Stars Over Puna August 2024 

Stars Over Puna August 2024 

By NormaJean Ream 

Big Hopes, Big Surprises, Big Changes 

It is hard to miss the political drama in this Leo season. Big players, big  events, and ongoing changing details to the story. Like theater, it is  entertaining and it can also be educational. The month of August will have  some new astrological aspects that can add dimensions to an already thick  pot of elements. 

The New Moon on August 4 is on the hottest degrees of the zodiac, middle  Leo giving warmer temperatures. If you are lucky, on these next dark  evenings you might get a glimpse of brilliant Venus and Mercury as evening  stars as they just come out of the Sun’s rays. Mercury stations retrograde  just before 7 pm Hawaii time. Mercury retraces its path until August 28,  when it goes direct at 21 Leo, the same position it was on July 17th. 

The first full week of August will seem mellow compared to how the month  finishes. There are so many things to consider if your attention is on  politics. Even the general daily business of life feels cooperative and  helpful. The New Moon phase covers helping signs ruled by Mercury and  Venus while the two of them meet again in Virgo on the 6th, a good day for  analyzing and having team meetings to set strategy for next step planning  of projects. Energy is congenial when decisions come to consensus.

Many news stories will cover ‘old news’ with ‘new details.’ Over the next  three weeks, we will review and repeat the buzz of so many voices giving  information that we furrow our brows over finding in ourselves what we  personally think and choose. There is so much talk to digest. In the larger  scheme of collective social desires, many are at a crossing point in beliefs  about what the world needs to shape a better future for families and the  community. 

There is a subtle shift in collective values turning to a resonance with better  life-affirming desires. On Sunday, August 7th, the Sun will harmoniously  aspect Jupiter. These aspects are great for social events and sharing  happy times. These energies bring people together with common needs  and values. Great for team building and community cooperative activities.  Mars is quickly catching up with Jupiter in Gemini, the sign of duality,  multiple choices, crossing ideas, all forms of media and communications,  and short distance travel. This week before the Democratic Convention will  be full of political chatter, advertisements, and propaganda to help people  make their choices for leadership positions. 

Mars meets Jupiter on August 14th, as Mercury re-enters Leo, sign of  Kingship, leadership, and big egos. Mercury is the ruler of Gemini, so this  retrograde back to Leo changes the support behind Mars, bringing will,  courage, and motivation, with Jupiter giving expansiveness and adding the  theme of strong beliefs. The boost of energy is fun, exciting, and  gregarious. But the energy can also turn aggressive and argumentative. 

The Moon cooperates as it passes through Sagittarius in opposition, adding  more fire energy to the air of Gemini. Mars squares Saturn on August 15th.  Authority figures are facing some fierce competition.  

The middle week of August has the vibe of building excitement and  gathering support. Strong statements of hyperbole are designed to hit our  ears as fact, and this builds tension as contrasting arguments try to sway  voters. Media saturation can cause confusion and even arguments. With  the mix of planets in Mutable signs, Gemini and Pisces emphasize ideas  that can shift, and arguments can seem circular and vague. In a large  crowd, we get a build up of emotion and excited feelings. Groupthink  saturates the group. 

The weekend before the Democratic Convention could seem like the week  prior to the Republican Convention; a lot of campaign news, rallies, and  then a surprise event. That was the Mars conjunct Uranus. Now in August  Mars is joining with Jupiter, symbolizing opportunity for something new and  broadening of horizons. Mars presents a will to accomplish a big goal.  Jupiter can offer new perspectives and different shared desires in Gemini.  Acceptance of diversity. 

Mercury is again under the Sun’s beams in late Leo and forming a square  again to Uranus on the 17th, presenting some surprise situation calling for  private meetings which forces a decision that could be an abrupt change of 

direction. The morning of Sunday the 18th, a formation of Venus in square  to Jupiter and then opposed to Saturn This suggests a woman who has  potential to gain position of power but must face difficult challenges and  obstacles. 

The Full Moon is early on August 19 at 27 Aquarius. (The same degree as  the US Moon.) The opening of the Democratic Convention will be dramatic,  emotional, and unexpected. The Full Moon peaks at 1:25 pm in Chicago,  putting the Sun at the top of the Chart, in a square to Uranus, planet of  sudden events is on the sunset place. The plan may be set for the process  of the Convention, but something is likely to be disruptive and unsettling.  Jupiter and Saturn are the planets that represent the development and  growth patterns of society. They started their current cycle on December  20, 2021, as they joined in the first degree of Aquarius. Their first square  now marks a point of changing social systems. The real “elephant” in our  current political drama is the cultural change that allows, 1. A woman to run  for President, and two. A woman of different than Caucasian ethnicity to run  for President. Will this happen? 

This is the week of the Democratic Convention in Chicago. The planetary  picture is full of tension and a theme of patriotism. Many things reflect the  historical 1968 Democratic Convention in the same city. Civil Rights and  the Vietnam War were the causes for many of the demonstrations that  became quite violent in the summer of ’68. Lyndon Johnson stepped down 

from running for another term, like the current situation. This upset the flow  of choosing the candidate for the Democratic nomination. 

The final week of August will be a period of digesting the events and trying  to sort out our feelings. Mercury turns direct on the 28th and Venus  opposes Neptune just before moving on to Libra, Venus’ home, and  immediately harmonious aspect to Pluto. The summary of the sweeping  events has the tone of completing a very confusing period to come to a  more defined sense of direction and intention. Many planets in late degrees  suggest ending and we have several of those in early September.  Do not let the political atmosphere sweep you up emotionally. Hold your  personal course in this time of changes. Focus on the world you want to  create.