If you want to go straight to the columns here are the links for the weekly and monthly horoscopes:
http://www.avonconnects.co.uk/docs/DOC-5930
http://www.networkshe.co.uk/category/horoscope
What’s happening this week? Roll of drums, Mercury went direct over the weekend. He’s now got to pick up speed again but this time in the right direction. I always like to clock what happens around the time that Mercury turns – which was 19.23 BST 20 July. Let me just throw in that reminder again about “problems with transport and communication”. On this occasion I got an email almost exactly at that time from my niece who’d had the car accident. Trying to sort out the paperwork had been the predictable nightmare, in the words of my sister “like pushing a boulder uphill”, but on Saturday evening my niece found an email in her junk mail from the insurance company of the guy who’d driven up the back of her, admitting liability. Hurray.
This made me think of the myth of Sisyphus – a figure in Greek mythology who was forever condemned to pushing a boulder up a mountain only to see it roll down again – which is actually a very good description of how life feels under a retrograde Mercury. Conversely, then, Mercury turning direct will be like getting the boulder to the top of the mountain and finding that miraculously it stays there.
Here’s a checklist for Mercury turning direct:
- Important information comes to light
- Rumours are squashed when the truth outs
- You find the right person to deal with the problem
- People make decisions
- Computer glitches are solved/disputes are settled
- Lost objects are found
… and so on, you get the picture.
In addition it’s a busy start to the week up in the heavens, starting with the stunning Mars – Jupiter conjunction which happens only once every two years. This is like a blast of energy and enthusiasm, of things springing back to life, or into life. Love colleague Sally Kirkman’s prediction that Mercury turning direct in Cancer would “flush out” the royal baby (William is a Cancerian, Kate is a Capricorn but Moon in Cancer, therefore born on a Full Moon). Action man Mars is great for getting things moving and the Sun enters the royal sign of Leo (the Lion being the king of the zodiac) this afternoon 16.57 BST with the Full Moon in Aquarius a couple of hours later at 19.17 BST.
Venus also changes sign this afternoon, moving into Virgo. Traditional astrology says that this is Venus’ sign of “fall”, her weakest sign. This does not mean that those with Venus in Virgo in their natal charts are unloving! But Virgo is a Mercury sign, ruling precision and analysis, so Venus the love planet does not sit easily here. For now guard against being too critical of loved ones, or of allowing others to be overly critical of you.
The weekend brings the Mars – Pluto opposition and the Sun square Saturn. Not sure what I want to say about this combination other than I think I might just be staying in next Saturday night. It adds up to one huge, bad mood or the difficult finale of a situation that has dragged on and been exhausting to deal with. Even if turns out the way you wanted you’ll still be glad to see the back of it, or you may find yourself in a supportive role, helping someone through a tough experience. At least the weekend finishes with a positive Venus – Jupiter sextile (harmonious) on Sunday. These are the two “benefics” – love, life’s pleasures, enjoyment, liberation and the joy of those who care deeply about you and vice versa.