The promise of good things to come – Jupiter & Venus conjunct in Leo

July starts with a welcome sense of opportunity and good fortune as both the greater and lesser “benefics” Jupiter and Venus, join together on the 1st. The view of these two bright stars getting closer by the day has been an enchanting feature of our early evening sky for the last several weeks. This combination in larger than life Leo, gives us a favourable expectation for all the classic “love, luck and money” issues. Venus puts the focus on socialising, money and of course, romance. Jupiter is the feel good planet and provides opportunities to expand and increase, even to the point of excess. Combined with the heightened vibrational qualities of a Full Moon on 2nd the events of next week could be positively uplifting.

Making the most of this upbeat energy gets the summer rolling and we will see two more Jupiter Venus conjunctions, in early August and mid October, due to Venus in retrograde motion from July 25th to September 6th. Expect to have to rethink some of the important factors connected to your finances and relationships during late July and August. Making commitments too rashly early in the month will certainly find you needing to reconsider your position, but preparing the way ahead and setting out the game plan for later in the year is a good strategy.

Around the 14th any strong desires or alliances you aim to fulfil will be tested when Saturn makes a challenging aspect to Venus. This is a useful reality check as whilst Saturn is still making his progress backwards into Scorpio the “stuff” that isn’t really working to sustain or support you is having to be dealt with – even if you thought you had it covered already – it’s going to take a bit more of your time and attention to get it right.

This is the month to put some attitude or way of operating well and truly behind you before Saturn moves forward once more and into Sagittarius properly in a few weeks time. Just to assist with this process of sorting out what is appropriate to continue to have in our life, we have feisty Mars in touchy feely Cancer, opposite Pluto in Capricorn on the 15th. This stressful aspect is likely to draw out some strong emotions. Any sense of vulnerability or overexposure to a demanding or powerful force will become apparent and require some remedial action.

The Cancer New Moon on 16th is a perfect energy to give attention to a new phase of life. This dynamic is combined with Mercury, the planet of ideas, connections and communication, making a difficult aspect to transformative Pluto, whilst also joined with assertive Mars. Not the best time for sensitive negotiations! But if things have to be said or harsh truths realised and discussed then this is the most likely time it will all come out into the open.

Having freed up some emotional energy and now that Jupiter, with all it’s promise of better things ahead, has finally caught up to the position it was in, before the recent retrograde phase starting last December, we can pick up and run with plans, projects and relationships that seemed to have stalled for the first half of this year. Jupiter is in Leo until early August and in this sign he wants to have fun and get seriously creative. Use this month to go the extra mile, make an impression and enjoy the impulses of your soul filled heart.