Your Cosmic Forecast for July 4-17
Following the Path of Least Effort
If you thought June cranked up the heat, July brings a full-on roast. The first few weeks in particular have us simmering on a skewer, wrestling with agitation and running into those pesky little obstacles we thought we were done with. (insert eye-roll)
This is a time to recognize the desires you’ve been suppressing within yourself. To remember what it means to have the courage to move towards what you want, and break down the fears holding you back.
With Venus and Mars in Leo, we’re being invited to invoke our instinctive radiance, drawing out the confidence that comes from being willing to fail gloriously.
At the core of confidence is humility which is really the practice of being honest and accepting what happens from that place. But we often mistake confidence with charisma which is often just self-righteous inflation.
As much as you’re here to be the center of your own universe, there’s a way of embodying that center responsibly and without pretense.
Believing you deserve everything you want isn’t the same as believing everything is meant for you. When you learn to recognize the difference, you can be both delighted and discerning about what comes your way.
Some unsolicited advice for this month: notice where you’re doing most of the heavy-lifting and find the courage to let it go. Trust that when you support your true desires, needs, and energy, alignment will arrive naturally.
That being said, here’s what the sky has in store for the next two weeks:
Sunday, July 4th
The Sun in Cancer squares Chiron in Aries begging us to confront the incredibly polarized state of our “nation” right now. Celebratory enthusiasm may very well be dampened today, as our collective and personal pain points get nudged.
Monday, July 5th
The Sun in Cancer sextiles Uranus in Taurus and Venus in Leo sextiles the north node in Gemini (and trines the south node in Sagittarius). Today things seem to perk up. A great day for expressing some radically honest sentiments to your loved ones. Be on the lookout for a liberating change in perspective regarding something you’ve been working on or struggling to change recently.
Tuesday, July 6th
Mercury in Gemini squares retrograde Neptune in Pisces and Venus in Leo opposes retrograde Saturn in Aquarius. Take clarity with a grain of salt today. Communication can feel disorienting and love a little tough to come by. Today might feel like a sacrifice between pleasure and obligation, and uncertainty around which choice is the “right” one to make.
Wednesday, July 7th
Venus in Leo trines Chiron in Aries. A sensitive day where sentiments exchanged may have more sticking power. A day to get honest about the state of your relationships—which ones are working, and which need some adjustment? Mercury also leaves its retro-shade, which means we’re finally in the clear to move forward with stalled projects and contractual commitments.
Thursday, July 8th
Venus in Leo squares Uranus in Taurus. Let people surprise you today. Or surprise others by showing up boldly and authentically in your encounters. Today might deliver a missing link of sorts, or an aha(!) moment of clarity.
Friday, July 9th
Today we have a new moon in Cancer that’s free of roughness and full of sumptuousness. A great day for checking in with your feelings, your body, and nourishing yourself. Take a bath, have a good cry—let it all pour out.
Sunday, July 11th
After a delayed journey through Gemini, Mercury enters Cancer, and for the next few weeks notice the feelings your words evoke, and try perceiving your reality from a place of deep sensitivity. After a somewhat dry and heady few months, this can be a comfort to those of us who are naturally more intuitive and inclined to communicate in less literal and even non-verbal ways.
Monday, July 12th
Mercury in Cancer trines retrograde Jupiter in Pisces. Today, look for subtle revelations from your inner world. The Sun made a similar aspect back on June 23rd, so there might be an amplification or clarification of a theme that surfaced then.
Tuesday, July 13th
Venus in Leo conjoins Mars in Leo. This makes for a fiery, spunky moment. There is real courage at your disposal today—go after what you want with reckless abandon! Remember that the Latin root of courage is “cor” which means heart. Courage is literally an act of love, and vice versa.
Thursday, July 15th
The Sun in Cancer trines retrograde Neptune in Pisces and Chiron stations retrograde in Aries. A day for dreaming and moving slow through the haze. Today feels like getting out of bed the morning after a physically exerting day and your muscles are sore and demanding you take it easy. Not a great day for making clear logical decisions. Drop into your body and notice what comes through your felt experience.
Saturday, July 17th
The Sun in Cancer opposes Pluto in Capricorn. This day packs a punch, and can hit you where it hurts. With the moon being in Scorpio, you might find yourself emotionally on edge. Look out for power-plays and situations that scream “all or nothing”. Remember the way to be done learning from extreme situations is to stop choosing extremes.
As much as I don’t like to sensationalize things, these first few weeks of July are made up of some of the tensest astrology of the year. If things feel like they’re popping off all over the place, rest assured it’s not just you. Reach out for support if and when you need it, and remember that no matter how personal it seems, your struggle isn’t yours to bear alone.
If you’re in need of guidance navigating what’s currently arising in your life, or some support exploring and connecting with the possibilities that lay ahead, you can book a reading with me here.
Ilana studies and practices a blend of modern and traditional Western astrology. She sees astrology as a tool for self-knowledge, healing, and liberation. She offers one-on-one consultations to help you deepen your relationship with the cosmos and integrate your inner and outer worlds.
