July 2017 Forecasts

Venus in Taurus June 29 – July 26
Venus offers some comfort while transiting its own sign in July. It is, however, strongly influenced by Saturn in Scorpio. This can restrict indulgence, especially if we are too focused on the Saturn side of the equation. Thankfully, Jupiter influences from Virgo, creating a more balanced approach.  

Much depends on which side of the equation we find ourselves, of course. If we spend all of our time pleasure seeking – avoiding issues which make us feel vulnerable – we may bury things so that they grow stronger in the background, working against our best interests. 

At the same time, we may find our pleasure seeking at odds with the stresses we are facing. But turning our attention to the pleasant things in life, brings us back into our bodies and the moment, out of fear based reactions to situations that are out of our control.
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Mercury in Cancer July 2 -21
Mercury is ill equipped to deal with the emotional tides which take our thoughts here and there in Cancer. Feelings fuel our thoughts, which creates a loop back into how we feel by repeating these feelings to ourselves, solidifying these feelings in our minds. 

While Mercury transits Cancer, our communications take on an emotional tone, with childish outbursts more evident once Mars joins Mercury from July 11.

One way of dealing with this slippery transit is to get acquainted with how you are feeling from moment-to-moment, and simply observe your emotions mindfully, as if reporting on the weather. 

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Sri Vedavyasa

Full Moon in Sagittarius July 9
​Guru Purnima
The Moon reaches its fullest in Sagittarius, and the lunar sign, Purva Ashadha, on Sunday July 9 BST. Purva Asadha is ruled by Venus, and Venus is placed in the Moon’s lunar sign, Rohini, during this full Moon phase.

This points to an interplay between a meaningful grasp of life, and very tangible, sensual experiences. Purva Ashadha is symbolized by a fan and its ruling deity is the water deity Apah, representing a swell of tides and emotions.

With Jupiter (Guru) in Virgo, we may need to quieten the critical voices to express our appreciation to those who have guided our path and brought comfort and safety to our lives on Guru Purnima; a day for honouring our teachers. 

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Mars in Cancer July 11 - Aug. 27
Mars moves into its sign of weakness, while in combustion (close to the Sun) in July and August, creating emotional heat waves, churning and stirring up destructive patterns, both personal and meteorological. 

Mars does not do well in the emotive Cancer. It prefers action, despite how we may be feeling in the moment. Cancer is all about how we are feeling from moment-to-moment, and this can dissuade us from taking any action at all - if we don't feel like it.

We may find ourselves overcompensating and risk injury or exhaustion in the process.

Water doesn’t take a direct route from A to B, as the Mars impulse would have it. Instead, it flows and trickles here, there and everywhere, on its way to its final destination. This is frustrating for 'Mars types' who like to get there - yesterday!

One way to express this Mars transit is to go swimming - or at least spend some time by the sea. The lapping waves and salty air subdue the Mars tendency to get frustrated at the apparent lack of direction while Mars is debilitated and in complete combustion. Make sure to keep cool under the intense mid-summer Sun, as one surefire way to increase frustration is to overheat yourself!

While in Cancer, Mars can create a childish, reactionary tone we must be mindful of in July and August. This will play out in more dramatic ways in the world at large, and in our own lives if we are not conscious of the possibility - especially after mid-August, once Mars moves into a strong section of Cancer and over the northern eclipse degree by the end of August and into the beginning of September. 

Sometimes in life we need to be okay with simply floating along aimlessly, trusting that the tides will bring us to where we need to be. 
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Sun in Cancer July 15 – Aug. 15
The Sun moved into Tropical Cancer on the Solstice - marking mid-summer for those on the northern hemisphere, with the Sun’s ingress into sidereal Cancer occurring on July 15.

The Sun’s prominence in Cancer highlights a need to stay at home and enjoy comfortable surroundings, as well as issues of security, be it personal or national. And yet Mars' presence is ill-equipped to deal with the emotional intensity. Hold your nerve. 

These transits can also lead to a desire to roam around, seeking out direction elsewhere, with a sense of restlessness that can mask a need to deal with emotional issues at home. 

The symbol of Cancer is a crab, carrying its home on its back, forever negotiating the ebb and flow of life.

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Mercury in Leo July 21 – Sept. 26
Mercury changes signs again in July, as it enters Leo, and comes up against the evasive Rahu as soon as it enters the sign. Keep an open mind regarding what is presented to you in the coming weeks, as Mercury will remain in Leo for a longer-than-usual period, due to its retrograde transit from August 13 until September 5 (more on this next month).

Mercury in Leo is dramatic and determined. It gets stuck into a debate and holds strong opinions. While Mercury transits alongside Rahu and opposite Neptune in Aquarius, we can see how easy it is to lose our grasp of reality if we are only listening to others' opinions, while ignoring our own felt impressions.

Governance and leaders of all kinds will be put under great scrutiny in the coming weeks, as we each focus on the area of our lives Leo represents. 
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Mercury is influenced by Saturn all the while it transits the sign, while Rahu’s presence leads to much confusion and misunderstanding, especially as Mercury stations retrograde by mid-August, and while it stations direct over the eclipse degree alongside Mars by early September.

​This period has the potential to shake things up and create many changes in governments.  

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New Moon in Cancer July 23
Mars joins the Sun and new Moon in Cancer, in the lunar sign Pushya, on July 23. Although Pushya is an auspicious sign, the placement of Mars here - while the sign’s ruler, Saturn currently transits the very end of Mars’ sign Scorpio - is challenging.

We must be aware of the dip in energy levels as Mars is in complete combustion for this new Moon phase. Feeling burnt out is likely, as the dark phase of the Moon brings our awareness to Mars’ weakness and lack of direction.

Those more airy in nature (vata) feel more spaced out at the new Moon phase, while those with a heavier constitution (kapha) can feel more energized by the lightness introduced. Either way, the new Moon draws us back into ourselves, while Mars’ weakness and combustion draws out impurities to be detoxified, potentially aggravating fiery types (pitta). The emotional detox itself is extreme and needs more time and energy to complete.

Take some time out this July, especially if you are feeling pushed to make something happen before a natural course of action is presented to you.

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Venus enters Gemini July 26
Venus moving into Gemini is a relief in one sense, as Saturn no longer restricts Venus. However, the comforts of Taurus and Jupiter's influence are left behind to seek out more options and stimulation. 

If we tune into the Venusian impulse, pleasure can express itself in many forms and playful ideas. Creative expressions are varied and exciting, as the festivities of the summer fill our senses and ignite our imagination.


 
OM TAT SAT