Take a deep breath and let out a sigh of relief! We are now past the first eclipse cycle of 2021. Mercury is direct again and all of the outer planets, except Uranus, are now retrograde (as they usually are) over the summer.

The most notable aspects of the entire month take place in the first three days. On Thursday the 1^st, Mars in Leo opposes Saturn in Aquarius. This aspect can make us feel inadequate as authority figures (Saturn) are likely to harshly oppose or criticize our heartfelt projects (Mars.) One positive characteristic of this aspect is that it gives us strong concentration time on projects that require sustained effort. This aspect can bring an important personal project to a culmination since you began it a year ago. If you feel especially irritable between the 29^th and July 1^st, acknowledge it. Trying to pretend it doesn’t affect you will only cause accidents because of the sublimated energy. On Saturday, July 3^rd Mars in Leo makes a challenging square to Uranus in Taurus. With this aspect there is great restlessness and impulsiveness. This is a time when we want to be free of responsibilities and restrictions. If there are any civil rights conflicts that come up this week, there are likely to be major protests as well as attempts at violent retaliation. Mars square Uranus also causes issues with electronics and mechanical equipment. Reboot your computer, send out a new Zoom link, etc., etc., as needed. The positive which can come forward as a result of this aspect is creative change. You may have been denying the need for change in a part of your life that has become intolerable. Now is the time to strike out with something new! The Mars square Uranus aspect will be felt most strongly between the 1^st and the 5^th of July.

The July 4^th weekend features a Moon in Taurus which conjuncts innovator planet Uranus at 12:41 pm EDT on our US Independence Day. The previously mentioned Mars square Uranus aspect takes place at 9:40 p.m. EDT the night before. Hopefully, this important weekend celebration will be safe and enjoyable. Throughout the holiday weekend, the Taurus Moon brings an emotional component to the highly explosive Mars/Uranus conjunction. Be especially careful if you are using fireworks or watching home fireworks displays. It’s advisable to avoid large crowds at airports, train stations and in large public spaces over the 4^th of July Weekend.

Uranus the planet of scientific inquiry, of sudden change and of upgrade is now activated by the sign of Taurus the Bull. Since it’s arrival to Taurus, Uranus has been urging us to play whatever part we can in the salvation of our planet’s environment. Innovators such as young Dutchman, Boyan Slat, founder of Ocean Cleanup, have been showing the way to extend human life on earth. On June 18^th, 2019 the first Ocean Cleanup mission was launched. To date over 1 million pounds of ocean garbage has been removed from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch with Boyan Slat’s network of floating nets. Vertical indoor farming and water desalination plants are all already commonplace in Singapore. To see more about the futuristic solutions to food and water needs in practice in Singapore, watch the National Geographic program called Singapore: City of the Future on YouTube.

Beware of a split between what you enjoy doing and a sense of duty to work on Tuesday, July 6^th. Venus in Leo wants to extend the July 4^th weekend into a week’s vacation. Saturn in Aquarius would have us back at work, problem solving. If you can take vacation time in July you may want to do so over the holiday weekend and through the following week.

The New Moon in Cancer this month takes place on Friday July 9^th at 9:17 p.m. EDT. This New Moon makes an encouraging sextile to Uranus in Taurus. Today there is an urge to try something new, to do something different, especially in your home, which is ruled by the Moon. The New Moon in Cancer brings new life and innovation to our home and our family relationships. This is a good day to re-establish rapport with a family member you haven’t spoken to in a while. This is a great day to make your home more pleasant through innovations that involve technology. You may install a video doorbell system or timers on indoor and outdoor lighting systems. Go for it!

The Sun in Cancer will oppose mighty Pluto in Capricorn on Saturday, July 17^th. Every year since 2008, we have experienced this opposition. The effect of this opposition is to make us feel ambitious for creative change in our lives. This month between July 14^th and the 20^th our ambitions and desire for creative change reach a culmination. Unlike, earlier this year when we were still under the uncertainty of Covid, we can now feel more capable to make changes that will improve life for ourselves and others. There is potential also for having a difficult face-to-face meeting with a competitor in order to air your grievances. Starting all over again in this relationship is needed to establish a new beginning. Avoid dangerous places with high crime rates this week between the 14^th and the 20^th, especially at night. You could find yourself exposed to random violence.

