Frank Martin Don LLC - Professional Intuitive & Astrological Consultant

According to an intractable law of the universe that seems to hold true for every Mercury retrograde, Murphy’s Law states: ‘whatever can go wrong will’.

As we start July, we are two weeks into the three-week cycle of this Mercury retrograde. Can we say that Murphy’s Law has been playing out? I could certainly say so, both in regard to my personal experiences and those I hear from other people. When Mercury is retrograde, communications can be off, misunderstandings likely, and we may have problems with our cars, our computers and others forms of communication and transportation. I have recounted recently my situation with E-mails from the contact page of my website, learning from someone and validating for myself that E-mails sent to me never came my way but ended somewhere out there in a cyber void or are somewhere in process but never reached the intended recipient of me. I have also had difficulties with my voicemail, with voicemails missing from people who say they left messages but also the typical Mercury retrograde of someone who left a message but forgot to leave their callback number, leaving me with no way to reply to their message. For my wife, her transportation difficulties came in the form of air travel where upon boarding the plane, she found her assigned seat, sat down as other passengers made their way down the aisle until one passenger stopped and threw up on my wife and more directly on the passenger seated behind my wife. Five meetings she was supposed to have on her trip never panned out.
I have also heard of car problems from accidents to stalls. And communications! Aaaarrrggh! The level of miscommunications and misunderstandings has been extreme to say the least.

Although we begin July with Mercury retrograde, Mercury does turn direct on the 9th of the month, while its ‘shadow’ persists through the 24th.

I’m not a “lock the door, shutter the windows” kind of guy. There are times when we have to put up with certain difficult energies. While I would try and avoid definitive, long-tern decisions to be made prior to the 9th and preferably after the 24th, there are times when we have to do what we have to do, and according to someone else’s schedule.

If we do have to make significant decisions now, let’s be certain to dot the I’s and cfross the t’s. It might also be wise that we have someone play the devil’s advocate and give us all the reasons we should not go ahead with our plans and what our possible liabilities might be.

July starts with four planets in Fire Signs, two planets in Earth Signs, one planet in an Air Sign and three planets in Water Signs.
Three planets are in Cardinal Signs, four planets are in Fixed Signs and three planets are in Mutable Signs. Five planets are in Positive Signs, five planets are in Negative Signs.

By Sign, there is a T-Square in the Fixed Signs, with Mars in Taurus squaring Neptune in Aquarius and squaring both Venus and Saturn in Leo. We also start the month feeling the influence of the Saturn Neptune opposition which has been affecting us since last Autumn, and continues to impact with a lessening effect.

As we we begin July, we have just come off the Capricorn Full Moon, at which time Venus was exactly opposing Neptune. On the 1st of July, Venus is exactly conjunct Saturn.

We are continuing the dance in regard to appearance versus reality, fact versus fiction. Many of these issues can come up in regard to our relationships. We could easily be impressed by someone and assume that first impressions provide the be all and end all of that individual’s character and personality. Wrong-O. If we go there, we might wind up doing the dance with a trickster, someone appearing one way, their reality being totally different. Now is a time to go slow in matters of the heart and in regard to our interactions with other people. Now is not a time to give anyone the benefit of the doubt but rather to maintain healthy skepticism regarding their integrity, their character and their abilities.

Not only do we start the month with Venus conjunct Saturn but retrograde Mercury in Cancer sextiles Mars in Taurus. The month begins with family gatherings, plans for reunions and consideration of how we can get the most bang for our buck as we consider our summer vacation plans. Many of us may be looking to get off the track as we begin this month, whether we take a vacation now or just add on a day or two to have some extended time off.

The weekend of the 7th – 8th can be a splendid time. We may be feeling energetic and upbeat and wanting to grab the ‘gusto’ in life, embrace abundance in living. Venus trines Pluto on the 8th and we can find that our relationships are deeper, passionate and more meaningful.

On the 9th, Mercury turns direct, although its shadow persists through the 24th. We are better able to express ourselves than we have been the past three weeks. Miscommunications and misunderstandings can now be sorted out. If we have made our plans, now is the time to implement them. We may find ourselves focusing on home renovation projects and dealing with family matters.

On the 11th, the Sun trines Uranus. We may consider how best to streamline our lives. Perhaps we’re considering an iPhone or buying the necessary software for our laptops to make our lives easier. We don’t want to be bogged down. Instead, we want to be able to have time to do things spontaneously, impulsively and on the spur-of-the-moment.

On the 14th, there is the Cancer New Moon with the Sun Moon conjunction trine Uranus. Change is in the air and we want to engage it. Any thing, and everything, to allow us to have the sense of self-determination, whereby we’re in control of our lives, can make the choices we want to make and are not feeling betoken to anyone or to anything. Even if we stretch our wings just a little bit, the sense of stretch, exploration and testing new waters will be important for us to feel and to experience. Venus moves into Virgo on the 14th. We have to avoid becoming hypercritical, seeking perfection in an imperfect world, holding people up to high standards that are largely unattainable. Our evaluations of others may find them wanting, but we have to ask ourselves whether seeing the flaws in others only gives us license to free ourselves up from our commitments and responsibilities, emphasize our own interests and focus solely on our own thing.

On the 20th, Mars sextiles Uranus. We may be looking at making a personal makeover, adding a little spice to our wardrobe, enlivening our home environment. The more we can add touches of change to our lives, the less resentful we’ll be that things aren’t moving fast enough or faster than time would allow for. It would be a good time for us to work with peripheral vision and consider our options and our alternatives. Something may strike our fancy and call us to take steps in new directions.

The Sun moves into its own Sign of Leo on the 22nd – 23rd. With the height of Summer upon us, we’re looking for fun, recreational activities and pleasurable pursuits. We may feel as though we’ve gotten a second wind, but we do need to be careful how we proceed.

