Important astrological energies for the month of July 2023:

• Full Moon with Sun in Cancer and Moon in Capricorn occurs on July 3, 2023.
• New Moon with Sun and Moon in Cancer occurs on July 17, 2023.
• Moon’s North Node enters the sign of Aries and Moon’s South Node enters the sign of Libra on July 17, 2023.
• Venus in Leo turns retrograde on July 22, 2023. It will remain retrograde until September 3, 2023.

Knowing Your Needs

By Misty Kuceris ©2023

The month of July starts with enthusiasm as Mercury form a sextile to Jupiter on July 1^st. You see possibilities you never saw before. You feel as if you can understand the future and how to get there. You even feel you can motivate both yourself and others to succeed. This is a good day to put plans into motion.

The unexpected can happen either in your relationships or with your finances when Venus forms a square to Uranus on July 2^nd. People want to have their freedom when Uranus is involved with Venus. They don’t want to make commitments. As a matter of fact, you don’t feel like making commitments. This is one of those days where you may be willing to try new experiences, even get involved with people you don’t usually get involved with. But, you like to try these new experiences as a “one-on.” You don’t want them to become a part of your daily life.

When it comes to finances, you may decide that you’re tired of being responsible. You want to take your money and have fun. As a matter of fact, you may decide to purchase something with no regard to the price tag. Or, you may want to do something, such as get some body art. Still, caution is advised if you decide to purchase something extravagant or unusual. Since many experiences are a “one-on” today, you could very much regret your overpriced purchase tomorrow.

Understanding the balance between work and family life is very important on July 3^rd as the Sun in Cancer and the Moon in Capricorn form a full Moon. This is a good day to examine the dynamics of your career as it relates to your family relationships. It’s a good day to question if your career gives you the security to provide for your family while also giving you the time you desire to spend with your family. With the Sun forming a conjunction to Mercury while the Moon is forming an opposition, you realize it’s a good day to discuss the dynamics of your career with your family. Also, with the full Moon forming a square to Chiron, this is a good day to spend quality time with your loved ones.

Choose your words wisely on July 6^th. With Mercury forming a square to Chiron and Mars forming a quincunx to Neptune later in the day, you may find it difficult to communicate with others. When Mercury is forming the square to Chiron, it’s too easy to say something hurtful without meaning to inflict any harm on anyone else. With Mars forming the quincunx to Neptune it may be too easy to take your frustration out on others if things aren’t going as planned. Or, you may find it difficult to make decisions. But being indecisive sometimes has it’s benefits. It may prevent you from saying something you’ll regret later or from taking actions which can cause harm.

Being open to new ideas comes easily on July 7^th when Mercury forms a sextile to Uranus. You see possibilities where none existed before. You listen to what other people have to share because they offer a different point of view. You may even feel like a child who’s learning something new in the world. And, you’re excited to try something new as well. This is a great day for brainstorming and coming up with different approaches to situations in your life.

Don’t be at all surprised if you feel a little confused on July 9^th as Mars forms a quincunx to Pluto retrograde and Mercury forms a trine to Neptune retrograde.

With Mars forming the quincunx to Pluto retrograde you want to move forward, but you hesitate. You’re not sure if the direction you want to take is the right one. Usually with Mars in Leo you rush into situations without considering all the consequences. But, with Pluto retrograde in Capricorn you realize you need to consider everything: Past lessons learned; potential future consequences.

As Mercury in Cancer forms the trine to Neptune retrograde in Pisces you feel the information you need is just out of your grasp. It’s out there somewhere but you can’t quite get a hold of it. That’s because there’s something hidden beneath the surface that you need to find. This could be a good day to write down your thoughts and see if the information surfaces. Or, with both Mercury and Neptune retrograde in water signs, you may decide to sidestep the matter and think about it later. The reality is that today you feel hesitant about taking action. If that’s the case, don’t worry about it. There’s a reason, which you’ll discover over the next few days, as to why you’re hesitating.

You’re ready to take action on July 10^th when Mars enters the sign of Virgo and Mercury forms an opposition to Pluto retrograde.

