New Moon, 19 Leo 51, August 12, 7:02 pm EDT
An article in my local newspaper (Foster's Daily Democrat, "Starry, Starry Nights" by Julian Smith) says that the Perseids meteor showers, during the night of this New Moon and also the night of August 13, are expected to be especially impressive. Earth will pass through the debris trail of Comet Swift-Tuttle. resulting in a light show of perhaps 100 flashes per hour. At New Moon, Moon is "up" with the Sun, leaving night sky dark except for stars, so meteors will be at their most visible. Smith says that no matter where we are in the USA (barring cloudy skies) we should be able to see the meteors clearly, especially at New Moon, but also up to two days before and after.

Leo is about creativity and Sun symbolizes how we like to shine. At this New Moon we'd do well to focus on our creative energy. Ask yourself what kind of energy you project. Are you focusing on the most positive manifestations of that energy? Or do you sometimes give your energy to negative thinking that only dissipates it? Neptune in Aquarius opposes New Moon and also Mercury. Thinking is far more likely to be subjective now, so let's think and feel compassionately for both self and others. The higher spiritual potentials for the astrological symbolism that begins this lunar phase cycle are as vast as those lights in the sky, if we choose to make it so.

Ritual for Leo New Moon
My ritual suggestion, which I intend to carry out myself, is to view the meteor shower as a spiritual meditation of renewed focus on my creative energy. Go out late at night, best after midnight, where you can have a clear view of the sky, especially (according to the article I cited) low in the northeast, originating from the area of the constellation Perseus. You could, if you wish, bring a pad of paper and pencil to jot down short notes or single words to help you remember what comes to you during this active meditation, but expect do so in darkness!

Begin by drawing energy up from Mother Earth and down from the Cosmos, and then feel it blending into white Light around your heart center. Ask that the the lights you'll see from the meteor shower come to you as messages from Spirit.

What you receive may be words of inspiration, of actions you should take to enhance your creative work, or of blessings for which you are thankful. Open yourself to the blessings of Spirit and to the flow of creative energy. Allow what comes to come, then give thanks for what you have received, remember and resolve to act upon it.

Crescent Moon, 8 Libra 38, August 16 at 5:12 pm EDT
Moon aspects throughout this phase are harmonious and flowing sextiles or trines, with Mercury conjunct Venus and Sun conjunct Venus in the mix. This could be an ideal time for an end of week gathering of friends.

First Quarter Moon, 27 Scorpio 35, August 20 at 7:54 pm EDT
This lunar action phase begins (as always) with Moon's square to Sun, but then she follows up a short time later (9:34 pm) with a square to Saturn. With that, she is void-of-course until her entrance into Sagittarius 44 minutes after midnight. Sun conjoins Saturn on the 21st. This may be the time when the realities of what you've resolved for this lunar cycle come up for testing. Mercury's passages into Virgo accents the thrust toward critical thinking. It's important to be very clear about your intents for carrying out your plans, so that you can avoid being derailed by all the other little things that tend to come up each day but, realistically, could wait. Resist distractions. Focus!

Gibbous Moon, 16 Capricorn 21, August 24 at 5:54 pm EDT
This phase includes a long void-of-course period of close to a full 24-hour day from 7:41 pm today until 6:35 pm tomorrow. During that v/c period, Mercury squares Jupiter. Then, at noon on the 25th, Mercury squares Mars. Venus will oppose Neptune before the day is over. If you're clear on what you're doing, these aspects can be positive, with perhaps a flash or two of inspiration. You CAN effectively work though a void-of course period on projects already begun. Potential downsides: impatience with yourself, or perhaps friction with others. Be aware, and you can handle it. Ability to laugh at yourself and/or the situation can help.

Full Moon, 4 Pisces 46, August 28 at 6:35 am EDT
This Full Moon is also a Total Lunar Eclipse
This is another celestial event this month that many will be able to see. West coast of the Americas willing to say up through the night until morning should be able to see the entire eclipse or nearly all of it. The finish will be visible in Australia and New Zealand. Those of us who live further east will lose the end when the Moon sets, but we can see part of it. I remember a few years ago when I sat out in the center of my stone circle and watched a lunar eclipse. It was beautiful! The Moon gradually turned into a deep, orange color. She looked like a huge ball suspended in the sky, somehow more obviously and fully 3-D round—as if I could hold her, if only I could reach so far.

