Note: These influences are working during the entire month, and form a substrate for each individual day.

It’s hard to believe, but already the days are getting shorter. There’s a new feeling of urgency, as though we had better do some of those things that are dear to our hearts—see old friends and family, go to the beach, enjoy the simple freedom of being outdoors, grow our gardens, build that deck, travel, do a creative project—while we can.

During July, we bask in the energy fields of Cancer, the Moon’s sign, and Leo, the Sun’s sign. These are the central signs, the heart of the zodiac, connected with the two Lights, which govern our life rhythms here on earth. It is like coming home to our essence.

During this July, both Cancer and Leo are extra-emphasized—Leo because many bodies are now moving through it—Saturn, Mars, Juno, and Vesta—and Cancer because Mercury moves retrograde in Cancer during most of July.

Mercury is the bridge, the messenger, its special talent. It dives into Leo on July 1, but by July 4, Mercury decides it has unfinished work in Cancer, and turns around for its once-every-90-days review. One of Cancer’s “family” purviews is patriotism, and it’s likely that it’s time for a review of the meaning of patriotism.

It’s also time to connect with family members, many of them distant. This is, in fact, a relatively good month for travel. I personally like to travel when Mercury is retrograde. Although there may be small glitches, any inconveniences are outweighed by the greater receptivity of our perception. We are more sensitive, more thoughtful, and we move more deeply into the richness of our beings. Travel is very good for changing perspectives, which is a special value of a retrograde Mercury.

Mercury especially relates to short-distance travel, and to moving and communicating generally. Jupiter, on the other hand, connects with long-distance travel. After four months of traveling retrograde, Jupiter turns direct on July 6, blessing all Jupiterian activities anew. Jupiter, remember, was King of the Gods. Jupiter, then, refers to all types of governing bodies, and to people in high places. Sometimes I think of it as denoting the old boys’ club.

Jupiter refers also to higher mind activities—religion, law, education, publishing—and to politics, sports, and dramatics as well. Jupiter is the biggest of the planets, and its tent is vast.

Essentially, Jupiter refers to beliefs, and those codes and modes of behavior which arise out of group beliefs. There is a fraternal urge with Jupiter, and now that it has turned direct, people will have a renewed desire to join with one another in common cause.

Mercury and Jupiter are particularly dynamic now because of their change of direction. They are both mental planets—Mercury connecting with lower, ordinary everyday mind, and Jupiter with higher mind, with understanding and perspective. Mercury gets the facts, Jupiter puts them together into a meaningful picture.

This month their juxtaposition suddenly reverses. Mercury shifts to a more inner focus, and lets us take a new look at the facts and details in our lives, and place them in a more idiosyncratic context, e.g. “This is how it is for me. This is how I experience it.” Rather than accepting facts secondhand, we look at our own truths. The family relations which are part of this month’s activities will have a new slant. Family customs will not have their usual compulsive pulls. We can each be more independent.

On the other hand, we’ve been mulling over our beliefs on inner levels for the last few months, less apt to accept an authority as “the word of God,” learning to trust our own evaluations.

What will this mean in our lives? Ideas, perceptions, understandings, beliefs will all be making big shifts. With Uranus in Pisces adding to the pot, some of them will be unusual, imaginative, and surprising.

Mercury and Jupiter are both in emotional water signs, so our beliefs and perceptions will be very colored by our emotions. Mercury retrogrades in Cancer, and Jupiter is now in Scorpio. Uranus is traveling through the third water sign, Pisces. Uranus is also a planet of mind, inventive mind. Together Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces make a grand water trine. Both Mercury and Scorpio, in fact, trined Uranus recently and got a shot of its inventiveness. So we have the development this month of emotional attachment to new ideas and inventions.

Water signs, particularly Cancer, and emotions are connected to patriotism. Patriotism in the U.S. now revolves around the war industries, namely weapons. That which is being nurtured now is new war technology, such as “mini-nukes,” missile defense, and star wars technology, to fight space wars.

I think these weapons will all get a big push during July. Let’s see how public opinion fits into this picture—if it does.

Mars in commanding Leo can help such a process move along. And Chiron in Aquarius, who is associated with both technology and space, is squaring Jupiter, giving that big guy a kick to get going, during much of July.

