August has been an exciting month for those that follow moon cycles.
At the beginning of the month, we had the sturgeon full moon. The August full moon is known as the sturgeon moon because the sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were said to be most readily caught during this full moon.
On August 1st, this moon fell in the astrological sign of Aquarius, making it a time of imagination and reconciling your individualism with your greater community. The sign of Aquarius has two planetary rulers: stable and serious Saturn and disruptive Uranus. While these planets may seem to be in opposition with one another, the combination of their influences can be empowering for thinking outside of the box to improve the systems you live within. If Saturn represents foundations and walls, Uranus is the wrecking ball that tears them down, and the Water-Bearer proceeds to rebuild them with an improved blueprint.
As if this isn’t enough work to do in one month’s time, August has another surprise for us. Right in the dog days of summer, when it’s too hot to think and we’re forcing ourselves to go to work or school, it just keeps on giving. The month has two full moons this year, giving us a blue moon.
The term “blue moon” is used to describe the second full moon in a single calendar month. It is a rare event that only occurs every two to three years, hence the popular phrase “once in a blue moon.” This year’s blue moon also coincides with a supermoon, which is when the moon is at its closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit, appearing larger and brighter than usual.
The full sturgeon moon on August 1st was also a supermoon. There are multiple supermoons each year, meaning the moon is closer than usual to the Earth. However only one of those supermoons places the moon at its closest, and that is the supermoon happening at the end of this month. The super blue moon will peak around 9:30 p.m. on August 31st. So we should get the full show of it!
This is going to pack another spiritual punch. The moon moves out of Aquarius and into Pisces for this super blue moon. Full moons are a great time to set intentions, manifest, and receive blessings. But August’s super blue moon is thought to up the ante on full moon properties. This blue moon is believed to bring about a heightened sense of awareness and intuition. It is a time of increased emotional energy, making it an ideal time for healing, meditation, and spiritual practices.
The ultra-watery energy of August’s super blue moon in Pisces is opening your heart and mind to all the things bubbling up under the surface, forcing you to face your shadow self and lean into your spirituality. Pisces is the sign of all things mystical— like spirituality, the subconscious, and our dreams. Since this moon cycle is stationed in this magical sign, the rare lunation is a powerful moment to tap into our own psychic abilities, despite our own doubts or skepticism.
Although it sounds like August is piling on with a supermoon in Aquarius making us question our paths and the super blue moon in Pisces enhancing our intuition, these things do go hand in hand. By delving into our intuition, we can get an accurate sense of what we truly want and need, and we can use that to navigate our individuality while being an involved and active member of our communities. Take the time this month to sit and listen to yourself and trust your guiding voice as the moons put on a show for us.
Emily Guenther is a co-owner of The Broom Closet metaphysical shop. She is a Memphis native, professional tarot reader, ordained Pagan clergy, and dog mom.