July 2008 Horoscope—Planets in Play

by Laurence Hillman

General Overview

Pluto, Lord of the Underworld, has moved back into Sagittarius and will stay here for about six months until he makes his final shift into Capricorn, a historic move that occurs only every 248 years. This change has been underway since last January. As we look to the heavens, Pluto is also in a tight, invigorating relationship with Mars, Warrior Lord. Whatever Pluto touches goes though a deep transformation that we sometimes experience as a meat grinder. What comes out the other end is no longer recognizable.

As we reflect all heavenly drama down onto an imaginary stage within us, the planets become inner actors with distinct qualities and needs. Our Mars in us — our inner drive, energy, force, feistiness, and fight — goes through deep changes, and Pluto’s presence in Sagittarius brings a renewed interest in ideas and the core philosophies that we hold. We are drawn to debates, making our views well known, and perhaps a fight or two. This is especially true because Mars is in fiery Leo, which ups the temperature a bit. There might not be a lot of reflecting going on but there will be opining, for sure.

In a different area of the stage, the Sun, Lord of Ego, is in family-oriented Cancer, and Venus, Goddess of Beauty and Love, is standing close to him. There is a lot of love in — and for — the family. This energy reflects harmony between the father and the daughter, the king and the princess within you. We wish to beautify our domestic surroundings and entertain frequently, mostly to maintain social and familial relations. There is a genuine caring for those who have perhaps irritated us in the past.

When we combine the two main themes above, we can see that some of those family gatherings and picnics may end up in political arguments or, with Pluto’s propensity to bring up hidden secrets, a digging up of buried hatchets.

So how will we juggle these two seemingly dichotomous subplots on our stage? We look to Mercury, Lord of Mind, for this. He is the master juggler, a trickster and a maverick. He loves contradictions and finding multiple, seemingly opposite solutions to a problem. He is now in Gemini, a sign that he rules (meaning that there is a natural affinity between the planet and the sign). The Moon, Queen of the Hearth, who represents how we feel, is also in Gemini, and we are extraordinarily flexible and adaptable. Even strife does not bother us, as our feelings fluctuate and we quickly feel different about everything. It would therefore be advantageous to look at all this familial energy as being in flux. Whatever may appear real and serious now will no longer matter in a few weeks. Mercury also adds a quality of trickery, and our feistiness is quick-witted. We make excellent arguments and enjoy debating them as though we were in a mental sparring ring. When the bout is over, there will be a respecting bow to our worthy opponent.

Aries

The Sun, Lord of Ego, is in that area of your stage that addresses your home. Of course, this is a reinforcement of the already domestic nature of the king this month as we find him in Cancer, the sign most associated with this area of our lives. With Venus, Goddess of Beauty and Love, right next to the ruler, particular joy overcomes you in your home, and for once your adventurous nature is somewhat tamed as you prefer to stay in. You may look around and ask yourself what is ugly and needs to be beautified. You may develop an interest in decorating, gardening, or sitting with kids or grandkids. You love to tell anyone who will listen about the fabulous adventures you have had and the dragons you have slayed.

With the Moon, Queen of the Hearth, and Mercury, Lord of Mind, in the stage area describing your closest relatives, the times in your home are lively indeed. Who knows who may show up now? It could be long-lost cousins, aunts, uncles, or neighbors you didn’t even know you had. The latter may just smell the barbeque and start arriving as though this were the most natural thing in the world. You exude a welcoming friendliness that makes everyone feel as though they belong in your home — and you feel happy to be at the center of all that.

Of course, we do have that relationship between Mars, Warrior Lord, and Pluto, Lord of the Underworld, too (see general overview above). This means not all conversations will be peaceful, especially if they involve politics or religion. Don’t let this get to you; your agility to move around even complex ideas and your core desire to keep peace in your castle will prevail, and you may find yourself in the role, unusual for you, of making peace instead of instigating irritation. This is good practice for you. It is always helpful to develop different sides of our character.

Your feelings about yourself fluctuate this month, and it appears that every time you look in the mirror you feel different about who you see there. A lot of your self worth is tied up with your net worth, and the fluctuations in how you view yourself can be traced back to fluctuations in your bank account. You need stability there to feel safe and to feel good about yourself. You love your possessions and comforts. Any changes in this area make you instantly insecure, and this month there are lots of these changes. At times, you may feel as though you are on a roller coaster and wish that things would settle down. If you have ever been on a real roller coaster you know that the best way to get though it and to overcome any fear is to let go and to enjoy the ride as much as you can. The more you tense up, the harder and more painful the ride. This is a month where trusting and letting go are of great benefit for you.