A shift in the war-weapons scene is shown by the U.S. progressed Mars turning retrograde this month. What kind of a shift? Unknown—this is the first such turn in history. However, I expect that we have seen actions leading up to the change. And what we have seen is a very large focus on weapons and war planning. U.S. progressed Mars has been traveling very slowly for the last few years, and it will be slow for the next few years. It acts with more strength when it is slow. It appears that this process is about the development of the United States as a military-police state.

This U.S. progressed Mars is at 19 Libra, where it has been all year. It conjoins the Iran Pluto, and that connection could be an explosive one. Progressed Mars also opposes the U.S. natal Chiron at 20 Aries, who is our cowboy archetype.

The Full Moon in Capricorn on July 10 is at 19 Capricorn, and Sun then is at 19 Cancer. This axis creates a grand cross with the U.S. progressed Mars at 19 Libra, and the U.S. natal Chiron at 20 Aries. We have a cardinal cross, and cardinal crosses must act. They have goals to rush towards.

Furthermore, this month, Moon goes greatly “out of bounds,” i.e., it orbits outside of the ecliptic (the pathway of the sun and planets). This indicates emotions out of control—“out of bounds.”

Mars at Full Moon is at 23 Leo, about to make an opposition to the U.S. Moon in Aquarius in a few days. This Leo Mars is contra-parallel to Pluto and Neptune, which is something like defying the universe with a chip on your shoulder. It conjoins Bush’s Venus.

Mars continues with its special stimulus on July 14, which is a very big day. There are many well-integrated aspects, which include most of the planets.

One of the important aspects is Mars in Leo opposing Ceres in Aquarius. This is one of the month’s milestones. At that time Great Mother Ceres begins her several-months journey out-of-bounds. In Aquarius, Ceres is literally the mother of invention. Mars will stimulate Ceres’ work. What will she be taking out of bounds? Ceres travels retrograde until October. We will get to see more of this Mars-Ceres action after the New Moon in Scorpio in November, when Mars in Scorpio squares a direct-traveling Ceres, still in Aquarius.

An indicator of deep, permanent change this month is Pluto squaring the Moon’s Nodes for the entire month. Pluto represents extremes, death and destruction, and transformation. At Summer Solstice, the Nodes moved into the Pisces-Virgo polarity, to travel there for the next 18 months. That polarity represents service. It refers to all of those who serve others, from janitors and cooks to healers and teachers. It also represents those who are suffering, and those who are in prison. And not least, it also represents the military and the police.

Pluto squaring these nodes adds an explosive element to the general atmosphere. The nodes represent destiny. We all feel their draw, but they tend to operate at a subconscious level.

The pace and action of our daily lives is apt to slow down in July, at least a bit. But deep change, social change, and subtle changes in the backgrounds of our lives will be strong and lasting.

Family, country, and security will be the major topics of interest.

Note: A VOC Moon period is when the Moon is making no further major planetary aspects before it changes signs. Moon and its aspects are strongly associated with our everyday behavior, and without those aspects to direct our course, we are left much more free to pursue our own ends in our own way. It is like you're driving down the freeway and find the road signs removed for awhile. On the one hand, plans may go awry, you may miss your exit; on the other hand, inner work is greatly favored as those external "instructions" are reduced. Times used are EST, because the overall influences for the United States are centered in Washington DC.		Click on a date to jump to the calendar entry for that day:
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We begin this long weekend with a busy moon in Virgo. For the past few years, Virgo Moon each month comes around to square Pluto in Sagittarius, not a fun transit. Sometimes it manifests as a power struggle with someone, sometimes as an obstacle in front of us, sometimes as just a glum feeling. Fortunately it lasts for only a few hours. However, this monthly transit is exacerbated now by both the Moon’s Nodes and the Eclipse season having moved into Virgo-Pisces. It is also made more acute and unpredictable with Uranus in Pisces, because Moon in Virgo now opposes Uranus in Pisces on the same day it squares Pluto in Sagittarius.

All this is by way of saying that this first day of the Fourth weekend may, at the least, hold irritations. Virgo wants to get things done, and do them right. Both Uranus and Pluto are very willful. They will do what they want, and do not brook opposition gracefully. Doing a difficult service-oriented job, by oneself, could be a successful activity today. Wherever we are, big changes—many unseen—are in progress.

