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July 29 – August 5
‘May You Live In Interesting Times’
This old Chinese proverb is certainly relevant, as Mars, having just entered diplomatic Libra, now triggers the dynamic cardinal cross. We are in the midst of a period where action leads to change – the lasting kind. If you’ve been hoping for a period of time in which to seriously banish old habits, replace bad rituals with better ones or simply make peace with you past and finally let it go, you’ve now got it! Along the way, be prepared for power issues and resistance to the new – inside and outside of you. But remember, under skies like these, new initiatives are needed.
Mars has spent the past 24 hours conjoined with Saturn, bringing the ‘desire to move’ into the one area of life you know you’re ready to restructure (even if you’re nervous about doing so). This also means Mars has opposed quirky Uranus, brining surprises and the unexpected. Saturn and Uranus are engaged in the final tango of dance they began back in September 2009, and the entire period from then has been filled with the need to seek alternatives in an attempt to create more authentic foundations for life. With Mars activating this alignment right now you can finally act on or complete some of the progress you’ve been anticipating over the past 9 months.
On Wednesday and Thursday (Aug 4 & 5), Mars links into the Jupiter/Pluto square, an aspect in play from July 8 – August 8 that offers the chance to transform your beliefs into something that really fits with who you are today. August 4 and 5 then are two days in which following your truth is a priority. You may be called to defend what you believe, mostly through actions that honour your philosophy, whatever it may be.
From August 8, Venus enters Libra and repeats Mars path, albeit with added sweetness.
Mercury (now in organised Virgo) spends most of Saturday July 31 in trine aspect to deep Pluto, making it easier to talk about usually hidden or forbidden topics. Secrets and the truth can be clearly clarified then, so if there are any mysteries currently perplexing you, talk about it then. Mercury is in Virgo for an extended stay – until September 4 – which includes a retrograde, running from August 20 – September 11. Read more about RETREOGRADES here
I am on holidays for the next week, so here’s a Moon guide to offer some astro insight whilst I trek around the countryside with family! 
Over the next week, we have the following Moon signs offering their guidance.
Saturday and Sunday – Moon in Aries. The Moon in Aries triggers the cardinal cross and it’s sure to be a dynamic weekend. The push me/pull me vibe applies as with three corners of the cosmos all active, there will be differing needs and desires all wanting your attention. Do what’s right for you (Moon in Aries) but try to keep the peace (Mars in Libra). It’s like balancing a see saw – you won’t always get it right, but keep trying.
Monday – Wednesday – Moon in Taurus. Time to slow down and reconnect with practical reality. The needs of the body are paramount as the Moon in Taurus highlights sensuality and the need for a more measured pace. A great few days to catch up with yourself after the high energy, potentially high drama of the weekend.
Thursday/Friday – Moon in Gemini. Curiosity helps you connect. You search for answers and find them, which helps life make more sense. Make an effort to communicate more – with new and old contacts. A busy mind period so keep a notepad handy for ideas and interesting thoughts.
Full Moon Aquarius 3 degrees
Sydney - July 26 11.36am
Toronto/New York - July 25 9.36pm
London - July 26 2.36am
This inventive Full Moon highlights the balance between individual creativity and group dynamics. You really can achieve more as part of a community now than you can alone. Saturn aligns with the Sun and Moon offering chances to solidify relationship commitments in spite of personal differences. Uranus and Jupiter offer the potential for radical change. Solutions to life’s dilemmas are everywhere – you just have to think outside the square.
The Full Moon post above is from the Moon Calendar included in the WellBeing Astrology Guide 2010
July 23 – 24, Sun into Leo
The Sun has now moved into one of his favourite places – the sign of Leo. This is the sign the Sun has rulership over, and whenever a planet is in its own sign, it’s said to be stronger.
The next month brings more chances to develop your sense of self – in an out there, expressive, dynamic kind of way. Life sometimes becomes more dramatic under the influence of the Sun in Leo, but don’t let other’s dramas interfere with your creative expression.
