StarWatch by James Jarvis, M.A. By adding the universal year 1999 (1+9+9+9=28) to the 8th month of August, we come up with the vibration of 36/9. The 36/9 month is a time to complete outstanding projects so that you can free up extra energy to devote to your inner life. Take some time to find out what gives you joy (3) and what you need to do to put your life into greater balance (6). As you take time to nurture the nurturer, you can dedicate yourself without reservation to serving others with your compassion and devotion. August 11 New moon and solar eclipse in Leo With the new moon and solar eclipse in Leo, the focus this month is on nurturing ourselves through bringing out the divine child within. The divine child is the source of our creativity, spontaneity and enthusiasm. Its qualities are mirrored back to us through the love and appreciation we have for the innocence and directness of the external children we meet in our day-to-day lives. What we love about our external children are the exact qualities inherent in our own divine child. Bring a sense of play into your life by being willing to let go of your seriousness and self-consciousness. Use this month to tap into your sense of wonder and awe, the joy and aliveness that you receive by being totally present and in the moment. Bring a sense of play into your life by being willing to let go of your seriousness and self-consciousness. And remember: no matter how deep your child may be buried among the rubble of responsibility and duty, if you take some time this month to nurture yourself on this level, you may be pleasantly surprised to find a willing child that wants to come out and play! August 15 Venus enters Leo Venus moves back through the sign of Leo until October 7. Venus in Leo calls us to return to the innocence of the child within, to allow the spontaneous outpouring of love to emanate from the heart chakra. With Venus in Leo, we have an opportunity to liberate our hearts, to break free from inhibitions or beliefs that have kept our hearts from being fully opened in the past. August 18 Pluto retrograde Pluto, which has been moving in retrograde motion since March 13, will go direct again on August 18 at 7 degrees Sagittarius. Since Pluto in our birth chart represents where we tap into collective power or will, Pluto retrogrades are a time when we can reflect on how we are using our personal power. Do powerful people make you uncomfortable? Do you react strongly to any perceived misuse of power from those in your life? Do you often see in others a tendency to manipulate or control? If so, then the Pluto retrograde period may have been a time when you were looking at how you may be feeling disempowered in your life. Conversely, it may have been a time that you discovered and integrated how you could increase your sense of personal power into more areas of your life. In particular, Pluto in Sagittarius is asking each of us to speak our own truth more powerfully. This is especially so for those born in early degrees of Sagittarius, as Pluto will be conjoining (the same degree as) their sun this year or next. Pluto transits to the sun bring to the surface whatever we have repressed or hidden. If you have been hiding your light under the bushel and not sharing your truth (you know who you are!), then Pluto says "Let’s blow apart whatever is preventing you from sharing your light and truth with others!" Use the power of Pluto in Sagittarius to blow off the lid of repression and inhibition now! Pluto in Sagittarius is calling all Sagittarians and those who identify themselves with the archetypal role of sage to come forward with their wisdom. Pluto in Sagittarius combines the power of collective will with the quest or search for truth and meaning. It is time for all our sages who have been hiding out this lifetime to purify and remove the negative thought forms that prevent them from sharing their gifts of lifetimes of accumulated wisdom. One the most disempowering negative thought forms for many sages is the instinctual memory of being persecuted lifetime after lifetime for telling the truth. As a result, many sages choose to lead quieter lives of seclusion to protect themselves from being stifled or worse. By purifying these instinctual memories through past-life regression, soul retrieval, or energy work (removing implants, in particular), these blocks to the expression and communication of their spiritual wisdom can be removed. Use the power of Pluto in Sagittarius to blow off the lid of repression and inhibition now! August 23-25 Venus square Mars Venus in Leo is in challenging relationship to Mars in Scorpio August 23-25. This transit challenges us to expand the energies of the heart. Take time to appreciate the loved ones in your life. Let your heart lead and show you what to do and say. There is a great opportunity for openhearted sharing and vulnerability. It’s not too bad for romance either! August 23 Sun enters Virgo The sun moves into the sign of Virgo on August 23 at 12:59 a.m. The reaping of the harvest begun in Leo now reaches full harvest in Virgo, a harvest culled using the discriminative faculties with the intent of doing it cleanly, precisely, and with care. The Virgo principle involves analyzing and improving upon the creative output generated in Leo through discernment and efficiency. Our job during the sign of Virgo is to utilize the discriminative faculties of the mind and our discipleship to improve and perfect the physical vehicle so that it becomes a purified vessel for divine spirit. August 24 Jupiter retrograde Jupiter in Taurus will begin its retrograde journey from August 24 until December 20. The Jupiter retrograde, lasting about four months, is a time to tap into our own inner teacher. In Vedic or Hindu astrology, the Sanskrit word used for Jupiter is "guru." Each of us, whether formally or informally, is a teacher of something. The sign and house placement of Jupiter in your chart not only refers to where you get the greatest expansion of your own consciousness (where you teach yourself), but also indicates what you naturally wish to teach others. Since Jupiter also is the ruler of the second chakra, the center of "pro-creation," it is also associated with how you express your creative urge. In a Jupiter retrograde period, we can tune in more deeply to the wisdom and creativity that wants to flow through us out into the world. A powerful way to utilize this Jupiter retrograde is to visualize the ways you are already sharing your wisdom with others. I’ll give you key words for each of the signs in which Jupiter falls (if you don’t know what sign your Jupiter falls in, look it up in an astrological ephemeris). These keys words, then, represent what you want to learn and what you naturally teach others, either formally or informally: Aries, empowerment; Taurus, embodiment; Gemini, communication; Cancer, assimilation; Leo, expression; Virgo, discernment; Libra, balance; Scorpio, transformation; Sagittarius, inspiration; Capricorn, manifestation; Aquarius, reformation; and Pisces, transcendence. August 26 Full moon in Pisces On August 26, we have a full moon in Pisces at 4:48 p.m. Moon in Pisces asks us to tune in to our desire to merge with spirit. The full moon in Pisces is calling us to bring full awareness to the path of surrendering our sense of separation so that we can once again experience the bliss of unity consciousness. Use this full moon to nurture yourself spiritually through contemplation, meditation, flowing movement, and music. August 29 Saturn retrograde Saturn, at 17 degrees Taurus, goes retrograde from August 29 until January 12, 2000. Basically, this transit is about taking the time to figure out your game plan for the next year. Saturn’s two-and-a-half-year transit through Aries signified a time when we initiated new action in our lives that provided a structure for the accomplishment of our long-term goals. During Saturn’s retrograde, try to get in touch with the specific, measurable results that would have to be produced in order for you to know that you have reached your goals. This is a time of recommitting ourselves to "walking our talk," to be truly accountable for our actions, and to take a stand for what we want to manifest. James Jarvis, M.A. is a master astrologer and professional life coach. He combines an M.A. in transpersonal counseling, 28 years' experience with Eastern and metaphysical traditions, and 14 years coaching and empowering clients to actualize their full potential. For those who want support in discovering and manifesting their vision, James is now available for life coaching sessions and astrological consultations by phone. For a brochure of his services or to schedule a complimentary half-hour life coaching session, call (831) 688-0574 or e-mail <jarvis_james@hotmail.com>.