The Astrology Blog – 13 July 2015
All times posted in BST
Forgive the lateness again of this blog, which is also shorter than usual, but we’re having a heat wave. When the temperatures start hitting 40 degrees it doesn’t do much for energy levels, physical or mental. When even your toothpaste is hot and the wind is “blowing like a hot hairdryer” (as the Greeks say) you know you’re in the height of the summer…
Last week’s astrology was extremely challenging as we reached “the heart of darkness” – Mars and then Mercury both opposing Pluto midweek, then conjuncting each other. This is the stuff of no “wiggle space” or being forced to confront fears/difficult issues. This manifested, politically and in the personal stories I was privy to, in “no choice” scenarios – eg making agreements because you had to rather than because you believed in them/being landed in situations not of your own making/having to problem solve in areas beyond your own expertise/dealing with unpleasantness that had up until this point been hidden or disguised, consciously or unconsciously.
This week is a follow on in many ways and starts with the theme of putting things in order as the Sun and Mercury are the key players, both making harmonious aspects to Saturn before changing sign –
Tuesday Sun trine Saturn (12.09)
Wednesday Mercury trine Saturn (18.52)
However, note that Saturn is currently “stuck” at 28 degrees of Scorpio, getting ready to turn direct at the beginning of next month, and will stay on this degree until the beginning of September. So although good aspects to Saturn generally signify “getting it together” this is most certainly not the stuff of swift progress. Saturn is Lord of Time – and major issues now unfolding will have a “wait and see” factor as you take the first step, or will be on a timetable that can’t be changed or rushed. If you have planets or angles at 28 degrees of Scorpio – or in the other fixed signs of Taurus, Leo or Aquarius – then Saturn issues will be paramount in your life during this time. These include waiting games, dealing with authority, long term business or personal projects or bringing a matter to a definite conclusion. Health issues are in there too, especially those connected to dental work or osteopathy/physiotherapy.
Here’s the usual link for checking the position of your natal planets:
http://www.alwaysastrology.com/birth-chart-calculator.html
The cheerier news is that a new fire cycle opens as Mercury and the Sun both change sign and then conjunct each other on the same day –
Thursday
Sun ingress Leo (04.32)
Mercury ingress Leo (13.15)
Sun conjunct Mercury at 0 degrees of Leo (20.25)
This is the Sun’s sign of dignity and a bold placing for the communication planet Mercury, signaling the end of secrecy or circle games and heralding the start of more openness and outspokenness. Listen out for big news or announcements on this day. The sign of Leo tends to signal a love of fanfares rather than just casually dropping something into the conversation. Anything at 0 degrees is also symbolically powerful as it reflects brand new starts and enormous potential, and 0 degrees of Leo is real ray of sunshine, signaling hope, creativity and joie de vivre. A positive shift of attitude will work wonders with any matter that has been getting you down, or the right “can do” person will step in and help you, or even take over completely.
Arguably the biggest event of the week is Venus turning retrograde –
Saturday Venus stationary retrograde at 0 degrees of Virgo (10.30)
Regular readers will be familiar with the phenomenon of retrograde Mercury as this happens three times a year, for three weeks at a time, during which periods all Mercury stuff seems to operate in reverse and ties us all in knots. Venus turns retrograde less frequently, approximately every 19 months (October 2010, May 2012 and December 2013 were the most recent retrograde dates) for approximately 6 weeks at a time. Venus also repeats her retrograde patterns every 8 years – so in July 2007 Venus turned retrograde in early Virgo, returned to Leo and spent most of the retrograde period in this sign.
This current retrograde period will end on 6 September – lovely astrology for the arrival of my group here for the Synastry astrology week exactly on that day! Until then, however, what can we expect? Firstly Venus is Aphrodite, planet of love, so romantic concerns are likely to be even trickier than usual! Relationships already in trouble will be facing a testing time. For some it will be make or break. Other possibilities to look out for in your love life – meeting someone who is unavailable or who will be absent for the next six weeks, getting back with an ex and trying to make it work, delaying tactics from one partner if you’re talking of getting married or moving in together, reasons beyond your control that will delay such matters, pining for someone you can’t have, a feeling that you’re constantly having to learn the same love lessons twice – or more. Attached, separating or single, the issues that come to the surface over the next six weeks will be the important and formative ones.
Venus also rules money. Do not be foolish with finances! If money is already tight or if you want to save for something special now’s the time to tie up the purse strings, to rein in your spending and to stick to a strict budget. Resist buying on credit or committing to anything that you suspect is going to prove too expensive. It fits the bill of a retrograde Venus in Virgo – her sign of “fall” that is associated with frugality and minimalism – to impose your own austerity measures and to make your hard earned cash go a lot further. Venus will slide back into Leo towards the end of next week, and will be retrograde in that sign for the whole of August and the first week of September, so putting Leo lavishness on hold fits the bill too.
Venus’ turning point is particularly momentous this time around as it coincides with Mars and Uranus falling out just 13 minutes later, with Uranus also turning retrograde –
Saturday Mars in Cancer (sign of fall) square Uranus (10.43)
Sunday Uranus stationary retrograde at 20 degrees of Aries (11.39)
This is the last we’ll see of Mars for a while – only one more major aspect to come 6 August just before he moves on into Leo – but towards the end of the week and over the weekend he’ll be making his presence felt in a dramatic way. This is the stuff of drama, shocks, the unexpected – and, as I’ve said before re Uranus, the totally unpredictable. Take absolutely nothing for granted and avoid risk taking of all kinds. If you have planets or angles at 0 degrees of Virgo – or the opposite sign of Pisces – or at 20 degrees of the cardinal signs – Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn – then this line up signals an especially volatile picture.
So it’s a real mixed bag of a week – take care, sort your priorities and make a point of taking pleasure in all the little things that money can’t buy,
Until next week, love from a sweltering Greece,
Joanna