Astrology Trends for July 2014

Kris Waldherr's "Goddess Tarot"© brings
us Laskshi to represent #10, The Wheel.
#10 is tarot's card for Jupiter

July changes the astrological template we’ve lived with for the past year. Say goodbye to Cardinal Crosses for a while and so long to the stalemate that’s had you butting your head against walls since early spring. The big stories this month are Jupiter’s move from Cancer to Leo on July 16^th and Mars’ move from Libra to Scorpio on the 25th. All the reconfiguring you’ve done during Mercury retrograde is about to pay off people.

Jupiter has been hanging out in Cancer since June of last year, offering us the opportunity for financial and emotional growth. Jupiter expands the energy of the house it occupies. When our planet of fortune moves into confident Leo, we’ll put our growth to work for us in creative and exciting new ways. Leo offers a bold, at times, swaggering energy.  The next twelve months offers us a 'can do' philosophy. Don’t wait for someone else to supply the opportunities.  Assume a leadership role in your own life and create them.  Look for career advancement through big ideas. If you’re not certain how those ideas come into play, relax. Leo’s confidence will see you through. Jupiter’s transit of Leo lasts until August of 2015.

Thoughts translate into effective action under Mars in Libra.

Leo's tarot association is #8,
Strength, seen from "Tarot of the Pagan Cats"©
by Magdelina Messina and Lola Airaghi

Mars wants us to make the social connections that help us put our plans in motion. Timing is on our side right now. Those important introductions will happen through cosmic design, so pay attention. What seems like random chance right now it universal tumblers clicking into place, setting us up with the resources we need, both personal and joint, for the launch party that is Mars in Scorpio.  Mars' Scorpio transit carries vibrancy and ambition ­– two things that are highly useful in accomplishing goals.  However, keep an eye out for flairs of stubbornness.

Saturn in Scorpio turns direct on July 20^th.  Beef up your personal boundaries.  All the retrograde restructuring you’ve implemented gains momentum, working to transform areas of your life.  We have an increased sense of personal power and will be up to Saturn's challenges.

#21, The World, seen here from
"The Wildwood Tarot"© by
Mark Ryan and John Matthews,
represents the planet, Saturn

Mercury restarted its journey through the Zodiac after ending retrograde on July 1^st.  The planet of intellect will continue to hang out in Gemini (remember there was a backslide to Gemini during retrograde) until July 13^th when it returns to Cancer.  Mercury in Gemini helps us to access information files that we’ve uploaded from a variety of sources. It’s rapid fire intellect and hallmark wit are both incisive and amusing.  Look for sharpened communications skills, written as well as spoken during the first two weeks of July. However, when Mercury moves to Cancer on the 13^th you’ll see your mental focus shift to thoughts of home, family and stability.  Your communications will be heart-felt, delivered with understanding and respect.  Be careful not to over-think, though and allow Cancer’s strong, emotional component to cause unnecessary fretting.

Other monthly developments include Venus’ move to Cancer on July 18^th, Uranus’ retrograde on July 21^st, Sun in Leo on July 22^nd, Saturn turning direct on July 20^th, a Full Moon in Capricorn on the 12^th and a New Moon in Leo on the 26^th.  Whew! July is a pivotal month, setting up some significant changes that will stay with us into the next year.  Stay balanced through meditation.  Avoid excesses and most of all,  enjoy the opportunities this changing skyscape offers us.

September's Full Harvest Moon 2012 - 7 Degrees, 22 Seconds Aires

Astrologically speaking, September has been a challenging month for some of us. If you were able to stay on top of the wave and ride the energy, you discovered some fantastic opportunities to accomplish your goals.  September's Full Moon, however, comes with a warning label.  The Full Harvest Moon of the 29th (the closest full moon to the Autumnal Equinox is called the Harvest Moon) is seven degrees, twenty-two seconds in Aires.  Aires, the Greek God of War is represented by the Major Arcana card, #4, The Emperor.  Mars, the Roman God of War is also the ruling planet for Aires. Can’t you just feel that testosterone surge?  Mars happens to be deployed in Scorpio now and is squaring off with Leo. (see blog: “Astrology Watch September 2012 - Shebang!)  As a Scorpio, I'd be better off hiding under my bed during this month's full moon phase.  It's a good thing I've labeled September as “Self-determination Month,” isn’t it? 

The word on the street for our Aires full moon is, ‘revolutionary.’  Astrologers advise approaching the run up dates, of the 27th and 28th, with a clear mind and a steadfast heart.  You will need both to navigate the riptides and shoals of this Harvest Moon.  

Uranus squares Pluto - again.  That’s happening a lot lately and will continue to do so for some time.  We have seven full-on Uranus Pluto squares from June 2012 to 2015. This particular square produces extremely powerful, even incendiary energy in the arena of social change.  We had Uranus Pluto squares during the 1960's.  Under the influence of Aires’ warrior energy,though, the Uranus Pluto square can easily take a fanatical turn, not only in your life, but also in the world around you.  It’s best to avoid conversations where tempers are likely to flair.  Don't talk politics, religion or reality TV shows.  

