StarWatch by James Jarvis, M.A. By adding the universal year 1999 (1+9+9+9=28) to the 7th month of July, we come up with the vibration of 35/8. The 35/8 month represents an opportunity to achieve greater mastery in our lives. By bringing forth our creativity (3) and combining that with enhanced perception (5), we can come up with innovative ideas and solutions that will help us to manifest our goals. It’s a great month for taking a look at your goals and brainstorming new possibilities for accomplishing them that you might not have thought of before. Try to suspend the critic, the cynic, and the skeptic and move into new, uncharted territory. July 4 Mars in Scorpio Mars moves back into the sign of Scorpio on July 4 and will be there until September 2. With Mars in Scorpio on and off since late January, the focus of our energy and will has been on the unconscious forces in our lives. The reason that Scorpio energy is so often maligned is that it represents the descent into the realm of powerful life force energies that many people are unwilling to deal with or are extremely uncomfortable with. It is the realm of the so-called "darker" emotions: rage, jealousy, anger, envy, and spite, to name just a few. It is also the realm of sexuality and power. It is not too surprising that we have seen such abuses of power during Mars’ journey, particularly the retrograde period, March 18 through June 4. With Mars in Scorpio, we have had to confront the dragon of our own primal life force energies as they are projected out into the world. Conflicts such as the one in Kosovo remind us of how important it is to wield power with compassion and wisdom. They also model to us how easy it is to misuse power and dominate others. July 8-27 Saturn square Uranus Saturn in Taurus is in challenging aspect to Uranus in Aquarius from July 8-27. When Saturn, representing contraction, meets Uranus in Aquarius, representing rapid change, there is an inevitable stalemate. It’s like having the conservatives and the liberals trying to hash out policy together; usually there is resistance. On the other hand, Saturn/Uranus transits are some of the best times to create long-lasting change if both planets are honored in the deal. In other words, Saturn/Uranus can represent sustainable change if one balances the need for change with a solid structure of support. July 12 Venus enters Virgo Venus moves into the sign of Virgo July 12 through November 9. Virgo is a sign that is often misunderstood in our culture due to various misinterpretations of its fundamental purpose over the centuries. The images that we have of Virgo, particularly Venus in Virgo, are the spinster, the chaste woman, and the celibate. In other words, Virgo has not been seen as a particularly sexy sign! Usually Virgos have been described in astrological texts as people that have a tendency to repress their sexual energies. If we go back to Greek mythology, though, we find the sign Virgo represented by the vestal virgins, the sacred priestesses that tended the eternal flame in the temples. They were known as virgins not because they were asexual, but because they remained unmarried, belonged to no man, and were whole and complete unto themselves. The vestal virgins were also sacred prostitutes, giving themselves to men returning from war, for instance, so that the men could reintegrate the goddess or feminine energy and then return as balanced individuals into the community. The vestal virgins also knew the secrets of how to awaken the kundalini energies within the body and were knowledgeable about Indian yogic practices such as tantra. Far from being chaste, the virgins practiced the high art of sexual devotion and were masters at transforming sexual energy for the purposes of enlightenment. When Venus is in Virgo, all of us have the opportunity to look at how we are manifesting our sexual energy. Are we repressing it, denying our own needs? Are we in touch with the desire to make the sexual act part of our spiritual path and not separate from it? I have found this to be a huge issue with many of my clients, and it is often expressed as, "If I can’t integrate the sacred into my sexuality, then why bother?" It seems that many people are just not willing to separate their sexuality from their spirituality anymore. This is reflected in the growing interest in tantric practices and other forms of sacred sexuality. July 12 Mercury retrograde Mercury goes retrograde at 9 degrees Leo from July 12 until August 6. Use this Mercury retrograde to re-think your own creativity. Most people associate creativity with overt forms such as music, art, or other artistic expressions. With Mercury retrograde in Leo, we have an opportunity to get in touch with our creative muse, the divine child within. Use this retrograde to tap into your creative child. Find out how he or she would like to play. For many of us who are doers this is a tough assignment, as we were taught that we could play when the work was done, and guess what? The work was never done! Try free drawing, writing with your non-dominant hand, working with clay, or just being goofy! By giving your child permission to play, you will unleash the creative force within. Let the play be with you! July 14-29 Jupiter square Neptune Jupiter in Taurus is in challenging aspect to Neptune in Aquarius from July 14-July 29. This is an interesting combination, as both planets are expansive and associated with developing a broader vision. Since Jupiter is in Taurus, the sign of the earth, it is an especially good time to go on a vision quest. In the shamanic tradition, vision quests were opportunities to break out of the mold of everyday thinking (often through fasting or sacred substances) so that a higher vision could be attained of one’s purpose. The same outcome can be achieved with this transit by evoking and fostering the imaginal realm. As we bypass the rational mind through drawing, trance work, hypnosis, or dream work, we access deeper layers of mind that can bring forth an expanded vision of who we are. July 22 Sun enters Leo The sun moves into Leo on July 22 at 5:55 p.m. In nature, it is the height of the heat of summer, and the fruit is ripe and ready for picking. The Leo principle relates to the ripening and expression of one's creative energies. Our job in Leo is to tap into the beauty and fiery spirit of the divine child within and be role models for others in how to let that energy flow outward so that it is brought to fruition. July 28 Full moon in Aquarius and lunar eclipse The full moon and lunar eclipse occur at 4 degrees Aquarius on July 28 at 4:34 a.m. For this next month, the emphasis is on learning how to detach emotionally in a positive way. The moon in Aquarius calls us to learn how we can be emotionally present to others while maintaining our individuality and our own center. The lunar eclipse will also heighten our desire to find the "tribe" or community that supports and nourishes our vision. July 29 Venus retrograde Venus goes retrograde this month from July 29 through September 10. During Venus’ retrograde, we have an opportunity to remove ourselves from the overwhelming and powerful values of the culture so that we can be more objective about what is truly important to us. Freed from the pressures we experience from our family, culture, religion, and society to conform to their values, we have a chance to align our values with our inner selves. With Venus retrograde in Virgo and moving backward into the sign of Leo, we have an opportunity to reinvent our values so that they are rooted in our own unique experience. Once our values are clarified, the natural inclination is to want to share our values with others, to connect and link up with like-minded souls who support our individuality and creativity. Since the planet Venus rules or is associated with the heart chakra, there is an additional impetus for connecting with others and sharing what we value with them during this retrograde period. By sharing with and being supported by like-minded souls, we have an opportunity to share our heart with others, to let down our guard so that we can be truly received and appreciated for who we are. In many ways, this retrograde period asks us to look at how we can be more connected with our deepest, most authentic values. James Jarvis, M.A. is a master astrologer and professional life coach. He combines an M.A. in Transpersonal Counseling, 28 years experience with Eastern and metaphysical traditions, and 14 years coaching and empowering clients to actualize their full potential. For those who want support in discovering and manifesting their vision, James is now available for life coaching sessions and astrological consultations by phone. For a brochure of his services or to schedule a complimentary half-hour life coaching session, call (831) 688-0574 or e-mail <jarvis_james@hotmail.com>.