Astrological Forecasts

Head’s Up!!

The Writer’s Astrological Almanac

by Kathy Watts

July 2018

all times are PDT.

No guarantees but July might start less tensely than June ended. The last two days of June, the Moon was besieged, sandwiched in between Saturn and Mars. That’s over for the moment.

As July starts, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, and Pluto are all retrograde. At the end, Mercury is retrograde but Jupiter has straightened out and is moving direct. The Mars retrograde may be the peak event, as the Mars opposition happens on July 26. The weather may be hot, but you don’t have to have a meltdown. Pour that extra energy and passion into your work, and have another glass of iced tea.

Sun July 01 the Moon is in Aquarius all day. The Moon squares Jupiter an hour after midnight. Later, in the afternoon, the Moon opposes Venus and then goes void of course. You may not feel comfortable with everyone but you can still make social situations work. This is all good fictional character material.

Tue July 03 the Moon conjoins Neptune in Pisces. Imagination and inspiration reign. Do what feels like brilliant work, but don’t look at it right away.

Wed July 04 the Moon is in Pisces most of the day, entering Aries at 9:50 pm. You may not get much (if any) work done but you can observe and get a lot of ideas at the bbq or beach party. It’s Independence Day in the US. Feel independent, and maybe act like it. It’s also the anniversary of the deaths of Thomas Jefferson and also John Adams. Writers and all artists and creative people need freedom to breathe and express themselves. Let freedom ring! (Oh, and Chiron goes retrograde today. Heads Up. Freedom isn’t free.)

Thu July 05 the Moon is in Aries when the Sun trines Jupiter at 4:04 am. Four whole minutes later, Mercury opposes Mars. Start the day in high spirits, but don’t get hyperactive about it.

Sat July 07 the Moon conjoins Uranus in Taurus. Heads Up. The unusual or experimental could be more appealing now. Collage together that cut’n’paste poem.

Sun Jul 08 the Moon is in Taurus when the Sun trines Neptune. Heads Up. A genuine shot of inspiration could strike today.

Mon July 09 the Moon enters Gemini at 9:58 am. Heads Up. We have until Wednesday morning to indulge our most mercurial impulses and to get them out of our system. At 7:32 pm Venus changes signs, leaves golden Leo and enters Virgo. Heads Up. Aesthetic works get more modest, more efficient, and maybe have a longer lasting impact.

Tue July 10 the Moon is in Gemini when Jupiter finally goes stationary direct. Heads Up. Never mind that Jupiter is in Scorpio. Jupiter has been retrograde since March 8. The planet is still very bright in the sky. Go out and look. Feel luckier and more sociable, but maybe put off the big party until after Jupiter moves into Sagittarius on November 8.

Wed July 11 the Moon leaves Gemini and enters Cancer at 10:59 am. It might be a business lunch kind of day. Venus trines Uranus at 8:26 pm. You might finally get some good news that you were hoping to get a bit earlier. The big news is, it’s the day before the New Moon. Heads Up in all ways that are important to you. Be safe.

Thu July 12 the Moon is in Cancer when the Sun opposes Pluto at 3:04 am. Heads Up. An unsettling dream is possible. Cheer up, though, because the Moon trines Jupiter at 8:12 am and then trines Neptune at 12:56 pm. Even if the day has not vastly improved, you can still feel better about it. At 7:48 pm is the New Moon and solar eclipse at 20 Can. Heads Up. Families and devotions of all kinds are great subjects to study and write about this month. The Moon then goes void of course.

Sat July 14 the Moon conjoins Mercury in Leo and then goes void of course. Thoughts are on fire. It’s Bastille Day. Break down a wall, or a writer’s block.

Sun July 15 the Moon conjoins Venus in Virgo. Take satisfaction in the details.

Wed July 18 the Moon is in Libra all day. Do things with a light touch and don’t take yourself too seriously.

Fri July 20 the Moon conjoins Jupiter in Scorpio. Heads Up. It’s too easy to try too hard, to overdo or overwork something now.

Sat July 21 the Moon is in Scorpio all day. It could be an emotional day because it’s also the last day that the Sun is in Cancer. Tomorrow the world may be more upbeat, loud, and shiny. Heads Up.

Sun July 22 the Moon is in Sagittarius when the Sun says goodbye to Cancer and enters its home sign Leo. Heads Up. Passions may rise, as well as the taste for more fun and games. It’s Leo so let’s say it again. Heads Up.

Tue July 24 the Moon conjoins Saturn in Capricorn. Heads Up. You don’t have to get all serious. Feel more responsible for your work instead. It’s also the day before Mercury goes stationary retrograde. Heads Up. Maybe clean your desk and file away the important stuff, but don’t do it in a hurry. Do you know where your keys and phone are? Good. By the way from today until July 27 the Moon will be besieged, between Saturn and Mars. If people suppress their feelings and blow up later, this may be in part why.

Wed July 25 the Moon is in Capricorn all day. Go ahead. Get a lot done. The Sun squares Uranus at 4:36 am. This makes it a good day to stick with a game plan and not improvise quite so much. At night, Mercury goes stationary retrograde at 10:02 pm. Heads Up. Take it slower, but take it.

Thu July 26 the Moon conjoins Pluto in Capricorn at 3:03 am. The bigger Heads Up aspect won’t come until 10:13 pm when the Sun opposes Mars retrograde. Heads Up all day long as this aspect applies and gets stronger. Temper, temper. Tomorrow should be cooler. Mars is screaming bright in the sky now. Go out and look.

Fri July 27 the Moon conjoins Mars retrograde in Aquarius at 8:47 am. If it’s better to put off something, reschedule or do it later and don’t beat yourself up over it. At 1:20 pm we have the Full Moon and lunar eclipse at 04 Aq. Heads Up. Get in better touch with your audience. It’s bigger than you realize.

Tue July 31 the Moon conjoins Neptune in Pisces. Feelings and impressions may be strong but it also may be harder to express them, even to yourself. That’s part of what drives us to be creative. Hang in there.

Whatever is going on astrologically, this is a great month for stargazers. Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars are all in the evening sky. Jupiter’s opposition to the Sun was on May 8. The Sun-Saturn opposition was June 27. The Sun-Mars opposition is July 26. Those are the times when the planets are the brightest. And when is Venus not bright?

The end of the month is overloaded with celestial significance. The Mercury retrograde. The Mars opposition. Then the Full Moon and lunar eclipse in Aquarius. I could say to be happy for the Aquarius influence, but I won’t. Aquarius can be cold, calculating, and short on compassion. The bad joke is, Aquarius loves humanity but isn’t all that crazy about people, one on one.

So, keep your shoulders down, your elbows in, and your hands up. Protect yourself without getting overly defensive or paranoid. And pay attention. There’s a lot that needs to be written about, or represented in some other art form. Keep your eyes and your heart open, and go for it. It is now Leo season, so be brave. Heads Up!