What is home? Family? Do we feel safe enough to plant roots and flourish? When the Sun is in Cancer, the light shines upon some of the most fundamental experiences of human life — care, emotional sustenance, and the mother. For many these experiences come with deep conflict and painful memories. So, as we move through the days ahead, Cancer touching on life’s more sensitive subjects, July may be a hard month to digest.
Look no further than the new moon on July 4. With a tense face off to Pluto, we’ll be entering a four week period of pulling out emotional weeds, the ones that root in our hearts and keep us from thriving. These could be old feelings as well as the limiting beliefs that keep us from creating the container for our life to grow in. Toss that in with a powerful Capricorn Full Moon on July 19 and a Uranus station on July 30, and we’ve got a recipe for alchemy this month.
I know you’re all thinking it. When is it going to get easier. But look at the world now. If there’s a storm raging on the collective level it will equally rage on the personal. There will be moments when the winds and the waves die down and others when they pick up stronger. Astrology simply tells us what time it is. The planets Pluto and Uranus have been pointing to a bigger period of unprecedented change and instability in humanity that began around 2008.
Where is your consciousness in this process of change? How are you nurturing yourself? How are you tending to your foundation? How does “The Mother” energy need to shift so that it can be softer, more loving, more inviting to life? How do you create the world that you want to see? How does it begin with you? Don’t let July’s potent energy go undirected. Make sure self care is a top priority as well as spending time with the people closest to you.
DATES TO NOTE: 7/1 Venus sextile Jupiter; 7/3 Sun trine Neptune; 7/4 New Moon 12 Cancer; 7/5 Mercury trine Neptune; 7/6 Sun conjunct Mercury, Venus trine Mars; 7/7 Mercury opposite Pluto, Sun opposite Pluto, Venus square Uranus; 7/8 Mercury sextile Jupiter, Venus trine Chiron; 7/10 Mercury trine Mars, Sun sextile Jupiter; 7/11 Mercury square Uranus, Mercury trine Uranus; 7/12 Venus enters Leo; 7/13 Mercury enters Leo; 7/16 Mercury conjunct Venus, Sun square Uranus, Sun trine Mars; 7/17 Mars trine Chiron, Sun trine Chiron; 7/19 Full Moon 27 Capricorn, Mercury trine Saturn; 7/20 Venus trine Saturn; 7/22 Sun enters Leo; 7/25 Sun trine Chiron; 7/27 Mercury trine Uranus; 7/29 Uranus Retrograde 24 Aries, Mercury square Mars; 7/30 Mercury enters Virgo.
Aries
Here’s the first thing you need to know, Aries. Your ruling planet, Mars, is finally out of retrograde. High five! Life can finally start flowing again after ten weeks of feeling sluggish and out of sorts. If you did your homework while Mars was retrograde, you really took the time to peer inward. Mars Retrograde, after all, is a time when everyone — especially Aries — has to look at their Mars karma. How do you take action? Use your aggression? Demonstrate leadership? Plus, Mars retrograded through the signs of Sagittarius and Scorpio. How did your worldview shift? Your beliefs about yourself change? Did you peer uncomfortably into your shadow? Mars will move slowly in July so don’t expect to charge forward just yet. Okay? Okay. In other news this is the time of the year when you naturally turn toward the people closest to you — your inner circle, your family. With Venus in Cancer for the first half of July, you’re feeling a pull to create a stable, beautiful living space, one that really reflects your values and that you can share with others. That said, the new moon on July 4 will open a four week period when you may be thinking of making a drastic change, one that pulls out the roots of the old and ushers in the new. Something has to transform this month, something has to let go. It may the the physical space around you, but it may be something deeply fundamental to who you are — or who you thought you were. July 16 and the days in the lead up will be a powerful time for you. Use them wisely to create the newest edition of your life. Lastly the full moon on July 19 will put career and status in the spotlight. What do you want to be when you grow up? A lot is being asked of you; it may feel like a leap of faith. And when Uranus changes direction on July 29, be prepared to leap. Want to learn more about how the astrology of July will affect you? Book your consultation now.
Key Themes: Home, family, roots, connection, stability, foundation, emotions, sensitivity, inner circle, change, move, liberation, break from the old, value, security, career, status, reputation, title, profession, direction, transformation, rebirth, finance, wealth, debt, taxes, legacies, benefits.