As soon as the Sun entered Leo, he met up with quirky Uranus, and the current astro climate offers exciting surprises. Uranus often highlights the shock factor, but now, the unexpected has the potential to work for you. Over the weekend, the Sun aligns with optimistic Jupiter, helping you reconnect with your personal big picture vision. Adventures await – are you ready to leave the familiar to go off and explore?
Happy Birthday Leo!
Here’s a bit about your year -
http://kellysurteesastrology.wordpress.com/2010/02/18/2010-horoscopes-leo/
http://kellysurteesastrology.wordpress.com/2010/07/23/leo-personal-cycles/
Find out about your personal astrology chart
July 21-22
Saturn into Libra
One of the most important planets in terms of timing and focus, Saturn, changes signs today. Saturn temporarily entered Libra late last October, and hung out in Libra (triggering the cardinal signs*) until early April 2010, when Saturn re-entered Virgo. Now, Saturn makes his good on his exit promises and wraps up his Virgo visit, settling into Libra, where he’ll stay until October 2012.
Since September 2007, Saturn has been moving through Virgo, a mutable sign**. Whilst in Virgo, Saturn picked up Uranus, also in a mutable sign (Pisces), helping create the astro backdrop for some of the waves of change we’ve seen in the past two and a half years. Since we each have every sign somewhere in our birth charts, Saturn in Virgo brought about the need for new structure and commitment in certain areas of your life. Add Uranus to the mix, and finding new foundations had to come through upending the apple cart and adopting an alternate perspective. Virgo and Pisces, being mutable signs, have a scattered quality about them, making the past two years a period of great change, but the kind of change that can, and does, take you almost anywhere.
Going forward, Saturn settles into Libra, the sign of his exaltation. The concept of exaltation is an ancient one, coming to us from the Egyptians, Greeks and Ptolemy, of how in certain signs each planet is said to be at its best. While in Virgo, Saturn is said to be (for the most part) peregrine, like an aimless wanderer; in Libra, Saturn is full of vitality, vigour and focus.
Libra is one of the four cardinal signs, linked to the solstices and equinoxes – those signs that correlate to the beginning of a new season. Cardinal signs* carry the quality of impetus, movement and directed action, making achievement and success in key areas much more likely over the next two years.
Under the Saturn in Virgo energy, you may have experienced a tendency to try to master anything that crossed your path, ultimately ending up a little scattered but vastly better at managing details. With Saturn in Libra, your focus may narrow, as priorities become clear.
Saturn in Libra offers you the chance to do just a few things, but to do them exceptionally well. If you know your own birth chart, look for the house area ruler by Libra – that’s likely to be an area of extra focus and ultimately success throughout the passage of Saturn in Libra.
Saturn enters Libra under a hopeful, optimistic and forward looking Sagittarius Moon, a positive omen for the concept of hard work moving your forward in the coming two years. Once in Libra, Saturn continues his tango with Uranus, but this time with a more ambitious mindset. Saturn also picks up Pluto, showing that, at least between now and September, dealing with power themes and regaining control of certain areas of your life are key to later success. Purge, purify and transform now and you’ll find life reaches new levels of stability and safety moving forward.
Based only on solar astrology, here’s the house area triggered by Saturn for your sign:
If you are an…. Saturn in Libra triggers your solar house of…
Aries - Relationships and Other People
Taurus - Health, Work and Daily Routines
Gemini - Creativity and Children
Cancer - Home, Family, Domestic Life
Leo - Communication, Study, Self Expression
Virgo - Finances and Self Esteem
Libra - Self – Identity, Appearance, Qualities
Scorpio - Spirituality, Meditation, Rest, Retreat
Sagittarius - Social Connections, Friends, Group Dynamics
Capricorn - Career and Professional Roles and Responsibilities
Aquarius - Travel, Study, Philosophy, Faith
Pisces - Debt, Investments, Taxes, Psychology
You can read more about the influence of Saturn in Libra on your sign in my annual horoscopes, available in the WellBeing Astrology Guide 2010
Or find out exactly what Saturn in Libra is up to in your chart in a year ahead predictive session
*Cardinal signs – Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn
**Mutable signs – Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces
Get your copy of Kelly's Saturn in Libra skype lecture.