SUNDAY JULY 2

Moon is VOC in Virgo this morning. Yesterday’s feeling of urgency is gone, and we might have a late, lazy morning in bed. At 1:52 p.m. EDT, Moon enters Libra, and it’s time to socialize. We might especially like to be with older people, perhaps our parents. Communication is excellent.

MONDAY JULY 3

First Quarter Moon at 12 Libra occurs at 12:37 p.m. EDT. This is the first quarter of the Cancer Moon Cycle, where we delve into our emotional needs. Libra shows that the first thing we need is a partner. This partner should be someone with wisdom, with stature, and with authority. In the party we can also include somebody young and playful, and someone with special healing ability. In the bargain we might like to connect with the quality of being a good shopper.

This can be a lively, fun day, and it marks a moon phase which promises much potential. Deep healing is possible today.

This Quarter Moon was set in motion by the Solar Eclipse of October 3, 2005. That was when the Senate passed a budget bill which included Arctic drilling, and made big cuts in all social services.

TUESDAY JULY 4

This is an interesting Fourth of July. The morning encourages us to enjoy important things, with others, such as celebrations. At 3:17 p.m. EDT, Moon goes VOC. And while it is wandering aimlessly around—and maybe so are we—Mercury turns retrograde. This timing means that Mercury’s retrograde journey will hold more surprises than usual.

Mercury has just entered Leo, and joined the crowd already there. Now, at only two degrees, it backs off and returns to Cancer. Apparently it needs to clarify its messages before it can deliver them to the royal (Leo) court. And maybe it’s backing away from the ring: Mars in Leo is about to do its hit job on Neptune. This can be a difficult transit. Poking Neptune can bring up weird subconscious impulses, some of them destructive or scary. Drugs and infections can also be stimulated. Oil can certainly be an issue.

Listen to the Sabian Symbol for 2 Leo, where Mercury stations and turns:

“AN EPIDEMIC OF MUMPS. The spreading power of individual crises through a collectivity.”

This is what Neptune does: spreads. It is the universalizing force.

WEDNESDAY JULY 5

Moon travels through Scorpio today, just the right climate for the Mars-Neptune opposition, which is exact at 8:48 a.m. EDT. Early this morning, Moon squares our freshly-direct Mercury, to create a murky atmosphere. The nearly-stationary Mercury is powerful, and ready to convey something, but what? Neptune’s clouds, whether they are made of gossamer or reality, have a ready wind to ride on.

Moon next conjoins Jupiter in Scorpio, who expands what it touches. Jupiter, too, is extra potent, for it will turn direct in a few hours. All five of the main planets, involved now, MOVE things. And four of them are on angles in Washington DC. Angles are where planets manifest most strongly.

Mars, of course, is the big mover. It is on the Ascendant in Washington, pushing things right along. It conjoins GW’s Venus. Vesta, who handles security issues, is right there with Mars. Neptune is on the Descendant, the place of “the other.” With Neptune, it is not at all clear who Mars is opposing, or how. Mars opposing Neptune tends to be deceptive, illusory, or undermining. (So what’s new with the actions of this Administration?)

At any rate, today and tomorrow are days to play it safe and cautious, wherever you are.

Yesterday and today, Sun conjoins the U.S. and Bush suns. This challenging energy marks both solar returns

THURSDAY JULY 6

This day begins very early—maybe you slept very little—and is filled with stellar events. Moon is still in Scorpio, keeping the intensity turned up. The early morning hours are very exciting: Venus squares Uranus to awaken our independence, and let our emotions go off in whatever quirky directions they choose. We might be surprised by ourselves and by the world. And at the same time, Jupiter turns direct at 9 Scorpio, square both Saturn and Chiron. It’s a relief to have Jupiter freed to do its collective work, but at the same time, as it turns, it is caught in that challenging fixed T-cross of this year. The pressure, then, is REALLY on.

As it turns, Jupiter is in the 6th house of the military in Washington. Jupiter itself is an energy of the ruling class, the elite, e.g. presidents, judges, and generals. It also is concerned with the law. Now it is conjoined by Moon, which represents the people. Venus and asteroids are also involved, and this indicates that women are prominent now. Hillary Clinton may be one woman in the news.

