Moonsign,
Sunsign
and More
by Jenny Yates

August 10 to 17, 2018


What sign is the moon in?  What signs do the planets occupy?  
What is the current lunar cycle about?  

For the aspects currently affecting everyone, click here.  

And for a daily overview, click here.   

Venus is in Gemini

In Gemini, Venus is devoted to
intellectual pleasures.  This can mean
anything from crossword puzzles to
lectures on Medieval candle magic.   

It's especially good for scintillating
conversation.  Everyone is wittier and
more interesting, and everyone is
quicker to respond to your ripostes.
(And they're ready to repost
everything you write, too.)  

And yes, it's a good time for puns.  
Try to control yourself.    

Venus will be in Gemini until July 4.   

Venus entered Gemini
in NYC: Thurs, June 9, 10:23 am
in Vancouver: Thurs, June 9, 7:23 am
in London: Thurs, June 9, 3:23 pm
in Berlin:  Thurs, June 9, 4:23 pm


The Moon


moves into Leo
in NYC: Fri, Aug 10, 12:17 am
in Vancouver: Thurs, Aug 9, 9:17 pm
in London: Fri, Aug 10, 5:17 am  
in Singapore: Fri, Aug 10, 12:17 pm   
in Sydney: Fri, Aug 10, 2:17 pm

moves into Virgo
in NYC:  Sat, Aug 11, 11:58 pm
in Vancouver: Sat, Aug 11, 8:58 pm
in London: Sun, Aug 12, 4:58 am
in Singapore: Sun, Aug 12, 11:58 am  
in Sydney: Sun, Aug 12, 1:58 pm

moves into Libra
in NYC: Tues, Aug 14, 12:57 am  
in Vancouver: Mon, Aug 13, 9:57 pm
in London: Tues, Aug 14, 5:57 am  
in Singapore: Tues, Aug 14, 12:57 pm    
in Sydney: Tues, Aug 14, 2:57 pm  

moves into Scorpio
in NYC: Thurs, Aug 16, 4:54 am
in Vancouver: Thurs, Aug 16, 1:54 am  
in London: Thurs, Aug 16, 9:54 am  
in Singapore: Thurs, Aug 16, 4:54 pm  
in Sydney: Thurs, Aug 16, 6:54 pm

moves into Sagittarius
in NYC: Sat, Aug 18, 12:45 pm
in Vancouver: Sat, Aug 18, 9:45 am  
in London: Sat, Aug 18, 5:45 pm
in Singapore: Sun, Aug 19, 12:45 am  
in Sydney: Sun, Aug 19, 2:45 am  

What does the
moon's sign tell
you?

See
Moon Signs and
Lunar Transits

Mars is Retrograde
(9° Aquarius)

Mars retrograde doesn’t tend to be as disruptive as
Mercury retrograde, but it can mean less effective,
focused action. In Aquarius, Mars is experimental
and futuristic, but while it’s retrograde, you may find
that
you’re inventing things that have been invented
many times already.   

You intend to rush forward, but instead you may find
yourself shooting back into the past.  All the people
you’ve ever been mad at, you find yourself annoyed
at once more.  Everything that’s ever frustrated you
is now frustrating you again.  Old obstacles show
up.  Or without thinking, you repeat mistakes you’ve
made before.  

This can drive you crazy, until you realize that you
need to slow down and stop over-reacting to
everything.  What are you supposed to learn from
this?  It’s a good time to pause, look around you,
and draw some conclusions.  When you’re still, your
viewpoint widens, until you can see patterns that
you never saw before, and make more viable plans
for the future.  

Anger is never simple, and less so now than usual.  
If you’re used to robustly defending yourself, you
may suddenly recognize that you haven’t been
entirely blameless.  If
you’ve been feeling like a victim, you may notice the
ways in which you’ve let that happen.  If you’ve run
away from scary situations in the past, you may find
ways to move towards them, and face what you’ve
always feared.  

