Horoscopes for July 2020
Words: Emma Vidgen // @emma_vee
Image: Mathew Coyte // @mathew_coyte
Styling: Charlotte Stokes // @charlotte__stokes
The cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn) are under pressure once more this month as Saturn shifts back into Capricorn and Mars settles into Aries for the next six months. On a macro level, Saturn in Capricorn will see us revisiting issues from earlier in the year (especially up to 21st March). Expect stories around government, control and restriction to be a major theme as Saturn moves through Capricorn one final time until 17 December.
On a personal level, there’s been a lot of lethargy, confusion, and “is this what I really want/who I really want/what I really stand for?” these past couple of months. It’s been heady and angsty with Venus retrograde in Gemini but also soupy and emotional (with Mercury retrograde in Cancer).
This month, feels less introspective and a little more decisive. With Venus now direct and in her shadow and Mercury turning direct mid-month. There’s a feeling you might be creeping closer to some kind of resolution to the issues that have been weighing heavily on your heart and mind.
If you’ve been feeling a bit lack lustre (courtesy of Mars was in Pisces since 14 May), energy levels should pick up now Mars is in fiery ‘eff-it-lets-do-it’ Aries. This burst of energy won’t last forever (Mars retrograde kicks off in September) so this is the perfect time to make the most of momentum and get sh*t done.
Make sure you read for your rising sign rather than your sun sign for improved accuracy – this article explains why it makes such a huge difference. Wishing you a clarifying month
Emma x
ARIES AND ARIES RISING
You may have felt a bit flat since mid-May but this month your confidence and energy levels should be back to their usual spunky levels. You’ve got your groove back this month, with your ruling planet Mars firmly out of Pisces and moving through your home sign.
The final eclipse of the season on 5 July closes the final chapter of a story that’s been unfolding around your home and work life since July 2018. Keep watch for unexpected endings or new opportunities that present themselves around these areas.
Mercury retrograde brings moodiness on the home front, especially around 8th but tensions should easy after he goes direct on 12th July. Remember triggers are teachers, so consider what the retrograde has inspired you to rethink, and set fresh intentions around home and family on the Cancer new moon on 20 July.
The mood brightens as the sun moves into Leo on 21st, and as the month draws to a close, the opportunity to resolve issues that came up through the Mercury and Venus retrograde periods should present themselves so you can start August with something of a fresh slate.
TAURUS AND TAURUS RISING
Heaviness surrounding work or career decisions have been a focal point since late March, but that should ease from the 1 July, as Saturn retrogrades backwards into Capricorn one last time.
With just under two weeks of Mercury retrograde to navigate at the start of the month, the potential for misunderstandings and technological hiccups are major. Allow extra time to check and re-check important emails, presentations and documents, and if you can help it, hold out on buying new tech until after the 12th.
A full moon eclipse on 5 July marks the end of a chapter and the beginning of a new one, especially connected to study, travel and your self-expression, while a new moon on 20 July offers the chance to integrate any epiphanies and set new intentions about how you want to use your voice – literally and figuratively speaking.
The sun moves into Leo on 21st offering a boost of energy and lightening the mood, especially on the home front. Be on the lookout for recurrent issues to pop up one last time for resolution as Mercury and Venus move through their shadow one final time (26th and 29th respectively).
GEMINI AND GEMINI RISING
The isolation of the past few months has been especially tough for sociable souls likes yourself, so you’ll be pleased to know you’ll get a surge of energy around your social life this month as Mars moves through the part of your chart connected to friends and community. It’s a welcome change of pace after a lethargic couple of months.
Growth and evolution around your relationship to money and self-worth has been an ongoing theme the past couple of years, and the final mid-year eclipse on 5 July could provide another burst of insight or mark the beginning of a new chapter around these themes.
Money and how you share it with your partner will be a major theme the first few weeks of July, with the potential for some blow-ups around the 8th and 24th. Remember money is a form of energy, so any sore points that come up are an indicator of areas that need your attention. Self-worth and fears around security could spark misunderstandings, so try to listen to the story behind the friction.
The mood lifts when the sun moves into Leo on the 21st, with the pressure easing as the month closes out and both Mercury and Venus finish their final dance through the shadow periods (26 and 29 respectively). There’s a sweet hit of creative inspiration on 27 with Venus square Neptune but be mindful the energy is conducive to being overly optimistic. If things seem too good to be true, they probably are.
CANCER AND CANCER RISING
Your home season is in full swing, dominating the first few weeks of the month and it’s nothing if not eventful. Mercury is retrograde (until 12 July) in your home sign which could feel more intense for you than other signs.