You may also turn to aunts and uncles, cousins and even neighbors for moral support this month. These characters show up on your inner stage in the area that is most beneficial for overcoming your insecurities. You will feel embraced, supported, and even loved in such settings. So take advantage of this and accept any of the invitations that are sure to arrive in your mailbox.

Mars, Warrior Lord, is in your home area and in a tight relationship with Pluto, Lord of the Underworld. You have deep and active dreams in the style of Indiana Jones movies. An adventurous part of you is on the move, and depending on your comfort with such wild and unpredictable material, you either grasp this opportunity by the horns or you find yourself having uncontrollable dreams, even nightmares. One way to channel this energy would be to renovate something in your home. Replacing rotten or termite-infested wood comes to mind: The more decayed and broken the item, the better.

Gemini

May 21–June 20

You have a lively month ahead with Mercury, Lord of Mind, the ruler of your sign (meaning that there is a natural affinity between the planet and the sign), in a prominent place on your inner stage and right next to the Moon, Queen of the Hearth. This does not speak of great stability in your outlook on life, but you’re mercurial by nature anyway. Juggling several things at once only gets you more interested in adding a few more objects, just to see how much you can take on before you drop it all. Then you smile and begin again. This is just your nature; overall you feel good now.

When dealing with your money matters there is some stability and also a need to save. Both the Sun, Lord of Ego and king on the stage, and his daughter, the princess Venus, Goddess of Love and Beauty, are involved with this part of your life. Because they are in the sign of Cancer, issues with your nest egg arise. While money may not have seemed important to you in the past, or at least not in terms of your long-term goals and basic survival, this becomes important now. Because you are inclined to give considerable energy (solar energy, none the less) to this matter now, and Venus herself is a planet associated with money, there is a plenty of opportunity for you to thrive financially, and you can end up making some excellent strategic moves for your long-term financial future. Remember that Cancer is about saving, so part of your plan should include putting many eggs in many baskets. This is the time to think of a rainy day in the future so that you’ll have something to fall back on should you need to. You will be glad you did.

Persistent Pluto, Lord of the Underworld, remains in that part of your inner stage that speaks to your intimate relationships. Usually this means your partner, lover, honey, or spouse. This has been going one for a few years and will continue for several more. During this period you go through some of the deepest lessons about love, commitment, and sharing. This month Mars, Warrior Lord, joins the party and stands in an intense and direct relationship with that Pluto. This adds feistiness to the learning, and you may get some unexpected and unsolicited advice from family members. You may see this as an invasion of your privacy, and you may feel like taking a defensive stance at first. However, Mars can also heal by cutting out all dead growth. Think of Mars as a knife: In the hands of the wrong person it is a weapon, but in the hands of a surgeon it can do wonders to remove all kinds of dead matter.

Cancer

June 21–July 22

With the Sun, Lord of Ego, and Venus, Goddess of Beauty and Love, in your sign, this is a comforting month for you. Spend as much time as you can with family and loved ones. There is sure to be pleasure and excitement, and plenty of quality time to do all the nurturing and entertaining that you so care for. Venus adds grace and particularly beauty to whatever you do. Now is the time to decorate your environment, from your cabana to your cubicle. Everything needs to be beautiful and infused with great taste. No Styrofoam cups, please! Only the finest bone china will do for Venus. Particularly social events satisfy you, and anybody fortunate enough to spend this time with you feels, and remarks on, your grace and beauty.

Meanwhile, money matters are a mixed bag for you. On the one hand, Mars, Warrior Lord, is in this area of your inner stage and fueled by Pluto, Lord of the Underworld, who is working from that part of your stage that speaks to your work and your work environment. Great changes are in store for you. You feel as though these changes originate from a place that is much larger than you, for instance that the economy is affecting your income. This is not necessarily difficult if you are open to change. Profound transformation is afoot, and you will eventually understand how this is very beneficial for you, even though in the short run you may only see loss and sadness that things in your financial world are not how they used to be. The other player in your money matters is Saturn, Master of Discipline. For now, money continues to feel hard to get and you work extraordinarily hard at maintaining your life style, but great changes are afoot for you. In just a few months your focus will no longer be here and money will flow more freely.

