The Astrology of July 2021: the paradox of freedom

Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does.

Jean-Paul Sartre

This quote by Sartre really sums up the energy of the Saturn Uranus square, which is triggered this month by both Venus and Mars. The t-square formed, first by one and then the other personal planet, will bring this tension between freedom and responsibility into our daily lives.

The Astrology of July 2021 reminds us that every choice we make in life has a consequence. This interplay of freedom and limitation is the theme of the long running Saturn Uranus square, which will be triggered this month by both Venus and Mars.

Leonardo Da Vinci is believed to have said, ‘Art lives from constraints and dies from freedom’ and I think the same could be said of life. We all crave freedom, and it is held up as something to strive for, both personally and socially. But when faced with the reality of abundant choice that freedom offers, most of us are paralysed by indecision.

We need a healthy balance of both limitation and freedom in our lives in order to be happy and at peace. Problems arise when we have too much limitation or too much freedom. If this is the case in your life, this month you’ll have an opportunity to redress the balance.

As well as the t-square between Saturn, Uranus and Venus/Mars, July also features a second t-square, between Venus, Lilith and Jupiter. This one might stir up anger and resentments in relationships, making us prone to over the top reactions and anger. Be careful between 18 and 26 July! Listen closely to your emotions (body awareness can be helpful here) and try to communicate how you are feeling and what you need right then and there, instead of allowing things to fester.

So on to the Astrology of July 2021…

The month begins with an opposition between Mars and Saturn on the 1 July. This is a frustrated energy which makes us prone to feelings of claustrophobia. We may feel that we cannot do what we want to do due to commitments and responsibilities and, because this is an opposition, we may tend to blame someone else for this sense of constraint.

On 4 July, while still well within orb of its opposition to Saturn, Mars squares Uranus, creating our first t-square of the month. Though not exact this t-square dynamic between Saturn, Mars and Uranus really personalises and activates any inner conflict that you may have been experiencing between a need to fulfill your obligations and the desire to break away and be free. Mars can make us rash and combined with Uranus some people will make some snap decisions during this time that they later regret.

Those with natal planets or points between 10 and 20 degrees of the Fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius) will be most impacted by this energy.

With Mars in the archetype of Leo we may come across as arrogant, aggressive or selfish in voicing our demands, so be careful how you communicate. Mercury being in its rulership of Gemini will help you to keep a cool head and speak with clarity and logic, however the Moon is in Aires during the days prior to this transit so you may experience some heated emotions.

Remember that, as Austrian Philosopher Karl Raymond Popper writes, “The so-called paradox of freedom is the argument that freedom in the sense of absence of any constraining control must lead to very great restraint, since it makes the bully free to enslave the meek.” Do not be that bully! By opting out of your responsibilities you may place the burden on someone else.

On the other hand, the Saturn Uranus square is all about working out which limitations are real and must be accepted, versus those that are self or socially imposed. When we have taken on responsibilities that are not ours, or have accepted rules that are unjust or undermine our own well-being, the Uranian urge to throw off those chains and subvert the status quo must be honoured if we are to grow and evolve both personally and socially.

Fortunately on 5 July the Sun moves into sextile with Uranus empowering our ability to manifest personal and social change in a healthy way. It won’t completely take the pressure off but it will give some clarity. The tension between Mars, Saturn and Uranus will be ongoing until around 10 July.

On 6 July Mercury squares Neptune which typically brings mental confusion, and tendencies toward self-deception and delusion. You are more prone to gullibility so take everything with a grain of salt. In the context of the ongoing t-square between Mars, Saturn and Uranus, be careful of any voice, either internally or externally, that gives you the impression that you are right and others are wrong. There is always two sides to a story.

On 7 July Venus, moving slightly faster than Mars, catches up and joins our warrior in its opposition to Saturn. In fact, Mars is just out of orb of Saturn, but the ongoing connection to Uranus keeps them all locked in a tight dynamic. The addition of Venus to the mix brings relationships into focus, which is unsurprising as we grapple with balancing the need for space and freedom with our responsibilities.

Venus in Leo is not prone to taking directions from others or submitting to anyone else’s will, so you may find that issues of leadership, responsibility and personal freedom crop up in relationship dynamics. Discussion may be fiery and outright conflict highly likely. Stay in touch with your love for each other to avoid saying and doing things you may later regret.

Fortunately Venus is also trine Chiron during this time which suggests that this tension and conflict may be ultimately healing for your relationships. It may be painful but in the aftermath things may be clearer and problems that have been simmering beneath the surface may be brought up for resolution. Focus on solutions and work out ways that each person’s needs can be met without the other having to pay for it.

On 8 July Venus squares Uranus and the focus shifts from feeling burdened by responsibility and relationship commitments, to an urgent desire for space and freedom. This is when there is a real danger of a person breaking their commitment to someone they care about and running away to play with someone else who seems more fun and edgy. Remember that any relationship formed under so brief a transit is unlikely to last long.

