MONTHLY SINCE 1999
ISSUE # 229

July – August 2018 

Note: All aspects are most powerful and effective as they apply. Once the transit has completed, its force is lessened. The further it separates the weaker it becomes.  

AUTHOR’S NOTES:

We are entering an eclipse season with three in a row. Eclipses come in groups, often in pairs but at times in a series of three or even four. Personally I think they’re afraid to travel alone. Earth has become such a dangerous neighborhood. Right before this New Moon Pluto will oppose the Sun and the Moon setting up an atmosphere for the coming month that speaks of change, redefinitions and letting go of many things that are no longer valid.

This month we also have a series of difficult and powerful aspects completing all within a few days. On July 25^th the Sun squares Uranus. On July 26^th Mercury goes into retrograde. On July 27^th the Sun opposes Mars, and that day we also will have the Full Moon eclipse in Aquarius. On August 1^st Mars will square Uranus. Any of these could set off an incident either in our personal lives or on the world’s stage. But coming in a group like this with one after another, we are going to see a buildup of stress in many people that will need to find a way of release. I think it would be wise to pay attention to this series of transits and to take steps to protect yourself. Most of us will not get into an altercation. But some might. And there’s a chance that we will see some explosive or violent events. Our nation is functioning at a higher level of tension than I have seen since the Viet Nam War. The divide is wider and rockier, and there is no one throwing a life rope across it. As we head deeper into summer, with all the glory and magic it bespeaks, the heat and the worry, the pain and the anger are welling up. It wouldn’t take much to set it off, only a careless match. Under these transits an event is certainly possible.

Jupiter went direct on July 10^th. Jupiter’s reversal of direction implies a change of direction in the financial markets. Although it often represents a leg up in the stocks, it has at times also represented the top of the equities. With Saturn in trine to Uranus this summer there is support underneath the NYSE. But that’s not necessarily a new bull market. Personally I believe we are heading into a bear market that will have several serious downturns or crashes. The first will be next June when Uranus lands on the NYSE Venus. Then in 2020 when Saturn conjuncts Pluto, along with Mars and Jupiter in the mix, we will see the results of some of the decisions being made now. But for this summer I think we simply go sideways, as we have for the past 6 months.

In last month’s newsletter I wrote about Uranus entering Taurus, a very important change of energy. Below is the last paragraph from my author’s notes. While the recent and ongoing events in our nation and in world politics are very upsetting and destabilizing, it’s not completely unexpected. Those who have been paying attention for the past decade have seen the decay in society and in faith in the common goals we had grown to accept. Trump and the right-wing faction simply grabbed hold of that uncertainty and used it to gain power. That power will not be easily reassigned. It will take longer and be much harder than anyone can guess. The times have changed and with those changes come new challenges as well as new opportunities to redefine what direction the world goes. The unbalance will be set right as it always is. America is a centralist country and we are not happy if things move too far to the right or the left.

This ingress of Uranus into Taurus will turn many things on their heads. But it doesn’t imply that thing will all be bad, only changed. In fact, some who have been lacking in success and opportunity may find that this opens doors in unexpected areas, and gives them a chance to make positive and productive alterations in their lives. While some who have had abundance may suddenly find that things have changed for them as well, perhaps creating obstacles where they used to have an open path. The one thing that is certain is that things are about to change in radical an unexpected ways. Keep your eyes and ears open. Opportunity sometimes knocks softly.

NEW MOON:

The New Moon falls on Thursday July 12^th at 10:48 P.M. EDT at 20 degrees Cancer 41 minutes. It’s a Solar Eclipse, and a Void Of Course New Moon. We are entering an eclipse season with three in a row. This first one is in the sign of Cancer, one of the most emotional of signs. This is a commanding aspect on its own, but we also have Pluto in opposition to this New Moon, an indicator that we are in for a powerful and possibly dangerous period. A New Moon eclipse with Pluto in opposition will create a “fated” energy, a feeling that some things are simply meant to be. That is the underlying sense that Pluto brings to the party. To underestimate what this could mean would be folly. This coming lunar cycle must be respected and approached with care and awareness. We are also going to see a series of intense transits from July 25^th – August 1^st, which I cover later in my newsletter.

This month in our personal lives we must be aware of our circumstances and do everything possible to be safe and not get caught up in unnecessary struggles. It’s very easy to get swept up in the energy around you. This doesn’t mean that you will get into an altercation or have serious difficulties. Most of us will easily sidestep any serious problems. But it does require your attention and a clear approach to your environment. Many issues that have outlived their usefulness will either change radically or end. Pluto rules the elimination of waste. We say that it controls death and rebirth, and that can be interpreted in a reincarnation sense, or in the ongoing day to day situations where we must make countless decisions about issues both very important and routine. Try to be open-minded and if you recognize that something is no longer valid, let it go. But don’t overdo it. Most things will move along to the next level and continue to have a purpose in your life. Those that do not will be obvious.

