ASTRO FORECAST: AUG. 27 — SEPT. 9, 2014

Antinous Astrology Forecast

---

AUG. 27 to SEPT. 9, 2014

---

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 27, 2014

On Wednesday Venus and Mars are in a 90-degree right angle to each other, causing chaos in love relationships. This is the astrological textbook recipe for a relationship in which tempers are always hot, the sex is always hot, passions are always hot and in which you are fighting violently with each other one moment — and then violently having sex the next moment. Just saying.

THURSDAY AUGUST 28, 2014

On Thursday interpersonal relationships are volatile, as they have been all this week (and will be next week) because of a three-way split involving Saturn, Venus and Mars. The Warrior God is in a tight clinch with Saturn even as Venus is at right angles to both. Saturn wants to rein in both planets, causing blockages in relationships on all levels. But Mars is in its home sign of Scorpio (where Saturn feels intensely uncomfortable), and that home-advantage empowers Mars to sear through Saturn's shackles with laser-like energy.

FRIDAY AUGUST 29, 2014

On Friday Retrograde Neptune rises at sunset to make its once-a-year opposition to the Sun. Dreamy Neptune creates a smokescreen of illusion, confusion and profusion of conflicting images which overwhelms the conscientious Virgo Sun. On the down side, you may find yourself unable to see clearly which route to take in life. On the plus side, you perceive intuitive insights which ordinarily are lost in the glare of the sun.

SATURDAY AUGUST 30, 2014

On Saturday you can leave the Mars/Saturn tensions of the work week behind you and go out shopping when ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD forms a positive trine with Neptune which helps you sniff out the best buys.

SUNDAY AUGUST 31, 2014

On Sunday ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD aligns with Mars and Saturn in suspicious-minded Scorpio to form a fearsome threesome of jealousy, envy, suspicion and intrigue. A fun weekend, in other words.

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2014

On Monday Mercury leaves fastidious Virgo and wings his way into laid-back Libra ... where he will sit back and chill and lounge around to Trance music from now until September 28th. Depending on your own star sign, Libra Mercury may cause you some difficulty making decisions and getting work done and generally finding your way through the highways and byways of life. Libra Mercury gets a bad reputation for being lazy, indecisive, two-faced and a downright liar. But it's not true! Well, actually, it IS a bit true ... but also not true ... both true and not true at the same time.

And that is exactly how Libra Mercury sees everything ... he sees both sides to every question ... he sees two people (or two nations) arguing and he sees that both sides are partly right ... and both sides are also partly wrong.

Libra Mercury helps to give you a balanced view of the world. He enhances your skills at mediating a compromise which is beneficial to both sides ... and beneficial to you. Libra Mercury loves harmony and balance so much that he tries to please everybody. So you may find yourself tacitly agreeing with people on both sides of an argument. That infuriates both sides, of course, and both sides accuse you of being two-faced.

In fact, you may not have agreed with either side. You wanted to tell both sides to take a hike. You only nodded in tacit agreement just to shut them up and avert open conflict. The result is that you end up being caught in the middle ... a plight that Sun Sign Librans know all too well.

So the down side of Libra Mercury is that decision-making is more difficult. You look at a restaurant menu and it ALL looks so good that you can't make up your mind ... again, a plight that Sun Sign Librans know all too well.

But the up side of Libra Mercury is that you are open to new experiences ... you pick a menu item you have never eaten before ... and it turns out to be delicious. You are driving along your regular route home from work and suddenly turn off down another street you have never explored before ... and you discover places which turn out to be wonderful.

As for being lazy ... that is also partly false ... and yet also partly true. Libra Mercury is very industrious when it comes to something that is interesting, pleasant or lovely. So you may find yourself beavering away at some fabulous project with your mind and soul concentrated solely on that fab project.

Meanwhile, boring and tedious tasks fall by the wayside. You may conveniently "forget" to do things which are uninteresting to you. Mercury Libra is the artistic genius who creates the most exquisitely inspiring art ... and yet who lives in absolute squalor and filth. Art is intensely interesting to him ... but housekeeping is intensely boring, so he "forgets" to do any house cleaning. Sun Sign Librans are experts at "forgetting" unpleasant or uninteresting things.

