Important August Transits

Transits happen when planets move across the night’s sky. As they spin around our sun, each planet passes through every Zodiac sign – changing the way the energy of that planet is manifested in our lives. Analyzing the astrological transits gives us great insight into what we can expect for the energy of the month. 

Jupiter has now returned to the sign of Aquarius, where it had originally been since December 2020. It briefly entered Pisces in May 2021 but has now moved back into Aquarius. As a result, we can expect more of the same energy from early 2021. In typical Aquarius fashion, this placement wants to amplify out-of-the-box thinking, break foundations, and encourage community surrounding what is best for us and our planet. Be wary of trying too hard or pushing yourself to the brink during this time and any new leases on life should have long-standing momentum behind them. 

The month of August also began with the Sun and Mercury in Leo. This is a peace-bringing conjunction, where we may have been focusing on how we want to present ourselves to the world. The sign of Leo represents desire, so reflecting on goals and your sense of purpose are prominent themes throughout the month. You may see moments where you are reminded that the Universe works in tandem with what you desire. 

Early August gave us Venus in Virgo. Venus is actually debilitated in Virgo, which means its powers are stifled by the placement. This cautions us to be careful about nitpicking our relationships, nagging others, or expecting perfection. Venus typically represents harmonious relationships, and its Virgo placement shook this energy up. During this time, you may have felt a little stuck, but your lesson here was to trust in the compassion of the Universe. 

Mars will be moving into Virgo by the end of August, which will lighten up the collective intensity. This energy will ask us to focus on progress over perfection, and our messy lives will be beckoned to a wake-up call. Mars, the planet of action, in critical Virgo asks us to get down to business. 

Notable Astrological Dates in August

On August 8^th, we experienced a New Moon in Leo and the opening of the Lion’s Gate Portal. The Lion’s Gate Portal happens once a year when the star Sirius is visible in the sky. This was a time for elevated fortune and reaping in abundance. New projects and business ventures had the backing of these astrological forces and will likely see a tremendous amount of success. 

Venus entered its home sign of Libra on August 16^th. This is an incredibly harmonious placement, where we are pulled to listen to the messages in our hearts. This is a great time to put yourself out there, network, and maybe even start dating! Bask in those good feelings and open yourself up to receiving the best things in life. 

On August 19^th, Uranus goes retrograde in Taurus. Retrogrades happen when a planet moves in the perceived opposite direction that the other celestial bodies surrounding it are moving. This retrograde will ask us to re-evaluate old structures in our life to understand if we should or should not be putting momentum behind them. 

August concludes with Mercury entering Libra on August 30^th. As Libra is the sign of balance, this time will be marked by a desire to be honest with those around you, exercising diplomacy to maintain the balance, and cultivating your point of view. 

Start of Virgo Season

The sun will be entering Virgo on August 22^nd, which will mark the start of Virgo season. Virgo seasons are typically defined by high rational thought, logic, judgment, and criticism. Be wary of making harsh judgments on yourself and those around you during this time. 

This will be an opportune time for you to push yourself professionally, organize those drawers you have been putting off for too long, and focus on your physical health. Remember that investing in yourself will pay off in the long run, even if you find it difficult now. Take advantage and use the energy of Virgo season to propel you forward.

Double Full Moon in Aquarius

There is a double Full Moon in Aquarius on August 22^nd. Double Full Moons ask us to be aware of situations that were illuminated by the first Full Moon but might have not come fully to the surface just yet. This will be a time of honest self-improvement, as the Aquarius Full Moon values individuality but also harmonious communities and group spirit. 

Horoscope for August 2021

All outer planets will be in retrograde by the end of August 2021. This includes Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and Chiron. This signals a time for re-doing for most of us. It would seem as though we are entering a restructuring phase once again. We may see the common hiccups associated with retrogrades: plans following through, contracts becoming difficult, and structures wobbling to and fro. The idea is to focus on any outworn parts of your life during this time: old properties, old philosophies, old relationships, etc. It doesn’t necessarily mark an end but beckons us to reconsider them and perhaps view them in a new light. By October 2021, it seems that we may manifest changes in these areas of our lives so it’s important to set the stage intentionally now. 

