Category: Monthy Horoscopes

The August Solar Eclipse – All that Glitters isn’t Gold

There is something critical about the eclipse!

Though the eclipse is at 20 degrees of Leo, it’s said to be in it’s 21 degree. 21 Leo is a critical degree. The critical degrees are derived from the division of the sky by lunar mansions. It seems like a random number, but it’s a critical degree, and it intensifies the energy of the eclipse!

It’s a south node eclipse, which is always a little more karmic. The south node is also at the critical degree of 29 Leo, making a mini grand trine with Chiron at the critical degree of 0 Taurus and Mars at 0 Cancer.

Hope I didn’t lose you… but through a variety of techniques… these are the astrological critical degrees – highlighting the ones affecting us now:

Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn): 13° and 26°

Fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius): 9° and 21°

Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces): 4° and 17°

0 and 29 of any degree

So let’s break this down. Leo is the sign of courage, creativity, and leadership—the sign of the sovereign: kings and queens, emperors and empresses, gods and goddesses. Leo loves fun, attention, and enjoyment—but its shadow is excess – too much fun… like gambling or extreme sports. It is associated with the ego and self-expression. When aligned, Leo radiates confidence and creative vitality; when out of alignment, it can become self-absorbed, entitled, narcissistic, or filled with hubris.

This eclipse is conjunct the Asteroids Isis and Osiris. Isis and Osiris are the great Egyptian couple, and this brings in their story.

In many ways, the story of Osiris is a story about the journey and growth of the ego. The story goes that Osiris was king, and he had a brother named Set who was jealous of him. Set secretly measured Osiris, designed a beautiful, ornate box and at a party challenged everyone that whoever could fit in the box perfectly could keep the box. Of course, it was secretly made to fit Osiris’s measurements, and when Osiris went into the box, the door of it was shut and sealed, and he was sent down the river to die. Isis found him and revived him, making Set furious. To make sure Osiris was really dead, this time Set cut his body into 14 pieces and scattered them throughout the land. Isis again went looking for Osiris and gathered all but one piece, which she could not find. It was his phallus. She revived him, fashioned a phallus out of magic. Osiris stayed alive long enough for Horus to be conceived and born.

The story has many layers, but one is related to the ego, individuation and leadership – a very Leo thing to be sure! Leaders are often in leadership positions because of an internal drive for recognition and power. It’s only a spiritually advanced Leo who has integrated the energy of the opposite pole – Aquarius who leads from the heart and is for the people. The goal of the Leo energy is therefore to separate their ego from external validation – from the applause of the theatre, from the praise of constituents, from the worship of his (or her) throne. Leo’s goal of becoming a heart-centred leader requires deep inner work. In the myth, Osiris jumped into the box tempted by the glitter, in order to fit – in order to be special – and that ultimately leads to his demise and his fall from grace. Leo is ruled by the Sun, and its element is Gold… and it’s important to note at this eclipse that all that glitters is not gold. That beautiful elaborate golden box may be an ego trap!

Osiris then embarks on an underworld journey. Osiris in the underworld represents the journey through the shadows. In ancient times, and even up until medieval times, this journey was imagined as a passage through the seven spheres; each sphere representing a shadow and a lesson for the soul’s growth and ultimate transcendence.

Asteroid Isis is also with the eclipse, and she represents healing fragmentation and restoring wholeness. She is the divine mother, connected to love, magic and devotion. Her presence reminds us of the reliance of the masculine and the feminine on each other in the process of healing. With these two together at the Leo eclipse, we are asked to call on courage, inner sovereignty, masculine and feminine balance and creativity (with a touch of magic).

The Sabian Symbol for the eclipse is Intoxicated domestic birds fly around in dizzy attempts. For that, I leave you with this beautiful story read by Ann Bening. The Birds Who Flew Beyond Time is a children’s book – a modern retelling of the Sufi classic, The Conference of the Birds, by Farid ud-Din Attar. Does each valley represent the shadow of one of the seven planets, one of the seven spheres?

Story Summary:

In *The Birds Who Flew Beyond Time*, the birds must traverse **seven valleys**, each guarded by an invisible monster. These valleys represent the **destructive powers of the wounded psyche**, which are rigid and deadly in their uncomprehending pain (3:01). The journey serves as a metaphor for the human experience, requiring the transformation of these destructive elements before the soul can truly act on behalf of life (3:12).

**The Seven Valleys:**

1. **Valley of Doubt** (22:28): Represented by a thick, stagnant fog that tries to convince the birds they are not good enough or strong enough to succeed (23:38). Moon?

2. **Valley of False Dreams** (26:43): A place of false dreams and intoxicating distractions that lure the birds into a deep sleep, causing them to forget their true purpose (27:15). Mercury?

3. **Valley of Envy** (28:47): Where the monster ensnares the birds in invisible nets created by their own desires to be like others, rather than being true to themselves (29:26). Venus

4. **Valley of Hate** (31:07): A landscape of fire and molten lava that challenges the birds’ ability to overcome past trauma and the cycle of war (31:40). Mars?

