July 2014: The return of the Goddess of reason and Jupiter enters Leo

                                                             July/Cancer-no place like home

The Goddess of Reason entered her own sign June 23,  just before the Mars/ Uranus opposition/ grand square with Pluto became exact setting off the Uranus-Pluto square, July 24-26.

 This alone is a reason to celebrate as Venus entered Gemini, the sign that rules the third house of mind, brethren, immediate family and the ability to reason and think with clarity. Seldom has the ability to weigh decisions before acting a necessity as when the explosive and rash energies of a powerful Mars transit, and the powerful energy of the grand cross that continues to affect us through July, especially the first part of the month.

If you were born with Venus in Gemini you prefer a partner who is intelligent, witty, and sometimes social. You may travel in many different circles, depending on your mood, and don't like things to get too heavy, sordid or routine. You might be a wordsmith or have a love of words in some way. Words, conversation and communication will always be important to you, and the concept of love is important and chivalry can win the day. Those who don't know you well may consider you changeable.

While Mercury has been retrograde in the same sign (Gemini), rational decisions and thinking have been confused at times. Mercury retrograde in his own sign has been powerful, and as Mercury goes direct July 1, at 8:50 A.M., EST, it will start to reveal the truths that have been hidden or delayed during the retrograde.

Mercury will be stationary direct July 1-5 and this is one of the most powerful periods of this cycle, where situations often change once again. Mercury will be in his post retrograde shadow period until July 17, when Mercurial energy will return to normal.

July 4, the Sun opposes Pluto at 12 degrees Cancer-Capricorn and this is a powerful, dangerous and transformative transit. Once again, this sets off the Uranus-Pluto square and big events will occur in the world, and in our lives if it is aspecting your personal chart. Sun-Pluto transits deal with power struggles, breakdowns and sweeping and fundamental changes which will play out in the world. Pluto also rules oil and nuclear type weapons.

In our personal lives you may encounter a situation that has broken down in a relationship, or it could be something else. This is not the day to hang around dangerous places/bad neighborhoods. Even in family situations you may encounter someone who wants to 'have their way,' or play the role of bully.

On July 8, the Sun aspects the other planet involved in the Uranus-Pluto square: Uranus. Sun-Uranus transit have to so with sudden, unexpected and often shocking events that may have not been anticipated. Uranus rules aircraft, weather, revolts and revolutions. In our personal lives some situations may end at this time, and Sun-Uranus transits often coincide with a desire for freedom in some way, or to march to the beat of your own drummer. It can be a restless day.

July's full moon occurs July 12,  at 7:25 A.M. at 20 degrees of Capricorn. Capricorn is the natural ruler of the tenth house of business, career and priorities and in some way we will all be dealing with these matters. The energy will be heavy as the moon will conjunct Pluto and square Uranus, along with Mars setting off the U-P square once again. Moon-Pluto transits tend to be obsessive, and Moon-Uranus transits often bring the unexpected and tend toward restless, changeable emotions.

July 13, Mercury re-enters Cancer again as it did before the retrograde. Mercury is the most emotional of signs and communication will become more emotional. While in this sign Mercury will set off the Uranus-Pluto square several times.

July 16, Jupiter enters Leo at 6:30 A.M. leaving the sign Cancer behind for the next twelve years! Hooray for Leo's as Jupiter in  this sign should bring an overall nice year, unless something else adverse is affecting the natal chart. Jupiter is the planet of gain and expansion and in some way expands whatever it aspects. It transits your own personal sign only every twelve years.

Leo is the natural ruler of the fifth house of children, love affairs, friends and creativity. Many babies may be born this year as Jupiter transits this sign, creativity and fun will increase, and many love affairs will occur.

While Jupiter was in Cancer the focus was on home and family, and now this will change as Jupiter's beneficial rays point us toward a more extroverted type of fun for the next year. Fire signs should receive a lot of help with this Jupiter placement s should Air. Jupiter will be in Leo July 16, 2014-August 12, 2015.