Taurus
Feeling busy, Taurus? With the planets igniting the travel areas of your chart, you may be rushing around town or heading off on a short trip this month. Hard not to when you’ve been feeling a little restless lately. As a result, you’ve got places to go and people to see! If you can’t travel in July, you may feel a push to stretch your mind through reading, writing, and maybe a class or two. Despite this month’s zippy energy, July will open with storm clouds on the horizon. A potent new moon on July 4 will ask tough questions. How have your beliefs about life or your fears held you back? What deep emotions from childhood do you need to let go of? It will also be a perfect time to talk to a trusted confidant or therapist for new perspective. Additionally, the trips you take this month may have a profound impact on how you see yourself and the world around you. Looking ahead, the narrative will start to shift toward home and family on July 12. After all the back and forth, you could use some time at home. That said, this month will go way beyond the surface and into deeper concerns. Where do you belong? Where is home? Do you need to move? Or do you need to be intentional about how you create your living space? The full moon on July 19 may have you planning or making a decision about one more big trip — this one quite far from home. The full moon will also highlight education and if you are thinking making a change in your schooling, there may be a big change for you in store as well as a break from the old. Want to learn more about how the astrology of July will affect you? Book your consultation now.
Key Themes: Travel, trips, journeys, quests, education, university, school, classes, neighborhood, commute, siblings, information, communication, writing, speaking, publishing, law, belief, meaning, religion, world view, home, family, roots, connection, nest, foundation, emotional needs, emotional security.
Gemini
July, for the most part, is all about money — as in how you make it, what you spend it on, and the deeper values fueling those two things. It’s also about stuff. Between the new moon on July 4 and Mercury joining forces with the Sun and Venus into the middle of July, you’ll be extra motivated to secure your place, feather your nest, and cultivate more financial security in your life. But a couple of bumpy connections with Pluto and Uranus from July 7–10 will force more than a few money issues to the surface. How do your values need to completely shift? How can you be more conscientious about where you spend your time and money? Keep in mind that you’re under a long term influence in the form of Saturn in Sagittarius. Everything is under scrutiny right now. Yes, Gemini, you’re used to flying through life by the seat of your pants. Normally this tactic works, much to the surprise of those around you, but you can’t get away with much right now. So, with that in mind, you may need to make some adult decisions around money and finance this month. Not that you’ve been slacking off. Mars’s extra long stay in the work zone of your chart will mean that you’ll be busy into the start of August, especially once Mercury arrives in Leo on July 13. The second half of the month will be marked with travel, appointments, and zipping back and forth around town. The full moon on July 19 will financial or deeply personal issue to a head. What shadows do you need to face? What relationships need reworking? Who do you trust? Time to shed old skin. Want to learn more about how the astrology of July will affect you? Book your consultation now.
Key Themes: Money, income, salary, value, material stability, resources, comfort, purchases, finance, wealth, shared resources, partner’s income, benefits, loans, debt, taxes, legacies, the shadow, secrets, intimacy, trust, communication, classes, learning, thinking, speaking, travel, movement, the neighborhood, siblings.
Cancer
Happy birthday, Cancer! What a year it’s been! Let’s take a step back and look at the big picture for a moment. You’re a sign that has a deep emotional investment in everything staying the same. But the last few years have pushed you far outside of your comfort zone, from job changes to radical new chapters in the home to even profound internal shifts. It’s safe to say that you’re not the same person you were a few years ago. It’s left you tired and emotionally strained as you seek out new places to put down roots. I say all this to give you a context for July and what will be asked of you as you step into another year — rebirth and break from the old. The Cancer New Moon on July 4 will bring a tense stand off with Pluto, stirring up themes around personal power, control, and the people whose sole purpose is to be an agent of change in your life. You may feel extra sensitive in July, too, as emotions bubble up around stability and security — not exactly Cancer’s favorite. Looking to the full moon on July 19, something in a relationship or with another person will bubble to the surface. Or, if you’re single, you may have a radical rethink about the sort of people you look for in a relationship? How will you use your experiences in July to turn the ship in a different direction? Here’s the thing though. I know you’re more than over the storms and waves that have washed across your life. Use this month to be very gentle and attentive to yourself and your needs. With Saturn a long term influence in your chart’s sector of health and wellness, book a massage or time in the spa. You’ve certainly earned it by now. Want to learn more about how the astrology of July will affect you? Book your consultation now.
