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Written and Narrated by Pam Younghans
Current and previous weeks astrological overviews
Astrological Overview: August 19-25, 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: Venus opposite Saturn, Sun square Uranus, Full Moon 11:25 a.m. PDT (27°15^ Aquarius), Jupiter square Saturn
Tuesday: Mercury trine Eris
Wednesday: Sun quincunx Neptune
Thursday: Sun enters Virgo, Sun quincunx Pluto, Venus square Mars
Friday: Mercury trine Chiron, Venus quincunx Chiron, Mercury sextile Mars
Saturday: Mars sextile Chiron
Sunday: Venus quincunx Eris
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A MEGA-WEEK: The third week of August starts off with a combination of planetary events that should have significant impact and prove to be life-changing for many of us. Starting off the festivities on Monday, August 19, the theatrical Leo Sun squares unpredictable Uranus and then opposes the progressive Aquarius Moon. The result is a dramatic Full Moon and an exciting and surprising climax to the lunar cycle that began on August 4.
Monday also marks the day of a challenging Jupiter-Saturn square. This aspect will be exact to the degree three times between now and June 2025; as it perfects for the first time this week, it will bring into our awareness some complex issues we’ll be addressing collectively for the next 10 months. Relationships, alliances, values, and financial matters are woven into the tapestry of the challenges we will be working with during this time, since the planet Venus is in hard aspect to both Jupiter and Saturn as the two planets square off this week.
Let’s take a closer look at these powerful but also very different influences:
SUPER FULL MOON: August’s Full Moon is a Supermoon because it occurs when the Moon is at perigee, the closest point to the Earth in its elliptical orbit around our planet. The proximity of the Moon to Earth means that it will appear larger than most Full Moons and will also have greater impact energetically.
The lunation perfects at 11:25 a.m. PDT on August 19, when the Moon is at 27°15' Aquarius and the Sun is at the same degree of Leo. Full Moons always ask us to find a balance between opposing qualities; in this case, the fiery Leo Sun desires to live in the moment, to stand out and be honored and respected, and to experience heart-connection. In contrast, the airy Aquarius Moon is focused on the future, has an independent and nonconformist nature, and is able to be intellectually objective.
THE URANUS EFFECT: While all Full Moons increase emotional reactivity, this one will likely be a shining example of that effect. This is due in part because it's a Supermoon, and also because the Leo Sun is naturally a bit theatrical. Even more significantly, the Sun and Moon are tightly square eccentric Uranus (at 27°11' Taurus) at the time of the lunation, forming a tension-filled "T-square" configuration.
This T-square can be visualized as a giant letter "T" in the sky, with the Sun and retrograde Mercury in Leo at one end of the crossbar, the Aquarius Moon at the opposite end, and Uranus at the base of the stem, in the "apex" position. The planet at the apex of a T-square is in the power seat and influences how the tension of the configuration will be released. Since sideways-spinning Uranus is unstable and excitable, we anticipate that there will be a fair amount of nervous energy around the time of the Full Moon.
Sudden events are likely to occur, initiating significant changes. People could be especially rebellious or reactionary and choose to ignore rules and regulations. There is an almost urgent need to live according to one's own "truth," perhaps without concern for how one's actions will affect others.
Meanwhile, the Mercury-Uranus square that is part of the T-square could manifest as disruptions in communications, networks, technology, or transportation. It will certainly activate the energies of Mercury retrograde; we will want to be very adaptable and not be too surprised if we experience something that feels like retrograde Mercury on steroids.
Uranus is always something of a wild card. Like a lightning storm or an earthquake, it likes to surprise or even shock us, so defies concrete prediction. The standard astrological advice when we see highly-charged Uranus involved in a Full Moon or in any strong aspect, is to "expect the unexpected." Flexibility will be key, as well as the ability to be objective and to keep a higher perspective, whatever situations unfold.
JUPITER-SATURN SQUARE: Jupiter and Saturn aligned for their Great Conjunction on December 21, 2020. Certain dreams and hopes for humanity's future were birthed at the time of that alignment in progressive Aquarius, and many envisioned it as a time when we would start to see the "Age of Aquarius" begin to manifest.
