The Sun is the Invincible Spirit. So great is this universal wonder that it must come in small doses, distributed as it travels around the Zodiac over the course of a year.  The Sun's position symbolizes the active presence of the Divine.  The Sun entered the sign of Cancer on June 21, 2018 at 6:07 AM EDT.  This placement highlights things related to family and  home, and tends to increase sensitivities. At this summer solstice, the Sun is at the highest point on the analemma, in its northernmost declination, moving very slowly.  The Sun moves into Leo on July 22, at 5:01  PM EDT. 

The Moon is the Receiver.  As the Sun energizes her, she receives and moves through her angular relationship with him over the course of the month.  She delights in shape-shifting.  She delights in the repetitive ebb and flow from night to day,  from New to Full in predictable sequence.  She delights in being able to portray the Sun's invincible spirit through her silver light.  We see this dance every month, beginning at the New Moon, timed for the Moon's alignment with the Sun.  July's  New Moon occurs  on July 12 at 10:48 PM EDT, at 20 + Cancer, and is  a Solar Eclipse.  The Cancerian energies are high--family, home, emotions.  This event begins the summer's eclipse season (below).  The North Node is currently at 5 + Leo, moving Retrograde. 

 Mercury has 3-4 Retrograde (Rx) cycles every year, each lasting approximately 3 weeks, and each offering a period of reflection, recalibration, revision, and resolution, as Mercury and the Sun exchange the message of a particular degree of the Zodiac.   Mercury, the trickster, is Direct and moving through quickly through the sign of Gemini, one of its comfort zones.  Just before the  July Lunar Eclipse,  Mercury moves into its second Rx cycle July 26-August 18 at 23 + Leo. (Read my article on Mercury's cycles  in the July-August issue of Dell Horoscope for more detail.) 

The Venus cycle is complex and mysterious, beginning while Retrograde as an Evening Star, moving through conjunctions with the Sun, and shifting from Evening Star to Morning Star, and back.  When a brilliant Evening Star--calm, mature, settled, and knowing her brilliance is best seen outside the clutch of the Sun--she begins her new cycle. The current Venus cycle began  on March 5, 2017 at 13+ Aries, and runs through October 5, 2018.  This start degree is one to watch for the entire cycle, when contacted by other planets.  Transiting Venus is currently a Direct Morning Star, and has passed this sensitive degree.   On January 9, 2018, she made  the Superior Conjunction with the Sun at 18 + Capricorn (and joined with Pluto),   and  disappeared for 2 months. On March 1, she reemerged as an Evening Star.  She will  shine brilliantly for 7 months, before turning Rx again on October 5 at 10 + Scorpio.  She is now in the sign of Virgo, her fall, eager to critique any flaw that unbalances her aesthetic. Sending her regrets, she causes some disharmony in the process. 

Mars  has moved into the sign of Aquarius, looking for ways to fight for the freedoms needed for everyman/woman.  Perigrine here, Mars will look to Saturn  restrictions to  determine the focus for his effort.   The volatility of Mars is evident through change in direction, hard aspect to Uranus, and out of bounds state. Mars turned  Retrograde on June 26th at 9 + Aquarius and will move back to 28+ Capricorn before turning Direct again on August 28.  While Retrograde he will blast out of bounds (July 9) to gather ammunition he needs for essential structure.  Retrograde, he will square Uranus (end of July-early August), travel the furthest out August 15-17.  When Direct on August 28 at 28 Capricorn, he will move again into square with Uranus on Sept. 16, and will remain out of bounds until September 23.  This is quick, unpredictable, and forceful stubborn action.  Watch out--he is on a mission! 

Jupiter has turned Direct at 13 + Scorpio.  Still deeply inward,  Jupiter is perigrine here, and will work through Mars.  Question the benevolence factor.  Use the energies to do the inner work;  get the structures in place that you need to do the exploring--Jupiter wants nothing less than an adventure!

Saturn is at home now, in the earthy, grounded  sign of Capricorn.   Remaining Retrograde until September 6,  Saturn reveals that  practicalities are necessary,  and structures must  be built.  Saturn is reviewing the early degrees of Capricorn.  It is slow and steady.  Saturn, working with methods of time and karma,  takes all prisoners if need be, and rewards authentic effort.   Look to the house he is traveling through for insight into where the structures will be needed.