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Written and Narrated by Pam Younghans
Current and previous weeks astrological overviews
Astrological Overview: July 29-August 4, 2024
Astrologer Pam Younghans writes this weekly astrological journal based on planetary influences, and offers perspectives and insights to assist you in making the best use of current energies. This column is not intended as prediction. Your own experience will be more specifically defined by transits to your personal chart.
Aspects of Note this Week:
All times listed are Pacific Standard Time. For Eastern Time, add 3 hours; Add 7 hours for Universal Time (UT), but add 8 hours for BST.
Monday: No major aspects are exact today
Tuesday: Venus trine Chiron
Wednesday: Venus sesquiquadrate Ceres, Sun quincunx Ceres
Thursday: Venus trine Eris, Mars sextile North Node
Friday: Mars semisquare Chiron, Venus square Uranus, Mars quincunx Ceres
Saturday: No major aspects are exact today
Sunday: New Moon 4:12 a.m. PDT, Venus quincunx Neptune, Venus enters Virgo, Mercury stations retrograde, Mars semisquare Eris
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AUGUST OVERVIEW: The month of August 2024 promises to be eventful! It also marks the start of two longer-term influences that we'll be working with through the first half of 2025. Here's an overview of the highlights:
On the same day as the Leo New Moon (August 4) — when we are usually encouraged to begin new creative endeavors — Mercury stations retrograde and cautions against starting any new projects for the next three weeks. Strong for the first two weeks of the month and becoming exact on August 7, a challenging Jupiter-Pluto aspect (sesquiquadrate) magnifies the power struggle between ideologies and in how laws are interpreted. This aspect will repeat twice more — on December 13 of this year and then on April 17, 2025 — so issues that arise now could take several months to resolve.
Events during the high-powered third week of the month unfold quickly. The action begins with an effervescent, hard-to-contain Mars-Jupiter conjunction in Gemini on August 14. Under this influence, people are very verbal and quite assertive in their opinions, willing to go to battle for what they believe in. However, with Mars exactly square disciplinarian Saturn the very next day (August 15), actions are somehow limited or blocked.
August 19 is arguably the most impactful single day of the entire month. As the Aquarius Full Moon perfects on this day, the Sun and Moon form a tension-filled fixed T-square configuration with radical Uranus. This lunation will be exciting, a bit thorny, and full of surprises.
Also on August 19, expansive Jupiter and restrictive Saturn form the first of three square aspects (exact again on December 24 and on June 15, 2025). This ten-month-long influence signals a potential social crisis involving legal, religious, and financial affairs. It is the first major hard aspect between Jupiter and Saturn since their alignment in Aquarius in December 2020; we expect that it will test the progressive ideals of humanitarianism, global unity and cooperation, and individual rights that were championed at that time.
The month ends with Mercury stationing direct on August 28. Over the past three weeks, if we have followed retrograde Mercury's advice and been especially observant, we have learned from any missteps and have interpreted life events more symbolically than literally. As a result, we wisely adjust plans as needed and should have greater success in finding creative solutions as we move into September.
NEW MOON IN LEO: A new lunar cycle begins at 4:12 a.m. PDT next Sunday, August 4, when the Sun and Moon align at 12°34' Leo. This could be an auspicious time to begin a new creative project, especially one that fills us with joy. This New Moon invites us to take advantage of Leo's best qualities: confidence, generosity, courage, devotion, and dignified leadership.
Inspired efforts are strongly supported by both Jupiter and Mars, since the lunation forms harmonious sextiles with both planets. These aspects help us to take risks, to be open to new opportunities, and to be creatively inspired, especially in writing or speaking. The coming lunar month will likely provide us with a variety of new ideas and activities to pursue.
However, with the New Moon in hard (sesquiquadrate) aspect to Neptune, we will need to guard against being too idealistic. To offset the possibility that we are not clearly seeing all the details, we can call on the energies of the planet Mercury, which is in discriminating Virgo and will be very strong on Sunday due to being stationary. Still, with Mercury going retrograde just 16 hours after the New Moon perfects, we should be prepared to rethink our plans in the days ahead.
THIS WEEK'S ASPECTS: Here are my brief interpretations of this week's most important planetary aspects, day by day:
Monday
No major aspects are exact today.
Tuesday
Venus trine Chiron: Our hearts feel more open today, and we find it easier to trust. This aspect provides an opportunity to heal scars from current or past relationship, as we learn to — first and foremost — love ourselves.
Wednesday
Venus sesquiquadrate Ceres: The need for approval and recognition can interfere with fully enjoying our creative efforts.
Sun quincunx Ceres: Through this aspect, we are challenged to be strong in our self-worth even if we are not living up to the criteria of others or of society.
Thursday
Venus trine Eris: We feel independent and energized with this aspect. This is a good day for some playful or spontaneous physical activity.
Mars sextile North Node: It is easy to speak our truth today, even if our ideas do not meet with the approval of others.
Friday
Mars semisquare Chiron: Discomfort about expressing our needs or asserting our individuality can arise with this aspect.
Venus square Uranus: Abrupt changes may occur in relationships, especially if either party has not been feeling appreciated or respected. It is helpful to allow each person their space and independence today.
Mars quincunx Ceres: Interactions with family or other loved ones could involve disagreements or quarrels due to differing views of reality.
Saturday
No major aspects are exact today.
Sunday
New Moon: A new lunar cycle begins at 4:12 a.m. PDT today, when the Sun and Moon align at 12°34' Leo.
Venus quincunx Neptune: Our ability to see reality in relationship or financial matters is somewhat compromised with this aspect.
Venus enters Virgo: Venus will transit the sign of the Virgin from August 4 to 29. During this time, we are more concerned about the practical benefits of relationships and could express love through being useful in some way. Purchases might be more motivated by the need for greater efficiency and less by whether something is aesthetically pleasing.
Mercury stations retrograde: From Earth's perspective, Mercury will appear to move backward from August 24 to 28. Throughout this time, it is advised to take our time when making decisions, making sure to double check all details, and not to fall prey to the pressures of a deadline.
Mars semisquare Eris: We can quickly become irritated or angry if we are feeling ignored or disrespected.
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IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK (July 29-August 4):
You have a great deal of energy at your disposal this year, to be applied to whatever pursuits you feel are the most fulfilling and bring you the greatest joy. Your verbal, writing, and communication skills come into play in new ways through your creative projects. You are also more willing to take risks in expressing yourself, and are less restricted by Leo's innate need for appreciation and approval. (Solar Return Sun sextile Mars)
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TRANSLATION and AUDIO/VIDEO VERSION: This weekly Journal is recorded (in English) AND the text is transcribed into 30 languages! You'll see a row of flags under "Available Languages" in the upper right. And, there are options to listen to the audio (in English) or watch a video directly beneath the photo (see top of page).
The Journal entry is usually updated by Sunday evening, with the recordings appearing late Sunday or by Monday depending on your time zone. Please share this information with those who might benefit.
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CLASSES AND WEBINARS by Pam Younghans:
DAILY ASTROLOGY: Please check out my daily astrological forecasts ~ including lunar aspects that aren't included in this weekly Journal ~ on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pamyounghans/
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For previous weeks of the Astrological Journal, click here.
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About the Author
Pam Younghans is a professional astrologer, editor, and writer. She lives in a log home northeast of Seattle, Washington with her beloved animal companions. She has been interpreting charts professionally for over 25 years. If you are interested in an astrology reading, e-mail
For more information about NorthPoint Astrology offerings, please visit NorthPointAstrology.com or visit her Facebook page.