Mars goes direct again on August 27.          

Mars went retrograde
in NYC: Tues, Jun 26, 5:04 pm  
in Vancouver: Tues, Jun 26, 2:04 pm  
in London: Tues, Jun 26, 10:04 pm    
in Singapore: Weds, Jun 27, 5:04 am     
in Sydney: Weds, Jun 27, 7:04 am     

Mercury is in Leo

This is all about the Voice of Authority.  Some people have it
naturally, and they thrive when Mercury is in Leo.  Other
people are shy and retiring, but they are also more likely to
speak up with confidence when Mercury is in this sign.  

It’s not just about being sure you’re right – although
that’s definitely a good part of it.  But Mercury in Leo offers
more, when it comes to communication skills.  It gives
warmth, passion, enthusiasm, and honesty, and so people
find it easier to understand and appreciate each other.  Leo
is not a cerebral sign, and so you pick up as much from
body language and expression as you do from the actual
words.  

Shared passions are important, and it doesn’t matter how
you convey your feelings – whether in long speeches or
entirely in mime!  You get your point across, and your
heartfelt message can kindle lasting friendships and a few
love affairs during this time.      

Leo is a very creative and expressive sign, so artists of all
kinds can enjoy Mercury in Leo.
It’s especially good for performance artists, since Leo is so
dramatic.  Singers and poets can move people not just by
the words but by the tone and nuance and rhythm of their
voices.  

However, there are likely to be more arguments during this
Mercury sign, because the sense of being right gets notched
up to a new level.  There’s more ego invested in the things
people say and believe.  It definitely helps that Mercury in
Leo also inclines to laughter, although it won’t necessarily
deescalate conflict if you laugh in your opponent’s face.  But
later, when you’re talking about it, laughter is good.  

Mercury will be here until September 5.       

Mercury entered Leo
in NYC: Fri, Jun 29, 1:16 am
in Vancouver: Thurs, Jun 28, 10:16 pm
in London:  Fri, Jun 29, 6:16 am
in Singapore: Fri, Jun 29, 1:16 pm  
in Sydney: Fri,  Jun 29, 3:16 pm

Saturn is in Capricorn

Saturn is now entering its home sign, where
it’s an especially strong influence.  This is a
period when the focus will be on duty,
responsibility and pragmatism, and there
won’t be a lot of time or room for frivolity.
When times are hard, people focus on the
basics, and act more cautiously.

This is a sign of structure and tradition, and
so the emphasis will be on maintaining the
status quo, and bolstering it further whenever
possible. We may see more poverty and lack,
for many reasons, during this time.  Natural
resources will become scarcer, and people
already in power will be even more efficient in
taking control of
what’s there.     

With Saturn in this sign, I can see the world
becoming more and more like a factory, a
machine, with people being ground under by
the emphasis on efficiency and competence.
At the same time, organization is rewarded, in
whatever form, and so we are likely to see a
lot of grassroots organization take firm root.  
Discipline and commitment are rewarded by
this sign, and this will help people survive.    

Saturn is the planet that rules bones, and so
we’ll become aware of the bones of our
society. We’ll become well acquainted with its
framework, and it will be clear when it’s
crooked, when it’s unstable, when
it’s not sustainable. The process of righting it
is slow and painstaking, but that work will
continue doggedly during this time.   

Saturn will be in Capricorn until March 21,
2020.  

Saturn entered Capricorn
in NYC: Tues, Dec 19, 11:48 pm
in Vancouver: Tues, Dec 19,
8:48 pm
in London: Weds, Dec 20, 4:48 am
in Singapore: Weds, Dec 20,
12:48 pm  
in Sydney: Weds, Dec 20, 3:48 pm


The sun is in Leo

The sun is exuberant in its own sign, Leo.  
Everyone is encouraged to live a little bit more
loudly:  to be more dramatic, to express
themselves, to shine.  People who are
comfortable in the spotlight are even happier
to be there when the sun is in Leo.  People
who are shyer gain confidence as they see
how much fun everybody else is having.  And
audiences are also greatly appreciated when
the sun is in this sign.  

