MONTH OF August
Your Gemini tendencies could be your saving grace or the fast track to trouble this August. We’re walking into retrograde high season, a time when intentions can be easily misread. As a sign that favors double entendres and sarcastic humor, your sly wit is in danger of being taken the wrong way.
Nonetheless, you’re likely to be quite the chatty one under this month’s stars. The Sun is in Leo and your communication house until August 23‚ keeping your social calendar and meeting schedule full. The downside, of course, is that diplomatic Venus is retrograde in Leo all month long, which could turn friendliness to friction fast. The Leo new moon on August 16 can be an especially volatile day. Instead of confronting someone head-on, you’re better off writing an angry letter that you burn.
Got something you absolutely must say? A better day for serving up the truth serum is the August 1 Aquarius full supermoon powers up your outspoken and effusive ninth house. Talk about a spicy starter! This is also the first of a rare TWO full moons bookending the month. The second one, also a supermoon, lands in Pisces and your career sector on August 30. No need to wait for official “back to school” season to unleash your ambitious, Gemini. You’ve got a solid leg up from the stars!
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Virgo season arrives August 23 when the Sun moves into your domestic fourth house. Normally this is a cozy time, great for visiting family and nesting. But once again…another retrograde arrives in tandem! This time it’s your ruling planet Mercury, which starts a three-week backward journey through Virgo from August 23 to September 15. Take precautions to double down on kindness and lessen the snark.
By the end of the month, SIX planets will be retrograde: Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus and Pluto. Read the large print, Gemini: August is a time to slow down. Keep that languid pace into September while you’re at it. This is actually a golden opportunity to finish things you’ve started, do some important reflection, and switch gears if you feel like you want to move in a different direction.
Leo season sparks your social side until August 23
With the bold Leo Sun heating up your communication sector until August 23, this peak summer period delivers vibrant social experiences and a chance to connect with kindred spirits. Step away from the grind and go mingle. Been working hard on a pioneering project? Leo season is a great time to bring it to market and start spreading the news.
Gemini is the celestial CEO of this chatty and clever zodiac zone, so you’ll feel extra energized by the playful and expressive Leo sunbeams. Writing, teaching and learning are all great outlets for you. Keep a journal or voice recorder handy: Your witty words are flowing!
But sharing is not necessarily caring for the moment, Gemini. This year, harmonious Venus will be retrograde in Leo from July 22 to September 3, which could send ripples of tension through your social circle or cause you to be misunderstood. Not all of your ideas will be immediately embraced during this time. Discord with colleagues, neighbors and siblings might erupt while the peacekeeper planet is on its timeout. Think twice before you post anything controversial on social media or send harsh words in an email or text. If you’re not sure how your message will land with the other person, better not to say it!
The Aquarius full supermoon is on August 1
Think bigger than big as the month begins, Gemini! With the August 1 arrival of the full moon in Aquarius and your ninth house of global connections, expansion and exploration, you could entertain an opportunity—perhaps out of the blue—to travel, start a new business venture or share yourclass="body-el-link standard-body-el-link" talents on a global scale. This potent supermoon fills your tanks with inspiration. Follow the threads of your curiosity, Gemini!
Look back to the January 21 Aquarius new moon for clues about what could manifest today. The seeds of a visionary idea could sprout and develop into a bigger vision. Considering a leap of faith, like an indie business launch or a return to school? This Aquarius full moon will put extra fuel in your tank. But make your moves on the earlier side of the month, before your ruling planet, Mercury, turns retrograde for three weeks on August 23, which could stall your plans and delay contract signings.
The August 16 Leo new moon sparks ideas
Ready for even more inspiration and fun connection? The year’s only Leo new moon adds its motivating mojo to your social third house on August 16. Collaborate with friends, picnic with your posse and enjoy some laughs and light-heartedness. You’ll be filled with so many fresh ideas that your only challenge will be figuring out which to tackle first! (Just bear in mind the warning that Venus is retrograde in Leo and choose your companions with care.)
Over the next two weeks, prioritize projects that benefit a worthwhile cause or help you get more culturally immersed. Bounce ideas around with a kindred spirit. If you feel a synergistic spark, explore! But keep it light and experimental for now. You never know if you truly click on all the important levels until you test your chemistry.
