*Vedic Astrology, or Jyotish, is one of the oldest sciences on the planet and considered a relative of Astronomy. It is an important and valuable part of the ancient Vedic texts. This complex, logic-based but intuitive science has survived thousands of years in India’s Vedic tradition and is still considered a highly valuable tool of guidance and life insight. It is not a religion, but rather a philosophical understanding of human and cosmic existence. In Sanskrit, Jyoti means light. Essentially, the study of Jyotish is the study of light and how we interact with the cosmic light—within us and within the cosmos. Vedic Astrology, or the sidereal approach to astrology, casts charts differently than Western, or Tropical astrology. The meanings, implications and purpose of Jyotish are therefore different, as are the details used for prediction and the indications given below.

In this waning Moon cycle, creativity and its powerful force of awakening come to the foreground. Will you change and grow with its magnanimous taunts, or will your critic downplay its sparkling imagery and colorful patterns?

Align with your heart wisdom and compassion, and let your creativity be of service and purpose. Unite these two forces and run towards the freedom of creative flow and its activation.

It’s a winning combination.

Mercury transits Leo until August 23rd—a whirlwind adventure for our minds through the kingly domain of the lion. As Mercury moves through this powerful sign of the Sun, it will conjunct Jupiter and retrograde Venus.

Though Mercury and creative Venus are friendly to each other, Jupiter is not fond of these two. His purity and expansive ways need more stability and less worldly shenanigans. The trick in this cycle will be blending worlds. Integrate creative, imaginative and relationship needs with desires for spiritual, knowledge and wisdom.

Can we unite these seemingly opposing forces? This is in fact where maximum creative potential can be found.

There are gifts and glory here if you can find the integration—the bridge—between spiritual and worldly. Find nourishment and wealth, not in force, but through languishing in soft landings, pauses and taking time for sacred moments of creativity to sink into your awareness.

Pushing, rushing and forcing will be counter-productive, even violent and intrusive, to the creative process. Trust in letting go, slowing down and silence. Harvest the riches from stillness and moments of self-care. Your mental body and imagination will thank you.

Venus continues its retrograde path, shifting back into Cancer just before the New Moon. On August 13th, Venus slides back into our chest, heart and emotional body center. The planet of feeling, creativity, relationships and all things beautiful and worldly will re-adjust to the high demands of the heart and emotions until September 30th.

With Sun and debilitated Mars in this sign as well, our heart is in for an emotional ride. The valves are open for an influx of water, feelings, heightened emotions and all the challenges connected to these. Home, heart, land, vehicles, mother and all fourth house matters get amplified.

How do you navigate the choppy waters? Will you sink, swim or learn to float? Can you attend to the moving tides and go with the flow?

New Moon in Cancer on August 14th increases the inner emotional tides and keeps our focused attention within. This theme continues for the waxing Moon cycle to come. Keep Kleenex handy and watch for sudden emotional outbursts. Are you taking out your need for safety and security on others? Or are you asking for support and resources that align with deeper nourishment? Go slow and take ample pauses to check your inner landscape. Do a four level check-in for consistent tracking.

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*Horoscopes are based on your Vedic (sidereal) rising sign. You can also check your Moon and Sun signs for further insight. Do the same with your Navamsa signs for further clarity. Do not use these horoscopes with your Western sign (Tropical) as there is likely no correlation. These horoscopes are meant to be used as a broad overview of the current transits and obviously do not address the specifics of an individual’s unique chart

Aries: Heart and power center are your main focus right now. How does your heart lead you and what emotional wisdom are you letting influence you? You are learning how to be more fully aligned with your inner power, which has a lot to do with listening to the softness of your emotional body center. Can you integrate the two more fully? What do you need to let go of in order to find more inner stability and trust? Keep aligning with your core.