While the end of June had Venus opposed Neptune, we began the month of July with Venus conjunct Saturn. This Saturn opposition Neptune configuration is once again engaged during the latter part of July, as Mars squares Neptune on the 24th and then Mars squares Saturn to end the month on the 31st. With the thrust of energy we might feel by the Sun entering Leo on the 22nd – 23rd, we have to watch where and how we place our energy, since Mars squares Neptune on the 24th. We are involved in a Fixed Sign T-Square, the one we began the month with but now in exact aspect as Mars squares Neptune and later squares Saturn. We need to be careful in how we expend our energy. Ill-considered actions could lay us low, either wiping us out energetically or triggering muscle sprains or accidents.

Venus turns retrograde on the 27th. We might become more detached in our relationships, less available as we weigh the pros and cons of our interactions. We might want others to follow our lead but if we’re too demanding we could find ourselves leading a parade of one, ourselves.

On the 28th, Mercury trines Uranus. Our insights can be like the floodgates opening. We can easily figure out the best way to handle situations in an effective and expeditious manner. We might get an ‘Eureka’ moment where flashes of genius show themselves. We could hear from people we haven’t heard from in a while. There can be some wonderful surprises, startling possibilities that make themselves known to us.

The Aquarius Full Moon on the 29th presents the question of balance between our own personal, self-interests and those interests of our friends and other contacts. Everyone may want to be in the spotlight and the sense of consideration for other people may be lacking. One thing for us to avoid is drawing lines in the sand. People may not be cutting enough slack for each other. Attitudes could turn belligerent even to the point of verbal or physical confrontation.

The month ends with the Mars square Saturn. As I wrote above, we’re back in the Fixed Sign T-Square with Mars in Taurus being the trigger point between the Saturn Neptune opposition. Let’s try to slow things down, not act rashly and maintain a cautious but focused pace.

This July can be a lot of fun if we don’t have high expectations and provide ourselves enough time and a laid-back attitude to deal with any situations that could become convoluted.

July… hot fun in the summer sun…

This week can be a week when family matters seem to be a strong focal point for us. We may have family get-togethers with all their mixed blessings or might feel the obligation to include people into our social plans out of commitment rather than desire. We could be reconnecting with people from our past. While we might be doing a walk down Memory Lane, we should also consider stretching beyond normal routine and habit patterns.

Let’s remember that variety is the spice of life, and this week we might feel the need to spice things up.

Although much of the week could have us feeling antsy, up then down, wanting to break free of our responsibilities, the weekend offers us a far more expansive and free-flowing energy. Even relationship issues can be straightened out over the weekend. Venus trines Pluto and we have a great deal of Fire. We’re not looking at compromising but we are willing to accommodate. We’re coming from greater strength and looking for passionate and deep experiences in our relationships.

Monday, July 2nd – Going for Broke – Mars, Jupiter. Monday has the Aquarius Moon square Mars and sextile Jupiter. We may be looking at reinventing ourselves today. We want to stretch and move in new directions and beyond our usual parameters. Where a problem arises could be in the expense to get there. We need to keep a tight rein on our finances today, for otherwise we could find ourselves overspending, taking a dollar and betting it on a dream that could prove to be a long shot. This Monday is a good day to do something different, do something that is a change from our normal routine. If we don’t find something exciting to do, we could become frustrated and look to break free. This day could prove a day of extremes. We have to be certain we have the resources and the energy before we plunge ahead into anything new. If we become fixated or obsessed by something, it could make us decide to go for broke. Why go there? Let’s enjoy the day without lunging into excess.

Tuesday, July 3rd – the Push Pulls between Reality and Illusion – Neptune, Saturn, Venus. Here we go again doing the dance with the Saturn Neptune opposition. Today the Aquarian Moon conjuncts Neptune and opposes both Saturn and Venus in Leo. While it would be wise to have eyes in the back of our head today, even those eyes might be wearing rose-colored glasses. We are liable to see what we want to see, hear what we want to hear, and hope that everything works out in the end. Unfortunately, we could easily fall into wish fulfillment. We could go through real whipsaws today, building castles in the air only to have our hopes dashed. We need to take everything with a grain of salt today, suspend judgment and not allow ourselves to have too high expectations. If we could balance things out, then we could take a methodical approach and create the structured means by which we can, eventually, realize our dreams.

Wednesday, July 4th – Country, Home, and Family – Pluto, Mercury, Mars. Wednesday is Independence Day in the US, celebrating the 4th of July and the birth of our nation. This day starts with the Moon in Aquarius sextile Pluto. The Moon then moves into Pisces where it trines Mercury and sextiles Mars. We could find ourselves traveling, whether physically, verbally on the phone, or in our thoughts of distant lands. Some people may have the day off and choose to spend it with family and friends at a picnic, cookout or barbecue. Fun activities can highlight this day. People are likely to feel upbeat and looking to put a pleasing spin on the day’s events. This day highlights the lazy, hazy days of Summer and in some parts this day seems to be the peak of the summertime. Let’s enjoy the day, celebrate our good fortune and take time to catch our breath and participate in the holiday events.

Thursday, July 5th – Going Beyond – Jupiter, Sun, Uranus. Thursday has the Pisces Moon square Jupiter, trine the Sun and conjunct Uranus. No matter what our plans for this day might be we have to be ready to ‘expect the unexpected’. We may have more on our activity list than we had planned for. Some of our plans may go awry, and surprising situations could develop. This is a day to keep in mind the idea that ‘god and the universal forces have a far better plan for us than we could ever imagine for ourselves’. The more we can be open to possibilities, the more the magic and wonder of these times are likely to manifest. We do have to watch for going overboard on anything. Our emotions can be strong today and our tendency could move towards excess. Let’s work with peripheral vision, keep our antennae up and be receptive to wonderful surprises.

