Planet Waves Astrology for Aug. 24, 2023 — Weekly Horoscope and More
This week I have a horoscope covering current events. Next week I'll look ahead through Virgo to the Libra equinox. Click or tap the headline for full-sized images and a much nicer layout than email.
Note to Readers — This article has already been distributed to our subscribers via the Planet Waves in-houses lists. This Substack is an alternative way to subscribe. If you appreciate my work, you’re invited to help me do more, and better. Thank you for subscribing. — efc
Dear Friend and Reader:
The Sun has entered Virgo, the last sign of Northern Hemisphere summer. Virgo is the sign of the harvest and of the Threefold Goddess, whose primary role is to sustain humanity. In this season, summer disseminates into autumn. That is the role of mutable signs; they each end their respective seasons.
For a while, the energy will be trickling back into the Earth.
We are in a busy moment, based on my reading of the charts. Mercury stationed retrograde on Wednesday. At the same time, Venus is retrograde; that ends Sept. 3, and Mercury will station direct on Sept. 15.
This week we experienced a difficult aspect: Mars opposite Neptune. This has put a lot of people through an emotional upheaval. It’s also confusing in terms of determining what is true and what is not. I account for this aspect in the readings below.
News from the Moon and the Sun
As for lunar cycles: At the moment, we are near the first quarter. The Moon will be full in the sign Pisces on Wednesday, Aug. 30 (on Aug 31 in Europe). The next New Moon is right ahead of Mercury direct, on Sept. 14.
The Libra ingress of the Sun takes place Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 2:49:49 am. On that day, the Sun’s path forms a right angle to the equator; that is the autumnal equinox in the north and the spring equinox in the south.
Read our client and subscriber testimonials below.
Astrology Studio; Chart Keys
I plan to have Astrology Studio for Virgo on Monday night. This is an extended reading — about 80 minutes — that is genuine, in-depth astrology. It’s currently on sale for $33. I offer a personal 30-minute reading for $333, called an Astrology Chart Key reading. For 1/10th the price, you get a lot of astrology in an Astrology Studio reading; when the reading is personalized (such as a Chart Key), I can address specific questions and subject matter for you. To pre-order, click or tap the green image below.
Note, with this reading, I plan to resume tarot card readings. The Virgo tarot reading will follow a week behind the astrology reading. Astrology Studios are available for all of the signs and are included in the Backstage Pass.
I Do Personal and Business Consulting — Through September Only
I’m at my best as an astrologer when your situation is the most challenging. Astrology can help! It’s more efficient and cost effective than nearly all of what passes for therapy. I also assist in mid-life and later-life career transitions. I can help you understand your children. Work with me and you will feel better about yourself and your life. To inquire, write to me directly at efc@planetwaves.net. Make the subject header bold and clear! Add the world “consult” and I’ll be able to find it easily.
Weekly Horoscope Excerpts — Full Reading Below
ARIES — The pressure you may feel is the necessity to be yourself. I mean this in the most ordinary sense, not as some metaphysical concept: basic sincerity, and consistency of your character from situation to situation.
TAURUS — There is something truly unusual and even brilliant in the offing, though you must be ready. That will take some time, and the ongoing Venus retrograde is part of your preparation. Venus is fertilizing the ground of family for you.
GEMINI — You are a witness; what matters the most is what you see and what you observe. This way, you can formulate your own views. Beware of what others think, or tell you is true. They may not have any clue whatsoever, and they certainly don’t know what is relevant to you.
CANCER — This is the time to be in strategy mode. Your mind is at its most original right now, and you can draw useful wisdom from past experiences. Yet place your focus on what you’re doing today, and where you want to be.
LEO — Venus retrograde is working its way through your sign. This journey is about re-thinking what you do, and how you relate to what is called “career” or “vocation.” Suddenly, nearly everyone has been thrust into the anarchy of the gig economy, and there are no tidy professional trajectories.
VIRGO — Though few ever write about it, the theme of nobility runs through your birth sign. This has many inferences, though one of them is that your life and what you offer bring something forward from the distant past. This is more about a spiritual inheritance than it is about royalty.
LIBRA — Our minds are so over-burdened at the moment, most people cannot tell if they are thirsty, tired or need some fresh air. The human form was designed to absorb information through the senses, such as touching, feeling and sound. Now we are overwhelmed through the day by mental input: reading thousands of words and seeing countless images does not qualify for “seeing.”