Taurus: Creative courage is your mantra for the coming cycle. Allow creativity to ignite your purpose and step towards powerful intention. Use your hands and arms to create magic and express yourself in bold ways. Lead from your heart and let it guide your creative process. Your emotional body wisdom can help you ignite the creative fires, so let your flowing waters be a resource for your inner warrior. Create, inspire, share and pull from your depths.

Gemini: It’s imperative that you find meaningful ways to express your self right now. How well do you share your emotion? More importantly, can you speak honestly, truthfully and compassionately? Do you know what it means to powerfully share your wisdom, while truly honoring yourself and others? There is a teacher yearning to bust out of you—to connect and create with others. In order to be deeply nourished by this process, you must let people into your story, your creative process and your vulnerability.

Cancer: You are growing as a heart-centered leader. Let your vulnerabilities show. Let your emotions flow and be visible. Put your heart on your sleeve. People love a compassionate leader. One who shares and shines from honesty and truth. How can you speak the true message of your inner depths and let more people into your sacredness? Air out some of your shadows and let the light pour in. Let fear be your guru.

Leo: Take the wealth of your inner riches and share, shine, express. Let others see you. Be seen for the soft inner wisdom you carry, but rarely share. Let your heart wisdom be a resource of inspiration. Draw upon compassion and your desire to serve others. Channel, focus and align these intentions so that your potency comes out. Do your inner work and let these discoveries be a resource for sharing and shining your wisdom.

Virgo: There are gains to be had from slowing down your frantic pace. Walk slowly, talk gently, pause and be still. Take time with breath and find the fragile moments of your being—the moments when you become aware of your bodies, emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. There are lessons here—for you and your students. Are you taking your own advice? Find ways to align with your inner truth. The rest will wait for you.

Libra: Gains come with strategic steps and listening to your inner wisdom. Your emphasis is focused on the outside, sharing and shining right now. How aligned with your purest intention are you? Are your action steps truly connected to your dharma and powerful life purpose? Rather than pushing through and promoting your outer image at all costs, try letting go of the facade. Strip away the half-truths and get to the core. Vulnerability is power.

Scorpio: Believe it or not, sharing your vulnerability courageously will bring gains and greater alignment with your purpose and path. Let your emotions out of the closet, allow others in to your pain and struggles. You will draw in the like-minded as well as those who need your guidance, wisdom and support. Share your self in honest and powerful ways. Offer up your truth and align with your potency. Be raw and real.

Sagittarius: You are walking that fine edge of being teacher and student, learning the importance of both roles. Is the student nothing more than the vulnerable one? Is the teacher nothing more than the power of truth enlivened? Can you dance with both your known and unknown equally? Can you share your wisdom and still be the beginner, waiting to awaken? Be like the banyan seed.

Capricorn: Continue to navigate relationships and their deeper meaning. You are mining for riches, while your growth and development has you striking some black gold. This dark matter is a treasure chest, even if it feels challenging. The reality is that everyone has this place within them. You are just bravely going where very few actually go. You are the astronaut of the heart, traversing the black hole of old haunts and wounds. Harvest the riches, but keep your lifeline tethered to the core of your being: your heart wisdom.

Aquarius: As you align with deeper healing and transformation, you align with your inner healer more intimately as well. Relationships continue to be a powerful resource for this process. Who are you inviting in? Who and what needs to be released and let go of? Your heart wisdom and emotional body will guide you. Soften to its wisdom. Allow in its messages as a resource for change and awakening.

Pisces: You are learning that power and healing come with gifts and challenges. Have you noticed that there are losses as you set yourself free? It is a sad and lonely road being liberated from your weaknesses and those people who keep you in the dark. Can you trust your strength and inner light to nourish, satisfy and support you along the long and winding road? Let your light shine as brightly as you can. Everyone else can wear sunglasses!

*Pacific Time Zone is used for all planetary timing.

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Author: Saraswati J.

Editor: Toby Israel

Photo: Pixoto / Phillipe Teuwen at Flickr

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