Monthly Astrological Insights for August 2024

Date Posted: July 31, 2024

August will continue to be influenced by the retrograde motions of Pluto, Neptune, and Saturn, likely resulting in a tumultuous period characterized by a slow pace, delays, and some level of disappointment. This influence will also be felt in the political landscape of the US presidential election.

Despite these challenges, the silver lining is the potential for spiritual awakening and a deeper connection with others during these times of uncertainty and anxiety. On a personal level, the recent experience of Hurricane Beryl hitting the Texas coast near Houston, resulting in a prolonged power outage and material destruction, brought neighbors on my street closer together. It was a heartfelt experience that fostered a sense of community and connection.

On August 5, Mercury becomes retrograde in sidereal Leo. It will remain retrograde in Leo until August 22, continues its retrograde journey back into sidereal Cancer before turning direct on August 29. Typically, retrograde Mercury brings anxieties, communication breakdowns, unexpected delays, frustrations, missed deadlines, unforeseen obstacles, and disappointment in daily chores. If Mercury is a dominant planet in your birth chart and is currently active, you are more likely to experience these effects, particularly in the areas of life signified by the house Mercury is transiting in your Gochar (transit) chart.

According to the 2024 annual predictions and recent astrological insights, Uranus’s ingress into sidereal Taurus has been heralding a turbulent phase in the US political landscape. Recent events raising serious concerns about President Biden’s ability to govern effectively, his subsequent withdrawal from the presidential race, and the failed assassination attempt on former President Trump clearly reflect Uranus’s energy of change, surprises, violence, independence, ambition, impulsivity, and unpredictability.

The retrograde motion of Neptune continues to signify a prolonged and grinding phase in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, marked by twists, turns, deception, and confusion.

In summary, August is looking to be a month of stagnation and delay on one hand, and significant challenges influenced by planetary retrograde motions and dynamic shifts in political and financial landscapes on the other.

Retrograde Mercury (August 5-29) 

On August 5, Mercury turns retrograde in sidereal Leo. It will stay in Leo until August 22, continues its retrograde journey back into sidereal Cancer before turning direct on August 29. Typically, retrograde Mercury brings anxieties, communication breakdowns, unexpected delays, frustrations, missed deadlines, unforeseen obstacles, and disappointments in daily chores.

When Mercury is retrograde in Leo, it tends to be more frustrating for politicians, government leaders, military commanders, and influential, wealthy individuals. As it moves back into Cancer, the challenges shift, affecting mothers with babies, hospital nurses, the dairy industry, charities, and non-profit organizations.

This period is not ideal for starting new projects or ventures. Instead, it’s a good time to reflect on what has already been done and tackle those chores you’ve been putting off, like cleaning out the closet.

If Mercury is a dominant planet in your birth chart and currently active, you are more likely to feel the pronounced effects of its retrograde during this period. These effects will be especially noticeable in the areas of life signified by the house Mercury is transiting in your Gochar (transit) chart.

Uranus Ingress Sidereal Taurus

An era of Material World Transformation and Female Dominance

After entering sidereal Taurus on May 31, Uranus stays in Taurus till Dec 16, 2024. However, with its retrograde motion Uranus returns to sidereal Aries. Then after transiting through Aries until March 16, 2024, Uranus finally reenters Taurus and will stay in Taurus for next seven years or so.  

Uranus being the planet of a sudden and uninvited change will certainly affect the matters related to Taurus in a big way. Taurus being the earth and fixed sign, the energy of extremely independent, ambitious, energetic, impulsive and capricious Uranus will be reflected in drastic changes in the material world (banking, stock brokers, financial institutes, the US Federal reserve and reserve banks all over the world) in next seven years.  World Financial markets would likely to be extremely volatile possibly dipping into a short term but severe depression. But the good news is we may not experience this severity at least until May of 2025, as it will be offset by Jupiter’s materially favorable transit through Taurus.

Business leaders, the wealthy, real estate magnates, and influential figures in the entertainment industry will feel the impact of Uranus’s transit most significantly. The period will witness innovations and breakthroughs in science and technology, driving rapid advancements and discoveries. A new wave of spiritually inclined leaders in politics and corporations will emerge, integrating compassion and human values into their approach.