This is a nice time for children, and it brings
out the child in all of us.  It’s a time to soak up
the sun, to be free and playful, to sing and
dance, to clown around, to climb trees and look
at the view from above.  Everything is out in
the open, there’s freedom and high spirits and
bright colors, and people are living for the
moment.  

There can also be quite a lot of jousting while
the sun is here.  Some battles for dominance
are just for show, but others are quite serious.  
This is the time when the alpha dog may have
to deal with a lot of challenges from the lesser
dogs.  There is more posturing, and social
events can become fabulous and outrageous
affairs during the sun’s sojourn in Leo.  

The sun will be here until August 22.  

The sun enters Leo
in NYC: Sat, July 22, 5 pm
in Vancouver: Sat, July 22, 2 pm
in London: Sun, July 23, 12 am  
in Singapore: Sun, July 23, 5 am  
in Sydney: Sun, July 23, 7 am

The Current Lunar Cycle
(20° Cancer)

This is an intense lunar cycle, with the sun and moon
opposing Pluto, and with a partial solar eclipse. There
is a real potential for important changes, both in your
personal life and in the political situation.

With the lunar nodes in Leo/Aquarius, the main
danger is that of some kind of power grab.  Tyrants
are growing more emboldened, all over the world, and
some of them will see this as a moment of particular
opportunity.  There could also be humanitarian crises
involving water, or some other natural element, which
shift the balance of power.

Everyone is more sensitive and intuitive, with the sun
and moon in Cancer, but people are also more likely
to escape, or to cling to their private obsessions and
fatalistic beliefs.  It can be very scary to accept that
you have some agency, in your own life and in the
greater world.

But the Venus/Uranus trine, also very close at this
new moon, shows that we have the ability to help each
other.  We all have a role to play:  artists, journalists,
farmers, workers, healers. Whatever our focus, we
can dedicate our energy to making the world a saner
and healthier place. Imagine what a strong chain we
make when we all hold hands.         

This lunar cycle lasts until the next new moon on
August 11.  Its climactic moment is the full moon (and
lunar eclipse) on July 27.   

The new moon occurred
in NYC:  Thurs, Jul 12, 10:47 pm
in Vancouver: Thurs, Jul 12, 7:47 pm  
in London: Fri, Jul 13, 3:47 am
in Singapore: Fri, Jul 13, 10:47 am   
in Sydney: Fri, Jul 13, 12:47 pm

Pluto is in Capricorn


Pluto has to do with the slowest, most
relentless and most inexorable trends.  In spite
of being demoted from planet status, it's still
very influential when it comes to social
transformation.  

As soon as Pluto entered this pragmatic,
restrained ascetic sign, the economy took a
very different shape.  Everyone switched from
spending and speculating to worrying and
saving.  The emphasis is on what works, not
necessarily what feels good.

This is a long-term conservative influence, but
the word "conservative" can mean a lot of
different things.  It could mean conserving the
land, and becoming better stewards of the
earth.  It could mean conserving the wisdom of
our elders.  It could mean looking to the
people who have spent their lives developing
practical skills and asking, "Okay, how do we
do this?"

Pluto has been in Capricorn since November
2008 and will be here until March 2023.  

Mercury is Retrograde
(23° Leo)

Mercury in Leo usually likes to be center
stage, head of the pack, top of the food
chain.  But Mercury is going retrograde at
an empty spot, far from aspects to other
planets, and so it’s recusing itself from all
the activity for a while.  And there’s plenty of
activity, since Mars and Uranus are getting
involved in all the excitement of the lunar
eclipse.  

What this means is that there isn’t going to
be a lot of checking in going on.  
Everybody’s going to be running around,
doing a million things, but without a clear
organizational plan.  People will be
operating more on instinct, on passion, on
whim.  