Friday, July 6th – It Better Be Friday – Pluto, Mercury. Friday has the Pisces Moon square Pluto early in the day and then the Moon moves into Aries where it squares Mercury. People may be on edge today. This Friday could be intense. If we have to do certain things, we could easily become resistant and resentful. We’d rather be off somewhere, but even if we are off somewhere we still have to be careful that people’s expectations don’t cramp our style. At any moment, things can shift on a dime. Even the most placid situation and the most innocuous conversation can switch from peace and serenity into anger and ventings. Friday is a day to get off the track, even if we have a tight and full schedule. We all need a breather today and certainly need to avoid any knee-jerk reactions, shooting from the lip or immediate responses. Let’s cool our jets and count to ten before we launch into any aggressive, even antagonistic, response.

Saturday, July 7th – Spreading our Wings – Jupiter, Sun, Neptune. Saturday’s Aries Moon trines Jupiter, squares the Sun and sextiles Neptune. Today is a great day to get out of Dodge. Whether we’re taking a day trip or out on holiday, Saturday is a good day to get away from it all. We may have pressures from family members today. Some people might find us a little too self-focused. No matter, that’s what this day seems to be about. We can get together with good friends, enjoy some sporting events and just use this Saturday as a lazy, hazy day of Summer. The home projects can wait.

Sunday, July 8th – Lovely Day, Lovely Day – Venus, Pluto, Lunar Grand Trine, Saturn, Mercury. Sunday is the pick of the litter. This day is the best of the week and a very primo day in deed. Today we have Venus trine Pluto. Our relationships are deep and meaningful. We truly appreciate the people who are in our lives. The Venus Pluto trine is lit up even more so by the Fire Grand Trine with the Aries Moon trine Pluto in Sagittarius and trine both Venus and Saturn in Leo. The Moon also sextiles Mercury. Whatever is in our game book for today, this day stands out as a ‘10’. There seem to be very few issues, except possibly for the stationary Mercury about to turn direct tomorrow. We may have traffic problems, delays, and issues with our communications and our movement, but who cares? A day like today doesn’t come along all that often. Today is a day for major relaxation and re-creation. Everyone is at the top of their game and feeling their oats. But no one seems to be stepping on each other’s toes, or don’t have to. Heart to heart talks can get to the very heart of a matter. More than one pronouncement of love and passion is likely on this day. This day is better than St. Valentine’s Day. Tell someone you care.

This week has Mercury turning direct. We may ‘find’ our tongue, better able to express our feelings. We might also consider making changes to our home.

Change is in the air, and we want to embrace it. Whether we have summer renovation projects or decide to move things around, we may want to streamline our living space and make our life easier.

While delays could prevent us from wiping the slate clean and starting with a totally new game plan, we will need to see movement and not feel bogged down. We are far more interested in juggling several different things than merely focusing on one situation.

This may also be the week when we decide on a personal makeover, sprucing up our image, trying on a different style. We want to be free, we want to be ‘me’.

Not that we are going to turn into a ‘rebel without a cause’. The Cancer New Moon on the weekend that trines Uranus has a new measure of earthiness as Venus enters the Earth Sign of Virgo.

We can have our head in the clouds and our feet planted on the ground. We can incorporate changes without disrupting everything in our lives.

This is a week to build the suspension bridge between the old and the new. Let’s deal with bills and financial obligations so that we can have breathing room to look at our options and consider exciting new alternatives.

Monday, July 9th – Able to Breathe Again – Mars, Sun, Uranus, Mercury direct. Monday starts the week with the Taurus Moon conjunct Mars, sextile the Sun and sextile Uranus. We might want to spruce up our home, add some interesting touches to our environment and even go wardrobe shopping. A personal makeover may be in order, but we do have to watch that we’re computing our expenses and considering our budget. There could be a tendency for us to act on the spur-of-the-moment without giving thought to the consequences of our actions. Today Mercury turns direct after its three-week retrograde cycle. Can I hear an ‘amen’? This Mercury retrograde has been a beaut. Talk about miscommunications and misunderstandings! More than one person, and myself included, experienced planned meetings canceled, travel itineraries delayed and disrupted, and computer glitches galore. Whatever changes we initiated during these past three weeks, we might want to rethink. We haven’t been clear-headed and our only planet transiting the Earth Element has been Mars in Taurus, a Sign of its Detriment where Mars is not comfortable. And Mars has been in Taurus only as of the 24th of last month. Some of our decisions may have been rash, wanting to break a logjam of the blockages, delays and frustrations, but moving impetuously ahead without planning or taking into account possible consequences. With Mercury turning direct, and in spite of our being in its shadow for another two weeks, we may feel as though we can breathe easier.

Tuesday, July 10th – Squish, Squash – Lunar T-Square, Neptune, Saturn, Venus. Tuesday has us back in the thick of the Fixed Sign T-Square replete with the influence of the Saturn Neptune opposition that has cast a large question mark over whether we are dealing in reality or embracing illusion. Yes, the games continue, thanks to the Taurus Moon squaring Neptune in Aquarius and squaring both Venus and Saturn in Leo. If we are looking at a significant purchase, let’s be certain that we’ve not merely read the promotional material but that we’ve thoroughly checked out the item we intend to purchase. Today is one of those days when money could somehow be slipping through the fingers and going down the drain. Things might take longer than we like, and we may even be trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Delays and frustrations can be part of today’s makeup. Let’s just grin and bear it, instead of getting vexed and frustrated. One of the key prescriptions for today is to keep in mind the idea of focusing on the essentials and the fundamentals and not get carried away by the images and appearance. We can do more with less, but we’ll have to keep that in mind to avoid getting carried away.

