Venus turning retrograde is the top “skylight” for the second half of July. Reflect on your relationships! Also featured is an intense and potentially volatile Mars-Uranus-Pluto T-square. We also have an Aquarius Full Moon, Uranus turning retrograde and more!
Click astrology graphics to see larger images.
7/16 (Thu)
T-square: Mercury-Uranus-Pluto
July’s third and final Uranus-Pluto T-square is instigated by Cancerian Mercury. This stimulation of revolutionary transformation is the briefest of the three T-squares, beginning today (7/16), peaking on 7/17 and ending on 7/19.
This T-square’s effects could go virtually unnoticed, since it’s buried in the midst of the more powerful Mars-Uranus-Pluto T-square. But Mercury’s T-square is still a great opportunity to challenge your old ways of thinking and receive fresh insights and inspirations.
You may also feel called to share a transformative or unconventional truth. If so, use the current Martian energy (Mars and Mercury are conjunct in Cancer) to inspire your courageous action. It may not serve your cause to embody the low side of Mars by delivering your message with anger or excessive aggression.
Learning, thinking and communicating are energized under a Mercury-Mars conjunction (14°25′ Cancer). This aspect can lend fire and energy to your speech. But be careful to avoid verbal attacks, especially with family members.
7/17 (Fri)
Grand Trine: Sun-Saturn-Chiron
A Grand Trine formed by the Cancerian Sun, Scorpionic Saturn and Piscean Chiron began on 7/13, peaks today (7/17) and ends on 7/22. I interpreted this aspect pattern on 7/13, and will repeat the key points here:
Many supportive outcomes can be harvested from this Grand Trine. Healing and mentoring within the family structure can proceed more smoothly, and the family structure itself can enjoy more stability. In fact, nurturing and security are more available in general.
Grand Trines connect easily, but can also be taken for granted. “Mine your trines” with solid planning, intention and implementation to reap the most bountiful harvest!
T-square: Mercury-Uranus-Pluto
This T-square started on 7/16, peaks today (7/17) and ends on 7/19.I interpreted this T-square in yesterday’s forecast.
7/18 (Sat)
Venus enters Virgo today, but not for long. She turns retrograde on 7/25, then backpedals into Leo on 7/31. (She’ll do a complete transit of Virgo 10/8 thru 11/8.)
To crib from my 7/25 Venus retrograde forecast, Venus’s brief sojourn in Virgo is a good time to ask: is there a strong and appropriate service element in your relationships? Is excessive perfectionism stifling your creativity? And are you paying enough attention to your finances?
A Mercury-Uranus square (20°28′ Cancer-Aries) is part of the Mercury-Uranus-Pluto T-square running 7/16 through 7/19. This square is best understood in the context of that aspect pattern.
7/19 (Sun)
Putting some attention on mentoring and healing is smoothly supported with Mercury trine Chiron (21°16′ Cancer-Pisces). These activities are particularly supported within the family unit.
7/20 (Mon)
T-square: Mars-Uranus-Pluto
This Mars-Uranus-Pluto T-square is the longest and strongest of July’s three Uranus-Pluto T-squares. It started on 7/14, peaks today (7/20) and ends on 7/27.
As I wrote on 7/14, revolutionary transformation is once again the core theme, but the warrior energy of Mars fires up this aspect pattern with a higher level of opportunity and volatility. Impulsiveness, anger and violence can erupt if these energies are not managed well.
Handled consciously, this T-square can inspire you to take immediate action on your intuitive flashes and embrace transformation enthusiastically. Cancerian Mars’ “just do it” energy can help you get the ball rolling with the changes that will best support your family, home and security.
7/21 (Tue)
Steady Eddie productivity is supported under a Sun-Saturn trine (28°23′ Cancer-Scorpio). With the Sun in Cancer, this aspect can also support a comfortable work-home balance.
7/22 (Wed)
Thor’s Hammer
Thor may only have one hammer in the Marvel Universe, but our universe currently has two! A second Thor’s Hammer aspect pattern (Vesta-Jupiter-Pluto) fires up today (7/22) to join the first one (Vesta-Jupiter-Saturn) that started on 7/14. The new Thor’s Hammer with Pluto peaks on 8/2, and both aspect patterns end on 8/17.
Since these Thor’s hammer’s share two out of three planets (Vesta and Jupiter), it really doesn’t make sense to interpret them separately. Therefore we’ll consider this as a four-planet aspect pattern called a Thor’s Hammer Key.
In this combined pattern, the basic meaning of the original Vesta-Jupiter-Saturn Thor’s Hammer remains unchanged: higher service and sacred sexuality. Because Pluto and Vesta share the theme of sacred sexuality, the Tantric potential of this aspect pattern is greatly strengthened.
The basic idea of Tantric or sacred sex is that you’re making love with more than just your physical bodies. When both partners can maintain divine consciousness during loveplay, bliss is vastly magnified.