Jupiter relates to our beliefs, philosophies. religions, and moral codes. When it turns direct, we tend to look for like-minded groups with whom to share our beliefs. Organizing can move forward. And with Jupiter conjunct Moon, it will.

(The current eclipse focus on Virgo and Pisces will also support organizing of common people during this next year.)

Juno, the archetype of the abused wife, has been prominent for months. One thing she relates to is prisoner abuse. The direct turning of Jupiter may signal, among other things, public opinion developing a moral backbone in regard to U.S. torture of prisoners.

This is a very active day, and an emotional one as well. At 3:54 p.m., Moon goes VOC. However, our revolutionary spirit persists for the entire day and evening.

This is GW Bush’s birthday. Jupiter will be big for him for the next year. Jupiter brings growth and good fortune. It is the planet of “luck.”

FRIDAY JULY 7

Moon enters Sagittarius at 10:14 a.m. EDT, and the entire remainder of the day is about traveling and spreading the word. This promises to be a very pleasant weekend. Both today and tomorrow are exuberant, adventurous days. We will want to be on the go.

SATURDAY JULY 8

The mood is serious this morning, and we feel like getting our chores done. By noon the open road calls, and the rest of the day is to enjoy.

SUNDAY JULY 9

Moon is VOC in Sagittarius for much of the day. Let your spirit wander! At 3:25 p.m., Moon enters Capricorn, and we may become more subdued. However, in counterbalance to the serious feel of Capricorn, tonight Venus trines Neptune, excellent for partying or for entertainment. Venus-Neptune is all about love, romance, and beauty.

MONDAY JULY 10

Full Moon at 19 Capricorn occurs at 11:02 p.m. EDT. Cancer and Capricorn work together very well. Cancer is the nesting sign, and Capricorn provides needed structure and protection. Together they are the ultimate business combination. They are also, not surprisingly, the major polarity in the U.S. chart. The Capricorn Full Moon is often accompanied by a major U.S. governmental event.

Now Vesta, at 19 Leo, is caught up in this Full Moon action. Business is certainly the major theme. Markets are apt to be uncertain. Neptune in Aquarius is also a major player, and Neptune prominently refers to oil. The oil supply, too, is in many ways volatile right now.

Sun now lights on a sensitive degree, the degree of the long-lasting total Solar Eclipse of July 11, 1991, which was visible across much of the Americas. (Yes, its effects linger.) NAFTA was in the making then, and it came into effect two years later.

It was in August 1991 that the abortive coup against Gorbachev was led by Boris Yeltsin. It signaled the end of Gorbachev’s rule, the independence of the Baltic countries, and the beginning of the dominance of Yeltsin. 1991 was also the year of Gulf War I, and its consequences are still occurring.

All of those situations are still very dynamic, and very much in a state of flux.

The New Moon which planted the seeds for this full moon occurred on January 10, 2005. During the Eclipse, and the January 10 New Moon, I was in Mexico with Crystal, both times starting new phases of my roots in Mexico. This July, I expect to be in Mexico a few days before the Full Moon, and I expect to repeat both the 1991 and 2005 experiences on new levels!

In the meantime, there is a presidential election in Mexico. With the revival of the Eclipse degree, there will probably be a change in direction for Mexico. And it will likely relate to a new direction for neoliberalism.

This day moves along well and eagerly towards tonight’s full moon. Capricorn is featured, but there is a feeling of freedom and lightness which generally doesn’t go with Capricorn.

Washington DC is lively. The chart set for Washington has volcanic Pluto on the midheaven, unpredictable Uranus ascending, and Venus at the base, conjoined the U.S. Mars.

The Sabian Symbol for 19 Capricorn is

“A FIVE-YEAR-OLD CHILD CARRYING A BAG FULL OF GROCERIES. Rising to the occasion when asked to assume social responsibilities ahead of one’s normal development. The value of early conditioning in teaching one how to fulfill the responsibilities of everyday life in our modern society. A pattern of ACCELERATED GROWTH can be established, with positive and negative aspects. Rushing ahead of one’s natural development can be damaging, yet we are living in a particularly dynamic period of human development.”

TUESDAY JULY 11

Mercury has backed out of Leo into Cancer today. Mercury in Cancer is emotional, sensitive, defensive, and has a focus on creating security. It is likely that we have fears about financial security. Capricorn Moon is especially sensitive to those fears, and wants to do something to alleviate them. Moon goes VOC at 4:58 p.m. EDT, and an hour later it enters Aquarius.

