Creative Solutions & Being Stronger Together

July was quite a month. Amidst my other work and projects, I thoroughly enjoyed presenting Astro Duets with the fabulous Steven Forrest: “Leading From the Heart in 2026 & Beyond.” Steven and I plucked up our courage and went naked – metaphorically, of course – choosing to go chartless and simply speak from the heart. From the wonderful feedback we’ve received, it seems this made a refreshing change for many.
You can access the talk here: Astrological Duets – The Astrological Association It’s free for AA members and just £5 for non‑members. Don’t miss it.

I also spoke at the Glastonbury Symposium on “What in the World Is Going On? How Astrology Can Decode the Current Global Chaos.” Details on how to access the recordings can be found here: The Glastonbury Symposium | The UK’s Leading Annual Alternative Conference

August brings a welcome pause from major talks, giving me time to catch up on other projects and enjoy the summer holidays. No doubt September will be here before we know it, and parents everywhere, including me, will be buying new school uniforms for the forthcoming academic year.

I already have some exciting talks lined up for September, so keep an eye on my social media for updates.

Reflections on July

In July’s newsletter I said not to sweat the small stuff as it would be big. And it was! The two topics I’d like revisit are the UK’s new Prime Minister and the heatwaves and wildfires.

Let’s start with the heat. In my Glastonbury talk I discussed how with the outer planets now in air fire signs, we are moving from a cold era to a hot one. I’m not a specialist in weather astrology but its very interesting that we find our temperatures warming, with more heat waves and fires. And of course Jupiter moving into the fire of Leo demonstrated Jupiter’s potential to exacerbate situations.

After an era of earth and water with Capricorn and water emphasized, we’ve gone from mud to wildfire. From stagnation to combustion. I’m struck by the images in the news of the fire devasting the ground, but the smoke also pouring into the air. Fears of drought in the UK are already rising, pertinent considering the lack of outer planets in water currently.

Moving on, Jupiter manifested in a different way in UK politics, with the 7th prime minister in the past 10 years! The latest, Andy Burnham, took/was handed the role on 19^th July. Wow, a PM who wasn’t even an MP a few weeks ago, had no manifesto and who the people of the UK haven’t really chosen as a PM.

This is the 1922 UK chart which I believe astrologers should use more. It describes when the greater part of Ireland became independent and the UK was renamed the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is perhaps more relevant now than the UK 1801 chart

Look how it is being triggered by the Barbault’s Basket and the air fire shift! The Jupiter Pluto opposition which exacted on 20^th July is across the MC/IC which is why we saw the step up in power and why Burnham is now an unelected PM; a coup if you like.

And don’t forget Juno which is conjunct Pluto! In my talk for Kepler College in April I discussed, amongst other topics, how we would see themes of:

• Succession, reigns coming to an end, new ones beginning

• Power struggles and standoffs

• Secrecy and strategy, hidden eyes, surveillance, digital ID.

You can view the talk here JUNO: THE POWERBROKER OF 2026 – KEPLER https://youtu.be/huXF9M7-Amw?si=CtCjMYjkVqZiHLcW

August AstroWeather: Eclipses, Ingresses & Being Stronger Together

On the 3rd, Chiron stations retrograde at 00° Taurus 52, preparing to re‑enter Aries on 18 September, where it will remain until 14 April 2027 before returning to Taurus through 2034. On the 7th, Juno squares Chiron at 00° Aquarius/Taurus 51. Both bodies have ventured into new territory, but now they must retrace their steps. There is unfinished business here: lessons not yet learned, eyes not fully opened, and too many people still left out of the equation. This is a call to revisit what hurts, what divides, and what needs healing.

On the 9th, Mercury enters Leo, steps onto the stage and joins the fiery ensemble of the Moon, Jupiter and the Sun. This reactivates the basket configuration, or the alembic vessel, as I like to call it. This is Mercury saying it out loud: speaking with authority, showcasing your voice, expressing ideas with regal clarity. Our homelands, our minds, our world is alight with potential for destruction, yes, but also rebirth through new solutions and mindsets. Picture Mercury as a wand stirring the alembic pot in the current Magnus Opus. Expect dramatic speeches, bold legislation, leadership facing opposition, and people responding passionately about their rights. This is high‑powered drama and action.

