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The activation of three of the major planets (Saturn, Uranus, and Pluto) in the Cardinal Signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn) since May 2010 is indicative of great economic and political power struggles. This is a theme that I have been frequently writing about in these pages, on my Facebook page (The Wisdom of Astrology), in Dell Horoscope Magazine, as well as in a number of articles that you can find at www.alanoken.com. The remainder of this year and most of 2012 also features these exceptionally challenging planetary aspects.

Our responsibility is to try to keep one toe out of the water! Water symbolizes that emotional plane or astral field of energy that coats and magnetizes so much of our way of interacting with ourselves and life in general. This requires that we are more closely linked than ever before with a firm sense of "loving detachment" as people and life situations, both objective and subjective, pull at our solar plexus and insist upon manifesting fear and anxiety in our lives. The "one toe" approach means that we make a commitment to being in and identifying with our Higher Self and do the required inner, spiritual work so this often tenuous connection is solidified in terms of our consciousness. It is absolutely essential therefore, if we are to save ourselves a lot of grief as well as be in a position to be of service to others, that we carve out with ever greater certainty, our path to The Path. This requires a mental approach to life. This is not the same as a cold, emotion-denying intellectual approach. By mental, I refer to the Higher Mind and the realm of Intuition. This will reveal to our opened Eye and awakened Heart, the vital energies known as the Life Force. The more we can identify ourselves as Life, the less the waters of illusion and delusion drown our creative fires and blur the true loving vision of our consciousness. Let us all do our homework, my friends. No miracle is going to save us (although there is such a living quality of Life known as Grace). True astrologers and other teachers can offer guidance and support, but we must do the work (and the "we" here includes such astrologers and teachers!).

Please note: All dates and times are given in Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) also known as "Universal Time" as it forms the basis for all time zones around the planet.***

July 23: The Sun enters Leo at 4:13am.

July 27: The Sun trines Uranus at 4 degrees of Leo/Aries.

This is a day for innovation and social progress. Let’s hope that the President of the USA and the American Congress can respond to this energy with great positivity and come up with solutions that heal and not hurt. If you have any planets or major points in your natal chart at around 4 degrees of the fire signs (especially Sagittarius) and/or 4 degrees of Gemini, you are definitely in for a day of surprises that could point the way to innovative creative activities in the parts of the your horoscope/life so indicated.

July 27-August 9: Mercury opposes Neptune from 29 Leo to 29 Aquarius and from 0-1 Virgo to 0-1 Pisces.

Neptune is retrograde during this time and moves from 0 Pisces back into 29 of Aquarius. At the same time Mercury is in the last couple of degrees of Aquarius, moves into 1 Virgo, and then retrogrades back into the late degrees of Leo. This is a two week period when there can be a huge amount of confusion in the world. It will be difficult for clear communication between differing political and social groups. Chaos in communication looms as people with their own agendas and specialized group interests try to capture the collective mind. Lies and miscommunication will abound. If you have important positions in your natal chart that center on these degrees (29 Aquarius to 1 Pisces and 9 Leo to 1 Virgo), please pay especial attention to what you say and the types of contracts or agreements that may come up for you. There is a lot of deceit, or at the very least, much confusion.

July 28: Venus enters Leo at 3PM and Mercury enters Virgo at 6PM.

Due to its retrogradation beginning on August 3rd, Mercury only penetrates briefly into the Virgin’s domain, never more profoundly that 1 degree of the sign and returns to Leo on August 7th for another month. As we shall soon see, Venus makes some very important aspects in the Lion’s sign from August 12th to 22nd. Mercury enjoys and is quite powerful in Virgo, but will have to wait until September when it is direct in this sign for people to benefit from its position. Venus is quite happy in Leo were she can be passionate, romantic, artistic, and a bit self-indulgent.

July 30: The New Moon occurs at 7.16 Leo at 6:41pm.

July 31 to August 6: Mercury and Mars are in sextile from 0-1 Virgo to 0-1 Cancer.

This is an incredibly utilitarian aspect as it offers the chance to find the right kinds of tools to help with the chaos mentioned above. This planetary combination is especially good for fixing things domestically, such as house repairs. The aspects sited in the July 27th entry above, however, are stronger than this simple sextile.

July 31: Venus is trine Uranus from 4 Leo to Aries.

Venus/Uranus aspects always speak about experimentation in social relationships as well as the arts. It gives rise to the urge to break free from the norm and move into the more exotic and unique in these areas of life. If you have any important placements at 4 degrees of the fire signs (especially Sagittarius) and/or 4 degrees of the Twins, you may just find a surprising person or social situation coming into your life. Put on your "red dress" and have a good time!

August 1: Sun square Jupiter at 9 Leo/Taurus; Venus trine Uranus at 4 Leo/Aries.

The Venus/Uranus activity carries on for another day but with the Sun square Jupiter taking place simultaneously, this can be fun big time for those people whose charts are touched by these aspects. Take care about finances as the tendency will be to spend too much on the good times that will be presenting themselves. Usually Jupiter squares promise more than they deliver, so take care not to over-emphasize the opportunities that present themselves, especially in terms of relationships.

