by Robert Wilkinson
Mars activates and accelerates the pace of events in our lives. People currently going through dynamic activity, a hectic fast-paced period, or having the hardest time the first half of July are Geminis, Virgos, Sagittarians, and Pisceans born the last week of May, August, November, and February. The second half of the month this applies to the mentioned signs born the first 10 days of June, September, December, and March. If you were born in these zones, focus on what constitutes responsible action, given these birth periods show more highly agitated energy than usual.
Mars tests us to get a grip on our energy and shows us how well we are demonstrating self-control or not. Mars is our "fight or flight" principle, and symbolizes what aggravates us, so beware of hasty action, argumentativeness, or impulsiveness. A way to use what I post here is that if you know your chart, examine the effect for the signs in light of planets you have in these signs.
For instance, if you have Mercury between 1 and 19 degrees of a Mutable sign (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces), examine the challenges relative to your mind, interpretations, or thinking patterns, as well as other planets influenced by Mercury. If you have Venus in those degrees of Mutable signs, examine what is said in light of your likes and dislikes and other Venus-influenced areas in your chart.
If you have a Mutable sign Mars between those degrees, regard what is stated in the context of Mars-ruled affairs and activities. This shows an important shift in your Mars cycle, so heads up! You can also apply what follows regarding this month if you have an Ascendant (Rising sign) between 1 and 19 degrees of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, or Pisces.
The first half of the month, Geminis born the last week of May are seeing the first emergence of something begun mid-August 2007. This month shows a new life direction or the beginnings of new ways of expressing yourself, so get grounded, and remember that "as the roots, so the flowers." This applies the second half of July to Gemini people born the first 10 days of June.
Effort now affects future success. Don't allow hassles or aggravations around the home or with family to put you off, and be a good communicator. You'll get new insights into how you view your early life and family situation. Just try not to get aggravated by neighbors and expect intense activity around the home.
Geminis need to be less abrupt in communicating, less aggressive or hassled by neighbors, being more thoughtful and considerate. Avoid impulsive or blunt responses. Be fair, just, and balanced in your assessments, see things from several points of view, and be diplomatic, mature, and responsible in owning your part of any interaction. This affects Gemini's way of viewing their goals, ambitions, friendships, health, and work.
In the first half of July, Virgos born the last week of August confront the end of a 2-year cycle, so begin anew with an eye to what culminated in August 2007 of the cycle that began late July or early August 2007. This month speeds things up, so apply new skills and strengths, and face a future that's already underway. Quickly finish what you need to, realize an old way of life is over, and there is a need for new effort and directions.
After mid-July, this applies to Virgos born the first 10 days of September, and they finish a cycle they also began August 2006. Since it continues to be a time of endings and beginnings, embrace the new, get ready for the pace to quicken, and try not to be too blunt, impulsive, abrasive, or leap before you look.
This primarily affects all Virgos in the areas of communications, neighbors, how they view and interpret things, as well as desires, shared values and resources, and what needs elimination so they can regenerate freed of obsolete accumulations, material and non-material. These are ending somehow, and a new two year pulse is opening up. Be thoughtful but not critical, self-initiating without irritation or worry.
The first half of July fulfills an old cycle for Sagittarians born the last week of November. This period is one of following through on what's culminating in your public or professional affairs in the cycle that began December 2006. Learn as much as you can, prepare, then be willing to take responsibility, since this is a very high profile time for you. This occurs the last half of July for Sagittarians born the first 10 days of December.
All Sagittarians should follow through on what is culminating in their public and professional sector, take responsibility, do their duties, and remember others are observing them. Sagittarians should learn how to be more precise, practical, and organized, as well as compassionate, intuitive, and universal in their view. This will primarily affect Sagittarius in the areas of creative self expression, pleasures and play, motives and reaping the harvest of joys or sorrows for what they have or have not done responsibly to further their highest truth the past year and a half.
During the first half of July, Pisceans born the last week of February are tested not to get aggravated, sidestep oppositional people, and decrease agitation or impulsiveness while correcting things that began April 2007. The last half of July this applies to Pisces born the first 10 days of March.
People with these birthdays are moving through a period of tensions in relationships, and have had to shift in how they regard their health, work, or how to serve your world. If this applies to you, detach from relationship dramas that scatter you. Avoid unnecessary confrontations and don’t get hassled by impulsive, abrasive, aggressive or argumentative people.
For Pisceans in a relationship, it's an intense time for your partner. This is opening new doors of perceiving and acting with others where you are an equal rather than a follower or reactor to them. For Pisces, areas coming to surface include new ways of relating to their values, resources, how they use what they have, as well as their motives, and reaping the harvest of joys or sorrows for what they have or have not done responsibly to further their highest truth the past 15 months.
Pisceans should embrace new ways of relating to others, since this time is a breakthrough in your way of being in relationships, and allow others to take the initiative in new ways of expressing themselves. You are finding new forms of self-expression and self-adjustment to practical necessities.