Wednesday, July 11th – New Days, New Ways – Sun, Uranus, Lunar T-Square, Jupiter. Wednesday is a Master Day in Numerology, the day of the Visionary. And that’s exactly where we might want to be on this Wednesday. With the Sun trine Uranus, we’re looking at freeing ourselves up, embracing our uniqueness and expressing our individuality. If we take into account possibilities beyond our normal scope of affairs, we might come up with some interesting prospects for our future. We may be champing at the bit to make changes. We want things to be different. We want our lives to be more streamlined and less chock-a-block with daily responsibilities. The first area where we could actually initiate changes would be in our living environment. Today is a good day to get rid of the clutter, to go through our things and see what we can get rid of. It is important that we keep in mind the old saying that the cup has to be emptied before it can be filled. Wednesday also has another Lunar T-Square. Instead of yesterday’s Lunar T-Square in Fixed Signs, today we have the Moon in Gemini creating a Lunar T-Square in Mutable Signs as the Moon opposes Jupiter in Sagittarius and squares Uranus in Pisces. We might entertain a wide assortment of possibilities today. It would be far better for us to test the waters, take a taste of things rather than diving headlong into heavy-duty commitments or long-term obligations. Today is a day to explore, discover and add something new to our daily routine.

Thursday, July 12th – Searching Out Possibilities – Neptune, Saturn, Pluto, Venus, Mercury. Thursday continues yesterday’s day of self-discovery. The Gemini Moon today trines Neptune, sextiles Saturn, opposes Pluto and sextiles Venus. Later in the day, the Moon moves into Cancer where it conjuncts Mercury. We are interested in broadening our perspective, considering all possibilities. They have to speak to us, allow us a sense of creative self-expression and provide a sense of uplift and fun if we are to go there. Today could have an element of push – pull, whereby we bring new things to us, all the while that we may discard things, people and situations that don’t work for us. We have the ability to separate the chaff from the wheat today. In our explorations, we only want those things that give us a sense of meaning, a sense of purpose. We want fun and to feel that we’re contributing to a better way of life for ourselves. Later in the day, Mercury moves into Cancer where it conjuncts Mercury. Our thoughts turn to our home environment, our family and preparation for a weekend of Summer’s pleasurable activities.

Friday, July 13th – Home Again – Mars. Friday is Friday the 13th. Even those people that have a fear of 13, the number of transformation, may find this day not to be all that frightening. Today the Cancer Moon sextiles Mars. We may be doing home projects or picking up the supplies for home fix-ups over the weekend. As 13 is the number of transformation, we may be looking at making changes to our home, to our wardrobe, to a personal makeover. A special night out on the back deck or on the porch can give us some needed rest in preparation of tomorrow’s New Moon. Remember that we are in the dark of the Moon, in preparation for the initiations that come with tomorrow’s New Moon in Cancer.

Saturday, July 14th – Starting Over – Cancer New Moon, Sun, Uranus, Moon Void-of-Course, Venus Virgo. Saturday has the Cancer New Moon, the first New Moon and the one resonant with the season since we started Summer. This New Moon trines Uranus, reinforcing our desire to make changes and streamline our lives. One of the beauties of these times is the synchronicity of things coming out of the blue. If we get out of our own way, be open and receptive to surprising changes; then we can step onto the bus of the Magical Mystery Tour, where magic and miracles occur. Today is a day for us to spread our wings and recognize that we can start anew. No matter what our responsibilities, our past patterns or our intended goals; the more we can adapt and be flexible, the more the universe can provide some exciting and interesting situations for us to get involved with. Whenever we are on the threshold of significant change, we often find that the energy of impulsion either gets stuck or falls away. After the Cancer New Moon, the Moon goes Void-of-Course fourteen and a half hours, making no further aspects to the planets until it finishes its transit of Cancer and moves into Leo. We may start the day with a thrust of energy, only to feel it die down and become virtually stagnant. No worries. Life is sometimes like that. We start something and then suddenly it goes still, but in that stillness life is percolating, transforming, ready to shapeshift and then move into action. This Saturday is like that. We also have Venus exiting Leo and entering Virgo. We may start to overly critique our relationships and interactions with others, seeing their flaws or their issues rather than enjoying their uniqueness.

Sunday, July 15th – Out and About – Jupiter. Sunday gives us the Leo Moon trine Jupiter in Sagittarius. We’re likely to feel upbeat and may want to get out of Dodge, even for a short drive, a hike in the woods or just moving beyond our usual parameters. Sports activities and pleasurable pursuits can be fun today. We could be out and about, enjoying the sunshine of our lives. Today is a good day to relax, en joy and re-create.

We may start this week champing at the bit, wanting to get on with things but wondering in what direction to go towards. We may see a broad spectrum of possibilities for ourselves. We’re looking to expand our reach and widen our scope. Although we may try to rush forward, a rash of outstanding situations could stand in the way of our progress. Delays may be a positive braking action, preventing us from lurching ahead without due consideration.

Early in the week, it would be wise to entertain potentials without fully engaging them. As the week progresses, we can whittle down some of our prospects to an interesting few. We could become more detail-oriented in the mid-part of the week, more analytical and focused on what would truly work for us.

Towards the end of the week, Mars sextiles Uranus. We can work smarter rather than harder. We might discover new means by which to increase our revenue stream. We may stretch our wings, become aware of unexpected matters that may be more in tune with where we want to go.

The weekend allows for some pleasant social interactions, as long as we don’t hold high expectations or get overly critical. The more we allow other people to be themselves, the more we’ll feel able to express our own uniqueness.

This week offers lessons in getting out of our own way, being open to unanticipated opportunities and timing being everything.

Monday, July 16th – Champing at the Bit – Lunar T-Square, Mars, Neptune, Saturn, Pluto. Monday starts the week with our recent nemesis of the Saturn Neptune opposition operational. Are we dealing in reality or suffering from illusions? That is the primary question on this Monday as the Leo Moon creates a Fixed Sign T-Square by the Moon conjunct Saturn opposing Neptune and squaring Mars. Unless we are very careful with our finances today, we could make some impulse purchases and rash decisions. We might want what we want but we could easily skip over considering the specifics, the details, the particulars. From our enhanced ego, we may buy into the appearance without evaluating the substance. People could be a little grandiose today, extravagant and even wasteful. If things don’t happen as fast as we would like, we could try and force them and then our efforts might prove for naught. Delays and frustrations can be an important restraining force, demanding that we take a second or third look at a situation before rushing headlong into an abyss. The Leo Moon also trines Pluto. By taking our time, maintaining patience, we could also judge what is truly important for us and what is only a momentary enticement.

