The month of July starts on a very tense note with a major Lunar Eclipse. The degree of this eclipse has not been repeated since July 5th of 2001 at 13 degrees Capricorn/Cancer. As we remember, this 2001 Eclipse occured just before the September 11th disaster on the World Trade Center in New York. On this very early 2020 morning, at 12:44 a.m. EDT, the Sun will be at 13 degrees Cancer and the Full Moon will be waxing to 13 degrees Capricorn. The significance of a Lunar Eclipse on this date is two-fold. First, this is an eclipse on the United States’ EXACT Sun degree. Our country was born on July 4th at 5:10 p.m. with the first signature on the Declaration of Independence by John Hancock. To have a Lunar Eclipse with the Sun and Mercury Retrograde BOTH in the very emotion-centered sign of Cancer at the exact degree of our country’s Sun makes this a hyper-emotional day for everyone around the globe, but especially those of us in the United States or born in the U.S. When we place the July 5th Lunar Eclipse at 12:44 p.m. EDT on the U.S. Sibly chart calculated for July 4, 1776 at 5:10 p.m. the zodiac houses impacted are the 7th (where our country’s Sun is placed in its birth chart) and the 1st house where the Capricorn Moon will lie. This implies a conflict between self and others, the society in which we live and our particular family group and group of friends within that society. For many on this holiday weekend, the choice will be whether to stay at home alone or to gather in a group with family and friends or in public. Another choice to be made will be whether we plan to wear masks. The most unselfish choice of course would be to stay home and put on a great BBQ for our closest family members that we have been self-isolating with.  In order to know how this July 5th Lunar Eclipse will further affect you personally, consult your astrological chart to find the zodiac houses (1-12 in the innermost circle) that contain the degrees: 13 degrees Capricorn (Moon) and 13 degrees Cancer (Sun). These houses show the life issues that will be the most stimulated and affected: 1st House: physical body, entrepreneurial work, survival issues; 2nd House: finances, personal values, physical beauty, feeling of being valued or not being valued; 3rd House: communications, short journeys, siblings, neighbors & friends; 4th House: family of origin, your physical house or home, deep emotions; 5th House: creativity, children, romance & risk taking; 6th House: daily work, diet, exercise and house pets; 7th House: marriage and business partners, diplomacy, grace, legal matters & the public; 8th House: sexual partners, shared resources, taxes & inheritance; 9th House: higher education, foreign or long-distance travel, philosophy & religion, large animals & publishing; 10th House: career, authority figures, position in society, management of resources; 11th House: charities, friends and people of like mind, unforeseen change, improvements & upgrades, adopted children, aunts uncles & cousins; 12th House: endings, meditation, disillusionment, change via dissolution, music, poetry, dance intuition & faith.

The second important significance of this eclipse is that 13 degrees Cancer is the exact degree of the binary star system of Sirius. In present-day Egypt the 4th of July is the approximate date each year when the River Nile overflows and brings layers of nutrient-rich black river silt to the agricultural fields on its banks. This fertilization of the land re-enacts the fertilization of Isis with the seed of her dead but resurrected  brother/husband Osiris to produce their heir, the Falcon God of Healing, Horus. The Founding fathers of the United States, including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson were Masons. It has been widely documented that they selected the birthday of the United States to reflect the fertile fields and metaphysical resurrectional power of the ancient Egyptian myth of Isis and Osiris. The founding fathers wanted our largely agricultural early nation to be fertile above all. In this day and age the definition of our nation’s fertility and therein success has just as much to do with its economic GDP via electronic products and software that we produce as it does with its agricultural yield. In 2001 our U.S. economy and, by extension, the economy of the world was seriously wounded by the attacks on the world trade towers following the July 5th eclipse. In 2020, a full eclipse cycle later, both our U.S. economy and the world economy have been severely wounded by the first world wide pandemic in 100 years. President Trump’s careless handling of the pandemic in the U.S. indicates that we are not up to snuff in this regard to the point that the United Kingdom of England Scotland and Wales will no longer allow Americans to travel to their shores. We are slipping! 

