This is a monthly horoscope, which is correlated to the lunar cycle. It starts on August 16, 2023 and ends on September 14, 2023.

We are now struggling to move forward into a happier experience of life after making some big changes recently in order to get here, and we are trying to figure out why. What we learn is that we are not happy because we aren’t resting, relaxing, and being creative or intuitive enough. Instead, we are still stuck stressed and overworked.

Explore this lunar month’s four major moon phases below.

New Moon in Leo

Confused about why we are unhappy

August 16-24, 2023

We are feeling very good after recently adjusting our lives to be more in tune with our emotions. However, we are confused now about what to do next in this better place. That is because, we are still being too hard on ourselves and overworking.

Sun enters Virgo (Aug. 23, 2023)
Mercury goes retrograde in Virgo (Aug. 23, 2023) 

First Quarter in Sagittarius

Getting more understanding about ourselves

August 24-30, 2023

We are now trying to get more understanding about why we are stuck in this better and happier experience of life, which is because we are being too hard on ourselves and overworking. We also try to start overcoming this by resting more.

Mars enters Libra (Aug. 27, 2023)
Uranus goes retrograde in Taurus (Aug. 28, 2023)

Full Moon in Pisces

Realizing we need to rest and relax much more

August 30-September 6, 2023

We now try to rest, relax, and believe in ourselves more in order to overcome our issue with overworking and perfectionism. This is very positive, helping us to loosen up on the stress and feel more at ease.

Venus direct in Leo (Sept. 3, 2023)
Jupiter retrograde in Taurus (Sept.. 4, 2023)

Third Quarter in Gemini

Adjusting our mindset to new behaviors

September 6-14, 2023

We now try to adjust our mindset even more towards a different way of life in which we rest and relax instead of stress and overwork. We also try to get more used to and familiar with this different approach, so that it becomes a natural instinct.

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When we are stressed, overworked, and critical of ourselves and others, it is very hard to be completely happy and let joy in. As a result, this blockage needs to be addressed first.

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Planetary Guide

The Sun

The Entertainer

The Sun rules the sign of Leo, and therefore holds extra importance for this lunar month. It represents the core essence of an individual’s identity and self-expression. It symbolizes conscious self-awareness, ego, and the fundamental drive for self-realization and personal growth.

Questions for Reflection

You can answer these questions to yourself, in your journal, or in the comment section.

1. What positive things have recently occurred in your life, helping you feel more able to create happier and more fulfilling circumstances after this? This is most likely a result of some big, scary changes or decisions you made last lunar month.
2. What do you think are the next action steps you need to take with these new and better experiences in order to move them forward? Write down whatever comes to you.
3. In what ways are the steps you listed above complicating the matter and keeping you stuck in over-work, perfectionism, or proving things?
4. Which of the following do you feel is your biggest struggle — over-working, feeling you have to prove yourself, being too critical or perfectionistic? You can pick one or all of them.
5. Can you imagine a life in which you still got things done that were important to you but in a much easier, restful, and relaxing way? Please take a few minutes to consider what that possibility would look like and maintain that vision.
6. How can you simplify your next steps that you wrote in the previous questions to make your next steps easier to do, simpler, and to allow more time for rest, ease, and relaxation? This may require you to tweak your prior actions steps, or come up with totally new steps that are not so hard and complicated. (Mercury retrograde many times has us re-evaluate our original plans over and over again.)