DR. G’s FLUTE HOROSCOPES August 2021

by Dr. Rachel Taylor Geier

Happy August! The Summer is quickly coming to a close and activities are ramping up as we approach the new school year and performance season. Mars will be stationed in one place all month, directing your focus to a particular area of flute life. Time to roll up your sleeves and get to work! Mercury and Venus will be tango dancing around two adjacent houses, only to join forces by the end of the month. These two will encourage you to communicate from the heart. Try to be as transparent as possible with students, colleagues, teachers, family, and friends. Upload those bohemian virtues toted in movies such as Moulin Rouge of truth, beauty, freedom, and above all things love. Play from the heart. Speak from the heart. And create beautiful art all from the heart this month.

Leo (July 23-August 22) HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Mars is in your 2^nd house of income all month. You will be very productive at work this month, Leo! Whether it is working on major projects (such as culminating summer recitals or masterclasses) or searching for you next big break (auditioning, perhaps), you will be Rockstar Flutist of the Month, shining brighter than ever before.

August 8^th – New Moon in your 1^st house of identity. You will receive a new opportunity from the Universe to do or create something that only you can design. This is a great time to start preparing for your next (very unique) recital or to start working on that CD or website you have always wanted to create. The World wants something new from you!

August 11^th – Mercury moves into your 2^nd house of income. This is a great time to chat with your boss about any promotional opportunities that may be coming down the pipes. Are there principal parts that your conductor could assign to you for the upcoming season? Schedule a coffee chat to explore the possibilities. If not, are there other groups searching for a flutist? Send a few emails and see what is out there!

August 16^th - Venus moves into your 3^rd house of communication. Venus in the 3^rd house will help to sweeten any difficult conversations. Do you need to have an open, honest conversation with a student’s parents about practice expectations? Send a professional email requesting a meeting to discuss practical ways to meet these expectations that work best for the student and accomplish all of your pedagogical objectives.

August 22^nd – Full Moon in your 7^th house of relationships. There may be a toxic relationship in your environment that needs to change or possibly end around the time of this Full Moon. Do you have an overly competitive colleague that tends to create unnecessary drama out of tiny, artistic disputes? Meet with them over a cup of coffee and talk it out. There may be some deeper-seeded misunderstandings that need to be cleared.

August 22^nd – Sun moves into your 2^nd house of income. You may be receiving a job offer or new responsibilities in your current position when the Sun moves signs. Congrats! Perhaps your conductor has indeed agreed to assign a principal part (or two) to you for an upcoming performance. Start prepping now!

August 30^th – Mercury moves into your 3^rd house of communication. Write up a storm when the planet of communication (Mercury) moves into the house of communication. Venus is also still in this house, which means your writing will flow freely and easily. This is a great time to start a blog or a YouTube channel. What great ideas do you have about performing and/or teaching? Write them out and publish!

Virgo (August 23-September 22)

Mars is in your 1^st house of identity all month. This is a great time to work on fundamentals from the ground up, Virgo. What would you like to change about your tone? Is there a famous flutist whose tone you most admire? Immerse yourself in recordings of their playing, analyzing each phrase and change of tone color. Check out their website or, if brave, reach out to them directly. What books or studies do they suggest?

August 8^th – New Moon in your 12^th house of behind-the-scenes activities. You will be working on a new piece in the practice room around the time of this New Moon. Perhaps this is a work you heard at a recent masterclass or on a recording. Plan out your practice strategy – What sections will you need to devote the most time to?

August 11^th – Mercury moves into your 1^st house of identity. This is a great time to set up a flute blog or a YouTube channel to discuss some of your most favorite practice and performing tips. Research and analyze the new piece you are working on. Is there a story behind the music? Who is the composer and why did they write this work? How does it speak to you?

August 16^th - Venus moves into your 2^nd house of income. Venus will make you quite popular at work. This is the perfect time to host a masterclass. Your students will value what you have to say and your unique way of explaining concepts. Demonstrate more than discuss and your audience will walk away with some very practical flute tips.