Central Message for August 2021

The main folly for August is this idea of overdoing. For August, it is crucial to maintain or create your safe and healthy spaces. Rest and doing less are great actions in this month, as this will counteract any wily energy. If you can bring positive, healthy habits into your routine, you will see these come to fruition by the end of the year in powerful ways. It is an opportune time to consider whether or not what you are doing is for the long term. If not, consider what things you would like to change! 

Now if you ask me why I want to be an actor my answer is so much more. I want to be an actor because I want to represent women with belly fat and stretch marks. I want to portray queer characters. I want to tell stories that have never been told before.

If you want to be an actor you must treat your craft like a business. Why you want to act is your mission statement. You are your own product and you need to take care of yourself. To prevent burn out you need to create a healthy work schedule and routine. You need to market yourself. And, you need to DO THE WORK.

I find that many actors, including my past self, avoid performing because they are afraid of failure. Although that is completely understandable it will get you nowhere. If you want to be a baker sitting on your couch watching Food Network and hoping you’ll be like Betty Crocker one day is useless. Doing something is always better than nothing.

Acting requires you to be vulnerable and emotional which can be challenging when life gives you lemons. Establishing a ritual or routine to get yourself in the head space that will allow you to access emotions in a healthy way is paramount. I like to stretch or do yoga and focus on breathing before I start working on a monologue. I mentally “tap in” with myself which is my way of saying I’m “on the clock”. Whatever works for you, treat your ritual like a morning routine because you are getting ready for work.

Now that you’ve established a daily routine it’s time to get to work! This can be setting up your phone and filming a self tape, or it can be cursing the computer gods as you try to make your own website. Marketing yourself is sooooo important because it’s the only way agents and managers will see you. Luckily the internet has made marketing incredibly accessible. Make a tic tok, instagram, twitter, and just start being yourself. Showing off your personality and interests makes you REAL. Authenticity and charm is what agents are looking for because it’s what humans relate to. In addition to posting small windows into your life post dramatic material!

Doing the work and actually acting is the most important advice I can give. I had a teacher who always told us: If you can’t dazzle me with brilliance, baffle me with bullshit. As a performer there is no right answer. You will never be perfect. In fact imperfections are what make performers memorable and unique. So even if you were like me in college, hungover and running on coffee and gummy worms, just give it a shot. Pick a piece of text and film yourself alone in your room. Then go back and watch it. Don’t cringe at the way your voice sounds on camera, or that pimple on your forehead. Watch as if you are an audience member and ask yourself: Do you believe that person? Do you like that person? Do you want to find out what happens next?

I am by no means an expert on the entertainment industry and this article, unfortunately, will not make you a star. I have not included much about how to act in this article or how to create a resume and reel etc. Fortunately there are thousands of online resources that will help you figure that out. Love yourself and be proud of the work you put out into the world. Also because I’m a good actor, here’s a shameless plug ig:alisonradkey952 website: alisonradkey.com

Chronicling and properly documenting the dynamism of the global music industry will be beyond the context of this article. However, I will bring to you some changes and trends that became quite visible in 2021 in the music industry. These changes came greatly because of the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 has been a major factor in many changes across different industries around the world – not only the music industry. Below I am going to talk about some of the trends in 2021. Trends that came to existence partly and greatly because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Rise in Remote Collaboration Between Musicians 

During the pandemic, one phrase became quite popular not just in the medical industry but in all industries, including music. I can also say that this phrase was one of the most used phrases [or even the most used phrase] and the phrase is “social distancing.” “Social distancing” wasn’t quite fun because it took the life and vibe away from a lot of things, including music. However, it also fuels and fans a new trend in the music industry, which is “remote collaboration.” We are increasingly witnessing musicians collaborating on projects without having to meet each other. With a lot of remote collaboration tools being available, 2021 has seen a surge in remote collaboration and a total change of musician’s perspective towards collaboration. 

Regardless of the nature of collaboration, be it rehearsals, songwriting, beat making or mixing and mastering, remote collaboration among musicians is now trending in 2021. Personally, I have collaborated remotely with singers, songwriters, and a couple of producers this year. The pandemic did not invent remote collaboration among musicians, as it has been in practice for quite some time. The pandemic reminded the music industry through “social distancing” that collaborating remotely can be just as effective or even more effective than the conventional form of meeting physically. 

