There’s a lot of hot verbal energy this July. Although many of this month’s aspects could manifest as other forms of action, words are likely to be quite powerful and direct – at least after we get past the first week. Remember that what matters about sticks and stones is what you do with them, as the image suggests.
July begins with a murky start, as Neptune stations to retrograde on the 2nd. Neptune stations are times when we can get too enthused or too discourage, too easily. The first few days of the month are a good time to let serendipity rule, maintain flexibility, and enjoy yourself without taking things too seriously. As we’re coming off Saturn’s retrograde station on June 29th and the Moon is waning, we may be a little more inclined to see the glass as half empty, but this will vary among folks.
The Cosmic Messenger, Mercury, is pretty busy through this time, making an easy trine to Neptune on the 2nd – opening up communication on an emotional, if not entirely realistic, level. Hours later, he strides into Leo and opposes Pluto: no doubt tempting folks to tell it as they see it.
Venus is also quite busy in the first week of the month, ignoring caveats about Neptune. The Goddess of Love makes an easy sextile to partnership asteroid Juno on the 1st, suggesting the potential for harmony between what we want (Venus) and what we have (Juno). She goes on the trine Saturn on the 2nd, implying that we can build some structure in our relationships.
Later in the week, Saturn opposes Juno (on the 6th) while Venus sextiles Uranus on the 8th. The first aspect could feel like a deadline decision for partnerships, while the second suggests that flexibility can open up new possibilities. Overall, the first few days of July offer a soft-focus lens on relationships that will become sharper as the week progresses.
The Cancer New Moon is on the 5th. This new moon pulls us towards home and family – or however you define your comfort zone. The new moon is closely conjunct Sirius, the brightest star in the sky – the Dog Star (from which we get the expression “Dog Days of Summer”). The star is associated with wealth and fame, although it is also viewed as protective. A conservative vibe is likely to prevail around this time.
No such conservatism is expected as we wax out of the new moon. Pallas Athene – Goddess of Wisdom with spear in hand to get her point across – is opposed by Mars on the 6th, just as she prepares to station to go direct on the 9th. In the sign of Scorpio, Athena is likely to deliver a sharp message. This is around the time of the Venus/Uranus trine, so expect the days from the 6th to the 10th to carry some powerful messages in the collective and also in our personal lives.
Venus makes a soft trine to Neptune on the 11th, a time when we may celebrate Cancerian values of home and family. Yet later that day she dances into Leo, puts on her party dress, and gets ready for fun. Alas, Venus’ first act is an opposition to Pluto in Aquarius – potentially putting the party on hold for a few days.
As we approach mid-month, we feel the heat of Mars meeting with Uranus on the 15th. This is a time of action – and potentially impulsive action at that. With Mercury square to Pallas Athene at the same time, the heat may be largely confined to the verbal realms.
Mars leaves Taurus for Gemini on the 20th, another indication that we’ll parry and party verbally. Mars in Gemini likes to use words more than a sword, although these can sting in their own way. Along with the activity around Pallas Athene in Scorpio, this month is likely to see some very sharp communication.
The Full Moon on the 21st is the second full moon in Capricorn – the first was on June 21st. At the last degree of Capricorn, the Moon will be triggering issues having to do with Pluto’s time in the sign (2008 until 2024), especially the collective issues that have been brewing over the past few years. With Mercury square to Uranus on the same day, the messages will be unfiltered and perhaps surprising. Mars is trine to Pluto, also, another indication that this is July’s hotspot.
The Sun returns home to Leo on the 22nd, joining his houseguests Mercury and Venus. We’re in the full swing of summer (at least in the Northern Hemisphere) and it’s time to focus on the things that give you joy.
Just a day later, it’s the Sun’s turn to oppose Pluto. The Sun is always strong, and all the more so in his home sign. Yet Pluto suggests a power struggle – who’s in charge, and who has the power (financial, emotional, or otherwise)? It will be interesting to see how this aspect plays out among the world’s leaders and power brokers, who may have very different ideas about what to do.
As July ends, relationships are back in focus, as Venus squares Pallas Athene while Uranus trines Juno on the 28th and 30th (Venus will square Uranus on August 2nd). While the relationship aspects in early July seem to offer ways to nudge us forward or put things on hold, the energy for the last part of the month suggests firm statements and decisive action.