Warm, golden August is the Sun’s month, when royal Leo rules. I think of people lounging graciously around the swimming pool, being served refreshing cool drinks, feeling that the world is theirs to enjoy and appreciate.

August is peak vacation month. And at the same time many major world events and power struggles occur in August. Leo, August’s main sign, is a fixed fire sign. It refers to the heart, and to the central fire which burns within each of us, and within every entity, whether it be the family, the company, or the nation. Leo is the director, Central Command, and this is the time when we take charge of ourselves in a whole-hearted manner. Because of Leo’s fixity, changes which occur now can be wrenching. It is certain that they will be central to our lives.

Cancer, the sign of the Moon, also remains important. With Leo we establish where we’re coming from, and with Cancer we create the secure nest which gives Leo that freedom of self-expression. Cancer dominates the summer due to two new moons in Cancer. This affords us a double opportunity to focus on our security, and to get it right.

(Check the July Calendar in the archives for July 20 for a fix on the second Cancer Moon cycle, during which we begin August.)

Cancer is also important because the Eclipse cycle and the Moon’s Nodes are in the Cancer-Capricorn polarity. They have been there for more than a year, and this means that creating security is our underlying motivation during this time, no matter what other energy fields we’re playing in. Work, home, and family are the three big subjects in Cancer-Capricorn, and they are emphasized for the entire summer. Now in August we work in tandem with Leo, to support the very centers of our vitality.

This can mean anything from taking a vacation where we can recreate ourselves, to finding work or a home or a partner that makes us happy. Cancer needs to feel comfortable.

Jupiter has just entered Cancer to give a lift to all Cancer Sun people, and to wherever each of us has Cancer in our natal charts. This means that Cancerian security is our main medium of growth for the next year. Family, and family-feeling partnerships can also thrive, for Venus, the Lover, and Juno, the Partner, also energize Cancer now.

During August, and especially during the first third of the month, emotional, nurturing, sensitive Cancerian energy is strongly supported. Let intuition reign. Take care of yourself, your partner, your home, and your family.

The other major influence for August is our ever-present free wheeling Great Communicator, the Gemini-Sagittarius polarity, the over-riding energy polarity for almost two years.

Sagittarius is the Ascendant of the U.S. Sibly chart for July 4, and the strong, long-lasting emphasis on this polarity, and especially on Pluto in Sagittarius, puts the United States front and center for a few years, with a focus on transformation of its national identity. Pluto is the Lord of Evolution.

Sagittarius and Gemini are mutable signs. Mutable signs are just that—flexible, versatile, and often indecisive. Mercury travels through Virgo, another mutable sign, during August. The combination will make for much mental activity, including planning, preparing, and worrying. With the Cancer influence, issues will revolve around defense, protection, and safety.

Virgo is especially concerned with health and with work. There will be a focus on the medical system, medical care, all the service sectors, labor, and the military—also Virgo. There could be problems with the food supply. Mercury, fleet of foot and full of news, is especially stimulating on August 20-21 and August 27-28.

Pluto, ruler of death and birth, is highlighted twice during August. The first time is on August 5, when Saturn opposes Pluto to set into motion a historically important 10-month process of structural transformation.

On August 23 Pluto turns direct to move its transformational work quickly ahead for the next seven months. The 5 days following, from August 23-28, will be very intense.

Once a week, whenever Moon is in Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, or Pisces, the mutable signs will be very stirred up. Thus during August there will be much restlessness, movement, and perhaps wheel spinning. At the same time we are starting a new emotional growth cycle, connected with our integrity and heart’s desires. Nurturing and protection will be important.

Our big challenge this month is to combine emotional and rational expression in a way which speaks our own truth.