Why Sitting It Out is the Best Advice!
The Moon entered Sagittarius today. It’s getting ready to become the third point of a triangle that connects three planets in the three fire signs–a grand trine in fire. The grand trine starts just after midnight Thursday night on the west coast. The final connection the Moon makes with these other planets is at 6 a.m. Pacific time on Friday. As you can imagine, with all three fire signs lit up, this transit is full of energy, excitement, optimism, and motivation. But interestingly, there’s a good reason to sit this transit out. I’ll tell you why, and what to expect if you don’t! Read on to learn how to get the most out of Friday’s grand trine in fire.
Moon in Sagittarius
The Moon represents our emotions, our inner self, or the private part of us. It tends to be susceptible to outside influence, so we often keep it protected. Sagittarius, on the other hand, is excitement, adventure, optimism, exploration, and a gluttony for all experiences and all knowledge.
When Luna finds herself in Sagittarius, many of her natural tendencies are overwhelmed. Normally a homebody, she overflows with wanderlust. A road trip is in order and she quickly checks off the list of important things: tunes, gas, and snacks. She puts the pedal to the metal and dances in her seat as she heads off who-knows-where with a plan to arrive who-knows-when. This girl just wants to have fun!
Fire and Air Kite
And the party she’s on a collision course with is the grand trine in fire. More specifically, not only a grand trine, but also what’s called a “kite” configuration. This happens when a fourth planet is opposite to one of the three planets in the grand trine. The shape made from this arrangement looks like a kite.
Accordingly, this fourth planet becomes the top or leading edge of the kite, while the planet opposite becomes the tail. Because the kite configuration is made up of three trines and two sextiles (easy aspects) and only one opposition (hard aspect), you can see that the image of a kite flying easily–with some ballast and stability from the tail–makes a nice metaphor for this aspect pattern.
The planet that turns a grand trine in fire into a kite will be in an air sign. So we can imagine focus, clarity, balance, and intelligence leading the passion and assertiveness of this grand fire trine. Sounds like a good thing, right? It could be, if it weren’t for one main problem.
The Bad News
So let’s talk about the planets in this fire trine. We know the Moon will be in Sagittarius. It trines Jupiter in Leo, then trines Saturn in Aries. Then ultimately it perfects the sextile to Venus in her own sign, Libra.
- Aug 21, 00:25 PT (07:25 UT): Moon at 11°25’ Sagittarius, Trine Jupiter
- Aug 21, 05:42 PT (12:42 UT): Venus at 14°11’ Libra, opposite Saturn
- Aug 21, 06:02 PT (13:02 UT): Moon at 14°11’ Sagittarius, Trine Saturn
- Aug 21, 06:03 PT (13:03 UT): Moon at 14°12’ Sagittarius, Sextile Venus
So this transit includes both Venus and Jupiter, the two helpful planets. Even better, right? Well, Saturn has two hits against it: it’s in Aries, the sign of its fall, and it’s retrograde. And this is where it gets interesting, and why avoiding the grand trine is your best bet to using it wisely!
Keeping in mind that Saturn is retrograde, Jupiter is moving towards (applying to) Saturn. Meanwhile, Venus, once she completes her opposition to Saturn, is moving away from (separating from) Saturn. Astrologers say that Jupiter is casting a ray before Saturn (retrograde, moving back toward Jupiter) while Venus is casting a ray behind Saturn.
With the two benefic planets in aspect to Saturn, one before and one behind, we call this a benefic enclosure. It helps Saturn out a lot, and Saturn could use the help! So what’s the problem? The Moon! It gets in the way while it’s actively moving through the grand trine in fire! The Moon prevents the benefic enclosure of Saturn until after it passes all three planets. So only once the Moon is separating from all three planets does Saturn start to benefit from the benefic enclosure.
Saturn, The Grumpy Old Man
So what happens while the Moon is forming this exciting grand trine but interfering with the benefic enclosure of Saturn? Saturn, the original grumpy old man, is particularly disgruntled. Retrograde in a cardinal fire sign, he will do his best to throw up every road block imaginable to anything you’re trying to do. He’ll dig in his heels and cross his arms and somehow weigh three times what he normally weighs. It’s kind of like a grumpy old man crossed with a toddler in his terrible twos! Saturn will hold things up, slow things down, and prevent you from starting whatever you’re trying to put your energy toward.
Here’s another example. As the grand trine forms, the old man (Saturn) is in the hospital. A priest (Jupiter) enters to help him, and a nurse (Venus) is on her way. But then an excitable child (the Moon) rushes into the room and starts irritating the old man. The nurse then arrives, but she can’t help the old man because of the hyperactive child. It’s not until the child leaves that the nurse and priest are able to bring comfort to the old man.
The grand trine in fire only lasts for the day–you could say that the adventurous child is still roaming the halls, but the priest and nurse shut the door to give the old man quiet.
That said, once the Moon has moved away, then the benefic enclosure takes place, and the grand trine starts working with a much happier Saturn. He’s less likely to try to impede, stonewall, or block the fiery motivation and energy that you’re trying to capture.
So just wait for the Moon to separate from Venus before you take advantage of the energy of charisma, excitement, adventure, optimism, self-expression, and individuality.
How to Use the Grand Trine in Fire Energy
Best time: You can get both the benefic enclosure and the grand trine in fire starting at 6:04 a.m. PT, up until about 2 p.m. PT. The benefic enclosure lasts until the Moon again interrupts it from a few angles starting August 23.
The fire energy: A grand trine in fire energizes, excites, and expresses. However, because fire is hot and dry, it can irritate, burn, or dehydrate. The Venus in Libra kite balances some of this. Use the grand trine in fire if you need an energy boost, to light a fire under you, or start something you’re having trouble starting. I’m looking forward to getting fired up about something and I anticipate a double dose of inspiration and motivation.
What happens if I don’t wait: Saturn retrograde in Aries will cause problems and delays. It will feel like driving with the parking break on.
What happens if I wait: You can much more easily overcome Saturn’s starting friction and dive into a new project or creative effort. But choose one you want to last–Saturn loves commitment!
The benefic enclosure: With support from Jupiter and Venus, Saturn will offer wisdom, structure, and a strong foundation to build on.
Who is most susceptible to this energy: People with fire placements, particularly those in Aries, where Saturn is transiting. People in their Saturn return will also want to be wise in how they navigate this energy!
Want Help Understanding this Transit in Your Chart?
Book a session! I offer tarot readings and astrology consultations to help you avoid the pitfalls and get the most out of life! I offer Zoom sessions or in-person in Burien, WA. Schedule here.
