What’s Happening this Week?
The week starts quietly, with no major aspects until Thursday, one of which involves Mars who turned retrograde last week at 9 degrees of Aquarius. This means that Mars is apparently moving backwards through the heavens, and it also means that he’s on a go slow. In the whole of July Mars will travel only 6 degrees, moving from 9 to 3 degrees of Aquarius, and this is a big part of the backdrop to the rest of the summer.
Mars is the god of war and symbolizes everything to do with how we go into battle, how we pursue our goals and how we handle the cut and thrust of life. He rules sport – disciplined and focused combat. He rules men, just as Venus rules women.
Psychologically he symbolizes the heated emotions such as anger, passion and pain. But as he backtracks through the aloof air sign (element of the mind/intellect) of Aquarius there’s a sense of everything being cooled down as well as slowed down. In other words, we’re unlikely to get what we want if we let our emotions get the better of us. This is not a time for explosiveness but a time for taking the overview and the longer view, rather than being intent on immediate or purely individual glory. Mars in Aquarius gets results by rationalizing first, action second.
As I said last week don’t try to force anything. The first test around any battle of wills is looming –
Thursday 5 July
- Mercury 8 Leo opposite Mars 8 Aquarius 12.50 BST
This is an argumentative and confrontational combination. Mercury being expressed through royal Leo can be bossy, demanding or selfish. You may find yourself dealing with someone who’s unable to see any point of view other than their own or you may have to question your own inflexibility. Mars in Aquarius can signify strong principles and convictions from which nobody else is allowed to deviate! Try not to get locked into any war of words or go on a mission to change someone. Have a rethink instead. They are as they are, just as you are who you are. That’s the joy of natal astrology, being able to see someone’s individual and unique nature as well as your own.
In important relationships the big issue at the moment is intimacy. Or the lack of it. Look at how someone distances you if you get too close, or how either of you avoid the matters that most need attention. This could tell you a lot. The best way to use the Mercury – Mars challenge is to look at how you and others communicate.
The more positive side to the week is shown in the Sun’s aspects to Jupiter and Neptune, the first one being less than an hour before the Mercury/Mars stand off –
Thursday 5 July
- Sun 13 Cancer trine Jupiter 13 Scorpio 12.06 BST
Sunday 8 July
- Sun 16 Cancer trine Neptune 16 Pisces 15.43
The Sun’s link to Jupiter is especially important as this major planet has already slowed right down in readiness for turning direct again next week. Jupiter turned retrograde at 23 Scorpio on 9 March so his turning point (exact next Tuesday 10th at 13.20 Scorpio) is the signal for Jupiter getting back to business. Everything Jupiterian will get a nudge in the right direction, especially if you have planets or angles between 13 and 23 degrees of Scorpio, and especially if events that unfolded or started in March need resolution.
What does Jupiter Rule?
Jupiter’s main principle is expansion and he is the bringer of joy, good fortune, opportunity, higher education, freedom and travel. He rules all things connected to overseas, both people and places. He is also the planet of truth and humanity, ruling the law, justice, religion, philosophy and the higher mind. His nature is optimistic, encouraging and extrovert.
Jupiter expands whatever he touches. With Scorpio that means feelings, the good and the bad. There are no indifferent ones. Ask Susan Sarandon (Jupiter in Scorpio and also in her 9th House, Jupiter’s Natural House) who got arrested last week for taking part in unlawfully protesting against the separation of migrant children from their parents. This is possibly also the biggest showing of retrograde Mars in Aquarius – an aggressive male president (Mars) having to bow to pressure from the collective (Aquarius) and reverse (retrograde) an inhumane policy. The Sun in Cancer (sign of family) making the harmonious aspects to Jupiter and Neptune bodes well for further progress with regard to keeping migrant families together.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44657362
So this week is not without its contradictions. Mars on a go slow, and Jupiter stationary but turning in the right direction. This has rather a “push pull” feel about it, but you can quietly tend to the “go slow” issues (Mars) whilst following other developments in your life that are clearly good for you (Jupiter) and linked to your dreams (Neptune). Family or property issues definitely get a big tick this week, and I know several people are who house hunting and one planning to emigrate, so the current astrology strongly supports journeys to new horizons of all kinds, even if the destination can’t be reached overnight.
I’m on my way to the UK next Wednesday, within 24 hours of Jupiter turning direct! This is a perfect showing for me being a Sag (ruled by Jupiter) and having natal Jupiter at 18 Scorpio – travelling abroad to teach. The retrograde Mars bit has shown as being unable to get back to Greece on the date I wanted – 22 July – as the only available tickets are with Easy Jet for 850 quid, I kid you not. There surely has to be some way of challenging this kind of profiteering, ie taking advantage of families at the beginning of UK school holidays! They have no right to call themselves a budget airline and a lot of businesses here on Lefkada are suffering.
From my point of view I’m accepting Mars delaying tactics and extending my trip by a week and returning to Greece 29 July, so there are now extra available slots for personal consultations, further info below.
I’ll be writing a blog to cover the rest of the month before I leave,
Until then, with love from Greece
Joanna