This is a great opportunity to prune your garden and plant new ideas, projects and relationships. But you must be willing to let go in order to accomplish this. That is the most positive part of Pluto’s energy. It can unhinge or destroy, but it can also clean out and prepare for new beginnings. Try to use it that way.

I think it’s important to recognize what’s happening in world and national politics as these eclipses take shape. As you know, Trump has recently berated our NATO allies and he is about to meet with Putin in a private meeting with only those two and their translators. This is a man with absolutely no knowledge of history or experience in world events. Yet he believes that he can make historical decisions that will reshape the world and the balance of power. That is a dangerous and frightening thought. People with decades of diplomatic wisdom are being ignored while this fool responds to current events with no understanding whatsoever. And one must wonder just what his motivation truly is when dealing with Russia. Does he own them money? Is he being blackmailed? Or is it just his obvious love of dictators that is his inspiration?  And how will we ever know?

Trump is about to place an ultra-conservative justice on the Supreme Court that will tilt the balance of power to the right for the next 30 years or more, unless there is some event down the line that changes things radically. All of this is occurring while we are in an eclipse period. There is very little that can be done to stop him, despite all the bantering. This is only one of the results of the 2016 election that will last long after he is out of office. The only hope of placing some control over this threatening situation is the mid-term elections that may themselves be tainted through gerrymandering and foreign interference.

This is the era of Capricorn, perhaps the most conservative of signs, and any astrology student should realize that it means a hard pull to the right. BTW, that doesn’t mean that all Capricorns vote for one party. I have many friends of all 12 signs who vote based on their conscience, not their astrological sign. That’s the problem with Sun Sign astrology. There are liberals and conservatives in all 12 signs. There are sinners and saints in all of them as well. The wheel must be balanced correctly or it will falter. Right now we have an unbalanced wheel in our nation. Time and the will of the people will eventually rebalance it, as it has throughout history. But at what cost? Can the damage be repaired, or are we so close to a running out of room for a U-turn that one more big push could send us off the narrow road?

I am editing a short video about America’s chart that would probably be good for all people to watch, whether you understand astrology or not. We are a nation of dualities. And understanding the two sides of our collective persona might help mitigate some of the animosity we are displaying in our tribal warfare.

VENUS TRINES SATURN:

On Saturday July 14^th at 2:44 A.M. EDT we will all be more realistic about love and money. Because this is a positive trine we can look over these issues without too much stress. This is a good aspect for creating a budget or looking at your long term financial goals and seeing if you really are heading in the right direction. If not, this may be a time to redirect your energies and aim your attention where it can do you the most good. This is also true in relationships. If things are going well in a connection there will be no reason to make changes. But if there are problems that can be worked out, put some effort into it. You may be surprised at how easy it is to fix something that has bothered you for some time.

VENUS SEXTILES JUPITER:

On Sunday July 22^nd at 5:21 A.M. EDT this wonderfully optimistic and outgoing aspect completes. It’s a shame that it does so in the wee small hours of the morning. Most of us will not enjoy the full thrust of its charms. But it will create a pleasant undertone on later on Saturday July 21^st and early into today. This sextile combines the best of our sensual desires with an underlying philosophical curiosity. It usually creates a peaceful atmosphere and can be very easy going and optimistic. Use this energy to your advantage. Maybe an early brunch with close friends, or how about a breakfast First Date? Something a little different, but still intimate and pleasurable? Give it some thought.

THE SUN ENTERS LEO:

Also on Sunday July 22^nd at 5:01 P.M. EDT we enter the fixed part of summer. I love summer. I’m a July 15^th baby after all, and it’s the time of year I most look forward to. The next month is the depth of this season, a time when days linger long into the evening and if I turn to the right I can see my yesterdays when I fell in love on the beach and caressed under an umbrella, ran home sweaty and full of sand for a quick shower and a seafood dinner with white wine. And if I turn to my left I can see tomorrow, still with all of its hope and secrets waiting to be revealed. Standing on my seesaw of time one foot hither and one yon. Leo is the sign of romance and childlike activities, games and friendly competitions. It’s the best time to spend a few weeks meandering by the sea and wondering about who I am, where I came from and where I belong at this point in my life. I have no doubt that if the heart remains open it will find love and companionship. Remember, when you fall in love you are always about 17 years old, no matter what that portrait in the mirror tells you. So go out and find a sweet, gentle lover and let the waves sweep away life’s pains and fears.

