The Full Moon for August 2025 falls in Aquarius, the water-bearer, an image known for distributing water in his urn from the vast celestial river constellation Eridanus. This August 22 Full Moon is where things are likely to be dispersed and disseminated. It’s one of the more dynamic Full Moons we’ll see this year outside of eclipse season. And while the chart carries real tension, especially around accountability, there’s also a clear opening: something new (and beautiful) is beginning to take shape.
The Full Moon in Aquarius
This month’s Full Moon falls in the sign of Aquarius, a sign relating to human systems, shared structures, and the ways we live together at scale. Aquarius is ruled by Saturn and associated with engineering, infrastructure, and collective intelligence. It’s a social sign; its focus is on populations, histories, and ideas that hold groups together. When the Moon is full here, matters related to civic life, public sentiment, and structural realities often surface.
Every Full Moon involves an opposition – the Sun and Moon on opposite sides of the Earth, the Moon fully illuminated by the light it reflects. This moment of maximum visibility often coincides with a turning point, and that symbolic meaning sharpens when other oppositions are active. In this case, the Full Moon takes place alongside a tight Mars–Saturn opposition, forming a pair of tense axes that cut across the sky. We’ll explore that further, but the signature is clear: something is being tested, measured, or brought to account.
Though Saturn is not especially well placed at the moment, its sign Aquarius still speaks to progress and people. This sign is associated with ingenuity that responds to constraint, and with solutions that arise from the pressures of shared life. The tone of this lunation may be more serious than most, but for that same reason it is teeming with opportunity for bringing things back into good order. For those engaging with matters of community, process, or social cohesion, the conditions are even more active.
A Standoff Between Saturn and Mars…
This Full Moon arrives with one of the hardest classical aspects in astrology: Mars in exact opposition to Saturn. These are the two planets traditionally associated with pressure, conflict, and hardship. When they face off, the result is rarely subtle. This is a pattern of strain, visible in both people and systems. Force meets resistance, movement stalls, and limits are subject to challenge and breach.
Though some version of this aspect occurs roughly every six months, it doesn’t land this sharply every full Moon. But when it does, the effects are usually clear before they culminate. In the weeks ahead, watch for strong displays of control, escalating frustration, or sharpened divisions. Polarization is common, especially between action and authority. People may test limits, or become them. This is a time to observe how force and discipline interact.
If this cycle touches your chart, the themes will already be in motion. Mars–Saturn dynamics build slowly, surface through confrontation, but they do resolve over time. The next major shift arrives in April 2026, when the two planets meet again.
…and the Kiss Between Venus and Jupiter
Beyond the heavy initial tone of this lunation, Venus makes a bright and welcome conjunction with Jupiter – a moment of sweetness and opportunity for many. These are the two planets associated with pleasure, joy, and expansion. When they join forces, the atmosphere lightens. Generosity moves more easily, and connections open up.
This meeting takes place in Cancer, a sign tied to nourishment, protection, and belonging. The emphasis leans domestic, but its implications travel further. At the collective level, this configuration supports easing in foreign relations and trade agreements, as Cancer is associated with foreign trade conducted over water and through ports. In the U.S., we may see movement on tariffs or international treaties where alignment had stalled.
In personal life, this is a signature of openheartedness. Desires may grow louder, as will appetites for affection, comfort, beauty, and meaning. There’s warmth here, but with that comes risk of excess in the ‘good life’. Jupiter amplifies whatever it touches, and Venus in this placement may not always know when to stop. Still, for many, this aspect brings a needed reminder: we need room for joy in our lives. Enjoy the moment, even if it doesn’t linger.
An End to the Mercury Retrograde
Within days of the Full Moon, Mercury turns direct, clearing a path that’s felt delayed or tangled. What was hard to see may come into clearer view, and plans that felt provisional can begin to firm up. Plans should be easier to act on now, and the pace of decision-making will likely pick up.
The Moon Passing Through the Stars of the Dolphin, Delphinus
This month’s full Moon appears amidst the stars of Delphinus, a small but storied constellation long associated with playfulness, music, and sudden rescue. The Dolphin’s image has charmed astrologers and mythographers alike: a swift, joyful creature, known for its intelligence and its bonds with humankind. But as with many things drawn from the sea, the surface gloss can distract from something deeper.
Who is Delphinus?
In myth, Delphinus appears as the savior of Arion, a musician thrown overboard by sailors and carried to safety on the dolphin’s back. In another story, it’s Delphinus who persuades Amphitrite to marry Poseidon – a matchmaker of the deep, rewarded by the gods with a place among the stars. These motifs echo with themes of helpful intercession, mediation, and persuasion. The Dolphin delivers, convinces, even charms. It acts on behalf of others, and seems to take pleasure in bringing relief to the hearts of others.
