August 2017 Planets in Retrograde and Eclipses!

EAstroLog tells us with Mercury retrograde, a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse, August 2017 is full of surprises, changes, and unusual events. It’s the effect of rapid planets in retrograde cycle, but also of eclipses.

We can also expect surprising twists around dates when the slow planets change the direction of their motion: on August 3 2017 Uranus begins its retrograde motion, and on August 25 Saturn resumes its direct motion after 4 months of being retrograde.

Mercury is retrograde 3 times a year, so this retrograde motion shouldn’t worry us too much, particularly since now it’s retrograde in Virgo – sign in which it is very strong. The issue is that this retrograde motion will put Mercury – for almost all of August – in opposition with Neptune from Pisces. And this opposition is a complete one: not only are Mercury and Neptune at 180 degrees, but their traits and those of the signs they’re in are total opposites too.

Mercury and Virgo work based on logic, practical sense, calculation, and realism, while Neptune and Pisces work based on intuition, creativity, imprecision, and idealism. These attributes go head to head, and due to all of that Mercury will suffer. Neptune makes it dizzy, confuses, sweet-talks, and deceives.

All of us will most likely suffer the consequences of these oppositions and many of us will fall into various traps, make wrong decisions, have trouble focusing or communicating, will have to discern between false and real information.

Virgoans, Geminians, Pisceans, Sagittatrians, and Cancerians seem to be the most exposed, but errors and uncertainties can affect us all. Except emergencies, major decisions that can be postponed should be made after September 10.

But then again, the advice given above is pretty tough to use. For most of August 2017 we’re under the effect of the Sun-Mars conjunction from Leo, one that refuses any delays. It wants things to happen quickly, to be set into motion as soon as the ideas have appeared. It doesn’t matter what kind of action, if it’s good or bad, wise or reckless – as long as it’s happening now!

Of course, because it has such an ability to set things in motion, the Sun-Mars combination will lead to a series of remarkable achievements, particularly due to the support of Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus. But, at the same time, there’s great potential for conflict, turbulence, and even destruction.

With the mind rather confused and adrenaline pumping through their veins, you can just about imagine what some people will be capable of. But those who can think twice and act swiftly under such circumstances will stand to gain big-time.

On a grander scale, during August 2017 there’s a greater risk of accidents, conflicts, fires, natural disasters. Dramatic or explosive situations might occur, that center around leaders and celebrities, press, communications, means of transmitting or operating with information, travel and transportations, education, youth, medicine, pharmaceuticals, environment, and so on.

Regarding the eclipses of August 2017:

The solar eclipse happens in Leo, near Mars, emphasizing the predispositions of the Sun-Mars conjunction under all aspects – good and bad.

The first thing that comes to mind is that it emphasizes the bad ones, considering the reputation of eclipses. But looking into the family that this eclipse comes from (yes, each solar eclipse is part of a family with common traits) we see that the mother-eclipse speaks of communication and cooperation – and maybe this is exactly where one needs to seek solutions. Perhaps one must insist on communication, even if it doesn’t go that well (or maybe precisely due to that reason) and on channeling energy toward joint action with a constructive outcome.

Communication needs to be the star because, during this weird month, there are enough astrological events that can be made the most of (the Jupiter-Mars sextile, the Jupiter-Saturn sextile, the Mars-Saturn trine, and others) if we put in an effort to be more rational and benevolent.

News from NASA

On Monday, August 21, 2017, all of North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun. Anyone within the path of totality can see one of nature’s most awe inspiring sights – a total solar eclipse. This path, where the moon will completely cover the sun and the sun’s tenuous atmosphere – the corona – can be seen, will stretch from Salem, Oregon to Charleston, South Carolina. Observers outside this path will still see a partial solar eclipse where the moon covers part of the sun’s disk. NASA created this website to provide a guide to this amazing event. Here you will find activities, events, broadcasts, and resources from NASA and our partners across the nation.
https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/

Party Planning Tips From NASA 
https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/planning-your-eclipse-party