Astrology Business Outlook: August 2025

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Astrology Business Outlook: Overview

The astrology business outlook for August is characterized by a slowing down and reflection on the past before moving forward. Five planets traveling in retrograde motion create a month designed for review, refinement, and editing of work projects and creative expression. 

This cosmic pause offers small business owners something increasingly rare in our fast-paced world: permission to reflect and perfect what already exists rather than constantly building something new.

Mercury's retrograde journey through creative Leo dominates the month's tone and puts the spotlight on authentic self-expression and brand voice refinement. The most sensitive period occurs around August 11 when Mercury stations direct, requiring extra patience with communication and technology as normal flow gradually resumes through the post-shadow period ending August 25. 

This extended focus on Leo energy asks entrepreneurs to examine whether their message truly reflects their creative fire and leadership vision.

A rare grand sextile formation develops throughout the month, creating easy flowing connections between the outer planets that will remain active over the next few years. This configuration, building through August and continuing into 2028, suggests that breakthrough thinking and transformational change are happening collectively and personally.

The Pace and Temperament of August

August arrives as a month of reflection and deliberate editing. Five planets moving in retrograde motion create a contemplative cosmic atmosphere that favors reviewing, refining, and perfecting existing projects over launching new ones. This slower rhythm offers a valuable gift. The opportunity to catch details you might have missed during busier periods and to strengthen what you've already built.

The retrograde emphasis makes this an ideal time for businesses to conduct thorough reviews of systems, messaging, and client relationships. Like a master editor reviewing a manuscript multiple times, each pass brings new opportunities for improvement. Mercury retrograde in Leo highlights creative projects and personal brand expression that will benefit from a second look.

The most sensitive period occurs around August 11, when Mercury stations direct. Think of this as a computer rebooting: the restart process itself can be the most glitchy moment. Padding your schedule around this date protects against typical Mercury retrograde disruptions to communication and technology.

Planetary Speed Observations:

Sun: average - maintains steady, reliable pace throughout the month

Moon: average - travels at typical speed, though goes out of bounds three times

Mercury: slow - retrograde through August 11, then gradually building speed

Venus: average - steady progress through Cancer into Leo

Mars: slow - deliberate pace continues, shifting from Virgo precision to Libra diplomacy

Jupiter: slow - nurturing growth in Cancer in a protective manner

Saturn: slow - retrograde motion invites reassessment of structures and strategy

The Bottom Line: Pace and Temperament August's slower pace from five retrogrades favors reflection and refinement over new launches, with Mercury's August 11 station direct serving as the month's key turning point.

Retrograde Cycles

August presents a landscape with five retrograde planets. This multi-planet slowing creates an opportunity for businesses to revisit unfinished projects, refine existing systems, and learn from recent experiences.

Mercury Retrograde in Leo Mercury completes its retrograde cycle this month, offering the chance to perfect creative self-expression and brand messaging.

Mercury Retrograde Cycle Dates:

• Pre-shadow begins: 1 July at 4 degrees Leo

• Retrograde: 18 July at 15 degrees Leo

• Direct: 11 August at 4 degrees Leo

• Post-shadow ends: 25 August at 15 degrees Leo

• Retrograde degree span: 15° Leo to 4° Leo

Mercury retrograde in Leo puts the spotlight on creative projects, leadership communication, and personal brand voice. This period asks: 

Does your message truly reflect your authentic creative fire? 

What projects from earlier this year deserve another round of creative attention?

The station direct on August 11, requires extra caution. Like a dancer finding their rhythm after a pause, communication and technology may feel slightly off-balance as normal flow resumes. Schedule important presentations, launches, or technology updates for after August 15, when Mercury regains its forward momentum, the later in the month, the better.

Saturn Retrograde in Aries: Saturn continues its retrograde journey, having stationed backward on July 12 at 1 degree Aries. This extended period of reflection on business structure and strategic foundations continues through November 27.

