Welcome to Indy Maven’s astrology column coming by way of Kelli Jenkins, better known around Indy as one of the Spellsisters. Check out their website and Instagram feed for even more info from the world of horoscopes and tarot, or to book a private reading.
AUGUST 2023 OVERVIEW
I’m calling it now: it’s the summer of shifts and self love. Surely you’ve heard by now, and if not, you’ve felt it… the vibes are shifting by the second, and not only does everything feel like it’s on the precipice of massive change, we’re smack in the middle of social season. But the month of August is full of retrogrades, and sometimes the revisiting of the past and the slowing down that comes with a planet entering retrograde motion can be just the thing we need.
It might go against your natural instincts, but we’re due for a major slow-down. We’ve just been through the beginning of a Lunar Node transit, which may have you feeling like suddenly it’s super important to get your priorities straight. The focus is on relationships, and ultimately on the one you have with yourself. After all, your relationships define you.
Starting on July 17, the Lunar Nodes switched from Taurus-Scorpio to Aries-Libra. These nodes refer to the north and south nodes of the moon, and in astrology, they are always in opposite signs and line up with the eclipses. To put it simply, the Lunar Nodes are responsible for life lessons and hold the codes of your karmic path.
The South Node shows us what we need to conquer as a society—what shadow work needs to be explored before we, as a collective, can reach our next uplevel? The North Node represents what needs to be learned—what lessons are being revealed when we take a look at our shadow? Lunar Node transits occur every 18 months, taking about 18.5 years to fully cycle through the zodiac. So not only are Venus and Mercury going to spend part of the month retrograding, we’ll also be revisiting similar societal issues that were being revisiting the last time we were on an Aries-Libra axis about twenty years ago.
With the North Node in self-sufficient Aries and the South Node in relationship-oriented Libra, you could find yourself deeply entrenched in situations that force you to confront and question who you are versus who you are in relationship to other people. Are they different? No matter the case or context, relationships will be called into focus and we’re all called as a collective to consider our need to strike a balance between independence and interdependence. Don’t worry–there’s plenty of time to noodle this over. This cycle continues until the next shift on January 11, 2025.
Meanwhile, we enter August with Venus already retrograde in Leo, making this a difficult time to start new romantic relationships. It could also be a hard time to find inspiration, and instead, you may feel creatively blocked and bored. Money could be tight, too. All around, Venus is putting the smack down on whatever you might have been getting to comfy and cocky about. This retrograde will continue until September 3.
While I’m at it, I may as well just let you know that Mercury will start one of its retrogrades on the 23, in Virgo. It’s hard to commit, you feel “meh” about almost everything, plans are kinda wishy-washy. Nothing feels reliable when it comes to communication for the next little stretch of time. Mercury will be back on track September 15, so just hang tight. It’s not the end of the world.
Just as Mercury goes retrograde, the Sun moves into Virgo on the 23rd, as well. Since Mercury is retrograding here, this could make the Sun’s vibes more anxious and busy today, but over the next few weeks, make finding relaxing moments your priority. It’s always true that your health is the most important thing to prioritize, but especially for now, as the Sun sheds light on the areas of your life that could use some more R & R.
This month begins with a Full Moon in Aquarius on the 1st, and it’ll feel like cause for a celebration. This is a good day to count your blessings and recognize how far you’ve come since the last Full Moon. It could be a good day for surprises should you choose to put yourself out there and receive them. The New Moon falls on the 16th in Leo, perhaps sparking any sluggish creativity and inspiring us to be more playful with life. So while you’re setting your intentions for the New Moon, think about where you could be more creative and have more fun moving forward. We end the month with another Full Moon on the 30th in Pisces. All of the pent-up stress and over analysis of where life is taking us is meant to be let go during this Full Moon. Release that shit, and let this Harvest Moon lead you into less worry and more ease. See you on the other side!
