Today's Astrology Forecast | Friday, August 6th, 2021 - what is keeping us from shining, ego shake-ups, disruption, a light on how we deal with stress/trauma

 

 

The Moon is finishing up in her home sign of Cancer. We are nourished/nurtured by home/family/mom and apple pie (the lack of which will also be more strongly felt). She sextiles Venus at 5:17AM EDT, trines a retrograde Neptune at 1:43PM EDT and goes void at 6:11PM EDT off her intense monthly opposition to Pluto (emotional transformation) and is void for the rest of the night. 

So the early part of the day is best for dealings with others/harmony/balance/creative projects. In the evening the Moon will continue to perform during the void (she's in her own sign after all), but that opposition to powerful Pluto can create power struggles, bring stress with authority, make situations feel like life and death - the timing of the void also coincides with today's BIG aspect -

 

the Sun, at 14 degrees Leo, squares Uranus at 14 degrees Taurus.

Building on Mercury's square to Uranus earlier in the week - the unexpected words, news, conversation - the Sun, strong in his home sign, moves into his own square with future-focused/break-up, breakdown, break-through Uranus. 

 

Repressed needs for attention/appreciation can bubble up now - can you say DRAMA. Our purpose/direction can shift. Our pride might be dealt a blow. We could experience unexpected outbursts from other people. Uranus is requiring us to 'be ourselves', but we (and they) might take things too far. 

 

On the other hand, the parts of our ego that are past their expiration date and need to be shaken not stirred - can BREAK LOOSE. Trying to be something/someone we aren't will make this transit more tense/frustrating. These are fixed signs and want to hold their ground, but the ground is moving. Mercury is combust, so changes, especially those we don't want to make, but have to make, could leave us feeling especially anxious and tense. 

 

Happening while the Moon is opposing Pluto is excellent energy to look deeply at what we are resisting.

This week's Uranian squares are particularly powerful portals to CLEAR THE DECK before -

 

Sunday's New Moon in Leo (on 8/8!)- when the Moon will square Uranus!

 

A new chapter kicks off with an unexpected or sudden JOLT through our creative work/children/romance (Aries rising), through home and family (Taurus rising), new information/communication/ideas (Gemini rising), new income/sudden expenses (Cancer rising), personal/identity changes (Leo rising), a sudden loss/ending or new path that is still concealed (Virgo rising), friendships/public image, goals (Libra rising), career or partner's career (Scorpio rising), travel/education/publishing/legal issue (Sagittarius rising), partner's income or taxes/insurance/debts/inheritance/intimacy/sex/reproduction (Capricorn rising), relationships (Aquarius rising) or daily obligations/health situations/work (Pisces rising).

I had extended family in my house for the first time in three years and the whole thing was totally great AND totally overwhelming, so I missed the weekly, but will be back with a BIG New Moon post this weekend :)

xo all

artwork by Pat Kelley

Weekly Astrology Forecast for Creatives | July 26th - August 1st, 2021 - alot going on (alot is probably not a big enough word here), fated situations, multiple planets change signs, Jupiter backs into Aquarius

 

What a week! 

 

FIVE planets/asteroids change signs and FATE plays its hand. With multiple challenging contacts with Jupiter things might feel OVERWHELMING. Everyone is almost certainly going to have alot on their plate (don't eat all of it).

 

TUESDAY - Mercury enters Leo and inconjuncts Jupiter

WEDNESDAY - Jupiter retrograde enters Aquarius

THURSDAY - Venus squares the Nodes, Mars opposes Jupiter, Mars enters Virgo

SATURDAY - Sun sextiles the North Node, Ceres enters Gemini

SUNDAY - Mercury sextiles the North Node, Mercury conjuncts the Sun, Venus inconjuncts Chiron, Mercury opposes Saturn

 

MONDAY - The Moon is in Pisces now - we are nourished by music, art, our imagination, connection, spirituality, rest, our past, our ancestors. The Moon in Pisces inconjuncts the Leo Sun - this month's Waning Inconjunct. Here is our first adjustment to Friday night's Full Moon in Aquarius. Bottom line with this one might be something like - it's not all about us. We might be all that, but we're not all that. An ego adjustment might be required. On the flipside Pisces might lose some of the appearance of innocence/that higher spiritual vibe as it meets with what seems to be a lack of appreciation. This is a rock and a hard place, a need to adjust. If we can incorporate the passionate fire of Leo with the calmer, more relaxing energy of Pisces we can make something work here, but it won't be easy.

