Astrological Forecasts

July 2011

by Kathy Watts

We are not lacking for excitement and entertainment this July. If it feels like eclipse season is never going to end, you’re not imagining it. We start off with a New Moon and Solar eclipse on day one, for the second month in a row. This year we get four partial solar eclipses (in January, June, July, and November) and only two lunar eclipses. This is powerful stuff, less in the personal realm, more in the events of the outer world. Stay calm and watch the show from a safe place!

Fri July 01 is the New Moon and solar eclipse at 09Cancer. Heads Up. Release that death grip on your work and let it rise or fall on its own merit. The guarding instinct may be irresistible but there’s no need to be overprotective and sensitive. Three hours later the Moon exactly squares Saturn. Being critical can be good, but being overcritical is never good. That night, Mercury changes signs and moves from Cancer into Leo. Watch the mind expand!

Sat July 02 the Moon conjuncts Mercury in early Leo. This may be a busy weekend, better suited to networking and parties than to retreating into private writer-world. Only twenty-three minutes later, the Sun makes an exact square to Saturn. Be respectful of authority. One day, you might be the authority. How’s that for a backhanded heads up?

Sun July 03 the Moon is in Leo when Venus changes signs and moves from Gemini into the sign of Cancer. The charm and beauty of your words may slow down and acquire even more warmth and grace.

Mon July 04 the Moon is void of course in the end of Leo when Mercury exactly trines Uranus. Some surprising ideas may take center stage. Yes, it’s the Fourth of July in America. Let freedom ring!

Tue July 05 the Moon is in Virgo when Mercury exactly squares Jupiter. It may be time to tackle the many changes and corrections you want to make. Do not trust it all to the spell and grammar checkers.

Wed July 06 the Moon is void of course in Virgo when Mars exactly trines Saturn. It’s a good day to plan the rewrite of some old, languishing project. Late evening, the Moon moves into Libra. However much or little you accomplished today, feel good about yourself and socialize a bit.

Thu July 07 the Moon conjuncts Saturn in Libra. Be gentle but diligent in your work habits. You can get a lot done with minimum grief today.

Fri July 08 the Moon is void of course in Libra when Venus exactly opposes Pluto. Major transformations are rarely pretty. Later Venus sextiles Jupiter, as though to soften the blows that may have fallen earlier in the day. Unfortunately, only twenty-four minutes later, the Moon enters Scorpio and the heaviness returns. Sleep well anyway.

Sat July 09 the Moon is in Scorpio when Mercury exactly sextiles Saturn. This is positive criticism of the most gentle and profound kind. Be observant and grateful, and learn a lot fast.

Mon July 11 the Moon is in Sagittarius when Mercury exactly sextiles Mars. You can get a great deal done today, though it may not all stand up to future scrutiny. Still, do it and don’t be distressed.

Wed July 13 the Moon is in Capricorn, and conjuncts Pluto in the afternoon. Heads Up in a good way. We’re getting a month of Wednesdays with the Moon in cardinal signs. It’s a good month to get a firm grip on what needs working on. This Pluto conjunction makes it a good day to firmly latch on and tighten that grip. If you’ve been in the writing doldrums, that may be getting ready to change.

Thu July 14 is the Full Moon at 22Cap. A bright light is shining on your work. Make it your best. Don’t worry about quantity. Focus on quality.

Sun July 17 the Moon conjuncts Neptune in Pisces. Summer nights are short in the northern hemisphere, but dreams can still be deep and rich.

Wed July 20 the Moon conjuncts Uranus in Aries. Surprise yourself and work on something out of the ordinary.

Thu July 21 the Moon is in Aries all day for this, the last day of the month with the Sun in Cancer. Heads Up. This is a strong combination of fire and water. High passion and deep emotion can cause lots of trouble. It’s starting to sound like a hot romance novel.

Fri July 22 the Moon is void of course in the final degrees of Aries when the Sun moves out of Cancer and enters its home sign of Leo. Heads Up. This is a lot of fire energy being pumped into the world, but not for long. Forty-six minutes later, the Moon enters Taurus, toning down some of those fiery vibes. Dig in and feel secure in your work, and don’t be rushed.

Sat July 23 the Moon conjuncts Jupiter in Taurus. Smile a lot and feel lucky. You can say or write something that positively makes someone’s day.

Mon July 25 the Moon enters the sign of Gemini. We have from now till Wednesday afternoon to indulge in all things mercurial, communicative, and literary, and all those other mischievous things that Mercury loves. Hmmm. Maybe this rates a mild Heads Up.

Wed July 27 the Moon conjuncts Mars in Gemini. In fact, the Moon occults the planet Mars, meaning that if it were nighttime (and clear), we could watch the Moon move in front of Mars and block it out for a short time. This might be a day to crank out a record high word count. Evening, the Moon moves into its comfy home sign of Cancer. Put up your slippered feet, reach out for that iced drink, and read that lovely novel, if only in the spirit of research.

Thu July 28 the Moon is in Cancer when Venus changes signs and moves into Leo. Beauty can now approach the glamorous and flamboyant. Three hours later, Mercury changes signs and moves into its nocturnal home sign of Virgo. Heads Up in a good way. Mercury in Virgo is prime editing season. Go make something better. Also, an early Heads Up, because this is the day before the day before the New Moon. Mild Heads Up today, and a stronger Heads Up tomorrow. Be safe, be observant, and avoid the obvious bad stuff that can fall out of the sky on the day before the New Moon.

Sat July 30 the very dark Moon conjuncts Venus in very early Leo. There may be a glimmer of light and hope in even the most dark of circumstances. (You can use this in the epilogue of some suspense thriller.) Eight and a half hours or so later, comes the New Moon at 07Leo. Heads Up. At least it’s not another eclipse. Begin something big, fun, and perhaps even a touch reckless. Just be sure to have your heart in it. Enjoy!

This is not an easy month, in a long string of not easy months, but time passes and things get accomplished. You have probably accomplished much more than you realize, and that’s fine if it means that your eye is firmly locked on some target accomplishment much farther down the road. Energy and spirit are high. The solstice qualities of stationary sunlight on the horizons are dissipating. The rising and setting positions of the Sun are starting to move. Move with the changes and look forward to even more fluid movement, and accomplishments! The Sun is in its home sign and will not be stronger. Soak it up and be strong, too! May your heart and your words glow with gold! Heads Up!