August 22^nd – Full Moon in your 6^th house of daily work and health routines. Something in your daily grind will need to change or be redelegated to someone else around the time of this Full Moon. Are you on a committee that you no longer have time for? Did you agree to be the page turner at an event that conflicts with a pre-scheduled performance? It is okay to back out if you need to reprioritize. Search for a colleague to take over your responsibilities.

August 22^nd – Sun moves into your 1^st house of identity. You will want a makeover when the Sun moves into your 1^st house. This could be a makeover for your playing (revisit the question Mars asked at the beginning of the month – what would you like to change about your flute playing?), for your flute (what upgrades can you afford at the moment – New headjoint or crown?), your flute gear (time for a new flute bag?), or your music (what new etude books can you add to your collection?). Start devising your ultimate wish list!

August 30^th – Mercury moves into your 2^nd house of income. If you can, try to schedule any interviews or auditions when Mercury moves into your 2^nd house. This is great energy for clearly explaining your skills, strengths, and what makes you unique as a flutist (or, if in an audition scenario, showing the panel these things through your playing). Keep calm, cool, and confident regardless of the outcome.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

Mars is in your 12^th house of behind-the-scenes activities all month. You will be practicing up a storm this month, Libra. Practice all of the things. Dig out those super challenging etude books that you’ve buried in your collection. Purchase copies of that really interesting piece you heard at a recent masterclass. Practice excerpts that are often ignored at the expense of the more popular passages. Memorize a few old favorites.

August 8^th – New Moon in your 11^th house of groups and communities. The New Moon may present you with an opportunity to join a new performing group. Keep your eyes and ears open for any openings that may spring up out of nowhere. Don’t think – Just audition! The Universe is paving a way for you to connect with new musicians in your community.

August 11^th – Mercury moves into your 12^th house of behind-the-scenes activities. Do you have a flute blog yet? This is a great time to discuss some of your best kept practice tips. How do you organize your practice time? How do you break down a challenging technical passage or build up to a performance ready tempo? How many breaks do you take and when do you like to practice? What are your favorite method books and scale exercises? Share your tips with a larger audience!

August 16^th - Venus moves into your 1^st house of identity. You will be quite popular when Venus moves into your 1^st house. This is the perfect time to host a recital or virtual performance. Get the word out about your performance on all of your various social media platforms. Go for it and enjoy your diva moment!

August 22^nd – Full Moon in your 5^th house of joy and creativity. A creative project that you had been working on may not be shaping up the way you thought. Tough decisions may need to be made around the time of this Full Moon. Has your composition taken far too much time to finish by your deadline? No worries – Ask yourself where you can streamline. Do you really need those extra dance movements or can you save them for a separate dance suite down the road? Sometimes less is more.

August 22^nd – Sun moves into your 12^th house of behind-the-scenes activities. Your attention will again shift to the practice room when the Sun changes signs. Use this time to experiment with different practice techniques that are outside of your norm. Do you own a breathing bag? Or a small trampoline? When was the last time you recorded yourself and listened critically? Practice your typical routine in reverse order – What did it tell you about the time you allocate to certain repertoire or exercises? Try it out, keep the techniques that worked, and blog about the rest.

August 30^th – Mercury moves into your 1^st house of identity. This is a great time to discuss project or performance ideas with a trusted mentor, conductor, or another colleague. You may have an idea of a really interesting lecturer recital program, but need to talk it out with someone to work out some of the details. They will help you think outside of the box.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

Mars is in your 11^th house of groups and communities all month. Scorpio, it is time to emerge from under the rock you have been living and join the party. There are a number of groups in your community that are in need of a flutist with your unique skills. Make connections and take all of the auditions you can this month. Remaster all of those excerpts that you have been ignoring (You know the ones! Daphnis – I’m looking at you..). Polish any repertoire that really shows off your playing. You will likely be joining a number of new groups by month’s end. 

August 8^th – New Moon in your 10^th house of career goals. As your commitment to auditioning becomes the focus this month, the New Moon will likely present you with a brand-new career opportunity either directly related or closely connected to your efforts in the audition circuit. You are on fire about your flute playing, Scorpio. Use that passion to focus on this new opportunity and what it may lead to in the future.