VENUS OPPOSES NEPTUNE:

On Tuesday July 24^th at 3:23 P.M. EDT this interesting aspect will bring us all closer to our inner selves. This is a very creative energy, and it will stimulate your imagination and your belief in magic. It is wise to approach this opposition with some clarity, if possible. Things will not be as they seem, though there are those philosophers who would claim that they never are. And they may be right. But still, a little common sense may come in handy as you dance by the light of the waxing Moon and sprinkle just a bit of the magic dust you still hold in your slowly emptying bag.

THE SUN SQUARES URANUS:

On Wednesday July 25^th at 7:34 A.M. EDT this powerful and potentially dangerous square demands our attention. If you keep your eyes open and avoid disturbing energy you can avoid most of its force. Mercury will retrograde tomorrow, and then the Sun will oppose Mars on Friday July 27^th right before the Full Moon eclipse. This is a week that requires your focus. Too many aspects are completing in a short few days, and the combination may result in some uncomfortable and even dangerous events. Certainly we will see some issues come up on the world stage. But there’s little you or I can do about that, except avoid certain situations and neighborhoods. But in your personal life you will have choices and the power to decide. How you handle it will deem the results. Don’t get into useless arguments. Avoid driving if you’re angry. Express any hidden rage or tension you’re feeling. It’s better to get it out than to let it fester. Uranus wants sudden and unexpected actions. That’s fine, as long as you are the master of your fate. Don’t just assume that because it’s an explosive energy that you have to be drawn into upsetting circumstances. Use your free-will and decide. Maybe it would be better today to just sit in the park or your backyard and go to the amusement park next week?

MERCURY RETROGRADES:

On Thursday July 26^th at 1:03 A.M. EDT until Sunday August 19^th at 12:25 A.M. EDT Mercury is retrograding in Leo. This is an interesting sign for this to be taking place while the world is dealing with so many potentially explosive issues. The North Korean talks have fallen apart, as most of us expected they would. The situation in Europe with our used-to-be allies is disintegrating, while Trump’s bromance with Vlad is heating up. The political infighting gets worse and more derisive every day. And Mercury decides to spin its little top in the sign that rules acting! LOL I think Voltaire was right when he said: God is a comedian playing to an audience that’s afraid to laugh. Well people, take a moment out and laugh. Laugh out loud and long and hearty. The joke is on us all. As another famous author once said: All the world’s a restaurant, and all the men and women merely entrees. While Mercury is running backwards, the usual warnings about travel and communication are in place. Use caution especially while on a journey. Leave extra time and make sure you know what you packed in that suitcase (!) before you get on the security line at the airport. And make sure your GPS is working, or you could wind up in Toledo instead of Pittsburg. Retrograde Mercury is a good time to set things straight and uncover secrets. While you should respect the energy of combined planets and use them wisely, don’t be afraid of this or any transit. It’s not there to hurt you, just to teach. Open your heart and your mind to the lessons being offered and things will go smoothly.

THE SUN OPPOSES MARS:

On Friday July 27^th at 1:14 A.M. EDT this powerful aspect will create a volatile atmosphere. It completes early in the A.M., so if you can avoid a confrontation the night before you may be able to sidestep the more negative potential. But being surrounded by The Sun square Uranus, Retrograde Mercury, and the Full Moon eclipse I believe this opposition will continue to have power for several days. Mars will square Uranus on August 1^st, so this buildup of tension isn’t going anywhere for a while. Please use some caution and if someone’s looking for a fight, let them look elsewhere. It would be foolish to step into something if you can avoid it. This will be a very energetic week, and if you can focus your attention you can get a lot done. Don’t only look at the potential negative; see this as a time of great stress that can be released. But many people will not be able to focus it all, and there will be a lot of ego force seeping out in unconscious ways. Be the smart one in the group and use this all positively and to your advantage.

FULL MOON:

This month’s lunar peak occurs on Friday July 27^th at 4:20 P.M. EDT at 4 degrees Aquarius 45 minutes, and it’s a Lunar Eclipse. This eclipse season is going to be a doozy. They usually are, and this year these eclipses will be part of a collection of potent and demanding planetary force that cannot be ignored. This Full Moon demands our attention and respect more than most. Aquarius can be a very volatile sign and with the powerful aspects surrounding this aspect we should all be paying close attention to our environment and using caution. We just saw the Sun in square to Uranus on July 25^th, Mercury retrograde on July 26^th and the Sun opposite Mars on July 27^th. Mars will next square Uranus on August 1^st, so we are right in the midst of a cluster of transits that are each potentially violent and upsetting. Combined they represent a week of possibly explosive and serious force. But please don’t think that every one of us is going to get into an altercation or have some terrible problem. Most of us will be just fine, though it is important to respect this period. It’s on the world stage that I’m more concerned. America is on the verge of an explosion. There is an underlying anger and animosity that seems to be growing exponentially and is seeping out from the edges of society. There is a lot of animosity bubbling beneath the surface at the moment. This week we could see some more incidences that express that hidden anger.

