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7/1
Venus conj Saturn
July 1st finds us still in the shadow of the Full Moon in Capricorn, the sign of achievement ruled by Saturn which impels us to seek solid ground, something made more difficult by the opposition of Saturn to Neptune, the planet of mysticism and transcendence. Saturn is separating now from Neptune, but its influence will remain throughout the month although it will continue to weaken. On July 1 Saturn conjuncts Venus as well, requiring us to be responsible (Saturn) to others in our lives (Venus), but also planting the seeds of self-doubt and insecurity. Six planets are retrograde now, including Mercury, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and Chiron. When planets appear to be moving backwards (in retrograde motion) we find ourselves going back to previous episodes of our life and having to re-do them. Two steps forward, one step back as we perfect the past and move forward with new wisdom and maturity. Jupiter's transit is practically stationary as it travels only two degrees throughout the entire month. Chiron is also moving extremely slowly and these two planets remain within orb of a sextile that will be exact on September 7. The sextile of Jupiter and Chiron facilitates the healing process as Jupiter's expansive optimism and desire for faith and understanding opens doorways for Chiron's work in exposing our more painful memories and experiences so that they are made more available for healing and transformation. On July 9, Mercury turns direct and begins the end of this heavy retrograde period, and Venus forms a trine to Pluto which enables a deepening of our love for each other and for ourselves. When the Goddess of Love takes a trip to the underworld, fear takes a back seat and we find ourselves with a new sense of courage as we face one another unadorned by the artifice with which we sometimes hide from ourselves. The conjunction of Venus to Saturn is still very close, with Saturn beginning to move into a trine alignment with Pluto. The Saturn/Pluto trine cycle began December of 2006 and will reach the apex of the second phase of the cycle in early August, but its effects are beginning to make themselves known. Saturn motivates hard work and responsibility, and Pluto induces regeneration and transformation which makes this a powerful cycle of change. Trines generally inspire change rather than force it, although the concurrent conjunction of Pluto to the Galactic Center which is also in the second phase of its cycle seems to be intensifying the need for change and change NOW. Aspects between Pluto and the Galactic Center appear to correlate with periods of intense shifts in cultural awareness. This conjunction appears to have generated a flood of concern for the future of the human species and the planet itself, and on a more personal level many of us are experiencing a need for a more truly real and honest experience of our lives. We see this not only among "seekers," but even in the halls of government and the entertainment industry. The conjunction from Pluto to the Galactic Center will conclude in December of 2007, just as Pluto transitions out of Sagittarius into Capricorn. For more information on this cycle go to [enter link]. Mars conjuncts Ceres on July 10. With Ceres now reclassified as a dwarf planet along with Pluto, she has gained new life on the astrological stage. Ceres rules over the nurturing of ourselves and others at a life or death level; she shows how we take care of not only our own physical and emotional needs but also those of others, and how we provide and experience sustenance and nourishment. Ceres appears to operate as a "higher octave" to the Moon; where the Moon deals with emotional safety and security, Ceres deals with issues of basic survival and how we approach life in an incarnated physical form. As the god of war, Mars seeks to better our situation but because of its often ruthless demeanor it can create its own problems. With Mars conjunct Ceres our drives (Mars) can interfere with our ability to take care of our basic needs. This combination can either put us at risk because of the needs of others, or it can drive us to feel we must take care of ourselves at all costs. Attention to the balance of give and take will be very useful during the few days before and after the 10th. Just a few days later, the Cancer New Moon on the 14th asks us to squarely face our emotional needs and those of the people that we love. Cancer's concern is with the realm of feelings and the need to create a home space where those feelings can find the truest expression. In its highest form, Cancer is the endlessly compassionate Mother whose love flows unconditionally. Coming on the heels of the conjunction from Mars to Ceres, this New Moon offers an opportunity to leave past issues of neglect and self-abuse behind as we allow a purer love for others and for ourselves to flow from the source within our own hearts. Uranus in Pisces trines the Sun and Moon which suggests that the creative impulse is strong now and that flashes of insight help to guide us toward the new beginning stimulated by the New Moon. The approaching trine of Saturn to Pluto is also a part of this lunation which facilitates the transformation that is necessary in order to be able to fearlessly reveal the truths of our deeper being. However, a square of Mars to Chiron suggests the possibility of confrontation and button-pushing that may provide the stimulus for a deeper experience of healing if we don't run from the emotional discomfort that this confrontation may engender. Venus enters Virgo on July 15th and service to others becomes key to successful relationships. In Virgo, Venus tends to be rather selfless and the ego becomes sublimated to a higher purpose. We also become more particular and less willing to settle for experiences that are mediocre and unfulfilling. July 18 marks the exact conjunction of Pluto to the Galactic Center. From what I have observed this is an extremely subtle tectonic shift that is happening below the radar of the conscious mind. Still, the Moon opposes Uranus on this day which can open the doors to higher realms of consciousness. It may be useful to be particularly attentive to the insight you receive on this day; it could prove to be helpful in making a shift into a deeper awareness. On July 20 Mars makes a sextile to Uranus which has a restless quality - we are driven now to experience something new and break free of any restrictions that hold us back. Because this is a harmonious aspect this is more a need for excitement and offers the potential for new experiences. The Sun enters Leo on July 22 - Leo is ruled by the Sun and this is a time for creative self expression, play, allowing ourselves to celebrate the glorious individuals that we truly are! When Mars squares Neptune on July 24, and for a few days on either side, we may find ourselves battling with doubt and inadequacy as well as periods of low energy as Neptune throws cold water on our Martian drive and desires. Mars/Neptune combinations can be difficult because nothing is clear - our battles are fought through a foggy mist and very little can be accomplished. The energies of Mars/Neptune can be better used in yoga and other practices which links the physical to the spiritual. Group meditations, spiritual workshops - these are excellent ways to navigate the fog. Venus turns retrograde on July 27 and will continue to travel backwards until September 8. It will spend most of its retrograde time in the sign of Leo where it is likely to encourage us to revisit the ways in which we express ourselves and maintain a healthy ego (Leo) through our relationships before passing back into more selfless Virgo. The Moon will be full in Aquarius on July 29, with the Moon in opposition to the Leo Sun. Full Moons are oppositions, calling on us to balance two opposing viewpoints. The Leo/Aquarius polarity creates tension between the need to express our own individual ego in a healthy way that celebrates life in a body (Leo) with the urge to express ourselves through a more collective experience (Aquarius). In Leo our experience is extremely personal - like the Sun we are the center of our own Universe. In Aquarius, our experience becomes transpersonal, transcending the individual Ego to align with a larger collective mind and soul. Every sign has a polarity, and all are equal in desirability. In a Full Moon, the sign that the Moon is in becomes illuminated with the opposite sign playing the shadow. In this Full Moon we are focused on Aquarius and its need to transcend the original ego in order to gain greater wisdom from a more transpersonal source. Mars is approaching a square to Saturn at the time of the Full Moon that could create a certain amount of fear and hesitation and a sense of being blocked from fulfilling the ego's desires. Saturn is associated with Aquarius as its ancient ruler, and brings with it a strong sense of responsibility to the collective that is meant to overpower the needs of the ego. Yet the modern ruler of Aquarius, Uranus, encourages us to break free of restrictions. This is a sensitive combination of influences that requires a certain amount of detachment to operate successfully. This Full Moon is a time for mindfulness and compassion, as in the words of this Buddhist prayer: May
all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness. |
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