July starts with an exact Mars-Saturn opposition, pointing towards obstacles and frustration, especially concerning home and domestic life. But the planetary configurations get easier as the month develops. By the full moon, Guru Purnima, there is a calmer environment to look forward to.
Mercury Transits Gemini from July 7 till 25
Mercury enters its own air sign, Gemini, on July 7, for a rapid transit. This Mercury transit through Gemini is an opportunity. In the bigger picture, we have just watched all of the inner planets move past Rahu. This procession began on February 21 and could have triggered a shuffle that may feel as if it is settling into place after the first week in July.
With Mercury powerfully but briefly placed in Gemini, we can re-establish connections, organise our business and finances, prepare for educational advances, put new communications systems into place and catch up on errands and lingering tasks. Mercury in Gemini is primed to quickly analyse what we have to work with and get the ball rolling in the right direction.
New Moon in Gemini in the nakshatra of Punarvasu on July 9
Rolling into Gemini right after Mercury, the Moon closes in on the Sun at 24° Gemini for the monthly meeting known as the new Moon. Mercury joins the pair from a distance, but strongly influences the Sun-Moon pairing as he is also the ruler of Gemini.
Gemini is an air sign along with Libra and Aquarius. Because of Jupiter’s occupation of Aquarius until September 20, all of the air signs are receiving the aspect of Jupiter, which is generally seen as positive and buoyant.
This could be modified or muddled during this time due to Jupiter’s retrograde status. Jupiter’s influence is to expand or grow. Retrograde Jupiter’s impulse tends to be to go inward. A sprout may need only a cup to get started; don’t delay the sprouting because the orchard has not yet appeared where the sprout will be established as it grows.
While Mercury rules Gemini, the nakshatra of Punarvasu which spans between 20° Gemini and 3°20′ Cancer is ruled by the planet Jupiter and is also the domain of Aditi, a form of the mother goddess. Punarvasu holds the energy of creativity and righteous behaviour. This is a good time to conceive new forms that will survive in recently changed environments.
Sun Transits Cancer from July 16 till August 16
The Sun moves into the Moon’s sign of Cancer, joining the pairing of Venus and Mars who have been swimming through Cancer since early to mid-June. The Sun’s entrance to Cancer triggers Venus’ exit to Leo later that day, followed by Mars on July 20.
Saturn in Capricorn is strongly placed in his own sign, but retrograde and influencing the sign of Cancer with variable pressure. The Sun is strong in Cancer, but not as strong as Saturn in Capricorn. Each year, the Sun will spend one month in opposition to Saturn and one month conjoined with Saturn. Either of these two states generally creates some friction, as these two planets are considered to have enemy status with one another.
At this time, there is a strong influence in the Capricorn-Cancer axis due to Saturn’s placement in Capricorn and the Venus-Mars conjunction in Cancer, opposing Saturn. When the Sun replaces Venus and Mars in Cancer, we may feel a bit of tension in the realm of collective practicality versus sovereign creative impulse. Mid-July through mid-August may be a bit bumpy as we are faced with negotiations about how we can create situations that support our growth without depleting resources or disturbing collective structures. It may be a challenge to relate to the needs of others because the desire to push a personal agenda is strong.
Venus Transits Leo from July 17 till August 11
Venus has been steadily gaining ground on Mars and will catch up to him at 26° Cancer on July 13. This exact conjunction may feel like a culmination of a pursuit that began sometime back in early June. The sign of Cancer is currently under the hard gaze of Saturn. Certainly, a bit more comfortable for Venus, who as the ruler of the water element does well in Cancer and as a friend of Saturn, doesn’t mind the pressure.
Venus shows our tendencies to connect with others and the home on which we survive and thrive. Relations, social connections, politics, entertainment, clean food and water, comfortable homes and beauty all fall under Venus’ domain.
When Venus moves to Leo ahead of Mars, we will have a few weeks to put our designs into the creation and building phase. Rather than the aspect of Saturn, Leo is receiving the aspect of Jupiter. Both of these outer planets are strong and a bit unpredictable at the moment due to retrograde motion. Given this, it may be wise to expect surprises as our creative process seeks growth and form.
Jupiter’s aspect onto Leo should bring small growth spurts through September 20, when his retrograde motion takes him back to Capricorn. As we build our new palaces, the great Guru reminds us that even mistakes and mishaps are part of the divine creative matrix. We may find opportunities to innovate and solve problems that actually lead to the creation of new paradigms that were recently unimaginable.
Mars Transits Leo from July 20 till September 5
Mars follows Venus into fiery Leo, an environment more conducive to Mars’ decisive action and keen strategies. Use this strength and focus to identify and repair the weak spots in your life. Jupiter is aspecting Mars from Aquarius. Even a retrograde Jupiter has the ability to guide the power of Mars.
Mars stays in Leo for about six weeks and will be joined there by the Sun from mid-August. This is a good transit for delving into the themes of power, strength, individuality, sovereignty, ego, self-interest, and accomplishing any goals. Part of the human experience involves establishing the individual self so that it can be a participant in the collective. When the ‘self’ gets too over blown or under fed, an imbalance occurs that makes the sense of self a liability rather than an asset
Full Moon in Capricorn in the nakshatra of Uttarashada July 23
The Moon waxes after the new Moon of July 9, moving past the inner planets and then past Ketu on July 19-20. By July 23, the Moon moves into opposition with the Sun at 8° Capricorn, in the last pada of Uttarashada, for the full Moon of July on which we celebrate the wisdom of our teachers, Guru Purnima.
The Moon is full in Uttarashada nakshatra, whose planetary lord is the Sun. The Sun, from the sign of Cancer and Pushya nakshatra, which is ruled by Saturn, is shining light toward the Moon and Saturn himself. With Saturn in retrograde motion, this could be a great time to confess or address difficult things that have been causing guilt or shame. Only when we face difficulty can we manage it.
Mercury Transits Cancer from July 25 till August 8
Mercury continues toward Cancer on July 25, joining and passing the Sun as he moves through his opposition with Saturn. Mercury will conjoin the Sun exactly at 16° Cancer on August 1 and then with faster speed, moves ahead of the Sun in the zodiac, joining Venus and Mars in Leo on August 8.
Mercury tends to manage well and communicate readily. Mercury’s decision making is largely based on data analysis and this faculty helps us all to think fluidly and adjust our course efficiently when obstacles or shortcuts arise.
In conjunction with the Sun, Mercury is comfortable and tends to be the least bothered planet when it comes to the state of combustion, which is caused by proximity to the Sun which drowns out the expression of the combust planet. Flexible and adaptable, Mercury can make it work almost anywhere, but the sign of Cancer is challenging to Mercury whose quickness and agility do not help much when it comes to the emotional, watery, and sensitive environment of the Moon.
Nonetheless, resourceful Mercury could be helpful during the Sun-Saturn faceoff, which is exact on August 1. Retrograde Saturn in Capricorn opposing the Sun in Cancer will bring themes of individuality vs collective needs. Saturn demands that responsibility be taken for actions that affect the collective while the Sun demonstrates the importance of individual desires despite the repercussions on the rest of the world. This is an important conversation and Mercury could be instrumental in finding common ground.
Retrograde Jupiter in Aquarius opposing Venus and Mars in Leo is another strong current for this time, bringing forth themes of leveraging individual power and productivity in order to boost growth and positive action for the collective. With a pair of oppositions colouring the astrological weather from mid-July to mid-August, the underlying implication is also that of bringing balance to relationships and partnerships.