August 11^th – Mercury moves into your 11^th house of groups and communities. Chat with conductors and other members of the flute sections in the groups you are auditioning into. How do they like the ensemble? What pieces are programmed for the upcoming season? Are there any opportunities to collaborate outside of the group for chamber music performances or joint masterclasses? Connect and make new friends!

August 16^th - Venus moves into your 12^th house of behind-the-scenes activities. Okay – now you may escape to your rock for a moment, Scorpio. Venus will have you enjoying your time in the practice room. It is likely that you have joined a new group and are very excited to start working on new repertoire. Be patient with yourself during the learning process – You will not be Jean-Pierre Rampal overnight. Practice your music carefully in chunks, devise strategic places to breathe, and carefully create interesting tone color changes in any exposed, melodic sections.

August 22^nd – Full Moon in your 4^th house of home and family. Something in your studio environment may need to change around the time of this Full Moon. Perhaps your practice space is not working very well. What can you do to refresh this space? Remove any old, bulky furniture and broken music stands and replace with something a bit more streamlined. What artwork do you have on your walls? Can you replace this with something a bit more inspiring? Update any technology and replace any old power strips.

August 22^nd – Sun moves into your 11^th house of groups and communities. Your focus will be squarely on the performing ensembles you recently joined. Be as professional as possible when meeting with your new colleagues. Find your place in the larger sound of the group by carefully listening to pitch tendencies, vibrato speeds, and any other nuances in your section. Avoid outplaying – You will sparkle more as a true team member.

August 30^th – Mercury moves into your 12^th house of behind-the-scenes activities. Do you have a flute blog or YouTube channel? This is a great time to blog about your favorite practice tips. How did you prepare for your auditions? What did you learn through the audition process? What advice would you give other flutists auditioning for other groups? Post and share!

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)

Mars is in your 10^th house of career goals all month. Dream big this month, Sag! Mars will encourage you to take a critical look at both your short-term and long-term career goals. Where do you want to be in the next year? What is the next step you need to get there? Is it mastering repertoire for your next recital? Is it preparing for an audition in a local ensemble? What is your ultimate dream goal for your flute playing? Be honest with yourself! Sometimes we focus on goals given to us by other people that are not quite reflective of who we want to be. Take the road less traveled!

August 8^th – New Moon in your 9^th house of travel and higher education. You may be embarking on a new course of study around the time of this New Moon. Mars may have helped uncover a deficiency or two to address in order to get from point A to point B. This new educational opportunity will help you gain new experience and strengthen your existing skills. Make the most out of your studies – What can you learn now that will have the most impact in the future?

August 11^th – Mercury moves into your 10^th house of career goals. Schedule a time to meet with a career counselor or a trusted mentor, perhaps one that is currently in a position that you would like to have some day. Is your goal to perform principal flute with a national symphony? Reach out to someone already in a similar role for a short informational interview. Research their bio and similar bios. What did they do to get from where you are in your career to landing a position in an orchestra? What is the next step?

August 16^th - Venus moves into your 11^th house of groups and communities. You will be quite popular in your performing groups when Venus moves signs. Play out your parts and have a great time meshing with other players. Connect with your colleagues outside of rehearsal as well. What are they working on? Are there any opportunities to collaborate?

August 22^nd – Full Moon in your 3^rd house of communication. A writing project you had been working on will need some serious revisions around the time of this Full Moon. Carefully proofread your work or let a trusted colleague serve as a second set of eyes. Where can you streamline your thoughts? Have you veered off-topic? Are your examples well-researched and supportive of your overall idea? Edit what can be edited and abandon whatever does not add to your ideas.

August 22^nd – Sun moves into your 10^th house of career goals. Your focus will shift back onto your career goals when the Sun moves signs. Mars may have stirred up so many ideas that you find yourself overwhelmed by all of the to-dos needed to accomplish everything. Stick to your top three most important priorities. Make your action plans reasonable, attainable, measurable, and important.

August 30^th – Mercury moves into your 11^th house of groups and communities. Do you have a flute blog? This is a great time to write about some of your most cherished ensemble secrets. What makes a good principal flute player? What does a second flutist need to do to adapt to the principal? How can a piccolo player best blend with the ensemble? Write about some of your own experiences and the lessons you walked away with at pivot moments in your career.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

Mars is in your 9^th house of travel and higher education all month. Vacationing, Cap? You will likely be traveling to anywhere and everywhere you (safely) can. You may have felt a bit cooped up over the past few months. What venues are reopening? Is there a concert in the park you can attend? Plan a trip to the beach to unwind. Visit a museum that may now be open to the public. Venture out as much as possible! Leave your flute at home.