At the same time, Mars becomes anaretic with Ceres at 28° Gemini 55 before both move into Cancer. Mercury agitates them, prompting questions of do we care enough? How can we help each other? If we stand together, can we confront what feels impossible? On the 11th, Juno moves back into Capricorn as Mars enters Cancer followed by Ceres on the 12t to form a water trine with the North Node in Pisces – earth and water working together, even if “never the twain shall meet.” If we stop fighting each other and instead fight for each other, miracles can happen. Perhaps even literal rain to cool and nourish the earth.

This water trine may soften the edges of the Total Solar Eclipse at 20° Leo 01 on the 12th, bringing some sensitivity. The lunation is largely unaspected except for a waning fire trine to Saturn, but is joined in Leo by Mercury and Jupiter. This eclipse screams of courageous passion, purpose, inspiration, the heart’s journey, the will to exist and create. It invites us to celebrate our uniqueness while remaining mindful of where we create our own drama, consider how and what we identify ourselves with, and where we may need to look in the mirror.

Although the mind may run wild, Venus forms a Kite with Neptune at the apex. This reminds us that we are not the centre of the universe. Kindness, humility, and shared humanity matter. We can dream of a better future. We can find a better way forward if we share, care, and fight for each other.

From a mundane perspective, I would expect grand speeches and legislation from leadership – idealistic promises or grand gestures. Time will tell if what is said becomes truth, but there is certainly potential for creative solutions. Leadership of all kinds may be in the spotlight, so this is a wonderful time to actively pursue your own creative projects, to be brave and put ourself out there! According to Bernadette Brady, this eclipse  “… concerns itself with breaking out of a very negative situation where no hope can be seen to a positive space containing many options…” This also raises a deeper question: have we become so fixated on the negative that we’ve lost sight of the extraordinary potential before us?

The eclipse will be visible in Spain and Iceland, and is angular through or near: Detroit, Florida, Atlanta, Havana, Panama, Costa Rica, Eastern Europe, Nigeria, Niger, Libya, Burma and Rangoon. Keep an eye on these regions.

Mercury and Jupiter join at 10° Leo 09, notably conjunct Donald Trump’s unaspected Pluto. This may correlate with amplified rhetoric or intensified messaging. Time will tell how this manifests. On the 17th, Mars squares Neptune at 04° Cancer/Aries 59. This can be beautifully artistic, imaginative energy but politically it may be undermining.

For those using the mean nodes, they ingress the Leo/Aquarius axis on the 18th. The Sun joins the South Node on the 22nd, and Mercury follows on the 25th at the anaretic 29th degree. This is the divine fire of creation expressed through intellect, life force manifesting through ideas, exchanges, and communication. Identifying ourselves via our thoughts and ideas. This is also a reminder that we are stronger together, when each of us brings our uniqueness to the collective and there is a a fair division of power and knowledge

Ceres squares Neptune at 03° Cancer/Aries 50. A call to share resources, nurture the whole, and remember that we are a universal family. We must mother ourselves – and each other.

August closes with the Sun entering Virgo on the 23rd, followed by Mercury on the 25th. Humility calls. Duty and service rise above ego. This energy is captured by the Lunar Eclipse at 04° Pisces 54 on the 28th, the last eclipse in Pisces until 2034. Leadership may sacrifice glory for what is right. The eclipse is conjunct Mercury in Virgo and forms a mutable T‑square with Uranus. This can bring breakthroughs or a scramble for radical solutions. We should also consider our boundaries at this time and migration may be a key topic in the news. Yet Jupiter, co‑ruler of the eclipse, forms an inspirational fire trine with Saturn, helping us lead the way. Even if we wander down rabbit holes or feel lost in a maze, adaptability, versatility, and self‑leadership – with accountability – are key. Playing the victim won’t cut it. Nor will small thinking. After the excess of the Solar Eclipse, leadership may even be cut down to size…

That’s it for now. Please continue to follow me on social media, and don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@liannemccafferty1238

As always, feel free to get in touch, or come and have a chat with me if we happen to be at the same conference. Also, do let me know if there is anything astrological you would like me to write about in future newsletters.

Have a wonderful August, lots of love and thank you for your continued support

Lianne xx

#JunoPlutoConjunction

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#SolarEclipse

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#Cradle

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