Alllrighty then!
Several Avid Readers emailed me to say how much they liked the design of this horoscope. If you’d like to have one for yourself -- or gift a special someone, send me your birth data and $15, and I’ll email you a PDF or JPEG, whichever you prefer.
Highlights this week:
Jupiter trine Neptune on Monday
Jupiter opposing Pluto on Monday
First Quarter Moon on Tuesday
Jupiter sextiles Uranus on Tuesday
Sun enters Leo on Wednesday
Mercury turns direct on Thursday
Venus sextiles Mercury on Friday
Pluto sextiles Neptune on Saturday
Saturn goes retrograde on Sunday
Plus -- a whole pile of stuff next Monday, as you’ll see.
It goes like this:
At 3:23 AM ET Jupiter trines Neptune arguing for a leap of faith. It could encounter a brick wall around 4:15 AM ET, when Moon opposes Saturn. A trine to Mars energizes; a square to Mercury may garble the message -- all done by 8:18 AM ET.
The only other aspect today is a biggie: Jupiter opposes Pluto at 10:44 AM ET. This is the Full Moon point of the Jupiter-Pluto cycle that began with the three conjunctions in Capricorn during 2020.
Think of an opposition as a Full Moon. Seeds planted at the conjunction now stand fully illuminated, revealing both their promise and their consequences. Questions involving wealth, power, governments, institutions, justice, influence, and the distribution of resources can no longer remain theoretical. They demand a response.
Jupiter is now in Leo, a placement long associated with kings, heroes, and the belief that leadership flows from the heart—or perhaps from divine sanction. At its best, Jupiter in Leo inspires generosity, courage, and leaders who rule by example rather than fear.
Opposing Jupiter is Pluto in Aquarius, offering a very different vision of power. At its best, Aquarius distributes authority more broadly, empowering the collective rather than the individual. At its shadowiest, it can concentrate power in vast technological networks, algorithms, and systems that transcend the traditional nation-state. Think Silicon Valley. Think AI. Think the Borg.
History reminds us that Pluto in Aquarius is capable of both. During Pluto’s last passage through Aquarius, the midpoint of its cycle witnessed the French Revolution and its cry for liberty, equality, and fraternity—a dramatic shift toward “power to the people.” We are nowhere near that point in the current cycle. The story is only beginning to unfold.
Watch for the larger questions that continue to emerge: Who should lead? Who holds power? Is authority rooted in the individual, the institution, the nation-state...or the network?
You are more personally affected by this Barbault Basket if you have planets at 4 degrees of just about any sign! Off the top of my head that includes President Zelenskyy, California, Hitler, Stephen Colbert, and Stephen Miller.
This is what the Barbault basket looks like. If you can read charts and draw a line from the Libra Moon to Saturn, that’s the handle, exact at 4:15 AM ET.
After 23 hours of traveling without interference (possibly whipping up a whirlwind in matters of fairness), Libra Moon squares the Cancer Sun at 7:05 AM ET. Relationships, alliances, and social causes become an important testing ground for personal or national security. And yet, there may be a feeling of magic in the air, thanks to a rare cooperative alignment (a sextile) between Cosmic Sugar Daddy Jupiter and revolutionary technogeek Uranus, exact at 7:10 AM ET. It’s all part of that basket pattern unfolding this month, and if you have planets around 4 degrees of just about any sign, I won’t fault you for trying your luck.
Meanwhile, a 2 1/2 hour Moon void may get your morning off to a slow start. Focus is regained at 9:34 AM ET, when Moon plunges into the emotional depths of Scorpio, seeking to grab hold of the narrative for power’s sake, perhaps. Scorpio is a Water sign, and today this Moon travels without input until early evening. Emotional intensity may crest as Moon squares Pluto at 6:11 PM ET, exposing buried motivations or power struggles -- made bigger by a square to Jupiter at 6:49 PM ET. What begins as a private feeling could quickly become a public statement—or a cause worth championing.
