Month of July
The most interesting celestial event of the first week of July is the New Moon in the nakshatra Ardra that occurs on the 4th. A new moon sets the pace for the next 28 days and carries the energy of the Sun into fruition. In July the New Moon in Ardra is a rough combination, Ardra being a powerful nakshatra that often manifests its energy in negative and destructive ways, being ruled by the malefic planet Rahu (the planet of transformation and change). Rahu forces us to face the consequences of previous decisions (indicated by Ketu), so expect to deal with past issues that you have suppressed or tried to ignore. The best way to use this energy is for personal growth and transformation. Latent health issues, unexpressed emotions, hidden scandals, and lies are all brought to the surface and dealt with directly. Ardra is an in-your-face, blunt nakshatra that looks right at something and breaks it apart.
Gemini is packed during the first week of July. By the fourth of July it has the Moon, Sun, Venus and Mercury all taking up residence in it. Venus is certainly uncomfortable, being surrounded by planets that are unfriendly towards it. This can lead to some health issues, especially those involving sexual hygiene, depending on how Venus acts in the natal chart. It can also lead to car problems and love-life dramas. Mercury is strong and benefits from having friends around it, which is good for financial deals, marketing, commerce, etc.
Ketu and Rahu continue their sarpa yoga on Leo, Aquarius and Scorpio, which can lead to a feeling of restriction and frustration for people rule by those constellations. The month begins with Ketu in Purva Bhadra, the tantric image of Shiva as the destroyer, which is also the image used in black magic by some malicious sects of hindu magicians. Aja Ekapada is a deity associated with lightning and the powers of nature. Its energies should be taken advantage of for personal transformation, along with the energies of Ardra that the New Moon is bringing in, to look deep into yourself and face uncomfortable truths or realities that you have avoided until now. Do some spring cleaning in your heart and deal with some skeletons. This could be as simple as doing some reflection and meditation, or it could involve going to see a therapist or getting some professional help with more serious issue. This will prepare the way for Ketu’s entry into Satabhishaka on the 15th of July. Satabhishika means “hundred healers” and as the name suggests deals with medicines, treatment, and recovery for the underlying issues that the previous month has brought to the surface. It is a much more active nakshatra and requires that you make a definite effort to heal any rifts or wounds that Ketu may have opened during its travel in the previous nakshatra. It is actually a blessing that Ketyu moves into Satabhishika during this Ardra month, since it gives us the capacity to heal the underlying issues that Ardra will bring to the surface.
Mars moves back into its former residence of Scorpio on July 12th, having finished its retrograde travels back through Libra. This unfortunately does strengthen the Sarpa Yoga again, but as the previous month with its large-scale mass-shootings and extremist attacks has shown, the retrograde of Mars into Libra actually made the sarpa yoga worse. Hopefully the ingress of Mars back into Scorpio will help stabilize the energies in the sky a bit, since it will be in its own sign and auspicious in its own house.
On July 16th the Sun moves into Cancer, which hopefully will give us a quite month on the world stage until it enters into Leo in the middle of August. Cancer is a sign of regrowth, rejuvenation and learning, and its cold, watery nature should help “cool down” the malefic heat in the sky that sarpa yogas generate. On July 19th the Sun enters into Pushya, an auspicious sign for new endeavors, educational pursuits, visiting spiritual teachers, and doing meditation. It would be nice to see this manifest on the world-stage as some strong leaders coming together and working on resolutions and peace-deals with troubled areas in the world. Pushya is associated with Bhrigu, the Guru of the Gods.
Ascendant Analysis
Aries
A great example of the healing powers associated with the New Moon in Ardra. The ascendant lord Mars will move into the 8th house, its own sign and the house of health/sickness. Since it is strong in the 8th house, instead of starting new sicknesses the ascendant lord will work to resolve old or latent health issues that you have not been able to take care of. The psychological affect of this transit will be harder than the physical, and can lead of isolation, loneliness or feeling disconnected from the people and places around you. Ketu is still in the 11th house causing financial stress, but this should relieve itself a little when Ketu moves into the more auspicious lunar mansion of Satabhishika on the 15th, so hold off on any new financial decisions until then. You are going to have a packed 8th house on the 15th and 16th, so take it easy those days just for safety’s sake. Don’t do any long trips and avoid any potentially dangerous activities. Also if you have a friend or loved one who is sick, do your best to be mindful and stay germ free, since you will be more susceptible to illnesses or viruses during this time. On the 16th the Sun moves into your fourth house of happiness and home, and this should do pretty well due to the raja yoga of lord of 5th in 4th house, giving strength to the fourth house. This is a good period for spending time with family, relaxing, avoiding stress, and working on the house.
Taurus
Still a little rough. The retrograde of Mars gave some reprieve from the sarpa yoga, and so the last 2 weeks or so have been pleasant. On the 12th of July, Mars will move back into the 7th house and agitate the sarpa yoga that effects the 1st house (health), 7th house (relationships), 4th house (happiness) and 10th house (work/career), effecting these areas of life detrimentally. Mars in the 7th isn’t good for health or relationships, but it can be used positively as motivation and drive in your professional life. The 7th house deals with partners and life goals, and Mars strong in the 7th can help give you motivation and encouragement in these areas due to increased energy and drive. The first 2 weeks of the Month look good while Venus is a little uncomfortable in the 2nd, but its presence there is good nontheless for Taurus ascendants due to its strengthening affect on the ascendant. Rahu and Jupiter in the 4th can lead to changes in residence and/or troubles at home. It can also cause obstacles between yourself and your spiritual teacher. Offerings to Ganesha will alleviate obstacles caused by Mars in relationships and health.