Tuesday, July 17th – Well Considered Plans – Venus, Mercury. If we didn’t make precipitous actions yesterday, this Tuesday could prove a useful day in critiquing and evaluating our plans. Tuesday gives us a Virgo Moon conjunct Venus and sextile Mercury. We have the ability to look at the details and see whether a situation truly works for us or not. Although we might be overly critical in our evaluations, especially of friends and our interactions with others, we are less likely to be fooled today compared to yesterday. Today, we can see the specifics and not be bowled over by the images and appearances. We have a healthy skepticism today, an important characteristic during these times when we want to get on with things and yet could easily skip over a concentrated evaluation by merely accepting things at face value. The Moon and Mercury are in Mutual Reception, the Moon being in the Sign ruled by Mercury and Mercury in the Sign ruled by the Moon. We have a good blend of compassionate sensitivity and steeled analysis. We can see things in their proper perspective, put things in their appropriate place and still come out with a pleasing image backed up by well-considered scrutiny.

Wednesday, July 18th – Here, There and Everywhere – Lunar T-Square, Jupiter, Uranus, Mars. Have you noticed the pattern whereby we go from a Fixed Sign T-Square to a Mutable Sign T-Square in the space of one or two days? With Saturn and Neptune in Fixed Signs, and Jupiter and Uranus in Mutable Signs, this movement from the Fixed Sign T-Square to the Mutable Sign T-Square has been in operation since this past November and continues on into the late Summer. Monday gave us the Fixed Sign T-Square. Today, Wednesday, gives us the Mutable Sign T-Square as the Moon in Virgo squares Jupiter and opposes Uranus. From a sense of delays, frustrations and blockages that we often experience with the Fixed Sign T-Square, we come to the diverse, spread all over and high frenetic energy of the Mutable Sign T-Square. It’s as though rushing waters have been held back by a levee or a dam and then finally break through to spread across the countryside downstream. For us, we have to watch for being helter skelter, jumping from one thing to another, our focus taken by whatever grabs our attention. The Moon does trine Mars today. If we can restrain this high energy, even high anxiety, tendency, then we could accomplish a lot. The main issue today is to maintain discipline, have a schedule and a checklist and watch for being diverted or distracted from our intentions. We can certainly juggle a good number of things today, keep various balls in the air and go from one thing to another without dropping a stitch. The key elements are to work in spurts of energy, shortened time cycles and allow ourselves momentary diversions without being pulled completely off our track.

Thursday, July 19th – The Importance of Now – Sun, Pluto. Thursday has the Virgo Moon sextile the Sun and square Pluto. We may feel far more integrated today than usual. We can attend to our family matters and our household chores, even to the point of stripping away the nonessentials and focusing on the most important aspects of our life. We can be detail-oriented today, sifting through things and figuring out what truly works for us and what are superfluous and no longer relevant. We may feel ourselves very much in the moment. We might want to spread our wings and go off to far distant horizons, but it would be better for us to use the energies attending to things closer to home. Our moods can go through some wild swings today. We want to be impassioned by life. Often, we have to take care of mundane situations before we can launch off into a new realm. Thursday is a day to focus on the mundane, deal with the here and now, and put on the back burner ideas of expansions and thoughts of new arenas.

Friday, July 20th – A Bargain, a Steal, a Real Deal – Mars, Uranus, Mercury, Jupiter. Friday has Mars sextile Uranus. We can work smarter rather than harder. Today is one of those days when we can find the short cuts, streamline our operations, and get more done in a shorter period of time than might be usual for us. The more we consider alternatives and our options, the more effective we shall be leaving some additional time to do things on the spur-of-the-moment, and being totally spontaneous. The Libra Moon squares Mercury and sextiles Jupiter. Although we may have certain family obligations and home matters calling to us, we are far more interested in spreading our wings, enjoying the company of others and considering all possibilities. We don’t want to be hemmed in today and we might discover some interesting surprises opening up to us if we will keep our eyes open and work with peripheral vision. There could be a certain magic to this day, so let’s not overly schedule ourselves or fill up every moment. Let’s be ready to take advantage of any opportunities that come from out of the blue.

Saturday, July 21st – Let’s Get Together – Neptune, Saturn, Pluto. Saturday has the Libra Moon trine Neptune, sextile Saturn and sextile Pluto. Today is a day when we might want to get together with friends or take that special someone for a fun-filled day out of town. We’re looking to enjoy ourselves today but we don’t want to go it alone. Whether we travel solo, with someone else or in a group, we could make some interesting contacts along the way. ‘The more the merrier’ could be our refrain as we go in search of good times with good friends. How very Muppet of us! Yes, this Saturday is a great day to enjoy life, relax and participate in pleasurable events.

Sunday, July 22nd – Focusing our Intentions – Sun, Venus. Sunday could be a no-nonsense day. We may have had our fun yesterday but today is a day to get serious and focus our intentions. The early morning hours has the last of the Libra Moon which squares the Sun. Our sleep state could prove a little restless. We might have a lot on our mind thinking about our past, those people associated with our past and some of our concerns about home and family matters. As we awaken, we have a Scorpio Moon and the Moon sextiles Venus. We may awaken in a mood of looking to cut away the dross from our lives --- those people and situations that may have proven to be either hangers-on or significant in our past and out of synch with our present. We can do an inventory today, consider those people and situations that are truly meaningful for us and those situations and people that are solely a distraction, irritation and take up our time. Sunday is a good day to get real with ourselves and evaluate our projects, our activities and our involvements with the intention of getting rid of the extraneous.

This week gives us the Sun entering its own Sign of Leo. We’re looking for fun, engaging in recreational activities and embracing the height of summer activities.