With the Sun now at the verrrry end of Cancer, matters of leaders touting the benefits of national security may be at a crisis point. A cooperative connection (sextile) between Moon and Venus tries to pave the way for the leader’s next move...heralded by the Sun’s entrance into Leo at 3:13 PM ET...and there was much rejoicing in the land. This is the height of the summer season in the Northern Hemisphere, and no matter what else comes down this week, everyone is encouraged to play, shine — and help others shine, too. The Sun is especially effective in Leo, the sign it rules -- and we are going to see a lot in the news about willpower, solar power, and leaders of business in state over the next several days, as the Sun makes contact with all of those planets in the Barbault basket.
Isn’t is cool that Beth Owl’s Daughter’s always-in-sync Tarot Card of the Week is....The Sun?
Meanwhile, at 5:48 PM ET, Moon trines Mercury—with another word from our sponsor. Is it for real? With Mercury still retrograde and Moon going void for the next 27 hours, a healthy skepticism is reasonable. If you must be at the office and can’t take time to chill or wander, Scorpio Moon is excellent for research, strategic brainstorming, and even a visit from the exterminator.
That said, the “much ado about nothing” perspective applies to any perceived crisis. Roll with the twists and flake, and don’t make a mountain out of a molehill—or force an outcome before its time. Observe, gather intelligence, and let events reveal their true significance before making your move.
On and on the Scorpio Moon void goes. Does it feel like time is moving slower? At 11:35 AM ET, we may hear from a wounded leader type as Sun squares Chiron. Focus, focus, focus is the challenge as Mercury slows to a virtual standstill and turns direct at 6:57 PM ET. The Sabian Symbol for this Mercury turnaround is “the germ grows into knowledge and life”—a seed potential that echoes the wave of new growth suggested by the Barbault basket. Hopefully the “germ” refers only to seeds, not literal germs.
Mercury retraces its retrograde path through August 6, giving us another chance to spot faulty assumptions, correct mistakes, and rethink ideas before moving into new territory. What flawed thinking will be be revealed?
Meanwhile, at 9:06 PM ET, Moon ditches Scorpio and soars into Sagittarius with a loud sigh of relief, looking for the nearest megaphone. For the next two days, you’re free to move about the country, broadening horizons in both your physical space and your mind. A fiery balance graces any improv scene as Moon trines the regal, festive Leo Sun at 11:43 PM ET.
A trine between Moon and Neptune at 5:52 AM ET is an invitation to pay attention to your dreams—and heck, with Neptune so tightly engaged with the other planets, keep a dream journal all month -- and next month, too. Those dreams may run deep, courtesy of Moon’s sextile to Pluto just one minute later. Then comes the plot twist: Moon opposes Uranus at 6:40 AM ET, suggesting a surprise awakening, unexpected news, or other seismic upset that changes the emotional landscape.
Afterwards, Moon’s trine to Jupiter lifts spirits and broadens perspective, while a rare sextile between Venus and Mercury at 12:12 PM ET facilitates idealistic communication, creative collaboration, and cooperative problem-solving.
Happy Happy Hour, everybody!
At 1:26 AM ET, Pluto sextiles Neptune. Pluto refers to power; Neptune refers to dreams, and this is the first of 13 sextiles through 2032. This series of 13 is the third in a cycle that began in the 1950s and returned from 1976–1986. The themes now emerging aren’t appearing out of nowhere—they’re the latest chapter of a story that’s been unfolding for decades.
An ability to turn dreams into reality is supported by Sagittarius Moon’s trine to Saturn in “because I said so” Aries, where inspiration meets discipline and lofty visions are given structure. If there’s pushback, it shows up in the morning as Moon squares discerning Venus in Virgo at 7:53 AM ET, then picks a fight with combat-ready Mars at 10:58 AM ET. For those tracking the day-by-day distractions of the White House occupant, note that over the past few days his horoscope has been in an especially irritable, provocative, and reckless state—one that continues into next week. Hide the ketchup bottles, if you please.
Whatever the provocation, hopefully you can CHILL for the next 23 hours, as Sagittarius Moon goes void.
The rest of this week’s forecast—including tidbits of news in sync with planetary patterns, tips for managing Saturn’s retrograde station, Sunday’s outlook, and a preview of Monday’s major planetary activity—is available to paid subscribers. Thank you.
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.