Hi and welcome to the Stella Starwoman August AstroUpdate!
A packed edition this month with more tales from my trip to Sardinia including a story of UFOs; why women should celebrate Uranus’s recent move into Taurus and how to stay on top of the Mars and Mercury retrograde transits.
2018 Crop Circles – Sacred Geometry in Action
In the UK, it’s crop circle season again. Crop circles have been photographed in fields all over the world, but each year, a whole host of these amazing geometrical formations appear overnight in the fields close to the sacred sites of South West England, such as Stonehenge and Avebury. Despite their best efforts, no scientist, farmer or sceptic has ever caught or filmed a person creating a genuine crop circle.
I’ve chosen three crop circles to show you as I’m continually amazed that people think they’re manmade. I wonder why the whole world doesn’t flock to South West England to witness this other-worldly phenomenon - someone or something is communicating with us! Call me evangelical, but once you’ve visited a crop circle for yourself and seen their intricate detail and sacred geometry, life will never be the same again. And yes those tiny dots in the photos are people – these circles are huge.
The images in this post come courtesy of photographer Steve Alexander. You can read more about crop circles and see the whole gallery of 2018 formations on Steve and Karen Alexander’s website https://temporarytemples.co.uk
Mercury & Mars Retrograde – Pause and Reflect
Communication planet Mercury has been travelling backwards since the 26th July in dramatic and charismatic fire sign Leo. On 19th August, Mercury will slow down, come to a halt and start moving forward again. Meanwhile, action planet Mars has also been travelling backwards since 27th June through cool, collected and humanitarian Aquarius. On 28th August, Mars will slow down, come to a halt and also start moving forward again.
When these two planets are retrograde, the usual advice is to reflect rather than to act. To think things over, rather than to make decisions. With this in mind, September is a better month for action and decisions, while August (particularly 1 -20 ) is more a time for mulling things over, researching options and dreaming up new possibilities.
Our culture favours the phrase ‘moving forward’ which is generally seen as a positive way of tackling life. Astrology has a different viewpoint. Every now and then we need to stop to pause and reflect… to make sure we’re on the right track. In Tarot this concept is represented by the card of the High Priestess. Allow your unconscious and subconscious mind to reveal the right way forward for you this month.
UFOs in Luigi’s Backyard
My recent road trip through the rolling emerald hills of Sardinia in April was truly an eye-opener and I was lucky enough to spend several starlit evenings with Luigi Muscas from Pauli Arbarei, a tiny village 50 km north of Cagliari. Luigi lives under what he calls a ‘sky portal’ and for more than 20 years, people, including journalists, scientists and sceptics, have been visiting his home to observe what I can only describe as the best UFO show I’ve ever seen.
As we sat on plastic chairs in Luigi’s back yard (pictured above), wrapped in blankets and staring at the dark night sky, a large bright orange and azure light whizzed overhead and disappeared over the horizon. A few moments later a brilliant yellow- white starlike object appeared over Luigi’s garage, ascended verticall y and suddenly disappeared. These were not normal stars, they were not satellites and they were definitely not planes. The spectacle continued for another two hours - some objects moved fast and some moved slowly; some crossed paths, moving in opposite directions; some appeared and then seconds or minutes later disappeared.
I was entranced and thought back to my 2017 visit to the crop circles of Wiltshire and the video I’d seen of bright lights hovering over a field as a crop circle was created. This time I was witnessing the spectacle with my own eyes, but still I had no answers. I felt very small, very insignificant and yet at the same time, bursting with excitement. Then I thought back to my school days studying Shakespeare and remembered Hamlet saying to his friend: There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in our philosophy.
Thank you Luigi for sharing your stories and your sky portal.
Solar Eclipse in Leo – Consider Your Options
August brings the third in a mini-series of eclipses which began on the 13th July with a solar eclipse in Cancer. The second eclipse on 28th July at the Aquarius full moon was truly spectacular – the longest eclipse of the 21st century with the moon turning blood-red for almost two hours. We now have the final eclipse in this mini-series, with the sun, moon and earth aligning in a partial solar eclipse at the Leo new moon on the 11th August.
