Astrology of July 2020: BLM, change and renewal

The astrology of July 2020 is certainly not calm and sedate. Shit is being stirred up and many things are never going to be the same again. But we must remember that change is fundamental to our survival and it pushes us to adapt and to evolve, as well as to advocate for our rights. Those that thrive are those who make the most of the opportunities change creates.

It’s hard to deny that 2020 has been unusually hard and astrologically it’s easy to see why. Our three amigos in Capricorn (Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto) are presiding over the breakdown of the status quo and the outcome ain’t all pretty. Fortunately Jupiter and Saturn move into Aquarius at the end of the year and we can then look at rebuilding with a newly progressive and egalitarian outlook.

The archetype of Aquarius views humanity as a brotherhood and as Saturn expresses itself through this sign we could see some bigger changes in the structure of society during this transit. All depends how humanity responds to this challenge and whether we are able to put aside our differences and work together as one. This will require massive redistribution of wealth and of course many will oppose this.

To see more on Saturn’s move into the sign of the revolutionary, check out my article Saturn in Aquarius: activists and visionaries get organised.

Black Lives Matter, COVID and Afrofuturism

Another interesting area for analysis when discussing the astrology of July 2020 is the Black Lives Matter movement. Spurred on by anger at the brutal death of George Floyd, and of similar killings all over the world, but also under immense pressure from the impacts of COVID, (including family loss, financial stress and unemployment), black people are rising up.

Being in Australia I am not so familiar with the racial politics of the US but we do have our own racial issues here. Indigenous people make up just over 3% of the population. Of this small proportion of the population, 437 indigenous deaths occurred in police custody between 1991 and 2020.

This kind of systemic racism is hard to shift, so I was uplifted when I came across the term Afrofuturism on the podcast This American Life. Afrofuturism. Sounds like a fonzy new art movement right? Well it’s not.

In fact “the term Afrofuturism, coined in 1993, seeks to reclaim black identity through art, culture, and political resistance.” It is about black people, and by extent you could say all oppressed people, reshaping their fate and their future through their own creativity, in response to, and without denying the pressures of, their past and current situation.

We see can this happening around us as our culture responds to the massive social and economic changes brought about by COVID-19. These changes most impact those in poor and over-crowded conditions, black Americans, migrants (especially illegal migrants), indigenous people, refugees and those in under-developed nations. Under increasing pressure these people are now demanding change and this will of course create push back from those with a vested interest in the status quo.

So, back to the astrology of July 2020…

We begin the month as Jupiter makes its second alignment with Pluto, number two in a series of three conjunctions between these two astrological heavy weights this year. But don’t let that send you straight to bed with a hot water bottle. July is also a month where we will encounter new ideas, opportunities and possibilities to replace the things that we have had to let go.

On 1 July (today) the Sun conjoins Mercury at 9 Degrees Cancer and sextiles Uranus at 9 degrees Taurus. This creates a generally sunny intellectual outlook and a tendency to see the future in a positive, creative light, practically looking for solutions rather than taking a fatalistic view. This is helpful as we prepare for the Lunar Eclipse in Capricorn on July 5.

Full Moon in Capricorn

So what’s the juice on that? Well, on the 4 or 5 July, depending on where in the world you are, the Full Moon will rise at 13 degrees Capricorn. This Full Moon makes a wide square with Black Moon Lilith at 17 degrees Aires, and the Moon clashing with Lilith is not a pretty sight. But it can set things straight in a way that a passive or more compassionate style of feminity sometimes simply cannot!

Remember that the Moon is squaring Lilith every month so this in itself is not a remarkable transit, but the spark of the Eclipse may well ignite the fuse and bring down Lilith’s full fury down on our heads.

You will feel this eclipse if you have planets or points between 10 and 20 degrees of the Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Cap). Between 13 and 17 degrees is the real hot point so stay alert if this is you! I have Venus at 16 degrees Capricorn so I’ll be taking steps to nourish my relationship during the days ahead, so it’s in good shape to withstand an emotional outburst, should there be one :)

If you don’t yet have your own natal chart, and so cannot see if you have planets in the mid degrees of Capricorn or not, you can download you natal chart for free at astro.com and get started reading your own natal chart with my free book The Language of Astrology.

After a brief reprieve, Mercury squares Mars on 8 July, causing some mental conflict and cognitive dissonance over a few days, especially if you have planets or points in the early degrees of Aires or Cancer. Your mind is on your nurturing responsibilities but your physical energy is high and you have a strong urge to get out there. The two energies don’t match.

