Frank Martin Don LLC - Professional Intuitive & Astrological Consultant

July epitomizes Summer, a season when we take the time to step off the track of our daily affairs, focus on the pleasures of life and seek out recreational activities and enjoy some down time. This July might not allow so much for down time as much as ratcheting up the energies with us hotly in pursuit of involvements that take the edge off and provide a much needed pumping up of our self-appreciation.

July begins with two planets in Fire Signs, two planets in Earth Signs, three planets in Air Signs and three planets in Water Signs. There are three planets in Cardinal Signs, two planets in Fixed Signs and five planets in Mutable Signs. Five planets are in Positive Signs and five planets are in Negative Signs.

We start the month with a fairly good balance among the Elements, Quadruplicities and Dualities. There is an emphatic quality in the Grand Cross by Sign in the Mutable Signs.

We can be hopscotching all over the place in early July. We start the month under the influence of the Mars trine Pluto exact on June 30th, just before Mars enters Virgo on the 1st. Our passion and determination are engaged. We want to spread our wings, explore distant realms and leave our imprint on everything we touch. Although we may have gained a second wind and may no longer feel as lethargic as we have felt over the past few months, this regaining of energy needs a focal point. But the focal point may be lacking as we try first one thing, then another and then another.

As we start July, we cannot rule out the possibility of leaping ahead, going overboard and indulging our desires. Venus opposes Jupiter, exact on the 3rd, and we might want to soothe our feelings and satiate our appetites with the ‘comforts’ of food, purchases, or activities. We need to be careful of immediate gratification as a distraction or an automatic response to help us feel better.

Experimentation and changing our parameters may be the theme as we start July, which also begins the second half of 2008. For many of us, if we could see the first six months of 2008 as having been one phase and the second half being a whole new phase, we would certainly be happy. For the first half of 2008 may have seemed like the floor opened up beneath us with our sense of stability and security shaken to the core.

With July beginning under the additional influence of Mercury square Uranus, exact on the 5th, we have to be careful not to jump to conclusions. We may be champing at the bit, looking to incorporate significant changes in our daily lives but with a tendency to leap before we look.

Change seems the keyword of these times but change solely for the sake of change could also be like the old saying that good intentions are the pathway to hell. Before we institute significant changes to our lives, it would be important to keep in mind two other sayings: [1] ‘the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know’; and [2] ‘meet the new boss same as the old boss’.

Before incorporating change into our lives, it would be wise to consider the implications of what we are leaving behind and what we are moving towards, even if what we are moving towards cannot be fully and clearly defined.

Revelations, insights and flashes of genius can open us up to alternatives and options we might not otherwise consider. We do have to take the time to consider the ramifications.

With Mercury trine Neptune, exact on the 6th, our intuitive sense can be strong. If it feels right, then it might be an indication of right action. Our thoughts and our feelings may not always match and we do need to find the balance between a desire for change and our sense of what our perfect world would be like. It could be too easy for us to act spontaneously, assuming that we are totally ‘in the moment’ and in synch with the natural unfolding of our lives. Before we launch ahead, it would be wise to go into the quiet of our being and evaluate seriously any new directions.

Also on the 6th, Venus trines Uranus. Interesting connections can be made in the most unexpected ways. We might find ourselves being in the right place at the right time. A desire to add some spice into our lives can get us involved in different social activities and in sprucing up our homes. Reunions and reconnections can offer wonderful surprises.

This 6th can be a sparkling day, filled with excitement and a feel-good attitude. It may smooth over any upsets triggered by the Mercury Uranus square on the 5th.

Despite the 6th being a primo day, the first half of July could prove dicey. Excess, unexpected situations, seeking change and disrupting our daily conditions can all be part of this early July period.

Days to especially watch for would be on the 5th with Mercury square Uranus and on the 10th with Mercury opposed Pluto and Mars conjunct Saturn.

The former, Mercury square Uranus on the 5th, can create traffic problems, miscommunications and computer glitches. Unexpected news could rattle us and upset out plans. If we don’t get ensnared by the energy but rather keep a clear head and maintain a focus all the while that our minds are racing with rapid-fire thoughts, we can come up with some interesting insights, answers to problems, and startling revelations.

The latter energy patterns on the 10th of Mercury opposed Pluto and Mars conjunct Saturn can find conversations turning into arguments that could take a toll on our physical vitality. We might feel as though we’ve been knocked for a loop as our energy drains away. We could also discover that situations thought completed still have some loose threads to tie up. Situations could be explosive and we might feel as though we can’t take it anymore. If we can get a handle on the energies, this can also be a time when our ideas are profound, our intellect penetrating and our thoughts right to the point. Strategizing and then putting plans into action can be effective. To take hold of the energy may demand focused intent, not knee-jerk reactions or belligerent attitudes.

On the 10th, Mercury exits its own Sign of Gemini to enter Cancer, creating a Stellium of three or more planets in the cardinal Water Sign, as Mercury joins the Sun and Venus in Cancer. Our interests may lie with home and family. We could tend to home improvement projects and prepare for family gatherings. We may have a tendency towards nesting, wanting to spend more time at home, reflect on our past, and feeling overly sensitive to situations going on around us.

The Cancer Stellium is short-lived as Venus exits Cancer on the 12th and enters Leo. Increasingly, we are likely to be looking for fun times, pleasurable events and enjoying ourselves.

Our plans can be well thought-out and well executed around the 14th and 15th when both Mercury sextiles Saturn and the Sun trines Uranus on the 14th and Mercury sextiles Mars on the 15th.

The second half of July is a good time for us to consider how we want to re-create ourselves. Whether we choose to travel or stay home on a ‘staycation’, we are looking for FUN with capital letters. We don’t want anything too serious, would prefer to concentrate on summer enjoyments.

