Astrology for the Week of July 2nd, 2017

Pluto in Capricorn takes the stage again this week, this time in opposition to Mars in Cancer on Sunday, July 2nd at 8:02am EST. Pluto’s energy is focused on deep, instinctual, and often painful, emotions that are related to the human experience, like grief, lust, power, protection—the emotions that we must experience in order to be shaped as individuals. Without the experiences that incite these emotions, we would never change, and therefore never evolve. Pluto’s energy is persistent and intense, and when in opposition to Mars, it can put pressure on our reactionary and defensive instincts. Think of Mars as your center of motivation, drive, and personal instinct. When confronted by Pluto, your Mars center will likely want to run or react in a big way because Pluto is notorious for inflicting pain, even if sometimes pain is necessary or even pleasurable. With this transit, you may be inexplicably drawn to things you know are no good for you, or even highly motivated to make serious changes to related to your behavior. Either way, with Mars in Cancer, expect to feel it to the core.
 
On Tuesday the 4th, Venus enters Gemini at 8:11pm. With physically focused Venus entering mentally-focused Gemini, flirting and personal expression, both verbally and aesthetically, will feel very easy over the next six weeks. Mercury in Cancer squares Uranus in Aries today as well at 8:51pm EST, which may make communication efforts impulsive and exciting if approached with some tact. Use these two transits to your benefit, particularly if you have some convincing or impressing to do.
 
Mercury moves into outgoing and gregarious Leo at 8:20pm EST. Mercury can really play the game in Leo and loves to take center stage. This energy will have us feeling confident and articulate, not to mention funny and charming. Shortly thereafter, the Sun makes a trine to Neptune in Pisces at 8:46pm EST and then a square to Jupiter in Libra at 10:44pm EST. This combination can result in feeling super inspired or super indulgent—perhaps both. Neptune embodies our spirituality and sense of the unknown, but sometimes with its energy we become lost instead of found. Jupiter always wants to do things bigger and better, so just make sure that your path is truly illuminated when these energies are at play.
 
The Full Moon in Capricorn on Sunday the 9th at 12:07am EST (Saturday July 8th for the west coast) illuminates areas where we need to cut the crap and get down to business. Not ironically, Pluto is conjunct the Moon today and at its side, urging us to dig into our emotional stores to see where we can learn and grow. With Capricorn, and therefore Saturn at the helm of this Full Moon, eyes should be on the prize. The Moon is in detriment in Capricorn, so it lacks sensitivity and empathy that it would usually have, which is exactly what this transit needs. As the Moon wanes, you may feel yourself dropping the dead weight.
 
Moon Transits this Week:

• Moon enters Scorpio at 12:59pm EST — Sunday, July 2nd
  
• Moon enters Sagittarius at 1:08am EST — Wednesday, July 5th
  
• Moon enters Capricorn at 1:45pm EST — Friday, July 7th
  
• Full Moon in Capricorn at 12:07am EST — Sunday, July 9th ​