On 10 July, just as the tense energy of the t-square finally releases, the New Moon rises at 18 degrees Cancer. This is a new and nurturing beginning and if wounds have been inflicted, either on yourself or on someone you love, take time to repair and nurture. Remember that it is not the conflict that destroys a relationship but the forgetting to apologise, forgetting to take the time to mend the damage that’s been done. This is true of relationships with both adults and children.

On 11 July Mercury enters Cancer and our thoughts and communication become more nurturing, more emotional, less rational. This is soothing for ourselves and others, especially as Mercury trines Jupiter on 12 July bringing an openness to possibility and potential, and a greater awareness of other perspectives.

On 13 July Venus conjoins Mars bringing our masculine and feminine energies into alignment, this time in the sign of Leo. Our inner leader will be very prominent and there will be a desire to be seen and acknowledged.

On 15 July Chiron turns retrograde ushering in an extended period of inner healing for those who are attuned to this energy. Chiron is currently in Aries so the focus is on repairing our ability to be assertive and to put ourselves first. This may sound selfish but we cannot care for another when our own needs are not met.

On 15 July the Sun trines Neptune. This is a great day for manifestation as our magic is in harmonious alignment with the greater whole. Our self is attuned to spirit. A good practice is to channel the spirit through drawing, collage, dance, writing or any other creative pursuit, asking yourself/god/the universe ‘What do I need right now?’ Once you have an answer to that question you can go about manifesting it in your life.

On 17 July the Sun opposes Pluto. This is likely to manifest as an encounter with someone who’s will opposes your own. There are two traps one can fall into. Firstly, getting into a power struggle with the other person, and secondly allowing them to dominate or control you. Instead, acknowledge the other person with love and then step away from the encounter. Later you may find interaction is much easier.

On 20 July Mercury sextiles Uranus. As Uranus is said to be the higher octave of Mercury, this is a great aspect for visionary communication and thinking. If you are a writer be sure to block off these few days and get to your desk so that you can record the insights that arise.

On 22 July the Sun enters Leo, the sign of its rulership. Those with Sun in Leo natally will feel particularly empowered and creative.

On the same day Venus enters Virgo, a placement that is conducive to mutual service and exchange between people. This is a very different energy to that which began the month where we were struggling to get our own needs met. Venus in Virgo’s love language is acts of service and if you’re both tuned into the vibe you can feel very nurtured by this energy.

On the other hand, beware of playing the servant to someone who doesn’t appreciate you or reciprocate. If this is you then our second t-square of the month, this time between Venus, Lilith and Jupiter on 22 July, will certainly put things straight. Be very careful though. Lilith can be harsh and Jupiter amplifies and exaggerates so even if you feel vindicated in your anger remember that most of the time people don’t mean to be inconsiderate. It’s just human nature.

On the other hand, if you’ve been putting up with abusive behaviour, whether physical, verbal or emotional, this t-square may be just what you need to break out of an unhealthy dynamic. A sextile from the Sun to Lilith on 23 July will be particularly empowering in this regard.

Those with planets of points between 0 and 5 degrees of the Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces) will feel the Venus-Lilith-Jupiter t-square most strongly.

With the t-square still very much in affect, on 24 July the Full Moon rises at 1 degree Aquarius. This places the Moon in trine aspect to Lilith which will be very helpful. Aquarius is very solution orientated and open to alternative and unconventional ways of doing things. This full moon may show you that another way is possible, allow you to look outside the square.

This is especially the case as Mercury trines Neptune on the same day, opening our minds to spiritual guidance and brining empathy and compassion into our communication with others.

However the very next day Mercury opposes Pluto, suggesting stalemates in discussions. If need be, take time out and continue your negotiations at a later date, perhaps on 28 July when Mercury sextiles Lilith, bringing the rational mind to bear on Lilith’s more intuitive and primal emotion.

Also on 28 July, retrograde Jupiter heads back into Aquarius after a brief ingress into Pisces. The very next day Mars enters Virgo, opposing Jupiter. Mars and Jupiter in opposition can be volatile and there is a tendency towards mania and over-exertion. Remember that if you expend physical energy you do not have, you will need to pay for it later.

Finally, on 28 July Mercury enters Leo. This is a placement that brings confidence in communication and thought. Just be careful that you don’t embrace intellectual arrogance, thinking that you are always right and others wrong. There are many perspectives on truth.

The Astrology of July 2021 brings potential for great personal growth, especially as Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Pluto are all retrograde this month. On the other hand, if you are unwilling to change or unable to self-reflect you may find this a difficult month.

For a little insight into the opportunities represented by retrograde periods check out these articles on Saturn retrograde and Pluto retrograde

That’s all for the Astrology of July 2021. See you next month :)

X Faith

PS: I love hearing how you’re experiencing the transits. Share your thoughts on the Astrology of July 2021 in the comments below.

To get started applying this forecast to your own life, grab a free birth chart at astro.com and download my free ebook The Language of Astrology.