The 19th has Mercury opposed Jupiter, and we need to watch for an element of overreach whereby we take on too much from a sense of exuberance, optimism and confidence. This time is when we might bite off more than we can chew.

We are likely to be more upbeat, a feeling that becomes more pronounced when the Sun enters Leo on the 22nd, the same day that Mercury trines Uranus. Seeking to put our spin on things, we might try something new, stretch our wings and invest in equipment that can make our lives easier. Our mind is open to new ways of doing things and streamlining our activities. Taking a break from our daily routine allows us a fresh perspective, provides the hiatus in order for us to evaluate and see things from a detached viewpoint, and reinforces the importance of the day[s] of rest, relaxation and re-creation.

During this second half of July, we seem to gather steam and feel more back in our bodies, even if our intentions have changed and our plans for the future have only started to form.

Mars trines Jupiter on the 26th, the same day that Mercury enters Leo and creates a Stellium of three or more planets in the Fixed Fire Sign as Mercury joins the Sun and Venus in Leo. Energized and with a desire to advance our interests, we may feel at the top of our game. We certainly are looking out for number one, and seeking those venues in which we can stand out.

Our self-focus may become exaggerated around the 29th when Mercury and the Sun are conjunct. We may concentrate on our world and our interests without due consideration as to how our actions, attitude and behavior might impact other people.

Any tendency towards narcissism could provoke discord or disharmony in our relationships at the end of the month when Venus opposes Neptune on the 31st. We could become infatuated with someone seeing ourselves in them. But we would have to be careful that we are not doing the dance with a trickster, someone appearing one way, the reality being totally different.

July may start off wild and wooly with us all over the place. The waves of the cycles may seem like tsunamis at times with a great deal of force and excitement. As the month goes on, we are likely to find that no matter what else is happening in the world, nothing and no one are likely to rain on our parade of good times and fun events. We are in it to win it, to live life to the fullest, and this July could prove it so.

July… swirling, whirling, settling into a groove…

This week may have us feeling like we are not operating on all eight cylinders but rather exhausted and perhaps even a little lethargic. We can address the necessary matters of our daily lives, but we probably would far prefer calling a halt and taking a long summer’s nap. We might sense that we have scheduled ourselves for overload, that we have too much on our plate but still feel the responsibility of doing it all and adding some fun to the mix. Our preference could just be to take afternoon naps and sleep longer into the morning.

Mid-week seems to present some bumps in the road, blips on the screen, although referring to them as bumps and blips may downplay the situations significantly. With Mercury opposed Pluto and Mars conjunct Saturn, our patience may be sliver-thin and a tendency to explode with consequent total exhaustion is a true liability.

The Mars Saturn conjunction influences our entire week. Old issues, outstanding matters may demand our attention. We may feel like we’re doing the two-step with one step forward, two steps back. We could have more to do than feels comfortable and might resent the pressing demands placed on us. Although we may try and keep on top of things, we could come to the realization that we either have to clean the slate or start to eliminate certain activities from our ‘to do’ list.

This is a week to put one foot in front of the other and not overly judge what needs to be done. It would be far better for us to ‘just do it’ and not put too much emotion in regard to whether we want to do it or resent having to do it. Let’s just get it done.

The weekend can be a nice relief and we might look to keeping things simple. Too much energy expended in regard to any activity might prove to be too much energy expended. We have the opportunity of learning the wisdom to the idea that living simply is not simply living. We could discover the beauty to the concept that less is more.

Monday, July 7th –One Step at a Time – Sun, Jupiter, Uranus. Monday begins the week with the Virgo Moon sextile the Sun, trine Jupiter and opposed Uranus. This day is a great day to deal with details, straighten things around our home and just put one foot in front of the other. We can attend to a great deal of the minutiae in our lives. It may not be overly exciting but we can advance our interests by focusing on the specifics and not get carried away by the big picture. Although we might want to add a little bit of spice to our day by doing something out of our ordinary, the main theme of the day is attending to our responsibilities. We do have the ability to consider changes to our lives and figure out the specific means to incorporate those changes. Moving things around, stirring up the pot, will add greater dynamics to our daily existence. Plans for our future goals can be considered in a practical manner and take a pragmatic approach. Today is a day to keep our focus on the steps we need to take, all the while that we keep in mind our long-range goals and plans for our future.

Tuesday, July 8th – Never Good Enough – Venus, Lunar T-Square, Mercury, Pluto. The early part of the day could have us with our nose to the grindstone. The Virgo Moon sextiles Venus and then creates a Mutable Sign T-Square by squaring Mercury in Gemini and squaring Pluto in Sagittarius. Maintaining grace under fire would be called for. Putting on a good presentation by focusing on our image, being diplomatic and taking care of the details would go a long way to defusing potential blow-ups. We may be juggling a number of different things today but we also have to be careful not to be slipshod in our approach. Any slip-ups could be the trigger point for intense critiques and stinging rebukes. Our temper could be explosive and may also be a prelude to later in the week on Thursday when we have Mercury exactly opposed Pluto. Either we could be held or we could hold other people to grand expectations. Standards may be unattainable but we also have to check the source. We don’t want to be the safe harbor for other people’s frustrations that then become concentrated on our interaction with them. If we don’t get caught up in the blame game or a mea culpa victim mode, we could use today’s energies to take our time, look at situations in a laser-like approach and dissect what is essentially going on. Once aware, we can then come up with remedies that are to the point and spot on. Later in the day, the Moon exits Virgo and enters Libra. The energy shifts from evaluations and specifics of our daily lives to a greater interest in our interactions and socializations with other people.