Key Themes: The self, action, rebirth, transformation, makeover, personal shifts, power, control, deep emotions, the past, confrontation, security, trust, stability, relationships, other people, partnerships, marriage, break from the old, money, resources, salary, income.
Leo
As July opens, you may be feeling more contemplative than usual. Although this is the time of the year when you naturally pull back from the world and prepare for another birthday, Mars’s has been stirring up your most sensitive parts. The planet of action was retrograde in June, bringing you back to the past, back to your roots, touching on themes of home, family, and connection. But even with Mars direct as of June 29, you may still be dealing with the emotional fallout. How do you let go? How do you heal? The new moon on July 4 will drive these questions home even further. Keep this in mind for the first half of the month as you’ll be clearing space for the coming year — and maybe cleaning out the fridge of foods that no longer nourish you body, mind, and soul. What about addictions, too? Use the new moon to gain new perspective, face your demons, and unconscious fears. By the second half of July the energy won’t feel so soggy, the planets making their arrival in sunny Leo in advance of your birthday. In fact, starting July 12, Venus in Leo will give you an added boost and a dash of glamour into August — perfect if you’re looking to get noticed professionally. The full moon on July 19 will put the spotlight on work, health, and the daily grind. You may be ready to make a big decision about self care and diet. Or, use the full moon energy to debut a project and wrap up the details with something you been working on — just in time to start celebrating your birthday. Want to learn more about how the astrology of July will affect you? Book your consultation now.
Key Themes: Retreat, rest, withdraw, spirituality, meditation, dreams, unconscious, letting go, confinement, endings, rebirth, new beginnings, attraction, glamor, creativity, communication, movement, health, wellness, nutrition, diet, purity, cleanliness, organization, order, projections, daily life, schedule, rituals, pets.
Virgo
This is the time of the year you turn toward the future. With eyes on the horizon, you may be thinking about the big picture. What are your hopes and dreams for the future? What are your aspirations? This is also a time when you naturally gravitate toward your friends and community. While the first half of the month will have more of a social vibe to it, the new moon on July 4 will open up a four week period where you will have to seriously reevaluate how your friends and community give you the emotional support you need. Let’s be honest, Virgo. You do a lot. You’re the sign everyone can rely on to get the job done. But can you rely on others? When Mercury, your ruling planet, makes a series of bumpy contacts to Pluto and Uranus July 7–11, this question will become more acute. As a result, you’ll be asked to make a change this month in who you trust and how you get to express your true self among your social network. Then, on July 13, Mercury will dip into the last sector of your chart, a place that invites you to look within and reflect. You may be in need of some rest and relaxation or quiet time alone. A few days later, a powerful full moon on July 19 will ask you to make a decision about who you are . . . and what you’re not. So often we unconsciously take on the fears and limited expectations of our families. We live the life that they carved out for us, even if it’s not us. How will you break free? How will you find what really sustains and nourishes you? Want to learn more about how the astrology of July will affect you? Book your consultation now.
Key Themes: Community, friendships, collective, humanity, big picture, aspirations, the future, goals, wishes, transformation, trust, rebirth, rest, retreat, recuperation, the unconscious, dreams, spirituality, contemplation, self expression, creativity, talents, identity.
Libra
The spotlight is on career this month! With the Sun and Venus riding high in your chart, this is the perfect time of year to reach toward success, achievement, and the place you want in the world. How will you work for it? With Cancer as your career sign, it’s important for you to do something that you love as well as something that nurtures you. That said, the new moon on July 4 will give you a powerful reset for the year. You may see forward movement with your professional ambitions, but the new moon’s strong angle to Pluto will mean that in order to move ahead you will need to face your fears. Pluto is a planet that draws a line for us; something must be changed, transformed, left behind. It’s non-negotiable. As a result, something will draw to a close just as something else begins. While this narrative of transformation will unfold for much of July, keep your eye on the days between the new moon on July 4 and July 7 when Venus and Uranus square off. Yes, this will make for tense astrology, but it will also be fertile ground for rebirth. During this window be very clear about the public and professional changes you want to create. Seed the energy! When Venus changes sign on July 12, the rest of the month will pull you toward friends, community, and connection. Who are the allies that will help you make the next steps in your career? Who are the friends who understand and support you? The full moon on July 19 will dig into your roots, bringing a big decision about where you live and what you want to build your life on. Additionally, Uranus’s change of direction on July 29 could bring a shake up in a relationship . . . or a breath of fresh air. It’s a big month ahead, Libra! Want to learn more about how the astrology of July will affect you? Book your consultation now.