When all you know is sex experienced with the five physical senses, it can certainly seem wonderful. But it looks like a grainy black-and-white movie when compared to the dazzling 3-D ecstasy of multidimensional sacred sexual connection!
From a different perspective, Pluto’s presence in this Thor’s Hammer Key suggests that surrender can play a key role in your higher service. Higher service can be more than just a few hours of volunteer work here and there. A genuine higher calling can rise to the level of sacred service, and can even become your main reason for living.
In this context, surrender means letting go of the things in your life that are neither necessary nor in alignment with your sacred service. Of course, the ego may want to cling to its comfort zone and its customary pleasures. But making more time for that which truly feeds your soul will ultimately provide vastly greater satisfaction. It will also open the door for a precious Plutonian gift – transpersonal power – which increases in proportion to your surrendered, intuitively guided service.
The Sun enters Leo on 7/22 at 11:30 PM EDT. This radiates the energy of the sovereign, the performer in the spotlight and speculation. Leo’s archetypal meanings also include risk-taking, children, play, and rest and relaxation.
It can be easier to bring focus and discipline to your mental processes with Mercury trine Saturn (28°22′ Cancer-Scorpio).
7/23 (Thu)
Fleet-footed Mercury scampers through Leo today through 8/7. This supports public speaking and singing for an audience. More broadly, it encourages you to put any of your creative accomplishments in the spotlight!
Mental activity of all kinds – learning, thinking and expressing yourself to the world – is enthusiastically supported under a Sun-Mercury conjunction (0°37′ Leo).
7/24 (Fri)
Grand Trine: Mars-Saturn-Chiron
The basic meaning of the Sun-Saturn-Chiron Grand Trine (7/13 through 7/22) is reinvigorated as Mars takes the Sun’s place in this aspect pattern today (7/24). This Mars-Saturn-Chiron Grand Trine will peak on 7/31 and end on 8/6.
As before, this flowing aspect pattern creates a solid foundation for healing, mentoring, and transformation. Because Grand Trines act best when acted upon, take initiative in these areas to receive the most benefit from this laid-back configuration.
Of course, Mars likes nothing better than to take immediate action, so his presence can make it easier for you to get the ball rolling! Martian energy also opens the door to heal sexual issues and conquer procrastination.
7/25 (Sat)
Venus Retrograde
Venus turns retrograde at 5:29 am EDT (0°46′ Virgo) and turns direct again on 9/6 (14°23′ Leo). At the most obvious level, Venus’ six-week retrograde is a time for reflection on her main archetypal themes: relationships, creativity, finances, your tastes and what you love.
In general, a retrograde period is a better time to contemplate than to take action. But life doesn’t always let us time our actions to the optimal astrological alignments. If something Venusian obviously needs to get done during Venus retrograde, by all means proceed as necessary.
Venus spends the first week of her retrograde, 7/25 thru 7/31, in Virgo. This is an ideal time to scrutinize the Venusian themes listed above. These could include: is there a strong and appropriate service element in your relationships? Is excessive perfectionism stifling your creativity? Are you paying enough attention to your finances?
While Venus backpedals in Leo, 7/31 through 9/6, consider how you’re getting your creativity out into the world. Also look at whether your relationships are really based on equality, or if one of you is inappropriately dominant.
A Mars-Uranus square has plenty of intensity and volatility on its own. But it’s best understood in the context of the Mars-Uranus-Pluto T-square that it helps form, which runs 7/14 through 7/27.
Notice how your committed partnerships are doing as Neptune opposes Juno (9°20′ Pisces-Virgo). If they’re mainly exhibiting ease and smoothness, they’re getting a thumbs up from the universe.
But if a relationship feels like it’s dissolving, these planets are giving you notice that your attention is required. Can the problematic aspects of the relationship be healed so that it returns to harmony? Or should you either spend less time on this connection or release it?
7/26 (Sun)
Uranus Retrograde
Uranus turns retrograde today (7/26) at 20°30′ Aries. It turns direct again on Christmas Day. During this five-month reversal, it can be helpful to consider how well you’re embodying the high side of Uranus. Are you showing up in the world as the authentic human being you came here to be? Are you following your intuitive flashes? And are you serving the collective with your special gifts?
Planets are at their most powerful when changing directions, especially outer planets like Uranus. Anything in your natal chart between 17° and 24° in the cardinal signs – Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn – will be powerfully influenced by Uranus during the coming weeks.
Keep the life-affirming Uranus themes above in mind if you experience a significant amount of anxiety, nervousness, irritability or chaos. Keeping a planet busy on its high side leaves it less energy to disturb you with its more challenging possibilities!
Thor’s Hammer: Vesta-Jupiter-Saturn
Higher service and sacred sexuality are supported by a Thor’s Hammer featuring Vesta, Jupiter and Saturn. This aspect pattern began on 7/14, peaks today (7/26) and ends on 8/17.
Vesta fundamentally represents service to a selfless cause, and is the focal planet of this Thor’s Hammer. Vesta can also carry the energy of sacred sexuality, which is energized by her placement in libidinous Aries.
