Shamir is Shamir and remains Shamir through and through, no matter what the universe puts him through. You may know the singularly named artist (think—Madonna or Cher) from his 2015 debut hit record Rachet, beloved by NPR listeners and club kids alike. After quickly rising to underground fame with his Northtown EP in 2014, the DIY pop star made a sonic splash with Rachet’s lead single “On The Regular,” a poppy banger that had extensive commercial usage. But how to follow all that up? Shamir, who came from the dusty dunes of Las Vegas, to Brooklyn’s Silent Barn, to the Philly indie scene (and all over the world in between), wanted to go back to what had inspired him from the beginning. Outsider music, country & punk. Raw and vulnerable tunes, stripped down to their emotional core. 2017’s Revelations explored a new avenue of guitar driven hooky indie rock and was widely critically praised in the US and overseas.
Shamir’s most recent releases, the brilliant Room 7” on Father/Daughter, and his self-released limited edition album, Resolution, are pinnacles in the catalog of the increasingly fascinating artist’s career. Room and its b-side Caballero celebrate Shamir’s love of country music, while Resolution is a deeply introspective look into the fabric of society and the artists’ own mind. With these two releases he has refined his craft exponentially and done so in less than six months from the release of Revelations.
Talkhouse’s resident astrologer, Shamir Bailey, is back again with your fortunes, theme songs, and mantras for the month! Special thanks, as always, to Ameenah “Mama” Bailey for consulting with the fates, and with her cosmically brilliant son, to make these horoscopes even better.
—Amy Rose Spiegel, Editor-in-Chief, Talkhouse Music
Leo
August theme song: “Here We Go Again,” Demi Lovato
August mantra: “Here we go!”
Happy beautiful birthday, my luminous, lustrous Leo. I am sending you lots of wonderful wishes for your solar year. This is going to be a hot-action month for you, lustrous Leo, due to a lot of planetary movements that will take place. You are a flaming-hot sign, so this will not be new to you—you guys were built to withstand the heat!
Stunning Sister Moon will kick everything off on the seventh of the month with a full moon and lunar eclipse, and this energy is directed at your seventh house of partnership. It will benefit you to go ahead and resolve all weak partnerships that are not in your best interest. You won’t have to look for these—the eclipse will make them clear, so all you have to do is make it happen. Moving-backwards Mercury will go retrograde on the twelfth in your second house of money—so while you might be re-thinking how you would like to make your money, don’t make a move yet. Just do the research now until Mercury goes direct.
The grand finale of this month: On August 21, the solar eclipse will be visible to all U.S. and Canadian residents. Google the times and areas for your city so you can see it take place that morning. This action will take place in your first house of persona, so flex your good looks around as you take in the eclipse! Lustrous Leo, you’re always the star of the show! I wouldn’t expect anything less of you, so strut your stuff as you love all of August’s energies.
Virgo
August theme song: “Dirt Off Your Shoulder,” Jay-Z
August mantra: “Brush it off.”
Happy beyond-beaming and boastful birthday, beloved Virgo. I wish you magnificent, extreme happiness as you witness all of your dreams manifesting one by one throughout your entire solar year.
Very Virgo, your ruling planet, mixed-up Mercury, is going retrograde this month. This comes alongside a lunar eclipse and a solar eclipse, and all of these events will harbor some adjustments within the next few months. Be ready for some enormous emotional reactions. Don’t drown in them, but let your emotions come out, because the emotions are only trying to get you right. It’s alchemy, baby!!!!
The seventh of the month ushers in the full moon with a lunar eclipse in your sixth house of daily routine and health. Very Virgo, you may need to incorporate a healthier eating pattern into your daily routine to salvage your health, or you may already know that your work schedule needs to change, even if you have to look for a new job. Don’t make any changes until around the fifteenth of September—just do your research now.
Messed-up Mercury will strew your thinking all over the place on the twelfth until the fifth of September, due to its retrograde in your first house of persona. You will be putting out an image of yourself that you may have been thinking about for a while now. Your mind will start to fog up; you might make some decisions that won’t make sense to you, or you might be changing your mind day to day. Communication gets turned all around from the retrograde, so be careful while working with clients to make sure the right things are perceived. Hang in there by brushing it off, because it won’t last for long.
