Summer in the Stars

The astrology wizards around the globe cast a horoscope for the Solstices and Equinoxes to gain insight and/or get a handle on trends and events that will unfold during the upcoming season. This summer’s horoscope presents a variety of energies with a prominent Neptune (illusion and delusion), an opposition between Venus and Mars, (I love you, I hate you), and an agitating aspect between Saturn (tradition) and Uranus (radical revolution). We can expect fluctuating public opinion, freakish weather and some real fake news.

The Venus and Mars opposition, when between two people, can bring a lot of passion, but not much stability. In this Solstice chart set for the nation’s capital, this opposition falls across the 2nd and 8th houses. These are the houses of money — money you owe and money owed to you. Here we are talking about the collective, the nation’s finances. Budgets, taxes and debts owed to us from foreign nations are highlighted, as well as trade and commerce. The debate over the benefits or harm tariffs can do will continue. Venus is about diplomacy and values. She wants to make love, not war. Venus is Yin. Mars rules the principle of assertion, which can easily become aggressive and crude. When at war, Mars is happy as a pig in shit. Mars is Yang. Oppositions are like dumbbells, first you do one and then you do the other.

A few days after the Solstice, that 8th house Mars goes retrograde. Mars goes retrograde about every two years. Mars is the warrior, the athlete and the initiator of action. During retrograde periods, our initiatives don’t turn out as expected. This is not a good time to start a love affair or a war because your sizzle will most likely fizzle. Mars is retrograde from June 26 until August 27.  Mars will square off with Uranus twice during the summer season — while retrograde on August 1 and again when direct on September 18 as the summer closes. This is a volatile and explosive aspect that can manifest through natural events, eg, volcanoes or earthquakes, or through human action. Either way, it’s not pretty.

Mercury retrograde overlaps this period from July 26 to August 19. Mercury is retrograde a couple of times a year and it is especially important during these periods to dot the Is and cross the Ts.  Scheduling mishaps, delays and unexpected snafus require the ability to make adjustments at a moment’s notice. Be especially vigilant during the periods when both Mars and Mercury are retrograde.

Mercury rules the media, news gathering and dissemination, and transportation as in cars, trains, planes and buses. Mercury makes an easy aspect to Neptune in the Solstice chart. Neptune is prominent at the high and most visible point, the Midheaven. The Midheaven has to do with public image, authority figures and aspirations in an individual’s chart. Here it symbolizes heads of state, CEOs, national honor and integrity. Neptune here is not a very comforting energy. Neptune is glamour, as in a magic spell or illusory charm. This combination conjures visions of exploding oil tankers, sensationalized events and deceit on a grand scale.

Into this mix are the summer eclipses. The first one on July 12 is a Solar Eclipse in Cancer. The eclipse point opposes Pluto in Capricorn. Pluto rules terrorism, guerilla warfare and issues of power and control. This eclipse may act as a trigger for Plutonian energies. The accompanying Lunar Eclipse on July 2 has retrograde Mars conjunct the eclipsed Moon. This is not a warm and fuzzy aspect. Mercury is now retrograde. A Lunar Eclipse with Mars and Mercury retrograde fosters a knee-jerk reaction. Emotions are awry and information is not clear. The final eclipse of the season is the Solar Eclipse on August 11 in Leo. Echoes from last January and the 2017 summer eclipses reverberate as issues and events from that time resurface, raising questions and bringing pressure to bear in the search for solutions.

During this summer, the key aspect between Mercury and Neptune guarantees we will be hearing from a lot of voices and at times, be subject to much confusion. Saturn and Uranus bring the promise of conflict between the young and old, the novel against the traditional and the pushback against rigid societal constructs. The Moon in the Solstice chart rules the people. In Libra, the public will need and want to hear both sides of any story. They will weigh, in true Libra fashion, all things in the balance before making a decision. When things get crazy, this Moon in Libra may very well be the saving grace of the season.