The Moon, Queen of the Hearth, is in your sign of Cancer and aligned with Mercury, Lord of Mind, in a spiritual and very private part of your chart. You may spend much more time than usually daydreaming. If you can get away and read everything that you can get your hands on, you will feel very happy.

Leo

July 23–Aug. 22

This month is primarily about abundant creativity and an infusion of power coming either from a lover or from the creations you birth. When you sit quietly in a meditative state you become infused with seemingly endless and divine-inspired ideas that are both intellectual and emotional. The Moon, Queen of the Hearth, and Mercury, Lord of Mind, help you with this. The old “head and stomach” dichotomy is not there for you, and together these two characters are your lightning rod to the heavens. What you then do with this inspiration is up to you. Ideally you spend time in your private studio and create something of lasting value.

Pluto, Lord of the Underworld, is with you in that studio. You can gain profound insights and produce transformative work if you have the strength to visit with this powerful part of yourself. Themes in your creative process may include sex, death, and transformation, not exactly light subjects, but these powerful and private forces give any work long-lasting quality. If you are not typically prone to creative pursuits, now is an excellent time to sign up for a creative class in any subject that interests you even slightly. Want to know if you have the stomach to face Pluto? The answer is a resounding yes. Pluto is in perfect harmony with Mars, Warrior Lord, and the latter is in a prominent place on your inner stage. Besides that, Saturn, Master of Discipline, is close by to give that otherwise tempestuous Mars in Leo the necessary discipline and stick-to-itiveness.

Among your sources for inspiration are your friends and the discussions that you have with them. With the Moon and Mercury reflecting them on your stage now, you may find that after vibrant and stimulating conversations you go directly to your studio and begin birthing what has been percolating within you and now simply must come forth. The planet that rules your sign of Leo, the Sun, Lord of Ego (this means that there is a natural affinity or kinship between the heavenly body and the sign), is in an emotional and highly spiritual place. With his presence near Venus, Goddess of Beauty and Love, this will be a truly inspiring month for you if you can take enough time out to be quiet and retreat from your daily chores. 

Virgo

Aug. 23–Sept. 22

You feel forcefully exiled this month, as though you have been sent to a colony for bad behavior. This feels particularly in connection to what, in your mind, your family has “done to you.” Mars, Warrior Lord, and Saturn, Master of Discipline, are in this lonely place of your inner stage. Of course there is also the idea that being cut off from your “normal” life is an opportunity to examine it, to reflect upon it, and even to explore new avenues of expressing yourself. In the end it’s your choice: You can feel locked up and abandoned or free to explore new and hidden sides of your nature.

To say that you have mixed feelings about your family is an understatement. Despite what they’ve “done to you,” they give you great support, and they feel a lot like friends. If you need something, they provide it. With Venus, Goddess of Beauty and Love, near the Sun, Lord of Ego and king on your stage, and both in this friendly area, you feel great love both to and from your kin. Friends can also feel like family now. It is a good time to be alive; you say you feel nurtured and fortunate, which certainly eases the notion of feeling exiled.

Mercury, Lord of Mind, rules your sign of Virgo (meaning that there is a natural affinity between the sign and the planet), and he is now aligned with the Moon, Queen of the Hearth, in Gemini and in the most public part of your stage. This makes for an interesting time: On the one hand you feel locked away and on the other you have a fabulous capacity to write about it or express yourself in some way. Write letters from your island or your mountaintop. The world is sure to appreciate what you have to say.

With Jupiter, Lord of Expansion, in that part of your stage that addresses your creativity, it is easy to see that you can be quite disciplined and creative — after all, Jupiter is in disciplined Capricorn. There may even be an educational subtext to what you teach us from up there on your perch. 

Libra

Sept. 23–Oct. 22

For you, this is a month to be out in public and to shine. The Sun, Lord of Ego, is about as center stage as it gets, and with Venus, Goddess of Beauty and Love, right there to flank him, the world loves you. Venus rules your sign of Libra (meaning that there is a natural affinity between the sign and the planet), and you are quite at home basking in this affection bestowed upon you. The Sun and Venus are in Cancer, and the feeling that you get is of being held closely by those who admire you. They all appear like a big family to you.

In particular, any teaching opportunities that you have at this time will show off your mercurial ability to inspire others to find their own intellectual pathways. You have a natural gift with words, and with Mercury, Lord of Mind, and the Moon, Queen of the Hearth, both in the area of your stage that suggests teaching, religion, and the law, you have a particular agility both to throw and catch curve balls when standing in front of a class or on the pulpit.