In scientific and technological world expect a lot of positive changes as the emerging new ideas will find their way into innovations and discoveries.  The scientific and technological growth will continue to rise at a phenomenal rate.  A new wave of spiritually inclined world political and corporation leaders with their human and compassion laced perspectives will certainly transform our world in next 6-7 years to a new world that balances the material world with spiritual or non-material world.

The challenging aspect of the Uranus’s transit in Taurus is the painful transformation of the material world. The material norms that we are used to would likely to be altered and transformed to a set of new norms that will certainly reflect the direction of our spiritual growth and human evolution in line with and as outlined in past annual predictions by the energies of Capricorn Pluto and Piscean Neptune.

Other manifestations of Uranus’s transit in the earth sign Taurus are: economic wars that include cyber wars, currency manipulation, economic persecutions, agriculture wars, real estate meltdowns and intolerable and tragic situations for those who are economically deprived. In addition, natural calamities, especially wildfires, abnormal weather patterns, earthquakes of significant magnitude, unbearable summer and winter months, etc., will continue to occur more frequently. 

Another important aspect of Uranus’s transit in Taurus is the prominence of female dominance in leadership roles. Taurus being the female sign, more females will be replacing their male counterparts for leadership positions in both political and financial world. 

The timing of Uranus’s transit coincides with the next US presidential election, potentially leading to the election of a female president. However, the brief return of Uranus to Aries from December 16, 2024, to March 16, 2025, may introduce political chaos and instability, delaying the inauguration process and potentially impacting the outcome.

For those who have a reasonably well placed Uranus in their birth charts and have Pisces, Sagittarius, Leo or Cancer as a ninefold (Navamansa) ascendant will likely to experience a very positive period, especially during the time Uranus is active in their transit charts.

Jupiter ingress Sidereal Taurus, a year of material expansion!

On April 30, 2024, Jupiter concluded its transit through sidereal Aries and transitioned into the subsequent zodiac sign, Taurus. Typically occurring approximately once a year, Jupiter’s shift from one zodiac sign to another marks a significant astrological event. Taurus, being a fixed earth sign governed by Venus, signifies stability and material abundance. Jupiter’s presence in Taurus has a propensity to amplify the material prosperity, particularly for individuals with well-positioned and interconnected Venus and Jupiter placements in their birth charts. It’s essential to consider the interplay of all planetary influences in an individual’s chart to comprehensively assess the overall interpretation.

At a collective level, Jupiter’s ingress into Taurus heralds a period where the influence of entrepreneurs and financial institutions such as banks and brokerage houses will significantly shape the trajectory of global economic and societal evolution. This influence extends beyond mere material expansion, fostering philosophical and spiritual discourse that underpins societal progress. Overall, the transit of Jupiter in Taurus bodes well for global economic growth and prosperity, indicating positive shifts on the horizon.

On an individual level, those with prominent Jupiter placements in their birth charts, particularly if Taurus, Aries, Capricorn, Scorpio, Virgo, or Cancer feature prominently as their natal ninefold (Navamansa) ascendant signs, are likely to experience a highly auspicious twelve-month period commencing May 1. This period holds promise for significant personal growth, material gain, and overall well-being, aligning with the favorable astrological energies associated with Jupiter’s transit in Taurus.

Neptune in sidereal Pisces

Pisces being a water and mutable sign ruled by Jupiter some of its significant characteristics are: Divine, fruitful, fertile, emotional, honest, outspoken, religious, spiritual, nonviolent, polite, modest, moody, affectionate, hermit, psychic, water, compassion, love, heart connection, non-verbal communication and introvert. These qualities complement very well with qualities of Neptune that include: spiritual, intuitive, divine, psychic, magical, highly emotional, moody, clairvoyant, inspiration, imaginative, love, compassionate and mystical. 

As a result, a subtle and slow change in our collective moral and spiritual perceptions has certainly been going to be manifested in the way we never experienced before. This era (next 13 years or so) will be remembered as the period of spiritual inspiration and transformation. Interestingly, this era also complements well with the era of Pluto’s transit in sidereal Capricorn (a sign ruled by spiritual Saturn) that runs in parallel during the same time. The way we have been used to deal with religions will no longer be our norms.  Our moral codes will be greatly influenced by our collective spiritual experiences. And in that sense a subtle but most effective transformation of world morality during this unique era of the next 13 years is likely to take us to a level where the norms solely based on spiritual experiences will dictate and guide our lives with new level of understanding.  

