One of 2020’s most important aspects – and one of its most harmonious – returns for its second appearance during the second half of July. Spiritual awakening and inspired creativity are only the start of the wonderful possibilities of this Jupiter-Neptune sextile!

We also have a Cancer New Moon, whose aspects include every member of the world-shaking Jupiter-Saturn-Pluto Triple Conjunction. We also have the Sun entering Leo, a Pluto-Vesta opposition, and more!

This forecast covers this half-month’s most important astrological events. For bonus events, check out my award-winning This Week in Astrology audio podcast and YouTube video forecasts — updated weekly!

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7/20 (Mon)

Cancer New Moon

July’s New Moon lines up at 1:33 PM EDT (28°26′ Cancer). Any Cancer New Moon is good for new beginnings in the areas of home, family, security, emotions and shadow work.

Aspects

This lunation’s important aspects include 4 oppositions and 1 conjunction. The tightest aspect is a nearly exact opposition to Saturn.

Saturn

If you’re like most people, you haven’t attained mastery over all of the Cancer themes mentioned above. Therefore, it’s the job of Saturn – the Stern Taskmaster – to bring challenge in those Cancerian areas that will best catalyze your soul growth.

Most of us will experience challenging emotions during this waxing Moon phase. If so, I recommend my free Healing Invocation. This simple shadow work tool delegates your healing to your higher self. It has helped thousands clear challenging emotions quickly and permanently.

What about the Cancerian themes that you have mastered? You can step forward as one of Saturn’s most wonderful archetypes – the Wise Elder – and assist others in these areas. Saturn can also help you maintain strong productivity around any Cancerian theme.

Pluto

This New Moon’s second most powerful aspect is an opposition from Pluto. As lord of the underworld, Pluto can bring up old psychological wounds from the unconscious. This naturally resonates with Cancer’s shadow work theme. Pluto can also dramatically empower any emotional state, from challenging to euphoric!

Pluto can also aid and abet profound transformation. Are you ready to do serious personal growth work? If so, you could make your current state of being look like a caterpillar … compared to the gorgeous butterfly that can emerge from your transformational chrysalis!

To learn more about working with the Plutonian energies of this lunation, check out my 2 “Pluto Prescription” videos.

Jupiter

On one level, Jupiter simply magnifies all of the effects I’ve already described. But Jupiter can also bring hope, joy and optimism. As the “Great Benefic” of ancient astrology, Jupiter can also bring luck and good fortune. Jupiter is a planet with many meanings, who could also support you stepping forth as some sort of professor, philosopher or guru.

Asteroid Goddesses

The final two noteworthy aspects for this Cancer New Moon are asteroid goddesses. Both have wide orbs, so their effects will be subtle.

With Vesta conjunct the luminaries, putting new energy into a worthy cause that doesn’t directly benefit you is supported. With Pallas Athena opposing the Sun and Moon, use strategy, negotiation and diplomacy to move your goals forward. Even though Pallas is a warrior goddess, use force only as a last resort.

Committed Partnership Grand Cross Begins

There’s enhanced intensity around committed partnerships due to a Grand Cross that starts today (7/20), peaks on 7/28 and ends on 8/2. This challenging aspect pattern includes Mercury, Mars, Juno and Pallas Athena.

This Grand Cross makes it more likely that you’ll experience challenge in one or more of your committed partnerships. Juno represents committed partnerships, and her opposition to Mars in Aries could indicate attack. With Mercury in the mix, verbal aggression is likely.

If you get involved in such an altercation, Pallas Athena suggests that you proceed with diplomacy, tact and sound strategy. With Mercury in Cancer, you can more easily speak from your heart and understand the other person’s emotions.

Tame Mars by being assertive with your peacemaking. And know that a harmonious resolution is possible with Juno in Libra, the sign of harmony and balance.

It will come as no surprise to my regular readers that I recommend Nonviolent Communication as an excellent way to resolve relationship challenges.

7/22 (Wed)

The Sun enters Leo at 4:37 AM EDT. For the next month you can enjoy extra support for being “the sovereign on the throne” or “the performer in the spotlight”. This sunny sign also supports interacting with children or your inner child, having fun, and chilling out.

