This July is accentuated by good times with good friends and a major energy shift which may well increase our confidence and optimism as Jupiter mid-month begins its year transit of Leo.
On the 1st, as we enter July, Mercury ends its three-week retrograde cycle. This one has been a doozey for me and for many others. I have never been a lock the door, shutter the windows type of person for a Mercury retrograde, but I have always acknowledged the effect of Murphy’s Law with ‘whatever can go wrong could go wrong’ being in play during a Mercury retrograde. During this Mercury retrograde, various things did go wrong. We have survived this Mercury retrograde even if we didn’t thrive during it. Apart from mix-ups and screw-ups, things started during Mercury retrograde often have to be reworked later on, for there can be a tendency to skip over important details or forget essential particulars.
The early part of July has the Sun triggering the Uranus Pluto square that we have suffered through over the past few years. The Sun opposes Pluto on the 4th of July, and the Sun squares Uranus on the 8th of July. We may feel uncomfortable in our own skin, itching to make alterations to our lives by getting rid of the outmoded and embracing the unique and unfamiliar.
This tendency of ‘out with the old in with the new’ can be enhanced by the Venus sextile Uranus on the 7th. Sudden infatuations can grab our attention. We might feel that something we hear about could prove our saving grace, offering us a new direction that we have been awaiting and yearning for.
The question of too much, too fast can arise. With the Sun trine Saturn on the 8th – 9th of July, we might revert back to the safety of the familiar, our old ways.
These times are transformative times, times when we sometimes might feel as though we are casting our fate to the winds. But these are also times when we may feel that we do not have the skill set or the tools by which to dramatically change our ways, alter our path and fully embrace a totally unique lifestyle.
We might find the best way of making changes is not so much in one giant leap but rather like a suspension bridge between the old and the new laying down slats of our new lifestyle one by one with the ability to go back into the familiar and the comfortable before venturing forward again in laying down the new slats until we get across our suspension bridge and feel that we can truly cut the ties that bind. The time when we can ultimately let go of our past and engage our future as the present.
The Capricorn Full Moon on the 12th of July can have us feeling somewhat perplexed. We may be in fast action but without clarity as to what we are doing or where we are going. We just know that movement is essential, even if our motions are disjointed and have us going from one thing to another to another.
Just like a climber of a mountain peak establishes a base camp from which to operate and prepare to reach the summit, it would be wise for us to consider our options and strategize our alternatives before heading out in turbothrust. We can lay down the strongest foundation stones and prioritize our actions if we take the time to devise the most effective and expeditious approaches to realizing our goals. Let’s avoid being distracted by the myriad of possibilities we can conjure up but focus instead on the most meaningful course of action.
On the 12th – 13th of July, Mercury exits its own Sign of Gemini to enter Cancer. We may turn our attention away from dabbling with future considerations and take into account our home and family matters.
On the 13th, Venus trines Mars and our social engagements can be pleasant, fun get-togethers. Someone could tell us about new situations of which we were unaware. Discussions can be enlivening and entertaining and highly informative.
The 16th of July has a significant game changer as Jupiter ends its year-cycle of Cancer and enters into Leo for a year-cycle. While Jupiter has been in Cancer, we have seen a significant housing recovery with prices rising and sales robust, even to the point of bidding wars reminiscent of the pre-2008 era in some areas of the country, such as San Francisco and Los Angeles.
With Jupiter moving into Leo we can see dramatic expressions with people optimistic about their own fortunes and with grandiose displays. During the Jupiter transit of Cancer, we have had a Water Grand Trine with Jupiter in Cancer, Saturn in Scorpio and Neptune in Pisces. This Water Grand Trine comes to an end but will be replaced at the end of the year with a Fire Grand Trine when Saturn enters Sagittarius joining the Fire triumvirate with Uranus in Aries and Jupiter in Leo. The Fire Grand Trine will light the fire under each of us and we are likely to feel the fire in our belly.