Pisces, being the sign for poets, musicians, singers, monks, religious leaders, spiritual leaders, nurses, nuns, social workers, caregivers, saints, psychics, actors, sailors and ship captains, these respective fields will go through significant transformations. And these transformations will be reflected in the new norms of morality and ethics, expansion of our collective psychic abilities and mystical experiences keeping in line with steady progress in our ability to directly perceive truth. Also, creativity in areas of music will likely complement our spiritual progress. 

In scientific and technological areas, a lot of drastic changes and emerging new ideas coupled with mystical experiences will find their way into innovations and discoveries.  However, it will be the first time the scientific and technological research will be more focused in areas that will bridge the gap between the science and morality. The likely areas of research will be in spiritual healing, and life-force related activities, looking for ways to tap new sources of energy without disturbing global climate (recent news about the possibility of harnessing energy from nuclear fission and minimizing the usage of fossil fuels will very likely be materialized in next 13 years). The return to the holistic and Ayurvedic practices and alternate medicines are also very likely. The availability of inexpensive generic drugs for those who cannot afford the expensive brand name drugs is becoming reality. A new wave of philosophers and philanthropist with their new perspectives on living, in general, will certainly transform our world in next 13 years with a new level of understanding of life.

However with Rahu’s (the north lunar node) transit in sidereal Pisces, for next 15 months, the Neptune’s positive energy is going to be countered by Rahu and gets stalled as new challenges emerge that must be dealt.  In that sense, for a short term Neptune’s downside is likely to become more significant than normal. As a result, the religious leaders and social reformers may tend to form cults and spread cult like activities, rise in organized religion scandals, deceptive activities under the disguise of promise of spiritual experiences are likely to be on rise in certain parts of the world.  The scandals of the secretive collaboration between the medical doctors and pharmaceutical industries will continue to be exposed.  The increase usage of mind altering drugs, disregard for social and to some extent moral responsibility, rise in mental disorders, and losing the touch with reality are some of the likely symptoms of the negative side of Neptune. One of the prominent fall-outs of the Piscean Neptune will be a significant decline of authoritarian regime’s influence around the world.  However, with Rahu’s transit in Pisces, Russia, China and other authoritarian regimes may temporarily get upper hand for next 15 months or so as Rahu’s energy counters Neptune’s energy creating a favorable period for authoritarian regime.

On individual level for those who have water sign (Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces) as their ascendant in their natal ninefold (Navamansh) chart should get ready for a brand new and long lasting (13 years) cycle of change, especially a very pronounced cycle for those who have Neptune as a dominant planet in their birth charts. The changes that might occur would be very subtle and would deal with new or renewed interest in spirituality, openness, psychic abilities to perceive truth, divine experiences, transformed perceptions and beliefs, and the way of living.  

Russian-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas war and senseless killings

With the approval of over sixty billion dollars in aid from the United States, Ukraine is poised to gain an upper hand in its conflict against Russia. The intensity of the Russian-Ukraine war has remained constant for the past six months, resulting in significant human casualties and economic devastation. However, with this influx of aid, Ukraine is expected not only to halt further territorial losses but also to reclaim some of its lost ground.

With the continued Neptune’s retrograde transit in Pisces Russia will likely to go through an incredible change with internal power and political struggle and perhaps Putin slowly beginning to lose his grip on Russia as an autocrat. Ukraine is likely to continue gain grounds despite human casualties and destruction.

Nevertheless, the influence of Rahu’s transit in Pisces, which began approximately eight months ago, challenges Pisces Neptune suggesting that Russian President Putin may retain some advantage in the war for the next eight months. He is anticipated to manage internal dissent within Russia regarding the conflict while maintaining his position. However, until Putin’s influence weakens and he loses control, the war and civilian casualties are unlikely to cease.

Turning to the Israel-Hamas conflict, although it may be losing momentum, violence persists, particularly in Gaza where shortages of essential supplies exacerbate the humanitarian crisis. Regardless of short-term developments, this enduring conflict is expected to persist unless there is a profound spiritual awakening in the region that transcends religious divisions.

 President Biden’s challenges in August

Note:  President Biden (as forecasted last month as a make or break month for him) dropped out of 2025 presidential race. However, he will still be governing the country till the end of his term by the end of this year.  And therefore this column will continue until the next President takes over.

