July Highlights
Mercury enters Leo on the 2nd. The positive side of mental life during Mercury in Leo is commitment to our words and point of view. The negative side can be complacency. A lazy mind would get us into trouble, but we learn something. This transit reminds us that our point of view matters even when the tide of culture turns against us. The mental orientation changes on the 25th as Mercury enters Virgo; we become more inclined to check our facts. Criticism and judgment don’t take much of a vacation, but at least our thoughts become more organized and structured.
Mars goes into Gemini on the 20th and remains there until September 4th.
There’ll be openings during this period to express whatever is on our minds. Plans that require panache are best launched before the end of July, because Mercury (which rules Gemini) is slow all of August and Retrograde for three weeks.
Venus moves into Leo on the 11th.
Our true colors show as the more dramatic side of everyone’s personality vies for center stage. A genuine openhearted quality reigns for the rest of the month. Art, music, and drama will be a focus, especially around the 21st as Venus Sextiles Jupiter. The dynamic duo gives a little pick-me-up right after the Full Moon. Micro-adjustments happen quickly, and we are able to see more clearly what we are attempting to do.
The New Moon
The New Moon on July 5th at 6:57 PM EDT is at 14 degrees of Cancer. A dominant feature is Mars Conjunct Uranus; this pair sits in the middle of Venus Trine Saturn, and is Sextile both. Urgency hangs on every decision, and yet there is a lack of traction when it is time to translate perceived necessities into action. We move, but our wheels do a lot of spinning in the mud.
Mercury is Opposite Pluto and Trine Neptune.
The chart is a bowl shape with Mercury and Pluto forming the rim. People will fall into two categories: those diving into the deep end of the pool to find out how deep it is, and those who wish to ignore that the pool even exists. This is likened to people being deeply concerned about the climate disaster we have created, and those who don’t see any problem.
Because Jupiter is the planet of Oriental Ascension (rising before the Sun), everyone is likely to be in a hurry to get things done. However, with Jupiter Trine the South Node of the Moon in Libra, we are prone to regress into past habits of appeasement and compromise.
The Full Moon
The Full Moon is on July 21st on the 29th degree of Cancer/Capricorn at 6:17 AM EDT. Pluto Conjuncts the Moon and Opposes the Sun, while Neptune Trines the Sun and Sextiles Pluto. Forces outside our control are telling us it is time to give up the struggle and accept the reality of the circumstances. Our job is to stay calm and know that our insights may give guidance to our personal behavior, without providing tools to bring anyone else along.
Venus Sextile Jupiter shows luck and good fortune.
With Venus Trine the North Node, and Jupiter Trine the South Node, we may take a giant step forward if we are able to accept help from others, even when it means qualitatively changing our own vision. We expand by sharing. Mars and Uranus are Conjunct and Trine Moon Pluto and Sextile the Sun. Fancy footwork allows us to artfully let go of the habits we have thought of as only practical and part of our survival mechanism. From our seat in the auditorium, we don’t have to be a literary scholar to see that the last act of the play is winding up. It is time to be satisfied and go home.
Brilliant flashes of insight are shown by Mercury Square the Mars Uranus Conjunction.
We suffer if we take our interpretation of the facts for reality. Plurality of perspectives allows the world to be populated by many.
The Sun enters Leo
Sun enters Leo on the 22nd at 3:46 AM EDT, and is Opposite to Pluto at zero Aquarius. We are encouraged to move beyond narrow concerns and see the possibilities the new technology provides for the future of humanity. The wisest will see that the external manifestations are a mirror of an inner transformation in collective consciousness. The Sun in Sextile to Mars brings to the surface a potent force that has been with us for a few days, but now is more evident. The Moon is Trine Jupiter and Opposite Venus. Much good is offered, and we only have room in our hands for a certain amount; the virtue is to choose with long range vision. Mercury Square Uranus indicates that we know too much to put the genie back in the bottle, but not enough to know how to use what we have intelligently and productively. Some decisions are best left until August.
Bob Mulligan is available for personal appointments, astrology classes, and astrological material. Call him at 239-261-2840 or email him here. Visit his website here.