2018 sunset railroad tracks

Horoscope: August 27 to September 2, 2018

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.

Highlighted Aspects for This Week

All times listed are Pacific Daylight Time. For Greenwich Mean Time, add 7 hours.

MON: Sun sesquiquadrate Pluto, Mars stations direct 7:04 a.m., Mars quintile Jupiter, Mercury sesquiquadrate Chiron, Sun biquintile Mars, Sun quintile Jupiter, Mercury square Jupiter
TUE: Mercury sesquiquadrate Saturn
WED: Mercury quincunx Pluto
FRI: Sun semisquare Venus
SAT: Sun sesquiquadrate Eris, Venus opposite Eris
SUN: Mercury trine Eris

AT LONG LAST, we are beginning to emerge from "the month of retrogrades." Last week Mercury went direct, Mars changes direction tomorrow (Monday, August 27, at 7:04 a.m. PDT), and Saturn will go direct on September 6.
 
This whittles down by half the total of six planets that have all been moving backward at the same time. This shift should help us start feeling more in tune with our reality, more in charge of where we're going, and more able to make progress on many levels. 
 
FORTUITOUSLY, as Mars reaches its station (comes to a standstill), it is in a creative quintile aspect with Jupiter. A quintile is said to help us find solutions that we might otherwise not perceive -- very beneficial in those times when we're feeling that we've exhausted all of our known options.
 
With Mars in goal-oriented Capricorn and Jupiter in deep-reaching Scorpio, we'll want to be very conscious of our true motivations, and use them to gain clarity on where we want to go next. And, with this being a quintile aspect, we'll want to keep our minds open to alternate ways of proceeding.
 
The Sun is also in quintile aspect with Jupiter on Monday (and in biquintile aspect with Mars), emphasizing this day as a time for creative insights that can send us in new directions. For reference, the quintile aspect is prominent in the natal charts of many writers (astrologer Donna Cunningham), artists (Mozart), and scientists (Einstein).
 
WE MUST ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE that as Mars goes direct, it will start heading toward its third and final square aspect with Uranus, which perfects just before the September Equinox. In tandem with the three eclipses we had in July and August, this fiery Mars-Uranus square is "responsible" for many of the extremes we've been experiencing: heightened anger, a devastating wildfire season, and sudden or unexpected twists of fate (or twists of ankle).
 
The influence of a square aspect such as this usually lasts about a week, but the effective time of this particular square has been greatly extended due to Mars going retrograde and forming the aspect three times (May 16, August 1, and September 18). If we review that timeline, we may see that certain issues arose in the last half of May, that are yet to be resolved. Since we're nearing the completion of the influence, it is likely that resolution will be achieved soon -- but, given the planets that are involved, only if we take action in ways that are aligned with our truth (Mars in Aquarius), but may take us considerably out of our comfort zone (Uranus in Taurus).
 
(Note: Although Mars is currently in Capricorn, it is in Aquarius each time it squares Uranus.)
 
MERCURY is once again a major player this week, due to the many aspects it forms. On Monday, the Messenger Planet is in square aspect with Jupiter -- so watch for an increase in the amount or volume of opinions being voiced. With Mercury in theatrical Leo, we can expect a certain amount of drama and melodrama to be involved; and with Jupiter in psychotherapeutic Scorpio, deep emotions and perhaps hidden information are exposed.
 
Whatever headlines reach our personal and collective newsstands on Monday, we'll be dealing with the fallout over the next two days. Tuesday looks like it's time for a reality check (Mercury-Saturn sesquisquadrate), and Wednesday requires that we let go of our ego's need to have the last word, if we want to avoid a more extensive power struggle (Mercury-Pluto quincunx).
 
NEXT WEEKEND, the Sun, Mercury, and Venus are all in aspect with the dwarf planet Eris, named for the goddess of discord. Astrologers are still learning about the effects of Eris, given that it was discovered just thirteen years ago. In mythology, Eris is the sister of Mars and seems to share many of his qualities -- strong and even forceful, self-motivated, quick to anger.
 
Eris can also be vengeful, as shown in one of her main myths, described on the Darkstar Astrology website:
 
"Eris was not invited to a wedding so she chucked an apple marked 'To the fairest' into the party for the vainest goddesses to fight over. Her rage at rejection and the need for vindication is what is blamed for the Trojan war."
 
With the beginning of this week dedicated to the flow and blocking of information, we can anticipate the Eris effect to reveal itself in how some deal with what has been learned. Again, from Darkstar Astrology's excellent article on Eris:
 
"Eris will take everyone down with her if she feels she has been treated unfairly or disrespected. She exposes hypocrisy and takes an eye for an eye. Eris is the perfect whistle blower, but there is a touch of the Joker in 'Batman' to her. When she eventually dishes out her revenge, she does it with style!" 
 
Sounds like a good weekend to practice staying cool, calm, and collected.
 
IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK: Your creative intelligence shines forth this year, Virgo. You have access to new insights and solutions, which you can apply to both mundane and profound concerns in your life. At the same time, your focus is strongly self-oriented, so be aware of how your decisions impact significant others in your life. Be sure to communicate your intentions clearly and calmly; there is a tendency to be overly dramatic for effect, but doing so will inhibit your ability to be a team player.

About the Author

Pam YounghansPam 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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or leave a message at 425.445.3775. For more information about NorthPoint Astrology offerings, please visit northpointastrology.com or visit her Facebook page.

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