July 2023 Astrology
In July, Venus goes retrograde on the 22nd until September 3rd. That same day the Sun moves into Leo. The nodes of the moon shift to the Aries/Libra axis on the 18th and will stay there for the next 18 months. There’s a lot about self and self expression towards the end of July. A ‘Gotta be me’ vibe. July is also a month with lots of aspects between the planets. My YouTube videos for each sign are on my channel.
Moon
The Full Moon is on the 3rd in Capricorn in the tenth house: governments, people at the top, status and rules in society. The 10th house is a pyramid, there’s structure and levels. Socials classes, castes are very much 10th house. Of course. opposite, is the Sun sitting in Cancer related to the 4th house of home, family and security. For all of us this is where we are out in the world seeking success opposed to the safety and intimacy of home.
North Node in Aries, South Node in Libra
After 1 1/2 years on the Taurus-Scorpio axis, the nodes will move to Aries/Libra on the 18th of July. Each new axis is another chapter , within the context of our natal nodal placements. The natal nodes are karma, life lessons. What we come into this world with and what we must learn, develop.
Aries/Libra is 1st house: self and our identity and 7th house: one-on-one partnerships, including exes, rivals and competition. The 1st house-7th house, opposition is all about our relationships and how we as individuals evolve within them. What we bring to the partnership and how the relationship shapes us. The next 18 months will be more of a focus on self. What is the relationship doing for me? Am I evolving or being stifled? Like any opposition it is about finding balance. Or deciding it’s not worth it.
The Natal Nodes and Life Lessons video is on my Youtube Channel as well as the Shift to the Aries-Libra axis video. Both are timestamped for your sign.
Mercury and the Sun
By the 11th Mercury will be in Leo, heralding the arrival of the Sun. Focus shifts to children, romance, creativity and everything we do for fun and pleasure. Leo is very much about self expression, our individuality.
The Sun will arrive in Leo on the 22nd. A shift of focus from Cancer where we are concerned with home, family and cocooning. This is the 4th house, the most private part of our chart where only people very close to us have access. It is our foundation, from where we go out into the world. The focus on security and nurturing. Cancer is the mother energy.
Leo is more brash, ‘out there’, expressing his or herself. Like fire sign Aries, Leo is about self identity, but here it is expiring that in relation to others. How do I impact them? How do they see me? This echoes the nodes, with that shift to self in relation to partnerships.
Power and Control Issues
Both Mercury and the Sun will oppose Pluto, just as they leave Cancer and ingress into Leo. Mercury from the 9th to the 12th and the Sun from the 20th to the 25th, so during the Sun’s shift into Leo. They will be in this opposition in the last degrees of Cancer and the ver first of Leo.
Pluto in Capricorn, across from Sun and Mercury in Cancer brings us back to the full Moon energy. The outer world, striving for success, high society and status. Cancer is home and family, safety and nurturing.
This is a power and control issue. With Mercury, we may feel stifled in what we want to say or even for how we think. Or we may want to be the ones swaying others with our communications. With the Sun, it relates more to our individuality, it is a power play. Either we are overpowered or we are powerful. In Cancer, this is the classic home/family versus demands of success. After the 22nd, this is in Leo. There is little compromise when the Sun is at home in Leo, where it truly shines. The Sun is our self, Leo is the King, or Queen. We might question what wanting success demands of us, and how much we are willing to compromise self.
Venus
Venus will retrograde in Leo, from July 22nd to September 3rd. But the post-retrograde shadow lasts to October 7th.
Venus likes to be in relationships. She is diplomatic and charming. So the retrograde will bring people back. Either someone will return and that will be the story. Or something, a missed opportunity, will come up again, through or with or because of a person returning. Very likely it will be a woman. Or if you are a women, you may take on that role. Nothing is set until the shadow is over in October.
Because Venus rules beauty, big makeovers are ill advised during this period. Especially is you have decided on it and are getting it done during the retrograde. Wait and see if it still seems like a good idea once Venus is out of shadow. The same advice applies to big spending. Venus likes luxury.
Mars
Mars leaves Leo on the 10th to move into Virgo. This is our 6th house: workload, even academic work, as well as co-workers and workplace. It is your employees, servants and tenants. It is all jobs and duties, even non-paid.
This is also our physical health and lifestyle. So a new health routine may be what you are energetically implementing.
Mars is the energy to get things done. But sometimes we can be too forceful with Mars’s drive. Mars is big energy but Virgo is paying attention to detail. Mars can get caught up in this. Try to remember the bigger picture. Don’t put too much energy in something that is just a part of something bigger.
Mars is there until August 27th, so this is a good time to accomplish any 6th house pursuits and/or create a lifestyle habit.
July Astrology Sign by Sign
Finally, don’t forget to watch my astrology videos for each sign. While there is the general energy I write about here, there is also a more personalized interpretation sign by sign. You can also book a personal reading; there are several options available. Happy Canada day to my fellow compatriots and Happy Fourth of July to my American friends. Have a wonderful month.
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