Xoxo
Kelli
BIRTHDAY ROYALTY <3 Leo & Leo Rising (July 23 – August 22):
Everyone might think of you as incredibly self-assured, confident and consider you to have it all together. But despite being a Leo, you’re still a human, and sometimes your confidence wavers. You don’t always feel so extremely brilliant or like being in the spotlight, and there’s something about this month that makes me feel like what you need is authenticity and transparency. You may need to reveal a weakness in order to a) offload something that’s weighing on you, b) request assistance, and/or c) let yourself be seen as a living, breathing human again. It could be that someone in your life has put an incredible, undue amount of stress or pressure on you to deliver something you either don’t want to deal with or don’t have it in you to provide. Never give away more than you have for yourself. Your energy is precious, and you may be seen as the golden child of the zodiac, but you’re just like the rest of us. You are already carrying some of the same burdens that you may be asked to shoulder for someone else. I’m here to tell you that you can simply say, “no.” That’s it. You don’t have to give a reason. You can say no and move on and live your own life with your own stuff. In my humble opinion, it’s awfully selfish of someone to expect you to do it for them when you’re already having to do it for yourself. Figure out what you need from this situation, and let it be enough. Plot twist, we are all the golden children of the zodiac, actually, which means that this is not your cross to bear.
Tarotscopes | The World: This may be the end of a familiar old tale. The next one will be just as brilliant, but more likely, it’ll be better.
Key Dates: 6, 9, 13, 22
Local Leo: Christian Resiak 8/21, owner of Howl + Hide @ 1046 Virginia Ave
Famous Leo: Dua Lipa 8/22
NOW FOR THE REST OF YOU...
Virgo & Virgo Rising (August 23 – September 22):
Your head is down, and you are simply not to be bothered until you complete whatever it is that you have been so painstakingly focused on lately. Let me remind you that sometimes it pays to take a step back and come up for air. This month, you are more prone to strokes of genius–you could find lots of great inspiration in unfamiliar places… which means you have to put yourself out there enough to find yourself in an unfamiliar place. That’s no problem, though, because it’s likely that you’ll feel more like taking a risk this month. Whatever risks you do take will pay off. Go out on a limb and let yourself be surprised by unexpected opportunity.
Tarotscopes | The Star: There is brilliance waiting for you if you’re willing to experience it.
Key Dates: 1, 9, 16, 23
Libra & Libra Rising (September 23 – October 22):
You’re not built for a crowd this month, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think it’s time for you to have a slow month. Your social butterfly status will not be negatively impacted if you take a break from your usual haunts, and you could really use some time to yourself. You can still be social and also prioritize your personal wellbeing. I get the sense that it’s been an incredibly long summer already for you, and you literally need to unplug and recharge yourself. Your inner sanctuary is calling out for a respite—take a bath, try not to live such a regimented daily life, and find a way to be more present one-on-one. It doesn’t always need to be a party.
Tarotscopes | 4 of Swords: Sometimes your body will force you into it if you don’t choose it for yourself.
Key Dates: 9, 13, 22, 26
Scorpio (October 23 – November 21):
Nothing is the way that it used to be, and everything seems up in the air. You may be feeling like you have very little control over the outcome on a super important matter, and this month challenges you to let that be true. Maybe you can’t decide how things turn out, but you can choose to allow something that’s important be outside of your control. Two things can be true at once: you deeply care and are invested, while at the same time, there is simply nothing you can do. You might know something that I don’t, but what I do know is that there is nothing any one person can do to stop a moving train.
Tarotscopes | The Devil: Whatever is harming you and keeping you from who you want to be is starting to feel like an addiction.
Key Dates: 1, 16, 22, 24
Sagittarius & Sag Rising (November 22 – December 21):
I promise that you didn’t mess it all up or miss out on anything important. It feels like you’re disillusioned, worry that you’ve missed the boat, or doubt your ability to come back from whatever has you feeling down right now. This is a bump in the road, and maybe it’s kind of a big one, but it’s not the end of the road. You have learned something about yourself here: you can do something you didn’t know you could. You may also have learned something about the situation or other people: maybe they aren’t what you thought they were, and now you know. Whatever is going on here, you gotta know that you didn’t miss the boat. If you missed that one, then it wasn’t your boat. Trust yourself, take a deep breath, and put one foot in front of the other.
Tarotscopes | 5 of Cups: Disappointment is just a revelation of what wasn’t right for you to begin with.
Key Dates: 1, 6, 9, 22
Capricorn (December 22 – January 19):
It’s totally alright if you’re not sure where to go next. You might feel directionless or like you don’t have all the information you need to decide or to make your next step. Plot twist, you don’t need any ~data~ for something to be right if it feels right. It literally doesn’t have to make sense and often, the right thing doesn’t. You are on the right track if you can recognize the things that feel good even when you don’t know if that’s where you’re going at the end of the day. There’s no sense in trying to make sense of it. I know this is so totally outside of what you feel comfortable with, but all you have to do is show up.