TUESDAY - Mercury (communications, information, our mental processes, siblings, local community, commerce, transportation) says hasta-la-vista to emotional Cancer and moves into fiery LEO where he/she (Mercury is a bit of both) will hang his hat until August 11th.

Leo is the space we carry what 'makes us special'.
 

With Mercury (communication, intellect) here it will be easier to put our 'special' into words and to connect with the ideas and conversations that will push forward whatever we are most passionate about. We will want our words to be heard and appreciated now. So will other people. Even the most reticent among us will want an audience. Our thinking/ideas (Mercury) can catch fire (Leo). 

 

Speaking from our hearts will connect us to other people's hearts. Encouraging words will matter.

This is very powerful energy. Leo is our superpower and should be used wisely. People will hear us with their heart and well as their head. 

This gives the potential for hearts to expand as well as to be broken into little, tiny pieces. Keep this in mind.

Leo is a fixed fire sign, so words can burn now and words can dig us even more rigidly into our positions. 

This transit is excellent for teaching us how we express what we are passionate about. It's very supportive of 'top of the mountain' heart-filled type of proclamations and proposals. Do people listen to us? Does what we say matter? We will care about this now.

 

As soon as she gets into Leo, Mercury will inconjunct a retrograde Jupiter at 0 degrees Pisces - Jupiter's last aspect in Pisces before backing into Aquarius tomorrow. Challenging Jupiterian aspects often relate to exaggeration/overwhelm. Maybe we have alot to talk about/think about. We want to make sure we are not taking on too much/over-promising. Information/conversations might make situations appear much better or worse than they actually are. What we grow in our mind might not have any relationship to what we are actually growing - keep this in mind. 

(I usually feel these aspects a day or so early and over-reacted to a customer's problem last night. I should have taken a couple minutes to investigate the situation before responding and over-promising her and I had trouble sleeping, well, didn't sleep at all actually - very Mercury/Jupiter!)

WEDNESDAY - UPDATED POST - The Moon moves into Aries in the early AM EDT (after a void while we slept) - now we are nourished/nurtured by action, physical movement, taking the initiative, time spent alone, time spent with men, passion, anger. 

 

She trines Mercury at 7:48AM (good for communication, important conversations, send the email, make the call) and the Sun at 5:18PM EDT. The trine to the Sun is this month's Waning Trine - Aries/Leo. This is about action/courage with whatever is wrapping up. Note the ruler of Aries, Mars, is squaring Ceres. At the very end of Leo and Taurus, the 29th degree, so there could be a feeling of 'we have to get this DONE now". Pressure. Venus is also squaring Juno pulling in relationship challenges and maybe some nitpicking/obsession with making something just so. We can use the Waning Trine to work our way through these challenges - do something new, brave, maybe a bit impulsive, be confident. Trines are a smooth flow, so if something has to be pushed/forced - that's not the way to go here, look in a new direction/follow your heart.

 

A retrograde Jupiter backs into Aquarius, taking our story back to May 12, 2021. Growth in our Pisces house is put on hold (hopefully this will help the flooding in parts of the world!) while we turn our attention to our Aquarius house theme. Intuition gives way to logic. Ideas can come in lightning fast. Jupiter retrograde brings SECOND CHANCES, there's some gold we neglected to mine, some expansion that was halted and wants to get going (after some revisions). Maybe an old opportunity comes back around. Keep in mind, Jupiter is probably not so happy to be back here. He prefers his old stomping ground of Pisces to Saturn's realm of Aquarius, but there is something in our Aquarius house that needs some additional expansion/optimism/confidence. We'll take it! We will talk about this one as we move through it. And don't worry, Jupiter will be back in Pisces on December 28th.

THURSDAY - this day is loaded - UPDATED POST - the Moon continues her journey through masculine/fiery Aries. Her only aspect today an opportunistic sextile to a retrograde Saturn - good for dealing with authority, stepping into our responsibility. There is a connection to the past - maybe old work, old commitments, old groups. This sextile is Aries/Aquarius so we need to be our unique and brave self here.

 

Venus squares the Nodes. This is tension/frustration. Venus is in Virgo now wanting to serve/make things better. There is an issue (relationship, financial, resources, self-esteem) that must be dealt with before we can move forward. With the Sun and then Mercury set to sextile the North Node (our collective way forward) over the next couple days - we don't want to ignore this situation. Keep in mind that North Node in Gemini - the way forward is about asking questions, diving into the details, talking/thinking things through, keeping things small/local.