August 8^th – New Moon in your 8^th house of banking and finance. You may be looking into making a rather large purchase in the next few months. Is it a new house? A new flute? Renting a new studio location? What are the financial resources currently available to you? Schedule a meeting with your local banking institution to discuss possible loans and credit options. You may be able to make your purchase sooner than you thought.

August 11^th – Mercury moves into your 9^th house of travel and higher education. This is a great time to teach! Are you hosting a masterclass in your community or virtually with an institution in another city or state? Mercury will help you explain concepts to masterclass participants clearly and professionally. What can you also learn from performers? Is there a better way to teach lessons on tone, technique, or musicianship?

August 16^th - Venus moves into your 10^th house of career goals. Take a step back when Venus moves signs to think about what you truly love about flute playing? Do you love to teach? How can you bring more students into your studio? Is there a local band or orchestra program that you can collaborate with? If performing with an orchestra is what you love, are there other groups searching for a flutist? Start brushing up your excerpts!

August 22^nd – Full Moon in your 2^nd house of income. One of your income streams may be coming to an end around the time of this Full Moon. You may be losing a student. Try not to panic – Playing the flute isn’t for everybody. Have an open, honest chat with your student. Where are they coming from? Are they trying to make their parents happy by taking flute lessons or are they genuinely interested in the flute but struggling with some of the concepts? How can you better support them if they continue with their studies?

August 22^nd – Sun moves into your 9^th house of travel and higher education. Your attention will once again veer off into the clouds, planning your next adventure. The summer is almost over and you would like nothing else than to plan one last get-a-way. Take a fishing trip to the mountains. Drive to your nearest national park and learn about its rich history and environmental significance. Again, leave your flute at home.

August 30^th – Mercury moves into your 10th house of career goals. Write it all out when Mercury changes signs! Now that you have identified which career objectives make you truly happy, you will need to establish a few action plans. What are the steps needed to get from where you are right now in your career to your ultimate professional goal? Create a list of both short-term and long-term goals and deadlines by which you wish to complete each step.

Aquarius (January 20-February 18)

Mars is in your 8^th house of banking and finance all month. Mars will ask you to save, save, and then save some more. There is something that you have your eye on (a new flute, perhaps) but you are nowhere close to having the money you need to make a purchase right now. Where can you save money in your current budget to increase your savings? Are there any subscriptions, services, or paycheck add-ons that you can alter or remove to boost your take home pay? Do you have time to add a part-time day job to your schedule for a few extra bucks? Think outside of the box.

August 8^th – New Moon in your 7^th house of relationships. You will make an important new connection around the time of this New Moon. Attending a masterclass (virtual or otherwise)? Chat up your colleagues and contribute to any group conversations. You will likely share ideas with a similarly-minded flutist who urges you to think more creatively about flute playing. Are there any opportunities to collaborate? Share contact info!

August 11^th – Mercury moves into your 8^th house of banking and finance. This is a great time to schedule a meeting with your local banking institution. Do they have any loan or savings programs available to help you make your purchase? Connect with instrument retailers as well – There may be financing options available to help you make your purchase over a number of months with smaller, more manageable repayment plans. What makes the most sense for your current budget?

August 16^th - Venus moves into your 9^th house of travel and higher education. Have you always wanted to play the guitar? Or learn to play a drum kit? Venus will ask you to take a trip out of your comfort zone and learn something new. Have patience as you learn a new instrument – The approach will be very different from the flute and may require the strength of muscles other than the embrochure to form a sound. Schedule regular practice to build your skills slowly.

August 22^nd – Full Moon in your 1^st house of identity. Something in your life is just not working. It may be your schedule, your job, or even your wardrobe (I am reminded of Drusela from Disney’s Cinderella throwing down a strand of green beads, shouting, “These beads! I’m sick of looking at them!!!” That is the gist of this Full Moon). What are you less than satisfied with? Go shopping for new beads! Remove time-wasters from your schedule. Find a job with better hours or a better environment. Out with the old and in with the new.

