Cosmic Weather Horoscope for July 23 – July 28
Jane Lyle, Astrologer
Thursday 26th July:
Slow Down for Summer
Mercury turns retrograde today at 23 degrees Leo. The planet of media, travel, communications and languages is backtracking until 19th August.
There’ll be more slow-downs and snarl-ups to negotiate during 2018’s summer holidays. Do leave extra time for travel, check everything twice, and – as always – take care of your cards and cash, especially when using online services.
At this point, Mercury, Mars, Saturn, Neptune and Pluto are all retrograde. In August, once Uranus turns back on the 7th, there will be six planets out of the classical ten used in traditional astrology travelling in retrograde motion. Most of us will feel this slow down, and experience a few blasts from the past.
The big cosmic message for this phase is – try not rush, and aim to deal with – or park – any frustrations before they erupt into messy tantrums. Looking back over the year, or your ongoing dreams and projects, will be fulfilling and productive in the end.
Slowing down can be a beautiful, life-affirming thing to do. It allows us to be in the moment, to notice precious, fleeting details, to connect with the source of life, love, and creativity – and each other. This big retrograde season has a purpose beyond being annoying – ‘busyness’ doesn’t always bring happiness, or the results we’re aiming for.
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Friday 27th July:
A Dramatic Weekend
Between Friday 27th and Tuesday 31st July the mighty Red Planet, Mars, is at its closest approach to Earth until 2020. It’s visible in the night sky, all night long.
https://mars.nasa.gov/allaboutmars/nightsky/mars-close-approach/
Veteran astrologer Richard Nolle calls this close approach Mars Max – a time when Mars is just, well, more Martian.
He writes – “..all things pertaining to Mars loom larger and larger in human experience during this period: haste, heat, fire, danger, belligerence and conflict…..Not all of this happens with malice of forethought mind you. Recklessness, haste, and inattention can easily cause just as many fires, crashes, clashes and explosions.”
Mars has been drawing ever closer to us here on Earth this spring and early summer. Once it reaches its closest approach, it gradually begins to fade in our skies as it moves away. However, Mars doesn’t leave the battlefield swiftly and we can expect this edgy phase to resonate on into September.
Meanwhile, as the July temperature rises – literally or metaphorically – Mars could noticeably impact on your own horoscope if you have planets in the fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius at around 4 degrees. There’s high, hot energy – it’s punchy.
There’s more about Mars retrograde in the Cosmic Weather for June. Basically, it can be a terrible time to confront others, but a positive time to review your actions or projects.
We’ll all be more aware of the energy of Mars this summer, and many people will be inclined to act on impulse, or be on a rather short fuse.
The astrology is:
Mars in Aquarius opposes the Sun in Leo on 26th-27th July
Mars in Aquarius, and late Capricorn, squares Uranus in Taurus 24th July – 25th September – do take it easy everyone.
And then, to round off the month, there’s this little firecracker…..
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Friday, 27th July – Saturday 28th July:
Moon Madness: Full Moon and Total Lunar Eclipse at 4 degrees Aquarius
The Blood Moon of July’s total lunar eclipse in Aquarius is widely visible, weather permitting.
We can watch it in Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe and South America. Totality is a whopping 103 minutes. The whole show, from the first shadowy ‘bite’ out of the Moon’s silver disc, goes on much longer. This eclipse will have a real, lasting impact on our collective emotions. It is volatile, for it’s aligned with warrior Mars.
The eclipse and its themes are re-energised towards the end of September, when Mars returns to this degree of Aquarius, a degree that is now super-sensitive.
Aquarian themes illuminated by this energetic eclipse include technology, electricity, humanitarian organisations and groups, inventive epiphanies, rebellions and upheavals. There may be spectacular electrical storms or outages. People could be in the mood to call a strike or join a mass protest.
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