Anxiety much? Not typically a raucous month, June gave tension a whole new meaning. Nothing you can exactly put your finger on either…so, what’s up? Last month shoved a glaring light on all the kinks in our own lives as well as social ills plaguing humanity, manifesting in some truly ugly violence: namely, the largest gun massacre in US history and even the UK with the murder of MP Jo Cox. Underlying our efforts at civility and playing nicely, there are strong undercurrents tearing apart the fabric of our preferably neatly organized worlds. Enough already we scream.
Fortunately, July eases us into love and healing. The next four weeks softens a great deal of the anxiety we have felt building over the past two months. First, Motivating Mars turned direct motion on the final day of June. Have you been holding your breath since May, trying to get things done but spinning your wheels? On July 1st, exhale. Breathe, baby, breathe. All systems are go now. Let it all out. While some of the underlying tension still exists, three planets are now in nurturing Cancer, saying, go ahead, cry on my shoulder, relax on the beach, take a day or a week or two off and find out what feels good to you again. As the Sun (our will), Venus (love and money) and Mercury (our thoughts and words) move through Cancer we find abundant TLC and compassion, and are encouraged toward much-needed self-care. Lots of resources envelope us if we only look for them. Cancer is crazy intuitive and the sentient power of this planetary troika is accentuated by its super helpful angle to Neptune and the Lunar South Node in psychic Pisces. It’s like being guided by a gentle hand that knows exactly where you need to go. NICE!
In addition, the first week of July, the same trio in Cancer make a beneficial alliance to Jupiter/Lunar North Node in Virgo. That gentle hand guides us toward healing people, resources, projects that are just plain good for us. Let the healing begin! This energy is so needed after the hullabaloo and chaos of May and June. We are given a plum opportunity for rest and body/mind/soul restoration during the first part of July. Take advantage and make the most of this golden opportunity. Water signs are terrific at tuning in, listening, diving deep. Use this special time to quiet the voice in your head and truly hear what your soul is saying. Hear what your loved ones are trying to tell you…for weeks or months.
July 4th falls at the end of a long weekend in the United States and is especially advantageous as the New Moon occurs precisely on the national holiday. Venus aligns beautifully with Mars as do Pluto and Jupiter/North Node, giving our relationships a boost of inner knowingand glow yet firmly and practically rooted in reality. It is a New Moon with terrific potential for building the loving world we hope and long for, both individually and collectively. Praying and setting intentions now are most powerful.
Now that Jupiter has shifted away from its challenging position to Serious Saturn in Sagittarius and Neptune/South Node in Pisces, there is less mental gymnastics, tension, worry and anxiety. However, Saturn and Neptune are still dueling: Saturn demands truth and justice while Neptune/South Node cleanse and clear away all disillusionment. It’s like having your psyche run through a car wash. Where we have misled ourselves or been led astray by others, honesty prevails now and insists on having its time through much of the fall. Lies, even bare shading of the truth, are not tolerated now. With our heightened intuition this month, we can feel the right thing to do, the next steps and wiser word choice to make. Pay attention to your gut now as it is ringing with truth and showing you the way. Jokesters and tricksters take note as your shenanigans will not get you very far. The old rules are out, done with and done for. Inhale a deep cleansing breath to clear away the cobwebs in your head. Five planets in water signs during the first half of July offers us a delicious opportunity to wash away what doesn’t work, what we no longer need in our lives.
Also, the Venus-Sun-Mercury trio in Cancer draws our attention to home, family, food and mom. With its alliances to Mars in Scorpio and Chiron in Pisces now, we can deep dive into family history/psychology to heal old wounds, do (significant and perhaps costly) repairs and renovations to our home, and develop new approaches to eating. Our diet: eating healthy (or not), regular and well-balanced meals, is one of the truths revealed to us now by the cosmic configurations. Really, our bodies and minds are what we eat. We must deal with it. How much better would we feel if we consciously consumed healthfully prepared and proportioned platefuls instead of grab-n-go junk?
On July 12th, our attention turns as Venus enters festive Leo, prompting us to find creative ways to make necessary changes to concerns raised in the first half of the month. Two days later on the 14th, Messenger Mercury joins Venus in Leo, adding a sense of humor to our thoughts and speech. Leo is all about FUN, romance, taking chances we might not otherwise, and drama. These next two weeks are great for going on vacation. If you can’t take a whole week off, just a day will do a world of good now. Go ahead and enjoy yourself. Indulge. Splurge on a new outfit (Leo is all about the clothes, hair and makeup) or new look. Step outside your comfort zone. You have cosmic permission.
The Full Moon on July 19th in pragmatic Capricorn lends a grounded realism to our inclinations. It prods: so you have an idea or two…well, how will you go about building that? Creating the relationships you want? Creating the self that you desire? With the truth ripping off our rose-colored glasses, we see the bare bones of what it will take to create the life we desire. This Full Moon shines a huge spotlight on your assets, greatest strengths and flaws/shadow to be turned into productive use. Notice: I did not say how to best hide your flaws or deal with your shadow. There is no more of that now, says this Full Moon. We are to use each last bit of our being, the good, bad and ugly, and apply it positively to heal ourselves, relationships and world. It is high past time and so very, very needed.
By Friday, July 22nd, the Sun moves into Leo, joining Venus and Messenger Mercury. The party’s really hopping now. For the next two weeks, all of the feelings and emotions churned up during the first part of the month turn externally, seeking creative outlets. Use this energy wisely. Now is the time to get inventive. Your ideas take off now as the Leo planetary troika makes gorgeous angles to demanding Saturn. Approach tasks adventurously. Play. Try something (or a strategy) you’ve never done before, individually, with family or friends. We feel festive now. Stir ideas for a creative project, taking all of those feelings provoked by the melee in May/June (possibly a lifetime of frustration) and channel smartly. All systems are go now, so let the tiger out of its cage. Paint, write, dance, cook, create your way to freedom and catharsis.
The final week of July finds Radical Uranus slowing down and preparing to turn retrograde on the 28th. In its groovy alliance with Messenger Mercury this last week of the month, we may find the answers we need to long-standing questions or problems, breakthroughs in relationships, work, science and the arts. Creativity abounds heading into August. We are so blessed with options, choices and solutions, and the courage to seize these. So try them out and on unabashedly. The last two-three weeks of July are truly a time to step out and strut. The Pluto-Jupiter/North Node alliance provides enough practicality that we won’t take unnecessary or foolhardy risks. Go ahead: you can do it! On the final days of the month, Messenger Mercury moves into Virgo, planning and preparing our future. If nothing else, Virgo is efficiency personified. Harness the creative engine and ideas you’ve developed then stand back and marvel out at your amazing results! Yes, yes you can.