August 2025: Scrutiny and Forgiveness

August 2025 has a few particularly powerful planetary configurations as appears to us Earthlings as we “look up” into the skies.  These are both “good” and “bad” in our human spectrum of experience, but of course in the ultimate spiritual view of things are merely landmarks in our personal and collective evolution.

Saturn and Neptune Conjunction

In the background of these various configurations is the rare conjunction of Saturn and Neptune, this year in sidereal Pisces.  This happens only every 28-30 years, the last time in the 1995’ish era.

Saturn and Neptune together deal with honor, dreams and falling short of those.  Saturn is demanding and scrutinizing; Neptune is otherworldly and forgiving.  Both of these have their constructive and dysfunctional outputs.

It was in this 1995’ish era that major developments occurred in world and US history, which were both ambitious, but also fell short of their presumed ideals.

• There was the Rwandan Genocide of 1994.  800,000 Tutsis and Hutus were slaughtered, which the rest of the world looked away.
• There was the end of Apartheid in South Africa, which was a significant global action against racism; yet again will other atrocities prevailed in other parts of the world: Israel and Palestinians, increasing tensions with Muslim minorities in Europe, and polarization in the US, xenophobia worldwide.
• There was the Yugoslav Wars and Bosnian Genocide 1992 to 1995, again the world looked away while innocent ethnic populations were mercilessly bombed by the “good guys”, i.e. the US.  The entire region was left inflamed with nationalistic tensions; the collapse of an ethnically diverse nation of Yugoslavia.
• We had the rise of the Internet, communication barriers were removed and started an ongoing revolution of civilization and society for all.
• In the US we had the so-called “Republican Revolution” as they gained control of both the House and the Senate, supposedly ideologically optimistic but ultimately giving less to the lower and middle classes of the US and starting the trend of giving disproportionately more benefits to the rising millionaire-oligarch class, exposing an economic hypocrisy that builds the wealth of the few by taking more from the many.
• We had the Oklahoma City Bombing, supposedly by domestic terrorists, but there was no adequate investigations before the whole site was demolished and buried under tons of earth.
• We had the founding of companies such as Amazon and eBay, which helped revolutionize commerce worldwide.

This current Saturn-Neptune conjunct is very close in July 2025, but Saturn will retrograde backwards for a while, but will turn direct again and make an exact conjunction in February 2026.  A lot could be said about this conjunction in real time 2025 terms, and I hope to have that information published in the next few weeks.  All I can say is just be prepared to have any personal or societal delusions pierced as you read that article, as what may be going on in your head already.

Other Events

August 7-10: Sun and Mars make hard aspects to Saturn and Neptune

This period may be rife with rancor and rationalization over issues, which may be boiling over, such as the personal lives of our public figures and questionable goings-on in their past and present, the lies and deceptions used as business as usual in our affairs, and just the basic falling-short of promises that were made for selfish goals; i.e. such as promises made to get votes, but never fulfilling or completely doing the opposite thereof in the end.

August 12, 2025, Venus and Jupiter will make a beautiful display in sidereal Gemini, which happens about once a year and will be visible to the naked eye before sunrise.  With the overshadowing Saturn-Neptune effect in the background it may be hard to find the good fortune and delight which Venus and Jupiter usually coincide with.

Day by Day Readings: 

Friday, Aug 1
Mercury inferior conjunction
First Quarter Moon
Significant adjustments demanded in our emotional and relationship lives.  Be in the real, no more escapism, projection, or enabling. New perspectives.  (Venus square Saturn and Neptune conjunction)

Saturday, Aug 2
It’s hard to let go sometimes, emotions (legitimate or not) struggling for dominance.  (Venus quincunx Pluto and sesquiquadrate Juno, Moon opposite Algol star)

Sunday, Aug 3
Moon conjunct Antares (close)
Early on, and then later today the Moon sets off Antares (Heart of the Scorpion) and Pleiades stars.  Surprising intensity can be the straw that tips the scales.

