Dear Friend and Reader:
Venus stations direct Wednesday, ending its six week retrograde in Gemini. [I am covering this in two parts in PW Daily — part one is here.] We’ve experienced lots of unusual astrology during these weeks, including the Venus transit of the Sun, an event so rare that a child born this spring would have to live to be 108 in order to see the next one.
There are numerous indicators in the charts this month that family life is under stress. We know this — it’s not news; relatively few kids have parents who are able to be fully present for them. Yet astrology in the immediate vicinity is saying specifically to be cautious of decisions and incidents that impact children, which can span from how you respond to seemingly ordinary problems to domestic politics to monitoring their exposure to acts of war on television.
The Sun in Cancer (which began June 20) is a reminder to keep your energy focused at home as a high priority. There is a potent Full Moon in Capricorn on Tuesday, July 3, and the New Moon in Cancer on July 19. Mercury will turn retrograde in Leo on July 14 and stations direct in Leo on Aug. 8. This will be the fourth inner planet retrograde of the year — count on us for full coverage. If you would like some back story on what I’m calling the ‘solstice cluster’ of events, check this post.
Lovingly,
Inner Space Monthly Horoscope for July 2012 | Eric’s Zodiac Sign Descriptions
Aries (March 20-April 19) — Material that’s been below the surface is likely to come bubbling into your relationships over the next few weeks. You know that none of what you’re addressing is actually new, and if you have not figured that out, that’s what I’m here to remind you. The questions to ask yourself are things like: What are my limits? What is acceptable conduct toward me? What constitutes a violation of trust? What agendas do people have? Up to a point, it’s fair to say that people are acting on you, though if you don’t honor your own boundaries, you will be the one who must take full responsibility for what happens to you. If you start coming from that position and refuse to be a victim, you will be able to keep hold of your own power and make healthy decisions a lot sooner.
Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Focus your financial priorities. Even if you’re in a state of relative abundance, now is the time to plan carefully for the future. I suggest you take two lines of approach. One is to get clear about what’s important. There are a lot of ways your money could be directed, and some are clearly more important than others. Some of the most expensive things are entirely meaningless, particularly if you have them only for show. Second is I suggest you look for (and work with) non-cash forms of resources. This includes everything from ideas to people willing to help you to repurposing what you already have. Be bold about asking for what people don’t seem to need; bartering and other forms of exchange will be mutually profitable.
Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Jupiter is now in your sign for the next year — and that suggests some bold adventures are coming your way. The key idea to work with is different. If you have a choice between options for what to do, try the unfamiliar one. If you want to read, try an author you’ve never experienced. Stretch the bounds of your mind, approaching problems from new points of view. You have a lot to learn from older people who are not your parents; they have different information, a different agenda and no power over you except for what feels authentic and persuasive. Yet the thing to remember is that all roads lead to a spiritual question. That question involves the nature of your existence and the extent to which it’s possible for others to dictate who you are. You no longer need that kind of influence, correct?
Cancer (June 21-July 22) — You now get an extended opportunity to see what you’ve been missing. You’re used to keeping yourself entertained with certain stories about who you are and about the nature of your personality and certain deeper psychic levels. You’re about to discover that no matter how well you thought you knew yourself, you were missing approximately half of the story. What’s more interesting is that you’re likely to remember that you’ve actually thought of this all before; you just forgot that you noticed it or figured it out. Therefore, take a circumspect approach to everything. Check in with as many viewpoints as you can think of. Some of your best guidance is going to be coming from your dreams, which will be an effective way to look into your blind spots and dark corners.
Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Get it in writing and put it in writing. You would be amazed how much trouble this can save. Jot down the promises you make and those that are made to you. Where money or other property is changing hands, make sure there is a written agreement. Get contracts in employment or freelance situations, and make sure that everyone sticks to them. We will assume that the truth is on your side, and that therefore, documentation in any form will favor you, or favor everyone involved in the circumstances of your life. Remember that what is fair is fair. You won’t have to fight for it though you might have to assert your position with some emphasis — and if it ever comes time to do that, you want something to keep in your folder just in case you ever need it.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Early this month Mars leaves your sign after more than eight months, including a long retrograde. Mars moves forward carrying the fussy precision of Virgo. Though the more significant development is that you have learned to be more assertive about what matters to you the most. Not only that, you’re likely to have figured out what that actually is, and to have taken some chances on making sure that it’s a priority for you. The challenge you face going forward is about continuing to take the leading role in your own life. You’re vulnerable to the influences and persuasions of others, and you may not be in the mood to stand up for yourself like you’ve been with Mars visiting you. Just remember what you’ve learned about how easy it is, and how well it works.
Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Now you’ll get to see if everything you’ve been worrying about for so long was actually real. At least when you look at the very short list of things that actually turn out to be problems, you’ll have the determination to resolve the issues. However, avoid ‘solving’ things in such a way that causes you to go out of balance, thus creating more issues and the need for more effort. Assert yourself gently. Keep your mind on the whole-system known as your life. Rather than putting energy fast and furious into the small elements of what seems wrong, consider ways you can make many improvements with a few focused decisions. The key word is focus — a solid understanding of what you want to do and how you plan to do it, rather than committing to pouring out your energy.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — You’re having an influence on a number of situations much larger than you, though at this point you might not see how that is working. The astrology suggests you have the ability to tip the scales on situations that are hanging in the balance. Yet there’s a larger matter at stake, which is your ability to maintain a sense of the interests of everyone involved. In a sense, you’re the guardian of justice, and I suggest you only devote energy and attention to outcomes that are authentically fair. You have the ability to sway things any way you want, though the karmic stakes are a little higher than you’re accustomed to. If you’re not fair with everyone in your life, you will discover how unfair people can be to you — which is silly, considering how much you both have to offer.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — You may feel like you live in a glass house, but it’s more like the hall of mirrors. You will be here for a while, so I suggest you get acquainted with what you’re looking at. Or rather, notice that what you project outward will account for most of what you see in front of you. This is usually true, though it’s particularly vivid now. If there’s a message underneath the surface, it’s focus on yourself if you want to change your life. Though there’s no point trying to change others, few people actually remember this. However, the results you get will speak for themselves. If you change your mind or your point of view, the reflection you’re looking at will change — though like when you’re looking in a mirror, it may be in the opposite direction.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Avoid the temptation to base your relationships on your attachment to the past, or to the way you think things were. It would only be a distraction, and you don’t have time for that now. You have many significant responsibilities to attend to, and setting things right won’t necessarily be a simple or fast process. I suggest you embrace that complexity, and make sure you focus on one agenda item at a time, starting with what you decide is the most important. If you do this with some persistence, you will build your confidence and gradually bring a sense of order to what may seem entirely out of control right now. One potential distraction is unhealthy emotional attachment. Do your best to keep your focus right now, and stand back from those who obsess over the way things were.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — You seem to be pouring more and more energy into an effort to get yourself unstuck in a creative or relationship situation — perhaps both — though it would help if you did one little thing: think differently. That’s another way of saying ‘not the same’ or ‘new approach’ or ‘reconsider everything’ or ‘take a chance you would not normally take’. This is something that has to come from the inside rather than from trying to change your circumstances. A thousand colors of paint doesn’t make someone a painter, nor does being naked make someone a lover. What matters is making contact with the spark of passion inside yourself, then having faith in it long enough to do something creative. It’ll also help if you name your fear of loss for what it is; that’s blocking a lot of energy.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — You may not feel especially popular, though you’re having an impact on the people around you even if they’re not letting on. Yet the planets are suggesting that you shift your emphasis to your personal space and your inner world, and put some boundaries between you and groups of any kind. Being so available to so many people is not helping you, and it’s not the thing that’s making a difference in the lives of those around you right now. There are relatively few people with whom you want to exchange energy, and I suggest you keep your emphasis focused at home and on keeping your life interesting rather than large. Emphasize the quality of your personal exchange rather than expansion, and for now I suggest you put your emotional and financial resources into your home rather than business or work. A plant grows from the roots, and so do you.