Your Horoscope For August 2023: Balance Your Pleasure & Priorities
As 2 planets turn retrograde (Mercury and Uranus) and 4 planets continue (Venus, Saturn, Neptune, and Pluto), plus the healing retreat of Asteroid Chiron, you’ll be restoring your energy and reflecting on your growth and your journey through the month. As we transition from vibrant and playful Leo season into practical and productive Virgo season, the cosmic scales are rebalancing and calling you back to your responsibilities.
The universe asks you to cultivate routines that enable you to fulfill your duties, and to slow down this month rather than pushing for progress. Rather than seeking to control outcomes and your environment (which will only amplify your stress and anxiousness), you must learn to let go and believe in the efforts that you’ve made. Depending on your rising sign, this upcoming season will have a unique impact on your life. Don’t know what your rising sign is? Click here to find out.
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August 1: Full Moon in Aquarius
August 16: New Moon in Leo
August 23: Sun enters Virgo (Virgo Season) and Mercury turns retrograde in Virgo
August 27: Mars enters Libra
August 28/29: Uranus turns retrograde in Taurus
August 30/31: Full (Blue) Moon in Pisces.
Want a detailed reading of August’s most impactful cosmic alignments and who they will affect? Click here to read our cosmic overview.
Aries
A renewal of your desires puts your love life in the spotlight this August. As you re-explore your values, you’ll feel more certain about what you don’t want (even if you aren’t clear on what will bring you happiness). Remember who you are, Aries, and put yourself first without apology. Slow down, weigh up each choice individually, and remember that you needn’t sever your connections with others to maintain your independence.
Taurus
You’re beginning to notice how your life direction has changed unexpectedly this August – and for the first time in a long time – you'll feel in control and grounded this month. The universe calls you to rebuild your strength and inner security by cultivating acceptance around the unchangeable circumstances in your life. Expect challenges to schedule fun in your agenda, and try not to take it personally if a social event or date falls through at the last minute.
Gemini
Before Mercury retrograde stirs up challenges to trust your instincts during the latter half of the month, you’ll feel confident about expressing your ideas with a greater sense of authority this August. Slow down and take in every second of the joyful moments you share with your children, someone you’re dating, or even the creative projects that consume you during your alone time. Be present, Gemini, and you’ll accelerate toward a dream that offers you spiritual satisfaction.
Cancer
An exploration of what is truly important to you will reveal how your values have transformed as you’ve evolved. Forget about the material possessions that offer no real value to your livelihood besides an ego boost. When practical Virgo season commences (Aug 23), the focus will be on your mindset and how well you navigate misunderstandings, and technical errors without beating yourself up over mistakes. By the end of the month, you’ll be imbued with wisdom as the Pisces blue moon (Aug 30) reveals where your intuition has become untethered from reality.
Leo
As this month’s cosmic activity is concentrated in your zodiac sign, you’re in for a tremendous personal evolution this August. Brace yourself as the Sun (your ruling planet) meets Venus retrograde (Aug 13) and wildly passionate Black Moon Lilith (Aug 17), encouraging your radical self-acceptance. Love yourself through all your phases, Leo. Take extra care when dealing with numbers and figures, and handling your finances as you’re more likely to overlook finer details. Once Uranus slows down in your career sector (Aug 28), you’ll be better able to process the new life directions that your work has taken you.
Virgo
Explore the depths of your nature, and you’ll strengthen your understanding of the hidden motivations and instincts that fuel your behavior. Your self-awareness and willpower are increasing this August as the universe guides you into a new realm of understanding the self-limitations that have kept you from meeting your goals. It’s your mindset, self-criticism, and pessimism that hold you back, Virgo. Be kind to yourself when you make the wrong judgment call, and lower your impossible standards and expectations.
Libra
Your heart may no longer align with the goals and objectives that once fed your soul, and that’s okay! This August, you’re embarking on a journey of rediscovering your passions and interests. What brings you joy, Libra? Which people are you around when you come alive? You may struggle with bouts of anxiety, nerves, and over-thinking as you transition into hyper-focused Virgo season (Aug 23). Allow yourself time to process recent adjustments, emotional challenges, financial decisions, or business deals that have caused you stress.
Scorpio
The turbulence in your love life will halt this August, offering a moment of relief in which you can explore your connections and how they have transformed. Meanwhile, your career is taking off, allowing you to celebrate how far you’ve come while re-evaluating whether you’re getting the same gratification from your work. It’s okay to feel differently about these pillars of your life – especially if reality today does not match your ideals and fantasies. You must learn that you cannot manifest what isn’t meant for you and cultivate acceptance and gratitude around the things you do have.
Sagittarius
This month boosts your optimism and encourages your artistic and philosophical side to emerge. You’ll come alive when you make time to do what you do best: travel, explore, learn, and indulge in the finer things in life. The freeing first half of the month will contrast the serious-minded energy of Virgo season (Aug 23), which asks you to reconsider whether you’re on track to meet your wider ambitions. Brace yourself – you'll worry more than usual about what others think of you, making it harder to bounce back from mistakes made publicly.
Capricorn
You mustn’t allow your ego to steer you off course when chasing your ambitions, Capricorn. Stick to heart-centered goals instead of chasing luxurious rewards, praise, and recognition that will only feed your ego. Every moment of celebration brings lessons on humility; Avoid bragging – your success will speak for itself. Prepare to reconsider your beliefs, faith, and philosophies as your perception of the world transforms. You must stay grounded through this mental expansion by focusing on reality.
Aquarius
Have you recently reconsidered whether things feel right in your relationship? This August brings an encouraging cosmic landscape to empower you to speak up about your changing feelings. Put your needs first instead of placing your happiness in the hands of others. You must learn to accept people as they are rather than attempting to mold them into the person you want them to be. The second half of the month brings slow and restorative energy to inspire your reflections on how you can handle your finances and resources with more discipline and maturity.
Pisces
Pisces, you’ll be the shining star of your workplace if you’re able to lead a team with courage and grace. Don’t be afraid to assert yourself and share your ideas when you believe in them. As things come to a natural balance in your work, your focus will turn to your love life; the universe invites you to reflect on how current or past relationships have influenced your ability to communicate without being critical, demanding, or self-sacrificial. Cultivate an understanding of how your own expectations have influenced your disappointment in love and life.
