Starcodes reading for the week of July 26 – August 1, 2024
“May you live in interesting times” is an old Asian curse, in these times certainly are exciting. With the Sun in Leo, we can tend to grandstand or exaggerate any situation; though we need to look at existing problems with clear eyes, lets only magnify the joy and possibilities.
As the weekend begins a sense of worried excitement or urgency can push us to dither or act before we’re ready. Stay calm, cool, collected, and think for the long haul. That anxiety and excitement are stimulated as Venus quincunx Saturn unsettles our hearts and Mercury quincunx Pluto unsettles our minds- just as an Aries Moon nags us to hurry up and fix things.
Quincunxes are formed by two planets at an awkward 150° apart, these quincunxes can leave us feeling like our timing is off and wondering why we have bad luck and do encourage us to pay extra attention to our surroundings. But unsettling can be positive, it can help us break the status quo, break out of a rut, and pursue a new path, new relationship, new habits, as long as we take the prompt and shift gears.
The asteroid Chiron also turns retrograde this weekend and can bring up some tricky memories or feelings of déjà vu, encouraging us to honestly review what went wrong before, not to make it happen again, but to learn from the past so we can create a healthier future.
Mercury turns retrograde next week, August 4-28, so events will slow down and take a more circuitous route as the week progresses. Biden announced his withdrawal as Mercury squared Uranus last week, and Mercury will hit that square mid-August and early September – coming and going from its retrograde cycle. Any major story we engage this summer is not over, we have more chapters to deal with. So, stay awake and aware and ready to roll with creative solutions.
We can prepare for the coming Mercury retrograde cycle now, batten down the logistical hatches, get bills organized, contracts signed, decisions made, books written. We can then edit, adjust, and live a full life during the retrograde cycle. Mercury’s energy gets wonky when it’s moving slowly as it appears to do now, so keep an eye on communication and check what was intended if there’s any doubt.
Over this weekend the Moon meanders through earthy Taurus and encourages us to enjoy high summer, settle in, feed our senses, and take care of the garden – take a deep breath in these interesting times. People will be remarkably stubborn over the weekend, it’s not a time to try to change minds, but we connect over shared experience.
Early next week the Moon heads into Gemini and news flies, gossip buzzes, slander slung, new announcements pronounced, though much of this is performative rather than truthful. Remember it’s all a work in progress, any details hammered out now will probably need to be renegotiated through early September- so stay ready to adjust. The week ends on a cuddlier if self-protective note, we could have contradictory feelings where we both want to be safe at home under the Moon in Cancer but also socially and personally restless as Venus approaches an opposition to Uranus next weekend. This combination can bring some interesting shifts in political alliances, but also give us an opportunity to change our relationship patterns for the better. We need fresh experience but can hold hands while we explore the world.
Friday, July 26: Deal with real emergencies, but assess them carefully. A situation may feel more urgent than it actually is, so use the ambient Aries Moon excitement thoughtfully. Even our reasonable emotional needs can rub each other the wrong way, anxiety can make us more irritable and exacerbate the problem as Venus quincunx Saturn and Mercury quincunx Pluto. If some event is reminiscent of a past dilemma, don’t reinscribe the pain; take a new path. Solve small problems and watch the tension level decrease. Late evening could bring a big sigh of relief.
Moon sextile Jupiter 7:15 AM, Chiron retrogrades 7:58 AM, Moon trine Venus 4:14 PM, Venus quincunx Saturn 6:07 PM, Mercury quincunx Pluto 6:49 PM.
Saturday, July 27: Morning is feisty and opinionated, we need to be inconvenient and do what we need to do, and at our own pace. Use caution around difficult equipment and difficult people around noon as the Moon enters solid Taurus and squares Pluto. By midday, long term ramifications of recent decisions can hit us and just need time to integrate. It furthers to putter, meander, make life more comfortable, and savor the creative; keep the front brain busy and give the back brain a chance to process.
Moon enters Taurus at 11:22 AM, Moon squares Pluto 12:40 PM, Moon trine Mercury 1:35 PM, Moon square Sun 8:51 PM.
Sunday, July 28: Move slowly and steadily, balance chores with life-renewing explorations. Our agenda may seem clear, we know what we need to do, but let’s not rush through a potential opportunity for joy in this rough summer. Don’t bother with arguments or debates, the mood is stubborn and resistant to change as this earthy Taurus Moon sextiles Saturn, so nurture possibilities rather than try to talk someone out of their position. Appreciate what is stable.
Moon sextile Saturn 7:42 PM
Monday, July 29: We could feel socially edgy, preoccupied, or strangely oblivious and step on other’s toes as the Moon squares Venus then conjunct Uranus early on. Midday calls us to shift gears or seek a change in pace, notice minor surprises which help us adjust to the future. Keep conversation productive, make the point without a charge, let conversation be a real discussion not a monologue as the Moon enters Gemini and trines Pluto this afternoon. Evening could bring funny conversations, though we may have trouble sleeping, have strange dreams, or see edgy news stories as the Moon conjunct Mars overnight.
Moon square Venus 12:44 AM, Moon conjunct Uranus 9:47 AM, Moon sextiles Neptune 2:59 PM, Moon enters Gemini 3:27 PM, Moon trine Pluto 4:43 PM, Moon square Mercury 8:01 PM.
Tuesday, July 30: It’s tempting to say too much or speak off-the-cuff and hurt feelings. Political diatribes can get pointed and people can wind out in their own stories. If our feelings get hurt, let’s notice if it’s more an ambient soul klutziness than an intent to attack. If we introspect and remember ourselves in similar situations, our natural empathy can guide us to speak supportively as Venus trines Chiron. Notice a lighter mood tonight as the Moon conjuncts Jupiter.
Moon conjunct Mars 3:01 AM, Moon sextile Sun 5:15 AM, Venus trine Chiron 1:54 PM, Moon conjunct Jupiter 4:44 PM.
Wednesday, July 31: A nervy restlessness calls us to engage life and run into new people on this social day, visit with the neighbors, contact friends, sit on the beach, and meet people through walking dogs. Explore fresh ideas with humor. If our mind starts running on an uncomfortable hamster wheel, let’s slow and choose carefully where we focus our minds. Tonight, use imagination for good as the Moon squares Neptune then enters comfort-loving Cancer. It furthers to come home to safety and good food. We may need to sleep earlier, dream deeply.
Moon square Saturn 12:41 AM, Moon sextile Venus 11:32 AM, Moon square Neptune 8:46 PM, Moon enters Cancer 9:19 PM.
Thursday, August 2: A maudlin vibe can bring out an emotional or grumpy streak, we won’t want to explain ourselves and can feel easily imposed upon. The mood changes quickly if we take responsibility for our situation, so set a needed boundary or address some unmet need. Although we can strain against people we love, good things happen when we don’t feel trapped; let’s take care of ourselves –operate with less blame and with more abundance.
Moon sextile Mercury 3:43 AM.
Provided by Heather Roan Robbins www.roanrobbins.com