WEDNESDAY JULY 12

Moon is in Aquarius, and the aspects are easy. We like such activities as talking over ideas and communicating about politics. We feel friendly towards others. This morning is good for work, and for serious thinking. Afternoon and evening promote enjoyment of being outdoors, and of immersion in video or music entertainment.

THURSDAY JULY 13

Get up and out early today. Early morning has some creative and stimulating aspects. But at 10:23 a.m. EDT, Moon goes VOC, and the wind may go out of our sails. Moon is VOC for most of the day, until it enters Pisces at 6:59 p.m. Now we move towards exciting vibrations.

FRIDAY JULY 14

As we sleep, a beautiful, harmonious rectangle is forming in the heavens. I can almost hear its lovely song. We have Venus and Mars marking two corners. These are the inspired pair, the lovers. The other two corners are held by Pluto and Ceres, both retrograde. The Great Mother is wielding her vast creative power, most likely to make repairs in old broken situations. Pisces North Node can draw attention to those who are suffering and incarcerated. Moon occulting Uranus in Pisces today might do that very thing.

Perhaps this energy denotes the Pentagon’s push to dominate space with weapons.

SATURDAY JULY 15

Moon continues in mystical Pisces, and it plays various chords on the heavenly rectangle as it moves along. Yesterday’s events reverberate today. At 3:56 p.m. EDT, Moon trines Mercury, and we can tie up our creative situation. After that, Moon goes VOC for five hours. It enters Aries at 8:37 p.m., and the evening could be lively. With Moon in Aries on a Saturday night, it’s wise to use caution when driving.

SUNDAY JULY 16

Moon in enthusiastic Aries is steadied by a trine with Saturn. This is a perfect aspect for a physical competition which demands focus and endurance. We can be seriously active.

MONDAY JULY 17

Last Quarter Moon at 26 Aries occurs at 3:13 p.m. EDT. Cancer Sun, aiming for security, and Aries Moon, needing fast action, must cooperate. Last Quarter signifies a crisis in consciousness, when we eliminate excess baggage. Cancer does like to cling, and Aries can be a big help with letting go.

Mercury has backed up into Sun now, to begin a new cycle, fortified by a couple of weeks of review. Thanks to Aries Moon, Mercury moves into the next phase ready for action. It may have to overcome outdated security ideas as it begins a new 90-day round.

This is a big day. The planets are working together in magical mode, with most of them interconnected in a variety of ways, centered on Sun and Moon, who always compose the core of energy. We have a grand fire trine, which means unstoppable and exciting action. We have a grand mutable square, which feels nervous. We have additional squares and trines, which provide both challenges and ease of action. We have four Fingers of God (fate). The magic rectangle of the last few days, so good for integrated action, still holds. Besides all this, we have a lovely kite formation, which shows more integration, centered on the Mars-Ceres opposition. In addition, we have a very significant Juno-Neptune opposition.

The key to today’s great enormously integrated activity occurred with the Mars-Neptune opposition on July 5. The signs opposing each other are Leo, the sign of the ruler, and Aquarius, the sign of the democrat.

Again, GW Bush is very involved. In fact, he has a most unique opportunity to reorganize his entire handling of his responsibility as leader of the nation. (It will not necessarily be an improvement.) This Aries moon is on his midheaven, and the squaring Cancer Sun is on his 12th house Saturn. In addition, he is beginning a new solar cycle, as is the nation.

The Sabian Symbol for 26 Aries is

“A MAN POSSESSED OF MORE GIFTS THAN HE CAN HOLD. Obsession by potentiality. This is a symbol of WARNING—a warning against undertaking more than it is as yet safe and sound to attempt.”

TUESDAY JULY 18

Moon today moves through Taurus, and it emphasizes the resource-financial aspect of life. We are apt to feel stresses in that department. However, we can be productive, particularly in the morning.

Very early in the morning, Mercury and Sun have their exact conjunction at 26 Cancer, meeting one another as their paths cross. They also conjoin the U.S. natal Mercury, which signifies the state of mind of the people of the U.S. Because transiting Mercury is retrograde this year when it returns to its home place at 25 Cancer in the U.S. chart, it passes over that spot three times, giving us, the U.S. public, some time to think about what we’re doing in the national interest.