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

On Tuesday we come to the Sagittarius First Quarter Moon, which we call the "Equestrian Moon" in Antinous Moon Magic ... the Lunar Phase we associate with spiritual movement and progress, astral travel and astral projection ... On the material level, this Lunar Phase is excellent for making travel plans and for carrying out rituals for a safe journey with bountiful spiritual rewards ... or at least for washing that vehicle of yours.

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 3, 2014

On Wednesday the Sun is in a positively profound trine with Pluto that enables you to get down and dirty and show what is really inside of you ... deep ... down ... inside. This is a good day to grow beyond yourself ... shed your old shy image the way a snake sheds its skin ... and present your shining inner self to the world.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

On Thursday you should make a point of enjoying the lighter side of life one final day before Venus leaves upbeat Leo and slides into Virgo for four weeks of worrying and guilt-tripping.

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2014

On Friday you can start making plans for a weekend party when Venus enters Virgo — Virgo Venus is the ultimate party organizer. Just avoid the Virgo Venus tendency to over-analyze and to offer "advice" (which is to say "criticism") where it is not wanted. Virgo Venus also likes to worry and fret and feel inadequate. Instead, play up the Virgo Venus panache at being the hostess with the mostest and plying your guests with food and drink and ensuring they are having a fabulous time.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 6, 2014

On Saturday the party atmosphere shifts into high gear when ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD forms a lively trine with laid-back Libra Mercury and is in opposition to exaggeration-prone Jupiter. This is a recipe for stylish over-consumption of food and drink and the good life in general.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

On Sunday the day-after hangover sets in when ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD forms an anything-goes sextile with Uranus while also squaring off against sour Saturn and angry Mars. It's a thoroughly annoying sort of day when you just want to draw the curtains, take two aspirin and go back to bed.

SNEAK PREVIEW OF NEXT WEEK:

Another exciting week lies ahead between September 8 and 14 when we come to the Pisces Full Moon ... In heterosexual astrology, the Pisces Full Moon is just a moon of sensual spiritual energy. But in Antinous Gay Moon Magic, this is the HOMOTHEOSIS MOON ... the archetype of gay sexuality ... when your sexual dreams can come true ... This hot Full Moon tells you it may be time to take your relationship to a whole new level ... This lunar phase helps you to deepen your love relationships in meaningful ways, making constructive compromises which allow each partner freedom while strengthening the bonds which unite you both ... More details next time ....

THE PLOTINA MOON VIRGO NEW MOON

TONIGHT's Virgo New Moon is the lunar phase which, in Antinous Moon Magic, is called the PLOTINA MOON in honor of Emperor Trajan's wife, the Empress Plotina, who lobbied on Hadrian's behalf, ensuring he would be Trajan's successor.

Hadrian was a favorite of Plotina's and she did everything in her power to further his career and to position him to succeed her husband Trajan as emperor. Indeed, it is said that, upon Trajan's death, Plotina forged his signature on a will naming Hadrian as his successor.

It has been speculated that she and Hadrian were lovers, though his preference for males and their age difference (she was old enough to be his mother) may make that speculation seem a bit far-fetched.

Whatever the case, Plotina showered Hadrian with love, favors and the wealth of her insights into the machinations and workings of the inner coterie surrounding the Emperor.

Thanks to Plotina's tutelage, Hadrian was well-equipped to become emperor.

Each lunar phase represents a Divine Spirit or Archetype. The Spirit of the Plotina Moon is the Spirit of the Crone, the Wise Woman, the White Witch, the Great Mother Isis. She is a Spirit Guide.

She is not maternal like a mother, but instead she is more of a doting grandmother or great aunt. This Spirit has seen everything, been everywhere and experienced everything.

Life has few surprises left for this Spirit, and yet she marvels anew at each bright new day of discovery. There is always something yet to be discovered, some new secret to be unveiled, some riddle to be solved.