While the Uranus - Pluto square brings focus and energy to your goals, however under this particular sky, your ambition easily couples with your pride.  You may have no patience with people who see things differently than you , or who question what your saying.  “My way or the highway,” becomes “Get out of my way, you un-evolved, little wretch.” You’re going to damage a lot of friendships with an attitude like that.  Stay focused, positive and proactive.  Power past any distractions caused by other people flailing around in reactionary panic.  There’s tremendous opportunity for transformation right now if you maintain presence of mind.

Avoid personal addictions next week.  They’re a distraction - even the most benign stuff like chocolate, sticky buns or an addiction to exercise.  Surf’s up people.  Waimea has come in and you can either ride the crest of the wave or wipe out.  Your choice.  

Here are the tarot numbers for the dates from September 27th through the 30th, the Major Arcana cards, the lesson card (reduced from the card #) and the Major Arcana card’s ruling sign:

Date         Major Arcana                Lesson Card #s            Ruling Sign         Card Meaning                         

27th:        #14, Temperance              5s, loss and conflict      Sagittarius              Blending, moderation
                              (If you insist on all or nothing, that's usually what you'll get)

28th         #15, The Devil                 6s, communication        Capricorn               Enslavement
                     ( Turn off your smart phone and talk to the people you are actually with)

29th         #7,   The Chariot              7s, victory                      Cancer                  Triumph over adversity
              (It's been tough going today, but you will succeed.  Just don't run over anybody)

30th         #8,    Strength                   8s, movement                Leo                       Compassion, coping
    (The situation is changing.  You have the coping skills to see it through, but remember kindness)


Next month Saturn moves into Scorpio.  I might be posting my blog from under my bed after all.

LADY ORACLE


                 

August 31st - Blue Moon

If the moon were actually made of green cheese, would it be made of blue cheese during a Blue Moon?  I happen to like blue cheese.  A lot of people don't, but then, a lot of people are sissies.

There are two definitions of a Blue Moon.  The first, and the one that we are most familiar with refers to a month with two full moons.  This is the simpler definition and some say, the least correct.  The second definition states that a Blue Moon occurs when there are four full moons in a given season (Spring, Summer, etc) instead of the normal three.  The third moon in a four moon seasonal cycle is referred to as a Blue Moon.  I vote for whichever definition throws the best party.  Not cosmically correct, but what the heck.  Let's take the first definition and run with it.  There can be two Blue Moons in a calendar year under definition number one.  However, the last time we experienced two Blue Moons in the same year was in 1999.  January and March both had Blue Moons that year, but February had no full moon at all.  We will see a similar situation in 2018.

The Blue Moon of August 31st occurs at 8 degrees Pisces with the star Skat in conjunction (at almost the same degree) with Chiron. Skat is the star representing the shinbone in the constellation of Aquarius, The Water Bearer and Chiron, an asteroid discovered in 1977, orbits between Saturn and Uranus.  It takes Chiron 50 years to complete an orbit of the Sun.  You have to admire that kind of dedication.  Chiron governs the unity between mind and spirit and also spans the gap between our past and future.  Chiron’s presence right now is particularly significant to us as you’ll read in a moment.

A Blue Moon has no astrological significance of its own.  What makes the full moon of August 31st exceptional is that is occurs in Pisces.  This is a moon of mystical connection.  Perceptions and intuition will be running higher than usual, creating excellent developmental opportunities.  Doors to other realms open more freely to us around the 31^st and our creative impulses receive a tremendous surge with Lady Moon’s sextile (aspect of 60 degrees) to Pluto.  Mars entered Scorpio on the 23^rd which means our ability to focus is razor sharp right now.  What we perceive, we can achieve.  Take advantage of this mega boost and power through your personal blocks and inhibitions.  

If the Mars-Scorpio power surge is leaving you a little frazzled, (And trust me, as a Scorpio myself, I know it can.) spend more time with your tarot cards and meditations.  Here’s why.  Chiron's influence, combined with the trine of the Moon and Mars sets the stage for deep and powerful mediations during the 31st.  The trine (an aspect of 120 degrees - see blog, A Void Is A Void...) enables us to more easily access our higher consciousness.  Chiron’s influence unifies the collective points of our existence; mind, body, past, present and future into a single axis.  And from this perspective we can heal, manifest, or simply celebrate our connection to Source. We understand the right questions to ask ourselves and find the answers more readily. 

On a cautionary note, be careful what vibrational level you allow into your day to day activities.  In other words, a weekend horror movie marathon is not the best idea right now.  Stick with cerebral comedies.  Laughter is always a good thing.  Steer clear of things that pull you away from living consciously.  This is a time for you to access the 
deepest places within yourself.  Do it and you’ll be surprised at the answers you receive.

LADY ORACLE