Eclipses affect us all, especially if you have planets or birth chart angles close to the eclipse degree. Sometimes events or epiphanies happen right on the eclipse date and sometimes the week either side of the eclipse. Seeds are sown; decisions are made; hidden things are revealed and matters often come to a head.
Despite this being a new moon and therefore normally a time for fresh beginnings, no less than seven planets are retrograde so the advice is to wait until September before launching any new ventures. Use this period to consider your options and make plans for the future, regarding any delay or holdup as a potential blessing. The August solar eclipse links back to the eclipse cycles of 1999 and 2000 - you could find yourself revisiting events and relationships from this period and seeing them in a new light.
Moon Temples & Fertility Rites
Sardinia is an ancient land, some say a pre-diluvial culture, and there is substantial evidence that, until the arrival of Christianity, people worshipped the moon and built temples to honour the lunar goddess. On my recent trip there I stayed in a town called Lunamatrona, which means Moon Mother or Moon Queen - in the local church a column from a desecrated lunar temple props up the pulpit. The locals told me stories about how, until the middle of the last century, villagers would climb the nearby mountain on the night of the full moon to honour the land and ask for a fertile harvest; healthy animals or a husband or wife. On the mountain plateau small ponds reflect the light of the moon and stars and the villagers would dance round these ponds as they made their wishes. Days later Andrea and I held our own ceremony on the mountain – the abundant spring rainfall had filled up the ponds, reflecting the light of the moon and stars. Just magical!
Giant Tomb….or Womb?
Scattered across Sardinia’s wild landscape are hundreds of ‘giants’ tombs’, dating back to at least the Bronze Age. We visited several of these amazing megalithic structures noting they were built in the shape of a bull or cow’s head with the horns represented by a curved line of standing stones at the entrance. They reminded me of the Moon-Cow goddess with her horns symbolising the crescent moon, similar to Hathor the Egyptian cow goddess or indeed the zodiac sign Taurus which is ruled by the two feminine planets, Venus and the Moon.
In the middle of each curved line of stones was a small entrance which opened into a covered shaft or chamber. Could this represent a womb or a woman giving birth? And were they originally tombs or something else? Many of these giants’ tombs are aligned to the spring equinox, with a shaft of sunlight penetrating the entrance in spring and lighting up the interior. The masculine fertilising the feminine perhaps?
The more time we spent in Sardinia, the more I saw parallels with the megalithic temples and monuments of Egypt, Ireland, Britain and Peru… but that story will have to wait for another time!.
Uranus in Taurus – Sex & the Body Beautiful
Uranus spends roughly seven years in each zodiac sign and his function is to blow apart the status quo creating freedom and independence via new technology, new ideas and revolution.
Uranus recently moved into fertile earth sign Taurus and while many astrologers focus on Taurus as the ruler of material possessions and money, let us not forget that the ruler of Taurus is Venus, goddess of beauty, sensuality and pleasure. This suggests our appreciation of all things beautiful, sensual and earthy will be revolutionised over the next seven years.
At the most literal level, this could translate to an increased respect and admiration for women of all ages, given that Venus symbolises the divine feminine. But as technology breaks down borders and broadens our minds, we can also expect more appreciation for the many different shapes, sizes and colours of those living on Planet Earth.
Every human being has been gifted with a body capable of experiencing intense sensual and sexual pleasure, but in our madness we have created a culture where many men and women loathe or hide their bodies, unable to enjoy them, because they don’t conform to a certain physical ideal. Uranus in Taurus will put the focus on a more earthy sensuality and sexuality and hopefully reduce our obsession with physical appearance.
Natural fibres, natural cosmetics and organic potions and lotions will also become increasingly popular as will respect for people of native and traditional cultures who have always understood our intrinsic connection with the earth and have much to teach us about living a balanced and harmonious life.
Happy Birthday Virgo!
This year, from 23rd August until 23rd September, the Sun travels through earth sign Virgo, no chaste virgin, but the independent woman who answered to no man and served the Goddess herself. In ancient times Virgo was the holy woman of the temple who initiated men into the sacred, healing rites of sexuality, awakening the fires of kundalini. The connection between physical lovemaking, healing and the divine are available to anyone who taps into the energy of Virgo.