With this new moon in your media-savvy third house, you might co-launch a podcast or teach an online masterclass together. If you’re considering a move, check out a couple districts to see which neighborhood could fit the bill. Do you need to see people lining the streets and enjoy an intimate restaurant or packed coffee shop? Or are you feeling overwhelmed by urban life, not quite ready to emerge from your cocoon? Investigate your options!
In addition to Venus retrograde’s impact, this new moon date does come with a couple of warning labels. La luna will lock into a challenging 90-degree square with shock jock Uranus in your twelfth house of hidden information. Surprising secrets could emerge, or you might suddenly recognize where you’ve been gullible and too trusting of the wrong person. Your off-the-cuff comments could be taken the wrong way and used against you. Avoid gossip like the plague since you don’t want anythinclass="body-el-link standard-body-el-link" g from the rumor mill pinned on you!
La luna is also a mere degree away from Lilith, the “dark moon” point known for revealing outrage and resentment. With Lilith and the new moon in Leo and your communication house, you may need to clear the air about something that’s painful to discuss, especially because there could be legitimate anger on both sides. There’s no better time than a new moon to open a fresh chapter. Just make sure this one has a healing space that allows everyone to speak their truth freely but responsibly.
Virgo season begins on August 23, and it’s home sweet home time
When Virgo season starts onAugust 23, activating your domestic-bliss zone, hunker down at home base and hang the “me-time” signs. For the next four weeks, take a break from the social whirlwind and get grounded at Chateau Gemini. Clean, declutter and enjoy some family bonding. Savor quiet time and self-nurturing activities. Looking for a new place to call home? With the energizing Sun here, your search for a new address could get underway, especially while motivated Mars is also in Virgo until August 27.
But…Mercury turns retrograde from August 23 to September 15
As much as you want to hunker down at home base,class="body-el-link standard-body-el-link" Virgo season ALSO comes with a plot twist. From August 23 to September 15, communication planet Mercury (your ruler) will be retrograde in Virgo. Friction could be on the rise under your roof, particularly with your mother, a child or a sensitive relative.
While Virgo season can be lovely for family reunions, Mercury retrograde could disrupt communication, technology and travel, especially in your personal life. You’ll need to triple-confirm hotel reservations—and think twice before inviting any high-maintenance types to be your late-summer houseguests. Thinking of meeting someone’s parents or shacking up in your childhood bedroom? Maybe not the best idea with Mercury and Venus both retrograde now.
Sun-Saturn opposition on August 27
Two (or three or even four) heads are better than one today, Gemini. The annual opposition of the Sun and structure-loving Saturn could break your habit of doing it all by yourself. Not only is that a lonely path, but it’s inefficient. Sure, you have control, but does the work ever truly get done? Today, the Sun-Saturn face-off gives you a clear-eyed look at how rigid DIY-ing could be limiting you more than you realize.
As you reach out—and up—for support, be direct about what you need from people. If you’re assigning duties, type out exactly what everyone’s responsibilities will be. A rockstar collaborator may have recently done you a solid. A show of gratitude can keep the relationship humming along. Simultaneously, find a way to pay it forward with someone who could use your guidance. With Saturn in the house, integrity is everything! If you’ve got outstanding debt (financial or emotional) with a friend, make arrangements to make good on what you promised.
Uranus turns retrograde in your healing twelfth house on August 28
Stop looking for answers outside of yourself, Gemini. The truth can only be found within! A soul-searching voyage begins this August 28, when disruptor Uranus starts a five-month retrograde through Taurus and your healing, introspective twelfth house. Between now and January 27, 2024, prepare to take a deep dive into facets of your psyche that you may not usually visit—ready or not.
Uranus is the planet of surprises and sudden events. While it treads backward through this empathic zone, your emotions could swell up before you have a chance to catch or control them. You may feel wildly out of your comfort zone at moments, and learning the art of surrender will be a life-altering lesson.
Uranus is in Taurus until April 2026, so this won’t be an overnight process. But if you’ve been hanging onto resentment, self-soothing with addictive vices or indulging in any kind of escapism, prepare for a lightning bolt of truth from authentic Uranus. The planet of liberation can snap you out of denial and put you in touch with your truth. As the celestial awakener swims through your mystical twelfth house, prepare for an interior revolution that could involve a spiritual epiphany, an artistic renaissance or an emotional transformation.
