Astrology Forecast for July 2023

by Daria Rowe June 26, 2023

July is a decent month astrologically (phew!)

For the first 10 days, the Sun and Mercury are both in Cancer. It's a very helpful energy for connecting with your roots - your home, family, or whatever makes you feel safe and secure in life. It's also a great time of the year to re-write stories you tell yourself, that are limiting you in life and might just need to be reframed! In this post, I share a personal story of my journey to parenthood, and how it took a lunch outing with a group of fellow coaches to realize that I was missing the point of that story!!

The New and Full Moon are happening in Cancer and Capricorn this month, highlighting the need to balance nurturing and ambition, the need to spread your wings and accomplish something in the world, but also to grow roots.

Then, Leo energies set in. First Mercury moves into Leo and then the Sun.

Venus Retrograde:

The biggest news of the month though is that Venus will be turning retrograde in Leo, on July 22.

Pay attention to this energy! I do a lot of relationship and (sadly) break-up readings when Venus is retrograde.

This year, Venus Retrograde (July 22- Sept. 3) overlaps with Mercury Retrograde (Aug. 23 - Sept. 15). A lot of misunderstandings related to relationships and money can happen when Venus Retrograde and Mercury Retrograde overlap.

Considering Venus will be retrograde in Leo, if you feel hugely underappreciated or undervalued in your relationships (personal, professional or family), try to work on them or clear the air before Venus turns retrograde. Otherwise, there may be a blow-up.

Astrologically, Venus Retrograde is not the best time for:

Weddings, engagements and starting new relationships
Buying luxury items
Cosmetic surgery or drastic cosmetic makeovers.

Read all about it here.

Some other big happenings:

The Lunar Nodes Move into Aries/Libra

The Nodes of the Moon officially change on July 17, shifting from Taurus/Scorpio into Aries/Libra. The matters of war and peace, diplomacy, negotiations, and relationships are all highlighted until early 2025 - primarily because of the eclipses in these two signs. We already had an eclipse in Aries earlier this year, foreshadowing the energies. If you've missed my earlier post on Aries/Libra eclipses, you can find it here.

Neptune Just Turned Retrograde, on June 30 - Who Should Pay Attention?

Neptune turns retrograde once a year, and stays retrograde for 5-6 months at a time. This year, Neptune will turn direct again on Dec. 6.

Neptune Retrograde is a gentle nudge from the universe to connect with your spiritual side, your intuition, or your artistic abilities.

The days when Neptune is repositioning in the skies, about to turn retrograde or direct, can be fraught with inability to see things clearly. But, our intuition, compassion, and creative abilities can be at their highest, too.

We'll feel this energy between June 25 and July 9. Pay attention to your dreams, work on your boundaries (if you're an empath, work with a protective crystal, such as smoky quartz or tourmaline), and do tap into your imagination! If you have any energy vampires in your circle, stay away from them during this time.

And again, if Neptune connects with your natal chart as it's changing direction, it will be an important period for you, to pay attention to.

At best, you will experience a period of "bliss", or perhaps of an increased spiritual or artistic awareness. At worst, you may be dealing with outright deceit, or you might not be seeing your life clearly at this time.

Neptune will be stationing at 27° Pisces, as it's getting ready to turn retrograde.

You should pay particular attention to this retrograde if you are:

Pisces born March 15-20
Gemini born June 16-21
Virgo born Sept. 18-23
Sagittarius born Dec. 17-22

Or if you have natal planets or angles between 25-29° Pisces, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Gemini.

If you like this forecast so far, don't forget to sign up for my free weekly astro-newsletter!

Now let's look at each week in detail:

Note that all the dates I mention are for Pacific to Eastern time. The energies I mention peak on those dates, but we’ll feel them for 24-72 hours in advance, and for about 24 hours afterwards (but they will be losing strength with each passing hour).

July 1 - 9:

We're still feeling the energy of Neptune, freshly retrograde as of June 30 (see above).

But, there is another distinct energy at play, too. Venus and Mars stay close to one another in Leo, even though they don't conjunct. This is the energy of being driven by passion, and not necessarily romantic. The last time Venus and Mars stayed in close alignment for an extended period of time, the war between Russia and Ukraine broke out. And now, under the same energy, there was an armed insurrection in Russia - except, just as you would expect with strong Neptune energies, it dissolved as fast as it started.

So that's world events. On an everyday level, there is so much celestial goodness happening this week!

✨ June 30 - July 1:

Mercury and the Sun will both sextile Jupiter on July 1, making June 30-July 1 a five-star day for contracts related to real estate or property, communication with family members, or for starting any kind of communication-related project.

Don't miss!

✨ July 2: Venus square Uranus

If your relationship has become stale, you might feel a great desire for freedom today. Do something fun and exciting with your partner, but don't get into any heated exchanges.

And, if you're single, today is NOT a good day for the first date. The unstable energy of the Venus-Uranus square will be strong in your relationship, and it may not last, or it could be full of unexpected surprises.

Full Moon in Capricorn: July 3 4:39 a.m. PDT

Astrologically speaking, the Full Moon is the time to celebrate our successes and progress this lunar cycle, give thanks - and then to start releasing what no longer serves us.

This Full Moon, in Capricorn, is opposite Mercury in Cancer and trine Jupiter in Taurus. If you feel like your career has become unfulfilling, or that you've been going down a one-way street with blinders on career-wise, it's time to take a new approach. Release attitudes, behaviours and circumstances that are no longer aligned with your greatest good, and watch yourself turning a corner professionally.