Those born under the sign of Virgo are noted for their calm demeanour, attention to detail, healing energies, love of nature and mastery of art and craft. When in balance, they are one of the most practical, kind-hearted and caring signs with an intuitive understanding of the mind-body connection. Usually blessed with fine minds, they are masters of research, data and language and instinctively understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Negatively, Virgos can suffer from hypochondria, be over-critical, especially of self, and prone to worry and anxiety. Virgo rules the abdomen, intestines, spleen and central nervous system. When Virgos are out of balance they can suffer nervous problems, and stomach and intestinal disorders. The Virgo colours are earthy tones, green and dark brown. Virgo’s greatest lesson is to learn to accept imperfection in both themselves and others.
Pisces Full Moon – Magical Golden Triangle
The August full moon falls on the 26th in water sign Pisces, opposite the sun in Virgo. With the sun, Saturn and Uranus in a magical golden triangle linking in with the full moon energy this looks like a peaceful and productive full moon with the opportunity for psychic insight as well as practical achievement. Meditation will provide the answers you seek.
August & September Moon Calendar
Launch projects a couple of days after the New Moon, bring them to completion in the period from just before the Full Moon to the Third Quarter phase and wind them down and reflect on developments in the week before the next New Moon.
The period between the New Moon and the Full Moon is the waxing moon (moon getting bigger and fuller). The period between the Full Moon and the New Moon is the waning moon (moon getting smaller and thinner).
You can use this moon table to select the most favourable days to slow or increase hair regrowth. Full instructions can be found in my Lunar Hair Care guidelines but to get you started I’ve marked the best dates for waxing/shaving to slow regrowth in yellow and the best dates to cut hair for thicker, lusher growth in green. If you’re serious about Lunar Hair Care – why not purchase a moon calendar, available at most esoteric book stores, then you’ll know exactly what time of day the moon changes from one zodiac sign to the next, meaning you can fine-tune your activities with confidence.
|
Date |
Moon Sign |
Element |
Moon Phase |
|
AUGUST |
|||
|
1st |
Pisces |
Water |
|
|
1st-4th |
Aries |
Fire |
|
|
4th-6th |
Taurus |
Earth |
Third Quarter |
|
6th-8th |
Gemini |
Air |
|
|
8th-10th |
Cancer |
Water |
|
|
10th-12th |
Leo |
Fire |
New Moon 11th |
|
12th-14th |
Virgo |
Earth |
|
|
14th-16th |
Libra |
Air |
|
|
16th-19th |
Scorpio |
Water |
First Quarter |
|
19th-21st |
Sagittarius |
Fire |
|
|
21st-24th |
Capricorn |
Earth |
|
|
24th-26th |
Aquarius |
Air |
|
|
26th-29th |
Pisces |
Water |
Full Moon |
|
29th-31st |
Aries |
Fire |
|
|
31st-2nd |
Taurus |
Earth |
|
|
Date |
Moon Sign |
Element |
Moon Phase |
|
SEPTEMBER |
|||
|
1st-2nd |
Taurus |
Earth |
|
|
2nd-4th |
Gemini |
Air |
Third Quarter |
|
4th-6th |
Cancer |
Water |
|
|
6th-9th |
Leo |
Fire |
|
|
9th-11th |
Virgo |
Earth |
New Moon 10th |
|
11th-13th |
Libra |
Air |
|
|
13th-15th |
Scorpio |
Water |
|
|
15th-17th |
Sagittarius |
Fire |
First Quarter |
|
17th-20th |
Capricorn |
Earth |
|
|
20th-22nd |
Aquarius |
Air |
|
|
22nd-25th |
Pisces |
Water |
|
|
25th-27th |
Aries |
Fire |
Full Moon 25th |
|
27th-29th |
Taurus |
Earth |
|
|
29th-2nd |
Gemini |
Air |
|
Thanks for being part of AstroUpdate. If there’s something you’d like to see featured, or have something you think would interest others, please contact me at stella@stellastarwoman.com
Happy Stargazing
Stella Woods
www.stellastarwoman.com