Wednesday, July 9th – Over Reach – Sun, Jupiter. Wednesday provides a brief interlude between the recent overcritical tendencies and the stripping away of the nonessentials. Today provides a breather thanks to the Sun opposed Jupiter and the Libra Moon square Jupiter. We may want it all today and the possibility of excess and indulgence certainly cannot be discounted. Like water off a duck’s back, the critical disposition of the past two days could easily drop away and we might feel far more sociable. Contacts with other people can be pleasant and less demanding, but we do have to be careful not to go overboard. As if reacting to the intensity of these times, we might try to be too accommodating, conciliatory or generous. Finding balance between our needs and those of other people is key today. Even if we go to extremes and over-reach, it would be important to establish a level playing field in which everyone antes up at the table and no one does more than anyone else. Confidence and optimism today could be founded on wishful thinking. This Wednesday is a day when we need to curb our appetites, our expenses and our commitments to participations. If we don’t maintain restraint today, we could agree to conditions that we would later have to backtrack on. Moderation today is called for, but it may be hard for us to hew that line.

Thursday, July 10th – Bombastic Explosions – Mercury, Pluto, Mars, Saturn, Sun, Neptune, Venus, Mercury Cancer. Thursday is my least favorite day of this week and ranks up there as one of my least favorite days of the summer. This day can truly be explosive. Everything seems ratcheted up severalfold, all with a consequent result of our energy being depleted and a tendency to withdraw into ourselves and circle the wagons. This Thursday has Mercury opposed Pluto. We might have experienced some of the areas for potential discord back on Tuesday, but this Thursday easily allows us to make mountains out of molehills. Discussions can turn heated and wind up in belligerent arguments. There can be an explosive nature to this day that occurs suddenly, unexpectedly akin to the straw that broke the camel’s back. Even the slightest discord could trigger violent dispute. Our mind is sharp, able to penetrate the most intricate of situations, but our tongue could prove sharper. We also have Mars conjunct Saturn, encouraging both a hypercritical approach to life, whereby nothing seems quite good enough. No matter how much we have to do, or how hard we try, we could find that things just do not measure up. We may feel deflated, like a helium balloon whose helium is escaping, leaving the balloon shapeless and wrinkled. The primary problem to this day might be our expectations. With the Moon in Libra square both the Sun and Venus in Cancer, and the Moon trine Neptune and sextile Pluto, we may know what we want and how we want it but the reality may not match our desires or hoped-for conclusions. Feeling like we are in a no-win situation, we could withdraw into ourselves, circle the wagons and nurse our grievances feeling totally misunderstood and under-appreciated. After the Mercury Pluto opposition, Mercury moves into Cancer creating briefly a Stellium of three of more planets in the Cardinal Water Sign as Mercury joins the Sun and Venus in Cancer. Our sensitivity may be ratcheted up severalfold and we may seek the nurture and support of our comfort zone and become far more introverted and less expressive. Thursday ends with the Moon exiting Libra and entering Scorpio.

Friday, July 11th – Picking Up the Pieces – Mercury, Saturn, Mars. Friday is the 11th, a master number in numerology, indicative of the visionary. This Friday allows us to pick up the pieces in the aftermath of yesterday’s disruptive and potentially explosive energies. Today the Scorpio Moon trines Mercury, now in Cancer, sextiles Saturn and sextiles Mars. Today is a day when we can restructure our activities, bring closure to the extraneous elements of our lives that are only time-consuming and exhausting, and provide the opportunity of clearing out and cleaning up. We may start with our base of operations, moving things around and being certain that the clutter is dealt with in order for us to concentrate on the truly meaningful in our lives. Getting rid of unnecessary involvements would allow us to focus. We may have to recognize that we do not have fathomless reservoirs of energy but rather need to conserve and to consider where best to prioritize and place our energies. The hurly-burly of our lives, always being constantly on the go, might no longer be as appealing to us as they seem to be socially correct. Even issues associated with rising fuel costs, food costs and other basic costs of living may provide us the silver lining of seeing where we can cut back on our activities, see what is truly important for us and concentrate on activities that deeply speak to us.

Saturday, July 12th – A World of Possibilities – Jupiter, Neptune, Lunar Grand Trine, Sun, Uranus, Venus Leo. Saturday offers us an opportunity to reach out into new areas. Life is about cycles. There are times of expansion and times of contraction. On a macro level, these times are times of contraction after more than a decade of expansion. In our own personal life, after yesterday’s tendency towards contraction, concentration on the important and elimination of the dross; this Saturday allows us to expand but from a new set of parameters, a focused awareness and a desire to consider a world of possibilities. The Scorpio Moon today sextiles Jupiter, squares Neptune and creates a Grand Trine in the Water Element by trining the Sun in Cancer and trining Uranus in Pisces. By getting out of our own way and being open to the magic of the universe, this Saturday opens doors to some wonderful surprises. Even if we know what we want, it would be wise for us not to be too dead-set on our wishes or how we want things to be. Especially during these most interesting times, it is important to always keep in mind the affirmation that ‘god and the universe have far better plans for us than we could ever imagine for ourselves’. Reclaiming the awe and wonder of more innocent times offers us the magic of synchronicity, ‘asequential’ reality, where it is not so much us making things happen as much as being open to receive, keeping our eyes and ears wide open and maintaining a perspective of peripheral vision. This Saturday offers some wonderful experiences. They may not be what we planned for or even hoped for, but they can offer new experiences and new excitements. Whatever we choose to do today may be a stretch from our usual activities but that’s where the adventure of life lies. Today also has Venus leaving Cancer, ending the brief Stellium of three or more planets in the Cardinal Water Sign. Venus enters Leo and we are increasingly interested
In having fun, expressing ourselves and engaging in social interactions that are uplifting and inspiring.