Through the 10 to the 14 July, the Sun trines Neptune briefly, inspiring creativity. Be sure to take some time out to delve deep into your spirit through playful creativity before the Sun opposes Jupiter and Pluto on 14 and 15 July respectively.

The Sun’s week-long opposition to Jupiter and Pluto is likely to create a sense of too-much-all-at-once and overwhelm. It may be challenging to balance the demands of work with the life of the home and its claim on us. We may feel torn between the two and under pressure.

New Moon in Cancer

Take care of yourself because as the New Moon rises in Cancer on 20 July, both the Sun and the Moon conjoin in an opposition to Saturn; the Sun and Moon at 28 degrees Cancer, Saturn directly opposite at 28 degrees Capricorn. After the busy week, this could create a strong emotional response to limitations and a feeling of claustrophobia or frustration. We do best to acknowledge the extent of our magical powers and surrender to it:

“…grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to accept the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.” Biblical

Those with planets or points in the last five degrees of the Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Cap) will feel this New Moon most strongly.

Fortunately, on 23 July, Mercury will sextile Uranus, which is a wonderful aspect, lending itself to progressive and visionary thinking. Think outside the square and your obstacles may disappear. After all, if you can’t go over it, and you can’t go under it, you might as well go through it! Right? Those with planets or points between 7 and 13 degrees of the Earth or Water signs will benefit most from this transit.

As Mercury will be orientated outward again by then (it turns direct on 12 July), we could see this transit influence international politics and policy making, with a shift a little towards the humanitarian. We can only hope…

On 24 July retrograde Jupiter backs into the sphere of Black Moon Lillith, and the two will form a square aspect on 27 July. This is sure to stir things up as Black Moon Lilith is our feminine rage and Jupiter is the amplifier of all things! We could see the BLM movement expand to encompass Female Lives Matter, or indeed the lives of all oppressed people matter?

We shall see…

On 27 July, our two benefic planets, Venus and Jupiter, both aspect Neptune. Venus is square to Neptune, while Jupiter forms a sextile to the planet of dissolving and boundlessness. For me this suggests the arising of inspired new opportunities, even while existing comforts, relationships and privileges seem to be dissolving around us. This transit is likely to affect people with natal planets or points between 17 and 23 degrees of the Water and Earth signs. Those with planets or points in the same degrees of the Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo and Pisces) may find it quite challenging.

Also on this day Mercury in Cancer squares Mars in Aries, so beware getting into arguments, especially over differing opinions or ways of communicating. Conflict between these two archetypes looks a bit like a mobster being told off with a broomstick by a hardened Italian mother so watch out! On the other hand, usually the mobster deserves the telling off, wouldn’t you say?

Fortunately a trine from Mercury in Cancer to Neptune in Pisces from 28 July to 2 August will help us stay connected to our compassion and empathy, especially as Mercury goes on to oppose Jupiter and Pluto over the following few days. Beware of obsessive or dogmatic thoughts and fears. Stay calm. This energy supports irrational mob mentality and fanaticism.

July ends with Jupiter well out of orb of Pluto but square Black Moon Lilith and already within orb of a square to Mars, a square that will affect much of August. In fact over the next few weeks we will see Mars and Lilith go on a bit of a rampage, creating conflict wherever they roams.

The outcome of this depends much on how we do that conflict:

• Will it be Creative Conflict, where, “Conflict is a life force filled with creative tension and energy… that we can learn to use to increase the health and learning potential of any pair or group of people and to open the door to new possibilities.”
• Or the type of conflict that seeks only to force the other into submission, to perpetuate the power of the few over the many.

Astrology cannot tell us how we will respond to these stimuli. Whether we rise to the occasion as a species and respond well to the many changes and challenges we are experiencing, or we turn on one another and destroy ourselves. Harsh reality huh? But as one now famous reddit astrologer once pointed out, ‘Pluto don’t give a fuck.’

If you found this Astrology of July 2020 forecast useful, and would like to receive them each month for free, sign up here. In the meantime be safe, fight fair and remember that change isn’t a bad thing.

With love to all,
X Faith

PS: If you’d like to better understand how the astrology of July 2020 affects you personally, download my free ebook the Language of Astrology and learn how to track the transits in your own natal chart.