Key Themes: Career, status, reputation, title, achievement, success, ambition, the world, recognition, transformation, change, hidden fears, family, foundation, roots, memories, emotions, emotional security, nurturing, parents, relationships, other people, partnerships, break, freedom, unexpected, breakthrough, friends, community, hopes, wishes, the future.
Scorpio
Since April you’ve been pulling back, reworking, taking assessment of who you are and how you want to express it. Mars Retrograde isn’t usually the best of times for Scorpio — think low energy and a ton of naval gazing, maybe some revenge fantasies, too — but if you did your homework over the last ten weeks, you have a deeper perspective on what makes you tick. Here’s the thing. Scorpio can either burn the world to the ground or it can use its powers of alchemy and transformation to remake the world better, stronger. Mars Retrograde really pointed the finger at this potent dichotomy within Scorpio. What did you choose? Where did you look into the darkness and not see what you liked? (Hopefully you chose creation over destruction for destruction’s sake.) Now that we’re in July, you may feel like you’re holding all the cards. The new moon on July 4 will turn the focus toward foreign travel, long distance journeys, and higher education. With its potent connection to Pluto, July will ask that you rethink what you believe in, that what you know to be true may not be true. Use the month to be inspired by new ideas and philosophies — especially around the full moon on July 19. Then on July 22 the Sun will reach the highest point of your chart and into the sign of Leo. Late July and into August will be your time to shine, especially as you enjoy a boost of regal Venus in Leo starting on July 12. After a long Mars Retrograde, time to launch the projects and ideas into the world! Want to learn more about how the astrology of July will affect you? Book your consultation now.
Key Themes: Higher education, philosphy, belief, world view, foreign travel, different cultures, long distance journeys, publishing, law, vitality, power, control, thinking, learning, classes, communication, writing, speaking, the neighborhood, short distance travel, neighbors, career, status, recognition, the world, reputation, achievement, ambition.
Sagittarius
Lost your bearings? After June’s shifting tides, maybe you’re wondering where you are this month. Up? Down? Sideways? Maybe you’re pulling out of an existential crisis, too. Now that it’s July, let’s get the GPS out and find north again, okay? Here’s what you need to know. Generally this is a time when career and achievement is at the forefront. Jupiter, your ruling planet, has been riding the highest reaches of your chart, a place he won’t occupy for another twelve years. Ask yourself, how will you make your mark on the world? What direction do you want to head in? Who do you want the public to see you as? What title do you want after your name? Jupiter will change signs in September, stepping away from career and toward making new friends and allies. Use this time wisely! July will also shine a light on the hidden and unknown — your psyche, secrets, the things you only share with those most intimately connected to you. Sagittarius has a reputation as a happy-go-lucky, optimistic sign, but even Sag has days when uncertainty creeps in. So, what are your fears? What’s in your shadow? This month will also be a time to look at money. The new moon on July 4 will place a strong emphasis on wealth, restructuring how you handle your money, and the resources you have available to you, from loans and benefits to a partner’s income. If you need to tackle debt, this will be a good month to get down to business and make lasting, radical changes. The full moon on July 19 will also highlight money, bringing a potentially big decision about what to spend your money on and long term value. With a tight connection to Uranus, it’s also time to be compensated fully for your talents as well as come up with a ingenious ideas to be financially successful. Remember, Saturn will be a long term visitor to Sagittarius. You if you want success and authority, you’ll have to earn it. Want to learn more about how the astrology of July will affect you? Book your consultation now.
Key Themes: Money, income, salary, value, the material world, resources, loans, debt, finance, estates, wealth, fears, the psyche, family secrets, inheritances, travel, long distance trips, foreign lands, authority, leadership, achievement, public reputation.