On July 5th, opposing the Sun and Sirius at 13 degrees Cancer lies the Full Moon at 13 degrees Capricorn. The significance of the Capricorn energy is that of the archetype of “The Good Father.” In the sign of Capricorn, positive human behavior characteristics are found of: integrity, hard work, good management, leading by example and positive social standing in society. The Good Father archetype is being contested in the U.S. presidential election as we speak. One candidate leads by example and wears a mask, the other does not. One candidate avoids congregating with more than 8 people at a time, the other recently tried to assemble 50,00 together for an indoor rally in Oklahoma. A Full Moon brings a culmination of energy as the Sun and Moon square off against each other. The 13th degree of Capricorn makes significant aspects to the charts of both candidates. This Eclipse takes place just as news erupts about Donald Trump having been briefed on February 27th of the bounties placed by the Soviet government on the heads of American Soldiers in Afghanistan---and DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. This is the second alleged instance of treason on the part of the president of the United States along with his alleged collusion with the Soviets to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. Are these acts committed by “The Good Father” of our nation?! I think not!

On the day of the Lunar Eclipse Trump has no fewer than 3 major crisis aspects to his natal chart. Uranus (planet of sudden change) in the sign of Taurus makes a potent square (or challenge) to Trump’s natal Pluto (planet of death & transformation) in Leo. The purpose of this aspect is to sweep away old outworn structures in our lives that have built up over the last 7 years. A total revolution is soon to take place in the life of Donald Trump where change is likely to be forced upon him regarding the Plutonian acts and subversive forces he has been mobilizing behind the scenes. Uranus serves as a trigger to destroy the public status of the president at this time. There are no more of his characteristic  “lucky breaks” in his upcoming transits before the November 3rd election. On July 5th, transiting Saturn will make a very close opposition (karmic balancing) to Trump’s natal Saturn. Fourteen years ago Saturn had made its second return thus clearing the karmic slate to new beginnings. Then seven years ago, Saturn made its first square or challenge to Trump’s natal Saturn in 2013. Today, at the opposition of transiting Saturn to natal Saturn (between July and December 2020) old failures that were not handled well in 2013 are likely to make life very difficult for Trump. Oftentimes, under this transit the efforts of the person with coworkers and supervisors will be blocked and opposed. On June 3rd, After long refusing to explicitly criticize a sitting president, former Defense Secretary, Jim Mattis, accused President Trump of trying to divide America and sternly denounced Trump’s threat of militarization of the U.S. police force and military in response to civil unrest during the Black Lives Matter protests in cities nationwide.  On June 23rd, former National Security Advisor to President Trump, John Bolton, published his Trump-damning memoir The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir in which he exposes Trump’s request of Ukrainian President Zelensky to investigate Joe Biden and the activities of his son Beau.  And on June 30th, sources at the New York Times confirmed that President Trump was briefed on February 27th of Russian offers of bounties to Taliban fighters on the heads of U.S. soldiers fighting in Afghanistan. Nationwide polls taken in late June show that Biden leads Trump by 12 percentage points, 53%-41%. In a three-way ballot test, including a third-party line, Biden leads the Republican incumbent by 9 points: 46%-37%. Trump’s final difficult transit at the July 5th Lunar Eclipse is that Mars (planet of motivation and aggression) at 4 degrees Aries makes a tight challenging square to Trump’s natal Mercury (planet of communications.) It would not be surprising at all for Trump to erupt into a furious tweet or twenty over the 4th of July weekend. As described by numerous news sources, Trump is his “own worst enemy” when he erupts into ill-considered, self-defensive tweets and flippant press briefing comments. 

