Astrological Forecast for July & August 2022

With eclipse season behind us, major planetary aspects taking a break, and even Mercury retrograde over for the moment, we might wonder if the summer of 2022 will offer us some calm. The answer is a definite ‘maybe’. We may not find much in the way of new issues on the horizon, it’s true. Yet so-called ‘minor’ aspects often act as triggers to the major aspects that have already taken place, especially when those minor aspects are hot ones - as they are in July and August.

July

Hazy Neptune dominated the second half of June, and will continue to fog out the first part of July as he eases into his long retrograde period that began on June 28th. A tense aspect from Mercury on July 2nd could get some folks to bend the truth, if not outright lie. Then, on the 14th, Venus steps in to square the god of the seas, and we could get crossed wires in relationships, but also in financial matters. The days around these two aspects are not good for making practical decisions, and are especially poor for appraisals and other types of assessments.

After mid-month, on the 17th, the Sun and Mercury will ease out their differences with soft trines to Neptune. While not necessarily the most realistic vibe, this is a time to find creative solutions to issues that have been mired over the past month.

Neptune isn’t the only player in the cosmic drama in the first half of July. Mars starts things off with a bang as he squares Pluto on the 1st, from his home sign of Aries. This is a volatile and potentially violent aspect, perhaps all the more so as Mercury/Neptune impedes judgment. It could be a time to lay low, and only pick a fight if you’re sure you want to go through with it to the end. However, it’s also a very good time to get things done, as Mars provides a strong dose of focused energy.

Mars then moves into Taurus on the 5th. In Venus’ home sign, the Cosmic Warrior takes on a more sensual and overtly sexual attitude. As he’ll be sextile Mercury as he enters the sign, it’s a good time to let others know how you feel.

The second week in July is a busy one, with hot aspects somewhat constrained by the conservative Cancer/Capricorn axis. Mercury squares Jupiter on the 8th, an aspect that could get some of us to say too much, but it should at least keep things moving. A Sun/Uranus sextile a day later suggests that we can find novel ways to address issues. Venus trines Saturn on the 13th, the day of the Capricorn Full Moon, asking us to be realistic and practical. Yet as soon as she departs Saturn, Venus goes on to square Neptune, potentially throwing caution to the wind.

The balance between tension and caution continues as Venus enters traditional Cancer on the 17th. In the sign of the crab, Venus is careful about relationships and financial decisions, and wants to stick closer to home. Socializing might be about backyard barbecues and family vacations (or stay-cations).

A little conflict could emerge around the 25th, as Venus squares Jupiter and we have to decide between going out to play and staying closer to home. Still, Venus and Jupiter are BFFs, so resolution will probably be easy to find.

As Mercury and the Sun oppose Pluto on the 17th through the 19th, there’s a tendency to tell it like it is - or at least how you see it. Power struggles could be part of the dynamic around this time, and we might question who’s really in control: those with the title or those who hold the money.

On July 22nd, the Sun enters his home sign of Leo, ready for some summer fun. A trine to Jupiter in Aries on the 31st should be especially helpful, particularly as Jupiter stations to retrograde on the 28th and so is very powerful. The new moon is also on the 28th, and although this is usually a more quiet time, we may feel that things get moving rather quickly this month.

Mercury is again busy as the month ends, with a trine to Jupiter on the 23rd, a square to Mars on the 26th, then to Uranus on the 28th, followed by an opposition to Saturn on the 31st. We could find that enthusiasm and even aggression run high during this period, as we seek to make changes and explain ourselves. Yet Saturn gets the last word, sorting the genuinely good ideas from pipe dreams, and calling folks to task for misspeaking. Still, Saturn in Aquarius is okay with change and innovation, as long as it’s on a solid foundation.

August

Mars again gets to be first this month, meeting the Uranus on the 1st. This continues the impulsive and impatient energy of late July. Be careful driving and in general try to think before you act. Still, it’s not like you want to sit back with this aspect in effect - by all means do something! If you have excess energy, try burning it off with some sensible exercise.

That energy might be channeled into romance and relationships, with Venus stepping in to sextile both planets on the 2nd. We could find that even with the Cancerian parameters of tradition, we’re ready to let some changes take place.

Venus goes on to trine Neptune on the 7th, adding a little dreaminess to the picture, but her opposition to Pluto on the 9th is all business. If you’ve made castles in the air, or on the beach, you may find them washing away. On the other hand, what survives Pluto’s cold stare is likely to provide a firm foundation for moving forward.

After her harrowing time in Cancer, Venus enters Leo on the 11th, taking off her maternal apron and donning her party dress. It’s time for theater in the park, volleyball on the beach, and summer fun. The full moon in Aquarius squares Uranus on the same day, giving us all the incentive we need to shake things up a little.

A more sober vibe prevails on the 14th, as the Sun opposes Saturn and Mars trines Pluto. You could be facing some of your limitations, but this is a great time to focus your energy on a project.

Look to the time around the 18th to provide another opportunity for fun, as Venus trines Jupiter, while Mars trods through the last degrees of Taurus. We may be in the waning days of August, but these aspects will keep up the heat.

Things start to get a little slippery around the 20th, as Mars does the two-step into Gemini, while Mercury opposes Neptune. Once again, truth may be subject to individual interpretation, and even if we try to be precise (Mercury is in Virgo, after all) we could unwittingly embellish. Some folks will have a hard time seeing the forest for the trees - but all of us should take a hiatus from important decisions, even if we might have to speak up sooner than we’d like, as Mercury trines Pluto just a day later.

The Sun leaves his home sign to Venus as he enters Virgo on the 22nd. Those of us in the Northeast will feel that summer is beginning to fade to autumn, as the days shrink noticeably and the nights grow longer.

There are still a few more celestial pops before August ends, however. Uranus stations to retrograde on the 24th, once again stirring up our needs for independence and change. Venus squares Uranus on the 27th, bringing that energy home to relationships. With the Sun square to Mars at the same time, we could see a spike in impatience, and vulnerable relationships may have some significant stresses. As we’re also at the Virgo New Moon, we’ll have to decide if it’s time for beginnings or endings.

Just a day later, on the 28th, Saturn again gets the last word as Venus opposes him. We’ve had a few days to consider new opportunities and explore the possibilities, and now Saturn asks us to decide what’s real.

Armand Diaz, Ph.D., is an intuitive astrologer who uses Tarot in his consult-ations with clients. He can be reached via his website, www.ArmandDiaz.com