With Mars charging up your career sector, you’ll be full steam ahead with work projects and feeling super productive. The energy will feel like such a nice change but there’s a lot of other action in your chart at the moment so take care not to overcommit yourself and burn out.
Your relationship is under the microscope, with several transits sparking insight and the potential for change. The full moon on the 5th marks the end of a two-year series of eclipses triggering evolution and growth around your sense of independence, and your relationship dynamic.
Eclipses often bring sudden insight so keep your eyes and ears peeled for new information or a fresh perspective. Your relationship could feel strained between 14 – 20 when the sun faces off with several heavy hitters, asking you to get serious (Saturn), be honest (Pluto) and be true to your beliefs (Jupiter).
A new moon on the 20 offers the opportunity to hit reset and commit to new intentions especially in relation to your body and mind. This is a good lunation for making things stick, especially long-term. The next day the sun moves into Leo, which should alleviate some of the intensity in your relationship. Stay open to potential resolutions to ongoing issues that arose during Mercury and Venus retrograde, which hopefully should be sorted by the 26 and 29th.
Leo and Leo rising
There’s a firm focus on your wellbeing, mental health and daily routine this month with loads of planetary action asking you to get serious and really reflect on how you look after yourself. Mercury retrograde (until 12 July), might leave you feeling uncharacteristically anti-social as it backs up through your twelfth house. If tensions around money – especially with your partner – having been causing friction, expect things to feel a little less fractious this month.
A full moon eclipse on the 5th is the first of several transits that could shed new light on how you prioritise your health. This lunation serves as a reminder that you can’t help other people if you aren’t looking after yourself first. In case you miss the memo, the sun will highlight theme again between the 14th and 20th, urging you once again to look for more balance between helping others and taking care of yourself.
Not a moment too soon, the sun shifts into Leo on 21st bringing some much needed fun to the overall vibe. As Mercury and Venus clear their shadows, outstanding decisions or dilemmas from the past six weeks will have a chance to get sorted out before the end of the month.
Virgo and Virgo rising
If your daily routine has felt like a grind these past couple of months, the pressure should ease in July. Friendship is a core theme for this month, with the energy perfect to review and reassess your platonic relationships. There is some potential for misunderstandings with friends during Mercury retrograde (the 8th looks especially salty), but there’s also an invitation to reconsider the give-and-take in your friendships.
Power dynamics, belief systems and reliability could all play a part as you rethink who you choose to spend time with. The eclipse on the 5th could bring a major epiphany, and the new moon two weeks later (20th July) offers the chance to turn over a new leaf and commit to new patterns long-term. Schedule time to reflect on what’s come up in your friendships and how you’d like them to look in future.
After lots of buzz around friendships, things feel a little quieter after the 21st when the sun moves into Leo. After all that soul-searching you might be ready for a lie down! Take it! The last 10 days of the month are a time to rest and recalibrate as Mercury and Venus move through the last degrees of their shadow. The opportunity to resolve outstanding issues around career (Venus retrograde) and friends (Mercury retrograde) may present themselves so you can start August with a clean(er) slate.
Libra and Libra rising
If your daily routine has felt like a bit of a bummer these past couple of months, rest assured the lethargy should ease with Mars now in Aries. That apathetic “what’s the point” feeling should lighten right up; in fact, you might feel downright proactive, but with Mars moving through the area of your chart related to your close partnerships (e.g. marriage, business partnership) there’s the potential for some fireworks with your significant other.
Longer-term questions around home and career (think: where am I going? Where do I want to live?) are back on the table as major themes in July after taking a backseat since late March. The full moon eclipse on the 5th could bring new details to light that change your perspective. With Mercury moving through your career house, you’ll find yourself questioning everything. As the sun faces off with Pluto, Jupiter and Saturn between 14 and 20 you’ll be called to consider balance, honesty and responsibilities between family and work commitments. The new moon on the 20th is potent for longer-term commitments and is perfect for reflecting on professional goals.
The sun’s move into Leo on the 21st should ease some of the tension around work/life balance. Embrace the change in energy and make plans with friends. As Mercury and Venus move through the last of their shadow degrees, there’s one final opportunity to resolve problems that popped up during their retrograde periods.
Scorpio and Scorpio rising
Learning, spirituality and your ideals are a major focus with Mercury retrograde stirring up situations prompting you to reflect on your value system early in the month.