Mars is very comfortable in the sign of Virgo. You have a sense of purpose. You feel your mission. You are able to create a plan of action that focuses on those small details which are so important for success. You don’t want to miss out on anything important.

Meanwhile, you start thinking about those details when Mercury forms the opposition to Pluto retrograde because you want to make certain you have everything right. What’s good about this opposition is that you’re able to determine which details aren’t worth the effort and which ones are. If you have to cut something out of your life in order to make it easier, you’ll be able to do that today. And, you won’t let anyone talk you out of your decisions.

When Mercury enters the sign of Leo on July 11^th, you want to roar about your accomplishments. You want other people to know your plans. At the same time, you realize, as Mercury forms a square to the Moon’s Nodal axis later in the day, that you don’t want to alienate anyone because of your proud demeanor. While you want acknowledgment for your successes, you also want support in those endeavors. And, you’re willing to acknowledge where other people helped you with your support.

In some ways this is a day for balancing your need to promote yourself and your ventures and your need to appreciate what others do for you. You may even find that it’s important to do things which thank people in your life and promote their successes as well.

Take your time and proceed with deliberation on July 14^th because when you think you have everything under control, situations change. That’s because there is a yod being created by Mercury forming a sextile to Ceres and both Mercury and Ceres forming quincunxes to Saturn retrograde.

When Mercury and Ceres form a sextile to each other, you feel as if you understand what to say to keep yourself safe. You know which secrets you can share and which you have to keep to yourself. In addition, you feel you know how to negotiate matters so that everyone can win. You know where to compromise and you think you know where the other person will compromise.

But that all changes when Mercury forms the quincunx to Saturn retrograde. The rules of engagement are different than what you expected. You believed that when a person made a verbal agreement they would abide by that agreement. But they aren’t. They are changing their agreement. They may even tell you that they never made the agreement in the first place.

As Ceres forms the quincunx to Saturn retrograde, you don’t feel safe. You don’t know where you stand. Not only are you confused about the rules, but you’re also confused about the boundaries. The other person may be accusing you of overstepping the boundaries. Or, the other person may be overstepping their boundaries and not caring about your rules.

To understand how to operate when you have a quincunx such as this one is that you look at the “open” position. The open position is the area which would normally be opposing the sign that two of the planets are forming a quincunx to. In this case, the sign is Virgo. (Interestingly, Virgo is ruled by Mercury and Ceres is very comfortable in the sign of Virgo.) What this means is that you need to have all your details documented, or at least written down so that obfuscation cannot interfere with reality. If you stick with the facts, the other person won’t be able to control you by constantly changing the rules or overstepping your boundaries.

You may question what’s important to you on July 15^th as Venus forms a quincunx to Neptune retrograde. That’s because Neptune, especially in retrograde motion, hides matters. You’re not sure if you’re being told the truth. Venus is currently in Leo, so it’s important to feel appreciated. You also want to receive rewards for your actions. You don’t want to be taken for granted. Yet, this quincunx to Neptune retrograde indicates that other people are taking you for granted. They may also be trying to gaslight you, meaning making you feel as if you don’t matter or you don’t understand when in fact you understand too well.

In addition to hiding matters, sometimes Neptune dissolves boundaries. Through the dissolution of these boundaries a truth can arise. While you may not like what you see, sometimes when Venus forms a quincunx to Neptune, especially in retrograde motion, you’re forced to see the truth about a past matter or person that you placed on a pedestal. Either the situation or the person was not the “saint” you thought.

Before the new Moon occurs and the Moon’s Nodal Axis shifts signs on July 17^th, Mercury forms a square to Jupiter. Squares with the planet Jupiter are not always that bad. It just means that you’re rushing a little too fast. You either feel uncomfortable because you know you’re rushing too fast, or you feel uncomfortable because you just can’t seem to get everything done.

It’s important to slow down when you communicate with others. You don’t want to say something without thinking it through. You might regret your words if you do that. Also, you may find that your mind is operating so quickly that it’s difficult to get the words out fast enough. What you say may be confusing to others. And, because it’s confusing to them, they may actually stop listening to you.