It's also a great Full Moon to ask for any fears of getting older to be lifted from you.

July 10-16:

Two planets change signs on July 10! Mars moves into practical Virgo, and Mercury enters showy Leo.

Note where Virgo is in your natal chart. Between July 10 - August 27, the affairs of that House (area of your life) can receive a lot of action and attention. You could be investing quite a bit of energy there.

If you're a Virgo, you might receive an unexpected energy boost.

For all of us, when Mars is in Virgo, it encourages us to examine our habits and incorporate healthier routines and practices.

With Mercury moving into Leo, in business or work, let your personality and charisma shine through everything you say or write. Be personable. Mercury in Leo seeks the opportunity to uplift and create joyful interactions with others. In personal relationships, build a stronger emotional bond through creating opportunities to have fun together.

Mercury will stay in Leo July 10-28. Leo energy says, "all eyes on me!". If you've felt underappreciated, in personal relationships or at work, now is the time to talk about it and try to resolve it - before Venus turns retrograde on July 23.

✨ July 10: Mercury opposite Pluto

Deep insights are possible today. But, words can also feel extra cutting. Stay kind.

✨ July 14: Sun sextile Uranus

It's a good day to try something new and break out of stale routines in your life.

✨ July 14 6:30 p.m. to July 17 11:32 a.m. PDT: Balsamic Moon

This is one of those times in the Lunar Cycle when starting anything new is not to your advantage. Declutter instead. Create some space for new energies and beginnings to come in, on the upcoming New Moon in Cancer!

July 17 - 23:

The Nodes of the Moon officially change signs this week, on July 17, shifting from Taurus/Scorpio into Aries/Libra.

This week starts with a beautiful New Moon in Cancer. But, the energies get progressively more challenging as the week goes on.

This is also the week when the Sun enters Leo. Happy Birthday to all my Leo readers!

New Moon in Cancer: July 17 11:32 a.m. PDT

For the manifestor, this New Moon is THE day of the year to set intentions for healthy eating habits and everything related to home or family. If you are working on a stronger relationship with your Mom, this New Moon will be helpful for you as well.

You're not limited to these topics though! Setting intentions for anything you want to attract into your life is fair game on a New Moon. But, intentions for the areas ruled by Cancer will get an extra boost.

Read all about this New Moon here.

✨ July 20: Sun trine Neptune; Mars opposite Saturn.

The energies are mixed today. It may be difficult to get things off the ground, and you may be met with opposition or roadblocks to push through. NOT the best day for starting new endeavors.

But on the plus side, the Sun-Neptune connection is super helpful for artistic and spiritual pursuits. Chill today if you can. Watch a good move after work. Doing anything too ambitious will feel like driving with your brakes on, anyway.

✨ July 21: Sun opposite Pluto.

Your relationship with power might come into focus today. If you feel disempowered, it will bubble up to the surface! Unless you want to make a stand (and that might require a LOT of energy and effort), stay out of power games, note what's coming up for you, and tackle the issues another day.

✨ July 22: Sun enters Leo and Venus Turns Retrograde in Leo

Happy Birthday to my Leo readers! The Sun, Mercury and Venus are all in Leo as of today. While Cancer Season is about your connection with your roots, home and family, Leo Season is all about YOU! Its fiery energy invites playfulness, and encourages you to look for joy in as many things as you can.

But, as I mentioned, Venus Retrograde is another matter. You may be prompted to re-evaluate your romantic relationships, values or finances.

✨ July 23: Mercury square Uranus

On the heels of Mars and Venus squaring Uranus earlier in the month, now it's Mercury's turn! There may be some unexpected surprises today.

July 24-31:

This week gifts us with an opportunity to mend rifts in relationships, when Mercury conjuncts retrograde Venus. Mercury then moves into Virgo, bringing a big dose of practical, detail-oriented energy.

And, a loooong opportunity period arrives to close the month! How nice!

✨ July 27: Mercury conjunct Venus Retrograde.

If your relationship with your significant other feels on the rocks, today might be the day to have that conversation that heals and mends rifts.

✨ July 28: Mercury enters Virgo

Mercury is verrrry comfortable in its own sign, Virgo! It's analytical and detail-oriented. It's a very helpful energy for problem-solving, too.

Declutter your inbox and your digital files. Unsubscribe from the newsletters you never read, and promotional emails you never act on.

If you're a business owner or in a leadership position at work, review your business data. Which of your business activities are value-added, and which ones are a time-suck with no ROI? It's best if you've built a consistent routine to do this, but if you haven't, this is your celestial reminder!

Mercury will stay in Virgo for a good long time - until October 5. Yes, you guessed it...it will be turning retrograde, on August 22...

✨ July 29 8:44 p.m. to July 31 7:13 p.m. PDT

A nice long opportunity period! Opportunity periods are power periods in the Lunar Cycle, supportive of most undertakings. If you need to start something that you hope to grow and flourish, do so on an opportunity period on a Waxing Moon - like this one!

With the Moon in ambitious Capricorn, this opportunity period is particularly good for productivity and leadership, especially if you're not afraid to show some backbone.

If you have any comments or would like to report a typo or an omission, please leave a comment below (your email address won't be published).

Have a wonderful July!