Jupiter and Saturn are the social planets which influence how you interact with the world around you. Jupiter expands while Saturn contracts. A lovely balance of these energies can be maintained as both of them support Vesta in this aspect pattern.
Healing and mentoring are smoothly and strongly energized as Mars trines Chiron (21°6′ Cancer-Pisces). With Mars in Cancer, you can bring a new level of nurturing and compassion into these activities.
7/27 (Mon)
Are you experiencing mental confusion? Do you not understand what I mean by that? Then a Mercury-Neptune quincunx (9°17′ Leo-Pisces) may be temporarily disrupting your logic circuits.
But this aspect also makes it easier to be guided by the constant flow of intuitive wisdom that operates beyond rationality. Ask for a little help from the infinite intelligence within you if your left brain isn’t firing on all cylinders.
7/28 (Tue)
No major astrology events.
7/29 (Wed)
Psychological work, research and investigation can receive a boost from a Mercury-Pluto quincunx (13°41′ Leo-Capricorn). With Mercury in Leo, this aspect can also add power to the creativity you share with the world.
7/30 (Thu)
No major astrology events.
7/31 (Fri)
Aquarius Full Moon
Happy blue moon! July’s second Full Moon illuminates the sky at 6:43 AM EDT (7°55′ Aquarius). Aquarius has three major high-side expressions: “letting your freak flag fly” (authentic egoic expression in the world), following intuitive flashes (“gut feelings”), and experiencing the transcendent joy of serving others with your greatest talents. If you’re not fully on track in any of these areas, this is a great time to make appropriate adjustments.
Aspects
This Full Moon’s strongest aspect is a very tight conjunction to the Part of Fortune. The more you embrace the Aquarian prescriptions above, the luckier you’ll get!
A loose conjunction to Ceres opens the door to potential prosperity. It also raises the issue of self-esteem: are you confident enough in your human identity to show the world the real you?
A trine to the North Node suggests greater ease in connecting with your life purpose. (Always easier when you let the real you shine forth and follow your intuitive flashes!) And a tight semi-sextile to Neptune shows that applying some effort can give you a deeper connection to your divine flow and awakened consciousness.
Sabian Symbol
This Full Moon’s Sabian Symbol is, “Beautiful gowned wax figures on display.” While such figures may showcase popular ideas of beauty, the fact that the beautiful gowns are on wax dummies delivers an important message: there’s no life here! For an authentic person, to conform to society’s idea of beauty would be to kill off the authentic, one-of-a-kind beauty that they embody.
Aquarius equates beauty with authenticity. We are fortunate to live in a time when that which used to be condemned, such as homosexuality and transgenderism, is now being popularly accepted. Embracing your uniqueness, however subtle or obvious it may be, can help you enjoy greater happiness and vitality. Don’t be another dead wax figure modeling an image that others adulate. Let the real you shine!
Venus retrogrades into Leo on 7/31, where she will remain through 9/6. To steal once again from my 7/25 Venus retrograde forecast: during this time, consider how you’re getting your creativity out into the world. Also look at whether your relationships are really based on equality, or if one of you is inappropriately dominant.
Grand Trine: Mars-Saturn-Chiron
The basic meaning of the Sun-Saturn-Chiron Grand Trine (7/13 through 7/22) was reinvigorated as Mars took the Sun’s place in this aspect pattern on 7/24. This Mars-Saturn-Chiron Grand Trine peaks today (7/31) and ends on 8/6.
As before, this flowing aspect pattern creates a solid foundation for healing, mentoring, and transformation. Because Grand Trines act best when acted upon, take initiative in these areas to receive the most benefit from this laid-back configuration.
Of course, Mars likes nothing better than to take immediate action, so his presence can make it easier for you to get the ball rolling! Martian energy also opens the door to heal sexual issues and conquer procrastination.
Void-of-Course Moons
It’s best to avoid starting important new projects or making major purchases during void-of-course Moons. “Business as usual” is the optimal strategy. Void-of-course Moons occur when the Moon has made her last major Ptolemaic aspect, but has not yet moved into her next sign.
- 7/16, 7:24:06 am – 10:14:53 am (Leo)
- 7/18, 5:41:14 pm – 8:46:42 pm (Virgo)
- 7/21, 6:06:28 am – 9:22:40 am (Libra)
- 7/23, 2:11:55 pm – 10:06:57 pm (Scorpio)
- 7/26, 5:14:24 am – 8:24:20 am (Sagittarius)
- 7/28, 9:36:30 am – 2:47:25 pm (Capricorn)
- 7/30, 2:49:56 pm – 5:40:01 pm (Aquarius)
Whatever your Sun Sign, Benjamin’s forecasts can help you make the best use of the current astrological energies.
All dates and times are in the U.S. eastern time zone. Events are most powerful on the dates listed, but their influence will be active for at least several days before and after.
Everyone is affected by these global transits. However, you will be most powerfully impacted when moving planets activate sensitive points in your natal chart.
Leave a Reply