July Astrology: Seeking Visions and Setting Intentions
By Catie Cadge, PhD
Ah, summer…finally you are here! This year’s June gloom makes way for Cancer season this July. What do you think, star gazers, my Santa Cruz community? We need some warmth of the Sun’s rays, some healing summer waves and sand, some time to relax and take care of our weary selves, love our family and friends and nurture our souls. Isn’t that what summer is all about? Cancer is the sign of the crab and the little crustacean in all of us likes to take refuge sometimes in a warm, cozy shell, let the world go by and let the feelings rush over us and release them in an ocean breeze. But the cosmos says there’s more in store this July.
First, the month begins with a Full Moon in Capricorn at 11°19’, July 3rd at 4:38 am Pacific time. Happy Fourth of July! La Luna opposes Cancer Mercury and the Sun, while forming a trine (120° angle of possibilities and potential) with Jupiter in Taurus. This is a good time to make things real and solid, for building strategies supporting our resources, our creative projects and what brings us peace and calm. Just be careful of trying too hard to control the outcomes and make sure to recognize the needs and feelings of others. We all have a “masterpiece” to paint in this lifetime, but it takes a balance of discipline and hard work along with self-care and the nurturing loving support of family and friends. Cancer is a sign appropriate for the feelings of patriotism. Our love of home and for ol’ Red, White and Blue on the 4th. “Wave that flag! Wave it wide and high!!”
By mid-July, Moon’s north and south nodes enter Aries and Libra. The lunar nodes suggest a collective time of needing to properly assert ourselves, rolling the dice on putting ourselves first, taking appropriate action by being the spiritual warrior, versus a “karma” of always seeking to people please or trying too hard to keep the apple cart in balance. Somethings are worth fighting for. The key is to figure out what is worth the battle and step up to it in order to support real peace and justice. I am hoping we will see some pioneers emerge who speak out against the forces causing climate change and that we all take action for a better future and a better, healthier planet. As the songwriters John Barlow and Bob Weir declare, “Someone got to turn the page!”
The nodal shift occurs the same day, July 17th, as the New Moon in Cancer, 24°56’, at 11:31 am. In a sextile (60° aspect) to Uranus in Taurus and a trine to Neptune in Pisces, this is a perfect New Moon for seeking a vision and setting an intention to help our momma Earth. Cancer is the sign most associated with our home and our family and what better expression of our familial love than that for our home planet, all the creatures great and small. We are not alone. We are in this together and we can all make a difference! Part of the New Moon is also about taking care of ourselves, healing our bodies and souls, being kind to ourselves, so we can be the true north node in Aries warrior we all sorely need.
July 22nd Sun enters Leo. I always think of the image of “Sun,” the Major Arcana card, of the famous Rider-Waite tarot deck, for the joy of sunshine and sunflowers in late July and early August. On the card, a little child rides with arms outstretched, “Here I am!” Leo is a time to shine in all our creative glory, cherish those we love with a big open heart and BE that little child. Let go and live! The same day, Venus slows in the sky and turns retrograde at 28°36’ Leo and the day after, July 23rd, the asteroid Chiron, the “Wounded Healer,” also stations retrograde at 19°58’ Aries. Time to reassess where your own passions need to fly! Pluto in late Capricorn squares the lunar nodes July 25th. What sense of “duty” keeps you from that child letting go and doing that passionate Leo dance?
Catie Cadge is Dean of the Forrest Center for Evolutionary Astrology. Classes and more information: forrestastrology.center. Read about Catie and her work at caraevolutionaryastrology.com.
Featured image of the full moon in Capricorn by Catie Cadge