When the new Moon occurs, you feel as if you also need to prepare for the paradigm shifts that occur when the Moon’s Nodal Axis shifts sign. This is especially true because the new Moon occurs with both the Sun and Moon in the sign of Cancer.

With the New Moon in Cancer, you want security in life. You want to create a foundation that supports the needs of people you care for. You want to be able to provide for these individuals who are important in your life. With the new Moon forming a sextile to Uranus, you’re open to new approaches in dealing with people in your life. Perhaps there’s some new technology you’re considering which can make your home safer. With the new Moon forming an opposition to Pluto, safety is more important than before. And, with the new Moon forming a trine to Neptune, you want to make certain that you and your loved ones can find ways to create a more beautiful space that you can enjoy as you spend more time in your home.

As the Moon’s North Node enters the sign of Aries and the Moon’s South Node enters the sign of Libra there is a paradigm shift occurring on a subtle, perhaps psychological level. The Moon’s Nodal Axis changes signs approximately every 1.5 years which means that it returns to the same signs every 19 years.

Personally, you realize that now is the time to take care of yourself. While you may want to be supportive of other people, you still need to be cautious. You don’t want to lose your identity as you help others. And you don’t want people to hand you any ultimatums when it comes to your relationships with them.

There’s a part of you that wants to rush out into the world and experience life. You want to take risks. But there’s another part of you that feels cautious and doesn’t want to alienate others. On a spiritual level, the next 1.5 years focus on understanding the needs of others while realizing that you can’t abandon your own needs. More importantly, there will be an increased desire of many people to stop the polarization and find ways to unite.

In mundane astrology, the Moon’s North Node represents the type of leader you are seeking in your life, especially politically. With the Moon’s North Node in Aries, you want an individual who is willing to take action. You want a warrior. You don’t want someone to negotiate. You want someone who will win. Meanwhile the Moon’s South Node represents the fear which negative leaders use to try to control the public and increase their own political support. With the Moon’s South Node in Libra, leaders will try to make enemies of those who don’t agree with them. They will even go after the relatives of those they perceive as enemies. Finally, with the Moon’s South Node in Libra, lawsuits and judges may create laws with their legal rulings rather than elected legislators.

There is this sense of going forth in the wilderness and seeking adventure as the explorer when the Moon’s Nodal Axis is in Aries and Libra. You will see more emphasis on space and a push to return to the Moon. You will see more mining operations seeking trace minerals needed for technological products as well as an increase in oil and gas exploration. Entertainment will focus on either wars, arguments, and discord or it will focus on relationships, star-crossed lovers, and reconciliation. Meanwhile, individuals who are disenfranchised will both continue their fight to be recognized as well as increase their efforts to succeed.

You work so hard when Mars is in Virgo. And, with Mars forming the opposition to Saturn retrograde on July 20^th you are tired with all the work you’ve been doing. You just want to go out and play. That may not be a bad idea. You deserve it. You need to take care of yourself. You need to remove those barriers in your life that prevent you from moving forward. Don’t listen to others who are trying to tell you to be responsible. Today is one of those days where it’s all right to just play.

Venus turns retrograde and the Sun enters the sign of Leo on July 22^nd. But before that happens, Mercury forms a trine to Chiron. This is a day of healing as well as a day of understand what you need in life.

With Mercury forming the trine to Chiron you want to take things slowly. You don’t want to explain your actions to others. You don’t want to create any problems. You just want to move forward with your life. As a matter of fact with Mercury in Leo, you feel comfortable letting other people know how important they are in your life. You’re willing to give praise where it’s appropriate. You also want to let others know you’re not going to take them for granted. This is especially true with Venus turning retrograde. It will remain retrograde until September 3, 2023.

There’s quite a bit to say about Venus when it turns retrograde. First of all, not enough attention is spent understanding this energy. Retrograde planets indicate the importance of turning inward to take time in understanding how that particular energy is influencing your life. When Venus is retrograde you need to review your relationships with others. Perhaps determine whether they are truly respecting you and honoring you, especially with Venus in Leo. You want to be appreciated. Also, during this retrograde time period it’s important to review what you need from all your relationships, both intimate, social, and professional. If you feel that you’re not being appreciated, this is the time to find out why and determine if you want to continue in the relationship. And, don’t be at all surprised if you run into some people you haven’t seen in a while.