Jupiter, Lord of Expansion, is in the area that indicates your home life and roots. In the sign of Capricorn, he suggests an expansive feeling towards guests. It is also easy for you to step into teacher/preacher mode here. Let’s not forget the feistiness of Mars, Warrior Lord, who’s in that part of your inner stage that deals with friends this month (see general introduction above). He is in a close relationship with Pluto, Lord of the Underworld, who is also in the very opinionated sign of Sagittarius and even in an area that speaks to teaching. This all combines to the perfect storm for you to take any opportunity to tell a friend who enters your home exactly what “truth” is. Or at least, what your truth is. It seems a bit hard to believe that not everyone agrees with your ideas, though, and you may find people shaking their heads as they leave your house. They will do this out of your sight, though. To your face, the world loves you now.

Scorpio

Oct. 23–Nov. 22

You go public with your creativity this month as rarely before. If you have been hiding your artwork under your bed or inside your camera, now is the time when we finally get to see what you have been brooding over for so long. Mars, Warrior Lord, is in the most public place of your chart and in the creative sign of Leo. He is also massively encouraged by Pluto, Lord of the Underworld, and the ruler of Scorpio (meaning that there is a natural affinity between the sign and the planet). This is comfortable energy to you. Others find the Mars/Pluto connection difficult, but for you it is a shot in the arm, and you stand up straight and present yourself to the world as a powerful healer through the arts.

If you have the opportunity to travel, this is an excellent time. The Sun, Lord of Ego, and Venus, Goddess of Beauty and Love, are both in the area that shows your need not only to travel, but to expand your horizons in other ways as well. A trip now, especially with family or to visit your ancestral roots, is very pleasant and enlightening. After all, the Sun and Venus are both in the sign of Cancer, which is all about family, comfort, and emotional security.

The Moon, Queen of the Hearth, and Mercury, Lord of Mind, are both in Gemini and in that part of your inner stage that is most private and psychological. This, in fact, is the stage area that has its affinity with Scorpio as well. Your night life and your dreams become a valuable tool to get insights into your most visceral patterns. This is one of the best possible combinations to be able to record your dreams and then play with the imagery during the day. Juggle them around and they may very well become sources of further inspiration. The depth of your work is sure to raise many eyebrows and get you noticed.

Uranus, Your Inner Disturber, is also in the most creative part of your inner stage. With all the depth that you have, both in general and now in particular, this just adds another layer of inspiration. Don’t let all this generative energy go to waste when you can create objects, or capture images, of everlasting power.

Sagittarius

Nov. 23–Dec. 21

You are prone to strong convictions, to put it politely, and this month we see more of the dogmatic side of you. Pluto, Lord of the Underworld, is center stage, and you opine freely, with some serious zealotry thrown in. Anybody who disagrees with you is simply exterminated — maybe not literally, but surely figuratively. The problem is not that your ideas are not interesting, but with Saturn, Master of Discipline, also in the area of your chart where we see the teacher and opinionated guru, there is a locked part of you that does not have much tolerance for others’ ideas. With Mars, Warrior Lord, also there and in a tight relationship to Pluto (see general overview above), your ideas are fierce, fiery, and pioneering. Politics is an excellent place for such energy. If you are not politically involved, perhaps this is a good time to consider joining a cause.

There is some upheaval in your home. Uranus, Your Inner Disturber, is there now and in tension with Mercury, Lord of Mind, who is standing in that area that deals with your significant other. To this mix we add the Moon, Queen of the Hearth, in the same stage area and sign, and get a powerful cocktail for lasting change in your intimate relationships and domestic setting. Hang on to your hat, Indiana Jones (for you are the eternal adventurer). This is an unpredictable time for you.

Finances look good as Jupiter, Lord of Expansion, your ruling planet (meaning that there is a natural affinity between the planet and your sign) is in the stage area that speaks to your money matters. Your self-confidence increases as well. Hopefully you use this newfound sense of self to bail yourself out of domestic struggles and not just to fuel your righteousness. When you like grand ideas it is also wise to like new ones. You may just find, if you tone down the rhetoric a bit, that there are many teachers nearby at this time. They have something important to teach you.

