Key Astrological Aspects for July 2007: Nurturing, Health, Communication, the Ego, and Family and Friends

The Astrological events listed below will affect us all, regardless of your sign.

As we enter the month of July, Mercury is still retrograde, but will be stationing direct on July 9th (read below). Use these first few days of July to reevaluate your feelings around anything that is near and dear to your heart (and home). Try to relax, giving yourself some extra time to do those things that nurture you. Gardening, time spent with those you love, enjoying the night sky or just laying in the Sun are all good ways to do this. Enjoy your 4th, however you choose to spend it!

July 9 Mercury stations direct at 2°29’ Cancer until 10/11. I have heard quite a lot about how intense this particular Mercury retrograde has been. The extra emphasis on Cancer can generate strong emotions and increased sensitivity. It seems to have activated the dream state as well. Now the time of Mercury retrograde is ending and so our minds are gearing up for moving forward (instead of inward) again. It is always good to remember that the few days around the station are often chaotic as we shift gears into this forward motion. But for the most part, we are getting green lights once again, which will be primarily affecting the areas of communication. This station may trigger some heart-felt conversations. Be sure to add some sweetness to your tone and to your words. It will go a long way now.

A wonderful way to use this energy is to focus your mind (Mercury) on the feelings and emotions (Cancer) that you bring into your present life, as you move away from your past and/or childhood, as well as things you are ready to leave behind. The combination of the mind and the emotions is strong now and this energy can be helpful in these ways.

On July 24, Mercury reaches what is called its shadow point, which is the degree it went retrograde on 6/15. It is at this time that you will likely feel a surge forward in the areas ruled by Mercury (ideas, information, all communications, mental activity in general).

July 14 is a New Moon 21°41’ Cancer at 5:05 am PDT. This is considered the most fertile lunation of the year. What is planted now, whether in the ground, in our minds, or in our heart, will flourish over time. The key to making this a positive influence is to stay conscious as to what you are planting. Feelings such regret, guilt, envy or sadness will harvest more of the same in the weeks and months to come. Hence, you can make a direct contribution to your own positive future now by planting seeds of hope, abundance, health and joy.

The most exact aspect being made to this NM is a powerful quincunx from Neptune in Aquarius. This may add a rather strange feeling to this day, as Neptune’s energies rule what we feel but cannot see. This combined with the already ultra-sensitivity brought through this NM can create an odd, ungrounded feeling. Neptune energies are an invitation to view what is just outside (or inside) our normal, 3rd dimension view. You may feel the need for some extra nurturing of your Spirit. Time spent in or near water will help to match these frequencies, thus “normalizing” your experience and environment. A warning: if you can, don’t make major decisions today as your intuition, while active, may not be totally right on. Waiting a day or so will bring in greater clarity.

July 14 Venus enters Virgo until 8/8. Venus is slowing down as it gets ready to make its bi-annual station (once every two years). On July 27 (see below) it will make this station. But for now, all things Venus are moving slowly, which can be a good thing. The good part is that you will get some extra time and energy to take better care of yourself during these 3 weeks that Venus is in the health-oriented sign of Virgo. This is a great time to eat well, get plenty of sleep and adjust your daily schedule to include your favorite type of exercise. We will get another round of Venus in the sign of Virgo later this year (10/7 to 11/7). So this is an early chance to enjoy the focus it brings to all concerns related to health. One more thing, Virgo always asks us to do those things that are natural, pure, basic and simple. Those things most elaborate are generally not necessary in choosing better health routines.

July 22 Sun enters Leo at10:00 pm PDT. We will be putting up Leo MTT up around 7/20. So check back soon and we will have this information for you.

July 24 Mars squares Neptune retrograde at 21°10’ Taurus/Aquarius. This aspect can really mess with our physical energy. Mars, the planet of get-up-and-go is being trumped now by Neptune, the planet that generates inner activity, such as the creative process, but not physical. So the challenge now is to stay focused on the things that must be done, do them in a simple, non-complex way and then get rest as needed.

Also, these two energies squaring off can in some way deflate our ego. And may, in fact, be that you are needing to find a new level of confidence, but know that it will be an inner process, not an outer experience. Now you need to rest in the knowing that you did a particular task to your own standards, not someone else’s. Just accept that you most likely will not get kudos from others now. One exception would be if you truly were not looking or asking for it, as it may come to you like a butterfly to your garden. A word of caution—try not let your self worth take a direct hit—this to shall pass. This influence should last only a few days before and after this square.

