July finds us pulling up anchor from the sign of Cancer and moving into the heart of the season: summer for the Northern Hemisphere and winter for the Southern Hemisphere. The astrology for the month is relatively calm compared to the turbulent and disruptive currents from the past three months. It’s an ideal moment to pause and reorient ourselves as we navigate these calmer waters.
Last month, our lively troupe of wandering planets pitched their circus tents of wonders and delights in the sign of Gemini. This has offered plenty of chances to contemplate Gemini and its intricate pictorial glyph. One facet of Gemini revealed through its twin lines is its ability for parallel processing.
Many moon’s ago, I can recall a time when multi-threaded processing was a groundbreaking advancement in computing technology. Operating systems and chip manufacturers collaborated closely to pioneer the ability to process tasks concurrently and bring a leap in speed to computing. This capability to manage multiple threads of information concurrently is a fundamental trait of Gemini. This need for parallelism was particularly and profoundly pronounced last month as usually neutral or advantageous planets encountered a heavy and somber square with Saturn in Pisces as they passed through late degrees of Gemini.
If you have significant Gemini placements by planet or house, you have likely had to manage two distinct threads: one of rapid, optimistic developments, and another of more somber, slow-moving challenges that are harder to resolve.
This month, these parallel networking circuits will continue to thread their way through the sign of Cancer, where they can be woven into new forms via the Loom of the Moon’s royal chambers. While Gemini is focused on intellectual analysis and curiosity, Cancer delves into deeper somatic and subconscious processing. Now, integration in our lives is better served through exploration via dreams and art.
By early to mid-month, we transition into Leo season. As we dry off from our seafaring journey through Cancer, we enter the Sun’s midseason King’s Chamber. Here, we can take decisive action on the insights gained from the processing and weaving of the past weeks and months as the Sun returns to its regal domain.
Planets passing through Leo this season pass largely unfettered save for an opposition with a retrograde Pluto at 0 degrees. Adding to the narrative, both Venus and Mercury will be past their helical rising, thus making power struggles that do surface much more likely to be short-lived. Leo season represents a rare chance to pause and enjoy a calmer, slower moving pace this year. It is a great time to take stock or to just enjoy a vacation.
Dates of Note for JULY 2024
7/2 – Mercury enters Leo – Our intellect and communications now turn towards matters of enthusiastic creativity and performative action. The fixed sign can slow cognitive function slightly, but also bring a dose of courage and passion to our thoughts and how they are conveyed.
7/2 – Venus trines Saturn – The somber events that unfolded during Venus’s cazimi / square with Saturn in Gemini last month now have the opportunity to metabolize, transform and heal. The supportive combination has Saturn receiving Venus into her exaltation in Venus. Looking ahead with acceptance, forgiveness and gratitude will be key themes around the beginning of July.
7/5 – New Moon in Cancer – The Moon enters into her royal chambers for her yearly new moon phase. We become highly sensitized to intuitive impressions at this time. It is a great time to receive insights via meditation or practices, as well as cleansing and clearing. The Cancer new moon may also want us to consider what light in our lives will need protective care for the remainder of the year.
7/6 – Venus / Moon conjunction – The two classical feminine bodies join in Cancer where they both enjoy dignity by sign and/or sect. The combination is effective and affective towards creative ends. Truly a configuration of the muse imparting the ability to transmute the ineffable river of the unconscious into creative works of art, music and poetry.
7/8 – Mercury sextile Jupiter – A supportive, if minor, aspect where useful plans or concepts may appear as Jupiter briefly receives Mercury into his domicile. If there is an idea that whispers now, reach out for it and see if you can capture it. It may have the stroke of genius.
7/11 – Sun trines Saturn – This is a stabilizing influence as the planet of executive power and the planet of structure and cycles of time meet for a diplomatic exchange. We are sailing on calm waters for the moment. It is an excellent time for big-picture planning or strategy on matters with long-term implications.
7/11 – Venus enters Leo – The planet of beauty, desire and sentiment enters into the royal chambers of the sun. Here her warmth and charm are in full performative display. Though her entry into Leo does take her a step down in dignity from Cancer, it can represent the display of the emotive and creative works that took place in the water sign. We get added layer of sweetness for all the fire signs until she enters Virgo in early August.
7/15 – Mars conjunct Uranus – Mars and Uranus are a classically explosive and volatile combination both literally and figuratively. Look out for situations that may have been smoldering under the surface to erupt into the open on the days leading up to the conjunction. Surprising and destabilizing events may emerge that will require quick wits and clear heads. We will likely see surprising developments around regional and global conflict zones at this time.
7/20 – Mars enters Gemini – Both Mars and Gemini thrive on speed, so expect an acceleration in matters related to Gemini in your natal chart. Sharp-tongued exchanges are likely in various arenas, and social media may become even more contentious than usual. The co-presence with Jupiter will temper some of the more blindly aggressive tendencies, or at least redirect them toward pragmatic, useful, or enlightening outcomes. This period sets the stage for one of the more challenging transits of the summer – the Mars/Saturn square in August. We’ll discuss this tense aspect in more detail next month.
7/21 – Full Moon in Aquarius (conjunct Pluto) – Though technically a second Capricorn Full Moon, this straddling of signs will likely have the silver light illuminating matters around science and technology, social reform, and pro-peace activism. It will also highlight traditional power structures, the fragility of the banking system, and the outdated viewpoints that no longer serve in a world of rapidly changing social dynamics driven by technological change. In our own lives, this moon will provide an opportunity to see clearly how we personally connect to and are impacted by larger systems and institutions. It will also highlight how we can influence history and society, through service, community and civic responsibility.
7/22 – Sun enters Leo – The Sun enters his fixed fiery kingdom where we the self emerges from the over burning flame of consciousness. Here we find sure footedness of self expression, confidence and sovereign action. The Sun will join Mercury and Venus in Leo. We now have a heavy emphasis on play, performance and passion with the Sun supporting intellect and self-image with its bold and mighty nature.
7/22 – Venus heliacal Rising – Venus appears out of the rays of the Sun. The re-emergence of Venus in her westerly setting phase is a powerful moment for Venus. Creative projects and venusian principles and people now become visible in the sign of Leo, supported by the Sun.
7/26 – Mercury enters Virgo – Mercury enters his exaltation / domicile sign of Virgo. Though this usually is a strong position for Mercury and his domain of communication, travel commerce, and ideas. However, he faces a couple of challenges. Firstly, Mercury will immediately square off with Mars in Gemini. But this aspect will not perfect. Mercury turns Retrograde at the beginning of August leaving this fight before it begins. Thrice great Hermes retraces his latter time in Leo. Tomorrow’s battles never arrive, as we are forced to go back as we revisit past matters to address unfinished tasks in the realm of the Sun. We will explore more about Mercury’s Retrograde cycle in next month’s report…
July 2024 Elections:
7/3 @ 3:00 AM – 3:25 AM – Moon + Jupiter conjunct Fixed Star Aldebaran:
7/6 @ 1:36 – 2:06 PM – Moon in Cancer
7/28 @ 5:38 – 6:02 AM – Sun in Leo
8/5 @ 2:10 – 2:20 PM – Moon Mercury Venus + Fixed Star Regulus