- On August 6, Mars moves into Libra, amplifying the desire to strive toward your goals.
- Mercury's retrograde in Leo ends on August 11, paving the way for smoother communication.
- Fixed and cardinal signs should be prepared for an extra eventful month.
The astrology of August 2025 is setting the stage for a surge of romantic magic, transformation, and brilliant, wild shifts that will benefit anyone who dares to dream big. Major changes kick off on August 6 when Mars, the planet of action and energy, moves into cardinal air sign Libra, amplifying the desire to tap into diplomacy to move the ball forward on your goals and fuel work within one-on-one partnerships. August’s full moon falls on August 9 in quirky fixed air sign Aquarius, highlighting the push-pull between being part of a team versus celebrating what makes you shine on your own.
And a couple days later, on August 11, you can breathe a sigh of relief that Mercury’s retrograde in Leo will end, paving the way for less frustrating interactions, smoother communication, and less frustration when you’re trying to check to-dos off your list. Then, one of the luckiest days for romance and creativity happens on August 12 when Venus, the planet of relationships and pleasure, pairs up with fortunate Jupiter in sentimental, sweet cardinal water sign Cancer.
On August 22, Virgo season kicks off when the sun moves into the service-oriented earth sign, ushering in a month wired for finding beauty in the everyday details of life. And a new moon in the sign of Maiden on August 23 is the perfect time to set a thoughtful, pragmatic intention that’s tied to feeling more grounded. A couple days later, on August 25, relationships, sense of style, and approach to earning could begin to feel more theatrical, thanks to Venus moving into Leo.
This steamy late summer month wraps up on August 28 with a rare planetary sync-up that’ll drive spiritual-minded, intuitive epiphanies and innovation: game-changer Uranus in Gemini forms a harmonizing angle to dreamy Neptune in Aries. As for the zodiac signs who’ll feel August’s celestial shifts the most? The fixed signs—that’s Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius—and the cardinal crew—Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn—should be prepared for an especially eventful month. Meanwhile, the mutable signs—Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces—should also buckle up ahead of September, which will be full of twists and turns.
Read on for your key challenge in August according to your zodiac sign. (Be sure to read both your sun and your rising sign, which you can pinpoint in your birth chart or by using this CafeAstrology calculator.)
Aries
August presents you with the task of prioritizing your one-on-one relationships and handling conflict within those bonds in a way that’s very different from what you’re accustomed to. This vibe kicks off on August 6 when Mars, your ruling planet, moves into your seventh house of partnership, requiring a more go-getter, active approach to working through ongoing conflicts with a significant other, loved one, or close friend. You’ll get a boost from Mercury’s retrograde ending in your fifth house of romance and self-expression on August 11, making it far less likely that sharing what’s in your heart will lead to crossed wires and confusion. And when sweet Venus, the planet of relationships, enters this same sector on August 25, pleasure, joyfulness, playfulness, and flirtation will be off-the-charts, so you have every excuse to hit pause on putting your nose to the grindstone in order to revel in spontaneous, fun-loving moments with the people you adore the most.
Taurus
August turns your focus to your family life and creative self-expression. With so much action in your fourth house of home life until the sun moves on August 22, you’ll be feeling more confident about any major moves tied to your physical home and nurturing your inner emotional world. This feeling will only get stronger once Mercury ends its retrograde there on August 11, making for smoother communication with your nearest and dearest. And if you’ve been wanting to tap into your artistic impulses to jumpstart a fulfilling imaginative project, get clear on your vision and make a bold move in whatever direction feels best around August 23’s new moon in your fifth house of self-expression. Your biggest obstacle will be forgoing tried-and-true approaches to working through your emotions. A more flexible strategy and willingness to experiment can have you feeling even more centered now.
Gemini
You could experience some whiplash when a super-social vibe morphs into a far more low-key, emotional tone. You’ve likely been reconnecting with friends from the past while similarly encountering a variety of roadblocks and delays affecting game plans with your circle during your ruler Mercury’s retrograde third house of communication, but you can look forward to less chaos there after August 11. Then, don’t hesitate to give into any impulse or urge to be a bit more withdrawn once the sun is in your fourth house of home life from August 22 to September 22. This season was made for going inward, prioritizing self-reflection, and tending to your bonds with loved ones. If you’ve been wanting to heal a particular relationship or dive into meaningful self-work, you can set a clear, ambitious goal around the August 23 new moon in this zone. Tapping into the power of your intuition—your heart and your spirit—and trusting that over your head is your challenge this month, which could prove more grounding than you initially realize.
