July is the climax of difficult and challenging transits. Being that we have two aggressive eclipses taking place, it will require patience and discipline to get through without causing any unnecessary damage. Pay attention to communications this month.
Mercury transits Cancer till August 25
July sees Mercury transiting the watery sign of Cancer with a debilitated Mars. From the 7th to the 9th , Mars and Mercury are in war with an exact conjunction on 8th. Mercury will go retrograde in Cancer July 7 – 31 which actually takes Mercury back into Gemini for about 5 days, from July 30 – August 3. Primarily, though, we see Mercury in Cancer, the Moon’s sign.
On July 7th, Mercury begins its retrograde cycle in the nakshatra of Pushya. Though Mercury and Mars are now away from the Nodal axis, neither are comfortable in the water sign of Cancer, so there could be stormy emotions coming to the surface. Pay attention to days leading up to the Lunar Eclipse on July 16th, particularly from July 7th till July 18th. The blessing here of course is that Jupiter is also transiting a watery sign, throwing its aspect onto Mercury, so whatever may end, will eventually serve our purpose.
Pushya is considered a gentle star and good for all type of works, however, with Mars close by, it may be difficult to analyse situations and execute plans. It may cloud the intellect with unsettled and uncomfortable emotions. This is a good month to practice being at peace with not knowing what’s next, even though you know the old stuff has to retire. Rather than resisting the sticky emotions that could get churned up in the discomfort, which is what Mercury tends to do, get mucky in it. Feel the emotions. Who better than Mercury to learn new lessons in emotional realms, particularly since all of Mercury-controlled nakshatras sit in water signs.
New Moon Solar Eclipse in Gemini, in Ardra nakshatra, on July 2
The Sun and Moon will connect at 16 degrees Gemini on July 2 at around 11 am UTC, in the nakshatra of Ardra, ruled by Rahu. Mercury, the ruling planet of Gemini, is in Cancer, where it cannot function at its best, particularly with Mars’ close by in a warring conjunction. There is a sobering aspect of Saturn from Sagittarius as well as a gentle aspect of Venus, also in Gemini at this time.
Ardra is associated with tears, sorrow, pain, destruction, and chaos. Ardra is an intense nakshatra, and therefore can bring chaos and confusion in areas related to where Gemini lies in your chart. This is an extremely sensitive nakshatra and you have to pay attention to your thoughts and emotions as there may be a lot of negative activity here.
Ardra supports the following activities: destruction; confrontation; tearing down structure; managing difficult situations; getting rid of old things; breaking bad habits; addressing problems; and dissolving negativity. The highest level of Ardra is cleansing so you will have the opportunity to once and for all remove old structures, old thoughts that are holding you back. Now here with Saturn Retrograde so closely aspecting Rahu you will have to return to an earlier problem or issue and finally close this chapter. In this area of life (connected to Gemini/Ardra, which is Aquarius navamsha), you can experience a lot of mental activity, a wavering mind, and some confusion.
Venus Transits Gemini till July 23
Venus is also transiting Gemini, which provides energy and passion, and as a bright body in our sky, brings inspiration and anchoring during the confusion or darkness generated by the shadows of the eclipse. We may be strongly feeling the dissolution indicated by the Saturn-Ketu conjunction in Jupiter’s Sagittarius, especially with Jupiter himself retrograde in Ketu’s sign of Scorpio, creating another exchange of signs that feels somewhat draining, creating a vacuum of space that is craving to be filled.
This craving comes from Rahu, whose power to put through his message becomes especially strong during eclipses, which dampen the song of the heart (solar eclipses) and peace of the mind (lunar eclipse.) This may be a good month to place extra effort into grounding as we let go of one set of circumstances and make room for new directions. Be patient, as the details may not become clear until the nodal axis energy calms down after the eclipse cycle.
Venus is generally happy in Gemini; however, at the moment, which so much going on there, Venus will feel the stress and chaos. Dates to watch for are from July 15th till July 22nd, when there is a close Venus-Rahu conjunction, and the full moon will highlight this conjunction. This could bring sudden attractions, obsessive thinking, and impulsive actions in relationships, leading to future regrets.
