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Lynn's
Skywatch:
Planetary Illuminations for July 2010
The lunar eclipse on June 26th was, in my view, the climax of this period with seven planets all in the early degrees of what we call the Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn), battling for dominance in the push to re-form human life. There is another eclipse on July 11th (I love the numerological significance of an eclipse on 7/11) in which the alignments are tighter, and this is a total eclipse. But there are fewer planets interacting at this time, and unlike the June 26 eclipse in which the Sun and Moon were a part of the Grand Cross, the Sun and Moon do not interact with the alignments in the July 11 eclipse. We are not completely out of the woods - Saturn (challenges and tests) re-enters Libra this month where it will become more tightly aligned in the cross with Pluto (death and regeneration), Jupiter (expansive freedom) and Uranus (radical liberation and change), and this is likely to create some stress if there are areas of our lives that are not yet in balance. Saturn is completing two major cycles right now: The opposition of Saturn to Uranus, and the square of Saturn to Pluto. Planetary cycles, whether global ones in the sky or personal ones that aspect planets in our chart, are nearly always more difficult as we approach the first phase and become confronted with the unfamiliar energy of that planetary cycle. As the cycle continues we become more attuned to the flow of energy that is offered and we throw up less resistance: hence less difficulty. At this point in the summer we have been moving through a great deal of blockages and are more comfortable with the planetary stressors. Uranus is virtually at a standstill now as it prepares to turn retrograde on July 5th, so the pressure towards authenticity and living as true a life as we can is paramount. Saturn will change signs this month, moving back into Libra after completing its cycle through Virgo and this will create another shift in focus, this time towards harmony and learning to improve our relationships. We also have an alignment between Jupiter and Pluto that is within a degree of exactitude throughout the month. Pluto's astrological role is to empower us at the deepest level, and in order to do so it will sometimes create challenges that force us to leave something behind. In the square of Jupiter to Pluto, what we have to leave behind is often our own sense of self-importance. Now on to the planetary forecast. On the first of July, Mercury (communication) forms a harmonious sextile to Mars, energizing our thinking and our ability to express our thoughts to others for a day or two. On the 5th Venus trines Ceres, creating a peaceful (Venus) connection to our life on Earth and our ability to sustain ourselves (Ceres). Uranus turns retrograde that day, so there may be an excessive amount of electrified energy in the air around this time. The role of Uranus is to provide a higher and more transpersonal view of the world - a detachment that offers a glimpse of a higher Truth. Venus opposes Neptune on the 8th, and we are infused with a longing for Spirit and connection. This can be a very creative day or two, especially with a harmonious sextile of Mercury to Saturn on the 9th that provides a grounded (Saturn) outlet for us to be able to bring the creative impulses from the Soul (Venus/Neptune) into reality. Mercury enters Leo on the 9th, activating a trine to Uranus that electrifies and excites the mind (Mercury) and helps us to bring a bigger vision (Leo) into play. Mercury in Leo also encourages us to play and to have fun with our life, even in the midst of major life changes and this influence will be in effect until the 27th. On the 10th, Venus moves into modest Virgo signifying a shift in our attitudes about our relationships and the way we relate to others. Suddenly we are more concerned with helping others and being somewhat less concerned about our own needs as we were over the few weeks when Venus went through Leo. The more mundane details of our life - personal hygiene, diet, sleep patterns - also become a bigger factor with Venus in Virgo. On the 11th Mercury trines Neptune, bestowing creative flow and a deep feeling of inner connection that will serve us well at the New Moon in Cancer. This is a total solar eclipse so although the solar principle of the conscious mind conjoins the lunar principle of instinct and emotion, the solar conscious influence is eclipsed by the inner world of mystery. But the lunation (the Sun/Moon aspect) interacts harmoniously with Mars which helps to energize and focus, helping us to clarify our desires and intentions. The New Moon does include an opposition from Venus to Chiron, suggesting that any areas of insecurity that linger in our psyche could arise