 

Next Mars in Leo, opposes a retrograde Jupiter in Aquarius. Here is a BIG result based on old actions. We can take on too much/have too much to do. Take care not to over-react/get all fired up or angry. We could push too hard to make something happen. This is an old issue/situation and we are being pushed to take some kind of action. Leo can take things too far and so can Jupiter. This aspect can increase our confidence, but tend to make us get ahead of ourselves. Happening at the 29th degree will give a 'now or never' feel to whatever we have going on.

Within hours Mars leaves showy "me, me, me" Leo for the more practical/service-oriented sign of Virgo (for the next 6 weeks). With Venus in Virgo - now what we want is moving into agreement with what we have to do to get what we want. Our movement forward is best done in a Virgo manner. This means sensible, precise steps focused on what is right in front of us (if Mars/Jupiter creates a big blow-up, here is where things start to get fixed). Collectively, our actions can focus on our health/taking care of our physical body and our environment.

Mars in Virgo can be excellent for productivity if he (as we) doesn't run entirely off course with perfectionism.
 

Mars in Virgo improves our ability to organize, to focus on the details and what needs doing right now; the next step. Since Virgo is a service sign, the actions we take that help us will most naturally help other people. Mars in Virgo can clean up the mess that Mars in Leo created. The wheat is separated from the chaff - yes maybe rather ruthlessly, this is Mars we are talking about. But in the end we are left with the wheat or whatever it is we need to grow the wheat. Either way the superfluous sh*t is gone.

On the other hand if we let fiery Mars get out of control in pious Virgo territory we could have a bigger mess on our hands even though everything looks all clean and sparkly. Mars can get very pissed off here if everything doesn't meet his exacting standards of perfection. So let's not go there. We could find ourselves taking action toward some quite impossible something or other. If everything has to fall precisely into place for something to work out - well, Mars in Virgo is the man for the job - on the other hand he doesn't see the big picture - just the details right in front of him - and can toil rather tirelessly with not much to show for it in the end, so we need to pick our head up once in a while! If we find ourselves, or someone else, demanding an impossible to meet goal or impossibly high standards of perfection we will know we have veered off course here. Mostly though Mars in Virgo is an excellent transit for reality based progress. 

 

We can all be more useful (and more healthy). 

Big moves made now may be more about ego/our need to shine and that makes situations/decisions tricky. The Mars/Jupiter at the 29th degree could exaggerate the need to ACT RIGHT NOW. In a couple days we will be acting more practically and thinking more clearly. By the first of August we will be better able to know what makes the most sense and by next Tuesday know the clearest path. What is our goal here?

FRIDAY - UPDATED POST - the Moon continues her journey through active/fiery Aries. She squares a retrograde Pluto at 6:43AM and goes void off a sextile to a retrograde Jupiter at 2:37PM EDT. She is void until 4:08PM when she moves into Taurus, the sign of her exaltation, and then trines Mars at 5:25PM EDT, so the day starts off with tension/frustration, but keeps getting BETTER. 

This is also the  day Venus inconjuncts Saturn, Jupiter squares Ceres (at that last play of the game/desperation 29 degrees) and Mercury sextiles Vesta.

The Venus/Saturn 'rock and a hard place' is a toughie. We might feel old/tired. We might feel less than up to whatever we are dealing with. With Venus in Virgo this aspect might make us feel like we have to 'fix' ourselves/work harder for acceptance/reward. Keep in mind an inconjunct is kind of a bottom-less pit. Jupiter/Ceres is a smother/mother aspect where we are overdoing some kind of caring (we can also be over-mothering ourselves with too much food/comfort, etc) or a change of life situation expands/feels over the top. Jupiter is retrograde, so this a repeating story or there is a connection to the past here.

Mercury's sextile to Vesta would be our way through - Mercury is in Leo now and Vesta is in Libra. Our attention/thinking/words are drawn to what matters most. Maybe we are sharing something that is important to us with other people. Telling someone how much we love them. Bold words/creative expressions, that are also graceful/refined/balanced create opportunities, especially within partnerships or with women. Courage people!

SATURDAY - The Sun in Leo sextiles the North Node (our collective/best way forward) in Gemini. We move forward by shining/standing out. Bringing what we came to bring. By having fun. By being loving/generous. Through children, our hobbies, romance, recreation. A great time to be with siblings/our local community. We are in the right place at the right time.