Meanwhile, the mind is trained on past
glories, or on elaborate fantasies.  So words
may be bountiful and elegant, but they’re
often empty, disconnected from useful
action.  

The next three weeks are not particularly
good for starting anything.  Projects may
look great on paper, and then go absolutely
nowhere (or in a completely wrong
direction) when it’s time to get started.  This
is better for going back into the past, and
picking up old projects that have been
patiently waiting for you to have time for
them.  The faded glamors of the past call to
you.  What are they telling you?   

Mercury goes direct again on August 19.  

Mercury went retrograde
in NYC: Thurs, Jul 26, 1:02 am
in Vancouver:  Weds, Jul 25, 10:02 pm
in London: Thurs, Jul 26, 6:02 am
in Singapore: Thurs, Jul 26, 1:02 pm  
in Sydney: Thurs, Jul 26, 3:02 pm

Venus is in Libra

When Venus, the planet of love, goes through
Libra, everyone is more romantic.  The
trappings of romance – candlelight, soft music,
dancing, silky fabrics – are all more evident.  
Everything connected to relationships is gentler,
more subtle, more refined.  There’s more give-
and-take, a willingness to look at the other point
of view, to cooperate, even to yield at times.

Single people may find themselves longing for
partners, and it’s very easy to fall in love during
this Venus sign.  You may be entranced by
some simple word or gesture which seems to
reflect a romantic ideal.  Whether this can go
anywhere, only time will tell, so take a while to
get to know the object of your desire.  This
Venus sign is good for that anyway, as it’s more
cerebral than physical.  

During this time, artistic pleasure is enhanced.  
It’s a great time to go to a play, a concert or a
museum.  People are drawn to intellectual
pleasures, parties are more elegant, and
conversation becomes an art.  Those who are
already artistic will be in their element, but even
those who avoid higher culture may be inspired
to duck into a gallery and come home with a
framed print.  If you’re working on a farm, you
could find yourself reciting poetry to the
chickens.  

This is an idealistic time, in which the sense of
justice is stronger.  And so, even though it
inclines to peaceful solutions, it’s not always
peaceful.  There will be more processing during
this Venus sign, as people work out what it
means to be fair, egalitarian, and balanced in
their relationships to their partners, to society in
general, and within themselves.       

Venus will be here until September 9.      

Venus entered Libra
in NYC: Mon, Aug 6, 7:27 pm
in Vancouver: Mon, Aug 6, 4:27 pm  
in London: Tues, Aug 7, 12:27 am
in Singapore: Tues, Aug 7, 7:27 am  
in Sydney: Tues, Aug 7, 9:27 am

Jupiter is in Scorpio

The character of the year changes, as Jupiter enters its
new sign.  And this new year is one of deeper thoughts
and feelings.  Many people will be moved to examine
what’s going on in their brains and their hearts, to figure
out where these angry or painful thoughts are coming
from, and perhaps to make changes.  

Scorpio is an intensely emotional sign, so a great many
strong feelings will emerge throughout this year.  People
will be laughing, crying, suffering, bonding, and trying to
come to terms with their inner demons. Some people will
do this in the quiet of their rooms, and nobody will know
about these dramatic inner struggles until the explosion
happens.  Other people will reach out, will allow
themselves to be vulnerable, will heal, and will help
others heal.  

So you can say this will be the year when we all deal
with our mental and emotional health.  Spiritual health
also plays a part in this, and Scorpio is a sign of
extremes.  So you may have more people rejecting the
noisy materialism of the world, and living in a state of
Zen purity.  Scorpio is a sign of strong desires, and it
can also manifest in the desire to completely renounce
desire.  

And it’s also a year when hidden things can come to
light, including corruption, collusion and vice. I expect
some politicians to fall from grace, and some rottenness
to be exposed during the coming year.   

Jupiter will be here until November 8, 2018.  