Monday, Aug 4
Defy conformity, draw upon innate genius and inspiration.  (Sun quintile Uranus)

Tuesday, Aug 5
No peaking influences

Wednesday, Aug 6
The Moon brings together Venus and Jupiter for their upcoming conjunction on Aug 12, presaging us with enlightenment, grace and good fortune.

Thursday, Aug 7
Complacency ruffled. Egos prodded.  (Sun semisquare Mars)

Friday, Aug 8
Mars opposite Saturn
Helplessness in the face of the unknown, against Fate’s seeming whimsy, seeking light in the abyss.  (Sun sesquiquadrate Saturn and Neptune)

Saturday, Aug 9
Full Moon, Mars opposite Neptune
Dangerous mystery, collapse of faith, power, and integrity.  Spiritual surrender.

Sunday, Aug 10
Super-powered resurgence.  Bravery and audacity to defy oppressive conditions. Retrieving power in relationships, assertiveness therein. (Mars conjunct Super Galactic Center and trine Pluto, Sun square Juno)

Monday, Aug 11
Mercury Stationary Direct
Finding a new straight course, unlimited willpower to bring about change.  (Saturn sextile Uranus)

Tues-Wed, Aug 12-13
Venus conjunct Jupiter conjunct Sirius star
Be sure to get out before sunrise and see the most beautiful conjunction of Venus and Jupiter in the eastern sky.  Consecrate yourself to bring great love, wisdom, and grace everywhere, as their light reflects off your eyes.  Venus and Jupiter are also in alignment with the bright star Sirius, so I’m hoping for some much-needed delight to fill this day.

Thursday, Aug 14
Let excitement urge you on to greater purpose and accomplishment.  (Mercury sextile Mars)

Friday, Aug 15
The Sun moves into the sidereal sign of Leo.  For the next 30 days practice your Lion King roars, let out your mane (if you have one) and occupy your power.

Saturday, Aug 16
Some stories end bittersweetly, but love is a long story anyway.  (Venus tridecile Saturn and Neptune, Moon conjunct Algol and Pleiades stars)

Sun-Mon, Aug 17-18
Greet seemingly intimidating people or situations head on, nothing is better than a direct solution to problems, knowing that you are greater than all your problems arrayed against you.  (Sun biquintile Saturn and Neptune)

Tuesday, Aug 19
Mercury at Greatest Elongation
Connections spark realization, opening new possibilities and pathways.  (Pluto quintile Juno)

Wednesday, Aug 20
Jupiter looking at Vega star. Inspirational influx, leaps of faith. Boldness wins.

Thursday, Aug 21
No peaking influences

Friday, Aug 22
Sun on Regulus, the Heart of the Lion star.  Courage for success.

Saturday, Aug 23
Problems, but sudden exuberant solutions.  Hesitation is fatal. Every action is a reward itself.  (Jupiter Semisquare Uranus, Sun quincunx Saturn)

Sunday, Aug 24
Switch ups, surfing the (seeming) erratic currents that are life. (Sun square Uranus, semisquare Jupiter, quincunx Neptune and Pluto)

Monday, Aug 25
Shrug off discouragement, move on to make important relationship episodes. You ARE the irresistible force.  (Mercury sesquiquadrate Saturn and Neptune, Venus quintile Mars and trine Saturn, Moon opposite Saturn and Neptune)

Tuesday, Aug 26
Exhilarating emotions inspire growth and love.  (Venus sextile Uranus trine Neptune)

Wednesday, Aug 27
Mercury at Perihelion
Inspiration, a sense of greatness. Powerful emotions to sway the outcomes, for good or for ill. (Sun opposite Fomalhaut star, Venus opposite Pluto)

Thursday, Aug 28
Dramatic, incisive and bold moves. Relationship developments. (Venus tridecile Juno, Mars tridecile Pluto, Uranus sextile Neptune, Mercury square Juno)

Friday, Aug 29
Mercury moves into sidereal Leo.  New boldness.

Saturday, Aug 30
Impactful day, all news is good news. Go with the flow but let honor dictate your actions. Early action with the Moon on Pleiades and Algol stars. (Mercury biquintile Saturn, Sun biquintile Pluto, Mercury biquintile Neptine)

Sunday Aug 31
No peaking influences