All Hail Total Solar Eclipse in Cancer

Dear Friend and Reader:

The next event up is Tuesday's total solar eclipse in Cancer. This is part of the first eclipse pair solidly on the Cancer/Capricorn axis since around 2009. These are the eclipses that start to ring the bell on the Saturn-Pluto conjunction of Jan. 12, 2020, whatever that is about. Well, we know what it's about -- we're standing right in the middle of it; however, this is often the most difficult perspective from which to see clearly.

House announcement — We will not be doing an edition of Planet Waves on Thursday, taking a breather in honor of the Independence Day holiday. I am also planning to take a week off from Planet Waves FM on Sunday, July 7. We are planning to have a Monday Morning horoscope for July 8.

Second house announcement — I spent much of the day Saturday recording the Cancer/Capricorn eclipse edition in the Special Reading series. I've focused on these eclipses — eclipses in general, and those out to the end of 2020 — for those who want to be educated and informed about this process. The reading comes with many charts and useful articles and is halfway between a reading and a late-night astrology discussion at the edge of the world. The eclipse topic is interlaced with many hints about astrology (current and in general) and what do do with it. It's $33, or $44 with the complete Astrology Studio for Cancer.

Special Focus: Mercury Retrograde in Leo/Cancer

I think I've said everything I need to say about this eclipse. It's time to take the ride. If you are looking for astrological details, you may find them here, in the introduction to the July monthly horoscope. The Monday Morning horoscope below is based on the chart for the eclipse. It's a second, more immediate read of the same chart I used for the monthly horoscope.

Let's focus on the forthcoming Mercury retrograde, which enters what some call "storm phase" this week, when Mercury is moving at its slowest, right before it changes apparent direction.

This retrograde will begin in Leo on July 7 and heads back into Cancer. Tomorrow, before that happens, Mars enters Leo. So Mercury's retrograde begins in a week, and then on July 8, there's a Mercury-Mars conjunction. This is the second of three of these conjunctions this year, one each in Cancer, Leo and Virgo. So this is part of a process that will work itself out through the whole Northern Hemisphere summer season, winter Down Under.

The Mercury-Mars combination in fire sign Leo is saying put the brakes on your communication. By all means brainstorm, improvise into your notebook, rock out on your MIDI controller and play it backwards, or dance around your room naked whilst recording video from six directions. But be careful communicating with others, as this is the classic astrology for misstatements and misdirected anger. Put everything on delay.

Don't type in the name of the recipients of emails you want to send. Rather, "send" to your drafts folder. Then read it every day for a few days, and decide what, if anything, you really want to say. In-person meetings will serve most purposes better than anything electronic.

One underlying issue of this astrology is anger. This is the 'anger management' Mercury retrograde. Right now there is a lot of disembodied anger at large in the collective psyche, and in many people as individuals. We need to notice this, before we can address it in any coherent way. Yet part of the problem is that the whole notion of "coherence" has given way to society becoming what used to be called a postmodern pastiche.

In its disembodied state, we tend to connect anger to such pointless things. Had society been in this state in the 1950s and 1960s, there never would have been a Civil Rights or anti-Vietnam War movement. I don't mean to point to a golden age, though at least things got done.

As Marge Piercy said, "The good must learn to cultivate their anger like fields of wheat that must feed them, if they are ever to win."