August 3: Mercury goes retrograde at 3:51am at 1 Virgo.

Please see my previous comments above. As we all know by now, retrograde Mercury is certainly not the best for signing things unless we are using the strategy that we want to engage in the contract but are looking forward to some form of renegotiation at a later date. Just make sure that your contracts read accordingly. In general, with the opposition to Neptune taking place at the same time, clear commitments may not be possible.

August 5: Neptune retrograde reenters Aquarius at 2:55am: the Sun and Saturn sextile at 12 Leo/Libra; Venus and Jupiter square at 9 Leo/Taurus.

The Sun/Saturn relationship is a positive one and good for taking care of responsibilities in general and in relationships (with older male figures) in general. Venus/Jupiter squares in these particular signs are very self-indulgent and wasteful. Naturally if they do not make any major contact with your natal chart, this will not apply to you. It can indicate on a collective level that people in general will want to escape from their problems today and just have fun. The Saturn sextile Saturn however may inhibit such flights from responsibility.

August 7: Venus and Saturn sextile at 12 degrees of Leo and Libra.

This is an excellent aspect for being clear about mutual responsibilities in relationships and partnerships.

August 9: Mars is square Uranus at 4 degrees of Cancer/Aries.

Not such a pleasant aspect. This may indicate a day of world violence with domestic uprisings likely. The urge for personal freedom is thwarted by social situations giving the urge for social rebellion. If 4 degrees of the cardinal signs are strong in your horoscope, you will find it difficult to contain your temper, and patience will also be hard to come by.

August 10-11: Mars is opposed Pluto at 5 degrees Cancer/Capricorn.

This is a very difficult aspect. As you can see the orb of conflict has expanded, making the entire area from 3 to 6 degrees of the cardinal signs extremely volatile. If these are strongly placed in your chart, you are in for a major upset in those areas of your horoscope/life so afflicted. This combination from August 9 to 11, and from these degrees of the signs in question, points to a need to express a profound urge for change. These aspects pack such a strong wallop that you just may find yourself actually going ahead and doing what needs to be done in order to move forward in life. In terms of the collective picture, I would be hard pressed not to see these days as those of great social unrest and turmoil. Hot areas in the world get hotter.

August 12 to 22: Sun and Venus in constant conjunct from 19 to 29 degrees of Leo.

The fusion of the energies of these two bodies produces an intense "urge to merge." A lot of people will be "getting it on" as the saying goes! As the sign is Leo, there should be a great deal of fun surrounding these intimate activities. It is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, after all, and many people will be taking their vacations (especially our European friends). The need for fun and pleasure will predominate in a lot of people’s lives. Now let’s break this larger period down into smaller segments.

August 13: The Moon is Full at 6:59pm at 20.41 Aquarius.

"It just so happens" the 13th is a Saturday, and this Saturday night will be packed with people having a good time or at the very least, working hard at same! Bars, clubs, and pleasure palaces will be packed. I bet my friends from Bali to Baltimore will be rocking and rolling as Venus is conjoined this lunation. If 20 degrees of Leo and/or Aquarius are prominent in your chart (especially if they connect with your Venus, Mars, Jupiter, or ruler of the 5th house) you will be in the forefront of this revelry.

August 14: Sun conjunct Venus and trine the Northern Node of the Moon at 21 Leo/Sagittarius.

This is an excellent combination for continuing the fun as well as for giving a focus of spiritual direction to relationships.

August 16 and 17: Sun conjunct Venus and conjunct Mercury retrograde, all at 23-24 degrees of Leo.

Many people (and perhaps nations as well) will try to come to harmonious agreements. The intentions may be very well meaning, but it will be hard to negotiate permanent settlements of differences; contracts will have to be renegotiated. This entire period of time with Venus conjunct the Sun and Mercury retrograde is not a good time for marriage although many people will do so (I am specifically speaking about August 12th to 22nd in general and especially from the 16th to the 22nd.)

Yes, there will still be a lot of people celebrating summer in the Northern Hemisphere and just celebrating life and personal relationships in general all over the world (there is always some sort of party going on in Australia, known as "Oz" to her friends—of which I am one!). But illusion and sensual delusion will reign. There will be little clarity and much indulgence in substances. These are great days to go to the movies but for many people their life will be the movie and they will think the movie is real. Once we move into the more practical sign of Virgo, many illusions will shatter. Remember to keep one toe out of the water!

Love and blessings to one and all.

Alan is available for individual consultations and mentoring. Please go to here for details or contact him personally via email.

***To calculate the correct hour for your local time in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, please note that for EDST subtract 4 hours; CDST minus 5 hours; MDST minus 6 hours; PDST minus 7 hours. In Britain add one hour, CEDT add two hours, and for EEDT add three hours. For my friends in Australia, NZ, and other points south of the equator, I know that the time adjustment that you need to make to GMT is already familiar to you.

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