I hope you enjoy reading the July 2021 Forecast and find it helpful. If you prefer to listen to an audio of July’s transits, tune into Spencer Michaud’s YouTube channel where I join him to discuss these transits in greater detail. Watch live on Saturday 26 June 8:30am (AEST) or Friday 25th June 6:30pm (EDT).

WEEK ONE

Mars opposite Saturn & square Uranus, Mercury square Neptune

July carries over similar themes of the previous month in so far as the second Saturn-Uranus square of mid June will be activated by the faster moving planets of Mars, Venus and the Moon. I expect to see some of these bigger issues ‘hit home’ and experienced more viscerally in our personal lives. Where June brought more shocks and disruptions on a macro level due to the eclipses coinciding with the Saturn-Uranus square, July’s iterations of this theme seem to be more about the micro impacts.

For example, in Victoria Australia, June’s eclipses and Saturn-Uranus square saw devastating storms that left many parts of the state without power for days, and many people displaced due to damaged homes. Even today, some areas are still without power at the time of writing. As these faster moving planets configure to this alignment, we can expect to see localised and personalised ramifications emerge as the cleanup continues and a new reality sets in motion.

This first week of July sees Mars opposing Saturn, while squaring Uranus. Courage, action, defiance, anger, conflict and personal will feature strongly as we start to become aware of the issues and hard work that lie ahead of us with regards to our Saturn-Uranus experiences of June and February. The stubbornness of the fixed signs can make this a week of frustrations as stalemates and resistance continues. On the one hand, there’s sheer frustration of the limitations, on the other, the increasing intolerance for rashness, impulsiveness and recklessness.

But, this tension can be “helpful” to drive action towards a productive solution, as difficult conversations or unpopular decisions may be an inevitable pathway. Venus (ruler of Uranus in Taurus) is travelling with Mars and will help reconcile some conflict and bring alternative solutions to the table.

Also featuring later this week will be the final Mercury-Neptune square that emerged in May. Some people may revel at this final square, welcoming back their rational minds and saying goodbye to their brain fog. However others (like myself!), will be sad to see this one go as it’s revealed a richness to the mysteries of life that one can only experience when we step out of our concrete, rational experience. I talk more about this in my upcoming interview with Stormie Grace where I share my thoughts on engaging the symbolic mind with our creative life. Join me on 14th July 2021 for this discussion at Stormie Grace’s Eat & Greets on Youtube.

WEEK TWO

Venus conjunct Mars, square / anticia to Uranus & opposite Saturn

Now, it’s Venus’ turn to activate the Saturn-Uranus square. While Venus tries to reconcile and connect harmoniously, she may struggle this week being under so much tension. The ramifications from the previous week’s clashes could be adding to Venus’ stress. Her opposition to Saturn, square to Uranus and conjunction to Mars makes for a combination of icy cold distance interspersed with fiery flare-ups. Needless to say, week 2 could produce some tensions in relationships of all kinds. Involved will be those connected to your Saturn-Uranus square story, OR, people connected to the houses of Taurus and Aquarius. (ie. 4th house = parents, 5th house = children, 6th house = contractors, etc.)

If you’re lucky, this configuration could show up more like a serious discussion around relationships with said people. Perhaps it may be a discussion around deeper commitments, future plans or alternative solutions to break out of a current stalemate. To remediate Venus’ clash with Saturn and Uranus, it may be wise to intentionally create a distance in your relationships at this time, in order to make space to reflect on the more serious considerations of these partnerships. Having ‘the talk’ is also on the cards, but wait for this aspect to separate to disperse the tensions (maybe around week 3).

However, Venus is ruling the sign of Uranus while making an anticia relationship with it, suggesting that there’s a secret plan being hatched between the two. This could look like creative solutions being sparked and twists in the plot line that could lead to unexpected pathways. Don’t be surprised if you feel inspired to take a more radical route.

Cancer New Moon

Filtering this is the New Moon in Cancer on the 10th July, which is applying in opposition to the cathartic Pluto. Normally, a new Moon in Cancer would feel like a nourishing embrace and a sense of renewal. However, with its closeness to Pluto, this lunation is raw and confronting, as though we’re called to weigh up what needs to die or be released within us, in order to earn our renewal. This cycle could heighten feelings of trepidation, paranoias and fears, as though we’re walking into a dreaded situation. Ground, ground, ground!

Venus-Moon gate #3

The third Venus-Moon conjunction neatly sums this week up with the activation of the Solar Plexus chakra and symbolising Inanna’s ascension through the third gate of personal power. The signature task of this gate will be to learn how to balance our will, assertiveness and self expression without being overly manipulative/controlling or subjugating ourselves due to low self-esteem. More on this at the Following Venus series.

Mercury trine Jupiter

Lastly, one of the saving graces of week 2 is the Mercury-Jupiter trine on the 13th July. With no strong connections to the Saturn-Uranus configurations, this supportive aspect gives us a mental escape from the tension of the fixed signs, helping us to stay mentally buoyant by allowing an expansiveness of thoughts away from the burdens of minor details. It’s also a great time for extraordinary insights, learning and downloads.