With love,
Daily Birthday Readings from Planet Waves

As we didn't include the Birthdays feature in last week's edition, we're giving you a double set here. Please note you can also read these entries as daily posts on our Intelligence website. Our very best wishes to all who have their birthday this week. Monday, June 24, 2019 (The Day of the Blissful Wizard) If you want to be trusted, first resolve to be trustworthy. That means knowing what you want and how you feel, and expressing that honestly with everyone. You will earn other people's confidence as they notice you being consistent and handling challenges with maturity. You don't have to get it right all the time — just keep aiming in the direction you need to go, and be prepared to admit to and repair any errors or oversights along the way without being told. Such an ethos is a sure sign of responsibility. Tuesday, June 25, 2019 (The Day of the Sensitive Receptor) What might seem like a challenging or stressful situation in terms of your career path has the potential to serve as a spur that drives your development. You'll need to engage with it actively: take that course, seek out the promotion, start your own venture — and make it your own. If you're bored, irritable or restless, check whether you're angry. You might not need more stimulus; you might need to address a situation you have not considered before. Though the idea may seem scary, it's a necessary step toward acknowledging your true capability and sense of purpose. Wednesday, June 26, 2019 (The Day of Stamina) You seem impatient to reach a new phase in your professional life, though it would help to ensure you follow all the necessary steps. If you want to fit into a specific role but don't yet have the qualifications needed, get the training, or apprentice yourself to someone who will teach you and answer your questions. You are never too old to learn new skills, and few prizes worth gaining require zero effort. Set aside any preconceptions you have of how things 'should' be, though your enthusiasm can serve as an excellent source of fuel to drive you onward. Thursday, June 27, 2019 (The Day of the Defensive Developer) You've come a long way and worked hard to get to this point in your life. The fruits of your efforts are beginning to show themselves, though try not to cling to any specific ideas about how they'll pan out. This is a journey you're still on, and what happens over the next few months will propel you toward the future, be it one of "fate" or of your own choosing. Be open to surprises, and if you're feeling unsure or apprehensive, keep in mind that the achievements you've already made cannot be taken from you. Friday, June 28, 2019 (The Day of Emotional Stimulation) It would appear you're fluctuating between two states of mind. In one, you really need to rouse yourself in order to push toward your goals; and in the other, you're barrelling ahead at such a fast pace you're liable to break the sound barrier. Finding a happy medium may seem like a challenge; the first thing to do is catch yourself when in either mode, and figure out what's going on. Then plan out a pace that's healthy and works for you. You don't need to get it perfect every day; persistence is almost always a better friend than speed.