SCORPIO — If you’re feeling socially over-exposed, you may be right. This could be electronic; it could be in the physical world. Either way, you’re being called to some solitude. Its essential quality is that you won’t be able to easily share what you feel; you’re the only one who can have the experience.
SAGITTARIUS — Is there any relationship between why you came here, and what you want to be known for? So far as I can tell, everyone wants to be known for something. Yet some people are more retreating, and some really let you know what they think their life is about.
CAPRICORN — You seem to be aware of a special destiny, something calling you to pay attention, and honor it. There is a process involved — you might say, a journey. It’s a path that has been set forth for your steps alone. It may be lonely to think that others are not involved; yet this is about your life, and your purpose.
AQUARIUS — There have been way too many negotiations and too few agreements; too much cash out and not enough cash in. This is a message that you need to focus on your goals, and act on them. In order, that would be focus first, and act second.
PISCES — The recent opposition between Mars and Neptune may have you wondering which way is up — and that’s a good question. You are in a phase of reorientation, affecting nearly every aspect of your life.
Planet Waves Weekly Horoscope for August 24, 2023
By Eric Francis Coppolino
ARIES — The pressure you may feel is the necessity to be yourself. I mean this in the most ordinary sense, not as some metaphysical concept: basic sincerity, and consistency of your character from situation to situation. It’s way too easy to put on masks, airs, and avatars. To be yourself means to set all of that aside, and you’ll know you’re doing so because you feel a little vulnerable and exposed. Perhaps, in the name of your personal development, try going device free, especially during social experiences. Much of what you’ve been through the past week or so is about being caught in the illusion of the digital environment, which makes it difficult to know, feel or understand who you are. And you want to be able to do those things, which used to be natural for you. Yet be aware, a journey back to yourself will be necessary. You are closer than you may think.
TAURUS — There is something truly unusual and even brilliant in the offing, though you must be ready. That will take some time, and the ongoing Venus retrograde is part of your preparation. Venus is fertilizing the ground of family for you. The themes here are reciprocity, empathy and emotional centering. It’s also vital that you understand the past without being tethered to it. This means resolution without casting anyone off, and without denying your experiences. It’s too easy in our society modeled on tidy little dramas to pretend to have closure, without doing so. You will be ready to move forward when you are at peace with certain important elements of your past. That means not throwing out feelings — including those of regret or longing. We are all under tremendous pressure to not feel. Yet this will never serve your happiness, or that of anyone you care about.
GEMINI — You are a witness; what matters the most is what you see and what you observe. This way, you can formulate your own views. Beware of what others think, or tell you is true. They may not have any clue whatsoever, and they certainly don’t know what is relevant to you. With Mercury now retrograde, it will be easier to filter out what is not relevant. Though it would also be wise not to overwhelm yourself, and stay present for what your senses are actually telling you about your immediate environment. Any sense of danger you feel is likely to cool off a little once Mars enters your fellow air sign Libra in a few days; any obsessive emotional feelings are based on a deception or an illusion. Yes, there is plenty to worry about, though on Earth it seems there always was and always will be. How you guide your feelings is another matter.
CANCER — This is the time to be in strategy mode. Your mind is at its most original right now, and you can draw useful wisdom from past experiences. Yet place your focus on what you’re doing today, and where you want to be. Understanding the past in a new way will help you see what you don’t want and don’t need. From there, you can eliminate certain approaches, methods and even people from your plans, and orient on the gems of ideas that you discover from time to time. You’re in a place where you’ll have more of those than is typical, so pay attention to your inner voice. Listen to what people around you say in ordinary communication. Read back what you write in emails, which will contain ideas that you might not have noticed. At the same time, consider your overarching plan, for example, how you want to proceed for the next six months or so.
LEO — Venus retrograde is working its way through your sign. This journey is about re-thinking what you do, and how you relate to what is called “career” or “vocation.” Suddenly, nearly everyone has been thrust into the anarchy of the gig economy, and there are no tidy professional trajectories. There is hardly such a thing as a job, and even people who have one often have three or four other things going on. The important underlying question is your purpose or motivation for doing anything. You’re in a stage of growth when your actions must be directed by something very close to the core of who you are. In our time, nearly everything is driven by appearances, fast profits or getting a lot of clicks. Most people expect nothing to be real, or to have any value. Your purpose is in some other direction than all of these things: toward your core truth, and your soul’s calling. Therefore, lead the way.