 

Ceres enters Gemini. Now our big life changes/season of life issues will come with more choices. Things that are outside our control might have a little more wiggle room. This is a great transit for writers/teachers. Our words/conversations are nourishing. Our mothering is smarter/funnier. Mom isn't baking cookies, but she is writing a cookbook. We might be mothering this and then that. Allow situations/people to move in and out of our life now. Keep it light.

 

SUNDAY - Now, it's Mercury's turn to sextile the North Node. Words/ideas/information move us forward. Our siblings/cousins, local community moves us forward. We might hear just the thing we need to hear/say just the right thing. Good for tech/transportation situations. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there. Someone needs to hear what you have to say. Mercury in Leo's fiery language/fun ideas are just the ticket now. 

 

Mercury meets the Sun. His/her superior conjunction. Arguably the best aspect for COMMUNICATION. Here is BOLD information. Here is the decision, answer, conversation that wakes us up. This is a culminating aspect - collectively this throws a light via words and information on Leo themes - our creative projects, recreation, romance, children. There could be drama!

Mercury then moves into an opposition with Saturn, so we know the information/revelation/idea will have built in limits/restrictions/rules/responsibilities. With Saturn in Aquarius this year, even Leo can't be all fun and games.

There is alot packed into this Action-Jackson week.

 

I have family headed to my house for their vacation this week. I will pop back in and update this post to add in the Moons (rather than writing new posts), so check back! 

 

Monday's Moon is included here. After the first couple days of August things will smooth out considerably, so hang in there!

xo all

 

artwork by the talented snowysowl

THE ASTROLOGY OF THE Full Moon in Aquarius | JULY 23, 2021 - here is what has filled the space the huge loss has created, the future crashes into our current reality, decisions get sticky, are we holding onto what heals or what hurts

 

On July 23, 2021 at 10:37PM EDT, the Aquarius Moon will oppose the Leo Sun at 1 degree giving us this month's New Moon - our annual Full Moon in Aquarius. Our next Full Moon will also be a Full Moon in Aquarius!

(this let's us know that whatever is happening now is so big/important it is going to take some extra time or more than one shot to get it right!)

 

So, in this bridge year, with the Age of Pisces at our backs and the Age of Aquarius barreling toward us like a freight train, with Aquarius' rulers - Saturn and Uranus - battling it out through multiple challenging squares (THE big aspects of 2021), we get TWO Full Moons in Aquarius - one at the very beginning of the sign and the next at the end! 

 

And in between the two, Jupiter will retrograde back into Aquarius, expanding those Aqua themes - MORE EXPERIMENTS ARE NEEDED (remember Saturn is in Aquarius, too, highlighting our responsibilities to the group as well as the 'new rules') and allowing us to get lucky by noticing what we missed the first time through!

So, let's unpack the first Aquarius Full Moon - this one conjunct the "world starts up again" degree of the 2020 Winter Solstice when Jupiter met Saturn.

Full Moons brings things to light, to a conclusion or to a peak point of fullness. 

 

The Moon reaches 1 degree Aquarius and opposes the Leo Sun. The Moon is EXACTLY conjunct Asteroid Chariklo and conjunct Asteroid Icarus (yes, another Icarus Moon - with another billionaire blasting into space). The Moon is trining Vesta and Black Moon Lilith - forming a Grand Air Trine.  The Moon in Aquarius is answering to Uranus and a retrograde Saturn and they are squaring (the square is separating) each other.

 

The Moon via a conjunction (and Sun via an opposition) have recently come off their aspects with powerful Pluto. We have been through a purging/transformation/death experience.  The Sun within days, the Moon within hours, but this also speaks of the one month, 6 month and 18 month cycles this Full Moon completes. And Mercury is about to oppose Pluto - secrets coming out/our thoughts can be obsessive/dark. Happening through the signs of Cancer/Capricorn indicates important, and permanent changes within our home/work in the world, both private and public lives, our natal Cancer/Cappy house themes. 

 

The Moon moves off her meeting with Pluto, enters Aquarius where we can detach/make some peace with our losses/lick our wounds. This may not be what we want, but this is what we have, and we ALL have something. Maybe this 'peace' has come through time/distance/logic. Or through a future-focus. Maybe this 'peace' has come from so much over-thinking/over-analyzing/over-deciding that our tired brain unfurls a white flag and gives up/in. Maybe this 'peace' comes through friends/groups/causes or our natal Aquarius house theme. 