August 22^nd – Sun moves into your 8^th house of banking and finance. Your focus with shift back onto your large purchase. How much have you saved so far? Are you ready to sign on the dotted line for any financing arrangements? Do you have a wealthy relative offering to help with a down-payment? Create a purchasing timeline. What is your goal?

August 30^th – Mercury moves into your 9th house of travel and higher education. This is a great time to host a masterclass or presentation (held virtually or otherwise). Mercury is encouraging you to share your expertise with a much larger audience. Work with local band and orchestra instructors to host a flute masterclass on upcoming All-State audition repertoire. What are your most helpful tips?

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Mars is in your 7^th house of relationships all month. You will be networking all month, Pisces. Connect with flutists all over the globe by attending virtual masterclasses and conventions. Reply to questions on flute forums. Gather your courage and reach out to other professional flutists to schedule informational interviews. How did they build their flute playing careers and what advice do they have for you on your journey to becoming a professional flutist?

August 8^th – New Moon in your 6^th house of daily work and health routines. A new responsibility at work will be presented to you around the time of this New Moon. Have you been asked to adjudicate a competition or judge seating placement auditions? Do what you can to juggle around a few other responsibilities (or delegate as possible) to make room in your schedule for this gig. It will likely open other doors down the road.

August 11^th – Mercury moves into your 7^th house of relationships. Schedule a series of coffee chats (virtual or otherwise) with some of your closest colleagues. What are they working on? What are their plans for the upcoming performance docket and/or school year? Are there any opportunities to collaborate on a future joint recital or masterclass? Discuss and plan.

August 16^th - Venus moves into your 8^th house of banking and finance. Venus will help you attract some of the financial resources needed to make a large purchase in the near future. Although it may sound crazy, try starting with a vision board. Find pictures of the flute of your dreams, print them, cut them out, and paste them onto a piece of paper or cardboard. Hang these in a place where you will see them every day and visualize yourself playing on your brand-new flute. If you dream it, it will be yours.

August 22^nd – Full Moon in your 12^th house of behind-the-scenes activities. Something you have been toiling on in the practice room is just not coming together. You have likely practiced it slowly, in chunks, transposed it, and spent a lot time trying to learn it when, at the end of the day, you just don’t jive with the piece. Realize that not every piece of music is going to resonate with every type of performer. This Full Moon will ask you to be honest with yourself. If it angers you more than uplifts your flute playing, find another piece. It’s okay to move on.

August 22^nd – Sun moves into your 7^th house of relationships. Touch base with your music colleagues when the Sun moves signs. Your networking has no doubt paid off and you have likely set up some fascinating projects with your colleagues. Start creating timelines for these items with regular check-ins. You will be creating new and wonderful projects with your new friends in the coming months.

August 30^th – Mercury moves into your 8^th house of banking and finance. This is a great time to sit down with your local banking institution to discuss reasonable savings and loan plans in order to purchase a new flute (or make upgrades to your current instrument). Are there any financing programs offered through instrument retailers? What does your banking institution think about the payment terms? Do they fit reasonably into your budget?

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Mars is in your 6^th house of daily work and health routines all month. You will be super busy this month, Aries! Your schedule is going to packed, likely sending you to the limits of your patience. Try to keep work-life balance by saving some dedicated time for sleep, meals, and daily exercise. Even a 20-minute walk each day will help you retain the energy you need to get through your to-do list. Try not to overbook yourself with rehearsals, lessons, committee meetings, and other tasks that may come in.

August 8^th – New Moon in your 5^th house of creativity and joy. You will be quite inspired to start working on a creative project around the time of this New Moon. Have you always wanted to create a CD or publish a series of short unaccompanied flute works? Start brainstorming. What will the finish product look like? What needs to get done and on what timeline?

August 11^th – Mercury moves into your 6^th house of daily work and health routines. You will be stuck in a number or meetings and rehearsals when Mercury moves signs. If you are leading these gathering, try to keep them to a pre-determined, set time (set a timer if possible). Folks will likely be cranky and unmotivated. Skip the ice breakers and try to get as much accomplished in the time that you have allotted. Keep others on set time schedules as well. Time is a very valuable commodity (especially during the summer).

