Two full moons in August? The celestial phase is, quite literally, doubling down for an end-of-summer finale.
You'll notice the next full moon, a.k.a. the Sturgeon Moon, is slated for Tuesday, August 1. Its successor, the Blue Moon, will take place on Wednesday, August 30. All that's to say we're going to be in for a pretty intense experience, astrologically speaking. (Let's not forget all of the planets in retrograde at the moment.)
"Full moons are emotional times in which information comes to light, endings occur or things reach climax. If two are sandwiched in one month, it's going to be automatically emotional," our in-house astrologer, Narayana Montúfar says. "And that doesn't necessarily mean bad."
So what can we expect, and why does Montúfar suggest in her August horoscope that we're in for a dose of nostalgia? Here's what you need to know.
There'll be two full Moons in August—here's what to expect
We're going to feel like we're in a bit of a funk thanks to these full moons and corresponding retrogrades. (Thank you, Venus and Mercury.) Expect your projects to take more time to complete and prepare for a bit of sluggishness. Plus, perhaps most importantly, old flames, previous experiences and so forth will resurface during this time, but that doesn't mean you need to take a step backward a la Venus, Mercury, and pals.
"You're going to have something from your past coming back," Montúfar warns. "That's nostalgia, so it's really important that the past comes back for closure and to be fully processed. But it's not about regressing. It's about seeking learning."
As much as we're going to get reminders of things that already took place in our lives, two full moons in one month also offers the opportunity to look ahead. Examine those 'ol things that no longer serve you and think about how you'd like to proceed.
"It's a really good month to start wrapping up previous relationships and moving away from toxic relationships," Montúfar adds.
August 1 Full Moon: The Sturgeon Moon
Though you might experience a case of déjà vu, remember to keep your eyes on the prize about what's ahead when you move forward.
"The August 1 full moon happens in Aquarius and so that full moon is really positive for taking big leaps, even though it's retrograde season," Montúfar notes. "It is a really good full moon to just cut chords with the past and move to the future, and Aquarius is the sign of the future—it shows the way we can start growing."
August 30 Full Moon: The Blue Moon
Expect the "Pisces flavor of dreams and fantasy" to romanticize things during the final full moon of August, but it's going to be important to discern what's tangible vs. what's not at this time.
"It's thinking about how important it is to stay present in the moment right now," Montúfar notes. "With tech taking off with a rapid speed, with imminent change, it's really important to keep our spirituality awakened."
How to prepare for the two full moons in August
As is the case during a heavy retrograde season, take the time to review and adjust accordingly, but don't be hasty with your decision-making. Also, it's time to make peace with the past that comes back around and learn from it rather than dwell in it. Think of ways you can carry on without a burden weighing you down. If all of this sounds like a lot to grapple with, we suggest taking a break to enjoy self-care activities.
What happens after the two full moons in August?
Once we move past August's two full moons, we'll be treated to a refresh of energy ahead of autumn. Plus, the scattered, all-over-the-place sensation will be behind us.
"We're going to have a better idea of how we want to move forward with everything that happened," Montúfar insists. "We're not going to feel uninspired. We're going to be ready to tackle anything and know what we want to focus our energy on. We're going to be more focused."
We're ready for it all!