Capricorn

Dec. 22–Jan. 19

You feel invigorated and full of optimism as Jupiter, Lord of Expansion, is in a prominent place on your stage and in your sign to boot. For now, the place of greatest reward and sheerest pleasure is in your significant relationship. You put all your energy here as your Sun, Lord of Ego and the king on your stage, is here, along with Venus, Goddess of Beauty and Love. If you are in a satisfying relationship then time spent with your honey is invigorating and rewarding for a long time to come. It is as though you are filling your saddlebags with valuable memories and provisions so that the long ride ahead will be eased. Later you will be able to reach in at any time and retrieve a fond memory to keep you going.

If you are single, or if a relationship is ending for you, then you focus on this a lot. The suffering and sense of loss may be great. You feel as though your family has been taken away from you. However, with all this energy concentrated here, there is a good chance that someone new will appear around the corner. So be ready.

That intense energy from Mars, Warrior Lord, and powerful Pluto, Lord of the Underworld, (see general overview above) falls in the two most private places of your inner stage. You are filled with secret and hidden desires, and at times you suffer silently, possibly through nightmares or insomnia. If you have means to retreat and express what you are feeling through words — as poetry, prose, or any other form of written expression — this is an excellent time to do so. After all, the Moon, Queen of the Hearth, who tells us about your feelings, is in Gemini and close to Mercury, Lord of Mind, who also rules this sign (meaning that there is an affinity between the planet and the sign). All this means that you are quite agile and capable — in contrast to your typical rigidity — to speak of your feelings or to write about them. Take advantage of this time and get creative.

Aquarius

Jan. 20–Feb. 18

Passionate Mars, Warrior Lord, shows up in your area of committed relationships. If you have a partner, a spouse, or a honey, sparks are sure to fly with them. The source may be an old friend from one of your pasts who stirs things up and opens up old wounds. Saturn, Master of Discipline, is in the same are of your inner stage as your Mars, though, and your relationship is not really threatened. It just needs to be reaffirmed, and this is the perfect opportunity to purge any old-fashioned and outdated notions about what both of your roles are. In fact, Pluto, Lord of the Underworld, tightly interacts with this Mars and quite simply demands renewal. This can mean recommitting to your vows, you and your partner’s roles, or your friendship.

The Sun, Lord of Ego, next to Venus, Goddess of Beauty and Love, is in the area of your inner stage that speaks to your health and body image. As they are both in the sign of Cancer, you are prone to seek out comfort foods and foods that remind you of your childhood. It is hard not to get seduced by sweets with Venus in such a powerful place. Obviously, there are consequences to such behavior. A sugar overload may have longer-lasting consequences because your level of physical sensitivity is also heightened. But since the same area of your chart where this is happening also speaks to your work environment, you can also choose how you express this energy. For instance, an alternative to ice cream may be creating a family-friendly environment at work or helping out someone at work financially. In astrology, there are always many ways to live out any archetypal pattern. In order to make a choice we must be aware of the energies present.

The Moon, Queen of the Hearth, and Mercury, Lord of Mind, both in agile Gemini, fall in that part of your stage that deals with creativity and children. Surround yourself with kids and you will feel playful and flexible. You may even be inspired to write something for a young audience or at least spend quality time telling stories. This is as much for your benefit as for the next generation’s.

Pisces

Feb. 19–March 20

For two more months you will deal with deep and dark health issues that depress your energy. But this month, however, vibrant and driven Mars, Warrior Lord, shows up in the area that tells us about your body and its state of being. You feel invigorated and empowered, particularly when where you find yourself out in the world. Pluto, Lord of the Underworld, is in the most public place of your inner stage. At its worst, this means that your dark and mean sides are now shown publicly. On a more positive note, this indicates that you have the power to show your healing gifts. At your core, you always care about others and wish to make life better for them, sometimes at your own expense, and you can come across like a jellyfish with little or no spine, adapting to all currents of life. But now, if you harness this energy wisely, you can stand erect and make positive changes both in your life and in the world. If you have any physical limitations or health related matters that seem to hinder your pursuit of happiness, use them as ways to lift yourself up, not hold yourself down. At this time the public can sense the difference.

In your home there is a lot of activity, even around real estate. The Moon, Queen of the Hearth, and Mercury, Lord of Mind, both in the agile sign of Gemini, rule this area of your life now. Expect changes here. At the least, read at home a lot. Another choice is to invite intellectual friends over for great conversations. This will truly be emotionally fulfilling.

Your creativity knows no bounds. The Sun, Lord of Ego, the source of energy that lets you tap into your creativity, is in that most seminal place for you now. Add Venus, Goddess of Beauty and Love, to this solar energy and the world can only hold its breath to see what comes out of your studio.