 

With the Moon in airy Aqua we are able to detach from whatever has been lost, point our emotional compass toward the new.

 

Then just as we catch our breath, Luna almost immediately opposes the Sun, strong in his home sign of Leo. Here is where we are NOW.

 

The Moon (and Sun) are headed toward their connections with a retrograde Saturn - the Moon within hours, the Sun within days. Here is where, remember we talked about how changes/decisions were going to get sticky, well, here is where the stuff gets real. The Full Moon culminations/results, activated through the Plutonian death/transformation/fear/power struggle become more solid. With Saturn in Aquarius we are dealing with group obligations, limits, new rules, authority - although with Saturn retro, the rules/limits will not be totally new! 

 

Somehow we've been here before.

 

The Moon's most exact aspect is her conjunction with asteroid Chariklo. Although she is new to astrological interpretation since she was only discovered in 1997, we can look to her mythology and origin stories to learn more about her. 

 

In myth, Chariklo was the wife (some myths speak of her as the daughter) of the centaur Chiron. She is a wise nymph and mentor, supporting/nursing Chiron during his wounding and throughout the many years of his suffering. For this reason, she is thought to have a shaman-like healing nature and is activated in our charts during times of illness/injury. Located between Saturn and Uranus (the co-rulers of Aquarius giving her a decidedly Aquarius vibe) but closer to Uranus, so more Promethean-style 'great awakening' energy, Chariklo was discovered in mid-February 1997 (Sun in Aquarius) just as the Hubble Telescope was originally launched. So Chariklo also brings the gift of seeing beyond the horizon. She represents, via the energy of her discovery chart, the future crashing into our current reality, likely via science or technology.

 

At the time of her discovery Chariklo formed a perfect six pointed star/hexagram in the heavens along with the Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Pluto (all at 5 degrees - what magic was February 15, 1997!). 

 

She was conjunct Saturn and Pluto (when time ran out) back in January 2020 and she was conjunct Jupiter and Saturn when they met on the Winter Solstice at the end of that same year and time started back up. And her energetic signature is all over this first Full Moon in Aquarius, too!

 

The Grand Air Trine speaks of balance/peace through the Full Moon energies with whatever results we are receiving/culminations we are dealing with - with whatever is coming to light. The energy spills onto the Leo Sun, so the key will be expressing ourselves in a new way. This won't have to be something forced, this will happen smoothly. The affection/attention/creation of something we can be proud of comes.  

 

The good/the new outweighs/outshines the trauma of what it took to get us here.

Keep in mind this is a Full Moon in future-focused Aquarius. We just engage, moment-by-moment, with what is freshly emerging in our life. By going back into what is lost/over we put the fresh new energy in danger of being lost to us. And this freshness, whatever form it is taking for us, is the seed of a new world. We must care for it as if it is sacred (and this includes our relationships and personal need for peace/balance with Vesta in Libra), because it is.

Full Moons are a powerful time for giving thanks - if we are noticing what we appreciate and noticing what we are grateful for, we can't be noticing (ie giving our attention to) what we don't want or what we don't have. The Full Moon always shows us what story we are holding onto. 

Feel your moments this weekend and you will know if you are holding onto a story that heals or a story that hurts. We can use this portal to the Chariklo energy to hold the space that allows us to release/leave hurtful situations (and allow others to) and move toward healing.

xo all 

 

Full Moons are a good time to create some space - empty a drawer, shelf, closet, let something GO.

 

Sorry this was a bit late. I entered the wrong publish date into blogger, at least this Moon will be in play for a while! Back tomorrow with the weekly!

 

xo all

Weekly Astrology Forecast | Week of July 19th to July 26th, 2021 - adjustments, challenges, the conversation shifts, we aren't in Kansas anymore, the first of TWO Full Moons in Aquarius (whose rulers, Saturn and Uranus, have been feuding all year)

 

 

There is ALOT going on this week with multiple challenges, two inner planets changing signs and the first of TWO, big Full Moons in Aquarius!

 

MONDAY - Mercury squares Chiron, Vesta into Libra

TUESDAY - Mercury sextiles Uranus

WEDNESDAY - Eris stations retrograde

THURSDAY - Venus enters Virgo, Venus opposes Jupiter (retrograde), Mars inconjuncts Pluto

FRIDAY - Sun enters Leo, Sun inconjuncts Jupiter (retrograde), Full Moon in Aquarius (first of TWO)

SATURDAY - Mercury trines Neptune

SUNDAY - Mercury opposes Pluto

Let's dive right in!