The “now we can draw up new plans” new moon will arrive with a little treat on August 21 in your twelfth house of hidden, mystical things. You will be working on some unseen things that you will present to the world in the next few months. You’re working on them well, with the forceful energy of moving Mars posted right up in that house, too!
A little treat: the super solar eclipse that will take place the morning of August 21, for all of the U.S. and Canada peeps to see. We don’t always get a chance to view planetary actions this way, so take a few minutes to watch its coolness in motion. Have fun, beautiful ones!
Libra
August theme song: “Unpredictable,” GG Allin
August mantra: “Be unpredictable”
August will bright about many different changes that you would’ve never predicted, my leveled Libra lovies! With an eclipse on the seventh and twenty-first of the month, plus a Mercury retrograde to bring up miscommunication (along with going back in time on some issues), you better be ready for the journey amidst all this commotion, my balanced one.
The illumination of the full and mighty moon will surface the emotional energies of the lunar eclipse in your fifth house of creativity, sports, children, and romance on the seventh of the month. A possible unplanned pregnancy could come up, or a new love that may send you over the moon with emotions. The point that I am trying to make: It will be something that you would’ve never seen coming relating to your fifth house.
Beginning August 12, don’t make any new changes if you can absolutely help it—Mercury will spin backwards in your twelfth house of secrets. It’s OK if you want to get some things off your chest to mend a relationship or work on some hidden things that has already been in motion. You see, the retrograde has shadow periods before and after, with effects starting late last month and running through September 19.
The not-so-normal new moon on August 21 supports the seeds of any new plans that you would like to actualize in the next few months, or before 2018 comes in. Your eleventh house of networking, community, and groups is highlighted within these energies, and a seemingly sudden solar eclipse will combine them.
The breathtaking eye-wonder that will show for about four minutes on the morning of the eclipse on August 21 will give all of the U.S. and Canada a front-row seat, no matter where you are, and some of Europe, China, and parts of Africa will get partial access to the event, too. If you choose to watch it, please be safe by protecting your eyes, and enjoy your viewing.
No matter how unpredictable the month may be, I am still predicting an awesome August for you, leveled Libra.
Scorpio
August theme song: “Shake It Out,” Florence + The Machine
August mantra: “Shake it off.”
My shifting Scorpio family, August is about to bring up some changes in a emotional, unexpected way, due to some planetary beefing that will be going down. What happens when your dog gets wet? That’s right: It shakes as much water off of itself as it can, and this is what I need you to do this month, too.
The energy of the full moon on the seventh will pair with a long-awaited lunar eclipse in your fourth house of home and family. Eclipse shake things up to show you what’s real and what’s not, and what should stay or go. You may realize that you need your family—or some sort of family—around you more, or maybe it’s time to think about purchasing a home after your lease is up.
Androgynous, melodramatic Mercury will go full retrograde on August 12, but you’ll have felt its backwards energy flowing as early as July 24 in your eleventh house of network and friendships. Friends that you thought you were done with will be back in your circle, plus, you’ll make new connections with individuals that you may have always wanted to work with. Keep the emotions at bay as they come up, then release them by shaking it off!
New plans and directions will commence on the twenty-first, thanks to the simmering solar eclipse that will be in your tenth house of careers. This day brings in the new moon—and new beginnings in terms of what you would like to see for your career within the next few months to a year.
The new moon will do some footwork for you to see on August 21, too! All of the U.S. and Canada will be able to witness the full eclipse that morning, when sister-girl will walk across her man for a few minutes. She wants you to know that there is always a great woman around every man, and that woman should show their face. I love you all, and August really has love for you all, too. That, you don’t have to shake off.
Sagittarius
August theme song: “Whatever It Takes,” Imagine Dragons
August mantra: “Do whatever it takes.”
Savory Sagittarius, you should do whatever you have to to make it it though all the dust that August will be kicking up! The universe is helping you to remove, replace, and rethink what you have going to make sure it is fully supporting you, and to see if it will stand the test of time. You need to let it happen naturally without going against it.
Emotions will be on high-beam status from the loud lunar eclipse with the full moon on the seventh in your third house of communication. Speak your truths, whether that’s verbally or written, because they need to come out—but keep the emotions tamed. You may not like the responses, and you might want to get upset, but allow yourself to do whatever it takes to get it done.