-- By Amy Elliott Saturday, June 29, 2019 (The Day of Airborne Dreamers) Hold out your full respect for the power of desire. That is what drives you, on whatever level you may need to be motivated. The words, "I shall not want" represent the surrender of your personal volition, the most potent force in your psyche. The challenge, though, is knowing what you want, which is also about knowing what's true for you. This is your quest. As you embark on it sincerely, you will notice there are a lot of things you have no use for, and should not be part of your life. And you will notice what really turns you on. Mark the difference. Sunday, June 30, 2019 (The Day of Motivation) Normally I would never recommend that anyone scale back their ambitions or even suggest to keep them realistic, though your chart is sending you the "reality check" message. The sticky point is knowing what you want, rather than investing considerable energy into a goal or ideal that turns out not to be the thing that really gets you going. Keep exploring. Keep asking questions and, most of all, persist in your experiments — without making a major commitment. At just the right moment, your project will pick you. Monday, July 1, 2019 (The Day of Emancipation) It is a fact of your reality that you have little choice but to be exactly who you are. Yet in order to do that, you need to know what you are not, and drop it like ballast from a balloon. There is some old story that is clouding your perception, and some old commitment that is blocking your ability to move effectively in the world. With a little thought, you will be able to determine what this is. Whether you have the power to let go of negative attachments -- well, that you will see. That would be good, since much better possibilities await you. Tuesday, July 2, 2019 (The Day of the Disconnected Unconscious) Today's total solar eclipse in your birth sign is offering you the power to make the changes you need to create in your life. Do not be nervous. Do not be daunted. Rather, see what choices you have, and make some decisions. The most significant among these is the one about being wholly and entirely committed to your own cause. Nobody can do this for you. Yet it seems you are moving yourself from within. This is quite literally inner movement, a shift, a realignment that brings you closer to yourself than you've been in many, many moons. Wednesday, July 3, 2019 (The Day of the Commemorator) If you find yourself in an awesome new beginning of some kind, and then hit turbulence, do not be dissuaded, distracted or sidetracked. Just keep going, though you might need to make certain adjustments — however, these will be minor in comparison to the larger plan you are involved with. Pay special attention to professional relationships, and make sure everyone is good on the level of commitment, mutual appreciation, and the energy needed to get the job done. And remember: a little chaos is good for creativity. Not a lot; just enough to shake the tree. Thursday, July 4, 2019 (The Day of the Group Representative) You were born on Independence Day, and for you, the only meaning of that word comes from having your own resources, control of your finances, and the motivation to be a success. You simply must tap your drive, and at the same time, you must be wise with your resources. There's the clear potential for having plenty of motivation and desire for success, and then making bad choices financially. This is not necessary. You must fully inform yourself, and triple-check your sources; and put a delay in between you and any major moves you want to make. Friday, July 5, 2019 (The Day of the Showman) You have not chosen an easy path, but you have chosen a meaningful one — or you surely want to. You have things you want to do, and you have the passion to accomplish them. Here is what I suggest you remember, and remember all the time: you are your most important asset. Not your money, not your friends, not your circumstances — you personally. That includes your talents, your knowledge, and your spiritual connection, which I suggest you focus on first and foremost. Any problems you may face are merely puzzles to be solved. Saturday, July 6, 2019 (The Day of Magnetic Desire) If you are trying to figure something out, write it down, the old fashioned way, on paper. Map out your thoughts in a visual way, so you can see them; and then scribble, erase, revise, rewrite, sketch and develop what you're thinking. There is something a bit slow and ponderous about your charts right now, and you will benefit from the full use of your intelligence. This must be a deliberative operation. You will need to change your mind, change it again, and change it one more time. This is not about being indecisive. It's about an actual decision process. Sunday, July 7, 2019 (The Day of Imaginative Revelations) Give the past its place, but not too much of one. Give it enough of a voice that you learn from your experiences. Be sure to claim the knowledge and wisdom you've gained. Check in with people you've known a long time, if you want to check whether something you're thinking of, planning or about to do is realistic. And above all else, be strategic with money. You do not need to spend a lot to get the results you want, and it's likely you could do with spending a whole lot less. As wise old Ben Franklin supposedly said, a penny saved is a penny earned.

-- By Eric Francis Monthly Horoscopes and Publishing Schedule Notes

Your extended monthly horoscope for July was published on Thursday, June 27. We published your extended monthly horoscope for Junae on Thursday, May 30. Please note: we normally publish the extended monthly horoscope after the Sun has entered a new sign. Aries (March 20-April 19) -- Confidence is an issue for almost everyone. One way or another, from some angle or another, whether too much or too little, or if you've never even heard of the stuff, it's going to show up. For you, the position of Mars in your chart, or your transits, will be a distinguishing factor (there is late breaking news). A total eclipse of the Sun coming this week in your sensitive 4th house is also relevant. First things first: Your ruling planet Mars has finally left Cancer, where it was likely to have been provoking all kinds of irrationality and crazy-making, whether issuing from you, or toward you. That transit lasted from May till this past weekend, and had the theme "authority issues." Really it was some kind of early childhood or past life playback. You know what happened; I do not. You know whom you're still talking to, and who you've crossed off your list, at least for a while. All of that is superficial. There is one particular matter of an emotional nature that you need to draw to its final conclusion. You know what this is. Wrap it up and move on. It is time. Get your full Aries reading by Eric here.

Taurus (April 19-May 20) -- You may be involved in circumstances where you're offering yourself in service to something for the greater good. There are people for whom this is a strange idea; I reckon it's something you understand, for sure in theory, and with increasing experience from practice. You have the ability to facilitate progress for someone. The way this works, it will not come with a setback for you; that is true healing: it involves an increase or improvement all around. At the same time, you are making up your mind about something that has proven resistant and, at times, contentious for you -- a source of conflict that may be reminiscent of your mother's state of mind when you were much younger. A vent opens up for you, or a drain, and lets off pressure you've been carrying around and may have been building up over the past couple of months. Let it out. If any harsh words were spoken, you also have an opportunity to make amends. Get your full Taurus reading by Eric here.

