This month's full moon occurs on Saturday August 16th at 5:16 P.M. EST at 24 degrees Aquarius 21 minutes, and is a lunar eclipse. Aquarius at 24 degrees is the third decan, and considered by ancient astrologers to represent "change in all things." Aquarius is the natural ruler of the 11th house of friends, hopes and wishes, as well as friends, and organizations, with a 'universal, humanitarian,' bent toward all things. So, it is events in these areas that we will experience with this eclipse. It is the companion eclipse to the August 1 New Moon eclipse at 9 degrees in Leo. These 2 eclipses represent the energy of the 5th/11th houses, the fifth house relating to children, friends, love affairs and creativity. Over the past few weeks we have seen events start to unfold on a national/international level with sensational news such as the recent admission of a love affair involving former Presidential candidate John Edwards and the questions over the paternity of the baby his lover gave birth to.

Aquarius always has the potential of involving explosive situations. The ruler of Aquarius is Uranus and Saturn. Uranus brings unexpected, explosive events. I recall watching events in the Gulf War/hostiles unfold in the 90's usually involving planets in the sign of Aquarius. We are seeing this situation play out today with the Russian/Georgia conflict. It is unlikely we are being told the truth at this time. Expect the unexpected. There may be unusual weather patterns/earth changes involving water. As the energy of the eclipse plays out in the world it will also play out in our individual, personal lives as well.

Neptune is prominent in this eclipse with the Sun opposing Neptune on August 15th. Neptune represents the illusion, mysteries, delusion and lies. What appears to be fact, may not be. Facts will be a difficult thing to come by. Neptune is also the ruler of self sacrifice, and we may see charitable good works in the world, or we may feel 'charitable connections,' ourselves, or we may see what appears to be charitable works. Great art may be created, and you may raise to great spiritual/intuitive heights. The key is to understand what might be a situation that would garner sympathy/understanding, and what is real/unreal, a lie or delusion. Such is the way of Neptune. Neptune rules drugs, alcohol, a seamier side of life. We may see problems with shipping and foreign affairs, surrounded by mystery and confusion. The eclipse pertains the potential death of a Statesman, and transitions in wealth, taxes, news on interest rates, pensions, foreign stocks and bonds. Aquarius is the ruler of the 8th house of money, mortgages, financial markets and debt in America's Cancer chart. The 8th house also represents death, sex and secrets.

As Mercury conjuncts Saturn on Friday/Saturday, a more serious tone/energy will prevail, along with it potentially grim or serious news. Pleasure/entertainment/luxuries can be emphasized on the 16th, as Venus trines Jupiter at 12 degrees creating some goodwill and a desire for more pleasure. However, Mars squares Pluto over the weekend, another indicator of violence, and volatile situations and compulsive feelings. This will create power struggles, arguments and difficult situations that will take a cool head to overcome. However, with the Mercury-Jupiter trine representing optimism and generosity, positive communication will have every chance of prevailing.

Without looking at the entire chart it not possible to totally predict the effects of the eclipse. However, in a general sense, the eclipse will effect the Sun signs in the following manner:

Aires - 11th house of friends, hopes and wishes. Look for conflict in the area of work/health, legal matters as well as pleasure.

Taurus - 10th house of career, reputation, and priorities, the "House of the Father,' Look for conflict with friends, children, love affairs, and a desire for travel, love affairs, entertainment.

Gemini - 9th house of travel, long distance, publishing, teaching, education, medical matters. Potential stress in the home over money, joint finances. Pleasure from sensual matters/joint money matters.

Cancer - 8th house of other people's money, corporate money, debt, secrets, credit, taxes, alimony, settlements and sex. Potential stress through work, health, family members. Pleasure in partners.

Leo - 7th house of partners, courts. Stress with money, children, love affairs. Pleasure in money and work.

Virgo - 6th house of work and health. Stress related to the home situation. Pleasure in friends, love affairs, children, entertainmant.

Libra - 5th house of friends, children and love affairs/entertainment. Potential stress in matters that are secret and hidden and the subconscious mind and through communications, travel family members. Pleasure through seclusion, the family, home.

Scorpio - 4th house, the home, foundation. Stress with money, friends, hopes and wishes and pleasure through friends, communication, the mind

Sagittarius - 3rd house of family members, short trips the mind and ideas. Stress from work, the career, money, as well as pleasure through money and priorities.