Your career is in question on the twelfth of the month, from moody Mercury going retrograde. It will have you going back in time. You might be questioning the position that you are in now and wondering if you should go back to what you were doing before, or you might apply for that job that you always wanted to do. Savory Sagittarius, you might transition into being your own boss so you can create your own hours. Don’t make the big change until Mercury is clearly out of the retrograde and shadow period, which will be around September 19.
The super solar eclipse on August 21, in your ninth house of spirituality and travel, will do whatever it takes to assist you with your new plans. This day will be on a nice, new moon to support your nice, new plans, which possibly include traveling around the world to learn of other cultures, or you might think about studying a new form of spirituality. Motivational Mars will be with Leo in this house to give you a strong push. Energy from this eclipse will set you straight for a few months leading up to a whole year.
And you’ll be able to take in the star of this show—the reason for the season—in plain sight! The stunning solar eclipse will be visible to all of the U.S. and Canada on the morning of the twenty-first for a couple of minutes. Hopefully, the skies in your area will be clear enough for you to experience this uncommon view. Enjoy the full month of August, sweet, savory Sagittarius, with peace and love.
Capricorn
August theme song: “Every Breath You Take,” The Police
August mantra: “Keep watch.”
Watch, learn, and listen to what’s about to go down in August, my courageous Capricorn! Two eclipses which will bring about a bunch of changes for you, plus a mad Mercury retrograde, which may confuse you for a while. August will be one of those summer months that you’ll always remember, thanks to some pivotal circumstances that will take place.
The lavish lunar eclipse comes in on the seventh, which will be the start of the full moon—and plentiful emotions. This will be taking place in your second house of money, so you might be coming to a crescendo in terms of needing to make more of it. An extra expense that you had not planned for might be the culprit that pushes you to put a plan together so you won’t get caught up again. The eclipse’s job is to show you what needs to be changed in your life.
Watch out for magnetic Mercury, which is going back in time on the twelfth in your ninth house of higher learning and travel. Go ahead and hit up that island you’ve always wanted to travel to, or make that decision to go back to school for pleasure, so you can study what you want and love. You can think about brand-new projects now, but do not launch them until after Mercury is out of the red on September 19. We always change our minds after the retrograde is over, and during it, communication gets mixed up.
Mentally, get your new plans together on the twenty-first, with the sassy solar eclipse in your eighth house of other people’s money and sex. A new moon will be in effect to support any type of lending needs. And the time has come if you want to spice up your sex life by purchasing some new toys. (Hey, I don’t judge—I just say, Do you, boo!)
The twenty-first also brings about a sight for sore eyes: the actual, visible eclipse. If you are in the U.S. or Canada, you can see Sister Moon take over Brother Sun for about four minutes. Watch her do her thing, and watch how August will turn out for you! You’re going to have a wonderful August, courageous Capricorn.
Aquarius
August theme song: “Better,” Regina Spektor
August mantra: “Make it better.”
Abstract Aquarius, August will bring in some newfounds thoughts and changes within all of your relationships—both personal and professional. The planetary actions of the month is here to test your life, but it is only to improve it.
The full shake-up will begin in the emotional time of the full moon, with the lunar eclipse on the seventh, in your first house of persona. This eclipse will bring about alterations in terms of how you would like the world to see you. You may be questioning how you would like to be viewed by others—especially your other half. This type of thought process could have started as early as the end of July, but is coming into full effect now.
To make matters a little more interesting, Mercury is swinging around to retrograde status on the twelfth of the month in your eighth house of joint resources. You and your significant other may be combining or separating your savings accounts. This may have been something that you’ve talked about before, but never followed through on; Mercury will make sure you do so this time. Don’t start anything brand-new in this retrograde cycle, because by the time it ends, you will be like, What the hell was I thinking? (Trust me—it happens.) Don’t buy any new electronics or big-ticket items, if you can help it—wait until September 19 to be on the safe side.