Because of their similarity in age, Biden aged 77, born November 2nd of 1942 and Trump, aged 74, born June 14, 1946, will both experience an opposition of Mars to natal Neptune in Libra at the time of the July 5th Lunar Eclipse. But whereas the transit is still waxing (building or not yet exact) for Trump, it is waning (or past) for Biden. This means that Trump will experience more of the difficulty of the transit whereas Biden has already been through it. With Mars opposing Neptune, physical energy (Mars) is debilitated (Neptune.) Trump is likely to feel it is difficult to mobilize himself to do anything very energetic at this time. Contrary to this celestial guidance, he has planned a visit to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota and a huge fireworks display on the evening of July 4th on the National Mall in DC for over 300,000 people with a military fly-over planned which will bring even more spectators. And none will be required to wear masks--although they will be given away! Despite the difficult transits for Trump during the month of July, Biden will experience some favorable transits including a favorable trine of the transiting Sun (inner radiance) to his natal Mars (energy & motivation). Biden is just warming up to his campaign at this time! Biden’s Venus has just entered the 7th house of the public as of April 7th as well. This will give him increasing popularity with the public as the next four months unfold. I expect Biden to have a progressively more and more successful campaign in the next four months until the election on Tuesday, November 3rd. 

Other major celestial events of July 2020 are the July 3rd move of Saturn in Aquarius (which began March 21st) BACK into Capricorn until December 18th when Saturn returns to the sign of the Waterbearer. Saturn (the planet of self-discipline and hard work) went retrograde on May 11th. This is our last round with Saturn in the sign of conservative, status-quo preserving Capricorn. Almost immediately after Saturn changed signs into equality conscious Aquarius and it went retrograde, the public lynching and murder of George Floyd took place on May 25th in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  No longer were Americans of almost all ages, genders, races and walks of life able to tolerate the casual wasting of a life through police brutality. Now we are given our final opportunity to learn the lessons of Saturn in Capricorn and the maintenance of a carefully stratified society with leaders that maintain and enforce that code. If we are all doing our Saturn due diligence between now and December, we will think about the ways in which we take privilege for granted. How we, perhaps inadvertently, take advantage of those we consider to be “less than” us. In the Age of Aquarius, a period lasting 2,160 years, humanity is given the opportunity to evolve into a more egalitarian society. Whether we will reach that goalis is iffy given our history of “survival of the fittest.”

On Sunday, July 12th, Mercury (planet of communications and transport) will go direct after 3 weeks in retrograde since June 18th. During this period, Mercury backtracked through mid degrees of the emotional sign of Cancer. Feelings of lack of security weighed heavily upon us during the midst of the first onslaught of Covid 19 and the Black Lives Matter protests. It was truly a testimony to compassion that peaceful protesters took time from their already difficult pandemic lives to join the movement. As of July 27th, Mercury will emerge from its retrograde shadow (the degree at which it went retrograde on June 18th.) While some aspects of life will return to the “new normal.” A lingering adjustment period will fill the gap between July 12th and the 27th. Let’s put it to good use. If you have contracts to sign, it is best to wait and do further research until Thursday, July 16. If you charge ahead you risk additional buyer’s remorse of some kind whether you are a buyer or a seller. Allow Mercury to settle back into its direct movement. 

The New Moon on Monday the 20th perfects at 1:33 p.m. EDT at 19 degrees of Cancer. A New Moon brings new energy our way once every month. Unfortunately, this New Moon is opposed by the trifecta of outer planets in the sign of Capricorn. Jupiter and Pluto are newly rejoined in Capricorn by Saturn in its retrograde journey. Cancer is the energy of the Universal Mother. When we think about the nurturing sign of Cancer, we are mostly considering the nurturance we can provide to others. This is even more important during these times when wearing a mask can prevent vulnerable elders and those with health concerns to contract the virus. A New Moon in Cancer can also inspire people around the world to feed the hungry and to extend the badly needed eviction moratorium until August for those who have lost work and careers.  I do feel concerned that an additional incidence of police brutality near the date of this New Moon that will bring about further widespread protests. But these are needed--- So bring it on. 