The 18th of July has Venus exiting Gemini to enter Cancer. We may seek comfort in our home and family and choose to entertain friends in our home with barbecues and social gatherings. We might even decide to attend to fix-up projects around our home, seeking to make our home our sanctuary, keeping the wolves of geopolitical craziness at bay.
With both Mercury and Venus entering Cancer, each will trine Neptune in July, first Mercury trine Neptune on the 19th, followed by Venus trine Neptune on the 24th. Our feelings are likely to be intensified, our intuitive sense heightened and our desire for idyllic companionship accentuated. We may choose otherworldly pursuits, situations that enhance our spiritual nature, and our sense of compassion increased, urging us to put spirit into action.
This comes at a time when Saturn is ending its four and a half month retrograde cycle on the 20th, and Uranus is turning retrograde on the 21st – 22nd.
We might have been adventuresome considering our possibilities and new directions over the past few months but with little real implementation of the changes. Now we might find greater comfort in our traditional ways of being. Even if we have made rapid strides into new directions, we could find ourselves drawing upon our expertise and past experiences to establish the basic fundamentals to our new directions.
This latter part of July can prove a highly active period, as we add fuel to the fire. The Sun exits Cancer to enter Leo on the 22nd of July at the time that Mercury opposes Pluto.
The Uranus Pluto square is energized both by Mercury and then by Venus. Mercury opposes Pluto on the 22nd and Mercury squares Uranus on the 24th – 25th. Venus opposes Pluto on the 28th of July, and Venus squares Uranus on the 31st of July – August 1st.
The 24th of July has Venus trine Neptune, the Sun conjunct Jupiter, Mercury square Uranus and Mercury trine Saturn. The potential for overs — overconfidence, overreach, over-enthusiasm and more overs — cannot be discounted. We could easily be seduced both by appearances and by our own assumption that nothing can go wrong and that everything can only go right.
We do have to watch for travel plans, especially with the Mercury square Uranus operational, my least favorite aspect for air travel and an energy configuration that can contribute to misunderstandings, miscommunications and various other screw-ups.
The 25th – 26th has Mars ending its seven and a half month transit of Libra, a Sign of its Detriment where Mars is not comfortable, and Mars now entering Scorpio, a Sign Mars rules. Passion, determination and intensity can all be increased with this Mars transit. And coming just before the Leo New Moon on the 26th, the Mars entry into Scorpio is likely to contribute to a highly intense two-week period between the New Moon on the 26th and the Full Moon on August 10th.
The Leo New Moon on the 26th has a close conjunction with Jupiter and the square to Mars. Things could easily be over the top during this two-week period with people being exaggerated in their presentations, grandstanding and playing king or queen of the hill. The liability to being cut off at the knees can also arise. Excess could be extreme with the liability of exponentially increasing one’s debt load or finding the rug pulled out from under. This may be a time of all or nothing with no half measures in between.
Venus opposes Pluto on the 28th, a time when we may be very discerning regarding our circle of friends. Relationships could prove dicey with a liability of break-ups. Diplomacy would be called for but hard to engage in this all or nothing atmosphere.
On the 31st of July, Mercury exits Cancer to enter Leo. We may be looking for good times and fun events, and far more interested in doing whatever pleases us with slight regard for the consequences.
The 31st of July has Venus square Uranus and with it a time of shifting allegiances, grandiose ideas and impetuous actions. We may feel regal and deserving of whatever we want. Unfortunately, our actions may be a little over-the-top. Discretion and diplomacy may go out the window as people become incredibly self-focused and willing to push the envelope. People may be adamant about their beliefs and their wants and unwilling to compromise or to find middle ground with anyone else. This can be a petulant time, but one where the swings between excess and push backs can be in operation.
While much of this month of July can seem like a walk in the park with various fun activities, we do have to be vigilant, maintain our awareness and mindfulness in order not to get entangled by the brambles along the way.
July 2014… Despite the impediments in the way, let the good times roll…