Sunday, July 13th – Beyond the Reach – Venus, Saturn. Sunday has the Moon moving out of Scorpio and moving into Sagittarius where it trines Venus and squares Saturn. We may be looking at broadening our scope and extending our reach. Today is a great day for traveling, just as long as we check the itinerary, be certain of our directions and be sure we have the necessary provisions. Responsibilities and commitments could place a hold on our moving ahead. We might have to deal with obligations agreed to. Although we could feel as though our wings are being clipped, the major talent demanded of us during these times is juggling. And today we may have to juggle with planned activities all the while that we are trying to insert some spontaneous fun into our day. Can we do it? Why not? The days of black and white, either / or, are going by the wayside. Being accountable and responsible does not necessitate putting a lid on spontaneity or being in the moment. It is all a question of balance. Today we can balance our desire to spread our wings and branch out balanced with our obligations and basic needs. The question is how, and the answer is by time management whereby we work with time on a qualitative level rather than a quantitative level. By being focused we can often accomplish much more in a shorter period of time that then allows us time, ‘free time’, to do things on a spontaneous basis. If we grouse and moan over our responsibilities, not only are we wasting a great deal of energy but our tasks are likely to take longer. Today is a day when we can take a lesson in being effective both in what needs to be done and time for our personal enjoyment.

This week seems a lot less ominous than last week. Last week had Mercury opposed Pluto and Mars conjunct Saturn, both exact last Thursday. The sense of contraction and constriction was evident with the US stock market hitting a two year-low, Toyota announcing plans to cut back production on its most profitable truck and SUV models and open a new plant in Mississippi to manufacture more of its popular hybrid model Prius, the stock of General Motors ratcheting down to a fifty year low price and the second largest bank failure in the US occurring. Foreign markets were not much better, save for a few exceptions. This past week had people very much on edge, if not with apocalyptic overtones. Anxiety was raised as a result of Iran testing missiles. And another indication of the Mercury Pluto opposition was evidenced by former Texas U.S. Senator Phil Gramm admonishing us for being a ‘nation of whiners’. While there is some truth to the statement, it’s not something any of us might have wanted to hear. Certainly, for many of us, the bloom has come off the rose.

Not that we are done with the fear and loathing to borrow Hunter Thompson’s term, but this week seems a lot less frantic and frenetic. This week has various Mercury configurations that allow us to put our mind in front of our fears and offer us the opportunity of assessing the conditions and then consider the solutions to situations under prevailing circumstances.

This week allows considerable opportunities to focus, structure, to incorporate changes more in tune with our own personal changes and put plans into action. Instead of feeling at the whim of the vagaries of these times, we can be co-creators, utilizing our creative sense to come up with a best practices approach to dealing with both changing conditions and the changes we wish to make in our lives.

A sense of optimism can take the place of fear. Thinking outside the box allows us to consider options and alternatives that we might not have taken into account during our complacency of easy-going days. This week provides the energy for us to see where we want to go, consider how we want to get there and to put in place the necessary fundamentals to reach our goals and realize our dreams.

Monday, July 14th – Laying the Groundwork for Change – Mercury, Saturn, Sun, Uranus, Mars. Monday starts the week with us more upbeat than in recent times. We’re ready to take on the world, carve our niche and do something unique, extraordinary and that reflects the changes we have made or the changes we are looking to make. Although we want to cut our own path, we are not looking to go blindly into the night. On the contrary, we are likely to consider how best to approach the changes in our lives. We’re jazzed and up for the challenge. This Monday has Mercury sextile Saturn and the Sun trine Uranus. The Sagittarius Moon squares Mars. While this can be an extraordinary day of wonderful surprises and exciting opportunities, we do have to be careful not to overdo or try and take on too much. We might feel like a kid in a candy store, seeing all these wonderful treats available to us and wanting to grab all that we can. We can certainly handle a lot today, but it would be wise to take things one at a time. We could easily streamline situations, utilizing the most expeditious means and in so doing work with the quality of time whereby we can accomplish more in a shorter period of time by our concentrated focus than trying to deal with a broad palette of many different activities all going at the same time. We are looking to stretch our wings, broaden our expanse and even leapfrog into new terrain. The force is with us today. We just have to be certain that we take care of the specifics and not gloss over the details as we try to do ever more. Today is a day when we can lay the groundwork for change.

Tuesday, July 15th – Active Expression – Mercury, Mars, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto. Tuesday continues with the Sagittarius Moon which today squares Uranus, sextiles Neptune and conjuncts Pluto. Mercury sextiles Mars. The beauty of this Tuesday is that we have the determination to follow our dreams in a concentrated manner. Although unexpected situations could arise that knock us off center and demand our attention, if we don’t get overly distracted by diversions then this Tuesday allows us to use the combination of our willpower and our mental agility to come up with the right combinations and effective solutions to advancing our interests and moving our projects forward. This Tuesday we can communicate our personal desires in a passionate manner touching all the key notes that make up our hopes and wishes. People may be impressed with our commitment to our plans and could be willing to give advice or support. This Tuesday is a day when we can broaden the scope of our interests and concentrate on those projects and activities that have deep meaning to us. Today is a day when we can fully engage in active expression.

Wednesday, July 16th – Strategic Means – Saturn, Mars, Mercury. Wednesday has the Moon in Capricorn and trine both Saturn and Mars in Virgo. The Capricorn Moon opposes Mercury in Cancer. Whether we have moved ahead with our activities and new projects over the past two days or have merely been considering our plans and our intentions, this Wednesday allows us to put spirit into action. This Wednesday is a day when we can execute and manifest, taking our concepts and the abstracts and giving them greater physical manifestation. We do have to be careful that we are not too reticent about moving our interests forward. We could have an element of shyness wondering whether to move ahead or whether in moving forward we are disturbing our lives and upsetting the applecart of other people’s concerns. We may have to balance our responsibilities to our home and family with our personal desires of what we want to do and where we want to go. This balance is something that we can readily accomplish for today provides the energy configurations to create the format and structure all the while that we are taking into account the particulars and pieces that will make up the whole. We have the strategic means to make things happen today.

