Astrology for August 2023 with Janet Parfitt

Welcome to your forecast for August 2023.  In this edition I will be talking a lot about the planet Venus.  Venus represents Cerridwen in Her lover aspect.  Venus turned retrograde on the 23rd of July and turns direct on the 3rd of September.  This is a period of forty days, and it represents the descent into the Underworld.  It is a familiar story to many, the Goddess Innana descended into the Underworld, the Goddess Persephone did as well.  I see this in Cerridwen’s story as Her descent into anger and rage as Gwion got the three sacred drops and, as Gwion’s transformation in Ceridwen’s womb into Taliesin.

1st August – There is a full moon in Aquarius so this would be a good time to break out of your comfort zone and do something different or unusual.  Aquarius is the most humanitarian of signs, so it would be a suitable time to do volunteering or charity work.

Between the 3rd and the 6th of August (depending on where you live) Venus dips below the horizon and enters the Underworld.  As Venus dives into Cerridwen’s cave, She will ask the question “What do you want?”.  It is less about your relationship with other people and more about your relationship with yourself.  

August 8th – Venus is conjunct Black Moon Lilith.  Black Moon Lilith represents that wild untameable part of ourselves.  The things that we will not compromise over.  This is our fierceness, our sacred rage.  When Venus conjuncts here there is a clear message that we must focus on our needs.  No more giving our power away or making ourselves small to suit others.  That ends now.  It is a powerful, intense energy.

And if things weren’t intense enough already, on the 9th of August Venus squares Uranus, the planet of thunderstorms and breakthroughs.  These two days represent an emotional, cathartic release.  If you’ve been holding back and people-pleasing too much, then prepare to let go of that.  This prospect might seem scary, but this is about freedom.  Release yourself from other people’s expectations and drama.  Step into your power.  The best way to deal with these energies is to ride with them.  The harder you try to repress this sort of thing, the worse it’s going to be.  Go with it.  Strip off the masks and step into your authentic self.  It can be amazingly liberating.

August 13th – Venus is conjunct the Sun.  The Sun represents our core values, our ego, who we really are and when Venus conjuncts the Sun then we are looking at who we are and what we want.  In a sense who we are can determine what we want and what we want can determine who we are.  

August 14th – Chiron trines Venus.  After all the chaos of the descent into the Underworld and the emotional cathartic release, Chiron brings healing.  When we step into our power and become our authentic selves there will be those who don’t like it.  There may be those who will reject us and make us feel bad.  They might try to tempt us back into the mask of delusion.  The healing is when we realise, we don’t need those people who want us to fit their needs but are unwillingly to accommodate ours.  People who love us just want us to be happy.  If we must bend over backwards to please someone, then we know that this person is not for us.

15th August – Venus conjuncts the Moon.  Our needs come into harmony with our emotions.

On the 16th of August there is a new moon in Leo.  Leo represents our sovereignty, our pride, our sense of leadership.  This is a time to step up and be seen.  

22nd August – Venus is square Jupiter.  Jupiter is the largest planet in our zodiac and represents expansion.  On the positive side, this can be about growth, opening up, doing more.  On the negative side, beware of over-doing it.  Having big dreams that may not be based in reality.  And especially after a new moon in Leo, beware the ego trap.

On the 23rd Mercury goes retrograde, so communications may become a bit more difficult, but Venus comes out of the Underworld and becomes visible over the horizon as the morning star.

On the 27th Mars enters Libra so our energy and drive will be directed into creating harmony and our interactions with others.

29th August –  Venus is in opposition to the Moon so there may be some emotional outbursts in our relations with other people at this time.

31st August – There is a full moon in Pisces.  This will be emotional.  It is possible that we may be feeling very tired and washed out now.  Connecting with water will help.  As this is the second full moon of the month, this is known as a blue moon.  It is an incredible time to do spell work and magic, especially as Pisces rules our connection with the divine.  

So, this month will be intense, but it could be very liberating.  May Cerridwen keep you safe and well.

With blessings.

Janet Parfitt – Priestess of Cerridwen

Glastonbury, UK

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Janet Parfitt is a Priestess of the Goddess and a Priestess of Cerridwen.  She has also written three books, is a professional Tarot Reader, a soul healer and a qualified funeral Celebrant.  She is a regular Melissa in the Glastonbury Goddess Temple and with Bee Helygen, takes part in the Dark Moon Rituals at every new moon.