The quincunx effect significantly influences 1-4 degrees of Aquarius and Aries the first week of July, 4-8 degrees of Aquarius and Aries the second week of July, 8-12 degrees of of Aquarius and Aries the third week of July, and 12-19 degrees of Aquarius and Aries the last 10 days of the month. Quincunxes are associated with physical, emotional, or mental health issues requiring sacrifices and adjustments.
Thus the first two weeks of the month most impacts Aquarians born in January and Aries born in March. The last half of July most impacts Aquarians born the very end of January through the first week of February and Aries born the very end of March through the first week of April.
Through the quincunxes, Aquarians will have sacrifices and adjustments in the areas of loss, regeneration, shared values and wealth that will help them learn focus, discrimination, attention to details and procedure. They will learn how to get their magnetism and desires straightened out and eliminate that which cannot be carried into a future already taking shape.
Aries will also have sacrifices and adjustments in the areas of work, health, and those they do service for or who do service for them. This will prepare them to deal with those who serve them, or those they serve in the realm of what needs to be done.
The first half of July, Cancers born the second week of July and Libras born the second week of October are extraordinarily affected by the Mars semisquare to their Suns. The last half of July primarily affects Cancers born the third week of July, Libras born between the third week of October, as well as Leos born between July 21-26 and Scorpios born between October 22-26.
The semisquare is a 45 degree aspect indicating internal crises of direction, or a sense that something is beginning to open (or close) with decisions to be made. They show important factors regarding things that are emerging or ending, and offer information about hidden or unconscious influences at work.
For Cancer and Leo birthdays mentioned above, new developments and challenges in the cycle that began between mid-April and mid-May 2008 don't have to be a problem if you become more visionary, adaptable, future oriented, organized and mature in your values and relationship to things and money.
Libra and Scorpio people with birthdays mentioned above need to end some things they began in October 2006, so capture the harvest and close out what you need to without getting aggravated at friends or the goals that you couldn't fulfill.
Libra and Scorpio people are entering a fallow period where you'll need to do closure rituals, preparing for a new cycle to come starting mid-September through early October 2008. This period is directly related to the process of ending some activities and seeing them in the broader context of your life story as a "hero's journey."
For Libras, it concerns your sense of partnership, equalness in relationships, values, resources, and how you capture what you need to sustain your self-image. For Scorpios, it concerns your self image, physical body, work, health, and dealing with subordinates or who you work for.
As I explained a few months ago, sometimes Mars' influence extends far beyond whatever is going on in the sky. Notably, the Mars article from November 2006 offers an insight into why things have changed as they have these past 20 months. Mars played a major part in the eclipses of 2006-2007, and triggered many events leading us all to chances to "escape from a narrow destiny." It is now close to completing an entire cycle set into motion since then. As I wrote a while ago:
Since the Mars degree of the recent September 2006 Lunar Eclipse is highly active and was also the exact degree of the Solar Eclipse take note of what is liberating you from a previously "narrow destiny" and hear the call that can help you joyously rise to some larger occasion. Here's an article about the September 2006 Solar Eclipse in terms of its general meaning and effect, while in this article you can find out what it means for each sign specifically. December 2006 and January 2007 mark turning points in the liberation process.
Signposts of future developments connected with 30 Virgo presented themselves in late March-early April 2007, with important points occurring the second and last weeks of May 2007 and September 2007. Even more definitive developments happened between December 2007 and early April 2008.
June through November 2008 shows Pluto exactly square the Mars eclipse degree, Saturn conjuncts the point April 2009 and April through July 2010 opposed by Uranus April 2010 through March 2011, setting up some fairly volatile developments. Escaping from a "narrow destiny" may be destabilizing, but it's also guaranteed to put you and your Dharma on track and remind you that life on Earth is one of endless change.
More from the 2006 Eclipse article:
In December, Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter all conjuncted... Wherever we have Aries, Gemini, Virgo, Scorpio, Sagittarius, and Pisces energies, they were fused and renewed in whatever house we have early Sagittarius... a very important area of major focus and attention in the next two years for us. I hope you enjoyed December and January since the wild ride accelerated toward a more amazing vision, freedom, and group involvement than we've known in a long time. Welcome to February through June 2007, the edge of dynamic change!
Mars is now conjunct Saturn, setting into motion a whole new 2+ year cycle of responsibilities, duties, limitations, and Dharma related actions in our lives. We'll all get to learn discernment and precision in action preparing for a new ideal of expression beginning late August through September 2008. Over the next few months we'll find a new "perfect form" of self expression, with opportunities to move many things forward with grace, style, and balance.
Of importance is that in late July, Mars will enter the Virgo zone of The Grand Irrationality, setting that major configuration into action and bringing us all to another set of "forks in the road of destiny." I'll be writing more about that in a while, but if you want to know more about The Grand Irrationality, please go to Spiritual Astrology in May-June 2008 Pt. 1 - Retrograde Jupiter Bringing Rewards for Courage Dancing With Saturn Direct at the Threshold of A Liberating Ordeal. I'll be posting the July-August Spiritual Astrology articles when I have the time to compose them.