Thursday, July 17th – Side Steps – Jupiter, Uranus. Thursday has the Capricorn Moon conjunct Jupiter and sextile Uranus. Today is a day when we might want to step off the track and do something different from our usual daily activities. Today is a good day to travel, to broaden our realm but also not to get locked into a schedule or itinerary. We might want to explore and allow ourselves to embrace spontaneity whereby we do things on the spur of the moment rather than overly planned. We may be feeling good about things, recognizing that we don’t have to do it all but that the universe often steps in with those magical moments of serendipity. Wonderful surprises could await us, if we don’t block ourselves off from their possibility. Working with peripheral vision, being flexible and adaptable, and being open to jumping when it’s time to jump are ways by which we can engage the synchronicity of life. Even if we assume that the world is crashing and burning all around us, let’s keep in mind that with every ending comes a new beginning. Like the mythological bird the phoenix rising from its ashes, no matter how difficult things appear to be at the moment, something even better is likely to rise from it all. This Thursday is a day to consider and explore options and alternatives. To borrow from R.E.M., ‘it’s the end of the world as we know it.’ The key factor is to feel fine during the catharsis between old and new. The journey is not in a straight line to our destination but rather in the side steps that open new doors and offer new perspectives.

Friday, July 18th – I And We – Capricorn Full Moon, Sun. Friday gives us the Capricorn Full Moon with the Capricorn Moon opposed the Sun in Cancer. Our individual ambitions could conflict with those of our family or extended family. They don’t have to, but it will necessitate grace, charm and wit to maintain a balance between our personal interests and those of our family, nuclear and extended. We can do it, but we may find that we are juggling various activities and various ways of doing things. This Friday allows us to put to rest and bring to completion certain outstanding matters. By dealing with what needs to be done, we can clear away the clutter and then focus on our future goals. First, it is important that we address our responsibilities and commitments. Let’s not feel victimized. No blame game would be appropriate. Instead, let’s be accountable and responsible for our actions. The past needs to be past in order for us to embrace our future unencumbered by old programs, old expectations, old self-judgments. We are on the dawning of a new day and as this Friday progresses, the Moon moves out of Capricorn to enter Aquarius. Good times are called for this weekend.

Saturday, July 19th – Let the Good Times Roll – Mercury, Jupiter, Venus. Saturday has Mercury opposed Jupiter and the Aquarius Moon opposed Venus. We could be feeling upbeat, ready to have a good time and focused on fun activities. If we can get out of Dodge, it might certainly be our preference. Not that we have to go far away. We just want to spread our wings and fly, focused on fun events and pleasurable events. And why not? It’s summertime. We do need to keep tabs on our expenses and not overdo. We may have certain obligatory social occasions. If we go there, let’s be sure to have a good time. This is a day when we may have no holds barred but might at least consider exercising some restraint. A tendency towards indulgence and excess might have us do things we normally wouldn’t splurge for. No matter what our plans for this day might be, it would be wise to keep our finances and a budget for the day in mind. If we keep a grip on things, then this Saturday can be one when we can let the good times roll.

Sunday, July 20th – Reaching Out – Neptune, Pluto. Sunday gives us the Aquarian Moon conjunct Neptune and sextile Pluto. We may see people in a perfect light but perhaps not from a realistic viewpoint. Sunday is a day when we can connect with people at a distance, calling them or emailing them to find out how they’re doing and spend some time sharing our recent experiences. We could be focused on wishful thinking, wanting things to be a certain way, even to the point of being fully convinced that things are the way we believe they should be. If we don’t maintain an objective perspective, we could easily delude ourselves into thinking that things actually are the way we wish them to be. This disposition could be true regarding situations, friends and our circumstances. We can expand our focus but it would be important for us to maintain a strong sense of discernment between the appearance and the reality to be certain the two match. If something grabs our interest, we can put all our energy towards it. Determination and desire can be brought together to make great headway. We just have to make sure that we’re not acting like wrong way Corrigan and heading off in the wrong direction. On the contrary, we can reach out into new directions, consider our alternatives and move to realize our most optimum options.

Whether we have been on vacation or just dealing with the summertime blues, this week opens the door to greater creative self-expression in the name of FUN. With first the Sun and then Mercury moving into Leo this week, a Stellium of three or more planets in the Fixed Fire Sign is created. We are looking for good times, summer adventures and emphasizing play more than work.

No matter the crazies operating in the world nowadays, we want to have a good time and are looking to focus our energies on pleasurable pursuits.

Although our obligations might try and trip us up, the more we can attend to what needs to be done early in the week, the more time we shall have to cut loose later in the week. We want to do what we want to do. We are not looking to leap before we look though. Looking out for number one also means watching where we are going and how we are getting there.

The weekend can be a productive time to get things done, a time when we can work smarter rather than harder with things falling into place.

All in all, this week can be a favorable time for us to consider our vacation days and enjoy fun-filled summer activities. Anxieties can lessen as we realize that we can’t get obsessed about things over which we have no control. We can do what we can in regard to our sphere of influence, and we can be confident about our success in our own personal world. Things beyond our control we shall just have to adapt to and figure a best practices approach to use to our advantage.