VIRGO — Though few ever write about it, the theme of nobility runs through your birth sign. This has many inferences, though one of them is that your life and what you offer bring something forward from the distant past. This is more about a spiritual inheritance than it is about royalty. And what you may possess and what you may know only has value in its expression, rather than being held for some future time or special purpose. That time and that purpose are now. Everything you’ve been through has led you to this moment. Everything you brought into this life has its relevance in the life you’re living, and the world you see. You’re being guided to give forth, not to hold back; to share, and not to keep; to speak, and not to be silent. The only way to determine whether you have the value you suspect you have is to conduct what seem like bold experiments. Looking back, they will seem like they were the thing to do.
LIBRA — Our minds are so over-burdened at the moment, most people cannot tell if they are thirsty, tired or need some fresh air. The human form was designed to absorb information through the senses, such as touching, feeling and sound. Now we are overwhelmed through the day by mental input: reading thousands of words and seeing countless images does not qualify for “seeing.” Then our brains have to process all of this “information.” It’s amazing anyone knows how many fingers they have, or yes, call tell if they’re thirsty. Or curious. To some extent, this may describe you now, though in a few days, Mars enters your sign. This will push you back into your senses, and lead you to know what you want and what you need. You already know, however. You can reach into your awareness and feel, and you can certainly ask for what is right for you. Listen for the answer.
SCORPIO — If you’re feeling socially over-exposed, you may be right. This could be electronic; it could be in the physical world. Either way, you’re being called to some solitude. Its essential quality is that you won’t be able to easily share what you feel; you’re the only one who can have the experience. Yet your awareness is reflexive. You do not need to be alone in your own company. It’s true that Scorpio is moved to connect — we all draw a little (or a lot) of this instinct, from somewhere in our chart. Yet Mars in Libra for you is about the need to connect with yourself, in a way that only you understand. What we call “sharing” in our time is really no such thing; it’s self-affirming, and often vain, in that we’re announcing an experience we are having with ourselves. Yet you don’t need to do this, and what is truly your own cannot be known by another.
SAGITTARIUS — Is there any relationship between why you came here, and what you want to be known for? So far as I can tell, everyone wants to be known for something. Yet some people are more retreating, and some really let you know what they think their life is about. Now, suddenly anyone can project any “reputation” they want and it will seem real enough. There’s a kind of blur that has settled over this whole aspect of existence. It’s difficult to know what is true and what is not, even for oneself. The Sun entering your house of reputation and profession is going to focus this aspect of life over the next few weeks. While you have diverse interests, there is an aspect of your talent or creativity that you want to be recognized for. Consider carefully what it is, and how you want to go about it.
CAPRICORN — You seem to be aware of a special destiny, something calling you to pay attention, and honor it. There is a process involved — you might say, a journey. It’s a path that has been set forth for your steps alone. It may be lonely to think that others are not involved; yet this is about your life, and your purpose. Such usually manifests as a calling that one must answer, and that’s what your solar chart currently describes. There is an old trope that “many are called and few respond.” I’ve found that to be true. Not everyone is willing to face the unknown, or to risk the loss of approval or companionship for something they are not sure is better. Your choices remain up to you, though this is something you may want to be bold about. You’ve probably been feeling this particular tug or magnetism for a long time. The planets are aligned, and the way is open.
AQUARIUS — There have been way too many negotiations and too few agreements; too much cash out and not enough cash in. This is a message that you need to focus on your goals, and act on them. In order, that would be focus first, and act second. The input of several people around you has done little other than sow confusion. You need fewer opinions, and to filter out your facts, and instead get a handle on what you want. It looks like there will be plenty of seeming excuses for why you should not do that particular thing, or work for that goal — most of them coming from outside you. Yet these will continue to distract you as long as you allow them to. Their influence is not necessary, nor is it serving anyone’s benefit. There may be guilt or jealousy involved; all the more reason to gather your power and do what you need to do, and more significantly, what you want to do — once you know what it is.
PISCES — The recent opposition between Mars and Neptune may have you wondering which way is up — and that’s a good question. You are in a phase of reorientation, affecting nearly every aspect of your life. The rising tide of internet-created memes would have you believe that nothing is true, and nothing ever was. Yet you can be certain of one thing: you have a personal truth, and it matters — if only to you, which is a good start. You don’t need to make a difference in the lives of others as much as you may think, and much of your influence you have little to no control over; it simply is. Therefore, be real about what makes a difference for you, and exercise what power you have to make changes. Once you get started, one thing will lead to another. And if you’re waiting for some kind of offer, the more you concentrate your strength and work with it, the more likely you are to notice genuine, worthwhile opportunities when they show up.