VENUS TRINES PLUTO:

On Friday July 27^th at 9:22 P.M. EDT we will all take a moment to examine our deepest feelings and relationships. This is a positive trine that will allow us to delve into the underlying motivations and needs without the fear of radical transition. This is a time to make some changes, and if you’re honest about your closest connections you may recognize some things that would benefit from altering your approach. But you can do this and still keep the basic foundation of the relationship. That’s how trines and sextiles work. They give us the opportunity to change in a more structured and subtle way. This can be a good evening to spend with close friends or a significant other. You will have some serious conversations and may be able to strengthen your bond.

MARS SQUARES URANUS:

On Wednesday August 1^st at 10:41 P.M. EDT this square will complete. The combination of these two planets is usually a powerhouse of energy that must be dealt with in a conscious and focused manner or it can create problems. Because this completes after a week of powerful and potentially explosive aspect (see above) this may represent the finale of some dangerous or tense circumstance. You should certainly use caution today and avoid direct hostility. There is rarely an event or conflict that can’t be sidestepped or delayed until the energy is less volatile. But if you can’t avoid the situation you would better off facing it consciously and directly. That will take away much of any hidden power that could act in the undercurrent. If things are out in the open you can react to them. When they are buried but still active it’s much harder to resolve the problem.

VENUS ENTERS LIBRA:

On Monday August 6^th at 7:28 P.M. EDT until September 9^th at 5:26 A.M. EDT Venus enters one of the signs it rules. It will return in its retrograde motion in November. This is a wonderful placement especially for relationships. Venus has much to do with love and Libra is the sign that rules marriage (in all its forms). While it is traveling here, Venus will do its best to connect people and bring a soothing compatibility where possible. It can’t create something out of nothing, and if the connection isn’t there this will not suddenly produce a great love affair. But if there is an underlying attraction this might help you express those feelings in a genteel manner.

THE SUN SQUARES JUPITER:

Also on Monday August 6^th at 7:28 P.M. EDT this square completes exactly as Venus enters Libra. This is usually a very pleasant and outgoing square that can heighten our sensitivity and increase enthusiasm. With Venus just getting into Libra this could be a day when people pair off more than usual. These are both certainly sociable aspects and there will be a desire for interaction between people. This would be a nice evening for any party or other gathering. Entertainment and artistic ventures should be quite pleasing as well. Travel is favored, especially if it’s somewhere new or very stimulating to the senses. A voyage anywhere in nature, the beach, mountains, desert or other area that has the ability to overwhelm and stir up our feelings will be very fulfilling. As with all squares to Jupiter it’s important not to overdo or take on too many projects or promises.

URANUS RETROGRADES:

On Tuesday August 7^th at 12:49 P.M. EDT until January 6^th 2019 this difficult planet will begin its yearly trek backwards. While in retrograde many issues regarding the individual’s rights vs. the needs of the collective will be brought to the surface. This is a time when decisions will be made that have a long-term effect on our society. Uranus rules elected government officials and it will be in retrograde when the all-important mid-term elections take place. We will see the seating of another Supreme Court Justice during this period, and many international situations will come to a peak or fork in the road. How these issues are decided will depend upon just how aware the collective is and how much influence that are willing and able to exert. Certainly the coming elections will help define the next era in our nation’s history. And the events playing out in Europe, North Korea and other hot spots, such as Venezuela will also have a powerful effect on us all.  

VENUS TRINES MARS:

Also on Tuesday August 7^th at 8:33 P.M. EDT this positive aspect between the male and female planets will make our interaction smooth and easy. This is a good day to approach someone of the opposite sex, no matter what the issue. How we interact even in mundane situations can have a powerful effect. This isn’t only about intimate relationships, though that is the main playing field when Venus and Mars interact.

THE SUN CONJUCTS MERCURY:

On Wednesday August 8^th at 10:06 P.M. EDT we will all be more willful and a bit demanding. This conjunct tends to make us all feel as though we are absolutely right about almost everything. Of course, if I’m right, how can you also be? Try to quell the will and the ego and use this transit to communicate what’s most important. It’s a good aspect for all conversations and for putting your ideas down on paper (or in the computer).