 

MONDAY - Mercury @ 12 degrees Cancer squares Chiron in Aries 

 

Words/information/a conversation trigger an old wound/vulnerability around our identity, our ability to take care for ourselves/stand up for ourselves. With Mercury in Cancer, this could connect to family/home/security situations (or our natal Cancer house theme). 

 

(I know a double Virgo (Mercury ruled) with a dentist appointment at almost the exact time of this square (Aries rules the head), so I would anticipate an "ouch", but also the opportunity to heal old familial wounds through dental work - not kidding).

 

The Moon is in Scorpio and trining the Cancer Sun.

 

This is this month's Waxing Trine - so here is our way through the Chiron pain. With Scorpio we have to go deep/get to the truth/the bottom line. The Cancer Sun allows this to happen comfortably as we integrate Scorpio's intensity with Cancer's nurturing/compassion. We get more intimate (maybe with someone else, but this can also be with ourselves), go to a deeper level and feel heard/seen/nurtured. Alternatively if a painful truth is revealed the way through this will be self-care/comfort/whatever makes us feel nurtured. There WILL be a soft space to fall. Mercury's square to Chiron will make for uncomfortable information/conversations, but the Scorpio Moon says don't be afraid to look at why this is uncomfortable - why this hurts. The safety comes FROM the exposure/the truth, hiding isn't helpful.

This is also the day Vesta finally leaves Virgo for Libra. Our sacred focus turns to other people, our partnerships, women, finding balance/peace/beauty. Here are the issues that will keep us up at night now. The fly-in-the-ointment with this one will be Vesta's tendency in Libra to pour pink paint and call everything a Barbie dream house. 

 

TUESDAY - Mercury @ 14 degrees Cancer sextiles Uranus in Taurus

 

Mercury/Uranus moves the conversation/idea in a NEW DIRECTION (this will move us away from any bad feelings lingering from yesterday or maybe yesterday's pain is the reason we make a change now). This is smooth/helpful - a time for us to consider different options. The conversation changes. In Cancer, this could be about a home/family situation, something related to the theme of our natal mid-Cancer house, a security issue, something from the past/our roots, something maternal. Changes will be easily integrated/opportunistic. This can also show up as a FLASH OF GENIUS/bright idea/unusual way of communicating or rebellion against traditional thinking/old ideas - we are thinking outside the box. Our words are cutting edge AND comforting. We might also step back a bit or detach from any words/ideas that has been too smothering/too emotional.

 

THURSDAY - Venus enters Virgo, Venus @ 0 degrees Virgo opposes Jupiter in Pisces (retrograde), Mars @ 25 degrees Leo inconjuncts Pluto in Capricorn

 

Venus enters Virgo. Our Virgo house get a visit from the lovely Venus. Virgo Suns and Ascendants get more attractive - both easier on the eye and able to attract what they want. Our natal Virgo houses get more attractive, too!

Venus rules our love, money, self-esteem, values, relationships, women, beauty, our resources, attracting what we want - all areas are subjected to Virgo's keen focus and attention to detail now. We will be analyzing what we want and what we have. We will be analyzing our relationships. With Venus in service-oriented Virgo - LOVE IS A VERB.

 
The problems will stand out. We won't be able to miss them. And since what we focus on grows, sometimes things get worse before they get better during this transit. But this is excellent energy to fix what needs fixing and accept (or eliminate) what just isn't fixable. Venus in Virgo is about loving the details of something, enjoying the work, appreciating the craftsmanship and complexity of something or someone or some situation as well as the problems, Venus in Virgo can't miss those, and choosing not to dwell on them. 

 

Remember Venus met Mars last week in Leo - our masculine/feminine energies starting a new two year story in the sign of our heart, our center stage, our ego. Mars, moving a little slower than Venus, is still in Leo, but as Venus busts a move into Virgo the story shifts. Maybe our attention flows to helping others or something that needs fixing with a Venusian theme - how we look, what we value, our money/resources. Sometimes with Venus in Virgo we find ourselves giving a little more than we are getting (for now), the applause that came to us so easily in Leo, goes silent. This year, now that we are all familiar with the un-glamorous turn our lives can take (what the hell has happened to my hair), maybe we are more appreciative of this practical transit (plus she'll be making nice with Uranus and Pluto). Time to balance our books, clean up our relationships, iron our shirts and fix what needs fixing (like my hair, although I might wait for Venus in Libra!). Venus will be in Virgo until August 16th when she comes home to Libra. 