Monday, July 21st – Feeling the Weight of the World – Saturn, Mars. After a week when some of the heaviness of recent times seemed to be lifted, Monday might bring back the reminiscences of times past when we felt victimized by conditions and circumstances beyond our control. Today, the Pisces Moon opposes both Saturn and Mars in Virgo. We might feel slightly on edge, even waiting for the other shoe to drop. We may wonder whether we have taken care of necessary planning for a rainy day while forecasts predict a deluge. Although we could easily fall prey to a sense of unease and worry, why go there. Increasingly, we may come to realize that much of today’s media and commentators embellish the dire possibilities of the future. To gain public attention amongst the cacophony of various competing voices, the tendency is to raise the audio level and to instill the fear factor. This Monday is a day when we have to be careful of our sensitivity and vulnerability to the bad news bears. We may feel on overwhelm with everything we need to do and those things we contemplate taking care of. We might feel as though we are behind the eight ball, merely being able to react to situations rather than taking a proactive approach. But it doesn’t have to be. This day could afford us the ability of blending clear projection with detailed analysis of the most appropriate means to accomplish our plans. We can be effective only as long as we avoid falling into emotional reactions to situations. Drama may have its place, but far better on the stage or screen than in our everyday lives.

Tuesday, July 22nd – Brighter Days Through Better Ways – Mercury, Uranus, Jupiter, Sun Leo. I used that caption as my campaign slogan when I ran for the US House of Representatives in 2000. I can still hope for such a reality to manifest and this Tuesday offers a large degree of affirmation. Today has Mercury trine Uranus and the Pisces Moon sextile Jupiter, trine Mercury and conjunct Uranus. We can gain some startling revelations, wonderful insights, if we keep our antennae up, our ear to the railroad tracks and work with peripheral vision. This is one of those days when wonderful surprises and unexpected communications can occur. We are likely to feel upbeat and desirous of making changes to our plans and being in the moment and acting spontaneously. This Tuesday is also a master number in Numerology, being the 22nd, indicative of the master builder. We can get a great deal done today, if we get out of our own way. Yes, the universe works and this Tuesday could give us several instances of synchronicity, things coming out of the blue to show us how the universe can often work far better than our plans or intentions. We may have to get things going and then be receptive to the shifts and changes that are likely to happen. Let’s keep in mind the analogy of the snowball going down the mountain, gaining momentum and eventually becoming the avalanche. We just need to keep up with the pace, be adaptable to the changes and trust in the unfolding and eventual outcome. This Tuesday also has the Sun moving into Leo, and we can feel energized, more on top of things and ready to express ourselves in a creative and self-affirming manner.

Wednesday, July 23rd – Endings, Beginnings – Pluto, Sun. Wednesday brings the Moon’s transit to the end of the zodiac wheel as it finishes its transit of Pisces and the beginning of the zodiac wheel as it enters Aries. First, the Pisces Moon squares Pluto, then the Aries Moon trines the Sun on this day. Our early morning hours, even wee small hours of the morning, can have us champing at the bit, feeling that things are falling away or being stripped away. Whether it is occurring in our lives or we see it in the collective society, we might feel sadness, remorse, even fear as the old is shown to be outworn and fading. While we might fear what comes next, let us always keep in mind that with every ending comes a new beginning. As Wednesday proceeds, the Moon moves into Aries where it trines the Sun. Our energy picks up. We are less likely to be reactive and more prone to take a proactive, assertive stance. Today would be a good day to bring closure to situations, clear the decks of old matters and look to initiate new projects and new interests. We don’t want to bring a lot of old baggage with us into our next phase, so let’s clean up and clear out the clutter. We can then start fresh, start anew without the preconceived patterns or conditioned responses. Tuesday and Wednesdays are gifts, and that’s why we refer to them as present.

Thursday, July 24th – Taking a Breather – Venus, Jupiter, Neptune. Thursday has the Aries Moon trine Venus, square Jupiter and sextile Neptune. Today is a great day to jump off the track and pursue pleasurable activities. Even if we have certain things we need to do, we may want to put them aside for another day and have some fun. Mantram-like, we might repeat a paraphrase of the nursery rhyme refrain: ‘all work and no play makes us dull’. Dull is not what we want to be. Today we want to stretch our wings and fly. If we have responsibilities nipping at our heels, we might want to cast them aside and just enjoy get-togethers with friends and get out of town for an enjoyable excursion or other fun-filled events. We do have to be careful not to assume that everything will go according to plan. If we assume that we can be effective at a distance, we could easily gloss over details or miss some of the major facets involved in our projects. Thursday is far better to take a breather, catch our breath and get back involved with our routine at a more propitious time.

Friday, July 25th – Doing What We Can – Mercury, Pluto, Sun, Saturn. The day starts with the Aries Moon square Mercury, trine Pluto, and then quickly shifts to the Taurus Moon square Sun and trine Saturn. Early in the day, we may feel impassioned to broaden our reach and stretch beyond our comfort zone. We might feel driven and determined to push our interests forward. Much of our drive could be drawing upon primal force without the intellect engaged. Brawn can trump brain, but that might be the trigger point to get us going. As the day proceeds, there is a dramatic shift whereby brain now trumps brawn. We are far more aware of the structure and means by which to channel our energies and our self-assertion. Even if we feel that our desires are being reined in, there is a tempering process operating that helps us slow down and be certain that we are doing what we can in a methodical, pragmatic approach. The shift in energy on this Friday is a positive one, for it takes our self-assertiveness and molds it into a best practices approach. This changing tide is far more evident tomorrow, but the shift begins on this Friday.

