Monthly Report – July 2023

Welcome to July. Major shifts all throughout this month. This seems to be the theme of 2023, doesn’t it? Even more so this month. Let’s begin.

Sign Changes and Retrograde Cycles for July 2023

All date/times are approximate in Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), and are given in 24 hour format with UTC offsets.

The Month So Far to July 13th

Hope for the Best…

We opened July with a brief Yod apexing Moon in Sagittarius from Jupiter in Taurus, and Mercury/Sun in Cancer. This set the tone for the month with visions of freedom and hoping for the best, supported by expansion and hopes for money and stability with Jupiter in Taurus, and conveying how we feel from the core with Sun and Mercury together in Cancer.

Mercury, of course, was combust, so it wasn’t as strong as it could have been. And, the Moon was also square Saturn retrograde in Pisces. Hence, our optimism is being hit with a splash of cold reality. So why the importance of the brief placement? I have to argue a collective psychic imprint with starting a new calendar month is at work.

…Brace for the Chaos

We also entered July with Mars, Venus, and Black Moon Lilith in Leo squaring Uranus in Taurus. Rebellious Uranus doesn’t even do well in fixed, stalwart Taurus. Mars, Venus and Black Moon Lilith all together? Themes of increased passions and drive for what we desire and find valuable being amplified with what’s beneath the surface. Forced instability has been causing a great deal of tension.

This also implies back room deals and strategizing in the shadows. This is rather important given that the WGA (Writer’s Guild) strike was still going on for more than a month at the beginning of July. As I write this, more info about those negotiations came to light, which I’ll get into below.

Now, while a brief Fire Grand Trine did form from Mars/Venus/Black Moon Lilith in Leo, Moon in Sagittarius, and Chiron in Aries, the beneficial fire energies were short-lived.

Forceful Strategies

On July 10th, Mars entered Virgo, and Mercury entered Leo. Mars entering the sixth sign of the zodiac of analysis, service, health, and obligations (such as general job functions rather than our more well-known career ambitions) ratcheted things up a few notches. Mercury in the fifth sign of creativity, fun, children, and short-term relations also adds to the fire.

As it turns out, shortly after Mars and Mercury entered their new signs, it came out that the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) had some member executives planning to wait out the strikes by stalling negotiations until at least October.

Example: The WGA/SAG-AFTRA Negotiations and Strikes

This strategy, a “cruel but necessary evil” according to one of the anonymous sources, would have the effect of striking writers (and now actors) start to run out of savings, and start losing apartments and homes. In other words, Mars in Virgo, after its union with Venus and Black Moon Lilith all squaring Uranus, brings the hidden to light: The Hollywood negotiations are, in effect, a siege by the executives. Again, a very Uranus in Taurus thing: destabilizing security and stability.

Want more examples of the upending of creativity, stability, resources, and collateral damage as emphasized by the earlier Mars/Venus/Lilith to Uranus square? The work stoppages doesn’t just affect studio executives, actors, and writers. Those productions also require:

• Caterers to feed the actors and stage staff.
• Cooks, chefs, and managers to make the food for the caterers to deliver and serve.
• Cars and other vehicles to be procured, driven, sold, and photographed.
• Merchants to ship supplies, be it clothing, fake blood, makeup, etc.
• Truck drivers (a good number of them Teamsters Union members) to deliver goods, equipment, etc.
• Artists, visual effects and sound effects personnel, musicians.
• Journalists conducting interviews and covering release events and other studio rumors.
• Other workers, such as baristas, security personnel, technical staff, programmers (some of whom probably came from FAANG (Facebook/Apple/Amazon/Netflix/Google) companies that are also letting people go in large numbers).
• The list goes on, in Los Angeles, Vancouver, New York, Atlanta, worldwide really.

It is, quite frankly, reprehensible and absolutely disgusting that the executives would even pull this siege mentality. The collateral damage, especially with the transits and alignments in the second half of the month, will be long-lasting. Do not expect rainbows and bunnies, unless maybe it’s the vicious kind of rabbits you’d need a Monty Python-esque Holy Hand Grenade to deal with.

Looking to the Future

Battle Lines Drawn

Well, with that unsavory news with the Hollywood goings-on being revealed, we should notate that Mars in Virgo opposite Saturn retrograde in Pisces will be in full effect from July 10th to 29th, with peak intensity on July 20th. Mars is passion, anger, action, impulsiveness. Saturn is discipline, roadblocks, obstacles, restrictions.

Essentially, we will have to deal with forced disruptions to our plans, and tempers will flare. At worst, this can lead to fights and battles we really don’t want to fight. Mars in Virgo can help us think on our feet and be decisive. Saturn in Pisces? That’s a bit more involved and has us dealing with “unknown unknowns.” Be ready for anything.

There’s also contention to consider all through the month with Pluto retrograde in Capricorn square the Nodes, with North Node starting in Taurus and then shifting to Aries on July 17th. This square peaks on July 25th. Pluto, being of death and rebirth, and tearing away old structures, squares against what we are to advance to, and what we cling to or come from.

So our striving for stability and coming from the old shadows of karma, doubt, and what we owe to people will give way to striving to forge our identity, and the relationships and unions we leave behind or are coming from. Perhaps those things we retreat to as well. Financial issues definitely play into any relationship or partnership instability, and with Venus retrograde beginning on July 22nd, this will only intensify. Some element of illusions and self-delusion could play into this with Venus apexing a Yod from Pluto retrograde, and also from Neptune retrograde in Pisces from July 14th and into the rest of the month.