Capricorn - 2nd house of money/self image. Pleasure through travel, education, and stress regarding education, travel, legal/medical matters.

Aquarius - 1st house, this eclipse is for you! Personal change and transformation and new beginnings as well as endings. Interaction, issues relating to partners. Potential issues relating to money, sex, joint holdings, friends, hopes and wishes and pleasure through sensual matters.

There are two eclipses during the month of August. The first eclipse on the New Moon is a solar eclipse in Leo at 9 degrees. A total solar eclipse occurs as the New Moon moves directly between the Sun and the Earth. The eclipse occurs at 10:22AM and you may view it on your computer by going to http://sunearthday.gsfc.nasa.gov/2008eclipse/. As the eclipse is being seen from China, check your times before viewing.

All eclipses signify major events, beginnings and endings, and are a powerful tool for predicting the future both individually and collectively. There is often speculation as to the length of the effects of an eclipse. The generally accepted rule of thumb for a solar eclipse is that the effect lasts as long in years as the eclipse lasts in hours, which gives the average eclipse a life span of 3.5 years. So, an eclipse is part of the roadmap that we can look at to see which areas of your life will be effected for some time to come.

Leo/Aquarius rules the 5th and 11th houses, referred to as the social and creative axis of friends, children, creation, creativity, social organizations, and speculation and these things will come into focus at this time. Leo is ruled by the Sun and is associated with the power to create, and our own internal will. It creates a focus on statesmen, leaders and governmental heads/possible threats, or overthrowing leaders. Fire signs are inspirational and action oriented, as will be the events of this eclipse. Words that describe Leo include royal, loyal, grand, showmanship, arrogant, prideful and overbearing.

Venus is opposing Leo during the eclipse which means that matters pertaining to the heart are likely to be muddled and confused, as are all situations which involve money. It is not a good day for speculation, and financial markets may take a turn for the worst, or be confusing. Any new love interest who comes bounding into your life on this day will likely lead to a confusing if not interesting situation. Take a deep breath: people may simply misunderstand what you are saying. In terms of love, you may soar to the highest of highs or sink to the lowest of depths. Remember that Neptune rules confusion and delusion (or outright deception).

While the eclipse will have the greatest effect on Leos/Aquarians and Scorpios and Taureans it will effect the different Sun Signs in the following manner:

Aires -5th house of children, friends, love affairs, entertainment
Taurus -4th house of the home, the foundation
Gemini -3rd house of short travel, the mind, neighbors, extended family, and communication
Cancer -2ond house of money, earned income and self esteem
Leo -1st house of the self, matters that are personal in nature/relationships, new beginnings
Virgo -12th house of hospitals, institutions, the subconscious mind, secret enemies, seclusion, matters that are secret and hidden
Libra -11th house of friends, hopes, wishes, organizations
Scorpio -10th house of priorities and career
Sagittarius -the 9th house of travel, education, publishing, legal and medical matters
Capricorn - the 8th house of sex, death, forced transformation and change, taxes, insurance, alimony and debt
Aquarius -The 7th house of partners, the law
Pisces -6th house of work and health.

As the eclipse effects us individually, it effects us collectively as well. In Eclipses, Author Celeste Teal refers to the eclipse of August 1, 2008 as the "Eclipse of Sensational Events". She states, "Leo spotlights royalty, world leaders, and central figures. Poses threats. Lord Mercury accents a youthful leader of dramatic speech. For the USA eclipse falls on the Dragon's Head: ambitious offensive action often follows events happening here. Great deal of activity at the Capitol. Political and public excitement, discussions, speeches, printed news, crime and court cases. Secret plots by foreign powers. Financial frauds and/or bad for marriages. Separations, crimes toward women. Country's finances squeezed by unexpected expenses. Shipping accidents and unusual deaths. This eclipse is also emphasized for Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan, France, Russia, the UN, Manhattan, the NYSE and the Twin Towers (activity at ground zero?)

We last had a solar eclipse in Leo at 8 degrees on July 30, 2000, and a Lunar eclipse in Leo at 1 degree on January 20, 2000. In my next post I will discuss the Lunar eclipse at 24 degrees of Aquarius on August 16, 2008.