The erratic pace of recent weeks continues, but as the days and nights of this week unfold, certain tensions settle down. Don’t misunderstand; we’re still in the midst of several significant transitions, and nervous systems reflect the flux. But moods are moving away from confrontation as a way of spending excess energy. The impetus for personal freedom also persists, but this week it actually becomes more refined, if only because the motivation behind that drive toward independence is more grounded than it has been in a long while.
Some will attribute this psychic terra firma to several retrograde planets—and that could be. But I would pin the tail on Saturn and attribute the potential for a solid grip to its steady hand, a hand that soothes and settles Mars, even as Saturn prepares for its own transition. Just don’t expect completely placid waters. The planets are quite busy, and their activity is reflected in the hustle and bustle of daily life.
The ongoing Mars/Uranus square that began on July 17 is finally over on August 2. As that fractious interaction ends, a Mars/Saturn trine begins on Friday, July 31. This trine is exact on August 6 and ends on August 13. It’s the antidote to the Mars/Uranus mania of recent weeks. It combines the discipline of Saturn and the determination of Mars into a positive pattern that supports the strength and stamina to get almost any job done. Apply it liberally in all those areas of life where you need to stay focused and you’ll be pleased with your progress and results.
Saturn goes direct on August 2, ending a retrograde phase that began on March 14, which included a foray back into Scorpio that began on June 14. Saturn only lingers at the final degrees of Scorpio until September 17, when it reenters Sagittarius. As Saturn bids Scorpio adieu, a flood of lingering situations are likely to finally resolve. Saturn won’t be back in Scorpio until November 2041. Every time I ponder these final days of Saturn’s transit through Scorpio, I see a dog shaking water off its back. It’s messy, to be sure, but it may also be Sirius, the Dog Star (and the reason we call July-into-August, the dog days of the summer) cleansing itself in anticipation of what lies ahead.
As part of her current retrograde, Venus reenters Leo on July 31, and as she reenters the Sign of passion, she conjuncts Jupiter, creating a perfect union that is exact on August 4 and lasts until August 10. We experienced this Venus/Jupiter conjunction in June, when it was in a trine to Uranus, the father of invention. The signature of this entire bundle was “Love Wins.” This next conjunction is a little too wide to include Uranus, but its love mantra still applies. Anticipate leaning toward all sorts of passions over the course of the next several weeks, and don’t be afraid to take a chance on love.
Saturn squares the Venus/Jupiter conjunction. Its square to Venus is exact on August 5 and ends on August 15. Its square to Jupiter is exact on August 3 and ends on September 1. Saturn’s critical eye could make it all too easy to spot the flaws in the object of your affection, or in your own desire to dive into an infatuation, and if you’re not interested in romance, Saturn could dissuade you from taking creative risks. I’m not suggesting that Saturn should be ignored—it is the planet through which we distill wisdom from our experiences. But I would caution against using Saturn’s presence as a way of playing it safe.
One last note: Jupiter, the planet of great good fortune, enters Virgo on August 11, which means there are only a couple of days left to revel in the excesses of fiery passions. Enjoy these last days—Jupiter won’t be back in Leo for 12 years. But don’t worry…Jupiter will soon have us reveling in the earthly delights of Virgo.
As you move through another week of transitions, do your best to maintain a kind attitude toward yourself and your fellow travelers. Everyone benefits from a compassionate approach that motivates kind and thoughtful words and deeds.
Sun Bursts: If you know your Ascendant and/or your Moon Sign, read that too.
Aries March 21-April 19
Venus Retrograde provides the potential to make great strides in all your creative endeavors. Refrain from thinking about any obstacles you encounter as roadblocks keeping you from a faster track. Instead, consider these interruptions as opportunities to recalibrate your strategy to make it stronger, sturdier, and sustainable over the long term
Taurus April 20-May 20
Venus moves back into your Solar House of the home, stirring a deep longing to belong. Rather than despair because your nest is disturbed, use this phase as an opportunity to deepen your awareness of what you need to feel truly at home inside and out. This does not have to be an arduous process. All that’s required is the recognition of what brings you joy.
Gemini May 21-June 21
Venus Retrograde stimulates dialogue, especially conversations with family members—siblings and cousins—as well as friends and neighbors. Don’t be afraid of going wide and deep on a variety of subjects, ranging from values and ethics to politics and economics to philosophy and religion to romance and love.
Cancer June 22-July 22
Venus moves back into your Solar House of personal finance and it is all about the m-o-n-e-y. This does not mean you’re losing money. It means there are plenty of opportunities to improve your finances—so seize the moment. Just keep in mind, money is merely a manifestation of the material world and can never accurately measure ultimate or spiritual value.
Leo July 23-August 22
Venus retrogrades back into your Solar House of personality, and her presence amplifies your already charismatic aura. Be prepared for lots of people to be drawn to your marvelous light. Also anticipate an undeniable urge to express yourself in a variety of ways, from creative endeavors to social encounters to taking a stand for what matters most to you.
Virgo August 23-September 22
Venus Retrograde enlivens your interior world, stimulating dreams and meditation. Pay attention to your intuition, and try not to discount your internal barometer. Not every insight will be accurate, but being mindful of your internal process will eventually prove to be an invaluable endeavor.
Libra September 23-October 22
Venus reenters your Solar House of community, reigniting your desire to share your many gifts with the world. Don’t hesitate to get involved in plans and projects that incorporate your ideals and values—you might even be tempted to start your own organization with like-minded associates. Whatever your choice, this phase is about embodying active presence.
Scorpio October 23-November 21
Venus retrogrades back into your Solar House of career, the sector of the chart that signifies expertise and recognition for your knowledge. Don’t shy away from sharing the wisdom you’ve gathered. Just remember to invite others to do the same—the combined efforts of any team you put together will only enhance your contribution.
Sagittarius November 22-December 21
Venus reenters your Solar House of wanderlust, creating an itch to travel that’s hard to deny. If you’re planning a vacation, great, but if you can’t get away, figure out how to satisfy your need for the exotic beauty of faraway lands. Even if you aren’t yearning for a getaway, you might find yourself driven by a renewed intellectual curiosity for new or novel ideas.
Capricorn December 22-January 19
Venus Retrograde focuses on financial concerns, specifically, how you save money for a rainy day. Use this phase to examine your spending habits. You’re normally quite circumspect when it comes to what you spend and why. But Venus may inspire you to loosen the purse strings, especially if you are longing for something that is easily within reach.
Aquarius January 20-February 18
Venus reenters your Solar House of partnership, and her presence ignites your passion for connection. Whether it’s a romantic significant other or an intimate friend, you’re likely to find yourself sharing feelings about what you need to feel safe and secure in the relationship. Make the most of this phase by being completely authentic.
Pisces February 19-March 20
Venus Retrograde stimulates your Solar House of work and service, and as it does, you’re likely to revisit certain situations you thought were complete. Don’t worry—this is not a negative retrograde. It’s simply an opportunity for you to notice parts of the plan that aren’t congruent with what you proposed or what was promised, and then to recalibrate according to those observations.
Ralfee Finn specializes in Transformational Astrology. For readings, call 1-212-222-3232, write P.O. Box 343, New York, NY 10025, visit AquariumAge.com, or e-mail ralfee@aquariumage.com.
Copyright © 2015 by Ralfee Finn