Plenty of opportunity for people to try to spread wings and see where the grass is greener. And plenty of room for disappointment and regrets. Root ambitions in reality now. But if it’s definitely doable, it may be worth pursuing. Just don’t expect a smooth ride, like, at all.

Making Adjustments as Needed

Sun in Cancer sextile Uranus in Taurus, peaking July 14th does allow for some good adjustments in your private affairs and home life right now. Perhaps some monetary shakeups are forcing a bit of a reorganization in your bedroom, such as selling off unwanted items. Others will likely have more mundane ways of this playing out, such as activating a new debit card or something trivial.

However, watch your health and for the unscrupulous such as thieves, as Sun conjuncts fixed star Pollux around the same time as the Sun sextile to Uranus. Also watch for head injuries with this aspect.

Unpleasant Money and Relationship Messages

Jupiter in Taurus square Mercury in Leo on July 17th isn’t that great. Also add to Mercury being in second decan by this point, so having Jupiter/Sagittarius vibes, and we could be facing some not-so-optimistic news now in terms of creativity, fun, and money. This is reminding me of the WGA/SAG-AFTRA strikes, looking at this. Settle in for the long-haul on any lofty aspirations you have.

Later in the day, North Node enters Aries and South Node enters Libra, furthering the shift from our goals with resources to taking care of our own selves. This also coincides with New Moon in Cancer on the same day, so the next lunar cycle will have this twilight zone playing out. Frankly, the energy imprinting for the following month will be quite intense and not filled with the greatest of financial news.

Markets may become a bit more volatile, art (both physical and digital) will likely be upended in terms of value, and speculators and day-traders may just want to take a day or three off.

But do keep building on stable ground if you have the opportunity. Revisions will be necessary, but may end up being much more worthwhile if you make the right changes. What those are, that’s entirely up to you and the situation.

Trust Your Intuition

July 19th brings us Sun in Cancer trine Neptune retrograde in Pisces. Messages from our subconscious, our dreams, even our gut feelings will be incredibly informative, so long as we remember. Do keep in mind, however, that Sun opposite Pluto retrograde will also play out. Perhaps the dream images will provide some answers as to alternatives to stabilize our home and career concerns. Reputations overall will also be in the crosshairs. Not the time to pull shady crap.

Frustrations and Triggers

Moon in Virgo joining Mars in opposing Saturn on July 21st happens about the same time Sun and Pluto retrograde intensify a Grand Cross with the Nodes. A great deal of turmoil is likely on this particular Friday!

Moon and Mars together already amplify frustrations, passions, and drive. That opposition to Saturn in Pisces, we’ve got roadblocks that are waiting to jump out at us.

The Grand Cross energy, that’s also not helping things. We’re feeling particularly vulnerable with this, feeling like what’s expected of us in the public sphere is bleeding into our private lives and screwing with our vibes. Unstable relationships, especially with Venus stationing and getting ready to go retrograde, will begin to crumble at this time.

Major international intrigue and internal strife in governments and organizations will also play out. Expect a likely escalation in wars that are already playing out, if not an entirely new front. Also expect more layoffs and further economic bad news around this time.

The next day on the 22nd (or 23rd, depending on time zone), Sun enters Leo, shifting the solar energy into its own domain. While we should be having fun in the sun, it’s anything but. The Grand Cross isn’t helping matters, Venus is retrograde by this point, and Mars and Saturn are still opposing one another.

On top of this, Mercury joins Black Moon Lilith in squaring Uranus. So hidden messages coming to light regarding money, security, stability, probably some bribery scandal or more very unpleasant revelations about negotiations in bad faith.

Stay in and order pizza the weekend of July 21st. Seriously. Don’t go out.

And if you work out or do strenuous physical activity that weekend, watch your form and don’t get injured if you can help it. Long-brewing mobility issues could come back, in particular, injuries that just healed over the last few months.

Finally, on July 27th, Mercury conjunct Venus retrograde joins the Yod from Pluto and Neptune, both retrograde. More messages about money, resources, and maybe some innovative solutions to upend the status quo will come. Shortly after this on July 28th, Mercury enters Virgo and it’s moving at a decent clip. Mercury in one of its domiciles of Virgo will boost analytical thinking.

However, analytical solutions will require some rework and rethinking as Mercury opposes Saturn retrograde going into the end of the month and into August. Some details are likely to be missed, while other variables will not be known to us without a considerable amount of thinking and rework.

Luckily, there is Jupiter in Taurus trine Mars in Virgo approaching the end of the month as well. With some quick thinking and maybe a few bold moves, we can at least end the month on a higher note and maybe even mitigate some damage. Perhaps a good start to the work week going into August to start the next leg on an ongoing project.

To Sum It All Up

Quite frankly, July is a storm of activity. A few major shifts with Venus retrograde, North Node entering Aries, a series of Grand Crosses involving the Nodes and Pluto, and the Mars/Mercury shifts and oppositions to Saturn retrograde in Pisces will prove to be incredible challenges we’ll need to withstand.

Overcoming those challenges? That’s going to take a lot more doing. Our objective is to withstand the storm.

There are some opportunities to sneak in some productive gains, but it is going to take a lot of good thinking, a lot of general planning, and a tremendous amount of being able to brave the rapids.

Try not to lose hope. Remember, we need to consider the long game now.