Your personal- or business-partnership plans can resume on August 21, which ushers the return of the masculine energy from the strong solar eclipse that will be taking place in your seventh house of partnership. This day will have a nice, New Moon to support your seeds of adding a new partner to the business, or possibly getting engaged to your long-term honey bunny to make it right in your eyes. These energies can support you for a whole year, if you need that.
I have something that will make amazing August even better, if you are in the U.S. or Canada, and that is a real-life show of the same solar eclipse on August 21. Check your your local time zones for the exact time of the eclipse in your town, and watch this amazing spectacle. Happy viewing, and happy August, abstract Aquarius.
Pisces
August theme song: “Coming Up,” Paul McCartney
August mantra: “Come up!”
What’s up, my pretty, passionate Pisces? Looks like y’all have been hiding some things that might be affecting your day-to-day functions, but the month of August will force you to bring it up and let it out! Know that the universe is truly trying to help you out, even though you may not feel that way while in the midst of the mayhem.
Elaborate emotions may have already come to call as early as the end of July; however, this linked-up lunar eclipse, during the full moon in your twelfth house, will exhibit them in full. The twelfth house deals in secrets, sacrifices, and karma, so something relevant to these subjects will manifest itself in an emotional way. Keep your emotions in check, passionate Pisces, and focus on what’s really real. Don’t be making illusions for yourself.
I know you beautiful ones have enough going on this month, but Mercury wants to add to your plate by swinging communication and things around, due to its going retrograde on August 12 in your seventh house. This is the house of partnerships and contracts. The only contracts that you can safely sign this month are ones that have been prepared for months ago, but that you never signed and dated. This goes for personal contracts and business—no new lease, or nothing like that. You can deal with an old ex-boy/girlfriend to see if there is still some magic there, and you will know about that for sure by September 19. You may be like, I still love them, or or you may be like, Hell naw—I see why they are my ex.
Passionate Pisces, by the “see me” solar eclipse on August 21, you will have a full understanding of what type of plans or direction that you need to make. This solar eclipse, with the naked new moon, will be in your sixth house of routine and health. If there was a health problem or illness that you were hiding or ignoring, you will now have all the tools and knowledge to take care of yourself properly. You will be changing your lifestyle and routine to make it happen. It may be daunting at first, but as the days roll on, you will see that it all will turn out to be a blessing.
The twenty-first will be a high-energy day, thanks in part to the actual, visible presence of Lady Luna coming up on Mr. Sun for the solar eclipse. All of the U.S. and Canada, plus some of Europe, Africa, and China, will be able to see it, so check your local listing and give her three to four minutes of your time. Enjoy it all, my friends!
Aries
August theme song: “Change,” Taylor Swift
August mantra: “Change some things.”
Happy auspicious August, my hot ones!!!! So much is going on this month. Two eclipses, plus Mercury retrograde, will help you let go of what’s no longer necessary to your life. The retrograde will assist you in bringing complete closure to anything that may have not been finished correctly—including helping you if you want to go back to an old job, boo, or way of life. Either way, it’s time for change.
The fabulous full moon on August 7 will bring a lovely lunar eclipse to your eleventh house of friends and organizations. Get rid of the old to allow the new to flow in. Those fake, freeloading friends that have been leeching off of you like parasites? They need to kick rocks. Any organization that you may have been paying—even though you know that you’re not utilizing their services? Let them go, and keep your money in your pocket. Remember that the eleventh house is naturally ruled by Aquarius, the “I know” sign, so you all know who and what I am talking about, on a individual scale. Make those changes!
The neat new moon on August 21 will bring the solar eclipse around your fifth and sixth house. You might be thinking about getting a new pet, or a new baby might have slid into the picture from you getting busy over the last few months! (Hey, it happens with this energy, so look out, men and women!!!) Your work schedule may change, or you might be the one initiating the change due to a different position. Whatever you do: Be careful when considering starting anything new at this juncture, because Mercury will be in full retrograde status on August 12. Don’t buy any big-ticket items and electronics, if you can help it, too.
The tremendous treat of this super solar eclipse: actually viewing the moon crossing the sun in the morning of August 21! All of the U.S. and Canada will be able to see it in full, and some of Europe, Asia, and West Africa will be able to partially see it. February of 1979 was the last time we were able to witness this event, so be sure to get out and watch this three- to four-minute phenomenon. Enjoy your August, my ambitious Aries!