The Pisces full supermoon on August 30 catalyzes your career
Bonus beams! This August 30, a rare second full moon, aka a blue moon, blooms in Pisces and your tenth house of career, leadership and boundaries. Use these illuminating beams to get ultra-clear on your priorities. Say a firm and definite “no” to any commitments that will leach the quality time you crave with your VIP posse. Prune the heck out of your schedule and leave white space in the calendar.
A big professional opportunity could be in the stars at this full moon—one you’ve been striving toward for the past six months. This professional coup can put your name on the map, giving you recognition and “expert status” with a commensurate title or pay bump. Some Geminis may decide to leave a job or at least start crafting an exit strategy as you set your sights on a more satisfying gig.
Just make sure you think through any changes all the way through. You might want to wait until Mercury retrograde ends on September 15 before you say a hard yes or no to anyone. Your father or an important guy could figure into events near this full moon.
Summer bummer? By now it’s not breaking news that romantic Venus is retrograde this entire month—from July 22 until September 3 to be exact. In Leo and your social third house, this Venus backspin could put a damper on some of the fun plans you had hoped to enjoy, either with your partner or a promising plus-one. There could be a few difficult conversations to navigate and unresolved hurts to hash out.
From August 13 to 18, Venus is making its “inferior conjunction” with the Sun, meaning it will disappear from our view. This is THE window of opportunity to finally put old patterns to bed. And if you do, the August 22 Venus-Jupiter square could help you vocalize some feelings you haven’t been able to articulate. While you might feel more vulnerable than you wish you did, you’ll feel much lighter when you clear this up.
Meantime, Mars (the other love planet) is in Virgo and your sensitive, domestic fourth house until August 27. This can ratchet up emotions— from raw desire to jealousy—and cause moods to change without notice. You or a loved one (or maybe both of you at the same time) could be a bit thin-skinned and hypersensitive.
One of you may be pushing an accelerated timeline, like moving in together, buying a house or starting (or expanding) a family. Best advice: Lovingly stall unless you’re both 100 percent ready. These kinds of decisions should NOT be made in the heat of the moment. And with your ruler, Mercury, going retrograde in Virgo from August 23 to September 15, there’s even more reason to delay any such plans.
A consolation prize is forthcoming, though! On August 27, Mars will shift into Libra and your passionate fifth house, heating up the action all the way until October 12. By mid-September, you could be making up for lost moments and having a lusty good time doing it!
Home bustling home! Energizer Mars is in Virgo and your domestic fourth house until August 27, and you won’t have to go far—or anywhere, really—to get your ambitions cooking. Or maybe you’ll spend the month couch-surfing, whether you’re on the hunt for a new residence or traveling for work. Enterprising Gemini homeowners might add “Airbnb superhost” to your credentials if you rent out your pad while on the road.
Caution: Mars can add pressure, and this cycle could give you a bout of cabin fever if you spend too much time at home. Your household might be bustling with short-term guests, a renovation project or, for Gemini parents, the crazed rush of back-to-school season. This could be your cue to find some space outside of Chateau des Twins, perhaps renting a little room you can turn into a haven of peace and productivity. But don’t sign any long-term leases too quickly since your ruler, Mercury, will be retrograde in Virgo from August 23 to September 15.
The ONE day to focus on your career wholeheartedly is the August 30 Pisces full supermoon, which lands in your ambitious tenth house. A career coup, leadership offer or exciting opportunity could materialize—and you’ll reap the rewards of your hard work.
Make the most of this potent 24 hours by taking inventory of what you’ve accomplished over the past six months. Full moons are a time of harvest and contemplation. Revisit your goals: Take stock of (and celebrate!) your achievements large and small, and don’t be afraid to toss out what no longer suits you.
This is also a stellar time to organize your work area: invest in supplies, clear your desk and throw out old files. With Venus and Mercury both retrograde, decluttering and redecorating are cosmically favored this month.
Love Days: 20, 24
Money Days: 30, 12
Luck Days: 10, 1
Off Days: 8, 22, 26
Identical twin sisters Ophira and Tali Edut (a.k.a. The AstroTwins) are ELLE.com’s resident astrologers. They have written several astrology books, including Momstrology and Supercouple, and star as the astrological matchmakers for Prime Video’s Cosmic Love. The Eduts have read charts for celebrities the likes of Beyoncé, Karlie Kloss, and Emma Roberts. For their spot-on predictions, books, and online courses, check out our horoscopes coverage or visit astrostyle.com.
