As a Cancer Sun, I don't typically enjoy confronting things head-on (understatement). I'd rather pull in those crabby-pinchers and scuttle off sideways under a rock somewhere (aka my bedroom with the shades drawn). After looking at the planetary movements for July, however, I'll be sharpening those crab claws, consciously choosing to act against my habit. The month ahead calls for brave, courageous acts – on the large scale and in the small scale of our daily lives. The planet Mars – planet of anger and aggression, but also of self-assertion and courage – ignites the energies of the Uranus-Pluto square* full force. And all three planets are part of a Grand Cross formation on the Full Moon of July 3rd. This month promises to be anything but boring.
Mars enters Libra early in the morning on July 3rd, and begins to form its square to Pluto and its opposition to Uranus. The Full Moon, which takes place later in the morning (11:52 AM PT), features the Sun and Moon at 12 degrees Cancer and Capricorn, respectively. The Moon is conjunct Pluto at the time of the Full Moon, while the Sun opposes Pluto. Both Sun and Moon form a square to Mars and Uranus. This configuration is of limited duration, but it is a rare event in which the Sun, Moon, Mars, Uranus and Pluto form a cross in the early-mid cardinal degrees.
When Mars triggers a longer-term configuration – in this case, the Uranus-Pluto square – we can expect some fireworks (pun intended). Even though Mars has entered the peace-loving sign of Libra, it comes into a tensional relationship with every other planet in the Full Moon chart, particularly the Uranus-Pluto square. And, Mars will stay in the orbs of its hard aspect to Uranus-Pluto through the end of July. My advice for this time would be to pay attention to the things that are coming up right now in your life that are Mars-ruled: passion, anger, sexuality. As Mars is transiting the sign of Libra, the Venus-ruled sign which is associated to close one-to-one relationships, the area of your partnerships and close friendships is once again in the spotlight (even though the Venus retrograde is over). Situations which ask us to look at how we are using our personal power (Mars square Pluto) are likely to arise throughout the month. We might also experience surprising yet potentially freeing insights about our significant relationships (Mars opposing Uranus).
It's also a time infused with the symbolism of beginnings. Mars, ruler of Aries, first sign of the zodiac, pushes us to start that things we've been waiting to start. The Cardinal Signs – Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn – are lit up by the cross formation. These signs begin a new season on each quarter turn of the wheel. So, what new thing do you need to get going? Or, how might this month mark a "new season" of sorts in your own life? Fears will come up, and we will likely have dragons to slay along the way (Mars-Pluto). But the time is ripe for liberation from whatever has been holding us back.
*Here is a link to a collection of blogs on the Uranus-Pluto square, put together by Mary Plumb of The Mountain Astrologer:
http://mountainastrologer.com/tma/uranus-pluto-time-blogs