Saturn's retrograde in pioneering Aries creates an interesting dynamic. Aries energy wants to charge forward with new initiatives, while Saturn's backward motion calls for reviewing and strengthening what already exists. For business owners, this means patience with progress and focus on perfecting systems rather than building new ones.

Saturn will retrograde back into Pisces on September 1, temporarily revisiting unfinished business from the previous cycle before returning to Aries in February 2026. Use August to assess which business structures truly support your independence and long-term vision.

Outer Planet Retrogrades: Neptune, Pluto, and Chiron continue their retrograde cycles, operating on a broader level that shapes the collective environment within which businesses operate. These slower-moving retrogrades are used to gain insight into long-term trends, power dynamics, and navigating an ever-changing business landscape.

The Bottom Line: Five retrograde planets turn your attention inward, offering the perspective and insight needed to revise what’s unfinished, reconnect with your original vision, and realign your path before taking your next step.

Elemental and Modality Mix

August begins with an emphasis on fire and water, and little presence of earth or air in the first half of the month. This combination creates a dynamic where emotional and creative expression take center stage, while grounded execution or intellectual detachment may feel harder to access until later in the month.

Elements in August

Fire energy is dominant throughout August, expressed through the Sun and Mercury in Leo, Chiron and Neptune in Aries, and the early degrees of Pluto in Aquarius. Fire inspires courage, visibility, and self-expression, yet too much fire without balance can burn out quickly or become reactive. Business owners may feel energized to express bold ideas or reconnect with creative purpose, but sustaining those efforts may require pacing and planning.

Water signs are present with Venus and Jupiter in Cancer for most of the month, creating a steady undercurrent of emotional awareness and a focus on trust in relationships. The year-long visit of Jupiter in Cancer, which started in June, implies growth is nurtured through emotional intelligence and strong personal values, while Venus adds warmth to collaboration and client dynamics.

Air and earth elements become more active as the month unfolds. Mars enters Libra on August 7, introducing air energy that favors collaboration, negotiation, and relationship-driven action. The Sun enters Virgo on August 22, bringing in practical earth energy that supports organization, precision, and service. 

While air and earth are not dominant overall, their late-month arrival helps shift momentum from emotional and expressive themes toward implementation and structured planning. This timing supports the transition from inner refinement to outward execution, especially after Mercury completes its post-shadow period on August 25.

Modalities in August

August begins with a strong fixed presence, primarily through the Sun and retrograde Mercury in Leo and Pluto in Aquarius. This fixed energy supports sustained focus and consistency, especially in areas related to personal expression, leadership, and long-term strategic transformation. However, with Mercury still retrograde until August 11 and in post-shadow through August 25, this consistency is better applied to revising existing projects rather than pushing new ones forward.

Cardinal energy gains traction in the second half of the month. Mars enters Libra on August 7 and Venus travels with Jupiter in Cancer until August 25, when Venus moves into Leo. Saturn remains retrograde in early Aries all month. Together, these placements bring initiative, motivation, and a drive to act, though retrograde motion in both Mercury and Saturn tempers forward movement. The second half of the month supports initiating collaboration, revisiting foundational goals, and adjusting strategy in preparation for a pick-up in momentum in September.

Mutable energy remains minimal throughout August. The lunar nodes continue their journey through Pisces and Virgo, offering a subtle backdrop of spiritual reflection and practical realignment. The Virgo New Moon on August 23 provides a brief, focused activation of mutable energy, inviting intention-setting around efficiency, service, and workflow improvements. This lunation stands out as a quiet but potent opening for long-term adaptability and systems alignment.

The Bottom Line: Fixed energy sets the tone early in the month, favoring steady revision and creative focus. Cardinal energy builds mid-to-late month, offering the drive to adjust strategy and reconnect with meaningful goals. Mutable energy is limited but gains importance around the Virgo New Moon, encouraging practical steps toward long-term adaptability.

The Planets in August 2025

The Moon Phases

The Moon’s phases offer natural checkpoints for small business owners to tune into the lunar rhythm of time. Whether you're planning projects, launching offerings, or reflecting on your personal well-being, these phases highlight moments to initiate, assess, pivot, and reset.