Saturday, July 26th – Getting It Together – Mars, Jupiter, Lunar Grand Trine, Venus, Uranus, Mercury Leo, Leo Stellium. Saturday and Tuesday are the two stand-out days of this week. Whereas Tuesday might have provided inspired revelations, Saturday offers us the opportunity of putting spirit into action and manifesting into practical reality. This Saturday has Mars trine Jupiter, reinforced by the Taurus Moon creating a Grand Trine in the Earth Element by trining Mars in Virgo and trining Jupiter in Capricorn. The Moon also squares Venus and sextiles Uranus. An action-filled and pragmatic-focused day, this Saturday also has Mercury exiting Cancer and entering Leo thereby creating a Stellium of three or more planets in the Fixed Fire Sign as Mercury joins Venus and the Sun in Leo. This is a day when we can literally move mountains. Not only do we have the physical energy to do so. We have the increased desire to put our mark upon our lives in a creative and refined manner. We are not looking merely to bellow our presence in a primal scream of self-assertion. We are looking to express ourselves and imprint ourselves in a well-developed, even regal, manner. Much can be accomplished today, for we are not looking at the intransigence of problems as much as the solution and best practices approach to our involvements. No matter what we are doing today, things seem to fall into place. We may want a hands-on approach to the day, whereby we get the thrill of accomplished achievement. Purchases made today can be both practical and elegant. We can find bargains, stretch our finances and find quality at cut-rate prices. Some of our day can be used to polish our lives, whether that polish is associated with home improvements or household purchases, travel that takes in the splendor of natural beauty or human-made creations, a personal makeover or wardrobe items bought to enhance our image and appearance. No matter our choice as to how to spend the day, this Saturday is one when we can get it all together.

Sunday, July 27th – Here, There, Everywhere - Neptune, Mercury, Sun. Sunday may start off slow. We might feel in a quandary regarding what we want to do and with whom we want to do it. The day begins with the Taurus Moon square Neptune. Although we may be weighing our options early in the day, we might not have to select or limit ourselves. For the day shifts with the Moon exiting Taurus and entering Gemini where it sextiles both Mercury and the Sun in Leo. Our confusion drops away as we recognize that we could possibly do it all. Instead of having blinders on and focused on one particular activity, suddenly we are far more interested in juggling various activities, events, and interactions. Yes, on this Sunday we can gain a second wind, pick up the pace, shift the energy and go from one thing to another to yet another. We want to show off our re-found sense of self-affirmation. We want to engage with others, find some fun activities and enjoy ourselves. We may be far more interested in testing the waters, trying several different things, rather than a singular focus. If variety is the spice of life, this Sunday can be very spicy. If we were highly productive on Friday and Saturday, then this Sunday could be a day to let it all hang out and be like a feather on the wind, going here, there and everywhere.

Under the influence of the Stellium [three or more planets in one Sign] in Leo with the Sun, Venus and Mercury all in the regal Fixed Fire Sign; this week seems to highlight pomp and circumstance and an increased desire for recreational activities, vacation time and good fun.

Whether we are traveling or just staying at home, this week is one when we want to get off the track of our normal daily routines. We want a breather, some excitement and enjoyment. And if we don’t find some, we could get annoyed. This week is a week to showcase our talents, stand in the spotlight and be interested in what we want without accommodation to the interests of others. Of course, everyone may want their own spotlight so the skies are likely to be ablaze with individual standouts.

This week ends July and brings in August, a month already geared for spectacular extravaganzas from the Beijing Summer Olympics and China’s stepping further onto the stage of global leadership to the Democratic National Convention promising to be a Hollywood blockbuster with the coronation of Senator Barack Obama as the party’s presidential nominee.

This week can be very much a ‘fun in the summertime’ kind of week, punctuated by the Solar Eclipse on Friday. Although we are looking for good times, we could easily be enticed and seduced by the images and promises of better days ahead. While we would have to watch for the tricksters that offer to make things right for us, the opportunity this week is for us to recognize our individual talents and to build from there. As individuals, we can make a difference, even change the world. We can do it. Yes, we can.

Monday, July 28th – Wants and Needs – Saturn, Mars, Venus. Monday starts the week with a Gemini Moon which today squares both Saturn and Mars in Virgo and sextiles Venus in Leo. We could feel like we are being pushed and pulled between what we need to do, or feel we should do, and what we want to do, summertime activities that allow us the thrill of fun times. We might have a sense of being in a tug of war between our wants and needs. Both may need to be attended to. Certainly we have the energy to juggle various things today, but our interest in diversity may be more a brief hit here and then a short interval there. In our desire to cover all the bases, we could easily skip over important details or essential parts to the puzzle. We have to be careful today not to pay lip service to our responsibilities. Otherwise, we can be haphazard and create more of a problem for ourselves than if we had just postponed dealing with necessary situations. The best case scenario would be to grin and bear it --- deal with our obligations first and then carve out some time later to enjoy fun-filled adventures. If people are on edge, they could become critical in their evaluations, finding fault with other people’s behavior or blaming their own actions on some cause other than their own. Let’s not let the energy get away from us. If we do, then we can be in a whirlwind of dysfunctionality, juggling but repeatedly dropping the ball.

Tuesday, July 29th – Torn Between Two Worlds – Mercury, Sun, Neptune, Lunar T-Square, Uranus, Pluto. This Tuesday could find us wearing a pair of rose-colored glasses and with blinders on. We may want to see what we want to see and only aware of what is right in front of us. Mercury conjuncts the Sun. Our focus can be squarely on our own self-interests, and not allowing any outside interference or outside information to filter through to us. We could blindly go into the day buoyed by a sense of self-importance and focused on wish fulfillment. What a grand possibility! While such a prospect may be enticing, it may not stand up to reality. The Gemini Moon today does trine Neptune. We might pepper our day with communications with supportive friends and ‘yes’ people that reaffirm our preconceived notions and our hoped-for beliefs. The Gemini Moon, however, also creates a Mutable Sign T-Square as the Moon squares Uranus and opposes Pluto. If we are oblivious to what is going on around us and locked into our solitary world of virtual reality, the universe could step in and give us one of those lateral lobotomies, a whack on the side of the head as a wake-up call. Unexpected situations could arise that seem to rain on our parade of one. If we are unable to adapt to changes in plans or the demand that we heed the wake-up call, we could react in a most unfriendly manner. The potential for blow-ups today cannot be discounted. We may feel on edge, irritated that our walk in the clouds has been interrupted by reality. Oh, well. Wake-up calls aren’t such a bad thing. They can keep us from making more disastrous actions and provide a mirror for a reality check. This Tuesday is one when we have to be careful not to become a legend in our own mind, but rather be adaptable to shifting tides and willing to change our plans or course of action as circumstances warrant.