The Spirit of Plotina is ever seeking to reveal all and to share her vast grimoire of secret knowledge with her favorite protege.

The Virgo New Moon comes at the end of summer in the Northern Hemisphere when crops have been harvested and leaves are beginning to fall and the heat of summer wanes. In the Southern Hemisphere, this is the New Moon signalling a time to put away winter clothes and plant for spring with the knowledge you have gained during the winter.

It is the same New Moon, and ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD gazes down on both hemispheres. The days are getting shorter and the days are getting longer. Yet, our Lunar Deity invites us to look beyond the calendar to seek the wisdom that the PLOTINA MOON has to offer us, wherever we live.

The key words for the PLOTINA MOON are: Wisdom. Experience. Magnanimity. Old Age. Wise Woman. Vast Intelligence.

This lunar phase represents deep inner wisdom that comes from the "school of hard knocks".

This is the wise old "curandera" (white witch) who needs no books or rituals because the magic is deep down inside her soul. She and the magic are one and the same.

On a superficial level, this lunar phase is a time to honor to an older person, an old gay wizard, for example, who is influential in your life. On a deeper level, it is inviting you to become better acquainted with the ancient "curandero" (gay wizard) in your soul.

ASTRO FORECAST: AUGUST 21 — 31, 2014

Antinous Astrology Forecast

---

AUGUST 21 to 31, 2014

---

THURSDAY AUGUST 21, 2014

On Thursday intuitive skills remain in high gear when ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD Mercury trines with Pluto to send out waves of empowerment for the SACRED LION HUNT. This configuration sends you strength while at the same time reminding you that the Sun will be leaving the sign of Leo the Lion in only a couple of days and that chill winds of autumn will soon be blowing in the Northern Hemisphere, while the lavender-hued blossoms of the jacarandas will soon unfold for spring in the Southern Hemisphere — the eternal cycle of life and death.

FRIDAY/SATURDAY AUGUST 22-23, 2014

Overnight Friday/Saturday the Sun exits boisterous Leo and settles into dutiful Virgo for four weeks of no-nonsense care and worry. The downside of Virgo is that you feel inadequate and unworthy of meeting the challenges you face. But the upside of Virgo is that you put your nose to the grindstone and make every effort to be more than adequate and more than worthy for the job.

SUNDAY AUGUST 24, 2014

On Sunday the Virgo Sun encourages you to wallow in worries and doubts, aided and abetted by challenging aspects involving ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD and Venus, Uranus, Mars and Saturn. Don't let the gloomy mood get you down. It is natural for such feelings to crop up when the Sun is in Virgo after having been so joyous in Leo for the past four weeks.

MONDAY AUGUST 25, 2014

On Monday batten down the hatches for a tense and difficult day with excruciatingly difficult cosmic configurations. On the plus side, things get off to a helpful start when we come to the Virgo New Moon, which is the lunar phase in Antinous Moon Magic we call the PLOTINA MOON in honor of Emperor Trajan's wife, the Empress Plotina, who lobbied on Hadrian's behalf, ensuring he would be Hadrian's successor ... The Spirit of the Plotina Moon is the Spirit of the Crone, the Wise Woman, the White Witch, the Great Mother Isis ... But "she" is a Spirit Guide who transcends gender — she is the ancient gay wizard in your soul.

Then things get intense when Mars aligns in perfect conjunction with Saturn in incisive Scorpio. It is like driving down a highway with one foot on the brake and the other on the accelerator because Mars in its home sign of Scorpio wants to press the pedal to the metal, while Saturn wants a cautious, go-slow approach. The result is pent-up frustration which boils over into rage. Open warfare breaks out not only in crisis regions of the world, but also in street traffic, in your work place and in your domestic relationship. Cold-blooded, vengeful wrath strangles out rational thought.

You should call on the constructive energies of the PLOTINA MOON to help you see through the smokescreen of mistrust and enmity and instead to work in a positive manner towards building sound and constructive relationships.

