August 2006: Understanding Your Obligations

The month of July 2006 was about clarity and it application to your life. The month of August is about obligations and individuality – two seemingly disparate themes. However, it is the union of these two themes that enables you to utilize the energies and create a balance on your life.

On August 1, 2006, Saturn forms a quincunx to Uranus retrograde. As written often in these articles, aspects within a cycle tend to occur in a series of three and this is no exception. This is the third time this aspect occurs within this cycle. The last two times this aspect occurred was on September 21, 2005 and on January 19, 2006.

This is a time to make adjustments in your life. Saturn represents the obligations you need to maintain or fulfill that enable you to live in society. It also represents the need to develop foundations in your life that can be cultivated so that you can grow. Uranus, on the other hand, represents innovation and individuality. On one hand, there is a belief that obligations can harm you. On the other hand, there is a belief that they can make you stronger. When you consider that Uranus rules individuality, this aspect means that it’s time for you to find innovative approaches to your obligations in life. This is where the adjustments need to be made. And, it’s possible that this is where you could have tension in your life.

You know what type of life you want. You understand your obligations to people you love and society. Yet, you also feel that it’s important to live your life your way. This is the tension that Saturn quincunx Uranus shows in your life. If your obligations are preventing you from experiencing happiness, it’s time for you to evaluate the importance of those obligations or your attitude towards those obligations. If meeting your obligations is giving you a sense of well-being, than you’re chosen commitments that fit your lifestyle.

Saturn is in Leo and Uranus is in Pisces. Whenever Saturn is in Leo, leaders have difficulties and, if not careful, stop listening to what others need. Uranus in Pisces often indicates the desire to push conventional boundaries to the point that the most conservative elements of society fight back harder by imposing their rules. A conflict can arise between those who feel their power is waning and those who resent others having power. So, this is also a time to move into changes slowly without generating fear in the people that want the status quo to stay the same.

Meaning, you want to do things your way but at the same time you don’t want to lose your connection with society.

The full Moon on August 9, 2006 gives you a clearer picture on how to bring innovation into your life without losing your societal connections. This is an interesting full Moon with the Sun in Leo just separating from a conjunction to Saturn and the Moon in Aquarius applying to a conjunction to Neptune retrograde. Translated, this means that your strengths are your foundations and your dreams are your goals and desires.

On and off over the last several months there has been the underlying theme of a fixed T-square operating in the world. This fixed T-square represents struggles between people who want to maintain the status quo and others who want to change things in the world. It generates a feeling of sluggishness. And, it can increase the amount of conflict between opposing points of view. This is true on the global level. And, this could be true in your own life.

This month is no different as Mercury enters Leo on August 11, 2006 and Venus enters Leo the following day once again emphasizing the fixed T-Square. Since Mercury and Venus are the planets that provide the catalyst for the fixed T-square this time, there is a willingness to take risks that lead you to your goals. There is also a willingness to try and communicate your needs. You can either succumb to another month of “sluggish” energy, or you can take this time to calculate the risks you want to take, the price you may have to pay for these risks, and the possible rewards you could receive. By doing this, you may suddenly see new possibilities that increase your sense of optimism.

Financially, this is a time to be very cautious. Once again the stock market will exhibit erratic behavior due to global inflationary concerns. Interest rates will rise again making it more difficult to obtain satisfactory loans for the housing market. And, the bond market may also show signs of constraint.

A very erratic stock market is very likely on August 13 when Mars forms an opposition to Uranus retrograde. This is a day when tensions, either personal or global, are extremely high. With Mars in Virgo, you want to be able to take care of all those details in your life and not have anything interfere with your goals. Yet, with Uranus retrograde in Pisces, you may feel that too many things are beyond your control. Other people aren’t willing to make commitments and worse, they’re either arguing about your actions or ignoring you completely. No matter how much you may try to generate a good situation, this is not a day for negotiations or bargaining.

Intensity with communications continues to escalate between August 18 and August 27, 2006. During this time period both Mercury in Leo and Venus in Leo actually create the fixed T-square that you began to feel on August 11th.

Mercury starts this energy by forming a square to Jupiter on August 18th, moving into the conjunction to Saturn on August 20th, and the opposition to Neptune retrograde on August 21st.

Initially there is a desire to discuss your plans with others. Yet, they may not want to listen. When Jupiter is in Scorpio, as now, more things can happen if discussions occur in private without a lot of publicity. This is especially true with international politics. In public there is a danger of posturing, exhibiting a bravado that opens the door to inappropriate risks. In private there’s a possibility that all sides will listen and you can get to the truth.

Yet, Mercury forming an opposition to Saturn also stresses the needs for caution. So if there is any negotiating to be done, it’s important that words are chosen carefully and promises made lightly. The key to success in negotiating at this time is to discuss specific obligations and agree on the various responsibilities.

The greatest concern is that this first fixed T-square ends with Mercury forming an opposition to Neptune retrograde on August 21st. This could indicate that all discussions focus on lofty and unattainable ideals. It could also indicate that fears win out over logical optimism. Yet this could become a time when you realize that fears don’t have to guide your plans and ideals don’t have to be so lofty that they can’t be achieved.

Venus reactivates the fixed T-square with a square to Jupiter on August 22nd. On one hand there is a spiritual harmony between Venus and Jupiter for Venus rules how you value what you possess and Jupiter rules your ethical considerations. Perhaps this fixed T-square can give you the opportunity to reflect on various conversations regarding risks and goals and create enough desire to reach a workable end result.

Unlike the fixed T-square created by Mercury, the fixed T-square created by Venus moves a bit slower and is “interrupted” by other astrological occurrences.