Venus retrograde also represents a time period where you review your financial well-being. Are you living within your budget? Do you need to make some professional changes that improve your financial security? With Venus in Leo, you want to determine if you are taking too many financial risks or paying too much for some items. It’s not uncommon, when Venus is retrograde, to find some hidden fees that you didn’t realize were there. Or, you may be negotiating a contract only to realize there are some hidden fees which you weren’t informed of. This is not the time to take any financial risks if you can avoid them.

As the Sun enters Leo, you want to feel good about circumstances in your life. There’s a tendency to look at situations optimistically. This can serve you well as you review your relationships. You may see something in those relationships which increases your appreciation of the individual. Or, you may realize that you can move on with your life because you no longer need to rely on that person.

Normally you could say that July 23^rd is a day for introspection as Chiron turns retrograde. But with Mercury forming a square to Uranus later in the day you find that other people are interrupting this introspection by either giving you their unsolicited point of view or by bringing unexpected information into your life.

As Chiron in Aries turns retrograde, you find yourself pulling back from taking any actions which could cause you injury. You’re not as willing to take risks. By the way, Chiron will be retrograde until December 26^th. But in actuality, during the time period that Chiron is retrograde, you may come to some important revelations as you start pulling back from potentially harmful actions. You may find that by slowing down you can achieve a lot more. Or, you may find that some old injuries are now starting to heal and you can move on with your life.

In some ways, even though Mercury forming a square is a tension aspect, this square could be beneficial. You may speak without thinking about the consequences of your words. But, you may also get some new information which helps you understand how to move on with your life. You may not like what you hear from others, but their perspectives could also force you to look at situations you’ve been avoiding.

You may feel confused on July 27^th as Mercury forms a quincunx to Neptune retrograde. That’s because what you thought you knew isn’t accurate. Either people were withholding important information from you, or you were interpreting the facts in order to benefit your perspective. Meaning, you weren’t paying attention to the real details. This is one of those days where you are just better off not making any commitments or judgments. Because facts presented are not accurate, you don’t want to make any decisions. Also, you don’t want to sign any contracts. If you have to negotiate, use this as a day of fact finding rather than finalizing. And, don’t expect other people to honor their commitments today. They are feeling the lack of accurate information just as much as you are.

Before Mercury enters the sign of Virgo on July 28^th, it forms a quincunx to Pluto retrograde. This is a good news/bad news situation. When Mercury makes an aspect to Pluto, there’s this feeling that you forgot some important piece of information. And, that keeps nagging at you. You try to reach into your subconscious mind to understand what that may be. But, with the aspect being a quincunx, things keep changing. It’s as if you’re trying to hold a water balloon, but it’s too floppy and keeps slipping out of your hand. The good news is that when Mercury enters the sign of Virgo later in the day, things change.

When Mercury enters the sign of Virgo, you find it easier to focus. You can determine which details were missing. You can find or create a process that lets achieve various activities. It’s even easier to communicate with others because you can state matters in a concise fashion.

As the month of July ends, you feel a bit of déjà vu. This is because on July 30^th, Venus retrograde forms a quincunx to Neptune retrograde. This same aspect occurred on July 15^th when Venus was in direct motion. At that time you felt that other people were taking you for granted. You felt under appreciated. You also felt that people were trying to diminish you.

You’ve had a few weeks to think about what’s important in your life and what you need from your relationships. You may even have determined that your expectations of others was unrealistic. Perhaps you were expecting that they could offer more support. Yet, you found out they are not capable of giving you that form of support. Or, perhaps you realized that some people in your life were willing to let you take care of their needs but unable to reciprocate. Now it’s time to adjust your expectations. As much as Neptune can obscure matters, Neptune can also remove the veil of illusion if you accept the truth.

For more information on Misty Kuceris, her classes and seminars, as well as other articles, just go to https://mistykuceris.com/

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