Development around communication and learning – a recurring theme over the past couple of years – are a focal point once more (and will be until the end of the year). The eclipse on the 5th could bring revelations or new perspectives to light, while a series of aspects between the sun and Pluto, Jupiter and Saturn will force you to get honest and find a balance between how you express yourself and what you believe in.
After a potentially rich creative time while Mars has been in Pisces (since late March), motivation and drive shifts to your daily routine and health – an area that will be a focus until the end of the year. The serious mood eases somewhat when the sun moves into Leo on 21 July, charging up your professional life with a burst of energy. Any outstanding issues around shared finances connected to last month’s Venus retrograde should find a resolution by the end of the month (29 July) when she clears her shadow degrees.
Sagittarius and Sagittarius rising
Finances and property – particularly any shared interests like join bank accounts and real estate – are front and centre for the first few weeks of the month while the sun is Cancer. The eclipse on 5 will highlight monetary matters, which will continue to demand your energy, especially between 14 and 20 when the sun faces off against Pluto, Jupiter and Saturn. With Mercury also retrograde in this area of your chart, there’s potential for miscommunications. If you’re buying, selling or renting this month be sure to double check everything to make sure it’s all above board.
Lethargy may have haunted you since late March, especially on the home front, but now Mars has moved into Aries for the foreseeable future, you should notice a dramatic change in your energy levels. Initiative, especially on the creative front, will be on tap so make the most of it and make space for your artistic outlet of choice.
A welcome dose of fiery fun should lift the vibe around the 21 when Leo season officially begins, alleviating some of the angst around money. Any Venus-retrograde related outstanding issues with your partner are ripe for resolution when Venus leaves her shadow on 29th.
Capricorn and Capricorn rising
The energy has been a little different since late March, and you’ve had a brief reprieve from the massive shifts happening around your identity and your relationship for the past couple of months. This month you’re back in the hot seat with some major planetary energy calling for your attention. The eclipse on the 5 July signals breakthroughs around your direction both as an individual and a couple.
Mercury retrograde invites you to review your relationship until 12 July. It’s a sensitive time and one best spent reflecting rather than making any rash decisions.
Things may seem clearer once Mercury turns direct (12 July) but a series of transits between the Sun may call you to get really honest (Pluto), about commitment (Saturn) and your ideals (Jupiter) of what your relationship to be between 14 and 20 July. Use whatever breakthroughs you’ve had as inspiration for intention setting on the new moon on 20th.
If you’ve been thinking about doing updates around the house you’ll be feeling super energised to make things happen this month. With Mars retrograde on the horizon, it’s a good time to make the most of the surge of energy. When the sun moves into Leo on 21, there’ll be a little easing of the pressure around relationship, especially after 26 when Mercury leaves its shadow.
Aquarius and Aquarius rising
Tensions between home/family commitments and your sense of independence have been mounting these past couple of months, but in July the focus turns back to your health and daily routine.
The eclipse on 5th July could shed new light on habits or behaviour you’re ready to release, or new routines or practices that could support your emotional and physical health. Mercury retrograde (until 12 July) could leave you feeling a bit lethargic so carve out time for solitude to get quiet and listen to what your body needs to feel nourished. If you’re not sure, pay attention to situations that arise between 14 and 20 which could offer further insight. The new moon on the 20th is a great time to integrate any breakthroughs and commit to new habits you’d like to make a part of your daily ritual – whether that’s getting more sleep or moving your body.
The sun moves into Leo on 21st bringing a sense of playful energy to your relationship sector. If you’re in a relationship capitalise on the energy by scheduling some downtime doing something fun. There’s the potential for being a little overly romantic about a financial opportunity around 27 so be extra diligent before you commit.
Pisces and Pisces rising
The major focus this month is creativity, joy and friendships. This continues an ongoing storyline that’s been evolving over the past couple of years that will reach a conclusion at the end of this year. The last of the Cancer/Capricorn eclipses on 5 July could bring new insights around a friendship or creative project, or mark a sudden ending or surprise beginning.
Pluto, Jupiter and Saturn could trigger events that force you to get honest about how you really feel, and consider who and what you want to commit to. These transits could highlight friendships where there’s an imbalance between give- and-take, or just not a lot of fun being had. Use the insights you have over the first three weeks to set new intentions on the new moon on 20th. It’s an especially powerful one for committing to long-term goals connected to creativity and pleasure.
The back half of the month is a little lighter as the sun moves into Leo on 22, marking a fresh, fiery season. Be aware that unexpected expenses could pop up, or you may just feel extra spend-y with Mars now in Aries. This is a long transit (until January 2021) so if you’re on a budget, take extra care not to overextend yourself financially.