Stock Market Volatility and Planning - 22-24 August
This week we enter harvest season! The Sun enters Virgo in the late hours of August 22 and in addition, we have a New Moon in Virgo at 0 degrees. The first decan of Virgo is associated with the Eight of Pentacles in Tarot and is ruled by both the Sun and Mercury, representing diligence and hard work, skill and craft. This is a fantastic New Moon to plan your last quarter of 2025 out with careful precision, to make any plans that require discipline, and to reflect on your hard work thus far. Virgo is premeditated and strategic, but can also adapt well as a mutable sign, utilising stable energy. During this season, be mindful of your mental and physical health and how to balance these two, especially with the Mars in Libra transit that, although in exile, is teaching us to be more considerate of our priorities and balances in life.
Now, one of the most fascinating days this week (18-24 August) is the 24th August. The Sun in Virgo will square Uranus in Gemini at 0’17 degrees highlighting its potency. Both Virgo and Gemini are ruled by Mercury making them intelligent and thought provoking signs. However, these two signs are not twins by any means. They are mutable and adaptable, but one (Virgo) is strategic and orthodox, the other (Gemini) is strategic only in a deceptive and ‘play get played’ manner. When these two square off on each other, it can create mixed values. In addition, the outer planet Uranus in the mix is throwing a curveball and highlighting tension and our ability to adapt to what is thrown at us.
Let’s analyse this in terms of current affairs as Uranus deals with external events, rather than our personal feelings. There has been much talk of stock market correction and volatility heading our way for the past few months, with some investment analysts stating from August to October it is ‘panic season’ (basically because it is harvesting time), and the market could crash as much as 10%. This uneasy aspect, that highlights Big Pharma and Communication stock, could suffer a poor run in returns. Particularly, if you are an Aquarius Rising I would suggest holding off for a few days if you want to invest. Now, this is not to say you have to panic, this is an aspect that suggests a shock or an unexpected event, so be ready to adapt and do not invest anything substantial in individual stocks related to these two themes.
In addition, the Sun in Virgo is quincunx Saturn, Neptune and Pluto, other outer planets that suggest volatility in the outside world. Saturn and Neptune in Aries, which highlights tensions in gas and oil markets, and Pluto in Aquarius (retrograde), adding AI and innovative new stocks to the mix alongside communication, will add multiple layers to our analysis on this theme. Venus, although making harmonious aspects to various planets, is also opposite Pluto, which can bring volatility and transformation to security and riches.
On a personal level, be ready to regulate your emotions when something does not go your way. Remember, when bad things happen in isolation it is a bad day and not a bad life. Be mindful of others trying to lead you into arguments and instead be prepared and ready by using the Sun and Moon in Virgo to plan ahead.