5. **Valley of Power** (33:03): Characterized by a cold, empty landscape where the monster offers control and dominance to distract from the quest (33:43). Sun?

6. **Valley of Cruelty** (35:34): Where the birds must confront their own capacity for harm, facing the manifestations of their past violent actions (35:43). Jupiter?

7. **Valley of Despair** (38:27): The final and most difficult trial, where the monster uses the birds’ own voices to convince them that the quest is useless and that nothing lies beyond the darkness (39:41). Saturn?

Video by Ann Baring

Happy Solar Eclipse in Leo!

The Lunar Eclipse on March 14, 2025 is at 24 degrees of Virgo. Virgo is analytical and discriminating. Virgo has an eye for detail and can be a perfectionist. It is practical, organized and likes to be of service. Virgo is also connected to health and taking care of the body. Virgo is the Goddess, the “Queen of Heaven”. Goddesses such as Inanna, Isis, Ceres and Demeter were seen as manifestations of the Queen of Heaven. In modern times, the Virgin Mary is often called the Queen of Heaven. At this eclipsed moon, the powers of the Goddess are strong, She brings with her powers of discernment and discrimination and she brings with her the elixir of good things…

At 24 degrees of Virgo, the Virgo Full moon conjuncts the fixed star Alkes in the Crater (the cup) constellation. This fixed star brings “ecclesiastical preference or very good fortune.” Alkes is also associated with hereditary gifts, such as the gift of sight (psychic). In the cup where Alkes lies are many things; sustenance, the drops of desire, the mead of poetry and wisdom, immortality and more… in fact, Alkes is connected with the much sought after Holy Grail! At this eclipsed Full Moon, the goddess offers us her cup and if we drink from it, we may be filled with just the potion we need.

Also conjunct the moon is also the asteroid Klotho. Klotho is one of the three fates or Moirai. Klotho’s job is to weave the spindle of life. In astrology she is connected with beginnings and at this eclipse she whispers something new. Something is ready to come into being.

Opposite the Moon is Saturn in Pisces conjunct the Sun. Saturn with the Sun brings a seriousness, a sense of restriction or responsibility. It’s a time when we will assess our limitations and it can challenge our perseverance. It is often karmic, bringing a manifestation to things we have worked hard for or an ending to things that have run their course.

In addition, the asteroid Osiris is with the Sun. In the myth of Osiris, Osiris was tricked by his brother Set and was killed. Osiris’s wife, Isis, searched for her husband’s body and eventually found his dismembered parts scattered in pieces across Egypt. Isis was able to gather all the pieces, and using her magical powers was able to resurrect Osiris. In Astrology Osiris represents resurrection, transformation, rebirth, and creative potential. This suggests that there is something in our lives that may be transformed or resurrected. Osiris was not able to remain in the land of the living and Isis did need to use her magic to create for him a phallus so that she could have her son Horus. In a similar way, we may be able to take something that remains and mix it with our magic to bring forth a new creation.

Myths are said to be transmission stories relaying the movement of the planets. Stories of the underworld are really stories of planetary bodies disappearing behind the Sun or below the horizon. In the case of a Lunar eclipse, the Sun disappears into the underworld when it is blocked by Earth. How poetic it is then, that when Osiris goes with the Sun into the underworld, the Queen of Heaven, associated with his wife Isis, becomes separated from the light of her beloved. This may be sad, but it ignites within her a desire. A mission to find him. It ignites in her a power, a bit of magic and a potent potion to revive her love. So it is with this eclipse. Whatever is released will help to bring forth our intrinsic gifts. The eclipsed moon is trine Uranus is Taurus. Uranus will provide us with similar breakthroughs. We may discover resources we didn’t realize we had or discover an ingeniousness within that can be used in manifesting our desires.

The eclipse is ruled by Mercury. Mercury is stationary in Aries about to retrograde and is in a deep conversation with Venus having conjoined her a couple of days ago. Venus conjunct Mercury are having conversations about the new beginnings about to take place. But as both of them are retrograde, they let us know there is something we need to complete before moving forward with any new beginnings. They remind us to review all relationships and any communications. The also remind us of our courage, our pioneering spirit, and our fiery nature. The Virgo Goddess moon energy will help us discern what is right for us, assisting us in letting go of things that are no longer resonant or helpful.

The Sabian symbol for the eclipse is “ Mary and her white lamb.” The nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb” is based on an actual incident involving a young girl named Mary Sawyer, who lived in Sterling, Massachusetts in the 1800s. It was said that she found a sickly newborn lamb abandoned by its mother and nursed it back to health. The lamb became very attached to Mary and followed her everywhere. Some have however connected this Sabian symbol to Mother Mary and the Lamb of God. Regardless, the Sabian symbol reminds us of the power of service and kindness, innocence and love.

Happy Lunar Eclipse!

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The New Moon is at 9 degrees of Pisces. Pisces is intuitive, compassionate and sensitive. At times it can lack boundaries and at others it can be solitary. It is imaginative, illusionary and romantic. Others can see a Pisces as flighty and self-effacing, but somehow they can dream things into being, surprising those who think making things happen depends on practicality. Pisces can be escapist. They can be swallowed up in substances or taking refuge in an ashram, convent, or solitary retreat. Pisces is Maria…. And how do you solve a problem like Maria? If you watched The Sound of Music, you know that Maria was hiding from her life! And this is the caution at this Pisces New Moon… do not hide from your life!