🌓 First Quarter Moon

August 1, 9° Scorpio

The First Quarter Moon in Scorpio highlights a critical time for taking steps toward your new moon intentions. What needs to evolve? How can you take action while working with Mercury retrogrades reflective mode?

🌕 Full Moon in Aquarius

August 9, 16° Aquarius

The Full Moon in Aquarius opposite the Sun in Leo creates a powerful balance between individual creative expression and collective innovation. This lunation illuminates how your personal brand can serve the broader community while staying true to your unique vision. 

With Mercury still retrograde in Leo, this full moon offers clarity about which creative projects deserve your continued attention and which may need to be released or transformed. The Aquarius energy encourages you to think beyond personal gain and consider how your work contributes to collective progress.

The days around the full moon are best used to finalize reviews and reflections and start a to-do list for how you want to move forward after Mercury goes direct on August 11.

🌗 Third Quarter Moon

August 16, 23° Taurus

The Third Quarter Moon in Taurus marks a turning point in the lunar cycle, where the energy shifts from building to integrating. This phase invites you to reflect on what has taken shape since the Leo New Moon on July 24 and make practical decisions about what to carry forward. In Taurus, the focus turns to stability, values, and tangible results, asking what has proven itself useful, nourishing, or sustainable.

Now that Mercury has stationed direct on August 11, this is a natural time to translate your recent insights into grounded action. Use this phase to take inventory, sort through what’s working, and begin harvesting the value from your efforts. What needs to be completed, adjusted, or let go to make space for progress?

🌑 New Moon in Virgo

August 23, 0° Virgo

The New Moon in Virgo marks the beginning of a new lunar cycle, offering a fresh opportunity to set intentions focused on service, organization, and practical refinement. As both the Sun and Moon align in Virgo, this lunation emphasizes structure, systems, and the daily rhythms that support your business.

This particular New Moon occurs just after the Sun’s entrance into Virgo on August 22, aligning both luminaries at the very beginning of the sign. The timing reinforces a natural shift from Leo’s expressive energy into Virgo’s focus on practicality, organization, and meaningful service. Over the next four weeks, this new cycle will help you organize projects, improve how your business runs, and strengthen the way you deliver services to others.

🌓 First Quarter Moon

August 31, 8° Sagittarius

The month closes with the First Quarter Moon in Sagittarius. It marks an energetic turning point in the lunar cycle, activating a couple of days that support forward movement on the goals you set at the Virgo New Moon. 

This waxing phase encourages action, especially where practical changes are already taking shape. Sagittarius brings a wide-angle lens, helping you connect your daily efforts to a larger purpose or guiding vision.

As the waxing Moon gains strength, this is a time to test ideas, make adjustments, and keep momentum going. What practical changes are already showing results? Where can you take a leap of faith grounded in preparation and aligned with your long-term direction?

☀️ The Sun in Leo and Virgo

The Sun reflects your core energy and how you show up authentically in your business. August begins with the Sun shining through Leo's creative fire, highlighting themes of self-expression, what drives your passion, and putting your unique stamp on your work. The Sun remains in Leo through August 22, with emphasis on creative confidence and brand visibility. 

On August 1, the Sun forms a cazimi conjunction with retrograde Mercury at 9 degrees Leo, creating a powerful moment for tapping into creative inspiration. This alignment happens each time the planet retrogrades, when Mercury appears to travel through the heart of the Sun. It offers a concentrated burst of creative insight that can inform projects you're revisiting during Mercury's backward journey.

Around August 19, the Sun forms a supportive trine to Chiron in Aries, creating a few days of opportunity for self-healing and nurturing. This fast-moving aspect can be particularly powerful if you plan for it, focusing on nurturing your inner child's creativity and tending to the parts of you that long to be seen and encouraged.