Mercury opposite Uranus in the afternoon of this Full Moon/Eclipse day may reflect tense communication, or maybe a bright & innovative idea. (I like the latter idea best—let's choose it!) Lunar aspects in Pisces are initially challenging, but change to an easier flow once Moon enters Aries at 0:25 am Aug. 30.

Ritual for the Lunar Eclipse in Pisces
Again I suggest that, if you can, you use the time spent viewing the Lunar Eclipse as a ritual meditation. If that is not possible, then you can do this rite, partially adapted from the lunar eclipse ritual in Moon Tides, Soul Passages, as a visualization. Prepare a candle, a bowl of water and a handful of small flower petals. Have a comfortable place to sit near a altar surface on which you can place the candle and the bowl. Light the candle as you invoke Earth as Dark Mother to be your guide through this experience of lunar eclipse. Then carry the bowl of water in a circle around your altar, sprinkling a little from your fingers as you bless the area, creating sacred space. Then place the bowl of water near the candle. Sit and wait in meditation, watching the Moon. You might also try scrying in the water by the candlelight.

It may be helpful to you, in general and within this mediation, to reflect on what was going on in your life 19 years ago. This eclipse is a repeat of one that occurred August 27, 1988. There may be something about that past time that relates to your current concerns—something that is calling you back because by recalling, you can learn something of signficant help in understanding the "now."

As the Moon begins to darken (in your view or in your visualization), imagine the Dark Mother speaking to you:
Child of Earth, I cast my shadow over the Moon this night because your need is to look beyond her beauty as she reflects Sun's light, and to probe within your soul. If you are to shine like the Sun in fulfilliment of your purpose in this life, you must change attitudes and habits that hold you back—banish them! Probe within, my child. The answer is within you.

Hold some of the flower petals in each of your hands as you listen to the voice within you for the truth of what you know you should banish. Firmly will those truths into the petals you hold in one of your hands. Hold those petals up toward the Moon as you commit to the attitudes and habits which you will banish, then walk into the darkness, away from your candlelit center and cast those petals far away. Return to the center and continue to watch the darkening Moon. Will into the remaining petals your commitment to the positive changes you will make. Drop those petals into the bowl of water, as you say:

When the Moon is in full eclipse, visualize the Dark Mother again, who says to you: The lessons of Earth are not always easy, my child, but you have taken a first step in your commitment to change. Now you must reach beyond what you have released toward the light of your highest purpose in this life. Meditate upon that, and do the best you can, for the tide will turn and you wil be ready for it. Go now, into the Light!

Visualize the Dark Mother raise her arms and glow with light as she causes the shadow to begin to move away from the Moon. Touch your fingers into the water and anoint your face and body, taking even more deeply into yourself the sense of commitment you've made within this rite. Thank the Goddess—Dark Mother, Lady Moon—for blessings received. When your rite is ended, you can return the petals and water to the Earth by watering plants around you.

Disseminating Moon, 22 Aries 57, August 31 at 2:01 pm EDT
If positive new commitments did emerge during Full Moon phase, this phase looks optimistic for carrying things out as intended. If plans hit some snags as Last Quarter approaches, critical thinking & some revision will keep you on track.

Last Quarter Moon, 11 Gemini 12, September 3 at 10:32 pm EDT
Reflection and perhaps revision continues. Some things may be dropped, but what is most worthwhile can be kept and built upon through the next and future phases. Impetus for positive change is at hand...

Balsamic Moon, 29 Cancer 40, September 7 at 12:23 pm EDT
This phase begins with Moon void-of-course in Cancer. Pluto, planet of transformative change, has been retrograde since March 31. This morning, at 10:54 am EDT, Pluto changed to forward motion. Moods and thoughts may elevate with Moon's passage into Leo early afternoon. Her first aspects are sextile Mercury at 8:12 pm, then trine Jupiter at 10:16am tomorrow. Then, at 12:13 pm, Venus, retrograde since July 27, also turns direct, and Moon conjoins her by evening. Venus, by rulership of Libra relates to relating and love, and by rulership of Taurus, also money. if the retrograde is connected by some to recent financial downturns, Venus direct could be greeted hopefully, but aspects ahead plus the upcoming Virgo solar eclipse suggest wisdom in temperence. Venus direct does invite us to open our hearts to others, so if you have any feelings to the contrary, release them in this "dark of the Moon" phase. Express your love and pleasure in being with your signficant others.