Jupiter entered Scorpio
in NYC: Tues, Oct 10, 2017,  9:20 am
in Vancouver: Tues, Oct 10, 2017, 6:20 am
in London: Tues, Oct 10, 2017, 2:20 pm  
in Singapore: Tues, Oct 10, 2017, 9:20 pm  
in Sydney: Weds, Oct 11, 2017, 12:20 am

Uranus is in Taurus

Uranus is the revolutionary planet, and now it’s entering
the most solid, grounded sign in the zodiac, Taurus.  So
this could be a time when some very basic social and
economic factors will be challenged.  

There could be big changes to the way we all handle
matters of wealth and poverty, for example. Currencies
could be affected, and some could go dormant, while
new currencies are suddenly born.  Our agricultural
methods could be altered during this time, along with
the way we distribute food and other goods.  New
technology will reshape science, especially when it
comes to medicine.  New art forms could have a big
influence, particularly in music and spoken poetry.  

Ecological issues will also be addressed with innovative
technology during this time, and some of it will work,
while some of it will fail.  It may become clear that we do
need to restructure our societies in order to live
sustainably on the earth, but whether this will happen in
a sufficiently radical way remains to be seen.  There will
be a lot of push-back for every change that’s
proposed.  Sometimes it takes the shock of disaster to
really alter people’s consciousness, but that’s the hard
way to do it.

There may be more radical movements towards
traditional lifestyles during this time. Of course,
everybody interprets tradition in their own way.  Some
of these will be oppressive to women, gay people, and
minorities, while others are able to combine a kinder
social ethic with a sustainable lifestyle.

Uranus will be in Taurus until November 6, 2018, when
it will retrograde back into Aries for about four months,
before re-entering Taurus in March
2019.                        

Uranus enteredTaurus
in NYC: Tues, May 15, 11:16 am  
in Vancouver: Tues, May 15, 8:16 am  
in London: Tues, May 15, 4:16 pm  
in Singapore: Tues, May 15, 11:16 pm     
in Sydney: Weds, May 16, 1:16 am  

The Next Lunar Cycle
(18° Leo)

The Leo new moon is dramatic.  This is a time
when people are more prone to expressing
themselves loudly and vehemently.  And this
new moon brings a solar eclipse, so there’s a
strong push for change at the same time.  
Power is shifting, inexorably, and everybody is
going to be doing a lot of yelling as it shifts.   

There’s a yod operating at the new moon, and
this brings in karmic factors.  The sun, moon
and Mercury form the apex of the yod, so
changes happen upon a very public stage.  The
two inconjunct planets are Pluto and Neptune,
indicating that there’s a lot going on behind the
scenes, too.  Political wheeling and dealing,
boundary issues, blaming and finger-pointing,
ambivalence and confusion -  it’s all part of the
drama of the moment.

So the lesson of this lunar cycle is that you’re
going to reap whatever you’ve sown.  If your
focus has been selfish or greedy, then you’re
likely to get crowded out.  If you’ve stayed true
to your principles, they’ll uphold you too.  It
might be a bumpy path, but hold on, you’ll get
through.   

This lunar cycle lasts until the next new moon on
September 9.  Its climactic moment is the full
moon on August 26.  

The new moon occurs
in NYC:  Sat, Aug 11, 5:57 am
in Vancouver: Sat, Aug 11, 2:57 am
in London: Sat, Aug 11, 12:57 pm  
in Singapore: Sat, Aug 11, 5:57 pm  
in Sydney: Sat, Aug 11, 7:57 pm

Neptune is in Pisces

This could be a time of beautiful spiritual flowering,
a time when large numbers of people open up their
hearts and connect with each other. The idealism
of Neptune becomes deeply intuitive, emotional
and sympathetic when this planet goes through
Pisces.

The matter of faith is likely to be paramount as
Neptune goes through this sign.  Who and what do
we trust?  People will have a stronger need to
believe in something (or someone), and this can
mean that some folks will be preyed upon by
unscrupulous con men. A gullible populace isn't
always good at picking leaders, so it will be
important to talk as clearly and fully as
possible about all the issues of the day. Open
communication is important and protective during
this period.      