Gemini (May 20-June 21) -- Mercury retrograde season is upon us. The retrograde begins July 7, in Leo, your 3rd house of mind and message. One of the reasons that Gemini is what it is -- almost all are good with words, are funny, and are perceptive in ways worth listening to -- is that you have Leo representing your language and related cognitive functions. The forthcoming Mercury retrograde involves a series of Mercury-Mars conjunctions that began on June 18 (in Cancer), which peaks on July 8 (in Leo), and which resolves in early September (in Virgo). So whatever happens early in this Mercury retrograde, remember it's part of a process that spans four months. This means you can afford to be patient. In fact, you cannot afford not to be, particularly where your words are concerned. Everything you write, share or publish must be on a delay: don't just bust out and click "send." It will also take you time to figure out what you're reading, whether it's a contract, a book, instructions, or personal correspondence. Slow down and pay attention. Get your full Gemini reading by Eric here.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Tuesday is the first total solar eclipse in your birth sign in nearly a decade. Eclipses each have their own distinct mark on consciousness, and much of that is what you might call "receptor mediated." Your state of mind, your position, your density level, make all the difference in how you experience an event of this magnitude. Keep that in mind. Stay in a positive frame, as much as you can. Particularly through July 1st, 2nd and 3rd, focus on things you like to do, and want to do, because the power of the eclipse will multiply them. If you are struggling at all to be in a positive state of mind, remember all the times you've been wracked with anxiety but the thing you feared the most was nowhere to be seen or found. Therefore, use this time to make the world you want, even if for a few days. You know what you love. You know what you want. Align with yourself and make it real. Get your full Cancer reading by Eric here.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) -- Mars is about to enter your sign, joining two other planets already there: Mercury, and one of the master asteroids, Juno. This is the astrology of motivation, of curiosity, and of deciding what way you want to go in life. Normally, the presence of Mars would be somewhat straightforward: you do what you want, need or must. But Mercury retrograde (which begins July 7) makes a conjunction to Mars on July 8, and this is probably going to ask more questions than it answers, for now. You must be very (and I do mean very) cautious about accepting any information as final, solid or accurate. Consider anything that comes your way to be a lead, a clue, or something potentially correct. You may be tempted to act fast on something you hear, learn or discover, and that in particular needs to be handled with caution. Use your motivation to keep asking questions. Go deeper; you cannot do "research" on your phone. You need a desk, a computer, a notebook and time to think slowly, carefully and thoroughly. This is not in style right now; it must be for you. Get your full Leo reading by Eric here.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) -- Your sign is prone to anxiety, and you will want to monitor this now. You may be concerned about being in public, though that's not the energy source. It's your inner world that you need to track carefully; it's your own thoughts that make you feel the most vulnerable. If you find yourself projecting your fear onto external sources, that is the time to pause, and intervene on your own behalf. Externalizing your fears only makes them worse, and by the way, this is a prevalent meme in society today. Many are freaking out about the "other," in whatever form that may take, and not addressing the deeply personal material that is the heart of the matter. Speaking of heart, this takes place in Leo, the sign of the Sun, of the heart center, of courage, and of true value. Much of your struggle in life is that so often, these things seem so difficult for you to access. I have a suggestion: you are a person of ideas. Experiment with those. If you're up late at night, do something creative. Understanding is another matter entirely. Get your full Virgo reading by Eric here.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) -- You're about to experience an opening on the professional front. I know it's been a rough couple of months, particularly where the more important aspects of work are concerned. By that I mean your higher goals, your reputation, your relationships to important people. You have made more progress than you might think. Your own sensitivity usually warns you off of being too assertive (which leads to your being subversive, and that is worse). You have begun to set things in order, which takes energy, focus, and confidence, even if you have to fake it every now and then. Tuesday's solar eclipse in Cancer, your solar 10th house (associated with all of the above) is an invitation to refine your goals and objectives. While these are always a work in progress, you are at a rare moment of alignment right now, where you can thread the needle and pierce all the seeming layers of what stands between you and what you want. Essential to this process is letting yourself focus on daring possibilities that you know are right or you. In fact, one is enough. Get your full Libra reading by Eric here.