Venus moves into the sign of Virgo on Wednesday the 21^st at 8:37 p.m. EDT. It will remain in the sign of the Harvest Maiden until August 16^th. Venus is the planet of love and attraction, causing us to be interested in topics that are related to the sign it occupies. In Virgo, ruled by Mercury, we are planning for the fall a bit early this year. Virgo rules information analysis. It also rules expert craftsmanship and some aspects of fashion. Take time in late July to update your closet with clothing that’s both stylish and practical. Romantic relationships begun under Venus in Virgo are slow to get started. Romantic gestures are cordial and respectful.

Happy Birthday Leo! The Sun enters your sign on Thursday the 22^nd at 10:26 a.m. EDT. The Moon is also in Leo today making this a very energizing and exciting day to start your birthday month! 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 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 22nd this year. Great days for Leos to celebrate their birthdays in July are the weekend of the 26^th and 27^th with the Moon in dreamy, relaxing Pisces.

In August your best social days are the weekend of the 7^th and 8^th with the New Moon in Leo and the weekend of the 21^st and 22^nd with the Full Moon in Aquarius.

As of the month of July this year, we have four of the five outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Pluto) retrograde. Uranus will join the retro-party as of August 20^th. 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 and opportunities to improve on past actions. 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, more than an individualized effect. With Jupiter retrograde our feelings of abundance and optimism are reduced and there is a characteristic economic downward trend every year in the summer. 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’s time to think over changes rather than to make them. With Neptune retrograde there is a feeling of 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 taking decisions quickly. With all of the societal changes coming about through 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 31^st.

This year, Lions born between the 29^th of July and the 7^th of August will experience some heavy outer planet aspects this year from Uranus and Saturn. These can make this year a challenging one for you. This year Saturn in Aquarius opposes the Sun of Lions born between July 30^th and August 6^th. If you are born between these dates, you may have difficulty expressing yourself. You may feel underappreciated and passed over by authority figures such as bosses and/or parents. Saturn imposes restriction when it opposes the Sun. You can use the tests of Saturn to become more determined than ever to succeed or you can let them ruin your year. The choice is yours. For some Leos the year will also be more difficult due to a square of Uranus in Taurus to your Sun. This year the aspect will affect Leos born between July 29^th and August 7^th. With a square (or challenge) of Uranus in Taurus to your Sun you are likely to be feeling very restless and impatient with situations in your life. It’s likely you feel a need to buck the system and break the rules. It’s important to be proactive about change this year. Make the changes you feel are really necessary. If you don’t make them yourself, they may be imposed upon you. For example, if your job is making you feel very bored and restless and you feel you should leave it, initiate the change yourself, rather than being laid off for a lack of interest.

The July Moon waxes to full on Friday, July 23^rd at 10:37 p.m. EDT. This Full Moon at 2 degrees Aquarius will be sandwiched between Pluto in Capricorn at 26 degrees and Saturn in Aquarius at 11 degrees Aquarius. This Full Moon at 2 degrees Aquarius is also conjunct the Fixed Star Altair (the Eagle). For many of us there is a quality of Altair’s fleeting good fortune today as well as a quality of impulsiveness and the need for a display of courage. With the conjunction to Pluto we are likely to be experiencing overwhelming intense emotions throughout the day. Beware of someone who wants to draw you into drama. A memory of a similar experience in your past can make these emotions all the more intense. This is a good day to have a serious talk with someone whose opinion you value about issues that are bothering you. The heaviness of this Full Moon is compounded by the serious nature of Saturn in such close proximity to the Moon. Emotional events relating to your friends, parents or children are likely to crop up today. Female members of the family may be having problems or may present problems involving you today. Emotional maturity is called for but don’t hesitate to open up to a good friend to vent.