Wednesday, July 30th – Finishing Touches – Saturn, Jupiter, Mars. After a couple of days when we might have been operating from a frenzied activity level, this Wednesday allows us to bring things back into focus. The whirlwind energy of the past two days, when we could have gotten caught up in the frenzy, subsides on this Wednesday as the Moon in Cancer sextiles Saturn and Mars in Virgo and opposes Jupiter in Capricorn. Whatever we glossed over, or screwed up, during the past two days, we can correct and make right on this Wednesday. Today is a good day to go back over things, review, refine and put the finishing touches on matters that we might have sped through. By taking some time and focusing, we can expand our activities in a methodical and well-structured manner. We might more easily balance the different parts of our lives, be less at the whims of the vagaries of change, and more capable of putting things in their right place. We may want to do a clean-up, clear away the clutter and prepare our base of operations for more effective and more expeditious ways of operating. If we have travel plans, today is a day to go over them and be sure that we’ve taken care of necessary details. Home projects and real estate issues can be dealt with and we can come up with solutions to any pressing problems. While the last two days may have had our heads in the clouds, this Wednesday allows us to come back to ground.

Thursday, July 31st – Out of Step – Venus, Neptune, Uranus, Moon Void-of-Course. Thursday could have us slightly out of sorts, especially in regard to our interactions with other people and our thoughts regarding our future plans. Venus opposes Neptune today, and we have to be careful not to fall prey to the trickster. We might be seduced by the appearances or the presentations of other people. Or we might want to believe something about our self that has no basis in reality. The liability to getting snookered by someone else or by ourselves is strong today. With the Cancer Moon trine Uranus, we are primed for making changes, embracing the thrilling and the exciting, but in so doing we could easily get carried away by what we want to see and how we want things to be --- both of which can be prescriptions for disaster. We might feel as though people don’t get us, don’t understand who we are or fully appreciate our individual characteristics. We want to stand out, but during this phase so does everyone else. This Thursday could be one when we might just feel like we’re waiting for Godot, wanting things to be different but not knowing how to make them so. We could be susceptible to feeling victimized today, having the sense that no matter what we do or how we act it will make no difference to being at the whims of circumstance. Although the energy of the day starts off strong, the Moon goes Void-of-Course for close to thirteen hours making no further connections to the planets as it finishes its transit of Cancer and before entering Leo. Later in the day, we do get a second wind, feel less reactive and more proactive, as the Moon moves into Leo. Did anyone say ‘it’s time to party?’

Friday, August 1st – Blinded by the Light – Solar Eclipse, Leo New Moon, Sun, Mercury. Friday begins the month of August, and what a month it is likely to be. Talk about spectacles and extravaganzas! That’s what this month appears to be. And what better way to kick off the month than with the Solar Eclipse in Leo. This Leo New Moon can have fireworks blazing across the sky, or at least in our own minds. The Stellium in Leo is reinforced now with four planets in Leo --- the Sun, Moon, Mercury and Venus. Everyone is a star, and we are likely to find virtually each one of us grabbing our fifteen minutes of fame as Andy Warhol used to say. This Friday not only imprints the day and the fortnight but also the month of August itself. Now is a time for us to express our creative side, put our imprint on our lives, develop our talents and find venues for fun-filled enjoyment. We do have to recognize that everyone else is likely to be lauding their abilities, singing their praises. As long as we don’t become so self-involved that we lose sight of the people or world around us, this day can be an adventurous and exciting time, kicking off a fun weekend ahead.

Saturday, August 2nd – Oh, Happy Days – Neptune, Venus, Pluto. Saturday continues with the Leo Moon which today opposes Neptune, conjuncts Venus and trines Pluto. This weekend can be a primo weekend, whether we are traveling and exploring far afield or just hanging out having a good time around home base. We do need to watch either stepping on other people’s toes or buying into things that look great from the images and impressions but may not be as good once we get involved. We may be feeling very impassioned, wanting to go for the gusto in life, and determined to have a good time no matter what we are doing. The more we can let go of our expectations, the more we can embrace the magic and wonder of it all. Oh, happy days. Later in the day, the Moon exits Leo and enters Virgo. Even if we are on vacation, our thoughts may begin to focus on things that need to be done back on the home front. From having recharged our batteries the past two days, we could take into account a best practices approach in dealing with our responsibilities. We might find it helpful strategizing our plans for getting back on track and achieving our aims in a productive and expeditious manner.

Sunday, August 3rd – Tidying Up – Saturn, Jupiter. Sunday has the Virgo Moon conjunct Saturn and trine Jupiter. Taking care of outstanding matters today also allows us to broaden our reach and stretch beyond our normal parameters. We can tidy up, clean up and clear out the clutter. If we are off on vacation travels, we might come up with reasonable solutions regarding what we want to do when we get back into our normal routine. If we are at home, this day would be a good day for summertime projects. We can bring things to closure and start up new projects. This Sunday can be a productive day when we can accomplish a lot, whether we do so by planning or by action. We could line our ducks up in a row and deal with things one by one, checking off various items on our ‘to do’ list. Today is also a good day to consider our health regimen --- diet, exercise and recreation. Our tidying up can be figurative and literal, all with the idea of getting things ready for our next step ahead.