Astrology for July 25-31, 2022: Mapping the Territory

Mapping the Territory

Dates and times are given for U.S. Pacific Time zone.

Stand Up and Roar

There are times for humility and times to be boldly assertive. As Mercury in rarely-humble Leo squares Mars in Taurus (July 26, 2022, 12:13 pm PDT), you face a situation that requires you to stand up for your right to be exactly, unapologetically yourself. This is the first of three Mercury aspects this week that present communication challenges – but any planet in Leo has the courage to stand up and roar.

Try, though, to channel all that Leo firepower toward motivation rather than bombast. Watch your temper, and resist the urge to dominate every conversation. Use Leo’s powers of inspiration to move yourself – and others – in a braver direction.

Old-Fashioned Lady

My husband, bless his Venus in Virgo, gave me one of those plastic pill organizers with compartments for each day of the week. It was kindly meant, as these days, I can’t for the life of me remember whether I’ve taken the morning baby aspirin or the evening B12. But I don’t think any gift has ever made me feel quite so old!

The Leo New Moon (July 28, 2022, 10:55 am PDT at 5.38 Leo) is on the Sabian symbol 6 Leo, An old-fashioned lady and a flapper. Any Leo can relate to both; but on the brink of my 60th solar return, I confess to identifying a bit more with the old-fashioned (emphasis on old) lady in that symbol. In fact, I feel rather fond of her. I’ve never been much of a flapper, to be honest, not even in my wildish youth. So post- second Saturn return, I feel I’m just now growing into my true nature.

But aging doesn’t absolve us from the requirement for personal growth. This New Moon in Leo 5.38 (July 28, 10:55 am PDT) is trine Jupiter and features a paradigm-shifting conjunction of Mars, Uranus, and the North Node. We don’t have to be young to have adventures, nor to roll with the major changes the world is throwing our way. We need only summon our energy – and remembering to take that daily multi-vitamin just might help with that.

Mapping the Territory

Whenever Jupiter is retrograde (July 28, 2022, 1:38 pm PDT, 8º43’ Aries), we become inner cartographers, mapping the territory of our belief systems. Our religion, our teachers, the great thinkers of the ages: external messages about why we’re here and what it’s all about are examined during Jupiter’s retrograde periods, as we sift through them to find a truth that sits well with us. To locate our north star, as it were.

Jupiter turns retrograde on the Sabian symbol, A crystal gazer. Gaze into your heart and you’ll know when something is right and true. And you also know deep down when you’re being mean-spirited, self-serving, or abrasive – though you might never admit it out loud. Whenever Jupiter’s retrograde (through Nov. 23), though, it’s important to at least admit it on the inside.

Obsolete

Let’s say you’re a fantastic typewriter repair person. You’ve spent your career mastering the idiosyncrasies of various makes and models, sleuthing out sources for replacement parts and in some cases, fashioning them yourself.

The problem is, hardly anybody uses typewriters anymore.

You can be the very best at something, but if it’s something that’s on its way to becoming obsolete, you’re not going to have many opportunities to do it. As Mercury squares innovative Uranus (July 28, 2022, 2:16 pm PDT), circumstances force you to take a new tack. The world is accelerating toward change; don’t let yourself be passed by.

Passion Worth Fighting For

Imagine – or maybe you can recall? – being a sunny, creative, and uncomplicated child who wants to share something with the world. Maybe it’s a song, a joke, or a dance step. You tug at mom or dad’s sleeve, desperate for attention, but they’re distracted, or critical. If it happens once in awhile, you’ll usually bounce back. But if you’re routinely shut down by those you love, you’ll learn to hide your true self.

This week, as Mercury in Leo opposes Saturn (July 30, 2022, 11:11 am PDT), sunny optimism and playfulness encounter criticism or censure. The several days leading up to the oppositions will probably be the toughest, but it’s a rough week generally for launching something from your heart out into the world. If you do, and the world is unreceptive or negative, you will need to figure out whether this thing is worth fighting for.

We don’t want to let Saturn stop us in our tracks altogether, but he’s not necessarily wrong for suggesting that refinement, discipline, or hard work would make our creative, loving efforts more effective. But there’s no question that the joyful, passionate spark is the true thing, and Saturn should only be listened to if its message is constructive.

A Newly Formed Continent

On July 31, Uranus makes a conjunction with the Moon’s North Node at 18º41′ Taurus (1:05 pm PDT), joined the next day by Mars (Aug. 1, 4:53 pm PDT). The last time Mars, Uranus, and the North Node came together this closely in this particular area of Taurus was in 324 BC. Mundane astrologers have drawn parallels between the reign of Alexander the Great during that era, which brought about a new political era for Europe and Asia, and markers that we’re entering a new phase in empire and capitalism.

Let’s take a moment to consider the Sabian symbol for 19 Taurus, A Newly Formed Continent. If you thought the last 2.5 years were unlike anything you’ve seen, I suspect we’ll see even more profound shifts in the years ahead. For starters, I’d keep an eye on Uranus as it turns retrograde on this degree on Aug. 24.

But what about you? Look to the house in your chart where 18º41’ Taurus falls (this blog post can help you find it), and you’ll find where “a newly formed continent” is emerging in your life. Any planets within a couple of degrees of this point in Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, or Aquarius signal the tools and skills that will help you navigate the new reality.

Lucky

Why do some people seem to be so lucky? Astrologers associate Jupiter with luck, and certainly there seems to be an element of good fortune in the lives of those who have Jupiter or its signs, Sagittarius and Pisces, prominent at their birth.

I don’t particularly believe in fate, but I do believe in luck. There are some people who seem to have a miraculous ability to deflect bad fortune and attract wealth and support. But the catch is, I don’t think luck necessarily makes them any happier than anyone else.

We get a couple of days this week to put that to the test. As the Sun in Leo makes a trine to Jupiter in Aries (July 31, 2022, 3:36 pm PDT), luck asserts itself; see if you can grab a piece as it goes by. Those with the strongest will, charisma, and courage will likely do the best; this is a sort of “rich get richer” aspect. The week should bring good fortune to our planets in Leo, ruled by the Sun; and if your birthday is this week you can probably expect a little something extra in your stack of cosmic birthday presents.