Jupiter had entered the sign of Pisces this year on May 14^th after a year in Aquarius. Now it will return to the sign of Aquarius from July 28^th to December 29^th due to its going retrograde. Whichever sign and house Jupiter is transiting is an area in which we will see a marked increase of activity. In Aquarius, Jupiter brought us a number of exciting scientific discoveries this past year: 3 effective Covid vaccines, a number of effective Covid-fighting drugs, a Mars rover delivered to the red planet, 15 rocket-launched missions by Elon Musk’s SpaceX company and the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope scheduled for October 31^st to replace the now defunct Hubble Space Telescope. Civil and gender rights protests have been an important part of the 2020-21 Jupiter in Aquarius landscape as well. Jupiter in Aquarius seeks to increase equality for both the genders and the races as we have seen with the nationwide protests sparked by the death of George Floyd in May of 2020. Through December 29^th we will see a return to an increase of these Aquarian themes before Jupiter returns to Pisces from December 30^th, 2021 to May 10^th, 2022.

Our final aspect of July is Mars’ shift from the outgoing and demonstrative sign of Leo to the more exacting and socially subtle sign of Virgo on Wednesday, July 28^th. Just before it makes the shift at 4:32 p.m. EDT, Mars in Leo will make a daredevil opposition from late degrees of Leo to late degrees of Aquarius. Beware of being impulsive today. You may just push the envelope a little too far because you are feeling good. Thinking we can “pull something risky off” and actually doing it are two different things. Be ready to “eat crow” today if you don’t make it happen. Mars in Virgo from July 29^th to September 14^th will cause us to be detail conscious and motivated to accomplish our goals perfectly the first time we try them. We are especially tough on ourselves and others when mistakes come up during this period. Know this and be kinder to yourself and others. This is an excellent time to finish projects that have been on the back burner over the summer. Go for it!

Now let’s take a look at the planetary aspects that will affect Cancer natives with birthdays in June or July. Every year we can determine the general character of the year ahead by looking at the aspects the Sun makes to both inner and outer planets. Please note: You are not being forgotten if your birthday is not included in any of the aspect descriptions. An un-aspected birthday this year means that you are blessed to experience a year that is the essence of Cancer. This is a year in which you may have an addition to your family. Your home is your castle and you may be working to beautify your home both inside and out. Crabs born on the 20^th and 21^st of June, the 27^th of June through the 1^st of July, the 8^th of July to the 12^th of July and the 19^th and 20^th of July will experience an un-aspected year this year.

Cancerians born between the 22^nd and the 26^th of June will have a year blessed by the Sun in Cancer trining (or harmonizing with) Jupiter in Pisces. This is a year in which you will feel optimistic about the future and can gain both socially and financially. Allow yourself to study a subject that has interested you for some time. The knowledge you gain from this course will improve your standing in the community. Cancers born on the 23^rd and the 24^th of June will experience an important year. The waxing and Full Moon on these dates indicates that your life can come to an important culmination this year. It is advisable to try your very best to achieve your goals this year. The Universe will support you in your work. Looking back you will be amazed at how much you’ve accomplished this year. Cancer natives born between the 2^nd and the 4^th of July will experience a year influenced by a quincunx (adjustment process) between the Sun and Saturn. This is a year in which your duties strongly conflict with the things you want to do. You will need to be open-minded and ready to be flexible in order to create a happy medium between these two conflicting areas of your life. Self-discipline and self-restraint are your best friends this year. Cancer folks born between the 3^rd and the 7^th of July will experience a year in which their Sun will make an encouraging sextile to Uranus. This is a very creative year for you. You are likely to meet some people who are outside the norm and that you share ideas with. This is a year to try to do something exciting and new. Crabs born between July 13^th and the 17^th will experience a year blessed by a trine (or harmony) between the Sun and Neptune. You will feel a sense of increased empathy for others and may feel drawn to volunteer your time for a spiritual cause or to help those who are needy. This is also a great year to increase your spiritual practice which can be very inspiring. Give yourself the gift of a spiritual course or retreat this year. Cancer folks born between the 15^th and the 19^th of July will experience a year in which their Sun opposes Pluto. Circumstances outside of your control can cause problems this year. The more resistant you are to change, the more these events are likely to take place. They’re are meant to show you that control over every aspect of your life is not possible or necessary.