The first U.S. Mercury hit was at Summer Solstice, June 20-21. Subsequently Mercury backed up, and this is the second hit. Mercury will have its final conjunction, moving direct, on August 5. These weeks give us the opportunity for a national process of re-evaluation.

Bush’s Saturn is also at this degree. During these weeks, he gets the opportunity to review his responsibilities to the nation.

With Bush’s natal Saturn conjoined the U.S. natal Mercury, it’s little wonder that the mood of the nation is depressed.

Mercury-Sun today are at the apex of a yod, or Finger of God, a fateful configuration. It includes Pluto in Sagittarius, which represents moral power, and Ceres in Aquarius, which represents the nurturing of individual rights. The outlet is on the U.S. Pluto in Capricorn, which represents the plutocracy. Speaking truth to power may be at stake here.

WEDNESDAY JULY 19

Weighty things may still be on our minds. Mercury is given a practical turn today, and we want to accomplish something. Clarity increases as the day wears on. We are apt to be awake late tonight.

THURSDAY JULY 20

Moon is in lively Gemini, and our nervous systems may be revved up. However, there are no compelling aspects until the early morning hours. This is an excellent day for creative communication.

FRIDAY JULY 21

With Gemini Moon, this day impels thought and talk. Important and deep things may be on our minds. Again, the night may be wakeful.

SATURDAY JULY 22

This morning, true to Gemini’s character, Moon makes a quick change from Gemini to Cancer. This day is very much a changing of the guard. The whole energy field shifts. Besides Moon moving into the introverted, receptive sign of Cancer, we have Mars moving into more cautious Virgo. Sun, however, moves into confident Leo. The King declares himself ruler of his realm, and his subjects are ready to obey him. The planets line up in preparation for the New Moon in Leo on July 24-25.

During this shifting, confused time, Venus in Cancer in the heavens returns to its natal place in the U.S. chart. It begins now a new annual Venus cycle for the U.S. Very timely. Venus refers to our wishes and desires, in general to our national values. Venus now conjoins Moon, the public. Possibly there’s hope for future public input.

SUNDAY JULY 23

Moon is in emotional Cancer, and the water flows abundantly. We can express our feelings freely and eloquently. Relax into the stream of life for the next two days. It’s time to empty ourselves to make room for the influx of the New Moon. We may be very psychic for these next two days.

MONDAY JULY 24

Moon in Cancer conjoins Mercury at 5:07 a.m. EDT. After that, Moon goes VOC for the rest of the day. All we can really do is to give ourselves to the energy. At 8:24 p.m., Moon enters Leo, and we perk up. Next stop is Sun. New Moon occurs just after midnight EDT, and at 9:31 p.m. PDT.

TUESDAY JULY 25

New Moon at 3 Leo occurs at 12:31 a.m. EDT. The closest aspect is a semi-sextile to Mars in Virgo. Mars in Virgo can refer to the military services. With Leo New Moon we begin the year’s Leo moon cycle of taking charge of ourselves. We work at developing our personal command centers. Leo likes to tell others what to do, but the important thing with Leo is to develop one’s will so that one can tell oneself what to do. Centering one’s integrity is the challenge now. We can practice acting in tune with our personal truth—“put our money where our mouth is.”

That may require some finagling. Quincunxes are the most prevalent aspect now, and that means we must make many adjustments. Gone is the harmonious flow of last week.

Sun and Moon are becoming enmeshed in the fixed T-square, and Sun will be feeling that stressful pressure for the rest of the month. Before the next full moon, Leo Sun will take turns opposing Chiron in Aquarius, squaring Jupiter in Scorpio, and conjoining Saturn in Leo. This journey will give us a fine opportunity to develop a new center of personal power before the Aquarius Full Moon in two weeks, which is about sharing ourselves with the collective.

Moon makes that same journey today, to give us a preview of our centering work.

Mercury is nearly stationary, ready to turn direct, sitting at the foundation in Washington DC. The government will propagate another message with this New Moon, likely enhancing the idea of “Commander-in Chief”.