Cancer
August nudges you to step up your moneymaking game while learning alongside others and celebrating your friendships. But first, when go-getter Mars moves into your fourth house of home life on August 6, you could be butting heads more with loved ones, but it’s for the greater purpose of working through any ongoing conflicts. Facing uncomfortable, challenging emotions will also be unavoidable when your ruler, the intuitive moon, is full in your eighth house of intimacy on August 9, requiring you to take a cold, hard look at problematic dynamics or anything else that’s making you feel uncomfortable or insecure within a close relationship. You can look forward to recent introspection bolstering your self-worth and, in turn, potentially your bottom line once Mercury ends its retrograde and moves forward in your second house of income from August 11 to September 2. Then, hit the road, sign up for a class, or carve out more time to nurture platonic bonds during the sun’s time in your third house of communication from August 22 to September 22. Your greatest challenge is to embrace a more lighthearted point of view and see where the moment leads you versus gripping the steering wheel so tightly—or, really, at all.
Leo
This month, encompassing half of your season, turns your attention to your sense of self, identity, self-worth and your bottom line, all of which could be even more apparently linked now. For starters, messenger Mercury ends its retrograde in your sign on August 11, moving ahead there until September 2, and paving the way for you to be more assertive and go to bat for your fieriest ambitions. Whether you’ve been wanting to throw your hat in the ring for a promotion, kick off a thrilling side hustle, or pitch a big picture proposal to higher-ups, you can more readily step into the spotlight and act on your vision. It’ll help that your ruler, the confident sun, will be in your second house of income from August 22 to September 22, and a new moon there on August 23 is a chance to come up with an action plan for moving the ball forward on an income-boosting strategy. Trusting that you have everything you need to get it done and enjoy applause-worthy results is your key obstacle this month. Genuinely believing in yourself is the first step to manifesting a new reality.
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The Mercury Retrogrades in 2025 Affect These Signs Most
Virgo
Chances are you’re already feeling like life-altering changes are on the horizon, and that instinct could be heightened by the fact that, as August begins, your ruling planet, messenger Mercury, will be retrograde in your twelfth house of spirituality. Going inward, slowing down, and reassessing how to best care for your psychological well-being has been your focus, and once Mercury moves forward from August 11 to September 2, you can begin to act on whatever you’ve learned over the course of the retrograde, which began on July 18. Then, the sun’s trip through your sign and first house of self from August 22 to September 22 motivates you to step out on stage and make your loftiest goals known. Set a powerful intention close to your heart around August 23 during the new moon in your sign (which happens to be the first of two this year). Your key challenge now is to listen to your inner voice and not let others deter you from making moves rooted in what you know to be true.
Libra
This month fires you up to fight for your heart’s most burning desires while encouraging you to create space in your busy schedule for rest and rejuvenation. It’s a delicate balancing act, but if there’s any sign who can perfect that, it’s you. You’ll be more assertive, have more energy to funnel into activities that light you up, and be more hell-bent on building momentum on your wildest dreams from August 6 to September 22 while action-oriented Mars is in your sign. That transit alone sets a tone for pursuing your passions, and then, around August 9, when the full moon activates your fifth house of romance, you’ll be empowered to express your emotions more openly. You could be ready to tell a new partner how you feel or to heal an ongoing issue with your long-time love. Then, while the confident sun is in your twelfth house of spirituality from August 22 to September 22, getting into a regular groove with that go-to restorative yoga class or deep breathing practice can lead to being more self-assured and grounded, especially if you make a move around the August 23 new moon there. You’re challenged to recognize your mental, physical, and emotional needs—and be relentless to ensure they’re fulfilled.