Capricorn
You’re not the same person you were a few years ago. (Maybe you’re not the same person you were six months ago!) Pluto’s long, grueling visit to Capricorn has ensured that that you’ve had to radically tear yourself down to the studs and rebuild over the past eight years. This month, as the Sun and Venus emphasize the relationships of your life, you may find yourself encountering that familiar tidal wave of transformation via your one-on-one connections. The new moon on July 4 will drive this point home further. Falling just opposite Pluto, this may be the month when start tearing down or rebuilding your relationships, taking your power back, or even taking a look at the people you attract into your life. How are they are a reflection of your unconscious fears and desires. Yes, it’s a lot, Capricorn. But if there’s a sign that understands end goals, it’s you. And what is the end goal for this whole Pluto song and dance? A new you — extreme makeover style. So who do you want to be? Who do you want to have in your life? What sort of home is going to serve as the foundation to nurture and care for you? As Saturn works its way through Sagittarius into next year, you’re still contemplating the deeper questions, looking inward, and incubating something that has yet to manifest. The full moon in Capricorn on July 19 may give you a glimpse of things to come — breakthrough and an impulse to separate away from the old. Keep an eye on July 29 when Uranus changes direction, a planet that a habit of shaking up the status quo. You may be thinking about making a move or a change in the home. Want to learn more about how the astrology of July will affect you? Book your consultation now.
Key Themes: Relationships, other people, partnerships, one-on-one connections, friendships, community, the future, you, action, moving forward, taking the lead, letting go, shedding layers, existential crisis, transformation, transmutation, breakdown, breakthrough, emotional stress, spirituality, truth, meaning, mysticism.
Aquarius
Aquarius, It’s all about work and career. And, let’s be honest, maybe things in that department have been sputtering around lately. That’s because Mars, your career planet, was retrograde from April until the end of June. Mars is fuel; it’s hard to get moving without any gas. Thankfully Mars is direct, but your professional life may be a little noisy in July as you tie up loose ends and set out on a new course. Additionally, the Sun will be lighting up the day-to-day details of your life. Time to get on schedule, make time for what you love, eat three meals a day, and get organized. This will help you get centered if you feel as though life has been a little wonky with the retrograde and all. You have to get back to what nourishes your life, Aquarius. This month will also be good to focus on health and wellness. The new moon on July 4 will open a powerful four week chapter prompting you to make major and lasting healthy changes — body, mind, and soul. You may feel like changing your routine, kicking old habits, or streamlining something that has been heretofore chaotic and messy. To drive this point home further, the full moon on July 19 will highlight endings and release, a necessary part of life. What do you want to close the chapter on? In other news, Venus’s arrival in your relationship sector will help you attract new people into your life as well as bring life to the ones you already have. You could use a little flirty energy to distract you from all the hard work this July. Enjoy! Want to learn more about how the astrology of July will affect you? Book your consultation now.
Key Themes: Career, status, reputation, ambitions, professional life, health, wellness, diet, nutrition, schedule, routine, daily grind, work, colleagues, projects, details, endings, release, unconscious, dreams, sleep, rehab, confinement, spirituality, mysticism, relationships, other people, partnerships, marriage.
Pisces
Who are you, Pisces? On a rudimentary level, you’re a water sign. You feel, you intuit. Compassionate and caring, you’re sensitive to the needs of others. But who are you on a deeper level? Where do you belong in the world? The new moon on July 4 will be asking these questions and more. Normally this is the time of year when you reach out for the familiar as well as the things that nurture and bring you a sense of joy. Cancer, after all, is a sign that helps you stretch out and express who you are. But there’s been this bigger conversation over the past few years that has dug into your soul, prompting more than a couple of existential crises. Since you’re one who effortlessly can merge and meld — into a group, into a relationship — how will you set yourself apart this month? Take stock of your gifts and talents? If you’re an artistic or musical sort, use July to powerfully create, confront, and dream in avant-garde ideas. Even if you’re not an artist, we all have those little hobbies and things that bring us pleasure. Rediscover yours! In other news, Mars will continue to activate your chart’s sector of foreign or long distance travel as well as education and philosophy. You may feel extra motivated to take charge of your education, publish your ideas, or share what you believe in. That said, enjoy the slower pace this month as things will start to pick up in August, shifting toward work and career. In fact, you may get a preview once the Sun arrives in Leo on July 22, lighting up themes of health, wellness, and tidying up. Want to learn more about how the astrology of July will affect you? Book your consultation now.
Key Themes: Care, nurture, children, creativity, self expression, identity, talent, belonging, community, friends, the future, expertise, direction, ambitions, travel, foreign lands, journeys, belief, wisdom, higher education, health, wellness, diet, nutrition, organization, schedule, routine, work, tasks.