The Sun enters Virgo on August 23rd and a new Moon in Virgo occurs later that day. This new beginning could signify that you finally have more facts to make plans or even implement them. Having more facts enables you to understand fully the obligations required to take specific risks in your life. This is also an excellent time to review your financial situation to make certain that your plans are in line with your financial needs.

The following day, August 24th, Mercury forms a trine to Pluto retrograde indicating that future financial security is really a concern on both personal and global levels. This is a time where it is easier to focus on your needs and long-term goals. If you are involved in any self-help programs or psychotherapeutic programs, you’ll find more benefit from them at this time.

All of this could help you understand what price you pay when Venus forms a conjunction to Saturn on August 26th and Venus forms an opposition to Neptune retrograde on August 27th. Some astrologers believe that Neptune is the higher octave of Venus because through spiritual understanding one can increase his or her ability to feel compassion and love for others. If that is truly the case, the Venus opposition to Neptune at this time can enable you to see how your desires really can bring position results into your life. The opposition of Venus to Neptune retrograde ends the energy of the fixed T-square that was created when Venus entered Leo earlier this month.

Again, however, this is a time to be very cautious with your financial situation. You may not see everything as clearly as you need to. Or, you may believe information that is misleading when it relates to your financial matters. On a global level, there could be increased prices in oil and gas.

Several hours after Venus forms the opposition to Neptune retrograde, Mercury enters Virgo. If, for some reason, you were unable to focus on your plans because other obligations interfered or you couldn’t come up with realistic solutions to stumbling problems, now is the time that you’ll begin to start finding the balance between obligations and your own needs.

As the month of August draws to a close, two major cycles occur. The first of these cycles occurs on August 29th. At this time Jupiter forms a trine to Uranus retrograde. This is a cycle that occurs approximately every 14 years in a series of three. Of the cycle, this is actually drawing to a close because Jupiter forming a trine to Uranus already occurred on November 27, 2005 and May 4, 2006.

The month of August began with the need to make adjustments between developing foundations in your life that enable you to meet your societal obligations and letting your sense of individuality still find a means of expression. With Jupiter forming a trine to Uranus retrograde at this time, you will find it easier to express your individuality as you move forward to achieving your goals. At the same time, you could find this period one of chaos if you’re not careful. Both Jupiter and Uranus are planets where things happen quickly. You might get excited about your plans and start abandoning the important obligations that enable those plans to succeed. Or, you may find that people aren’t as willing to support your plans because they seem too far fetched and unrealistic. At that point, it’s time for you to consider whether there may be some truth in their concerns or whether their concerns are based on not wanting you to make changes in your life. The energy of Uranus is interesting because it can bring abrupt endings to situations where your personal values don’t conform to the values of the organization or people in your life. Therefore, you may find that you feel abandoned by people you thought were your friends. Or, you may find that you don’t want to associate with certain groups or individuals because they really never provided you with support when you needed it from them. If it’s time to leave certain organizations because you find your goals are different from them, take the step. Otherwise you’ll be living your life as if you’re banging your head against a wall and the pain won’t be worth it.

Uranus is also the planets of innovative technology while Jupiter rules inventions dealing with electronic and magnetic energies. Therefore, this is a time to be open to new ideas. This is also a time to consider the importance of technology in your life. The world around you is decreasing in size. More information is coming to you at a rapid pace. People are able to reach you at all times of the day and in many more places if you let them. If you’re not careful, you may forget to take personal time for yourself. You may find yourself working 24/7 when you really need to just rest. Or, you may find yourself worried about world events as you feel less able to control things that are occurring in your life.

On a global level, currency tends to go through a devaluation process at this time and the bond market and treasury notes start fluctuating. The search for new energy sources, especially oil, increases environmental concerns as more public lands and offshore drilling sites are considered viable options. Electional issues, especially e-voting and computerized voting machines, will make news as more people raise concerns over the lack of paper documentation of voting results. Historically, Iran and countries surrounding Iran go through tremendous political upheavals. Even weather patterns tend to be erratic during this time period. And, global changes that occur during this cycle seem to continue for several years even after the cycle has receded. (You can read more detailed information on this cycle in my book, Trend Analysis for the Year 2006.)

Later this same day, Mars forms a square to Pluto retrograde and there is a sense of a power struggle giving more energy to the Jupiter trine Uranus retrograde. This can bring a sense of frustration or anger if you let your feelings of being out of control with life overcome your ability to find your purpose, maintain your obligations, and still not abandon your personal needs.

The month ends with Saturn forming an opposition to Neptune retrograde on August 31, 2006. This is a 36-year cycle that occurs in a series of three. The occurrence on this day is the first of the series. The cycle will occur again on February 28 and July 25, 2007.

This is an important opposition because Saturn is in Leo and Neptune is in Aquarius. Both planets were part of the fixed T-square energy that occurred during the month of August. Globally, you may feel that leaders of various countries really don’t know what to do about the political situations that are occurring. People may want to do the right thing, but they may not have all the facts.

Personally, this is a time to make certain there is a balance in your life between what you want to do and the structure you need to create to make things happen. Social obligations, Saturn, may seem overwhelming due to fears, Neptune, that you don’t really have control over your life. On the other hand, your dreams, Neptune, may actually end up with very realistic plans, Saturn, because you are willing to find a way of balancing both your desires and your daily needs.

How you use this energy is up to you. It’s important that you list your dreams and understand what price you may have to pay to achieve those dreams. If you can do that, you can also create realistic plans that enable you to achieve those dreams.