Hello, everyone.
Let’s look at July 2010 to see what the planetary influences are and how we can work with them.
- We’ll start with the most long-range and overarching influences, the planets Pluto, Neptune, and Uranus, which you will notice do not change from month to month but stay in the same sector of the sky for many years.
- Then we will look at the mid-range influences, Jupiter and Saturn, which stay in the same sign for 1 – 2.5 years.
- We’ll look at the personal planets, Mars, Venus, Mercury, and the Sun which stay in their respective signs for much shorter periods and primarily influence our day-to-day lives.
- And last we’ll look at the sign and dates for the New and Full Moons, as these mark the waxing and waning cycles in our daily lives.
Pluto in Capricorn
We’ve spoken at length about Pluto in Capricorn (see category at right), where it will remain until 2024. In a nutshell, this long transit will bring fundamental change to many of the structures we have come to rely upon: government, religion, the economy, industry, and transport systems, to name a few. The transit carries the energy of revolution and evolution and can be dramatic and at times overwhelming. Pluto exposes what is hidden, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse.
Pluto hastens and intensifies the processes of endings and new beginnings, and in Capricorn will bring about the ending of our business pursuits that are no longer suited to our growth and personal evolution. Whatever has been slowly leaking vitality will go ahead and die, including old business models, practices, and products.
This is formidable energy, and your best strategy is to tune in and work with it. Find an area in your business life in need of renewal and begin the process before Pluto reaches planets in your chart and forces the issue. Everyone with planets in the first seven degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn is already dealing with this energy.
Pluto turned retrograde on April 6. This retrograde motion combined with the extremely long orbit of the planet causes it to traverse only 3 degrees of Capricorn during the entire year. Last December it was at 2 degrees of Capricorn, by April 6 it had reached 5 degrees, it will retrograde back to 2 degrees by mid-September, and it doesn’t reach 5 degrees again until next January. If you have planets between 2 and 5 degrees of any sign you will experience a deeper and deeper probing and cleansing all year long, probably related to the issues mentioned above. Pluto transits can be difficult, but when the work is through, they are the most rewarding because we are irrevocably freed from a long-standing, but hidden, issue. You may have noticed a reversal since April, leading you back to a problem you thought you had resolved. Not yet! There’s still more freedom to be gained.
Neptune in Aquarius
With Neptune in Aquarius (see category at right) from 1998 to 2011, we’ve seen a global consensus regarding the equality of the common man, shared responsibility to the group, ascendancy of people and nations based on the power of knowledge, the right of all nations to progress technologically, and the right of each person to contribute to and further the base of common knowledge.
The best way to work with this energy is to allow your rational mind to open to waves of inspiration from the collective whole, from your local community to the global community. Expect to be inspired by your neighbors and friends, both near and far.
Neptune turned retrograde on May 31. Like Pluto, Neptune has an extremely long orbit which combined with its annual retrograde motion causes it to traverse only 3 degrees of Aquarius this year. In February it had reached 25 degrees of Aquarius, by May 31 it reached 28 degrees where it turned around and is on its way back to 25 degrees on November 8, when it will again move forward to reach 28 degrees again next February. If you have planets between 25 and 28 degrees of any sign you will experience a subtle but powerful dissatisfaction with certain areas of your life and a yearning for a more meaningful connection to others. This disconcerting influence can dissolve the forms in our life that have no real content for us anymore. This can be disorienting and confusing while it is happening but once these deeper connections are made, the benefits are rewarding and long-lasting.
Uranus in Aries
On July 5 Uranus will enter its cycle of retrograde motion. During the entire month of July it slowly travels back through the very first degree of Aries, and then in August it moves back into Pisces where it will remain until next March.
Since May 27, when Uranus entered Aries, we’ve been getting to know this new energy. Aries is the spark of entrepreneurial spirit, the initiating drive toward independence and individuality. You may have noticed new ideas incubating and a spirit of bold entrepreneurship in and around your business. Now, when Uranus moves into retrograde motion, you may notice a disruption of this full-speed-ahead energy. You may feel ambivalent or dissatisfied with your new ideas and initiatives.
This feeling of dissatisfaction is common in the first few weeks of a retrograde cycle. This is not to say that your new projects should be abandoned. The retrograde part of the cycle is the perfect time to develop and test our ideas and reevaluate our tactics and approach. We can use this time to discern which of our ideas have lasting value and which have limited potential. Ideally, we see ourselves as explorers of unknown territory, as Erin Sullivan says in her excellent book, Retrograde Planets, and we test our strategy before we invest too heavily.
Saturn in Virgo/Libra
Since May 30, when Saturn resumed direct motion in Virgo, it’s been steadily bringing discipline and order to our work lives. We have three more weeks to finish organizing our personal workspaces and getting our back office systems in order. Use these last weeks of this excellent organizing energy to detail a plan for the next few months and set up the systems to accomplish it.