WEEK THREE

Sun trine Neptune, Sun opposite Pluto, Mercury sextile Uranus

The third week pulls us out into a wider perspective as the three outer transpersonal planets are engaged with the Sun and Mercury. While this can feel disconcerting, it also offers opportunities to see the bigger picture at play, allowing us to gain insights that are outside of our personal sphere. This week could also help us to gain greater understanding and awareness about issues beyond our control.

The Sun trines Neptune on the 15th July  and offers intuitive insights and a broader compassionate nature. When it opposes Pluto on the 18th July, we could become more aware of the New Moon events / intentions from the previous week as we start to gather insights around the fears we confronted. It’s also a time of reckoning around our power dynamics, personal will and emotional boundaries. 

Finally, the Mercury-Uranus sextile on the 20th July supports further insights, intuition and breakthroughs in thinking. With Mercury’s ruler, the Moon, conjunct Ketu at the same time, we may feel more supported to approach situations with more detachments. This may be a good time to have ‘the talk’ based on the events of week 2.

WEEK FOUR

Venus opposite Jupiter

After Venus’ ingress into Virgo on the 22nd July, this indulgent planet immediately opposes expansive Jupiter. The old adage, “too much of a good thing” seems very relevant to this aspect because they feed off each others’ weaknesses causing  indulgence, greed, laziness, insatiable desires and consumerist tendencies. 

While Jupiter is retrograding and spending his last days in his beloved place of Pisces, Venus is forced to work for what she desires when she’s in her fallen place of Virgo. Exercising moderation, being of service, spreading goodwill and finding a way to channel your creative value is the key to balancing this transit, or we could risk feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of tasks.

Full Moon in Aquarius

The Full Moon in Aquarius on the 24th July follows immediately after the Sun ingresses into Leo. This full moon is the culmination of the very eventful new moon in Aquarius that occurred on the 11th February . During this time, all of the traditional planets except Mars, were in Aquarius too, creating a huge stellium of planets in the same sign which is rather rare (last time this occurred was in the early 60s). 

The proximity of all these planets with the Sun and Moon also meant that they each started a new synodic cycle around the same time too. Metaphorically, this stellium of planets in Aquarius was like a congregation of major stakeholders, deciding on the future strategic vision for the cycle. 

Symbolically, this translates to a major reset on many levels. Now, we’re at the point of the full moon where we can start to see the results of what was implanted back in February. This may be a time of reflection as you realise how constructive you’ve been and how far you’ve come. If nothing sparks, then you’ll have another chance in August to reflect on this culminating point as we will have another full moon in Aquarius too (another quite rare occurrence of two full moons in the same sign). Take time to give yourself a pat on the back – you deserve it and the Sun in Leo will love you for it.

Mercury trine Neptune & opposite Pluto

By the week’s end, Mercury visits Neptune by trine and Pluto by opposition, echoing the same story of the previous week’s observations when the Sun made the same aspects with these two transpersonal planets. Where the Sun allowed us to see the intuition and power dynamics at play, Mercury this week will help us conceptualise these observations into our minds. Be prepared for more intuitive insights, creative thinking and a deepening of awareness. Tensions may lead us to be deeply consumed about getting to the bottom of a big problem or question. At least you’ll have the mental stamina and concentration to nut it out with this transit. Just watch you don’t become too neurotic, obsessive or paranoid.

WEEK FIVE

Jupiter leaves Pisces

In the final week of July, we bid farewell to Jupiter in Pisces as it heads back into Aquarius for the next five months after which it re-enters Pisces again. Many people will be sad to see this generous planet leave its bountiful home of Pisces. Since its entry into Pisces in May, Jupiter has spread some good cheer around the world, if not opening up some areas from lockdown, then at least giving us a sense of optimism and hope for the future. 

Dreaming and visualising our future lives was a Jupiter in Pisces thing. Now that it heads back into the Saturn-ruled sign of Aquarius, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and pressure test some of these ideas we dreamt of. We may also see a little less grace and ease in our everyday life so rather than trusting on things working out all the time (Jupiter), we need to make sure we’re prepared, have done the work and stay vigilant about our duties (Saturn).

Mars opposite Jupiter

And to make this shift more obvious, Mars will be waiting in an opposing stance for Jupiter at the last degrees of Leo. As Jupiter wakes from his dream, reality will hit immediately with tasks, contests and battles that Mars is ready to bring.

Firmacus Maternus said the following about the Mars-Jupiter opposition: an uneveness of life, inequality and scattering of personal assets (leading to loss of personal wealth), makes friends into enemies, greatest dangers caused by boisterous associations or by rash actions.

Sounds worse than it usually turns out to be, however, be cautious of burning out, taking on too much, thinking you’re more capable than you are of getting the job done. The fact that this opposition happens at the anaretic degree (29th degree) suggests there could be some over-thinking and rash decisions being made, leading to the above cautions. On top of this, both planets are moving in different directions, suggesting they’re not on the same page. Be prepared for some conflicting battles of views and opinions, arrogance and egotistical pursuits. Invite more coolness into your life to temper the heat of Jupiter and Mars – more rest, sleep, leafy green vegetables, water and swimming are some suggestions. Your herbalist and natural health practitioner can add to this advice.