But classical authors didn’t limit their view to charm. Delphinus was also said to describe those with “double intentions” – faces that smiled while withholding their true motives. Cheerful on the outside, sharp on the inside. This is the Dolphin as a performer: one who entertains, disarms, or redirects attention when stakes are high. Under this symbolism, delight and duplicity often intermingle, ramping up potential for being misdirected.
The question isn’t whether help is truly being given. It’s whether that help is cleanly given, or if some part of it conceals a private aim. The coming weeks may show smiling faces doing serious work behind the scenes – and that work may be strategic. In some situations, the outcome may matter more than the motive. But where the terms of alliance are loose or shifting, some offers of help may take the form of the Dolphin: eager, persuasive, and not entirely transparent.
Seasonal Horoscope Guidance: Middle of Summer
August brings us through the heart of summer – a season defined by heat, dryness, and movement. The days are long, the light intense, and the pace of life can feel both exciting and overfull. This is when summer’s qualities reach their peak: plans accelerate, responsibilities pile up, and the push toward visibility and action grows stronger. That can be invigorating, but we all know the downside: energy and focus depletion.
The body responds to seasonal shifts, even when we don’t notice. As heat accumulates, moisture diminishes – not only in the air, but in our systems too. The result is a tendency toward dryness: digestion becomes more sensitive, sleep can grow lighter, and irritability may surface more easily. We’re looking to stay engaged without tipping into burnout. In this season, more isn’t always better. What’s needed is focus, pacing, and the right kind of fuel.
Fire Signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius)
Summer matches your natural rhythm, and that can be both a blessing and a trap. You thrive on heat and intensity, but this time of year can tempt you to overdo it. Irritability, dryness, or fatigue may follow periods of nonstop activity. Aim to slow your mornings and protect your afternoons. Take a little extra time for shade and stillness. Cooked vegetables, lightly dressed grains, and cooling herbs like mint or rose help anchor your system. Hydrate proactively, especially when you’re exerting energy. Rest is easier when you don’t wait until you’re empty.
Earth Signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn)
This season’s dryness combines with your grounded nature to harden routines and tighten focus, sometimes too much. Summer needs more flexibility than you usually prefer, and that can be a good thing. Try introducing variety without losing your established rhythm: a different walking route, a new flavor, a shared meal outdoors. Digestion for true earth types should be more sensitive now, so avoid cold or heavy foods. Lightly spiced meals and warm grains bring a bit of balance. You don’t need to overhaul everything, just stay open enough to let the season move through you.
Air Signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius)
This season energizes ours minds, but it often scatters attention. For Gemini and Libra specifically, the warmth and motion of summer amplify quick thinking, but they can also wear down reserves (which Aquarius has bit more of, inherently). When days feel overfull, give shape to your time with simple rituals: regular meals, brief walks, and firm boundaries around screen use. Grounding foods like root vegetables, beans, and warm grains help bring the mind back to the body. Plan some quiet evenings to yourself. Protect your edges so your center can stay steady.
Water Signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces)
Dryness affects you more than most. Summer’s pace can stir emotional reactivity, sleep disruption, or a sense of being overstimulated. Your system thrives on rhythm and replenishment. Stick to steady meals – nothing too raw or cold – and be generous with fluids. Warm teas, soups, and simple stews help regulate digestion and mood. Early mornings and late evenings offer the gentlest windows for movement. Avoid rushing or overcommitting, but do keep yourself social for the emotional moisture this season needs.
Sabian Symbol for 16° Aquarius: A Watchdog Standing Guard, Protecting His Master and His Possessions
This is a degree concerned with guardianship: the act of watching, waiting, and holding the line. The image centers on protection, but not protection in the abstract. This is physical, situated, and responsive. A dog, stationed at the edge of home or perimeter, senses change before it arrives. It listens for movement. It’s there to react – and sometimes, to warn before threat is fully visible.
Fear also finds its place here. Not always rational, not always named, but present in the atmosphere: the sense that something could be taken, that exposure comes with risk. Suspicion travels easily in times like these, especially when the body stays in a heightened state. Paranoia is a version of protection, just one that’s lost its bearings. And jealousy often emerges from the same root – the fear that what we care about may be slipping beyond reach.
The Mars–Saturn opposition in this Full Moon chart lends further weight to these themes. Pressure builds. Defenses rise. Responses come with force or finality. The pace may feel compressed, but it’s not directionless. Each movement now carries consequence. These are the conditions under which alertness becomes its own kind of narrative, and where the sound of a bark (or a dogwhistle!) can change the rhythm of a day.
Your August 2025 Full Moon Horoscope
Here’s what this full Moon may bring into view for each sign, especially around pressure, support, and something new beginning to take shape.
Aries
You might be feeling the brunt of the Mars–Saturn opposition more than most, dear Aries. If frustrations are peaking, try not to take the bait. This full Moon favors pulling back a little, tending to private things, and spending time with the people who give you a sense of meaning. If you can create space for quiet or low-stakes companionship, you’ll find something nourishing there. Not everything has to be solved this week, some things just need air.