Venus enters Cancer July 18, and we are fully in the Cancer season! This Venus placement works best for Cancer and other water signs. The period of Venus in your own sign often makes us feel more attractive and sparkling.

July 19, the Sun squares Mars at 25 degrees Cancer-Libra, and this will be Mars final square in his long tour of Libra. Mars has been in the sign ruling the seventh house-relationships and marriage since December 8, 2013, and it Mars will enter Scorpio July 25.

. The retrograde of Mars has slowed down, delayed or changed many situations, depending on where it is located in your chart. Mars has been in its post retrograde shadow period since turning direct in May, and does not resume normal speed until July 22.

Mars square the Sun is associated with fights, fighting, accidents and Mars rules war, the military and police,  and young men. We will most likely see the hot spots around the globe inflamed in some way and this is not a peaceful transit. This is an important degree and we may see incidents connected to the April lunar eclipse in Libra. If Mars aspects your personal chart at this degree, this can be a significant day.

Saturn turns stationary direct at 16 degrees on July 20 at 4:36 P.M., EST,  on the heels of the Mars-Sun square. This is a significant planetary event, and plans that have been delayed, business opportunities and other situations may begin to move forward again. As Saturn stations to move forward this is the most important period of the planets cycle, as the energy is changing ( toward forward movement) and will affect everyone on earth. The stationing part of the cycle will last through August 10.

If Saturn is stationing on a personal planet in your chart, this will be an extremely significant period, good or bad. If it is in a positive angle, Saturn may bring success and gain and if a negative one stress and anxiety in some way.

July 21, Uranus turns stationary retrograde at 16 degrees of Aries and will remain retrograde through December 21. Uranus rule change, revolts and revolutions (personal and in the world) and is considered the planet of divorce and separation in some instances. Depending on what this planet is aspecting in your chart it can bring sudden, unexpected events, separations, or sudden success, events and the most positive of circumstances. (as can all of the major outer planets)

Uranus energy tends to be more potent while in retrograde. Uranus’ retrograde motion tends to stimulate deep psychological investigation and analysis that finally builds to a significant point of action, or it may seem at times that actions or events occur 'to you.' Uranus is the planet of freedom and rules aircraft, weather, earthquakes, computers and the internet and many other things.

Uranus it is now halfway through its seven year cycle in Aries. It will retrograde back to 12 degrees by the year's end when it will clash once again with Pluto, and events of the Uranus-Pluto square will once again bring major changes to the world and our personal lives.

Also on July 21, the Sun enters Leo and the Leo season begins. This month will be about fun, love affairs and singles!

July 24, Mercury squares Uranus and we can look for sudden, and unexpected news. Accidents can occur in the world and our personal lives so be very careful on this day-especially driving.

July 25, Mars finally enters Scorpio where it will spend the next six weeks. Scorpio is the natural ruler of the eighth house of change and transformation, other peoples' money, death, taxes and sex and it is here our focus will lie.

Mars in Scorpio will be far different from Libra Mars. Scorpio is the most intense of water signs and your actions or those of others may be more secretive. Nothing is shallow or superficial in the sign Scorpio.

July's New moon occurs at 3 degrees of Leo on July 26, at 6:42 P.M., EST. It conjuncts Jupiter giving a theme of expansion, but squares Mars showing irritation, agitation and the potential for fights and arguments.

Leo is the ruler of the fifth house of children, friends and love affairs, and to some extent this is where our interests will lie. A good night for entertainment, but guard against being overly sensitive.

July 28,  Venus opposes Pluto. This transit is prone to obsessiveness among the sexes. We will likely hear news relating to women, and potentially even violent incidents. At its highest, it can provide a deep love experience where you are transported out of the ordinary and at its worst this transit is prone to obsessive, not positive thinking, and domestic violence and incidents. Tread carefully. Money could also be an issue.

July 31, Mercury enters Leo. Thinking, talking and actions become bolder over the next few months. A good opportunity to think outside the box and enlarge if not enliven your mental life and conversations.