Happy Birthday Leo! The Sun roars into your sign before dawn at 4:37 a.m. EDT with an equally vibrant Moon in Leo, just one day after the New Moon, on July 21st.  Leo Sun Sign folks radiate the qualities of leadership, confidence and heart-centered love and kindness. They have a soft spot in their hearts for their children and love nothing more than a romance. Showering their “certain someone” with gifts and exciting dates comes naturally to Leos. It is also essential to show Leos appreciation in return! Give your Leo love a back and mane rub to keep them purring with content. The Sun will shine brightly during the Leo Sun Sign period that lasts through August 21st this year. Great days for Leos to celebrate their birthdays in July are the weekend of the 25th and 26th with the Moon in social Libra. 

Now, in the month of July, we have four of the five outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Pluto) retrograde. Uranus will join the retro-party as of August 15th. When a planet goes retrograde it means that its energy is turned inward instead of outward. Retrogrades encourage introspection, rethinking, and redoing and tend to inhibit a planet’s usual characteristic potential. Because a retrograde planet is retracing its steps through the zodiac, it is reconnecting with degrees it has already crossed over. Thus, a retrograde period brings up issues from the past. An important issue to remember is that not all retrogrades are created equal. We feel the retrograde effects of inner planets (Mercury, Venus, and Mars) much more intensely than outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto). This is because inner planets affect our daily life issues, while outer planets move much more slowly and have generational effects on our lives over time. With Jupiter retrograde our feelings of abundance and optimism are reduced and there is a characteristic economic down trend during a presidential election year. With Saturn retrograde our self-discipline and organizational abilities are reduced. With Uranus retrograde our ability to innovate and make needed changes is reduced and it is time to think over changes rather than to make them. With Neptune retrograde there is a feeling about mental and philosophical uncertainty that is emphasized as well as a change in the ability to make spiritual connections. For some, it is a time of greater spiritual practice and insight, for others it is a more difficult time to make these connections. Finally, with Pluto retrograde, longer term trends in one’s life that require transformation to take place are slowed. This is a time in which major changes should be thought over carefully, rather than taken quickly. With all of the societal changes coming about through Covid 19, our changes in work and family dynamics, the presidential election and with the protests concerning racial and gender equality---- there is a LOT to consider with this lineup of retrogrades! The outer planets, except latecomer Uranus, will all return to direct movement by December 1st. 

