Astrological update for the week of July 18-25, 2022
Chiron turns retrograde. Chiron is unlike any other planetary body in the solar system in that it has a cometary tail with the volume and size of a planet. Orbiting between the personal planets, bounded by Saturn, and the outer transformational planets of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, it acts as a bridge between the personal and transpersonal. By encouraging the healing the soul wounds of this and previous incarnations, Chiron facilitates the growth and evolution of the soul as well as the personality.
When any planet turns retrograde it appears to be stationary in the sky, and this can intensify the experience of anyone whose natal chart is being activated by that planet. Chiron has only traveled one degree in the past two months, and it will take another two months to retrograde back one degree. If you have planets in your own natal chart between 12 and 18 degrees of the cardinal signs (Aries, Libra, Cancer or Capricorn) this may present emotional challenges as undigested feelings and dramas emerge to be released. If you have planets in those degrees of a fire sign (Leo, Aries, Sagittarius) this process of healing and release will be just as important, but since this is a harmonious trine aspect the release will come more easily.
Sun and Mercury both enter Leo this week. Leo is the sign of the Sun – under its auspices we receive the warmth and vitality of its light and heat, and we learn to fully identify with the Self that is given to us for this lifetime. Leo is the ruler of the Sun, and expresses this need to fully express the Self as offered by the sign under which we are born. Under the influence of Leo our spirits are warmed by the Sun and it becomes easier to allow joy into our lives if we are the kind of people that tend to be skeptical or damaged in some way.
Every astrological factor contains a dark side as well as a light side, and Leo’s dark side can be narcissism with a touch of pride and arrogance. Often these negative traits obscure a wounded personality which longs for Leo’s authentic expression of pleasure and happiness. With the Sun and Mercury both entering Leo this week, these energies infuse our lives for a time regardless of whether
Leo is present in our own natal charts. With both the Sun and Mercury conjunct Ceres, planet of nourishment, we will want to be particularly mindful of the needs of the body for nutrition, movement, and tools to calm the mind.
Pluto is highlighted. The transformational planet Pluto is triggered by Mercury on Monday July 18, quickly followed by the Sun and Ceres (see below). Pluto’s power can be somewhat relentless in its drive to destroy the false and empower the true, and for the first few days of the week we might expect some harsh words, especially since the Moon enters fiery Aries at 7:17 EDT on Monday.
The Sun opposes Pluto on Tuesday July 19, continuing the need to expose whatever isn’t working so that it may be transformed. The Aries Moon conjoins Chiron that day as well, so this could be a little challenging emotionally.
Then on Wednesday morning the Aries Moon sets off this Sun/Pluto dynamic for one last exciting fiery drama. This combination can be very exciting! It can help us to find motivation where none existed previously. But if relations are out of balance, that will become quite apparent under this dynamic.
The rest of the week:
By Wednesday afternoon EDT (July 20), the energies will begin to settle down. The Moon enters Taurus where we seek peace and comfort.
The Moon enters Gemini on early EDT on Friday July 23 to encourage communication of all kinds, and a harmonious trine from Mercury to Jupiter helps to ease the mind and encourage positivity. The Sun will be in Leo by then, and Ceres enters Leo that day as well. The remainder of the week is extremely beneficial with opportunities to find emotional and mental balance. My only caveat is that on the weekend we will need to watch for an overzealous social calendar that could throw off that balance (Venus square Jupiter, Moon square Neptune).
On Sunday afternoon EDT the Moon will enter Cancer and draw our attention back into the moods of our feelings and inner world for a few days.
A heads up for next Monday: A challenging square from Mercury in Leo to Pluto could bring up some difficulty in communication and potentially some arguments. Forewarned is forearmed!
I hope you have a great week. ❤️
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