TUESDAY AUGUST 26, 2014

On Tuesday tensions escalate further when Venus squares off against Saturn. This is a classic scenario for strife in interpersonal relationships. You find it hard to get through to other people, then when you do get through, you encounter distrust, betrayal and jealousy. You feel misunderstood and maltreated. People demand absurd affirmations of love which cannot be fulfilled. Be careful!

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 27, 2014

On Wednesday Venus and Mars are in a 90-degree right angle to each other, causing chaos in love relationships. This is the astrological textbook recipe for a relationship in which tempers are always hot, the sex is always hot, passions are always hot and in which you are fighting violently with each other one momennt — and then violently having sex the next moment. Just saying.

THURSDAY AUGUST 28, 2014

On Thursday interpersonal relationships are volatile, as they have been all this week (and will be next week) because of a three-way split involving Saturn, Venus and Mars. The Warrior God is in a tight clinch with Saturn even as Venus is at right angles to both. Saturn wants to rein in both planets, causing blockages in relationships on all levels. But Mars is in its home sign of Scorpio (where Saturn feels intensely uncomfortable), and that home-advantage empowers Mars to sear through Saturn's shackles with laser-like energy.

FRIDAY AUGUST 29, 2014

On Friday Retrograde Neptune rises at sunset to make its once-a-year opposition to the Sun. Dreamy Neptune creates a smokescreen of illusion, confusion and profusion of conflicting images which overwhelms the conscientious Virgo Sun. On the down side, you may find yourself unable to see clearly which route to take in life. On the plus side, you perceive intuitive insights which ordinarily are lost in the glare of the sun.

SATURDAY AUGUST 30, 2014

On Saturday you can leave the Mars/Saturn tensions of the work week behind you and go out shopping when ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD forms a positive trine with Neptune which helps you sniff out the best buys.

SUNDAY AUGUST 31, 2014

On Sunday ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD aligns with Mars and Saturn in suspicious-minded Scorpio to form a fearsome threesome of jealousy, envy, suspicion and intrigue. A fun weekend, in other words.

SNEAK PREVIEW OF NEXT WEEK:

Another exciting week lies ahead between September 1 and 7 when we come to the Sagittarius First Quarter Moon, which we call the "Equestrian Moon" in Antinous Moon Magic ... the Lunar Phase we associate with spiritual movement and progress, astral travel and astral projection ... On the material level, this Lunar Phase is excellent for making travel plans and for carrying out rituals for a safe journey with bountiful spiritual rewards ... or at least for washing that vehicle of yours ... More details next time ....

THE MOON OF LUCIUS AELIUS CAESAR THE TAURUS THIRD QUARTER MOON

TONIGHT is the night of the Taurus Third Quarter Moon which we call the "Moon of Brothers" in honor of Lucius Aelius Caesar who was a veritable brother to Antinous at the imperial court of Emperor Hadrian.

Each Lunar Phase represents a Divine Spirit or Archetype. The Spirit of the "Lucius Moon" is the Spirit of Brotherhood. This is the Kindred Spirit who accompanies you all your life and who is there for you through thick and thin. 

Even when all others abandon you, your brother stands by you. But he is no pushover. 

He admonishes you to do better, to straighten up and fly right, even though he himself is no paragon of virtue. 

This Spirit knows you a bit too well, perhaps. He is cocky and has a tendency to swagger and boast. He can be a free spirit who is a high-stepper, a bit of a dandy, a man with a chip on his shoulder, a brother who exudes "attitude".

On this night we remember Lucius Aelius Caesar (January 13, 101 - January 1, 138), who became the adopted son and intended successor of Hadrian, but who never attained the throne, dying of illness before Hadrian after a brief life of licentious love of luxury. 

Aelius Caesar is a major character in Marguerite Yourcenar's epic historical novel MÉMOIRES D'HADRIEN (MEMOIRS OF HADRIAN). Lucius, as we affectionately call him, is the recipient of much bittersweet love and adoration from followers of the Religion of Antinous. 

For us he represents so many pretty young men whose bright futures are thwarted by tragic illness. 