The Sun's energy shifts notably on August 22 when it enters practical Virgo, marking the transition from creative fire to organized earth energy. This shift coincides with the Virgo New Moon on August 23, setting the stage for intentions focused on service, organization, and practical implementation of your creative ideas.

On August 24, the Sun squares Uranus in Gemini, potentially bringing unexpected changes or new awareness. While this square aspect can feel disruptive, it often leads to productive breakthroughs when you stay open to innovative solutions.

☿ Mercury In Leo (Retrograde)

Mercury reflects how you process information and communicate your ideas. Throughout August, Mercury remains in Leo for an extended time due to its retrograde cycle, creating an extended focus on creative self-expression and brand voice refinement.

Mercury's retrograde journey offers a valuable window to refine your creative communication. The planet of thought and communication moving backward through Leo's confident fire creates space to revisit how authentically your message reflects your creative vision.

Mercury Retrograde Cycle:

• Pre-shadow begins: 1 July at 4 degrees Leo

• Retrograde: 18 July at 15 degrees Leo

• Direct: 11 August at 4 degrees Leo

• Post-shadow ends: 25 August at 15 degrees Leo

• Retrograde degree span: 15° Leo to 4° Leo

  
  

The most important date is August 11, when Mercury stations direct at 4 degrees Leo. This transition from backward to forward motion can be the most sensitive time for typical Mercury retrograde issues. Plan for potential communication glitches and technology hiccups around this date.

Between August 15-18, Mercury forms an exact sextile with Mars in Libra, creating a boost of creative mental energy. This configuration provides excellent support for projects that require both creative thinking and diplomatic execution. Block your calendar during this period to maximize your creative output.

By August 25, Mercury completes its post-shadow period, marking the full completion of this retrograde cycle and clearing the way for new creative communications and brand initiatives.

♀ Venus in Cancer and Leo

Venus reflects how you connect with others and what you value in your business relationships. In August, Venus travels through nurturing Cancer before entering expressive Leo.

Venus begins August in Cancer, creating warm, cozy energy for client relationships and collaborations. Cancer's protective, emotionally aware influence helps Venus build trust and lasting connections rooted in loyalty, emotional safety, and a sense of belonging.

The month opens with Venus caught in challenging squares to both Saturn and Neptune in Aries, creating tension between dreamy idealism and practical limitations in relationships. These aspects on August 1 suggest the need to balance inspiration with realistic expectations in business partnerships.

A major highlight occurs on August 12 when Venus forms a conjunction with Jupiter in Cancer. This typically lovely combination brings social luck and opportunities for growth through relationships. Business connections made during this time often exceed expectations and may develop into lasting partnerships.

On August 23, Venus squares Chiron in Aries, bringing awareness to relationship wounds and creating opportunities for healing connections with clients or business partners. This fast-moving transit offers a window for working through unfinished relationship business.

Venus enters Leo on August 25, shifting from Cancer's nurturing approach to Leo's confident, stylish expression. The final days of August support creative collaboration, eye-catching brand presentation, and adding flair to your business relationships.

The month concludes with Venus making multiple quick aspects to the outer planets, including a supportive trine to Saturn, an innovative sextile to Uranus, a glamorous trine to Neptune, and a powerful opposition to Pluto on August 27. This concentration of aspects suggests relationship dynamics that involve structure, innovation, inspiration, and transformation all at once.

♂ Mars in Virgo and Libra

Mars reflects your motivation and how you take action in your business. August brings a significant shift in how you approach getting things done as Mars transitions from methodical Virgo into diplomatic Libra.

Mars completes its journey through Virgo in the first week of August, wrapping up a period that provided energy for building structured workflows and executing detailed work. The Virgo influence helped you work smarter through organization and systematic approaches.

On August 7, Mars enters Libra, creating a notable change in how action unfolds. In Libra, Mars becomes more collaborative but also more influenced by others' timing and needs for consensus. The independent, efficient energy of Mars in Virgo gives way to a more diplomatic approach that considers multiple perspectives before taking action.

