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Horoscope: July 22 - July 28, 2019
Astrologer Pam Younghans writes this weekly astrological journal based on planetary influences, and offers perspectives and insights to assist you in making the best use of current energies. This column is not intended as prediction. Your own experience will be more specifically defined by transits to your personal chart.
Highlighted Aspects for This Week
All times listed are Pacific Daylight Time. For Eastern Time, add 3 hours. For Greenwich Mean Time, add 7 hours.
MON: Sun enters Leo, Sun sesquiquadrate Jupiter
TUE: Venus square Eris, Sun trine Ceres
WED: Mercury conjunct Venus
THU: Mars trine Jupiter
FRI: Sun sesquiquadrate Neptune, Mars quincunx Saturn
SAT: Venus sesquiquadrate Jupiter, Venus enters Leo
SUN: Sun semisquare Ceres, Venus trine Ceres, Sun trine Chiron
DRAMA is on the rise with two planets entering theatrical, colorful Leo this week. Once the Sun changes signs on Monday and Venus follows suit on Saturday, we will have three planets in Leo (Mars has been in the sign since early July). An emphasis on this fire sign can motivate us to be more creative and spontaneous, but it can also bring out childish reactivity--one of the lower vibrational qualities of Leo.
All signs have a higher and a less evolved expression. At one end of Leo's spectrum, we find the qualities of generosity, devotion, fearlessness, and nobility. At the other end, we see self-indulgence, arrogance, contempt, and even cruelty. Imagine the heart-centered, self-confident, no-longer-Cowardly Lion at the end of the Wizard of Oz, as compared to the roaring, intimidating, melodramatic beast we meet at the beginning of the story. These are the highs and lows we can expect to see when Leo is in the astrological spotlight.
THROUGHOUT this week, Mars and Jupiter are in a harmonious trine aspect with each other. This influence, which is strongest on Thursday, can help us find our passion, harness our will, and take the creative risks needed to follow our dream. On the other hand, it may exaggerate the false bravado of those who do not manage this energy well, so we can also expect some loud roaring.
In contrast to this expansive, go-for-the-gusto Mars-Jupiter trine, Mars is also in a challenging quincunx aspect to Saturn this week (strongest on Friday). A quincunx is said to require an attitude adjustment, if we are to make progress in the direction we most desire.
With Mars currently in Sagittarius, the adjustment needed may be in a belief, in a judgment, or in a certain way that we tend to feel self-righteous. It may be that holding to these limiting perspectives is exactly what is standing in the way of our unleashing our capacity for taking risks and committing to the manifestation of our vision.
ALSO IN THE MIX this week, before Venus enters Leo, Mercury and Venus align in Cancer. This would generally indicate an easy meeting of the minds, and an increased ability to connect and communicate intuitively with another person. However, there are two complicating factors in this particular alignment.
Firstly, Mercury is currently retrograde (appearing to move backward). This only causes problems if we are not taking the time to think carefully before we speak, or if we are not in tune with our own truth. Under these circumstances, we could have problems conveying what we really feel, or could misspeak. But, we can avoid these pitfalls if we take the time to breathe and connect inward before we share our thoughts.
THE OTHER mitigating factor is that Mercury and Venus are both in square aspect to disgruntled Eris when they align. The exact Venus-Eris square is exact to the degree this Tuesday, and the Mercury-Eris square perfects next week Monday.
Eris, a dwarf planet, is the namesake of the goddess of Discord, who played a pivotal role in the start of the Trojan war--primarily because she wasn't invited to a party when all the other goddesses were. So, while we might call Eris a "troublemaker," it's interesting to look at what motivated her to cause a ruckus.
Eris was strongly involved in last week's Lunar Eclipse, and we've already seen strong responses from those--especially women (Venus)--who have been discounted or shunned. The issues that have been raised will continue to play out this week and next, no doubt through a war of words (Mercury). It will be an interesting dance between the confrontational fervor of the Mercury-Eris square and the need to communicate calmly and thoughtfully, due to Mercury being retrograde!
IT LOOKS LIKE next Sunday has some gentler aspects that can help us feel more at ease in our skin. In particular, Venus is trine Ceres, representing an increased ability to lovingly care for ourselves and others. And, a Sun-Chiron trine provides a healing energy that can buoy our self-confidence and re-ignite a life-affirming pride in who we are and what we do.
We'll just need to remember that the argumentative Mercury-Eris square perfects not long after midnight next Monday morning, and not to expect everyone to be agreeable as the weekend draws to a close.
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IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK: Relationships are in the spotlight for you this year, and you have a strong need to connect with others who inspire you to be the best you can be. If you are in a partnership that feels too restrictive, or if you have friends who do not honor or respect you, you will be feeling more and more restless and frustrated in these relationships this year. Consider whether your relationships truly feed you, or if you are holding on to situations out of habit. Sometimes we may think it's enough just to get tossed a bone from time to time, but this year you're less contented with scraps. It may be time to take the risk to engage new friends and activities. (Solar Return Sun conjunct Venus, square Uranus)
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WEBINAR REPLAY! My "Coming Into Focus" webinar covers the planetary influences from now through January 2020, when the historical Saturn-Pluto alignment occurs at the same time as a lunar eclipse! We will be working with these energies more and more as we move through the weeks and months ahead. If you'd like to purchase the replay, please send an email with "Webinar Replay" in the subject line to
For more info about the webinar, watch this video:
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For previous weeks of the Astrological Journal, click here.
About the Author
Pam Younghans is a professional astrologer, editor, and writer. She lives in a log home northeast of Seattle, Washington with her beloved animal companions. She has been interpreting charts professionally for over 25 years. If you are interested in an astrology reading, e-mail
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