The cosmic calendar is crowded this week: a new moon, a solar eclipse, and even some Venus movement that spells L-O-V-E. But all this activity holds the potential for something pretty wonderful, says astrologer Jennifer Racioppi. Here’s her best guidance on making the most of what the cosmos has in store right now.
Welcome to July. The month begins with Mars, the planet of action, leaving Cancer and entering into Leo, a sign it’ll stay in until August 18. With this animated planet leaving the sensitive sign of the crab and entering into joyful Leo, the cosmos unleashes the potential for enthusiasm. Mars, in Leo, brings the drive to create, and the desire to see and be seen. This bodes well for peak summer vibes.
Come July 2, we have a potent total solar eclipse. The new moon eclipse happening at 3:16 p.m. Eastern occurs at 10 degrees of Cancer. Cancer represents home, family, the desire for safety and security, as well as traditions. This new moon offers a fresh start when it comes to creating new traditions in your family, friends, and self. However, with Saturn on the south node of karma, opposing the north node of fate as well as the sun and the moon too, we can expect this eclipse to bring things to the surface that need to be also healed.
This is a combination that encourages dreaming—and dreaming big.
Consequently, it also asks you to honor how far you’ve come on your journey. Own your growth and set intentions for where you wish to go from here. Thankfully, Neptune makes an auspicious trine to the north node while sextiling the south node (and Saturn)—a combination that encourages dreaming, and dreaming big.
Pay close attention to the family story playing out in your life now, or even more so, how you relate to the essence of safety and security within yourself. Everything that’s up for healing needs attention. This new moon calls you home to your own body, your emotional intelligence. What’s standing in the way of you doing just that, coming back to yourself?
This eclipse opens a potent portal to a new 19-year trajectory. Translation: Permit yourself to think long term. Ask yourself this; If everything goes as well as it possibly could over the next 19 years, what will happen? Imagine your life 19 years from now. Then backtrack today and identify your priorities. Where can you focus now to honor your future self? The trick to manifesting, honestly, is writing your intentions and goals down, reading them out loud, and then taking inspired action on behalf of them. So please do carve out time to sit with what’s coming up for you this new moon, and put your goals on paper.
And on Wednesday, July 3, Venus, the planet of love, exits Gemini entering into Cancer. Venus in Cancer promotes the nourishment of self and others. It intensifies the ability to love, and love deep.
When Mercury retrograde meets eclipse season…
Then get ready, because on July 7, Mercury (the planet of communication) commences its backward spin. Yup, the second Mercury in retrograde period of 2019 begins. Starting in Leo, Mercury asks us to review where we’ve been and the commitments we’ve made as it travels back into Cancer. (Mercury moves from Leo to Cancer on July 19.) Now’s the time to slow down. Seriously.
Given that it’s both eclipse season and Mercury in retrograde, give yourself space to decompress, and under-schedule yourself when it comes to working. Mercury ends its retrograde period on the last day of this month. Until then, embrace the developmental path that Mercury in retrograde bestows. It invites inquiry and personal evaluation of self. Now’s the time to listen to your intuition, and pay close attention to the universe’s signs, signals, and omens.
Jennifer Racioppi is the creator of Lunar Logic—a philosophy that integrates the deep wisdom of both science and spirituality, and blends her expertise in astrology, positive psychology, and women’s health—to coach high-achieving female entrepreneurs to reach their next level of success.