$15, delivered by email. Recorded earlier this year.
July 19 – 20
Moon in Scorpio
The next 48 hours are some of the most fertile this month. We are currently in a waxing Moon phase (the two weeks from new to full moon), and for the next two days, the Moon is in a fertile water sign. (All signs fall somewhere on the fertile to barren spectrum, with water signs being the most fertile.) Coincidentally, the Sun is also in a water sign. If you are looking to plant things or give your hair a trim where maximum growth/regrowth is the goal, make the effort to do so today and tomorrow.
Saturn moves into Libra later this week - if you missed my lecture earlier this year on Saturn in Libra, you can now purchase a copy using the link above.
Read my comments about the Take That reunion and Saturn's Cycle
July 17 - 18
First Quarter Moon Libra Moon
The Moon carries on through diplomatic Libra. Her next meeting is with the charming Sun, otherwise known as the first quarter Moon phase. Both Libra and Cancer are cardinal signs – signs of initiation and impetus. The first quarter Moon is classically a time of movement and decision making. The next 24 hours therefore offers the ideal sky scape under which to weigh your options but still move towards a decision, especially in the areas of home, family and domestic life, as well as within partnerships and regarding those important people in your life. As with any moon in Libra period, teamwork is key.
If you’d like to find out more about astrology as an oracle, you can read my article on horary astrology here or find out about the kinds of issues horary can help with here.
July 10 – August 8
The Beauty in Order aka Virgo Overload
Over the weekend I declined goat cheese at a barbie, and went to the effort of making Baba Ghanouj from scratch, along with a totally yummy dairy and wheat free nut based chocolate treat. I also spent most of the last few days making yummy salads, with fresh herbs, heirloom tomatoes, nuts, avocado and organic mixed greens. It only dawned on me this morning that my new eating interests were an expression of the super healthy, back to basics Venus in Virgo.
Venus is about love; in Virgo, what evokes love is simplicity, purity and anything organic. Virgo is the sign of healthy, clean living, of minimalist design and understated emotions. In contrast to the recent Venus in Leo vibe, it’s almost staid. Hidden within this grounded approach to the practical side of life lies a desire to do away with anything frivolous or remotely excessive.
Venus’ connection to beauty also suggests that home made beauty products or old wives tale type remedies appeal. If you know exactly what’s in it (and it’s good enough to eat), you’ll be more inclined to use it as part of your pampering or beauty rituals now. This is not the combination of haute couture (that was Venus in Leo), instead try eggs in your hair, (it can be smelly but worth the effort to remove as it really adds to the shine), oat + avocado face masks, or a dab of honey for bites and stings. Keep it natural! If you have a favourite natural health or beauty tip, share it here.
Venus in Virgo is excellent for simplifying life – in terms of clutter and physical space, (think order and organisation, which I know for me will include some major filing and recycling), and in terms of priorities where friendship and romance are concerned. How will your values about needs (rather than wants) inform your closest relationships now?
Venus isn’t the only planet in Virgo right now – Mars has been there since June 7, and Saturn doesn’t leave for good until July 20. For the next week or so, this collection of planets all manifesting the Virgo mindset help boost efficiency, productivity and your desire to deal with details.
And over the next 48 hours the Moon adds her growing light the Virgo call. You really have all the celestial support you need to streamline your life through better organisation and refining routines.
My article on Eclipses from the WellBeing archive
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July 12 – 14
There’s an air of confidence about, as the Moon enters outgoing Leo. It’s time to get fired up about those new opportunities emerging under the recent New Moon eclipse.