VENUS SQUARES SATURN:

On Thursday August 9^th at 9:34 P.M. EDT we will once again be concerned with relationships, but while this square is in orb we will be examining them in a serious and focused manner. This is a no-nonsense aspect that will demand an honest and clear perspective. Any issues that have been of concern will be scrutinized carefully and decisions will have to be made. In a good relationship this will result in minor adjustments that can strengthen the contact. But if there are problems that aren’t being faced in a relationship that may have outlived its usefulness this square may be sufficient to alter or even end a bad relationship. Saturn has little patience and it wants to clear the decks in order to make room for new and improved situations. Don’t fight the inevitable. If you know in your heart that something is over, you’d be better off admitting it and moving on with your life. In financial matters there will also be a sobering and realistic approach. In our personal lives any money matters that aren’t being dealt with may come to a head now. In the equity markets any underlying problems will rise to the surface and come to our attention. This is often a bad day for the stock markets.

MERCURY SQUARES JUPITER:

On Saturday August 11^th at 2:32 A.M. EDT this outgoing aspect will complete. This is usually a very sociable transit and Friday night would be a good time for a gathering or party. People will be chatty and wish to express themselves. It certainly won’t be a boring evening. But as with all Jupiter squares it’s important to put boundaries down and try not to say things that are inappropriate. You could easily let a secret sip or just express something that would be better off left unsaid. It’s easy with this square to make promises that you will regret in the morning. So make sure you are understood and that you aren’t making mistakes. I wouldn’t choose this night to elope, for example. But then, that’s just me.

DARK OF THE MOON:

The next New Moon falls on Saturday August 11^th at 5:58 A.M. EDT at 18 degrees Leo 42 minutes, and it’s a Solar Eclipse. The day or two leading up to it will be a particularly low energy period. If you tend to be emotional this may be a very trying time each month. I have found that people with prominent moons or a Cancer Sun, Moon or ascendant respond to the lunar cycles more intensely than others. Spend this time finishing up anything that is incomplete, don’t try to initiate new projects on a waning moon, it just won’t work out.

Once the New Moon hits you begin new projects or attempt a new approach to an existing problem. If you have been living in a situation or involved in a relationship that is intolerable or has outlived its usefulness this would be the proper time to move on with your life. If you have been working on a project that is almost complete but you seem to lack the energy for the finality, you must push during these low energy days to end the matter once and for all. If you don’t, when the New Moon arrives it will bring this “dead” energy along with it and conflict with the newer force being presented. Each month we are offered a chance to clean house, so to speak.

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Below is a list of times this month when the Moon is Void of Course and neither important decisions nor purchases should be made during these periods. The Void of Course Moon is a time when we should try to center ourselves and deal with spiritual matters not materialistic ones. Any decisions made on the VC Moon will not turn out the way we had expected.

The Moon is Void of Course from the time it makes its last major aspect in a sign until it enters the next sign. For example, if the Moon squares Mars at 27 degrees Aries and then has no more aspects until it enters Taurus it will be Void of Course for three degrees or about 6 hours. The aspects used are the conjunction, sextile, square, trine, and opposition. All times are Eastern Daylight Time:

July 12^th 10:48 P.M. – July 13^th 1:31 P.M.

July 14^th 7:12 P.M. – July 15^th 1:31 P.M. ***Moon is void 18 hours

July 17^th 6:49 A.M. – 3:42 P.M. ***Moon is void 9 hours

July 19^th 3:52 P.M. – 9:13 P.M.

July 22^nd 5:18 A.M. – 6:12 A.M.

July 24^th 4:22 A.M. – 5:49 P.M. ***Moon is void 13 hours

July 26^th 9:41 A.M. – June 27^th 6:41 A.M. ***Moon is void 21 hours

July 29^th 5:25 A.M. – 7:28 P.M. ***Moon is void 14 hours

July 31^st 6:42 P.M. – August 1^st 6:54 A.M. ***Moon is void 12 hours

August 2^nd 10:52 P.M. – August 3^rd 3:51 P.M. ***Moon is void 16 hours

August 5^th 7:46 P.M. – 9:32 P.M.

August 7^th 3:55 A.M. – August 8^th 12:01 A.M. ***Moon is void 21 hours

August 9^th 7:20 A.M. – August 10^th 12:18 A.M. ***Moon is void 17 hours

August 11^th 5:58 A.M. – 11:59 P.M. *** Moon is void 18 hours

August 14^th 12:37 A.M. – 12:57 A.M.

August 16^th 3:58 A.M. – 4:54 A.M.

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July 2018

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