July begins with the Sun in nurturing, sensitive Cancer, but Venus and Mercury are hanging out in party-hardy Leo, keeping the party lights lit and ramping up the creative energies. Leo is a regal sign, ruling drag queens, drama queens, and wannabee queens. It’s a good sign for creativity, whether it’s a new business idea, creating your masterpiece, or learning to crochet.

Speaking of Leo, the big news this month is that Saturn will be finishing up his journey through Cancer and entering the sign Leo on July 17. Like Saturn, we here on earth are finishing up something important and about to embark on a new path. This transition is so important that I have dedicated a whole other article to it.

Back up your computer, and get your car serviced early in the month, because Mercury will turn retrograde on July 22. This means he will appear to go backwards, as all the planets do, for three weeks. As the messenger of the gods, Mercury in astrology governs communications and travel. While Mercury is retrograde, those things get screwy. Expect heavy traffic, delays, machinery malfunctions, computer problems, and typos. Mercury retrograde is not a big deal unless having accurate information is of utmost importance. Surgeries and lab tests, for example. What happens a lot of times is the test, or gods forbid, the surgery, must be repeated at a later date1.

Expect Mercury retrograde-esque events to start happening a few days before it actually begins. Say around the 18th.

The first 8 days of July are jumpy and you might get a surprise or something unexpected. July 3, 5, and 6 look pretty clear, as a New Moon in Cancer clears the slate for things to start moving. The 5th and 6th are especially interesting as Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Uranus line up in a formation called a Yod. This “finger of God” formation, which shows up in the birth charts of good basketball players, signals a need for us all to be adaptable, creative, and quick on our feet. You may be forced to draw on your creativity and take maximum advantage of the ideas and resources around you. The result could amount to sheer brilliance, but rebellious types have to be willing to work within the system. It’s a good couple of days to get organized.

Easy does it Monday and Tuesday, July 11 and 12th. There’s an impulsive vibe, but many folks have their heads in the clouds or aren’t paying attention. Be careful in traffic, and don’t rush decisions these two days.

The 14-17th are problem solving days. Obstacles finally clear out, the vibe is pleasant and cooperative. These are great days for committees to meet and decide important matters, to ask your boss for a raise, to present your ideas to others, to work on your masterpiece, or to have that heart-to-heart talk with your sweetie. There is a procreative “power surge” at this time as well. If you do not wish to make a baby, consider yourself warned! If you do, consider yourself encouraged!

The week of the 18-23rd is back to business. We have a few heavy aspects, signalling that folks are in a cranky mood this week. And Saturn faces off with Chiron in the sky: for many folks, this means old wounds, old pain coming up. Chiron is known as the Wounded Healer, and his mythology speaks of the necessity of giving others what you were deprived of, and when you have had enough of that, giving that same thing to yourself at long last. Many of us in life eventually find healing through “re-parenting” ourselves, reconnecting with that little girl or little boy inside with the unmet need, and really listening. This is what Chiron’s energy is like, and the kind of thing that can really help folks move through any sadness that comes up during this week.

Our energies start to feel calmer and we’re more concerned with creature comforts than competitions after Mars leaves Aries and enters Taurus on the 28th. Easy does it the next few days, as Mars will check in with Saturn, and both are in stubborn signs. So you may meet or be around folks with inflexible viewpoints who will. not. budge. Everyone else has a problem with this, but not you, of course. July 28-30 are not suited for making complicated plans or demands on others. Also not a good time to argue politics with folks on the other side of the fence. Mars square Saturn also signals accidents, injury, explosions, and mechanical mishaps. Lest we forget, Mercury is retrograde, so on top of it all traffic is a mess, the computer’s not working, and everyone’s confused. Play it safe these final days of July.

Molly Cliborne

1 There are a lot of factors involved in electing an astrologically suitable surgery date. If you need help with this, please get in touch. If money is an issue, I am happy to waive the $35 fee.