Taurus
August theme song: “Pay Attention,” Pomplamoose
August mantra: “Pay attention.”
Tenacious Taurus, instead of making sudden moves or starting anything new at this time, keep a watchful eye on everything that shows up this month. This August is all about learning lessons.
Necessary and welcome changes in your career will surface from the electrifying eclipse that will come in when Sister Moon is full on the seventh of the month. The eclipse will take place in your tenth house of business relationships. Make-you-think Mercury, the planet of communication, will go retrograde in your fifth house of creativity and children on August 12. If you thought about starting a family or getting a pet, but never followed through with it in the past, now is the time to allow those type of thoughts to resurface in order to claim it—or cancel the thought altogether, to finalize it. Just pay close attention to your feelings so you can make the most beneficial decision for yourself.
The significant solar eclipse in your fourth house of home on August 21 will start new things out right. Do you need to spend more time at home, is it time to get a new place, or will you let your honey move in with you? You’ll only know by paying attention to where the energy pulls you at this time.
Guess what, tenacious Taurus? You’ll have a chance to actually see the moon go over the sun from the solar eclipse on August 21 if you are in the U.S. or Canada, and parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa will have a partial view of the event! This is the talk of the town, so join in and watch the few most famous minutes of this August. Happy viewing!
Gemini
August theme song: “Wavves,” Wavves
August mantra: “Ride the waves.”
The universe will bring up so many different changes for you this August, fickle ones. It has nothing to do with your two-sided demeanor, my gracious, galactic Gemini, but everything to do with the two eclipses this month. As if the eclipses weren’t enough, marvelous Mercury will add its energy into the mix by going retrograde. It might literally feel like an acid trip for you, so be ready to ride those waves.
The first eclipse, which will be lunar, will come with the full moon on the seventh of the month, in your ninth house of higher learning and travel. If you are in school, you might be realizing that your original major ain’t working for you, or you might decide to get into some type of mystic study, such as astrology. “Man, oh man” Mercury decides to go back in time on the twelfth, and its retrograde will hit your fourth house of home. Go ahead and move to a new home for more room, or the opposite, to downsize and save money. Get your remodeling ideas together, but don’t buy any electronics or big items until Mercury goes direct.
On August 21, the meaningful new moon will bring the solar eclipse into your third house of communication and siblings. All eclipses bring in much-needed changes, so you might finally express how some issues between you and your siblings have been bothering you, or you will start to work on that writing project that you’ve been hiding from the world. Just don’t go overboard with putting your feelings out there, because mighty Mars is hanging in that house, too, and he is very assertive.
Another wave to ride on the day of the solar eclipse: If you reside in the U.S. and Canada, then you will have a free three- to four-minute show when the shadow of the moon tracks across the Sun in the morning. If you are into that kind of stuff, check it out, and have an awesome August, my friends!!!
Cancer
August theme song: “Revelation,” Bob Marley
August mantra: “Welcome revelations.”
My controlled, cool, caring Cancers can expect a lot to be revealed in August. You can send your gratitude to the high-energy eclipses on the seventh and twenty-first of the month! “Lord have mercy” Mercury will be swinging the other way on August 12. These events will draw out some latent changes that need to take place.
The lunar eclipse on the seventh will take place in your eighth house of other people’s money, and it will happen on the full moon. If you’ve gotten a loan for something, issues may arise in the loan process, but not necessarily in a bad way. It can reveal that you overlooked a rate that should be lower—or you could stumble across an inheritance that no one told you about. The fullness of Lady Luna on the eclipse can shoot emotions around like popcorn kernels in hot oil. Misunderstanding Mercury will take on its confused course of being retrograde on the twelfth, so be careful, because it will lead to major mix-ups and mistakes in communication. Use it to clear some things up this month, caring Cancer. On August 21, your money will come up pretty nicely, thanks to the solar eclipse in your second house. You may receive money you’ve been waiting on, and the new moon on that day may reveal more to come.
Sister Moon will perform a stage show that same day, running across her partner, Mr. Sun. All of the U.S. and Canada will be able to see it that morning, so give her a moment and watch her get over on him. She only wants three to four minutes of fame, so support her and enjoy the show, mycaring Cancers.
