August starts and ends with a Full Moon. This is the first Full Moon this month, happening at 2:13 PM EDT when the Sun at 9 degrees of Leo opposes the Moon at 9 degrees of Aquarius. The Leo - Aquarius axis calls for balance between self empowerment and leadership (Leo) and contributing your unique gifts to humanity so the world benefits.
Both Leo and Aquarius are fixed signs, so change is not embraced. Fixed signs value consistency and stability. Change is uncomfortable and fixed signs have a low tolerance for discomfort.
Leo is the fixed fire sign. Leo energy is warm, inviting, courageous, and playful. Higher expression of Leo energy brings the inspiration of its fire nature. Everything is a little brighter when Leo is around. It draws others in. It's energy is charismatic. A fully realized Leo energy is fully aware of its worth. Because of this, it has no need to draw validation from others. Fire signs are idealistic. As the fixed fire sign, Leo's allegiance is to a moral code that is based on fairness, truth, honor, and other noble concepts. It is steadfast in basing its actions on this code and anyone who disrespects or violates one of Leo's core values will not be welcome into the circle.
Aquarius is the fixed air sign. It experiences life in the mental realms. Aquarius is innovative, unpredictable, detached, and unconventional. Freedom loving, it does not naturally respect authority. Aquarius has been known to rebel against something just for the sake of rebelling. Aquarius marches to its own tune. Its allegiance is to its vision of a better world for humanity. Aquarius is focused on the collective.
The Leo - Aquarius axis asks us to balance self empowerment and focus on the personal with the power of the group to foster significant benefits for the collective. Leo is personal, Aquarius is how the personal can influence and work within the group to achieve common goals.
Consider where you place your sense of worthiness and empowerment. Do you require lots of validation? Everyone wants to feel appreciated, but an out of alignment Leo energy is not satisfied with an acknowledgement. As noted in the post in Venus retrograde in Leo, out of balance Leo energy is overly sensitive and requires almost constant validation. Do you feel you need to "earn" the good in your life. Are you able to receive the blessings of life? Are you able to have fun? Do you honor your values or do you violate your own standards in order to belong? How do you choose to use your personal power? How do you react towards authority? Can you work with others for the good of the group or must it be your way?
When these energies are in balance, we have the benefit of wonderful leaders creating together in joy to uplevel society. New approaches to old problems and unique solutions to big challenges become the norm because no one is afraid to be seen. Each is comfortable in their skin, here to contribute their talents and knowing that contribution is valuable.
Jupiter at 13 degrees of Taurus is forming a T-square to the Sun and Moon. Taurus is also a fixed sign; the tendency with fixed squares is to recognize the need to make changes but finding it brutally hard to actually follow through. Fixed squares, especially fixed T-squares can be painful. The energies of the square will amp up the frustration levels the longer we try to talk ourselves out of changing. This often brings a lot of frustration. Jupiter in Taurus is expanding the concept of what is needed to feel comfortable and how to best develop our resources, including time and talent as well as more tangible things.
The way to work with this energy is to lean into the way you show up as your best self. This requires being vulnerable and trusting in yourself. How can you best support and empower yourself? This is not about trying to control external conditions. This is about transforming what you believe yourself capable of. It might require you take a leap of faith.
Remember this is all happening in the context of the other energetic changes we have been experiencing, including Venus retrograde, the Moon's Nodes shifting into Aries - Libra from Taurus - Scorpio, and Pluto moving back into Capricorn and squaring the April eclipse point of 29 degrees Aries. Each of these brings big energies. Taken together, they have a cumulative effect. The pressure is on to show up as the best expression of yourself. It's your opportunity to stop making excuses and get to it.
Also, Mercury will be going retrograde the end of August, so this is the time to take your precautions. Get your vehicles and technology serviced if needed, back up data and confirm appointments and communications.
"Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control over what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you don't." ~ Steve Maraboli