While we might feel a burst of energy, we have to watch for accidents or missteps this week. Mars squares Neptune early in the week and then Mars squares Saturn at the end of the month. Although we may be feeling energetic, we also need to be careful. Ill-considered actions could lay us low, either wiping us out energetically or triggering muscle sprains or accidents. Mars creates a T-Square in the Fixed Signs, which could put us between a rock and a hard place.

With Venus turning retrograde as we approach the weekend and the Aquarius Full Moon, relationship issues could surface. Everyone may want to be in the spotlight and the sense of consideration for other people might be lacking. One thing for us to avoid is drawing lines in the sand. People may not be cutting enough slack for each other. Attitudes could turn belligerent even to the point of verbal or physical confrontation.

This is a week not to have more brawn than brain. The Mercury trine Uranus gives us insights as to how best to handle situations.

Flexibility is key this week. The less fixed and the more adaptable we can be, we’re likely to find opening to us a vast new world to discover and explore.

Monday, July 24th – Here Comes the Sun – Sun Leo, Lunar Grand Trine, Mercury, Uranus, Lunar T-Square, Mars, Neptune. Monday begins the week with the Sun moving into its own Sign of Leo. Let the Fun begin! With the Sun in Leo, we may feel a burst of energy, more vitality and certainly interested in discovering the good things in life. Pleasure can be the headline for this period, as we seek to relax, re-create and just generally enjoy ourselves. After all, it is summertime! We might find ourselves doing the two-step. This Monday also gives us both a Lunar Grand Trine and a Lunar T-Square. Two steps forward, one step back; one step forward, two steps back. This Moon configuration is due to the Moon being in Scorpio where it creates a Grand Trine in the Water Element as the Moon trines Mercury in Cancer and trines Uranus in Pisces. The Moon being in Scorpio also creates a T-Square in the Fixed Signs as the Moon opposes Mars in Taurus and squares Neptune in Aquarius. We may feel pushed and pulled in various directions. We might find that things take longer than we like. We could feel somewhat confused and very emotional. But with the Sun in Leo we can light up any rainy day and put a smile on the bleakest of outlooks. Today is a good day to get rid of the unnecessary, strip down to the basics and put our focus on fun. Whether we are on holiday or not, we want to shine. Things may take twists and turns, sometimes seeming like Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. If we get out of our own way and not get our ego involved, then we could find some interesting magic happening around us and to us. Let’s keep in mind the saying: ‘Life’s too mysterious. Don’t take it serious.’

Tuesday, July 24th – False Starts – Mars, Neptune, Saturn, Sun, Venus. Tuesday could have us feeling as though we’re either making false starts or accelerating with the parking brake fully engaged. Things could certainly slow down today and that would probably be a healthy situation. With Mars square Neptune, we have to be careful that we aren’t impulsive or rash in our actions. Otherwise, we could be on a course of an accident waiting to happen. The Scorpio Moon squares Saturn. Responsibilities and outstanding issues might demand our attention. We might resent our obligations but at least we know what they are. With today’s energies flying around, we could easily start off on a quixotic journey heading enthusiastically on a trip to nowhere. Late in the day, the Moon moves into Sagittarius where it trines the Sun and squares Venus. Although the start of the day could have us trying to get into motion without really getting anywhere, the latter part of the day is far more upbeat. The square to Venus could bring up relationship issues and we need to avoid arguments with those that want to nit pick or rain on our parade. Today could be a little extreme with wild possibilities circling in our minds. But if we can restrain ourselves, do what needs to be done and then add a little spice to our lives for a change in routine, then this day can be energetic and we can find reasonable ways to vent our energy.

Wednesday, July 25th – Outta Here – Jupiter. Wednesday has the Sagittarius Moon conjunct Jupiter. We may be feeling upbeat, optimistic, happy-go-lucky. We want to spread our wings and stretch beyond our local boundaries. Today would be a good day to travel, whether physically leaving Dodge or taking a far-distant trip in our mind’s eye. Our interests are broader and more concerned with situations far beyond our usual perspective. We may feel confident and share the belief that ‘all things work out in the end’. The only problem with our ‘Dr. Feelgood’ attitude would be in just going blindly into the night, assuming that everything will work out perfectly without checking our itinerary, reviewing our course of action and being certain we have the necessary tools and skill set to participate in the activities of our choice. If we can take of the necessary details, maintain awareness of the specifics, this day can be a true winner. We have the upbeat feelings to move mountains today. Let’s just be sure we have the proper equipment to do so.

Thursday, July 26th – Antennae Up, Peripheral Vision – Uranus, Neptune, Saturn, Pluto. Thursday’s Sagittarius Moon squares Uranus, sextiles Neptune, trines Saturn and conjuncts Pluto. We need to keep aware of unexpected situations arising. We might have to be nimble and quick to deal with the changing parameters of our daily life. While we may have to be on our toes today, if we can keep up with things, we can be especially effective in using new methods, alternative means to get ever closer to our goals and our ambitions. We are driven today, impassioned by the prospects of our own creative ventures. We can blend the innovative and the traditional to bring new projects into the most appropriate format. The more we can be open and receptive, the more likely we can discover options that we might not have otherwise taken into account. Today is a day to keep our antennae up, work with peripheral vision and utilize our friends, even strangers, as a sounding board for new ideas and new adventures.

Friday, July 27th – Looking Good – Venus, Venus retrograde. Friday is a day when we might be trying to look our best. We appreciate first impressions as being significant in the initial judgment of who we are and what we can do. And we’re looking to make good first impressions today. With the Moon in Capricorn trine Venus in Virgo and Venus turning retrograde today, we could hold ourselves, and others, to exceptionally high standards. We may be very methodical, strategic in regard to our interactions with other people. We’re not looking at wasting our time today, nor are we interested in spending time on those people that can’t do anything for us. We can be very discerning, discriminating, even prejudicial today. If people don’t measure up to our expectations, we could virtually cut them off at the knees and certainly give them short shrift regarding the time we’re willing to give them. We might consider a personal makeover today, whether it be in regard to our wardrobe, hairstyle, or the total package of our image. We might tend toward a more conservative look, wanting to appear solid, reliable and perhaps a little aloof. If we don’t get hypercritical, this day can be one when we dot the i’s and cross the t’s; a day when we can place everything in its right place at the right time.