Taurus
This full Moon highlights support from behind the scenes – people with resources, influence, or insight who are genuinely interested in your success. Keep an eye on the professional landscape, Taurus, where a bit of competition may be emerging. But there’s room for multiple paths forward right now. Your mind will be your ally: sharpen your message, stay consistent in what you say and how you say it. That steadiness of tone will unlock doors and bring key opportunities into reach.
Gemini
This full Moon brings some of the most fortunate financial indicators you’ve seen in a while. Gains are possible – through work, through smart investing, or through new opportunities that arise quickly. There’s momentum in your professional life, and romance looks bright too, with chances to meet new people and enjoy lighter, easier connections. Just keep an eye on your limits. The chart points to overload as a risk coming into this full Moon, both at work and at home, so go easy.
Cancer
Of all the signs, yours may have the sweetest full Moon this month. With Venus and Jupiter coming together on your ascendant, this is a time of ease, attraction, and soft openings. New relationships can begin now – with people, with ideas, with places. There’s a strong hint here of new travel or study, or the decision to step toward something unfamiliar. It’s natural to feel cautious, but this chart rewards your trust. Say yes, and keep your friends close so you can share the joy of what’s ahead.
Leo
This is a social full Moon for you, Leo, bringing chances to reconnect with friends or meet new people who feel like easy company. It’s also a good moment to revisit personal goals that have been waiting in the wings – things that matter to you but haven’t had your focus. Around the house, basic upkeep could use attention, especially anything involving leaks or wear. Financially, take a cautious approach for now. Larger moves should make more sense later in the fall.
Virgo
This full Moon brings the Mars–Saturn opposition across your first and seventh houses, highlighting tension between your own priorities and those of a close partner or ally. It may feel like you’re not quite on the same page. But this is a passing phase, not a permanent condition, so keep steady. In other areas, the chart shows meaningful progress, especially in friendship or a long-standing personal goal. If the timing is right, it could also be smart to review your investment plans.
Libra
Excellent indications of career developments this month, with signs that familiar faces close to home may offer just the kind of lift you need. It’s a good time to reconnect with those in your immediate environment who bring out the best in you – and to recognize that progress doesn’t always come from far afield. That said, there’s a gentle caution here: overindulgence or slipping out of routine could dull your edge. Try to enjoy the comforts on offer without losing sight of your longer game.
Scorpio
If you’ve been thinking about travel, study, or starting something that stretches your worldview, this full Moon backs you. It’s an excellent time to book that international trip, begin a language course, or pursue advanced studies. Some tension may linger in your personal life – more friction than you’d like – but the skies offer smoother roads in career and partnership. Those areas hold real potential for the month ahead, and focusing your efforts there could yield both clarity and support for the other things going on in life.
Sagittarius
The South Node sits on your midheaven this full Moon, and your career ruler Mercury is nearly motionless before turning direct, a setup that calls for real care in what you say and do. This isn’t a time for shortcuts or offhand comments. Even small lapses in judgment could ripple further than you’d expect, especially in professional settings. You’re known for speaking freely, but now’s the time to pause and weigh your words. What you avoid now, you won’t have to clean up later.
Capricorn
This full Moon brings one of the clearest signals all year that others are showing up for you – in love, in work, and in general goodwill. The Venus–Jupiter conjunction still building on your descendant shows promise in relationships of all kinds, with easy developments taking shape. That said, your own thoughts may be more strained than the world around you. Don’t retreat. This is a time to stay engaged, make commitments, and move things forward.
Aquarius
Romantic matters get a boost under this full Moon, whether you’re seeking new connection or strengthening an existing bond. If life has felt off-rhythm lately, that phase should settle soon – expect more steady pacing after Labor Day. Hold back from overextending yourself at work this month, especially with eclipse season coming up in September. Instead, pour your energy into creative efforts or small upgrades around the house. These are the places where your time will be best spent.
Pisces
This full Moon brings the Mars–Saturn opposition to the angles of your chart, which often signals events in the world around you needing your attention – even if you’re not directly involved. You may find yourself managing things on behalf of others, or stepping in to keep something on track. Still, the outlook is bright. There are strong indicators of romantic movement, especially if things have been quiet for a while. It’s also a great time for writing and professional growth.
Horoscope Author
Wade Caves, based in Brooklyn, NY, is an astrological consultant and educator specializing in problem-solving applications of astrology. He teaches astrological divination and astronomy at the School of Traditional Astrology. Wade also publishes his work on world astrology through Skyscript’s In Mundo publishing desk. He even hosts the World Astrology Summit. A conference dedicated to the advancement of astrology for global problem-solving. Website: wadecaves.com • skyscript.co.uk/inmundo. Email: hello@wadecaves.com.
Story by Wade Caves
Photo Courtesy of filmplusdigital
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