Aelius Caesar is often called the Western Favorite, because of the possibility that he rivaled Antinous for Hadrian's love. We venerate Aelius Caesar as the fallen Prince of Flowers, the spiritual twin brother of Antinous.

The Taurus Third Quarter Moon is about comfort and luxury along with practicality.

This is the night for ANTINOUS MOON MAGIC rituals on behalf of your "brothers", whether biological, social or spiritual brothers, and regardless of gender. 

This is the night you celebrate a brotherly good friend (generally male) who definitely is on your side, as in this image by FELIX D'EON showing two brothers-in-spirit "At the Altar of Morpheus" the God of Dreams.

Your brother shares your dreams. This brother may have a bit of "attitude". He loves comfort and style and can be a bit superficial at times. But he stands beside you to help you fulfill your dreams.

This can be a biological brother, but more likely a brother in spirit. He may tease you and be your rival but, when the chips are down, he will stand up for you and fight valiantly for you. Honor him, he is your brother!

ASTRO FORECAST: AUGUST 14 — 24, 2014

Antinous Astrology Forecast

---

AUGUST 14 to 24, 2014

---

THURSDAY AUGUST 14, 2014

On Thursday people can get overly excited and go to extremes when ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD forms a trine with exaggeration-prone Jupiter and aligns in conjunction with impetuous Uranus before squaring off against ornery Pluto. Physical exercise is a good way to work off some of that excess energy — just be careful not to overdo it.

FRIDAY AUGUST 15, 2014

On Friday you should try to avoid any bickering over the breakfast table. Call a truce until later in the day when you will find healing words for your sweetie after Mercury leaves selfish Leo and enters compassionate Virgo. It has been said that Virgo Mercury is like having a cyber-servant or surrogate replicant who anticipates all your inter-personal communications needs and rushes to your beck and call. Mercury will be in Virgo until September 5, which means you can expect advice and supportive suggestions for "upgrading" your cognitive and communications skills for the next three weeks.

SATURDAY AUGUST 16, 2014

On Saturday shopping is enhanced when ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD makes generous connections with Neptune and Pluto while making rather more challenging configurations with Venus, Jupiter and Mars. This is a great day for going into town with friends and hunting bargains — and haggling for the best deals.

SUNDAY AUGUST 17, 2014

On Sunday we come to the Taurus Third Quarter Moon — the MOON OF BROTHERS — when we honor Lucius Aelius, who was like a brother to Antinous in the imperial court of Hadrian. This night is when we celebrate our gay brothers!

MONDAY AUGUST 18, 2014

Do yourself a favor and get up about an hour before dawn on Monday to see one of the most spectacular celestial events of the year — Venus and Jupiter in incredibly close conjunction. They will be so close that they almost look like a double star — the gap between them will be less half the width of your little finger held at arm's length. Astrologically, Venus conjunct Jupiter means that nothing succeeds like excess, to quote Oscar Wilde, Saint of Antinous. Exuberance, love, optimism and confidence rise with these two planets as they meld with the glare of the rising sun on this special day.

TUESDAY AUGUST 19, 2014

On Tuesday everyone's a psychic when Mercury is in 180-degree opposition to dreamy Neptune. For people who are spiritually endowed to begin with, this is a day when the portals to other worlds fling wide open.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 20, 2014

On Wednesday intuitive skills remain in high gear when ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD forms a dream-filled trine with psychic Pisces Neptune.

THURSDAY AUGUST 21, 2014

On Thursday intuitive skills remain in high gear when ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD Mercury trines with Pluto to send out waves of empowerment for the SACRED LION HUNT. This configuration sends you strength while at the same time reminding you that the Sun will be leaving the sign of Leo the Lion in only a couple of days and that chill winds of autumn will soon be blowing in the Northern Hemisphere, while the lavender-hued blossoms of the jacarandas will soon unfold for spring in the Southern Hemisphere — the eternal cycle of life and death.