 

Now, just as Venus enters Virgo, she immediately opposes Jupiter, retrograde in Pisces. These are our two benevolent planets at cross purposes. Virgo/Pisces - the reality vs the dream. Here's what we wanted and here's what we actually have. Practical financial/relationship moves will be challenged by our hope for more. Oppositions, like Full Moon, can bring things to a result/culmination, too - collectively this will be about Virgo themes, so our work, health, daily obligations. Keep in mind Jupiter is retrograde and on his way back into Aquarius - our gold/luck is behind us - maybe this Venusian opposition - a little practical magic - can help us find it! The micro informs the macro. 

This is also the day Mars - following in the Sun's footsteps who was following in Venus's - makes his own inconjunct - rock and hard place - to powerful Pluto (retrograde). Our conscious actions at odds with our unconscious impulses and why does it feel like we've been here before ??... because we have, duh.  Our flashy moves are not going to be appreciated by, and will not impress, the boss/authority/your father. Do we care? We will probably have to. And if we are stepping into our responsiblity we will get more from other people with a little appreciation - they will need to be coaxed/persuaded not ordered. Either way coming on too strong is probably not such a good idea. 

 

The Moon in Cappy (serious as a heart attack) will be trining Uranus, so embracing something new/different will be our way through this day. Change is good. Keep in mind this is an Earth trine, so think - practical progress.

FRIDAY - the Sun enters Leo (his home sign) and inconjuncts Jupiter in Pisces (retrograde)

 

The Sun (ruler of Leo) move into fiery, proud and performance-focused Leo offering us multiple layers of good news - even as he makes tricky aspects with Jupiter and Saturn and Uranus over the next few weeks - the years of easy summer living are behind us for a while folks, but that isn't all bad news, I promise! The Sun (our life force) gets out of the firing range of Pluto in Capricorn. Yes, there's that. And he exits lunar ruled Cancer (not his favorite place) and moves into the sign he rules. YES! In Leo, we focus on what our heart wants, children (our inner child), romance, fun, creative projects. Your Leo house (like the house of your natal Sun) is the space you are meant to SHINE. 

 

Prepare to get very shiny.

 

First up is an awkward contact with that same retrograde Jupiter who has been giving everyone else trouble this week, too. This inconjunct is Leo/Pisces. It's like we need a little self-sacrifice in order to succeed/shine. Our ego to yield to compassion or our lazy/escapist tendencies to get fired up and get us going. Either way, this is another aspect about adjustment. Lots of adjusting going on this week. Stay flexible. 

This is also the day of this week's biggest aspect, our first of TWO - Full Moons in Aquarius. This one conjuncting the 'world starts up again' degree from the Winter Solstice where Jupiter met Saturn (post HERE). Expect a BIG post this week.

 

And re-reading the Jupiter/Saturn post is really making me KNOW I need to find time (have been so damn tired these last few weeks, sorry) to write some more big picture posts - enough of the dailies that turn back into pumpkins at midnight!

SATURDAY - Mercury @ 22 degrees Cancer trines Neptune in Pisces (retrograde)

 

So now our words/ideas/conversations, maybe attuned to a home/family situation or our natal Cancer house theme - are REVIVING AN OLD DREAM. Or maybe we are enjoying our memories/talking to ghosts/our ancestors. The Moon in Aquarius is going to be detached and dealing with challenges today from Uranus and Mars, so tension/frustration might take some of the shine off this one.

 

SUNDAY - Mercury @ 25 degrees Cancer opposes Pluto in Capricorn (retrograde)

 

Mercury - words, conversations, ideas, for some this might be a sibling or transportation or tech issue - sets off a power struggle. Maybe a reality check. There could be manipulative language. Obsessive thinking. Jealousy. Maybe a 'home vs work in the world' emotionally fired-up conversation. We will kind of be feeling what is being said AND also the shadow of the words that are being said. Keep in mind oppositions also bring results/culminations. Maybe a conversation is OVER. Pluto is retrograde, but Mercury is moving on, we won't be back here. The Moon in Pisces will make some nice aspects and take some of the edge off this one.

 

xo all

 

(once we get through the first couple days of August things will be much easier - hang in there)

artwork by the talented shahab68