Neptune is the planet of the strange, so things may
take odd turns.  Everyone will be a little more
susceptible to illusions, confusion, fascinations,
and poetic deliriums.  New drugs could make an
appearance – both medicinal and recreational -  
and new healing techniques be developed.  
Creativity is enhanced by Neptune in this sign,
especially when it comes to rhythmic forms like
music and poetry, and to the arts of illusion such
as theatre and film. We could see the flowering of
some amazing new art-forms.  

Religious institutions get new life from
Neptune’s passage through Pisces, but only if they
offer a true connection with the wisdom of the inner
self.  It’s not a time for dogma, but for breaking
down all artificial divisions and merging with the
infinite.  

Neptune will be here until March 2025.  

Neptune entered Pisces
in NYC:  Fri, Feb 3, 2012, 2:03 pm
in Vancouver: Fri, Feb 3, 2012,
11:03 am
in London:  Fri, Feb 3,2012, 7:03 pm
in Berlin: Fri, Feb 3, 2012, 8:03 pm
in Sydney: Sat, Feb 4, 2012, 6:03 am

Mars is in Aquarius

The planet of will and action becomes more
independent and free-spirited in Aquarius.  You may
have a stronger urge to experiment, a desire to venture
into unknown territory.  

The urge to learn new things is strong, and this is not
just a mental but a physical desire.  You want to pick up
new physical skills, and you may be particularly drawn
to the kinds of sports that happen in wide-open spaces,
like wind-surfing, mountain-climbing, or ice-skating.  
You want the wind in your hair, while you master some
new skill.  And it’s a plus if not too many other people
know how to do it.

Your sense of style is more pronounced under this
influence.  People are less into being fashion slaves,
more inclined to figure out something that’s uniquely
their own.  Some people will be quirky, while others will
be downright eccentric, and a few will get thrown in jail
for running naked down the street.  

It’s a very creative time.  Because there’s very little
interest in conforming, everybody is coming up with
interesting ways to express themselves.  Inventors are
more inventive, scientists are more inspired, and artists
are more avant-garde.   

Mars will be here until August 12.       

Mars entered Aquarius
in NYC:  Weds, May 16, 12:55 am  
in Vancouver: Tues, May 15, 9:55 pm    
in London: Weds, May 16, 5:55 am  
in Singapore: Weds, May 16, 12:55 pm     
in Sydney: Weds, May 16, 2:55 pm  

Mars re-enters Capricorn

Mars, going retrograde, is going back into this
pragmatic, traditional, serious earth sign.  So
people are going back and examining the nuts
and bolts, checking out things that were undone
or that weren’t done well the first time.  

This is a good Mars-sign for getting things done,
especially on the physical level.  You have the
materials at hand, you have a plan, you have a
goal, and you work hard.  When you have
obligations, you meet them.  You work equally
well in groups or alone.  

It’s a cautious place for Mars, and it helps
people to work out any disagreements.  There’s
a stronger appreciation for the wisdom and
experience of the past, and a greater willingness
to find practical solutions.  At the same time,
people can be a bit more judgmental under this
influence, since it gives a stronger emphasis on
external standards.           

People are not all that comfortable with things
that are vague and open-ended;  they want
clarity and definition.  They want an end to the
loose ends;  they want forms, patterns,
structures, commitments, and lasting value.
They want to build something solid and
worthwhile.  And in the process, they don’t want
to waste any time or materials.  

Mars will be in Capricorn until September 10.      

Mars enters Capricorn
in NYC: Sun, Aug 12, 10:13 pm
in Vancouver: Sun, Aug 12, 7:13 pm
in London: Mon, Aug 13, 3:13 am
in Singapore: Mon, Aug 13,
10:13 am  
in Sydney: Mon, Aug 13, 12:13 pm