So in July, be clear about what and who fits where in your life, take care of details and work with an eye to precision and practical adjustments, and follow through on whatever was flooded with energy in May and June. The new responsibilities and sense of purpose we've been anticipating are getting clearer and clearer this month.
The last half of the month, enjoy the major Earth trine from Mars to Jupiter, since it anticipates the exact Jupiter trine Saturn in effect from late August through November. Also note where the Mars conjunct Saturn at 6 Virgo falls in your chart, since that reveals where some important parts of your life are getting fused by your willingness to take on a greater responsibility and maturity in taking care of needed business to fulfill your higher destiny. I'll write more about this conjunction and its implications for all signs soon.
On a final note, Mars' transit span this month in many ways anticipates what we'll all be dealing with from now through next Summer. Try to see that the challenges in July and early August prepare us for the lessons Saturn will bring through then. It's kinda-sorta a "dress rehearsal," but there's not much "dress" about it. More like a practice in the short term for long term practical tools we'll be implementing for many months to come. Discriminate, get educated, and remember that "to rule is to serve."
© Copyright 2008 Robert Wilkinson
Robert, you are truly prescient -- proof that a good astrologer is better than any psychologist. The things you said about Pisces were *exactly* what I needed to hear to make sense of just the very things you described. I bow to you with a very grateful "Namaste."
L.
Posted by: Layli | July 09, 2008 at 04:35 PM
Any thoughts on the Mars Saturn conjunction exactly on the Vertex in my 7th house? Should I make a wish?
Posted by: Valerie | July 09, 2008 at 06:52 PM
I agree about the prescience of your comments regarding Pisces. With natal sun and Mars within the degree frame this week has been unbelievable. Saturn within orb of my second return has added to the intensity. I just wish I'd been more able to sidestep the oppositional people a little more adeptly. Ah well - seems like sometimes the way forward reveals itself after crisis. I'm looking forward to all your coming articles on Mars in Virgo. Thanks for your excellent web site and your inspiring ability to help others.
Sue
Posted by: sue | July 09, 2008 at 08:49 PM
yeah!
i am ready for the new cycle ...
good that you took some time for you
i always know i can get some good tidbits here and you reveal what is going on and affecting us on deeper levels
aum
Posted by: michele | July 10, 2008 at 12:16 AM
Hi Robert, great article as usual....just had a quick question.....in my natal chart my Sun is at 6 degrees Virgo......just curious about how the Mars conjunct Saturn at that same degree may effect me since it is happening in my sign and on the same degree as my natal sun? Thanks for any input...
Posted by: Lori | July 10, 2008 at 03:09 AM
Amazing.
Until now I haven't been able to see the "big picture" from what emerged in the 2006 Eclipses ending or breaking things that were leading us to...never better said..."narrow destiny"...and that from now on are beginning to open doors to fulfillment of Dharma with transiting Mars.
Curious how you described the process nearly 2 years in advance and I've been last 2 years trying to understand until things simply "happen"...
Posted by: Henry | July 10, 2008 at 05:30 AM
When you are gone, taking your R + R and absorbing your life, Robert... I find I don't need a weather man to know which way the wind blows. Clearly Mars is blasting by Saturn in my 5th, while my Jupiter conj. my Sun, and all in preparation for final SR on Sunday. This "high 5" kisses 59-years goodbye and it's much like a birthday, in broader strokes. Gracias Senor W... árboles grandes mi jardinero
Posted by: Jan | July 10, 2008 at 07:17 AM
I am natally 2 degrees Sun conj. Uranus in Virgo and Pluto is 9 deg. Virgo. Virgo is my 5th house, all this happening in the 5th house. I am exhausted, nervous, insomniac and I have lost it mentally, emotionally and my temper...well....it has been a mean ride....split in the past week from my b/f of 2 1/2 years, love hime dearly but didn't care for how he was treating me....he is Pisces Sun and Pisces rising. It has been a hard ride for him.....he is lost, confused and full of doubt...we don't think we can mend the blow out....we have a great love for each other but things have to change....your info. has helped put perspective on everything....right now we don't know which way is up and everything is upset. I guess its time to just simmer now....I'll try....I feel like a mine field :(
Posted by: Vera Christ | July 11, 2008 at 12:02 AM
Hi Robert,
I am wondering if you could give me some quick clarity about the impact of the Mars conjunct Saturn, as they are transiting my ascendant, and my natal Pluto, and trine my Sun?
I am also very curious as Saturn is transiting/conjunct my natal Pluto and Pluto is still transiting/conjunct my natal Saturn. Is this a double message a double whammy? THese feel like powefully transformative times for me and I am finishing a masters degree preparing to engage in more meaningfull service in the world while also immersed in deep spritual practice. Any clarity you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Tamara
Posted by: Tamara | July 13, 2008 at 02:47 PM
Hi Robert,
I just love reading your work! This is an example of true service and I am forever grateful. One question I had while reading is: how does the Mars/Saturn affect late March Pisces. I was born on March 19th and was wondering if the same information written for February through March 10th Pisces still applied for late Pisces. Once again, thank you for your service. I consider your work a great part of what I value in my life.
Posted by: Maricarda | July 20, 2008 at 06:24 PM