Tarotscopes | The Hanged Man: Sometimes the best action to take is to not take action.
Key Dates: 1, 16, 24
Aquarius & Aquarius Rising (January 20 – February 18):
Okkkkkk, Aquarius. Now is a good time for you to show up and show out, especially if you find yourself stumbling on networking opportunities, new ways to put yourself out there, or moments to learn something you’ve wondered about. There’s a lot to be said for being in the right place at the right time, but there’s also a part of you that has already laid the foundation for you to meet just the right connections. The trick for you this month is recognizing when you don’t know the answers. Asking the right questions can be exactly the key to opening up new doors for you this month. Be curious and let yourself be delighted by new things.
Tarotscopes | 7 of Cups: There are lots of paths and endless options but none are possible if you don’t take action.
Key Dates: 1, 9, 15, 28
Pisces & Pisces Rising (February 19 – March 20):
Babe, are you okay? You’ve barely touched your journal, and you’ve been saying yes to everyone about everything. Have you thought about maybe not doing that? It feels like you haven’t been giving yourself adequate time to process what’s going on in your life—maybe that means you’re not even sure how you feel about it. You don’t have to be everything for everyone. Actually you don’t have to be anything for anyone, if you don’t want to. Prioritize doing what you actually really care about, and let the things you’re less passionate about fall away.
Tarotscopes | The Hermit: Log off, bb. Take a sabbatical (or a day off), and give yourself a moment to process life.
Key Dates: 1, 22, 30
Aries & Aries Rising (March 21 – April 19):
You may find yourself grappling with what you find meaningful. By that, I mean it might be hard for you to determine what it is that brings you a sense of accomplishment. It’s not like an existential crisis, but more like a lack of excitement. Because also this month, it could feel like everyone else is having all the fun and you’re not getting any of the action. You may just need to figure out how to balance work and play or figure out how you can bring a deeper meaning or sense of purpose to what has to be done. How can you bring more fulfillment to your regular life without burning down your life?
Tarotscopes | The Fool: You are absolutely ready for the next big thing. Whatever that is!!! Now is the time for you to let things surprise you.
Key Dates: 16, 22, 24, 27
Taurus & Taurus Rising (April 20 – May 20):
You can change your mind about how you feel about a situation. It might feel like you have to stay married to being mad, but even though you can’t change the past, you do have the power to change your response. You don’t have to let something that happened in the past hold you down and eat at you forever. This month’s retrogrades are urging you to yourself free, my dude. Holding onto stagnant old shit isn’t helping you in any way. It could actually make you physically sick in the long run to let yourself keep feeling terrible about something that happened a long time ago.
Tarotscopes | The Tower: You do not have to burn your life to the ground in order to change it.
Key Dates: 1, 9, 14, 22, 28
Gemini & Gemini Rising (May 21 – June 20):
You are hellbent on spicing things up, babe, and for now, that’s a very good thing. Maybe it means that you’ve outgrown a part of yourself or graduated from an old dream. This shift could be as a result of having achieved a major goal. It could just be that you don’t particularly feel as inspired by what you were once so deeply passionate about. You are deeply pulled toward finding creative ways to break new ground in your life, which means that you aren’t afraid to change at any cost.… Just be very careful to stay mindful of what the costs may be if you choose to go against someone who cares about you.
Tarotscopes | The Emperor: You can take charge of your life, stand up for what you want, and not be a jerk to people about it. All at the same time.
Key Dates: 9, 16, 23
Cancer & Cancer Rising (June 21 – July 22):
You are feeling even more intensely intuitive than usual—on a regular basis, you have this innate ability to read the room and know when to raise your bet. This month, that’s especially true, and on top of this, you feel extra magnetic, inspired and receptive to new adventures. Keep in mind, though, that you don’t always feel this way. It would be far too easy to spread yourself thin this month and end August feeling lackluster and drained. Give yourself space to rest and reflect. Consider engaging the part of you that’s excited about change in unexpected ways, rather than putting yourself out there so much that you’ll want to retreat into your shell in a few weeks.
Tarotscopes | The Moon: Learn to exercise your intellectual and intuitive curiosity without overdoing it.
Key Dates: 1, 16, 30
RELATED: YOUR JULY 2023 HOROSCOPES WITH THE SPELLSISTERS
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