Pisces is ruled by both Neptune (modern) and Jupiter (Traditional). At this New Moon, Jupiter, its traditional ruler, is squaring it! New Moons are about setting intentions. On one hand, Pisces has the upper hand on this; it can envision, dream, and create anything, but the square to Jupiter is making it complacent. Escapism will be the challenge!

Don’t be complacent! Don’t escape! There is too much potential to let this New Moon slide by. The other ruler of the New Moon is Neptune and Neptune is conjunct the North Node. This New Moon has the latent potential to connect you to your highest goals, deepest dreams and passionate visions.

Like Maria, and contrary to how Pisces normally manifests, you will need to balance your daydreaming with getting things done and making things happen in the real world.

The New Moon is conjunct the asteroids Child, Hercules and Kassandra. At this New Moon you will need to stay true to yourself, dig deep, push through and make decisions based on faith in yourself rather than on fear or societal confirmation.

Any complacency at this time is likely coming from an unconscious childhood wound. The asteroid child is simply about our inner child. What messages did you receive as a child that are currently standing in your way? What do you believe that is simply not true? Do you feel that you will never amount to anything? Were the messages you got as a child to ‘not get too big for your britches’? Use the Pisces energy to dive into your unconscious to find what false messages are still lurching there. Time to nip them in the bud.

If in your examination you discover guilt or mistreatment, that’s okay. Allow it to motivate you forward. The asteroid Hercales is about strength, perseverance and overcoming obstacles. Hercales is related to Hercules, who was persecuted by his step-mother Hera for being an illegitimate child of his father Zeus. In Greece he was Hercales, the son of Jupiter, but the story remained the same. Juno, his mother sought to destroy him from the time he was born. In the Greek story Hercales bit Juno’s nipple while she was feeding him – this was apparently how the Milky Way was created. Hercules, the son of a mortal woman, was made immortal because he drank Juno’s milk. This enraged Juno and she cast a spell on him, making him lose his mind and turn against his children. When he came to his senses, he went to the Oracle at Delphi and the oracle sent him to a king who gave Hercules 10 labours which would eventually atone him. When Hercules had completed them without issue, the king gave him two more. The final labour was Hercules most difficult. He was sent to the underworld to fetch Cerberus, the dog that had three heads and who guarded the entrance to the underworld, making sure those who crossed the river Stykx could not cross back. The king did not expect Hercales to be successful, but when he was, he released him from his deeds. Hercules was sent to the heavens and made into a god representing the constellation Hercules.

The 12 labours have often been compared to the path through the 12 signs of the zodiac. The Camino de Santiago is a pillgramage Spain. It represents a pilgrimage for atonement. But it has also been called The Way of The Stars because it is said to represent the path of the Milky Way; the spiritual path to heaven. The pilgrimage is long and after walking 800km to Santiago de Compostela, the end of the Camino, you find out there is another 200km to Finisterre, the end of the world and the true end of the Camino. Along that path you will come across a statue of the three-headed dog Cerberus in the town of Muxía, Spain. As the river Styx is said to be the boundary between life and death, crossing this point represents crossing into the underworld. A pilgrimage puts you in touch with all aspects of the journey of life and self. Having walked the Camino, there is a part of you that wants to quit, and a part that just cannot. Just when a village comes into sight, it looks so close but ends up being farther than you thought. You can feel defeated and tired. It requires that you dig deep and find your Herculian strength. If you make it to Finister, defeating the three-headed dog, you emerge not just atoned, but illuminated. All that time walking puts you in touch with not just physical pain, but emotional pain. 1000 km is a lot of time to think about your life and you can’t help but come up with some answers. Surviving the river Styx builds character. It makes you invulnerable to most attacks. Be they external or internal. At this New Moon, you are being asked to metaphorically walk the camino. Condition your mind to realize that not every road is easy, but that accepting the challenge will bring you rewards.

The last asteroid conjunct the New Moon is the asteroid Kassandra. Kassandra is about having the ability to see the future, but Kassandra was an oracle who was never believed. This brings in an element of frustration at the New Moon. We are being asked not to seek outside validation for what we know to be true, but to instead trust our instincts and inner counsel and to follow through even if it goes against popular belief.

Finally, if you reach, at this New Moon you can connect to the energy of Mars and Vesta. They form a wide grand trine with the moon. Mars is now direct in Cancer and Vesta, the holder of the sacred flame and our passions, is in Scorpio. This water trine will provide emotional fuel needed for reaching your goals. Connecting with a cause or a passion emotionally will provide that fuel. Find something that matters to you!

The sabian symbol for the full moon is An aviator in the clouds.

This sabian symbol speaks to trust. In the clouds we cannot see what is in front of us. But if we build the skills, we know we can fly through without issue! Trust yourself and what you have learned! If you don’t have the skills, go get them!

Happy New Moon in Pisces!