Saturday, July 28th – Revelations - Mercury, Uranus, Mars. Saturday is one of those days when the insights and flashes of understanding can come a mile a minute. Today we have Mercury trine Uranus. We also have the Capricorn Moon opposed Mercury, sextile Uranus and trine Mars. It would be wise to be open to those ah-has that can come out of nowhere. We may feel inspired, and perplexing problems could suddenly be easily solved. We may not have considered certain details or taken enough of a broad perspective in our earlier thinking of situations. We could have a ‘Eureka’ moment when everything all seems to fall into place. We might decide to do things differently, streamline our operations and utilize computers and high technology to make our lives easier. This is one of those days when we are being asked, and offered, to work smarter rather than harder. Let’s be open to the wonders of the universe, for we may discover that we’ve booked a trip on the magical mystery tour, a journey where magic and miracles can come forward so long as we don’t stand in our way. And that is a key to this day, for with the Moon opposed Mercury, we could have a tendency to rely on our past, the so-called ‘tried and true’. Today is not a day to get locked into old behavior patterns, or old mindsets. Rather, today is a day to be open to all possibilities with the recognition that we cannot even anticipate some of the surprises that could open up to us today. A magic day of insight and revelations, we need to keep our ears and eyes and belief system open to all possibilities, and even what we might judge as impossibilities. Ah, yes, the wonder of it all.

Sunday, July 29th – Shine, Shine, Shine – Aquarius Full Moon. Sunday gives us the Aquarius Full Moon with the Moon opposed the Sun in Leo. With any opposition, we are being asked to balance the energies of the two opposing planets, the two opposing signs. Today we have the democratic, individualistic, even iconoclastic Aquarius energy opposed to the regal, sometimes autocratic, certainly refined expressive energy of Leo. The balance is the question of whether we can appreciate the uniqueness of other people and not feel as though we are in competition to be number one with everyone and everything. If we can focus on our personal best, all the while appreciating what other people bring to the table, than we have achieved the balance. Neither do we have to give up ourselves to be part of the community, nor do we have to be an island unto ourselves seeing everyone else as a notch below us. By blending our own talents and abilities with the possibilities for our future, we can stretch beyond our comfort zone and explore new realms of self-discovery and self-expression. Today is a great day to do something a little different, to let down our guard, to be childlike and embrace the awe and wonder and innocence of childhood, and consider all possibilities for our future.

This week brightens as it progresses. The beginning of the week could have us feeling sore from some of the push-pulls we’ve been experiencing recently. We may feel frustrated and as though the wind has been knocked out of our sails.

Mars squares Saturn reinforcing its recent T-Square in the Fixed Signs, having squared Neptune last week and now squaring Saturn this week. Ah, yes, our nemesis since last Autumn of the Saturn Neptune opposition is again triggered. This energy configuration could put us between a rock and a hard place. Ill-considered actions can lay us low, either wiping us out energetically or triggering muscle sprains or accidents.

While we might start the week wanting to crawl out of our own skin or heading for shelter, the clouds dissipate and the sun appears. With the Sun trine Jupiter we can regain our confidence and recognize that any recent blockages were only as if we had stubbed our toe. It may have been a painful misstep but not a lasting catastrophe. Our exuberance and optimism re-emerges and we’re ready again to put our mark on everything we do. Suddenly, we get a second wind. We’re determined to make our plans a reality.

Even if we assumed our resources were limited, we can find a way to make them work for us. With Mercury sextile Mars, we could come up with inventive ideas to stretch a dollar and put on a show that is dazzling and impressive without breaking the bank.

Over the weekend, Mercury enters Leo creating a stellium of three or more planets in the Fixed Fire Sign. We’re looking for fun, seeking recreational activities, and wanting joy in our living. We might decide now is the time to step off the track and take a holiday or, at least, a break from our daily routine.

Monday, July 30th – Singing a Song, Whistling Along – Jupiter, Neptune. Monday starts the week with the Aquarius Moon sextile Jupiter and conjunct Neptune. We may be feeling good about ourselves, about our lives and assuming that everything is going our way. Nice concept, and a powerful affirmation, but it may not be true reality. Although we can be optimistic and confident, we also have to be certain that we’re looking at the parameters, considering the conditions and taking into account the real circumstance of our situation. Today is a day when we could easily get carried away with our upbeat attitude. Although we might make our plans and draw upon others for inspiration regarding where we want to go in our lives, it would be essential for us to recognize that mental meanderings also need a practical approach and methodical execution to bring things from the abstract into manifestation. Let us allow our thoughts to ramble, our mind to consider all possibilities, even seeming impossibilities, but let’s be wary of betting the ranch on our present thoughts and feelings. It is necessary for us to do due diligence before we commit for the long term. Today is also a good day to get together with friends for an enjoyable respite and to contact those people that may be far beyond our daily routine.

Tuesday, July 31st – Hitting the Wall at High Speed – Mars, Saturn, Lunar T-Square, Pluto, Venus. Tuesday could be a little dicey, especially coming off yesterday. Tuesday could have us feeling as though we have hit a speed bump or crashed into the wall… at high speed. Mars squares Saturn triggering again the Saturn Neptune opposition and by orb creating a Fixed Sign T-Square. Our ambitions may find hard resistance from other people, especially those in authority or in control of situations. We may feel frustrated, our plans and ambitions dashed. This blockage and delays could feel stronger thanks to the Aquarius Moon reinforcing the Fixed Sign T-Square with the Moon square Mars and Moon opposed Saturn. We may feel as though we’re affirming the Scottish poet Robert Burns’ statement that the best laid plans of mice and men often come to naught. Although we may feel as though we’ve been knocked back several yards and that our goals may be idle dreams, persistence is recommended. The more we can get behind the belief in our intentions and the idea that things work according to a greater good, we could feel a sense of perseverance due to the Moon sextile Pluto. If our projects and activities truly have meaning for us and speak to us on a very deep level, then we can have the passion and the drive to get through any short-term frustrations or blockages. The Moon then exits the Fixed Air Sign and enters Pisces where it opposes Venus. We have to be careful that we don’t overly personalize situations or any blockages. If we do so, then we might become resentful of other people or find that our interactions with others are being held at a high standard.

