ALACAZEM 2015.08.20

Alacazem               by Cynthia Zehm                       August 20 to 27, 2015

Visible planets: Morning: Venus, Mars         Evening: Mercury, Saturn

Here we are, approaching the end of August. In some neighborhoods, school bells ring and classrooms are filled with students. Teachers are back to work. Football practice and pre-season NFL games have started. The hot, dramatic beauty of the fiery Leo zodiac month is morphing into earth-centered, harvest-happy Virgo, closing the door on midsummer night’s dreams and the long, luscious days of summer.

We feel our hearts, filled with summer’s bounty, not quite ready to let go of the magic magnificence of this sizzling, sensational, seductive time of year. Ripe Palisade peaches, Olathe sweet corn and gardens of fresh fruits and vegetables fill our tummies and delight our senses. Deep green grass and bubbling brooks, swimming pools and picnics awaken the child within, it’s time to play and laugh. Warm summer nights, moonlight dances, shimmering stars and midnight kisses. It’s a time for love and romance. Memories and nostalgia, here today and gone tomorrow. It’s hard to let it go.

But today the wind is blowing in the winds of change. Fall is in the air, even though it’s still hot outside and a smoky haze from so many western wildfires is lingering in the canyons. I must surrender. I must surrender to change. I must surrender to Virgo the Vestal Virgin, the Madonna of the Harvest, the Mother Earth dressed in robes of gold and blonde, auburn, orange and crimson. Just like the Lion, we must bow to the will of the seasons, turn over our hearts and practice sweet surrender.

Blessings and joy. Love and beauty. Peace and starlight. May the Fabulous Force of Virtuous Virgo be with us all.

Aries (Mar. 20-Apr. 19)  A supportive Venus-Uranus trine in fiery Leo-Aries awakens you to the golden truth and value of friendship in relationships. Existing romance deepens with the spirit of freedom and the absence of jealousy, control and guilt. Honesty and trust are the foundation stones in all good relationships, and it takes strength and courage for both. New potential blossoms in existing partnerships, explore and discover.

Taurus (Apr. 19-May 20) As the Sun enters Virgo, your solar 5^th house of what you love and love to do, you may feel suddenly uplifted and excited about life and living. The Mother Earth’s natural beauty and abundance blossoms all around you, calls you out and beckons engagement. You may find inside work and boring people tedious and difficult. It’s time to follow your heart, rekindle romance, express love and embrace joy.

Gemini (May 20-June 20) With ruler Mercury, magnanimous Jupiter and the Sun now in Virgo, you may find yourself on a journey home, returning to projects and programs of domestic and personal importance. Good news is that you are set to get a lot done, clean up messes, organize and purify the space and environment in which you live and love. Sweet! Cleaning house, weeding the garden – inside and out – is exactly what you need.

Cancer (June 20-July 22) You may feel more like communicating, traveling, reading or exploring education in one way or another as the Virgo zodiac month begins. Also on the agenda: cleaning, organizing and pruning the bush. All those messes and lose ends are ready to shape-shift into something new. Possessions have a way of weighting us down and now is the perfect time to lighten up. Also big: health is wealth. Take good care of you!

Leo (July 22-Aug. 22) With voluptuous Venus still retrograde in Leo and recently liberated by a freedom-loving fiery Uranus trine in me-first Aries, you may find yourself awakened to the multi-faceted beauty and value of friendship. And to have good, trustworthy friends, we must be good, trustworthy friends. Simple and sweet, loving and kind, celestial force encourages self-love, self-responsibility and self-resource. Be the best you can be.

Virgo (Aug. 22-Sep. 22) Your Happy Birthday month officially begins on August 23^rd at 4:38 am MDT and opens the door to several weeks of celebration. Congratulations on another revolution around the Sun! And lucky you. From now until September 9, 2016 good-luck, good-will Jupiter will be transiting your sign, awarding you with favor. This is a time of growth spurts, honing your skills and adding new tools to your toolbox.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 22) As the Sun enters Virgo and your solar 12^th house of spirit, prepare yourself for a zodiac month of sweet surrender. This is a time when you are more in touch with soul that usual, a time when you find great solace in quiet, beautiful places and soul-nurturing spaces. But for now, inspiration and aspiration are staunch allies and guides. Follow our heart’s desires, commune with uplifting people and embrace life.

Scorpio (Oct. 22-Nov. 21) The Sun joins mental Mercury and expansive Jupiter in Virgo this week, shining light upon the multi-faceted, multi-dimensional possibilities of the next 12 months. This is a year when hopes, dreams and visions for the future will be illuminated, a time to identify heartfelt aspirations and carve out a practical plan for their manifestation. Crafty, industrious Virgo favors artisan skills, holistic health, DIY and daily practice.

Sagittarius (Nov. 21-Dec. 20) Whoa Nelly. Although you’ve been running fast and strong, make sure you’re not runnin’ on empty. Proper nutrition, physical exercise and a daily spiritual practice are mandatory for what you’ve signed up for. Putting too much on your plate, running from your messes and avoiding things because “you don’t have time” is a recipe for disaster. This Jupiter in Virgo year favors practical, sensible action. Slow down now.

Capricorn (Dec. 20-Jan. 19) As summer winds its way toward autumn, Capricorns feel the wheel of fortune turn toward life’s ever-expanding horizons. The Virgo zodiac month and current Jupiter-in-Virgo year favor practical, commonsense approaches and techniques, both of which come to you easily. And with the supportive trine energy of another earth-sign, the future looks extra bright. Sensible actions today guarantee cosmic backing tomorrow.

Aquarius (Jan. 19-Feb. 18) With Venus [retrograde] and Mars still transiting Leo, and ruler Uranus [retrograde] in Aries fast off a happy trine to Venus, you may be feeling simultaneously content and excited about the condition and status of both your relationships and your creations. Life is good. And now it’s time for Virgo, when you are asked to step sideways and look at everything from a different and new perspective. Focus on improvement, everywhere.

Pisces (Feb. 18-Mar. 20) As the Leo zodiac month draws to a close and the Sun enters Virgo, you may find yourself jumping back into the deep waters of relationship. Commitment and marriage are themes as you engage in discussions and possibilities of your own and other’s pairing and sharing. In the process, explore outside options. This is a year of expansion regarding who and what you find attractive, so get out do some research.

Cynthia is a third generation astrologer living on a high mountain mesa in the desert Southwest. Visit her website @ www.alacazem.com