Virtual Concerts/Social Media Livestreams

There has been a rise in virtual concerts and social media live streams among both upcoming and established musicians. As a matter of fact, most tours and live shows that should have taken place during the pandemic were canceled. With the closing of venues and social distancing regulations being put in place, musicians and show promoters just had to get creative. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and video streaming websites like YouTube have provided the opportunity for musicians and their fans to connect in real-time through live streams and virtual shows. With videos like these, getting millions of views and shares, it was just a matter of time before it became a trend. 

It doesn’t even matter if these videos are short, long, or promotional videos hinting at a future release. Platforms like Tik Tok, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram have revolutionized how audiences can consume these contents. They don’t have to gather in large arenas anymore to watch their favorite musicians. All they have to do is simply click “play” on their phones, tablets, or computers to enjoy real-time performances. Advancement in social media has greatly lent to how technology has changed the music industry. There are numerous platforms and avenues through which fans can connect with their best musicians on a personal level. 

More and More Independent Artists

If there is anything the whole global lockdown and the Covid-19 pandemic has taught musicians, it is the fact that they are a lot more capable of doing a lot of things, a lot more than they believed they could. 2020 and 2021 have seen a change in the mindset of indie musicians towards record labels. It is now a trend that most indie artists no longer see record companies and juicy record deals as the ultimate career goal. Musicians now have a “less-record-label-dependent” mindset.  

With platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Tik Tok, and others, indie artists are now finding innovative ways to get their music in front of larger audiences. In this age where you can just “go viral” in a few days, all it takes is one hit track, standing out unique, and delving into some trending topics to catch people’s attention. Once they get the attention of the public, indie artists maintain relevance by continuing to share their music via YouTube, TikTok, and other creative ways that grow their fanbase. It’s now relatively easier to make it big as an indie artist in the industry. Indie artists are now seeing less and less need to sign to a record company. 

It can still be quite difficult for indie artists to break through without using the help of a record label. This difficulty is because the music business is getting increasingly competitive. However, indie artists still have the advantage of giving music fans exactly what they want from their listening experiences. More and more music artists are going the “indie way” this year. With tools like curated playlists and other modern dissemination tools, being an indie artist has become much more attractive than it was five years ago. 

Musicians are Becoming Less-Rigid With Genres And Embracing More Experimentation 

It is more like a trend for musicians to try out new genres or even fuse unfamiliar genres and styles together to create something unique. This is becoming rampant among underground artists and the more established ones. Beyonce’s “Lion King” album which is still relevant in 2021 saw some surprising collaborations. It also saw Beyonce experimenting with sounds we wouldn’t quite say is typical of her. Apart from Beyonce, musicians are becoming more free-spirited and less-rigid with genres, styles, and forms. It’s more like a wave, and musicians are suddenly refusing the constriction that comes with genres and styles. 

Lil Nas X demonstrated how beautiful and easy crossing over to unfamiliar genres can be for musicians with his 2019 hit “Old Town Road.” Although a hip-hop artist, he managed to hit Billboard’s Hot Country chart. That was quite a remarkable feat. Musicians now want to experiment, synergies and blur the boundaries that separate styles from styles. It is more like most musicians are adopting a universal approach to music creation. 

Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Music Industry

The pandemic had and is still having tremendous effects on the music industry. Some effects are positive, while some are not just very positive. The biggest casualty of the pandemic in the music industry happens to be live performance revenue. Also, distribution, sales/streaming, and advertising are also having it tough.

At the early stage of the pandemic, physical sales went down by about one-third. This was primarily because of the closure of retail stores. Physical sales make up about a quarter of recorded music revenues. On the other hand, digital sales went down around 11%. Also, the way people listen to music changed as a result of the pandemic. Studies on the changing listening routines also reflected the rise in consumption of more relaxing genres. Whatever the case is, the pandemic has greatly affected the music industry, and properly documenting such effects will be beyond the scope of this article.

However, it is not all bad. On the positive side, we have also been able to witness dynamism in its most positive form. We have seen the entire industry not backing down to the gruesome effects of the pandemic, but rather standing up and looking for a way to make lemonade out of lemons. Also, there is a rise in virtual concerts, more collaboration among musicians, thus making music more universal. We have also witnessed a lot more experimentations and a much more relaxed and free model amidst the chaos. It is a fact that the industry has been greatly impacted, but the impacts are not just negative – there are also things to smile about.