Sun Transits Cancer July 17 – August 17
Around midnight on July 17, the Sun moves away from the turbulent environment immediately after being eclipsed by Rahu in Gemini. This also takes the Sun out of opposition with Saturn, which may relieve some pressure on the Sun, not to mention clearing the nodal axis, which can tend to create shadows and doubts about how to act or proceed.
The Sun is well placed whilst in Cancer, the sign ruled by the Moon and will also be happy in Leo, so we can try to glean the best guidance of the Sun through the next couple of months. The Sun encourages us to pay attention to individual needs and wants, as well as to choose the most righteous path forward.
It may have been difficult to discern what the best route forward is since mid-June, when Sun moved into Gemini, faced with shadows from Rahu and instability coming from the aspect thrown by a retrograde Saturn conjoined with Ketu. With Sun moving into the signs of the luminaries, Cancer and Leo, we may come into some clarity and resolution after some intense months of disintegration and obstruction.
Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Sagittarius, in the nakshatra of Uttara Ashada, on July 16
The Moon waxes into fullness on June 16 at 29º Sagittarius, around 10 pm UTC, opposite the Sun at 29º Gemini. This is a powerful full moon lunar eclipse joined by Venus and Saturn directly opposing each other.
It is a special full moon as it also coincides with Guru Purnima, a tradition dedicated to spiritual teachers, those who are evolved or enlightened and ready to share their wisdom, with little or no monetary expectation. So this alone makes it a great day to commence any sort of spiritual practice or Sadhana. For those who already have a spiritual practice, you may want to fast or do a mantra japa practice in honour of your Guru – even lighting a candle or incense is a nice gesture.
Guru Purnima is also called Vyasa Purnima dedicated to the great sage, Ved Vyasa because he provided us with the greatest knowledge of the scriptures. Before his time, the Vedas were passed from one generation to the next via word of mouth but Vyasa compiled them and classified them into four parts – Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda. He also wrote the 18 Puranas, Mahabharata and the Srimad Bhagavatam.
This eclipse will again affect Gemini and Sagitarrius but also those with the beginning degrees of Cancer and Capricorn and those who have planets close to the eclipse degree – within 7/10 degrees. It suggests big endings, which can be now or within a month. With Saturn/Ketu directly and closely aspecting the moon in Uttara Ashada, something needs to culminate here so don’t hang on to it tightly. If you have been in a relationship that is not working, then this will dissolve now as Saturn is forming a very close opposition with Venus. With Rahu also closely aspecting Venus, there will be some illusion, possibly deception that may come to the surface in relationships. It may be the case that the person you are involved with was not what they seemed so it will again be necessary to move on. We may be required to face unexpected, unwanted or unwarranted circumstances around this time. The best remedial measures you can take is to strengthen the Moon.
Mars continues to transit Cancer June 22 – August 8
Mars continues to transit in Cancer, passing by Mercury when he goes retrograde in July and then exiting to Leo on August 8. Mars is a natural friend of the Moon, but does become debilitated whilst in Cancer. Like Mercury, Mars experiences a bit of a mismatch being in Cancer and has trouble showing his full array of power and logic in the Moon’s emotional environment.
Adding Mars to the planets that are sitting in a pool of water may be a positive thing at this time, especially if we concede to the fact that this may not be the best time for building long-lasting foundations. We can focus our efforts on repairing or re-modeling things at home, analysing our emotional reactions and creating solutions to deep, recurring problems that have created obstacles or patterns in our physical, mental and spiritual lives. Rather than building, this time frame is more conducive to dismantling that which has become corrupt or outdated.
While Mars is frustrated generally in Cancer, this position does bring him into a trinal aspect with Jupiter, who does affect Mars positively. Thus, both Mars and Mercury, while frustrated, do have important work to do while in Cancer, guided by retrograde Jupiter, who is temporarily calling for slow growth, lesson review, and deep transformations.