7/27 (Mon)

Jupiter Sextile Neptune

One of 2020’s most important aspects – an uplifting Jupiter-Neptune sextile – happens three times this year. The first exact lineup was on 2/20. The second is today (7/27), with Jupiter at 20°39′ Capricorn and Neptune at 20°39′ Pisces. And the third will be on 10/12. This sextile is in orb (close enough to have an impact) most of the year, 1/9 thru 11/30.

My colleague Renn Butler describes the potentials of Jupiter-Neptune aspects in his extraordinary book The Archetypal Universe: Astrological Patterns in Human Culture, Thought, Emotion and Dreams. With his permission (thank you Renn!) … and because he breaks down the archetypal possibilities so expertly … I give you some of his Jupiter-Neptune descriptions from The Archetypal Universe. (Those with good memories may recall this content from my 2/20 forecast.)

Flowing

• feelings of faith and wonder
• grand ideals and vision
• heightened intuition
• exalted dreams
• expansive inner life
• outpourings of creative expression
• dream-come-true optimism
• a feeling of being buoyed or lifted from within
• blissful states of cosmic unity
• reconnection with divine consciousness
• tolerance and forgiveness
• altruism and generosity
• broad-ranging kindness and compassion
• transcendence of factionalism
• human compassion transcending creed or affiliation
• authentic spiritual institutions
• the humanitarian safety net
• all-encompassing shifts of vision
• the re-visioning and re-enchantment of a culture
• consciousness expanding everywhere
• sacred wonders and pilgrimages
• mystical or spiritual education

Shadow Qualities

Since Jupiter and Neptune are making a harmonious sextile, flowing outcomes are more likely than challenging ones. However, I’ve seen repeatedly that hard aspects can bring positive experiences, and soft aspects can sometimes bring challenge. So be careful to avoid these Jupiter-Neptune pitfalls:

• Overoptimism, rose-colored glasses
• spaced-out, impractical idealism
• new age naïveté and gullibility
• blurred distinctions and belief in anything
• overextension
• excessive generosity
• unwise financial speculation
• illusions of easy material return
• mirages of a glorious prosperity
• fool’s gold
• self-indulgence and laziness combined with high expectations
• excessive ritual trappings and ceremony in religion
• spiritual materialism
• wholesale illusions and projections
• esoteric pretensions
• psychic inflation and grandiosity

Keep your focus on the “Flowing” items above so that this Jupiter-Neptune sextile can help make your life more magical … all the way thru November!

Is there a worthy cause that you’re passionate about – and that you don’t personally benefit from? You have extra power to support it as Pluto opposes Vesta (23° 27′ Capricorn-Cancer).

This is also a great time to act as a change agent. You can either help bring about the result that the cause advocates, or help catalyze helpful change within the organization itself.

7/28 (Tue)

Grand Cross Peaks

The Mercury-Mars-Juno-Pallas Athena Grand Cross that started on 7/20 peaks today (7/28) and ends on 8/2.

7/30 (Thu) & 7/31 (Fri)

Mercury receives aspects from three slower planets in two days. The first two are on 7/30: a Mercury-Jupiter opposition (20°18′ Cancer-Capricorn) and a Mercury-Neptune trine (20°35′ Cancer-Pisces). The third aspect is on 7/31: a Mercury-Uranus quintile (22°36′ Cancer-10°36′ Taurus).

These aspects combine to give a powerful boost to learning and communication! Jupiter’s opposition amplifies these core expressions of Mercury, and also brings the energies of the professor, philosopher and guru.

Neptune’s trine gives an easy flow of divine inspiration, as well as the ability to operate in flow state. Finally, the Uranus quintile adds genius, helping you think outside the box to access brilliant new ideas.

To maximize this opportunity, ask your higher self for the specific information you want … then leave enough quiet space to hear its reply!

Whatever your Sun Sign, my 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 a week before and after.

Everyone is affected by these global transits. However, you’ll be most powerfully impacted when moving planets activate sensitive points in your natal chart. Discover how these transits will personally affect you by booking a session with me.

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