August 16^th - Venus moves into your 7^th house of relationships. You will be spending a lot of time collaborating with a colleague when Venus moves signs. Are you working together on a joint recital or masterclass? Schedule a series of coffee chats to check-in on status of various logistics. Rehearse together when feasible and book venues with decent recording options.

August 22^nd – Full Moon in your 11^th house of groups and communities. Your schedule has gotten so completely out of hand that you may no longer have time enough to commit to all of your performing groups. The Full Moon may encourage you to step away from one of your ensembles until things quiet down a bit. Have a chat with your conductor about taking a hiatus. They may have good ideas on programing and substitute suggestions to help you step away temporarily but not end your affiliation.

August 22^nd – Sun moves into your 6^th house of daily work and health routines. Your focus will again shift onto your very busy schedule when the Sun moves signs. You may need to start delegating responsibilities to others. Do you have another trusted flute teacher that you can make referrals to? Is there a student that can assist you with smaller projects? Do you have colleagues that can help you with any committee work? Delegate where possible.

August 30^th – Mercury moves into your 7^th house of relationships. This is a great time to do some networking with flutists both in your local community as well as online. Attend virtual masterclasses offered by national flute organizations. Connect with folks on flute forums and email old colleagues. What are other flutists working on? What are they finding challenging and rewarding in preparation for the upcoming performance season? Share your thoughts and connect.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Mars is in your 5^th house of creativity and joy all month. You will likely be burning the midnight oil on a creative project this month, Taurus. Have you been composing? Or wrapping up a CD project? An extra boost of energy from the universe this month will help you put the finishing touches on your work. Roll up your sleeves and get to work!

August 8^th – New Moon in your 4^th house of home and family. You may be moving to a new office or to new house or apartment around the time of this New Moon. Something is changing in your environment for the better. On a smaller scale, you may be renovating your home studio space or switching it up to another location in your home. What can you do to add more space to your new studio? Update any furniture to add more color or light to your new digs.

August 11^th – Mercury moves into your 5^th house of creativity and joy. This is a good time to start advertising the launch of your creative project. Create a preview of your work for social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Post to flute club groups both locally and not-so-locally to drum up interest. Utilize your networks.

August 16^th - Venus moves into your 6^th house of daily work and health routines. This is a great day for self-care! You have been a bit busy lately. Schedule some dedicated time away from your flute life for some much-needed rest and relaxation. Go for a hike in nature. Mediate on a beach to the peaceful sounds of sand and surf. Book a spa day! You will be in much better shape to tackle the world once you take care of yourself.

August 22^nd – Full Moon in your 10^th house of career goals. The Full Moon will ask you to think a bit critically about your career goals. What type of flutist are you trying to be? Are you a teacher? A performer? A music mogul? Are you on track with your ultimate goals or are you pursuing a career that, at the end of the day, does not truly make you happy? Search your heart during this time. If it doesn’t bring you joy, don’t do it! Instead, focus your attention on ambitions that mean the most to you.

August 22^nd – Sun moves into your 5^th house of creativity and joy. The Sun will redirect your focus onto your creative project. Is it ready to be launched? What else can you add to your work to give it a bit of extra sparkle? Finalize and publish!

August 30^th – Mercury moves into your 6^th house of daily work and health routines. You will likely be immersed in rehearsals and meetings at the end of the month, Taurus. Try to make the most out of the time given to these gatherings. If you are leading meetings, stick to a strict end time. If you are attending meetings, try to keep folks on track with the agenda. Schedule shorter, outside sectionals to address anything specific to a section (such as intonation).

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Mars is in your 4^th house of home and family all month. Time for home and studio renovations, Gemini. It may not be Spring anymore, but you are ready for some serious “Spring” Cleaning. Reorganize your music collection. Donate old books you no longer need and remove old, bulky bookshelves. Update your furniture, appliances, and technology. Make better use of closets and garages to store items that no longer serve a purpose in your space. Fix what can be fixed and chuck what cannot be salvaged.