Happy Birthday Cancer! For you the coming year brings some MAJOR life improvements when Jupiter and then Saturn travel together through the sign of Aquarius and finally stop opposing your Sun sign. Slow moving outer planets Saturn and Pluto have been in Capricorn (opposing your Sun) since December of 2017. Although Pluto will stay in Capricorn until mid-January of 2024, Saturn is finally letting up its opposition to your sign as of December 17th of this year. Likewise Jupiter (planet of expansion and abundance) will also quit its opposition to your Sun as it enters the sign of Aquarius on December 20th of 2020. Hallelujah the heaviness, restrictions and judgementalism of 2017-220 are finally past! Expect to feel a new-found optimism in many areas of your life starting in January of next year! Now let’s take a look at the specific planetary birthday transits for our friends born under the sign of the Crab. Each year we look to the aspects your Sun makes to inner and outer planets to determine the type of year that awaits you. Please note: If you don’t see your birthday included in the aspects discussed you are not being forgotten or left out. This means that you are blessed to experience a year in the essence of Cancer. (Crabs born between the 21st and the 27th of June and the 7th through the 11th of July will have an un-aspected Cancer year.) With an un-aspected Cancer year, you are likely to be involved in a caring relationship, you may be moving house or making your home more to your liking. You will experience emotional connections at a deep level and you’ll communicate with others at this very real level as well. Children will be important to you this year and you will do everything possible to take care of the children in your life. If you do not yet have children, this would be a year to conceive. If you are a person who prefers pets, a new furry baby may be coming your way. All in all, this will be a great year ahead! 1)Cancer natives born between the 28th of June and the 1st of July will experience a year in which their Sun is conjunct Mercury. This is a very communicative year for you! You have a lot to say and there are many ready to listen. If you have a business, service, or product to promote it’s important to create a strong web and media presence this year, especially given the limitations of the pandemic. Keep a journal of ideas or record them in your phone. They will be many and you will want to refer back to them at a later date. 2)Crabs born between the 29th of June and the 3rd of July will experience a year blessed by a sextile of  their Sun to Uranus. Interesting activities and information come through friends and new contacts. This info is both enlightening and illuminating to your understanding of topics you have researched for some time. Your mind is stimulated as are your curiosity and imagination. You will find that it is easier this year too to do things that others may not approve of. You can innovate and keep your individuality. Use this exciting mental influence to make creative changes to your life and to your work and home environment. 3)Cancer Natives born between the 4th and the 6th of July will experience a year in which their Sun opposes the Full Moon Eclipse. Those who experience a Lunar Eclipse in the days surrounding their birthday or ON their birthday tend to feel that this is a year of very significant change. There is likely to be a change of home location and a job change or major push for advancement. If you have a birth chart, look on the outer border of the chart to find the zodiac house that includes 13 degrees of Capricorn and 13 degrees of Cancer. Please use the house list (ABOVE on page 1) to determine life issues of the two houses that will be impacted. 4)Cancer Sun sign natives born between the 12th and the 14th of July will experience a year in which their Sun is trine to Neptune (planet of faith and compassion). This is a year in which your idealism is stimulated and you can reach a deeper spiritual level of practice without undue difficulty. This is a good year to study metaphysical and spiritual subjects and to work or volunteer to help others. The satisfaction of doing good work is your reward. Beware that you “give away the store” however as others can take advantage of your good nature now. Be aware that your intuition is developing and use it, when needed, in a situation in which you suspect deception. 5)Cancer folks born between the 12th and the 17th of July will experience a  year in which their Sun opposes Jupiter. Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system and magnifies what it comes in contact with (in this case your solar energy.) Avoid going overboard both in work or play. Your optimism and enthusiasm this year can lead you to go too far. Also avoid a Jupiterian tendency toward being self-righteous and resist the urge to try to convert others to your way of thinking. A culmination is coming in several areas of your life and you can make good progress this year if you keep the Centaur part of your nature in control. 6)Cancerians born between the 13th and the 18th of July will experience a year influenced by an opposition of their Sun to Pluto. This is a year in which intense encounters with authority figures will require you stand up for what you believe. Breakdowns in relationships may cause you to have to confront others in order to get your disagreements out into the open. Like relationships, objects and machinery may break down. Patching things up will not solve the issue, a complete repair or starting all over is required. There is a materialistic culmination of your ambition for power and wealth now. You are likely to make creative fundamental changes in order to reach your goals. Be careful to work with trusted allies, rather than alone, so that you won’t draw undue envy, hatred or violence to yourself.7) Finally Crabs born between the 19th and the 21st of July will experience a year in which their Sun opposes Saturn. There is a year in which loneliness or a feeling of a lack of ability to communicate and connect with others prove problematic. Don’t let these feelings overwhelm you. Try to find a balance between  your obligations and your personal needs. If you allow duty to win, you may limit your self-expression to the point at which you feel unfulfilled and restless. If you express your creative needs to others, you should be able to work out a compromise which will allow you to pursue your creativity. The best days for Cancer Sun sign folks to celebrate their birthdays are: the 4th of July weekend with the Full Moon in celebratory Sagittarius on Friday and Saturday the 3rd and 4th and the weekend of the 18th and 19th of July with the Moon in homey Cancer. Enjoy dear Crabs!