Although a sitting President, for Biden, August, continues to be a challenging month to navigate through Israel-Hamas conflict and Ukraine-Russia war.

From Pluto’s spiritual force standpoint, progress continues but at a very slow pace.

As for Venus, the entire month promises material and family happiness. From the perspective of the Sun’s energy, the whole month looks positive for governing the country.

However, until August 8, Saturn’s influence continues to bring a sense of confusion, particularly in managing both domestic and international affairs. Adversaries are expected to effectively resist Biden’s agenda, potentially highlighting political challenges and areas of concern. After August 8, the rest of the month may prove to be stressful as he will be confronted with directly dealing his health issues.

In summary, like July, August stands as a challenging month for President Biden, to navigate through Israel-Hamas conflict and Ukraine-Russia war.

Global Insights……..

The important challenging planetary configurations for August include:  Uranus-Jupiter (Aug 15-19) ninefold opposition; Pluto-Jupiter (Aug 15-18) ninefold quincunx; Saturn-Mars (Aug 15-17) and Saturn-Jupiter (Aug 15-24) squares; Neptune-Rahu/Ketu (July 21 – Aug 6) and Uranus-Saturn (Aug 19-27) ninefold squares.

The energy of the Uranus-Jupiter (Aug 15-19) ninefold opposition is likely to challenge world religions with groundbreaking ideas demanding attention. Open-minded religious leaders who listen and act on fresh concepts will be instrumental in transforming our religious landscape to a new level. Those who resist change may gradually lose relevance.

The manifestation of the Pluto-Jupiter (Aug 15-18) ninefold quincunx may lead to significant changes in religious, academic, and social fields.

The energy of the Saturn-Mars (Aug 15-17) square may result in a short but highly intense period of friction between India and Pakistan. Terrorism and violence may escalate worldwide, particularly in regions like Iran, Iraq, Syria, and the Israel-Palestine area. The likelihood of both natural and man-made calamities is high. It is crucial for individuals and nations to remain alert and prepared during this challenging period.

The energy of the Neptune-Rahu/Ketu (July 21 – Aug 6) ninefold square may cause a rise in covert activities worldwide, including political covert operations. Social confusion and chaos may escalate in countries like Russia and China, posing real challenges.

The Saturn-Jupiter (Aug 15-24) square may create difficulties for world religious leaders, leading to more controversies that test traditional moral values. Religious authorities may struggle to keep people content amidst these challenges.

The Uranus-Saturn (Aug 19-27) ninefold squares may lead to social or political turmoil in the United States, Russia, or China, with potential tensions escalating among these nations.

The important auspicious planetary configurations for August include: Pluto-Neptune (July 28 – Sept 4) sextiles and Pluto-Saturn (Aug 24 – Sept 4) ninefold sextile.

The energy of the Pluto-Neptune (July 28 – Sept 4) sextile potentially carries positive implications for controlling terrorism, possibly dismantling major terrorist cells through covert operations. This alignment bodes well for Russia and, to a lesser extent, China. Expect positive breakthroughs in medicine, high technology, and biotechnology.

The energy of the Pluto-Saturn (Aug 24 – Sept 4) ninefold sextile is likely to result in better periods for the European and Russian economies. Progress in technical fields, including new innovations and discoveries, is expected. Additionally, there may be opportunities for religious reconciliation during this time.

The countries that are more likely to be affected during this month are:  the United States, Ukraine, Russia, China, and Middle-East–especially Iran, Iraq and the Palestinian-Israel region.

Natural and Man-made Calamities……..

The natural calamities like extreme weather conditions, wildfires, hurricanes, heavy rains, snow storms, air crashes as well as manmade accidents are likely to occur during Aug 1-6 and 19-27.

Earthquakes:Based on a new Earthquake prediction model (the work is still in progress), the earthquake(s) of magnitude 6.9 or higher, if occur, are likely to occur on following dates and Times and possible locations: Earthquake Predictions 2024.  Please note that these hourly predictions refer to the Universal time (GMT).

While man-made calamities may manifest themselves in terrorism, unrest, violence, accidents, and air crashes, the natural calamities are likely to include extreme weather conditions such as severe cold winters, and equally intensive droughts, hurricanes or typhoons, thunderstorms, earthquakes and fires