‘One can give nothing whatever without giving oneself – that is to say, risking oneself. If one cannot risk oneself, then one is simply incapable of giving.’ James Baldwin
In the ocean of life, we all want a shell of safety, a protected place we can call our own – this universal need is what astrologers call Cancer (
). Where Cancer is in your chart is where you are able to give (and hopefully receive) emotional support: caring, compassion, soothing touch, appreciation. For most of July (to the 21st, to be exact) the Sun is in Cancer, challenging you to open your heart.
Cancer’s sensitivity is heart piercing and difficult to bear in a less-than-perfect world - yet denying your sensitivity leads to moodiness and often feeling helpless especially in the face of the changing circumstances you find yourself in.
Your ultimate task while the Sun is in Cancer (or in the house in your chart where Cancer rules) is to forge a fresh partnership between the masculine and the feminine – or between intellect and feeling. Train your mind to follow your inner emotional life, track the varied movements of your heart without interference, allowing it to go wherever it takes you. When you awaken and contain your pain, you find a depth of empathy that will be a great resource during the challenging and transforming years ahead of you.
Associated with the Moon (
), Cancer represents the archetypal feminine, the mysterious and ever-changing landscape of the subconscious, the ebb and flow of emotion, the cycles of life itself. The Moon signifies the illimitable womb of the cosmos and when the Moon conjuncts the Sun, something new is born. This month brings a particularly powerful New Moon, a solar eclipse (on 11 July) at 19° 24’ Cancer.
Wherever a solar eclipse falls in your chart is where there will be much activity. Look at the house where 20° Cancer falls or whether it is conjunct or opposite any planet. The same set of eclipses occurred in July 1991. What was happening in your life then? Is there a common theme? What could you do differently now?
On 5 July Uranus (
) turns retrograde (turning on its heel to seemingly reverse against the background off the stars) at 0° 35’ Aries (
). Until the beginning of December when Uranus turns direct at 26° 40’ Pisces (
) you will be re-treading the ground you’ve been covering since June last year and emphasised in March this year. From the point of view of consciousness, Uranus is about awakening – attaining more insight or a higher level of consciousness with respect to any given issue AND as a result understanding yourself better. While the Sky God is retrograde you will be going deeply within and observing how you deal with your wounds and hurts with a view to finding a higher perspective on such matters.
All the transpersonal planets are retrograde this month – Uranus, Neptune (
) and Pluto (
). Neptune retrograde erodes your left brain processes so that you are able to feel into your spiritual heart and re-member what is known in your soul. Circumstances will arise that leave you no choice but to trust the process. (Those three words were my screensaver for more than ten years – perhaps because Neptune is the highest planet in my chart!)
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Pluto represents the potential for the transformation of consciousness and understanding from one octave to the next. Pluto turning back, so to speak, ceaselessly and mercilessly stirs up your most deeply ingrained wounds and issues. To make sense of such uncompromising and seemingly cruel influences, you must keep in mind that spirit will do everything it can to ensure your ultimate healing and evolution of consciousness.
Jupiter (
), representing your capacity to have faith in your inner abundance, joins the retrograde brigade on 23 July, compelling you to find ways in which to change any adversity you may be experiencing into an adventure – many leaps of faith, no less!
During the first three weeks of July, Saturn, Master of Reality, traverses the last degrees of Virgo. Saturn entered Virgo in September 2007 and since then our challenge has been to simplify, improve or eliminate anything that has become non-essential or unproductive. The mythic Reaper has been impressing upon us that we are the masters of our fate and accountable for our actions.
On 21 July Saturn enters Libra (
), the sign of balance, harmony and the heart of partnership. Until October 2012 (when Saturn goes into Scorpio) we will be addressing issues around equality, justice and truth – personally and collectively. With Saturn in Libra and Uranus and Jupiter in Aries, Venus (
) and Mars (
) take centre stage (Mars is associated with Aries and Venus with Libra) and for most of this month they are both in Virgo – the virgin?!
Virgo is about moving towards an ideal – an ideal tempered by absolute self-acceptance and a sense of true humility. Another aspect of Virgo is being of service – not servitude, but service.
Everything boils down to the truth that wounds and heals: when you are able to dispel your fantasies, you can live an authentic life. At times the truth is very painful and it takes courage to face reality.
Get to know yourself a bit better this July, discern what is right for you without judging yourself by what you have accomplished – you’re good enough just for who you are.
Do what makes your heart feel light.