FRIDAY/SATURDAY AUGUST 22-23, 2014

Overnight Friday/Saturday the Sun exits boisterous Leo and settles into dutiful Virgo for four weeks of no-nonsense care and worry. The downside of Virgo is that you feel inadequate and unworthy of meeting the challenges you face. But the upside of Virgo is that you put your nose to the grindstone and make every effort to be more than adequate and more than worthy for the job.

SUNDAY AUGUST 24, 2014

On Sunday the Virgo Sun encourages you to wallow in worries and doubts, aided and abetted by challenging aspects involving ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD and Venus, Uranus, Mars and Saturn. Don't let the gloomy mood get you down. It is natural for such feelings to crop up when the Sun is in Virgo after having been so joyous in Leo for the past four weeks.

SNEAK PREVIEW OF NEXT WEEK:

Another exciting week lies ahead between August 18 and 24 when we come to the Virgo New Moon, which is the lunar phase in Antinous Moon Magic we call the PLOTINA MOON in honor of Emperor Trajan's wife, the Empress Plotina, who lobbied on Hadrian's behalf, ensuring he would be Hadrian's successor ... The Spirit of the Plotina Moon is the Spirit of the Crone, the Wise Woman, the White Witch, the Great Mother Isis ... But "she" is a Spirit Guide who transcends gender — she is the ancient gay wizard in your soul..... More details next time ....

THE AQUARIUS FULL MOON THE DONUM MOON OF ANTINOUS

TONIGHT'S Aquarius Full Moon is the summertime moon of generous gifts which we associate with Antinous in his guise as Vertumnus, the shape-shifting God of summertime bounty and generous gifts.

This is the full moon of letting go, breaking out of restrictions, busting out of prisons, liberating yourself from the chains which restrain you.

It represents a boon (material or otherwise) which comes your way through generosity. It is an unexpected gift from someone else.

Or it is a gift you give to yourself. The Aquarius Full Moon is about philanthropic generosity

 In ANTINOUS MOON MAGIC we call this the DONUM MOON when magical rituals are performed for fortuitous gifts. 

Antinous/Vertumnus is the divine aspect of Antinous representing his gift-giving ability. He holds a symbolic gift of fresh-ripened fruit and summertime blossoms which he is eager to give to you without reservation.

It is yours. No questions asked. Take it.

Vertumnus also symbolizes his ability to morph and change bad luck into good luck. The Ancient Etruscans believed Vertumnus was a shape-shifter who could change his form at will. He brought gifts and bounty to those who had the "eyes" to perceive him in his many guises.

The Romans adopted Vertumnus and he became associated with the changing bounty of summertime, when fruit and vegetables materialized out of the ground and ripened and were ready for harvest — the bountiful gifts of nature.

According to Ovid's Metamorphoses, Vertumnus was enthralled with Pomona, the goddess of orchard fruits, and desired to be one with her. But she spurned him.

He assumed many guises — a fisherman, a soldier, a peasant, a reaper, etc. — but she turned him away every time. Finally, he assumed the form of an old woman and was so aged and unattractive that Pomona let down her guard.

Thus, Vertumnus engaged her in conversation and they became inseparable — which was what Vertumnus had wanted all along.

Ovid says that the moral of the tale of Vertumnus and Pomona is that you should never judge a gift by its outward appearances. Never reject the hand of friendship.

The Aquarius Full Moon is about philanthropic generosity. The Ancient Romans celebrated the feast day of Vertumnus — the Vertumnalia — during the cycle of the Aquarius Full Moon in early times (and on August 13th in later times) by giving each other baskets of fruit, flowers and other symbols of nature's bounty. The Aquarius Full Moon is associated with Antinous/Vertumnus in Antinous Moon Magic rituals.

Go outside tonight and look up at the full moon, with shooting stars cascading from all sides. This is the FULL MOON to wake up and break free of all mental, spiritual, political and ideological strictures. It is the gift of an opportunity.

The PERSEID METEORS (which reach their peak at this time of year) are symbolically aimed at you. 

Antinous is aiming his gifts of new opportunity directly your way. All you have to do is reach out and grasp it — and it's yours.