July 27 Venus stations retrograde at 2°57’ Virgo until 9/8. While Venus is retrograde you may find yourself re-evaluating your relationships or love interest. From now until 8/8, it will be in Virgo and while there, some questions that may arise are: Is this relationship really working for me? Does he/she support me on a day-to-day basis? Why does this relationship keep interfering with my regimes and plans? The more practical and basic issues are up now. If these queries become bigger issues that must be dealt with, you might want to consider seeking some outside mediation or counseling.

If you are not in a relationship, this is an opportunity to look at them from a more detached and analytical point of view. Ask yourself if now even is the right time for you to concern yourself with, or enter, a personal relationship. Perhaps work or being of service can fulfill your desire to be needed.

Caring for others is a theme of this time in general. Also, taking care of some health concern may be needed now. Simplify your life and daily regimes can be of great benefit now.

Once Venus goes retrograde back into Leo (on 8/8) a whole other set of questions and issues arise for us to consider. [We will discuss more about this placement in next month’s AstroCurrents]. For now, try to remain detached, neutral and somewhat analytical.

July 29 is a Full Moon at 6°31’ Leo/Aquarius at 5:48pm PDT.

This FM places a strong emphasis on friends (or family or co-workers that you call your friends!) and the role they play in your life. Keep in mind that they can provide you with a different perspective that may be needed now. The urge is strong to break free of something that has been hampering you in some way. However, with a strong Mars/Saturn square, being too forceful is likely to backfire. Strong energies are at work. Take in the advice, but wait a bit to act on it. KEYS to best use these energies are to rely on your intuition to guide you through these few days. (A Mercury/Uranus trine will help). And look for what is unusual and different to add some intrigue and insights! It is time to move on.

July 31 Mars squares Saturn at 25°53’ Taurus/Leo. This is a tricky square as it can force some issue to the surface that simply must be dealt with. (And if you are being honest with yourself, you most likely knew it was brewing.) In this challenge, Mars represents our personal will and Saturn represents the established way. It is easy to be stubborn and resistant to another’s point of view during these few days. And since we are also under the influence of the Full Moon, which brings our friends, and others we interact with in our day-to-day life, into the mix, it could be that an “me vs. everyone else” thing occurs. Overall, you may be feeling as though the good of the many is more important than the good of the one (you). It is important now to force yourself to take a step back and see if, in fact, whatever is “in your face” is something to look at. Your personal will may be getting in the way of a better one.

Be sure and read previous issues of AstroCurrents because there are still many influences still in affect this month which began in previous months.

• June 5th Venus enters Leo until 7/14.
• June 24th Mars enters Taurus until 8/6.
• June 23rd Uranus stations retrograde at 18°42’ Pisces until 11/24.
• May 28th Mercury enters Cancer until 8/4.
• May 24th Neptune stations retrograde until 10/31.
• April 19th Saturn stations direct in Leo until 12/19.
• April 5th Jupiter stations retrograde until August 8th.
• March 31st, Pluto SR at 28°58’ Sag until 9/7.
• November 23rd. 2006 Jupiter enters Sagittarius until 12/18/07.
• July 16, 2005 Saturn enters Leo until September 2nd, 2007.

To refer back to past issues, click > Read Previous AstroCurrents

Looking ahead to August, here are some of the events I will discuss in next month’s AstroCurrents (be sure to send me an email if you would like to be notified as when the new AstroCurrents is up):

• August 4 Mercury enters Leo until 8/19
• August 6 Saturn trines Pluto at 26°34’ Leo/Sagittarius
• August 6 Jupiter stations direct at 9°56’ Sagittarius until 5/9/08
• August 6 (late) Mars enters Gemini until 9/28
• August 8 Venus, while retrograde, re-enters Leo until 10/7 (late)
• August 12-13 Perseids Meteor Shower (50 per hour-should be very viewable)
• August 12 is a New Moon 19°51’ Leo at 4:02 pm PDT
• August 19 Mercury enters Virgo until 9/5
• August 23 Sun enters Virgo at 5:07 am PDT
• August 23 Mars opposite Jupiter 10?21’ Gemini/Sagittarius
• August 28 is a Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse at 4°46 Leo/Aquarius at 5:48pm PDT

For more information about Mt. Shasta, California, astrologer Elizabeth Jones, visit her web site at www.starpathways.com, or you can easily reach her at ejones@starpathways.com. Her phone number is 530-926-1999.