Scorpio
August is all about making your mark in the public eye and alongside a group of likeminded friends or coworkers. But don’t be surprised if you find yourself running a little bit lower on energy than usual while your co-ruler, go-getter Mars, is in your twelfth house of spirituality from August 6 to September 22. The good news: This period is a fantastic one for stepping up your mind-body practices and self-care game plan. And when Mercury ends its retrograde in your tenth house of career on August 11, moving forward there until September 2, you can make a play for more recognition on the job. If you feel like your skills and contributions have been taken for granted, you can make a bold, impressive case for taking on more authority going forward. Then, you’ll want to feel more connected and to work with friends or colleagues to make progress on a shared aspiration from August 22 to September 22, thanks to the sun’s time in your eleventh house of networking. Striking a balance between your own ambitions and being a team player is your key challenge—and the key to success.
Sagittarius
August amplifies your restlessness and desire to step into a leadership position or to take on more responsibility on the job. To start, go-getter Mars will move through your eleventh house of networking from August 6 to September 22, so you’ll have more energy to pour into team efforts and to devote to your friendships, and by working with others, you’re bound to achieve more than you would if you were flying solo. You can also finally gain some steam when it comes to any horizon-broadening experiences that have either been delayed, slowed down, or put entirely on the backburner once Mercury ends its retrograde and moves forward in your ninth house of adventure from August 11 to September 2. You’ll feel like when it comes to soaking up knowledge, working with a mentor, or traveling, the sky’s the limit. That can’t help but boost your mood and confidence, which comes in handy once the sun is in your tenth house of career from August 22 to September 22, motivating you to pitch an ambitious vision to higher-ups or vie for more recognition for your hard work. Getting clear on your ultimate professional goal is your key challenge this month. The more specific you can be, the more gratifying the result.
Capricorn
This month requires you to wear your heart on your sleeve and to get comfortable with being more restless than you tend to be—both of which could prove daunting but rewarding. Around August 9, when the full moon activates your second house of income, you’ll be reflecting on what you need to let go of in order to make strides on financial goals. You could be telling yourself an outdated narrative about what you bring to the table and what you’re capable of achieving. Looking ahead will become even more important once Mercury ends its retrograde in your eighth house of intimacy on August 11, moving forward there until September 2. This window is ideal for kicking off new ventures alongside a significant other or loved one and being more explicit about your emotional and physical needs. And once the sun is in your ninth house of adventure from August 22 to September 22, you can more readily tap into your gut instincts and let them lead the way to taking a leap of faith. Your main challenge this month? Get comfortable with navigating uncharted emotional terrain to set the stage for personal growth.
Aquarius
August illuminates your closest partnerships, making it blatantly clear which bonds are adding to your life and which could be draining you. You’ll be feeling more sensitive than usual around August 9, because the full moon falls in your sign and first house of self, requiring that you reflect on your emotional needs. It’s possible you’ve been putting them on the backburner, and that’s just not sustainable anymore. Talking about this with a significant other, loved one, or dear friend will be easier once Mercury ends its retrograde and moves forward in your seventh house of partnership from August 11 to September 2. If you need someone to support you in a new or different way, you can articulate that while also holding space for whatever is in their heart. Then, you’ll have more confidence to channel into shared financial goals and feeling more fulfilled in your sex life, as the sun moves through your eighth house of intimacy from August 22 to September 22. Take a step back from your usual grind to check in with your heart when the new moon falls there on August 23, and you’ll pinpoint the best way forward. Your key challenge this month will be swimming in the deep end of emotions, which may not feel innate or comfortable but can positively transform your relationships.
Pisces
This month ushers in a close focus on your wellness routine and one-on-one bonds. For starters, dynamic Mars will be in your eighth house of intimacy from August 6 to September 22, so you’ll be fired up to not just share but act on fantasies with someone special. This transit can also support your ability to launch ambitious financial plans with a loved one. Just expect delays until Mercury goes direct in your sixth house of daily routine on August 11. Until September 2, you’ll find you can more readily get ahead on everyday to-dos and even research or begin a new health or fitness regimen that elevates your vitality. You’ll find you’re even more apt to commit and stick to it if you pair up with a friend, loved one, or even colleague from August 22 to September 22 while the sun is in your seventh house of partnership. And around August 23, when the new moon falls there, set an intention tied to taking one of these one-on-one connections to the next level. Your key challenge will be to trust that you can manifest even your most out-there dreams—particularly the ones you share with someone else within a romantic, platonic, or professional relationship.
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