This month’s Full Moon occurs on Saturday August 16th at 5:16 P.M. EST at 24 degrees Aquarius 21 minutes, and is a lunar eclipse. Aquarius at 24 degrees is the third decan, and considered by ancient astrologers to represent "change in all things." Aquarius is the natural ruler of the 11th house of friends, hopes and wishes, as well as friends, and organizations, with a 'universal, humanitarian,' bent toward all things. So, it is events in these areas that we will experience with this eclipse. It is the companion eclipse to the August 1 New Moon eclipse at 9 degrees in Leo. These 2 eclipses represent the energy of the 5th/11th houses, the fifth house relating to children, friends, love affairs and creativity. Over the past few weeks we have seen events start to unfold on a national/international level with sensational news such as the recent admission of a love affair involving former Presidential candidate John Edwards and the questions over the paternity of the baby his lover gave birth to.
Aquarius always has the potential of involving explosive situations. The ruler of Aquarius is Uranus and Saturn. Uranus brings unexpected, explosive events. I recall watching events in the Gulf War/hostiles unfold in the 90's usually involving planets in the sign of Aquarius. We are seeing this situation play out today with the Russian/Georgia conflict. It is unlikely we are being told the truth at this time. Expect the unexpected. There may be unusual weather patters/earth changes involving water. As the energy of the eclipse plays out in the world it will also play out in our individual, personal lives as well.
Neptune is prominent in this eclipse with the Sun opposing Neptune on August 15th. Neptune represents the illusion, mysteries, delusion and lies. What appears to be fact, may not be. Facts will be a difficult thing to come by. Neptune is also the ruler of self sacrifice, and we may see charitable good works in the world, or we may feel 'charitable connections,' ourselves, or we may see what appears to be charitable works. Great art may be created, and you may raise to great spiritual/intuitive heights. The key is to understand what might be a situation that would garner sympathy/understanding, and what is real/unreal, a lie or delusion. Such is the way of Neptune. Neptune rules drugs, alcohol, a seamier side of life. We may see problems with shipping and foreign affairs, surrounded by mystery and confusion. The eclipse pertains the potential death of a Statesman, and transitions in wealth, taxes, news on interest rates, pensions, foreign stocks and bonds. Aquarius is the ruler of the 8th house of money, mortgages, financial markets and debt in America's Cancer chart. The 8th house also represents death, sex and secrets.
As Mercury conjuncts Saturn on Friday/Saturday, a more serious tone/energy will prevail, along with it potentially grim or serious news.
Pleasure/entertainment/luxuries can be emphasized on the 16th, as Venus trines Jupiter at 12 degrees creating some goodwill and a desire for more pleasure.
However, Mars squares Pluto over the weekend, another indicator of violence, and volatile situations and compulsive feelings. This will create power struggles, arguments and difficult situations that will take a cool head to overcome. However, with the Mercury-Jupiter trine representing optimism and generosity, positive communication will have every chance of prevailing.
Without looking at the entire chart it not possible to totally predict the effects of the eclipse. However, in a general sense, the eclipse will effect the Sun signs in the following manner-
Aires- 11th house of friends, hopes and wishes. Look for conflict in the area of work/health,legal matters as well as pleasure.
Taurus-10th house of career, reputation, and priorities, the "House of the Father,' Look for conflict with friends, children, love affairs, and a desire for travel, love affairs, entertainment.
Gemini-9th house of travel, long distance, publishing, teaching, education, medical matters. Potential stress in the home over money, joint finances. Pleasure from sensual matters/joint money matters.
Cancer-8th house of Other people's money, corporate money, debt, secrets, credit, taxes, alimony, settlements and sex. Potential stress through work, health, family members. Pleasure in partners.
Leo-7th house of partners, courts. Stress with money, children, love affairs. Pleasure in money and work.
Virgo-6th house of work and health. Stress related to the home situation. Pleasure in friends, love affairs, children, entertainmant.
Libra-5th house of friends, children and love affairs/entertainment. Potential stress in matters that are secret and hidden and the subconscious mind and through communications, travel family members. Pleasure through seclusion, the family, home.
Scorpio-4th house, the home, foundation. Stress with money, friends, hopes and wishes and pleasure through friends, communication, the mind
Sagittarius-3rd house of family members, short trips the mind and ideas. Stress from work, the career, money, as well as pleasure through money and priorities.
Capricorn- 2ond house of money/self image. Pleasure through travel, education, and stress regarding education, travel, legal/medical matters.
Aquarius-1st house This eclipse is for you! Personal change and transformation and new beginnings as well as endings. Interaction, issues relating to partners. Potential issues relating to money, sex, joint holdings, friends, hopes and wishes and pleasure through sensual matters.
Eclipses always harbor change, and this eclipse is a turning point in some way for all of us as part of the universal/human family. The last eclipse in Aquarius was a Solar eclipse and occurred on February 6, 2008.
Take care, and good luck!