a transit of over indulgence and it may be difficult to work. Watch out for sugar and chocolate cravings! (posted 8-1-13 12 30cst)
And by all means, have a Happy Summer!