As she enters Leo, the Moon almost instantly connects with optimistic Jupiter and curious Mercury, two planets connected to the mind, learning and communication. The next 24 hours especially are about confident conversations, sharing bold ideas and doing something about the visions you hold for your future.
Quite synchronistically, I’ve just updated the courses and workshops page of my website – if you’re looking to expand your understanding of astrology, you might like what’s on offer here There are classes and workshops in Vancouver, Sydney and Toronto coming up through the remainder of 2010.
I’m running skype talks on demand, so if you’re keen, drop me a line to infoATkellysurtees.com to express your interest.
Modern Intention Setting Using Old World Wisdom
New Moon Wishing
Every New Moon represents a new beginning; an opportunity to start a fresh in a new area of life. This particular New Moon falls in the sign of Cancer, showing potential new beginnings around Cancer’s traditional areas of home, family, mothering and comfort. Cancer is also linked to memories, history and the past, showing that moving forward now may involve re-examining your personal past.
This particular New Moon is a solar eclipse. Eclipse are unusual events that represent a tear in the thread of normality. Under an eclipse, the impossible can become possible. Each eclipse has it’s own themes and energy, based on the larger family of eclipses to which it belongs (known as a Saros Series). This particular eclipse belongs to a group that is about finding/creating success around long term issues, making breakthroughs and forward progress even more likely than usual.
One of the most potent ways to connect with the power of a New Moon is through creative intention setting, through a process known as New Moon Wishing. Jan Spiller coined this phrase in her book ‘New Moon Astrology’ (2001 Bantam). We are still within the recommended 8 hour wishing window of the New Moon eclipse, so if you haven’t yet taken a moment to dream up a wish list for yourself, I’d encourage you to do so.
My New Moon Wishing ritual begins with lighting incense and a candle, and taking a moment to reflect on where I am in life today. Then, I imagine where I’d love to be. Usually, I focus my dreams on areas of life linked to both the sign energy of the New Moon (this month, that’s Cancer) and the house area of my birth chart the current New Moon is energising. (As someone with an early Pisces rising, that’s fifth house for this New Moon.)
For me, my wishes centre around Cancer themes of nourishment, safety, family, home and memories, as well as fifth house themes of creativity, playfulness, children and relaxation. (If you’re new to astrology and keen to learn about basics like houses and signs, you might like my Level 1 Contemporary Astrology course, available online through the Awareness Institute.)
I then pull out my special New Moon Wishing book. I’ve been recording my New Moon wishes, as sporadically as I’ve done them, since 2002. This particular New Moon wishing book begins, appropriately enough, under the New Moon in Cancer in July 2002. I haven’t written every New Moon wish I’ve made since then in this book but I have recorded the vast majority of them.
I
n this book, I write down my wishes around the month’s current themes. I ensure I word them carefully, as Jan suggests, wishing for things to happen easily, and focus my wishes on things based around myself (yes, New Moon Wishes are a perfect time to be healthily selfish!) – knowing that unless it’s in another person’s highest good, it’s impossible to ask for something on behalf of another. Using therapeutic ‘I’ statements – usually something like ‘I’d like to easily find myself……’ I craft out the changes I’d like in both the relevant sign and houses areas.
Sometimes I write out the full allocation of wishes Jan suggests (10) – and other months, like this one, there are just three or four key wishes around current areas of focus.
After writing these out, I then say them out loud, to firmly imprint the ideas in my being. I seem to recall once reading something about how speaking what one has written helps the concept travel across both sides of the brain, thus imprinting it more deeply on one’s psyche. Either way, it’s an excellent editing technique and helps me ensure I’ve worded things just so – and haven’t forgotten anything currently important. Then, I take a moment to envisage my life with these things happening, gone or going on, whatever the wish may be.
How about you? Have you taken the time to try the power of creative wishing in your world? If so, share your story here