ASTRO FORECAST: AUGUST 7 — 17, 2014

Antinous Astrology Forecast

---

AUGUST 7 to 17, 2014

---

THURSDAY AUGUST 7, 2014

On Thursday you may be tempted to get raunchy when secretive Scorpio Mars forms a trine with fantasy-prone Pisces Neptune. You will want to let your fantasies take you to dark and unexplored corners of your sexual self. Just saying.

FRIDAY AUGUST 8, 2014

On Friday ideas come at you from all sides and you can expect the unexpected when the Sun aligns in conjunction with Mercury and then (later) Mercury forms a trine with impulsive Uranus. A surprise message or call may be just the news you have always been waiting for ... whether you knew it or not.

SATURDAY AUGUST 9, 2014

On Saturday it's time to say good-bye to tired-out old habits when the Sun forms a trine with Uranus as meanwhile Saturn squares off against both the Sun and Mercury. Uranus is pushing you to go for something new and different even as Saturn is showing you just how tired and worn-out some of your old ways of thinking and behaving have become.

SUNDAY AUGUST 10, 2014

On Sunday the AQUARIUS FULL MOON occurs. This is the summertime moon of generous gifts which we associate with Antinous/Vertumnus, the shape-shifting God of summertime bounty and generous gifts. We call this the DONUM MOON when magical rituals are performed for fortuitous gifts.

MONDAY AUGUST 11, 2014

On Monday the work week gets off to a rocky start when ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD is in direct opposition to Mercury. Things seem unnecessarily hectic and nervous and you can't shake the feeling that you are behind in your work.

TUESDAY AUGUST 12, 2014

On Tuesday Venus, the planet of love, leaves down-home Cancer and struts into show-off Leo, where she remains throughout the rest of the month. This is a chance to put on high heels and strut your stuff and make yourself attractive to others so your popularity soars. When you look good, you feel good so treat yourself to a new outfit or a facial or a haircut or any other pampering session that boosts your self esteem. Old-school astrology texts like to call Leo a Drama Queen. They like to paint planets in the sign of Leo as people with superiority complexes. This happens occasionally, but mostly it doesn't. Leo is the sign of Royalty, and royalty, the kind that stays in power, doesn't lord over others. True royalty is generous, humane and often quietly dignified. Venus in Leo gives you the expressive dignity of a Queen or King, you have creative dominion over an artistic field… and the hearts of others.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 13, 2014

On Wednesday you feel the full power of Leo Venus giving you confidence and self-assertion in the way you present yourself to others, and also in money matters. That's because ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD is in a conducive trine aspect to Venus.

THURSDAY AUGUST 14, 2014

On Thursday people can get overly excited and go to extremes when ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD forms a trine with exaggeration-prone Jupiter and aligns in conjunction with impetuous Uranus before squaring off against ornery Pluto. Physical exercise is a good way to work off some of that excess energy — just be careful not to overdo it.

FRIDAY AUGUST 15, 2014

On Friday you should try to avoid any bickering over the breakfast table. Call a truce until later in the day when you will find healing words for your sweetie after Mercury leaves selfish Leo and enters compassionate Virgo. It has been said that Virgo Mercury is like having a cyber-servant or surrogate replicant who anticipates all your inter-personal communications needs and rushes to your beck and call. Mercury will be in Virgo until September 5, which means you can expect advice and supportive suggestions for "upgrading" your cognitive and communications skills for the next three weeks.

SATURDAY AUGUST 16, 2014

On Saturday shopping is enhanced when ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD makes generous connections with Neptune and Pluto while making rather more challenging configurations with Venus, Jupiter and Mars. This is a great day for going into town with friends and hunting bargains — and haggling for the best deals.

SUNDAY AUGUST 17, 2014

On Sunday we come to the Taurus Third Quarter Moon — the MOON OF BROTHERS — when we honor Lucius Aelius, who was like a brother to Antinous in the imperial court of Hadrian. This night is when we celebrate our gay brothers!