to the surface to be healed at this time. The New Moon in Cancer is focused in the realm of emotion - Cancer after all is ruled by the Moon and shares its fluid and changeable mood and flow of feelings. The Venus/Chiron opposition could just as easily evoke a powerful shot of wisdom (Chiron) regarding the way in which we achieve balance (Venus) in our life - something that requires the healing and release of old hurts and painful judgments. This theme is echoed in the trine of Venus to Pluto which culminates on July 13th. Although a minor aspect which zips through in a couple of days, because it is embedded in the chart of the eclipse it takes on greater importance. Pluto, the god of Transformation through endings and rebirth, interacts harmoniously with Venus to empower and release us from the dead and dying attitudes and values (Venus) that still litter our path. As we move away from the eclipse, Mars squares Ceres on July 16th. Though this lasts only a day or two, during this time we are likely to feel resistant to caring for others, or even for ourselves. Meanwhile, Chiron, traveling retrograde, will move from Pisces back into Aquarius where it will remain until the beginning of 2011. This gives us an opportunity to bring greater healing (Chiron) through the energy fields (Aquarius) through which we attain a higher level of intelligence and awareness. Once Chiron moves fully into Pisces, the focus will change from spiritual intelligence to a deeper and more personal inner connection to life. Saturn also changes signs when on the 21st it re-enters Libra after completing its journey through Virgo. In Libra, Saturn brings its tests and challenges into the realm of the way we relate to others and how well we create balance and harmony in our lives. Saturn will remain in Libra until October of 2012, so we have a while to get this right. Jupiter also comes into focus at this time as its motion slows down in preparation for its retrograde turn in Aries on July 23rd. We are likely to feel more of a desire to expand our lives and to find greater freedom, especially since Jupiter and Uranus are still within three degrees of a conjunction. Jupiter and Uranus are both represent different forms of liberation, and that is a key focus here, especially as Jupiter begins to align in a challenging square to Pluto this week (see the introductory paragraphs for more information). During the week leading up to the Full Moon on July 25th the Sun aligns in harmonious patterns with Saturn on the 22nd and Uranus on the 23rd, and there is much positive energy available for us to take advantage of that will help to work through the stressful alignments more easily. The Full Moon is in the sign of Aquarius - an air sign of higher intelligence and reason, and the lunation is harmoniously aspected by nearly all of the major players in the Cardinal Cross. Saturn forms a trine to the Moon, Jupiter and Uranus form a trine to the Sun. There is not one water sign in this chart, so there is no place for feelings in this lunar event. This period is all about the higher mind and the higher self. However, an opposition between Mercury to Neptune and Chiron at this time suggests that we may become deluded (Neptune) and wounded (Chiron) if we allow ourselves to soar too high with our Icarus-like wax wings that Jupiter/Uranus and the Aquarian Full Moon equip us with for the ride. This Full Moon also marks the final phase of the Saturn/Uranus cycle. You can read more about that cycle here and in many articles on my blog. Suffice it to say that this period, which has lasted for nearly two years, has been the source of a struggle between security and conventional thinking (Saturn) and new ideas and ways of living together as a society (Uranus) which will now come to a close. It would be a mistake to think this is the end of the stress, though, because in 2011 Uranus begins to square Pluto and this will be another very interesting time. But for now we can take a bit of a breather and reorganize our thoughts in preparation for the time to come. When Mercury enters Virgo on the 28th, the vehicles through which we process information (the mind, computers, telephones, etc.) become well-oiled machines. The focus on detail that Virgo provides is not exceptionally creative, but it is very practical and facile with ideas and with numbers. Mars enters Libra on the 29th and begins to face off against Saturn, Jupiter and Uranus. Mars cycles only last for a few days, but this period (between the 27th of July and August 5nd or so) is a time to watch as tempers will be flaring, accidents can happen, lightning will be excessive, and we may find accelerated earthquake and tornado activity. Still, compared to the planetary storm of the past few months, this is nothing and we will be well-prepared to weather any storm. |
7/1
Mercury sextile Mars