On July 21, Saturn reenters the sign of Libra, where it is exalted. When a planet is exalted in a sign, it has a special affinity to the sign and if you’re willing to do the work, there is a promised payoff. See the category to the right on this important transit, but in a nutshell: what is the work of Saturn in Libra? To develop patience, persistence, responsibility, and humility in relationships. What is the payoff? Cooperation and mutual support.
Until October 2010, Saturn is in square aspect to Pluto in Capricorn (see above). The stress of this square aspect will bring the end to structures that are no longer working in our businesses (and in our world) as the Saturn energy attempts to install the Libra values of equity, parity, diplomacy, collaboration, and cooperation. This pattern becomes exact in mid-August and we can expect the energy to build until then.
Saturn also opposes Uranus on July 26 for the last time in a five-part series. Watch for my post later in the month on this important aspect.
Jupiter in Aries
On June 6, Jupiter, the planet of opportunity and expansion, entered Aries. Aries is an initiatory sign and Jupiter thinks big. Your former goals may have felt too limiting and you may have experienced a passion for growth, expansion, competition, and claiming new territories in the last few weeks. Risk-taking fervor may be sweeping through you.
This will all slow down this month as Jupiter approaches its retrograde cycle on July 23. I think it’s so interesting that we were introduced to the sea change of Pisces to Aries with the two titans Jupiter and Uranus, only to have them both enter retrograde motion and regress back into Pisces in the next couple of months. Certainly we’re being given the chance to take a few last lessons from Pisces before we jump with both feet into Aries next winter.
Similar to the retrogradation of Uranus in Aries above, we may find our enthusiasm flagging for our new products and plans. The forward momentum we’ve been enjoying may reverse, and we ourselves may feel more restrained. This is an important phase for realistically assessing how much we can get done, to curtail overdoing and over-committing, and to take the time to slowly grow a project to completion.
Mars in Virgo
Mars spends most of the month in Virgo. When Mars is in Virgo we focus our energy on dissemination and distribution. Mars in Virgo brings a penchant for order and concrete productivity and much more interest in service to others. How are your employees and coworkers faring? If they are doing well, feeling useful and productive, then you are using Mars in Virgo well.
Venus in Leo/Virgo
Venus begins the month in Leo and that spells fun – perfect for USA July 4th celebrations. Venus indicates what makes people happy, creative, and productive and Leo loves showmanship, competition, games, and sports. To build camaraderie try a company softball game or online video tournament. Company culture is a key component of success. Venus in Leo is a great time to build that culture.
On July 10, Venus transitions into Virgo. Venus in Virgo has a bit of a bad reputation for being nit-picking, perfectionistic, and fault-finding. Not us, surely! When Venus is in Virgo our happiness, creativity and productivity comes from our daily routines. We like nothing better than to arrive at work on time, put in a good day, and then eat a nourishing meal in the evening. The more you can build a productive, repetitive schedule into your day, the happier you will feel.
Mercury in Cancer/Leo/Virgo
Mercury is again moving quickly this month. On July 9th it moves into Leo and on the 27th moves into Virgo.
Use these first few days of Mercury in Cancer to meet with everyone who needs your attention and make sure they are on board with your company goals. This is a good time to spell out your vision and gain people’s trust.
When Mercury enters Leo, conversations and communications become showy and dramatic. Sales presentations should include a bit of flash and a bit of fun. Just warn your sales team not to come off as cocky or overconfident, which is sure to turn people off. Everyone wants to be noticed at this time.
Mercury in Virgo at the end of the month is great for writing, documentation, and detailed project plans. Also great for getting that bookkeeping caught up!
Sun in Cancer/Leo
While the Sun is in Cancer take time with your employees and customers. Make sure you understand what they need and nurture these relationships as best you can.
When the Sun moves into Leo, step into the limelight. As the leader of your team, this is the time of year par excellence to set direction and reinforce your authority. You may become hyper-sensitive to issues of loyalty, recognizing who on your team is really on your team, and who is just passing through. Of course, loyalty is a two way street, usually only given when it is received in kind.
Phases of the Moon
The New Moon is in Cancer with a Solar Eclipse on July 11, waxing to full in Aquarius on July 25. Each of these Moons is significant this month, which we’ll examine in the weekly and daily forecasts.
Monthly Recap
Another big month in our summer of transformation! With all of the outer planets except Saturn in retrograde motion we will find ourselves retracing our steps and reevaluating our progress. The Saturn/Uranus opposition challenges us to find our balance in the face of change and Mars and Venus in Virgo will help ground us through day-by-day practical achievement. The Sun and Mercury in Cancer and Leo will highlight issues related to bonding and loyalty with staff and customers, and don’t forget to bring some fun into your workplace – everyone needs some stress release this summer!
For a discussion of the meaning of the Saturn/Uranus opposition, see this post:
To explore retrograde motion, see these posts:
Retracing Your Steps – Retrograde Motion
For more info on each of the planets, see
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