August 8^th – New Moon in your 3^rd house of communication. You will likely start writing an article or a book around the time of this New Moon. Do you have a really good idea for an article about practice techniques? Is there a composer whose work speaks to you? What do you know about their biography and how their life circumstances connect to their works? Write about whatever inspires you.

August 11^th – Mercury moves into your 4^th house of home and family. This is a great time to host a family meeting to discuss ideas for your new space or how your teaching and/or practice schedule can be altered. When is your home most active and how does that impact your studio? Can you change your studio hours? Does your practice time interfere with your family’s other weekly obligations? Is there a better time to practice when there are less people in your house? Create a new plan that works for everybody.

August 16^th - Venus moves into your 5^th house of creativity and joy. It is always fun when the planet of love is in the house of joy. Just have fun when Venus moves signs. Plan a family outing. Go to the beach and soak in the last of the summer sun. Visit a nearby national park and learn about its history and agricultural significance. Just have fun (and leave your flute at home).

August 22^nd – Full Moon in your 9^th house of travel and higher education. A trip you had been planning may need to be postponed or canceled around the time of this Full Moon. Air quality may be poor and health restrictions may have you grounded for the rest of the summer. No worries – Plan a bigger and better trip down the road. Hawaii in January? Sounds like a great alternative!

August 22^nd – Sun moves into your 4^th house of home and family. Your focus will shift back onto those home renovations when the Sun moves signs. It may require a bit more work than you thought. Empty out bookshelves. Paint walls. Remove cobwebs from closets. Clean all of the things. And then comes the fun part – Shop for home studio upgrades! This may even include a new, inspirational piece of art to hang on a prominent wall, reminding you every day why you love to make music.

August 30^th – Mercury moves into your 5^th house of creativity and joy. This is a great time to blog about any ideas you have brewing on creative projects. Thinking about a lecture recital? Start researching the biographies of composers you may feature and discuss other works on your flute blog. Drum up some interest well before the event.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Mars is in your 3^rd house of communication all month. You will be writing up a storm this month, Cancer! You have a lot of great ideas that you have been saving over the past weeks and months. Now is the time to put those ideas into words. Draft it! Create a series of 1300-1500 word articles and send them around to a couple of publishers. The worst they can say is no. For every “no,” revisit your work and find small ways to tighten up your ideas.

August 8^th – New Moon in your 2^nd house of income. You may be offered a new job around the time of this New Moon. Congrats! Did you audition for a local group recently? You will likely receive an invitation to join the group. Put your best foot forward and remain as professional and graceful as possible when accepting your new fate. Onward to the next chapter!

August 11^th – Mercury moves into your 3^rd house of communication. It is always a prolific time when the planet of communication moves into the house of communication. You will still be writing up a storm, Cancer. Mercury will help you make your ideas crystal clear with perfectly outlined examples. If you have yet to receive a publication offer for any of your works, use this energy to review and revise your writing. Is there a way to make it even better?

August 16^th - Venus moves into your 4^th house of home and family. Leave your flute at home and take your family to the park. You have probably been locking yourself in your office, typing away, and could use a break. Enjoy the warm summer breezes before the summer passes you by. Mozart can wait until Monday.

August 22^nd – Full Moon in your 8^th house of banking and finances. You may be paying the final bill on a loan or repayment plan around the time of this Full Moon. Congrats! Your savings plan has been successful and you can now enjoy the fruits (or flute, if had purchased a new flute) of your labor. Make sure to cross all of the t’s and dot the i’s on any closeout paperwork before you wrap up your payments.

August 22^nd – Sun moves into your 3^rd house of communication. Your attention will again turn back onto your writing projects. If a publisher has accepted your manuscript, they may request a few edits here and there. Try not to panic – This is totally normal. Be flexible with any requested changes and work closely with your editor to put on all of the finishing touches. Also, of course, celebrate a job well done!

August 30^th – Mercury moves into your 4^th house of home and family. This is a great time to host a family meeting. What does the upcoming school year or performance cycle look like? When will you be at rehearsals? Will you teach from your home studio this coming school year and do you have a schedule for lessons? What times work best for your family for dedicated practice times when your flute playing will not distract from other family activities. Sit down and devise a plan that works for everybody.

Happy August!