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) -- Mars crosses into the powerful 10th house of your solar chart Monday, which is full of vim and vigor and the energy of a soccer player smashing her second goal of the game. However, there is need for caution, as Mercury is about to turn to retrograde movement in just one week, and the effect is coming through right now even if you're not noticing it. So you want to plan your moves carefully, and place them on hold pending additional information. Some cosmic or physical file is about to spill open in your direction right around July 7th or 8th, and you will want to save your best moves for then. If you act too soon, you will close off certain important options, or make decisions based on incomplete, incorrect or plainly irrelevant information. So stay in research mode, map out the power structure of whatever it is that you plan to invade or conquer, and make sure you know who is your friend and who is not. Till then, keep it buttoned. Get your full Scorpio reading by Eric here.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) -- This week's events will be revealing in terms of whether you can handle the emotional complexities of one particular relationship. How much energy are you burning? How much effort are you expending? How much toxicity are you absorbing? How much do you need to know, before you know enough? This week's astrology is a moment of truth. The future is beckoning you. You are being called to live a greater life than you are living now. Yet for you to do that, the past must not drag you down. There is much more to this situation than you may recognize, and it's essential that you keep your senses and your wits about you. That might not be easy, as Jupiter square Neptune is serving as something of an anesthetic, making certain unrealistic ideals seem like they have more potential than they do. Your life is not about any of those other people. Your life is about you. Get your full Sagittarius reading by Eric here.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) -- This week arrives with the beginning of the first eclipse pair across the Cancer-Capricorn axis -- the one you orient on if you have the Sun, Moon or rising in either of these signs. From your point of view now, the influences focus on what seem like inevitable changes in a relationship. Yet those changes also point to an opening; they describe a situation that is ready to take a step, whether that is some form of transformation, transition, re-alignment or goodbye. You have probably noticed how attached people are to partnerships that simply do not function, are wracked with constant drama, and which bear no resemblance to anything that could be reasonably be called loving. You may not be in such a situation, but the tendency of humans at this time is worth noting. The truth is, you need your independence. You need to define yourself some way other than through the person you're with. You need to be you, and nothing else -- embrace that possibility. Get your full Capricorn reading by Eric here.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- I will repeat my caution about taking care of your health. That mainly involves two things: what you eat, and how you feel. If you want a good week where your efforts to get into a positive cycle with these things make a difference, this would be the one. Be aware that the pressure you're feeling may seem "work related," but really, it's coming from a deep place and needs attention. The outer circumstances of your life are not the issue. It is the inner conditions, ones dating back many years, which require your gentle focus. That would begin by letting off some of the pressure you've been under for a while. And it also involves not letting close relationship partners mix it up with you, and you not mixing it up with them. Your life in recent months has been a study in anger management; how have you been doing? For the next few weeks, you will need to wear your long fuse. And make sure you have at least one person you actually trust with your fears and innermost feelings, who can serve as a reality checkpoint. Get your full Aquarius reading by Eric here.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Get it going. By which I mean, get yourself going -- heat up that creative furnace, get the cauldron simmering, and dive in. Try to set this week aside, as much as possible, for the artist, the lover, the poet, the rocker in you. Take a little more time than usual to live as if you're the artist you want to be, and who you know you are inside. That means some extra self-indulgence. It might mean a little extra derring-do on the sexual front, allowing yourself to be a bit more forward and approaching the person you want. If you're with a partner, drop a few layers of inhibition and maybe answer the door naked when s/he comes home. That kind of thing. Do it right now -- dust off your pastels, find your sketchbook, tune the guitar or put on new strings, and stock up on your favorite libation. There's about to be a total solar eclipse in the very sweetest angle of your chart, the high-energy 5th house, which is about taking the risk of having some liberated, creative fun. Get your full Pisces reading by Eric here.

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