In the midst of the retrograde phase of Mercury we have some interesting transits coming up over the next few weeks, including the first of 3 exact squares between Jupiter and Saturn, and Mars in Gemini, making an exact conjunction with Jupiter on the 14th. To find out what that means, read this week’s update.

The New Moon in Leo on Sunday, August 4th is accompanied by the retrograde station of Mercury in the early degrees of Virgo. Planets are always stronger when they station, made all the more so for the full month due to its proximity to the New Moon. 

This week Chiron will station for its retrograde phase which will last until the end of the year. For the 5 months that Chiron will be in its retrograde phase we are tasked with paying attention to our own healing journey, for this is when we are able to make the most growth and progress. Chiron in Aries is here to remind us that we aren’t going to be much use to anyone else, if we don’t also take care of ourselves.

This weekend, on July 21st, we have our second Full Moon in Capricorn for the year. At 29º of Capricorn, the very very last degree of the sign. There may be some reminders here, that no matter how compelling, we can never truly return to a past that once was.

Strap on your seat belts everyone. If you haven’t already noticed it, we have a Mars/Uranus conjunction coming up on the 15th. There’s no telling which way the wind will blow, or where lightning will strike with this kind of weather. But if you are willing to be flexible and stay in the eye of the storm, Mars/Uranus weather can also be freeing and illuminating.

On Friday, July 5th, we have a New Moon at 14º Cancer 23’. This is a deeply emotional Moon, in which it would not be unusual to find ourselves nostalgically longing for connection and belonging. To yearn for safety, community and familiarity. And so at this time of year we are inclined to circle the wagons, gather the tribe and seek out places of comfort.

This coming week we have the retrograde stations of both Saturn (June 29th) and Neptune (July 2nd), both in the sign of Pisces. In addition, and not to be ignored, is a semi-square between Jupiter and Chiron, and an approaching sextile between Jupiter and the North Node. The fates continue to spin their wheels.

On June 21st, just one day after the Solstice we have a Full Moon at 1º Capricorn 07’. Full Moons can often be revelatory. But the one thing that the Capricorn Moons afford us, is the opportunity to look at our lives from an objective point of view. 

With the turning of the Solar Year, we have 4 significant cardinal corners marking the advent of the seasons of the year. These quarters of the year have been celebrated down the ages, and marked as ancient harvest and earth festivals that bind us to one another as well as to the Earth, in a respectful and sacred dance. The Solstice on June 20th is one of these 4 magical corners of the year. 

One of the prevailing transits of the year is a semi-square between Saturn and Pluto. And through the impetus of the New Moon in Gemini that just passed, and the whole slew of inner planets: Mercury, Venus and Mars; in some way, some how, this is about to get personal. And maybe even a little intense.