Written by Nicola Perry
Welcome to August 2025, and what looks to be an exciting month, with even the possibility of love in the air…
We open the month with Venus having just moved into Cancer on July 31st, and immediately making squares to Saturn and Neptune, both travelling retrograde on the 1st. This perhaps brings to our awareness precious dreams we hold, and the opportunity to consider whether these can stand the test of time, or whether they need to be re-imagined in some way.
On the 6th, Mars moves from Virgo to Libra, the sign of its detriment, introducing a period of a few weeks which encourages us to find ways of taking action that incorporate the needs and viewpoints of others. Also, Mercury travelling retrograde as we open the month – until the 10th – encourages us to rethink, revise, and redo. So these early days of August could well have a reflective, slower, even slightly dreamy quality about them.
At the same time, all three outer planets have recently changed signs and are making supportive aspects to each other from the very early degrees of fire and air signs, forming a Minor Grand Trine. Each outer planet brings its own agenda into its new home, and when all three are pulling together in harmony in masculine, proactive signs, we can expect movement, activity and fireworks.
Into this powder keg comes Mars, also in an air sign, to trine Uranus on the 8th; to oppose Saturn and Neptune on the 9th; and on the 10th to trine Pluto, thus forming a kite (Mars opposing the Saturn-Neptune apex of the Minor Grand Trine and forming trines to both Uranus and Pluto). This is a very dynamic aspect of hard work and facing challenges head-on leading to productive outcomes. Expect action, innovation and the unexpected, and with Mars being in Libra, the action may be through discussion and negotiation rather than sheer brute force.
This period from the 8th to the 10th is also highlighted by the Full Moon occurring on the 9th in Aquarius. As always, the Full Moon is a time where matters come to light – previously hidden things are seen and events come to a head, so all the activity from Mars stirring up the three outer planets could bring many things into our conscious awareness, presenting us with new situations to deal with. Aquarius is a humanitarian sign, giving us an innate understanding of our connections to one another, and so our reactions might well be for the good of all at this time. Mercury stationing direct on the 10thmight give us pause for a moment before forward movement takes over.
Soon after, on the 12th, there is a really special conjunction between Venus and Jupiter. Jupiter is exalted in Cancer, a sign known for wanting to take care of others. Jupiter in exaltation is in its highest expression of magnanimity, and he is also unconnected by aspect here to the celestial drama unfolding with Mars and the three outer planets plus Saturn. Venus conjoining Jupiter therefore suggests an outpouring of love and caring, whether on a global or a personal level. On a global level, it underscores the humanitarian message of the Aquarian Full Moon, seeing all of us as connected and offering help where needed, and on a personal level we could experience something joyful -something really caring and loving with someone special, an inspiring artistic experience, or an uplift in finances.
On the 22nd,the Sun moving into Virgo is immediately joined by the Moon for the New Moon at zero degrees, and tightly squaring Uranus in Gemini. Something unexpected, disruptive or exciting is beginning. Interestingly, with six planets at zero or one degrees in the New Moon chart, including the Sun and Moon, this really underscores the usual meaning of a New Moon as being about fresh starts and new beginnings. Mercury, the ruler of the lunation, is freshly in direct motion and the Sun and Moon contact all three points of the Minor Grand Trine formed by the outer planets and Saturn, with a square to Uranus and quincunxes to Neptune, Saturn and Pluto. There is the feeling of an exciting fresh start in some aspect of our lives. On the same day, Venus perfects its square to retrograde Chiron, perhaps bringing our own personal healing process into our awareness, and on the 27th it perfects its opposition to Pluto. All of this suggests new beginnings of deepening awareness as August comes to its close.