That date in 2020 was the start of a new 20-year synodic cycle between Jupiter and Saturn. The two planets have now traveled forward and are forming a hard square aspect with each other; this represents the first test of the validity and strength of the Aquarian ideals that were birthed at their conjunction. And yet, this is not a quick quiz, but a longer-term challenge that will carry through the rest of 2024 and into the first half of 2025.
Where might we see these challenges manifest? Each of us will have our unique experience, based on where the two planets are transiting our natal charts, and if they are strongly aspecting our natal planets. But, in general, since Jupiter and Saturn are "social planets," they impact the larger roles we play and the social groups we identify with.
Specifically, Jupiter rules beliefs, philosophies, and religions; cultures and nationalities; morals and ethics; hope and faith. Saturn rules social structures; governments, politics, and policies; social reputation and status; rules, laws, and the legal system. Based on these rulerships, we anticipate that the Jupiter-Saturn square will manifest as conflicts involving legal matters, religious doctrines, economic affairs, and social norms.
I'll be discussing the Jupiter-Saturn square in greater depth in my upcoming webinar, "The Final Four of 2024" (please see the announcement on this page). I will focus on the aspect as representing a Test of Faith, Morals, & Ethics and on its role in raising Questions of Conscience.
THIS WEEK'S ASPECTS: Here are my brief interpretations of this week's most important planetary aspects, day by day:
Monday
Venus opposite Saturn: This aspect represents a reality check regarding indulgences, values, relationships, and financial matters.
Sun square Uranus: Unexpected dramas require that we be very flexible and open to change.
Full Moon: The Aquarius Full Moon peaks at 11:25 a.m. PDT. Emotions are heightened and erratic behaviors are possible
Jupiter square Saturn: We are aware of rules and obligations that feel like they limit our expansion. While we could view current events as setbacks, we can benefit from looking for the silver linings and realizing that there are always gifts to be found in any challenge. We may also discover, eventually, that delays that occur now are setting up a better timing for success.
Tuesday
Mercury trine Eris: People may be especially direct, blunt, or forceful in their communications and their choice of words.
Wednesday
Sun quincunx Neptune: Situations may be confusing or we could feel disillusioned or unclear about next steps.
Thursday
Sun enters Virgo: The Sun enters practical Virgo at 7:54 a.m. PDT, helping us focus on the most efficient and effective methods of achieving our goals. Sol will be in earthy Virgo from August 22 until the Libra Equinox on September 22.
Sun quincunx Pluto: We may feel on edge today and people may be critical, demanding, or controlling.
Venus square Mars: This aspect represents challenges in personal relationships. Communications that we hope will bring clarity could instead take on the form of blaming and finger-pointing.
Friday
Mercury trine Chiron, Venus quincunx Chiron, Mercury sextile Mars: We feel more confident in our ability to share our creative ideas today. However, we may need to deal with hurt feelings that resulted from yesterday's insensitive comments.
Saturday
Mars sextile Chiron: We are able to be both direct and caring in conversation today, helping clear the air and enabling fractured relationships to heal.
Sunday
Venus quincunx Eris: Even after progress made yesterday in mending relationships, there could still be some underlying currents of discontent that need to be navigated.
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IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK (August 19-25):
Introspection is vital this year, as it will help you get in touch with your true needs, desires, and potentials. It is important to take your time with major decisions, despite a sense of restlessness and a somewhat urgent need to do it NOW. Be sure to incorporate your spiritual values in your choices and actions, while also keeping in mind a sense of your larger life mission. Once you gain the clarity you need, you should have plenty of energy and confidence, and just the right touch of rebelliousness needed to help you achieve your personal goals. (Solar Return Sun conjunct retrograde Mercury, square Uranus, quincunx Neptune, quincunx Pluto, trine Eris)
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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:
MARK YOUR CALENDAR! My webinar covering the last four months of 2024 will air live on Monday, September 9! Please mark your calendar and watch for a full description (please see the announcement on this page). It's a powerful four months (August is just the preamble), so I hope you can join us!
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.
