June’s Winter Solstice truly brought through the energy and symbolism of the Mayan 2012 end-date. The Solstice aligned with the Galactic Centre, two of the key astronomical factors involved in 2012. You may have experienced rapid change in your own life or in the lives of family and friends. Not a day goes by without news of loved ones passing away, relationships breaking up or material stability being challenged. Our tolerance for change and our ability to remain resilient and centred are certainly being tested.
July generally has a gentler energy than June, yet it doesn’t entirely let us off the hook. Another 2012 influence gets activated this month – i.e. the fixed star, Regulus (which makes an important move in 2012), aligns with Mars and Saturn. But more on that in a moment.
Following on from June’s energy, it’s likely that many of us are grappling with changes to family, home and life’s support systems. We are currently living in a world where many of life’s basics don’t flow as easily as they used to. The cost of renting or owning a home has skyrocketed, along with the cost of food and fuel. The New Moon in Cancer on July 3rd has us mulling over what we really do or don’t need. It’s a good time for a house cleanse. Under this New Moon some of us will feel ‘homeless’, as if our supports have vanished, and some of us will feel joyfully ‘at home’ and supported. The gift of the zodiac sign Cancer is the reminder of the way life ebbs and flows. Each month Cancer’s ruler, the Moon, cycles from New to Waxing to Full to Waning to Dark. If we’re feeling isolated or lacking at any point in the month, that’s likely to shift as surely and naturally as the Moon’s phases do.
There is much need for nurturing under this New Moon. In these times of continuing change, it’s important to know who we can reach out to for support and who we feel comfortable supporting. Consider who or what makes up ‘family’ to you. Is it your birth family, your partner’s family, your children, housemates, workmates, friends from different life journeys (e.g. jobs, travels, courses, high school), a community group, your pets, a hobby or your spiritual connection? If it seems that your support networks are hindering you more than helping you, July is the month to mull over other options that ultimately might be more nourishing.
Throughout July, much is going on in the background that won’t necessarily become clear until August’s eclipses. In the mid-weeks of the month, change planet, Uranus, is visited by Venus, then the Sun, then Mercury. It’s as if each of these planets collects fresh instructions from inspirational Uranus. Yet Uranus, along with Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Pluto, is travelling Retrograde this month. With all the planets from Jupiter outwards being in Retro slow-down mode, the cosmos is holding its playing cards close to its chest. This is a time of waiting so that ultimately the best hands can be played when the time comes. Jigsaw pieces are being refined and resorted in order to create a perfect jigsaw puzzle. It’s counterproductive to try to force the pieces into place. They either fit or they don’t. All the Retro planets are role-modelling the need for us to conserve energy, be patient, reflect on our choices, and build strength.
The Full Moon in Capricorn on the 18th emphasises the need to reflect on how we’re going with our goals. The perseverance of the mountain goat as it slowly climbs to the top is highlighted here. Under the Full Moon in Capricorn we have the opportunity to view ourselves optimistically and say ‘look at what I’ve achieved’ or view ourselves pessimistically and moan about what failures we think we are. We all have memories of successes as well as failures. If we carry the burden of failure too strongly, it’s time to notice how this wears on our health and find ways to forgive and believe in ourselves. A balanced dose of both celebration and constructive criticism will help us review the paths we have taken in the past and choose the best paths from here on.
The combined effect of the New Moon in Cancer and the Full Moon in Capricorn brings attention to unhealed past hurts involving family or other significant loved ones. We cannot fully move forward with fresh goals if somewhere inside ourselves there are unresolved wounds relating to pain, betrayal, injustice or hurtful separation. The cosmos lends a huge helping hand throughout July with completing unfinished business. All month Neptune is strongly aligned with the North Node and Chiron. The qualities of compassion and empathy for others’ choices, or our own past choices, are strongly needed to help us move forward. Under this influence many of us can feel the pull of our soul selves towards new contracts but the path is not yet lit. Employing the practice of gratitude for even the tiniest beneficial experiences will help open our hearts and refresh our energy fields. It’s also a very good month for inner work – e.g. meditating, journalling, drawing, chanting, creating vision boards, doing deep relaxations, using oracle cards etc. Divine wisdom is accessible for both healing and insight but we must raise our vibrations to reach it.
As mentioned above, from the 6th to the 14th, Mars, Saturn and Regulus align. Saturn is Capricorn’s ruler and is known as the hard-task-master for its persistence in pushing us to work hard to achieve our goals. Regulus is one of the most famous fixed stars in our night sky. Belonging to the constellation Leo, it’s one of the four Royal Stars of Persia. It’s associated with royalty, glory and success. Put Mars into this mix and many of us will be feeling damn impatient this month, wanting to move ahead with our plans. It’s as if we can see our greatest possibilities right there in front of us and want them to manifest now. If we channel this energy wisely we can forge ahead confidently with our most passionate creative goals. Yet be aware that the impatience of the immature Mars energy is being curbed by the cosmos. Saturn, the planet of reality-checks and limits, is teaching the consequences of jumping too soon.
Recently it was reported in the media in two separate incidents that young boys had devastating accidents on trail bikes (two were 9-year-old brothers and another was a 14-year-old). This is one example of the consequences of the immature Mars energy. Mars is about fire, passion and desire, yet our culture tends to encourage playing with fire too young. We must be truly wise in our Mars energy to know how to use fire responsibly – that goes for both men and women as we all have the masculine within us. This month we are encouraged to check we are not internally hooning about, thinking we are more mature than we are or more ready than we are. It’s part of the natural human quest to seek the recognition that Regulus promises but it’s also part of being human to get blinded by the limelight. This month we are likely to see examples of leaders who either use their Mars energy in truly honourable ways or in egotistic immature ways.
I mentioned above that Regulus is one of the four famous Royal Stars of Persia. The others are Aldebaran, Antares and Formalhaut. These stars only move one degree every 72 years, so they move extremely slowly. It just so happens that Regulus has been at 29 degrees Leo for the past 60 plus years and will be moving into Zero degrees Virgo in 2012. This movement will bring about an energetic symbiosis with the other three Royal Stars of Persia, which are currently in Gemini, Sagittarius and Pisces. Regulus is the only one of the four to have not yet moved into a ‘mutable’ zodiac sign. When Regulus moves into Virgo, all four mutable signs will be activated. I find it intriguing that such a major cosmic shift happens in the same year as the completely separate cosmic event described by the ancient Mayans (and with similar interpretations). In July this year Regulus is in the cosmic news, announcing its presence as if doing some early promotion for its big performance in 2012.
Between the 24th and 30th of July some of us might get a lucky break when Mars, the action planet, aligns with Jupiter, the planet of abundance and opportunity. At the very least our energy will perk up and optimism has a chance once more to run strongly through our veins.
Rest up, review, reflect and prepare throughout July. Much is being woven behind-the-scenes and is likely to be revealed at the eclipses on the 1st and 17th of August.