The Sabian Symbol for 3 Leo is

“A MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN, HER LONG HAIR FLOWING OVER HER SHOULDERS AND IN A BRALESS YOUTHFUL GARMENT. The will to meet the challenge of age in terms of our modern society’s glorification of youth. INDEPENDENCE.”

WEDNESDAY JULY 26

Moon continues in dramatic Leo, weaving far-out stories. Romance and intrigue might be on our minds. The grand water trine returns to consciousness. It includes Venus, and we will be feeling really good about someone, perhaps a family member.

THURSDAY JULY 27

Moon is traveling in Virgo, and we return to earth. Moon joins Mars, and they both trine Pallas in Capricorn to make a really savvy group. We are motivated to work hard today, and at the same time we can work smart.

FRIDAY JULY 28

Moon moves right along in Virgo, sign of service. It makes pleasant, productive aspects all day, and we can feel good. There is an undertone of good luck in this day. At 8:40 p.m. EDT, Mercury turns direct, and our thinking can take us into the future.

In Washington DC, Mercury is in the 6th house of the services, underscoring the involvement of the military. Mercury turns direct at 22 Cancer, heading again towards the U.S. Mercury, GW’s Saturn, and its own July 18 conjunction with Sun. 22 Cancer is also the degree of Don Rumsfeld’s Pluto, his power. Mercury will be traversing this well-worn territory through August 6.

There is much to discuss, to inform, and to revamp during these days. The top subject is U.S. “security.” And for each of us, we can look again at what security means to us.

The clues point to the launching of Rumsfeld’s cherished baby, the U.S. Domination of Space, as a major event of this July,

Mercury now sits at the apex of a Finger of God, in which it shoots quincunxes out to Pluto and Ceres. This formation has been in orb ever since Full Moon. Feelings of independence, willfulness, and righteousness are apt to accompany this yod.

Neptune sits on the ascendant in Washington. Nationally, delusions, fantasies, and obsessions have been accompanying Neptune. It looks like they continue to have a grip on the Administration. This dynamic is part of U.S. history (“manifest destiny”). It got a big push in 1980, when transiting Neptune squared U.S. natal Neptune, and opposed U.S. natal Mars. Transiting Neptune was then in the U.S. first house, bringing its dynamic to the fore. It got another big push in 2000, when transiting Pluto crossed the U.S. ascendant and entered the first house, for the first time. Pluto unearths the dark side, and the U.S. people could begin to really look at themselves. So far the Neptunian fog has kept much of that clarity at bay.

The transiting Moon’s North Node at 27 Pisces, ruled by Neptune, now trines Bush’s Saturn. He is getting help in his stated aim of providing security to the world, likely including space. Ceres in Aquarius, so prominent these days, likely denotes space ventures.

SATURDAY JULY 29

Virgo Moon has its monthly square to Pluto’s position in the sky at 9:05 a.m. EDT. Pluto helps us do whatever we feel we have to do, no matter how difficult. If you have something hard to do today, do it early. After nine, Moon goes VOC for the next 12 hours, At 8:27 p.m. Moon enters sociable Libra, and it’s time for lovers.

Sometime during the wee hours, Sun enters the fixed cross territory. As Sun moves along in Leo, there are lots of old tracks to stir up, and August will be a dynamic month.

SUNDAY JULY 30

With Moon in Libra, we want to have a pleasant day. Connecting with friends, with family, with beauty, or with celebrations would all be satisfying. Heart, and soul, expression are important now. A day spent on or beside water would be fulfilling. Sun is opposing Chiron, and we have a need to do that thing which fills our spirit. Healing is in the air. We may be wakeful tonight.

MONDAY JULY 31

This is a long, full, and satisfying day. We juggle many and varied balls. Important things are on our minds. For the entire month, Saturn in Leo has been closing in on a quincunx with Uranus in Pisces. Today, on the last day of the month, Saturn made it! This is quite an adjustment, and we have indeed been wrestling with it all month. Saturn in Leo is asking us to give form and discipline to our personal creativity. Uranus in Pisces wants to do away with all boundaries—let’s be free! They both have fears about the other one spoiling their show. A workable adjustment would be to develop a structure which has room for the freedom of imagination which Uranus requires. Saturn would need to let go of some of its fear of loss of control, and Uranus would have to feel that the reward of creative opportunity is worth the price of putting up with boundaries.