Wednesday, August 1st – Twists and Turns – Jupiter, Uranus. Wednesday begins the month of August with a Pisces Moon that squares Jupiter and conjuncts Uranus. We may want to stretch beyond our usual parameters and do something different today. We could be feeling a little stressed out, uncomfortable in our own skin and looking to break away. While such a feeling could be a trigger point for us to do something new, make changes and seek out excitement, we have to be careful that we’re not just seeking change for the sake of change. We have to watch for impetuous and rash actions today. Let’s allow ourselves to do some things on the spur-of-the-moment and impulsively. But let’s also be careful that we don’t initiate an action as a reaction to our anxieties and nervous energy, an initiation that could cascade out of control and send us down the slippery slope of twists and turns leading us into an abyss of our own creation. Today is a day to go slow, make measured changes and not feel impelled to do anything without considering the consequences first.

Thursday, August 2nd – Blue Skies Shining Above – Sun, Jupiter, Mercury, Pluto, Mars. Thursday gives us an opportunity to see the brighter shade of pale. After being caught in a conundrum for the past two weeks thanks to the Mars Taurus Fixed Sign T-Square with the Saturn Neptune opposition that has wreaked havoc in the financial markets [e.g. the US equity markets and private hedge funds] and in the political spectrum [e.g. the LDP drubbing in Japan / Mr. Bush’s historically low approval ratings], we can see a glint of sunshine thanks to the Leo Sun trine Jupiter in Sagittarius. We are also coming to the end of the Jupiter retrograde, but that’s for next week. The Sun Jupiter trine should have us feeling far more upbeat and able to see the possibility of a turn-around from the scarier, freakier scenario that we’ve built up for ourselves recently. We’re not out of the woods yet, however, for today also has the impressionable Pisces Moon trine Mercury, square Pluto and sextile Mars. Although we can sense that things are likely to move in a more favorable direction, we could still be anxious as though waiting for the other shoe to drop. Our mood swings can be extreme today. At times, we can be whistling a happy tune. Other times, we might be humming a funereal moan. Today’s whipsaws could have us hopping. Maybe we are just reticent to buy into the good feelings, especially after the recent intensities. Let’s keep in mind the idea of cycles with its troughs and crests. Let’s remember the phoenix, that mythical bird that rises from its ashes to soar ever higher. As we come later into the day and the Moon enters Aries, we can start a rebuilding program. We can initiate a new strategy, a new plan of action and build upon our past to create a brighter and better future for ourselves.

Friday, August 3rd – Going for the Gold – Mercury, Mars, Lunar Grand Trine, Jupiter, Sun. Friday could prove to be a primo day, a day when we’re operating on all cylinders, a day when we’ve got the wind to our back, our direction clear and our itinerary carefully planned. Yes, this Friday can be a spectacular day. Mercury sextiles Mars and we could be thinking of necessary purchases to feather our nest, improve our home environment and plan for a family get-together or get-away. We also have the Aries Moon creating a Grand Trine in the Fire Element, as the Moon trines Jupiter in Sagittarius and trines the Sun in Leo. Friday gives us the energy and the impetus to do whatever we want to do with the recognition that we’ve got it going on both in terms of our passion and in regard to our means. We are likely to feel far more on top of things and have the sense that our life is in our control.

Saturday, August 4th – Cranking Away – Lunar Grand Trine, Saturn, Pluto, Neptune, Mercury, Venus, Mercury Leo. Saturday continues the Fire Grand Trine with the Aries Moon today trine Saturn in Leo and trine Pluto in Sagittarius. The Moon also sextiles Neptune, squares Mercury and trines Venus. Since Thursday, we may have felt a kick start to our lives. New interests, new projects and new beginnings could have been increasingly in the mix for us over the past couple of days. Saturday also has the Moon sextile Neptune, square Mercury and trine Venus. From the impetus to get things going, we can use our desires to rightly fit the pieces into the puzzle of our lives. We’re likely to be feeling good, impassioned and ready to take on the world. We do need to be careful since we’re picking up more Fire, especially with Mercury entering Leo creating a stellium of three or more planets in the Fixed Fire Sign with Mercury joining the Sun and Saturn. We could be a little self-absorbed, somewhat self-focused and may be more expectant of other people rather than cutting them much slack. Let’s not get carried away with ourselves. Yes, we’re cranking away but our energy and vitality could prove impetuous and demanding. Let’s try to be receptive to other people’s interests and accommodating to situations that may need us to react instead of merely acting… out.

Sunday, August 5th – Slow Down – Sun. Sunday has the Taurus Moon square the Leo Sun. We need to watch for an element of rigidity today. Let’s keep in mind the Taoist saying: ‘bend like a reed or break like an oak’. Flexibility, adaptability and not getting stuck in our perspective are all important elements to make today work. Otherwise, we could easily be drawing lines in the sand, over-reaching and spending on items that only prove how grandiose we can be. We need to keep a firm rein on our finances today, since we could buy things for ‘show’ that may have no long-term value but only the immediate gratification for our egos. We could be pushed and pulled today, all the while that we’re feeling between a rock and a hard place. Let’s be open to shifting tides. The last two to three days may have been spectacular and life-affirming but today there could be a slow down and we could become resentful if we don’t accept the changing phases in cycles.