SNEAK PREVIEW OF NEXT WEEK:

Another exciting week lies ahead between August 18 and 24 when we come to the Virgo New Moon, which is the lunar phase in Antinous Moon Magic we call the PLOTINA MOON in honor of Emperor Trajan's wife, the Empress Plotina, who lobbied on Hadrian's behalf, ensuring he would be Hadrian's successor ... The Spirit of the Plotina Moon is the Spirit of the Crone, the Wise Woman, the White Witch, the Great Mother Isis ... But "she" is a Spirit Guide who transcends gender — she is the ancient gay wizard in your soul..... More details next time ....

TONIGHT IS THE MOON OF PROMETHEUS THE SCORPIO FIRST QUARTER MOON

PROMETHEUS was the first thief and it was thanks to his larcenous thievery that humans are not living in burrows and dens like animals.

He stole fire from the Gods and brought it down to us mortals living on Earth. And at this, the hottest time of the year (in the Northern Hemisphere at any rate), we celebrate the SCORPIO FIRST QUARTER MOON with this legendary act of "breaking and entering with malicious intent to commit a felony."

Tonight is the night of the THIEF MOON, the PROMETHEUS MOON.

In ANTINOUS MOON MAGIC, each phase of the moon represents a Divine Spirit or Archetype. The Spirit of the Thief Moon is the Divine Thief. This Spirit is the stealer of hearts. He sneaks up on others and intentionally relieves them of those things they hold dear. We associate this lunar phase with Prometheus.

One of the Titans, Prometheus fashioned men out of clay (women did not appear until Pandora), and Athena breathed life into these clay men. Originally all men had Prometheus' power to foretell the future (the Greek name "Prometheus" means "Forethought") but Zeus became enraged that a Titan had created a sentient and nearly divine race, so he stripped them of that fortune-telling power and also stripped them of fire.

Prometheus urged his fellow Titans to use cunning and stealth to overcome the Gods. But when the Titans opted for brute force, Prometheus foresaw the outcome and betrayed the Titans and went over to the side led by Zeus.

But when Zeus turned against men and wanted to smite them all and create a rival race, Prometheus betrayed Zeus by stealing fire and giving it to his clay men so that they would have a light to see their way without the help of the gods — even if only a few were clairvoyant, not all, as he had originally intended.

Outraged, Zeus bound Prometheus to the rock and his eagle dined on his liver every day. But being a Titan, he could not die, and his liver was restored every night.

In the end, Prometheus won his freedom by foretelling that Zeus would meet his downfall if he mated with a certain mortal woman — which is why Poseidon fell and Zeus did not, because Zeus heeded the foretold warning.

Prometheus was the first thief. He was the first Divine friend of mankind. It is fitting that Prometheus graces the fountain at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan. Prometheus was mankind's first divine friend, who gave us the civilization-building gift of fire. It was stolen from the Gods!

Thus the SCORPIO FIRST QUARTER MOON is a time of cunning and deception, thievery, robbery, stealth. Unlike the PERDITION MOON, which is about loss in a general sense, the THIEF MOON is about intentional taking. 

In a very literal sense, it can signify a night when break-ins or burglaries are rife. But most often it represents your inner self — the things you rob yourself of — self-esteem, self-love, self-confidence, for example. By robbing yourself of these qualities, you are vulnerable to real-life thieves. 

But this lunar phase is also talking about the positive aspects of being a thief, like Prometheus or Mercury. Antinous/Mercury is the God of Thieves, Con Men and Convicts. Prometheus stole fire from the Gods to give to mankind, saying it rightfully belonged to mortals. Mercury famously stole from Apollo and yet charmed his way to "acquittal". 

Tonight's lunar phase is reminding us about the "inner thief" inside all of us — the ability to take what we need without asking in advance. It is about getting back what is rightfully ours by means of cunning and skulduggery. We are all thieves, only the dishonest ones deny it.

The SCORPIO FIRST QUARTER MOON is the moon of thievery and deception heading towards the AQUARIUS FULL MOON next week — which we call the DONUM MOON of generous gift-giving.