Around August 8-10, Mars makes contact with all three outer planets, creating a complex energy pattern. Mars trines Uranus on August 8, potentially bringing energy bursts or surprising motivation. Mars opposes both Saturn and Neptune on August 9-10, creating mixed messages between disciplined structure and intuitive flow. Finally, Mars trines Pluto on August 10, offering access to determined, focused energy when you're deeply motivated by your goals.

Between August 15-18, Mars forms supportive sextiles with Mercury as both planets work together to blend creative mental energy with diplomatic action. This period favors projects that require both innovative thinking and collaborative execution.

♃ Jupiter In Cancer

Jupiter reflects how you pursue growth and expansion in your business. Throughout August, Jupiter continues its nurturing journey through Cancer, emphasizing growth through emotional intelligence, protective strategies, and building strong foundations.

Jupiter has been in Cancer since June 9, settling into an expression that favors sustainable growth rooted in emotional intelligence and strong personal values. In this sign, Jupiter encourages business owners to make decisions that prioritize long-term stability, client trust, and a sense of emotional alignment with the work they do.

The major Jupiter event this month occurs on August 12 when Venus conjuncts Jupiter in Cancer. This lovely combination often brings social luck, beneficial connections, and opportunities that arrive through relationships. Business ventures launched or connections made during this time often exceed expectations.

♄ Saturn In Aries (Retrograde)

Saturn reflects your style of responsibility, structure, and long-term success. Throughout August, Saturn travels retrograde through Aries, continuing a period of reflection on business foundations and strategic approach that began on July 12.

Saturn in Aries represents a significant shift from the previous cycle in Pisces, bringing a more proactive, independent approach to structure and discipline. However, with Saturn retrograde until November 27, this is a time to slow down and strengthen the systems already in place. 

While new strategies can still emerge, progress tends to come more through refinement, realignment, or revisiting workflows that were previously set aside. For business owners, this retrograde cycle favors evaluation over rapid expansion, especially when it comes to long-term planning and foundational structure.

The retrograde motion creates an interesting tension: Aries energy wants to charge ahead with new initiatives, while Saturn's backward movement calls for patience and careful evaluation of what already exists. For business owners, this means focusing on perfecting current structures and ensuring they truly support your independence and long-term vision.

Saturn will retrograde back into Pisces on September 1, offering one final opportunity to complete unfinished business from the previous cycle before returning to Aries in February 2026. Use August to assess which aspects of your business foundation align with your authentic leadership style.

Outer Planets: Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto

The outer planets reflect long-term cycles of change and collective evolution that shape the broader environment in which businesses operate. August marks important activity among these slow-moving planets, particularly around the developing grand sextile formation.

Uranus in Gemini continues its fresh journey through the sign of communication and innovation, having entered on July 7. This major sign change signals a new seven-year cycle focused on technological advancement, innovative communication methods, and revolutionary approaches to information sharing. 

While Uranus will retrograde back to Taurus later in 2025 for final completion, its presence in Gemini already begins to shift how businesses think about networking, learning, and message delivery.

Neptune retrograde in Aries continues to move backward from its station on July 4. Neptune's retrograde motion softens some of the pioneering fire of Aries, creating space for visionary ideas to be refined and grounded. The retrograde period, lasting until Neptune returns to Pisces in October, invites businesses to reassess their spiritual mission and idealistic goals.

Pluto retrograde in Aquarius maintains its transformational influence on collective systems and innovative approaches. Pluto's presence in Aquarius reflects deep changes in how power operates within communities and technological systems, while its retrograde motion allows time for integration of these profound shifts.

Astrology Houses

The sign a planet moves through describes how its energy is expressed, but the area of life that energy shows up in depends on where that planet is transiting in your personal birth chart. The house it moves through offers additional insight into the specific life topics, experiences, or business areas that may be influenced.

Learn more about the astrology houses in the blog linked below.

