wellness

Your Weekly Horoscopes: August 20 to 26, 2023

Virgo Season is getting a shake up this year.

The desires made known during last week’s new moon in Leo are starting to take shape this week, and there’s both joy and overwhelm in the process. We’re not just hoping to get stronger, we’re signing up for that Pilates class and getting on the reformer. Big leaps are the norm, but it’s still OK to take things slow.

Virgo season begins on the 23rd: Happy birthday to our most delightfully discerning earth signs from Zendaya to Keke Palmer to Queen Bey herself. But! Virgo season isn’t so straight-forward this year as Virgo’s ruler Mercury stations retrograde on the 23rd through September 15th—a sign that the organizational systems that have worked for us in the past aren’t cutting it this time. It’s time to reflect, revise and perhaps move our schedule from digital to analog (or vice versa) to figure out the plan.

(Horoscopes follow for each sign. If you know your rising sign, reading for that sign too will provide further insight.)

Your Monthly Horoscopes: August 2023


Aries (March 21 - April 19)

With the sun entering Virgo and joining Mars and Mercury in your house of the daily grind, you’re ready to put all your energy into drinking enough water, taking your little walks and slaying your to-do lists. But before you go all in, you might have to go back to the drawing board. As Mercury stations retrograde on the 23rd, take some time to pause and reflect on what’s fulfilling vs. what’s a constant drain then adjust accordingly.

This week’s mantra: “Recalibrate.”

Taurus

(April 20 - May 20)

The week begins on an overwhelming note as so much of what you’ve been working toward starts coming together all at once. You’re finally taking that trip, heading back to school or moving into a new place. Though you’re feeling excited and proud, you’re also feeling like you’re underwater. Take a step back and consider whether this pressure is coming from internal or external forces. You don’t have to make everyone else happy right now. The assignment is to satisfy yourself.

This week’s mantra: “Whole.”

Gemini

(May 21 - June 20)

Virgo season is the time of year when you’re most inclined to be a homebody. But this year, it’s less about relaxing on the couch and more about going through all that junk in the basement to figure out what’s worth keeping and what needs to go straight in the dumpster. Your ruling planet Mercury stations retrograde on the 23rd making it so that as much as you’d like to move forward, for now, the assignment is to go back instead.

This week’s mantra: “Dig.”

Cancer

(June 21 - July 22)

Virgo season brings your attention to your siblings, close friends and local community. As Mercury stations retrograde on the 23rd, you come back into contact with someone from the past who gives you an important perspective about where you’re at in the present. This is also a great week to browse the bookstore, go back to a coffee shop you haven’t visited in a while or take a quick road trip. Inspiration finds you when you step out of your comfort zone.

This week’s mantra: “Meander.”

Leo

(July 23 - Aug 22)

Virgo season is all about money, resources and security for you, Leo. Since mid-July, you’ve been under a lot of stress as expenses have piled up and business has been slower than usual. Asking friends and family for support (and loans!) has gotten you through, but now it’s time to take a look at the actual numbers. This week brings you some much needed perspective and solutions that will help you feel more secure.

This week’s mantra: “Reconcile.”

Virgo

(August 23 - September 23)

Happy solar return, Virgo! Your season begins on the 23rd and your ruling planet Mercury stations retrograde on the same day. You might feel inclined to chop off your hair, pull a risky vintage look out of your closet or finally go blonde under this influence, but it’s best not to be too impulsive right now. Use these urges to inspire creativity rather than dictate your next moves. If you still want what you’re thinking about now in mid-September then you can go for it.

This week’s mantra: “Flip.”

Libra

(September 23 - October 21)

This week is equal parts inspiring and overwhelming for you, Libra. Your ruling planet Venus is still retrograde and squares abundant Jupiter on the 22nd bringing you an opportunity to connect and feel supported both professionally and in your personal life. You might find yourself in a similar spot to where you were back on June 11th but with a less jaded perspective. Once the sun enters Virgo on the 23rd, your priorities shift away from socializing to getting some rest.

This week’s mantra: “Saturate.”

Scorpio

(October 22 - November 21)

Things are intense for you this week, Scorpio, but in a way you can’t fully discern. Your ruling planet Mars is facing off with illusory Neptune making everything feel a bit confusing. Remember: things are not what they seem right now. If you’re feeling uneasy or paranoid, especially around friends or coworkers, take a break from the group chat and read a book instead. You’ll emerge next week with a clearer perspective.

This week’s mantra: “Vibration.”

Sagittarius

(November 22 - December 21)

Virgo season begins on the 23rd ushering in the most visible time of year for you, Sagittarius. This week brings some important lessons around work-life balance and has you questioning whether your current professional goals are aligned with where your heart is. Mercury stations retrograde on the same day giving you space and time for the next three weeks to meet with your boss, mentors and trusted advisors to figure out a plan.

This week’s mantra: “Claim.”

Capricorn

(December 22 - January 19)

Virgo season is all about adventure for you, Capricorn. You’ve already been giving a lot of attention to travel, educational or spiritual pursuits since mid-July, but you’ve also been focused on gathering the resources to make it possible. Now you can give the journey itself your full attention. Still, you might experience some delays or snafus in the details with Mercury stationing retrograde on the 23rd. It’s frustrating, but keep going. Your unconventional path makes a great story.

This week’s mantra: “Wander.”

Aquarius

(January 20 - February 18)

Virgo season is always a sticky time of year for you, Aquarius. Everyone else is getting excited about their back-to-school shopping and the fresh start of fall, but you’re already thinking about the bills and the consequences to come. Relationship troubles that you’ve been experiencing all summer are finally getting resolved and whether you’re breaking up or reconciling, give yourself all the space you need to let some ugly feelings go.

This week’s mantra: “Release.”

Pisces

(February 19 - March 20)

Virgo season begins on the 23rd ushering in the time of year when you’re most focused on relationships (and let’s be real, you’re focused on those most of the rest of the year too, but now it’s all you can think about). With Mercury stationing retrograde on the same day, whether you’re single or partnered, the next few weeks will be about reviewing past relationship dynamics and maybe even connecting with an ex or two. Partnerships may not move forward under these skies, but they will get deeper.

This week’s mantra: “Complete.”

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Jaime Wright

Astrologer

Jaime Wright is an astrologer and writer based in NYC. She has been writing PureWow’s weekly and monthly horoscope columns since 2019, and also authors the cult favorite...
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