Houses in Astrology

Key Aspects to Watch in August

The Rare Outer Planet Grand Sextile Pattern Forms

The rare Grand Sextile forms as several outer planets occupy the early degrees of new sign placements, marking a significant turning point in the long arc of collective evolution. With the shift from earth and water into air and fire, the larger astrological climate reflects a movement from consolidation and preservation toward innovation, vision, and rapid change. 

We are living through a time of profound change, and this rare configuration signals that the landscape is not only shifting, it is already different.

Saturn's participation in this pattern through its exact sextile to Uranus on August 12 helps ground the innovative energy into practical structures that support long-term growth.

Key milestones to be aware of:

• The first exact Uranus-Neptune sextile occurs in August 2025 at 1 degree Gemini (Uranus) and 1 degree Aries (Neptune).

• The Uranus-Pluto trine becomes exact by degree in late 2025, continuing into 2026.

• The Neptune-Pluto sextile arrives in July 2026.

This pattern builds through the coming years and is expected to gradually break apart in 2028.

August Aspects

August 1: Sun conjunct Mercury

The cazimi Mercury creates a powerful moment for creative inspiration and authentic self-expression during Mercury's retrograde journey.

August 1: Venus square Saturn

Relationships and values meet practical limitations, requiring a balance between idealism and realistic expectations.

August 1: Venus square Neptune

Dreams and romance blend with potential illusion, calling for a grounded assessment of relationship dynamics. 

August 8: Mars trine Uranus

Surprising bursts of energy or innovative action may disrupt routines in productive ways.

August 9: Mars opposite Saturn

Action meets structure in potentially frustrating ways, requiring patience and strategic thinking.

August 10: Mars opposite Neptune

Motivation may feel unclear or misdirected, calling for trust in intuitive guidance over forced action.

August 10: Mars trine Pluto

Deep motivation and focused determination support powerful action when you're truly committed to your goals.

August 12: Venus conjunct Jupiter

Social luck and beneficial connections often arrive through this lovely combination of relationship and growth planets.

August 12: Saturn sextile Uranus

Structure and innovation work together harmoniously, supporting breakthrough progress on established goals.

August 15 - 18: Mercury sextile Mars

Creative thinking blends with diplomatic action, favoring collaborative projects and strategic communication. The sextile can be used to exert energy into projects requiring both mental creativity and practical execution.

August 19: Sun trine Chiron

Self-healing and nurturing support authentic expression, offering opportunities to address vulnerable areas with compassion.

August 23: Venus square Chiron

Relationship wounds or healing themes may surface, creating opportunities for healing, self-nurturance, and resolution.

August 24: Sun square Uranus

Unexpected changes or new awareness may feel disruptive but often lead to innovative breakthroughs.

August 26: Venus trine Saturn

Relationships and structures blend harmoniously, favoring contracts, commitments, and stable partnerships.

August 26: Venus sextile Uranus

Creative innovation and relationship dynamics combine to create unique opportunities for connection.

August 27: Venus trine Neptune

Beauty, creativity, and inspiration flow together, making this an excellent time for artistic projects or brand imagery.

August 27: Venus opposite Pluto

Power dynamics in relationships require conscious navigation, offering opportunities for empowerment through honest communication.

August 29: Uranus sextile Neptune

Innovation and vision work together as part of the developing grand sextile pattern, supporting long-term creative breakthroughs.

‘The art of life lies in a constant readjustment to our surroundings.’ — Kakuzō Okakura, The Book of Tea (1906)

Wrap-Up

With five planets moving retrograde simultaneously, this month is one to slow down enough to see what you might have missed during busier periods. The water-fire elemental blend creates perfect conditions for combining emotional intelligence with creative courage, while Mercury's retrograde journey through Leo puts the spotlight on perfecting your authentic voice and brand expression.

A pivotal moment comes with Mercury stationing direct on August 11, marking the transition from reflection to preparing for forward momentum. As Mars shifts from Virgo's detailed precision to Libra's diplomatic collaboration and Venus moves from Cancer's nurturing care to Leo's confident creativity, August teaches that sometimes the most productive action is the patient polishing of what already exists.