Gemini
A loaded ascendant marks the first week of July. Lots of energy for changes and building a new life for yourself. This is an auspicious time for new endeavors, looking for new jobs or reaching for a new promotion. Venus in the ascendant will make you want to move to a new place as part of starting a new life, but it can also cause car problems and debts associated with vehicles. Ketu in the 9th, where it has been for some time, can continue to obscure your thoughts regarding personal beliefs and philosophy, and can also obscure the spiritual teacher. Be glad that you are one of the few ascendants not being overwhelmingly affected by the sarpa yoga in the sky and take advantage of this by moving forward and keeping your sight on the future.
Cancer
Cancer starts the month in a slight papakartari yoga, meaning its wedged between two malefic planets, in this case the Sun and Rahu. This can cause health issues associated with heat, which may be timed and activated by the transit of Moon over the ascendant on the 5th and 6th. Rahu’s placement in the 2nd can estrange family members and Ketu’s presence in the 8th can cause health concerns, but also has esoteric undertones related to initiation and sacred knowledge. Ketu will be in the 8th house for quite a long time, so it will bring out some dormant health concerns that need to be addressed. On the 17th the Sun enters into Cancer to join Venus and Mercury for a full house. The Sun could bring some family issues to a head, while Venus should give some financial relief. Mercury’s presence in the ascendant as lord of the 12th may encourage you to move to a new place, but will also cause some expenditures related to legal, consultation, or trade situations.
Leo
Rahu and Jupiter continue to occupy the ascendant, making Leo one of the more afflicted constellations of the Rahu/Ketu/Saturn Sarpa yoga. This should have had some reprieve from the retrograde of Mars into Libra, but as Mars returns to scorpio the sarpa yoga becomes strengthened again. Offerings of black sesame and silver to Ganesha can help alleviate the difficulties caused by Rahu and Ketu, and should be done every Tuesday and Saturday if possible, with the altar to Ganesha established in the SW side of the house. Similar deities for this energy are Michael the Archangel (in which case the Pope Leo prayer for St. Michael is encouraged), or Apollo the Slayer of Typhon. Taking care of dogs is also auspicious for alleviating Rahu, as is wearing silver on your body. Venus and Mercury in the 12th are bad for any kind of financial trading, stock market work, or salesman work. Jupiter in the ascendant has the power to overcome much of the malefic effects of the planets, and this is best done by keeping the company of spiritual associates, elders, and religious figures, or by spending time and/or making donations to charities and religious establishments such as temples or churches. Ketu in the 7th is best taken advantage of by staying single, practicing self control and using that energy for new things. Rahu in the ascendant will gradually continue to change your life situation, preparing you for the next phase of your life.
Virgo
Rahu in the 12th house alongside Jupiter continues to cause issues with loans, taxes or fees paid to the government. It can also bring new karmas into your life that encourage you to move to a new place, usually quite far from where now live. This combination has been in the sky for some time and will continue to be there for the months ahead. The ascendant lord Mercury auspiciously occupies its own house of career and work, which is a good time for promotions or looking for new jobs, especially those signified by Mercury (trade, consultation, therapy, accounting, etc). The retrograde of Mars into the 2nd house last month likely led to family troubles or financial strain, and this should straighten back out as Mars re-enters into its own sign of Scorpio. Ketu in the 6th. By the middle of the month your 11th house of finances will be packed with planets, which could open up opportunities for multiple sources of income or at least bring some unexpected income your way for the month.
Libra
The month starts with a strong 9th house that should bring some good luck your way, giving strength to one’s spiritual pursuit and self-study, as well as some extra financial gain. This will be a reprieve from the long-lasting Rahu/Jupiter combo in the 11th house that has been causing a general financial strain for some time, and will continue to do so in the months ahead. Saturn in the 2nd house causes issues with digestion and assimilation of food into the body. By the middle of the month the 10th house will have the Sun, Mercury and Venus in it, which should open up some new possibilities for jobs should you seek them out. Mars will leave Libra and move back to Scorpio on July 12th, which will give relief from the aggravated health issues it likely caused over the last few weeks of its retrograde through Libra. As it moves back into the 2nd house, the second house of family and finances will become stronger and some improvement should be seen in this area, despite the sarpa yoga affliction on the 2nd house. Offerings to Shani the deity of Saturn will help remedy the affliction of the planets on the 2nd house, offering blue flowers and cloths, and chanting the Shani Graha Mantra “Om Pram Prim Proum Saha Shanischaraya Namahh” 2,000 times on Saturdays. Offerings can be made to the yantra of Saturn.
Scorpio
One of the more interesting ascendants to have right now, Scorpio is on the Saturn-side of the sarapa yoga being caused by Rahu, Ketu, Saturn, and by July 12th also Mars. The retrograde of Mars out of Scorpio last month would have aggravated the sarpa yoga and led to a difficult month, which continues until Mars enters back into Scorpio on the 12th. The ascendant lord’s presence will alleviate the sarpa yoga and give energy for new endeavors. The month starts out with a strong 8th house, Mercury’s presence generally being good in the 8th and leading to spiritual study and disciplines, but also giving new knowledge about things pertaining to sickness and death (such as medical knowledge). Venus in the 8th can cause car issues or sexual health complications while the Sun can lead to fatigue when it transits the 8th. By the middle of the month these three planets will move into Cancer in the 9th house, bringing some relaxation into your life. Venus isn’t the happiest to be in Cancer, but the Sun and Mercury do alright there, so it is a good time for study and rejuvenation but not a great time for a road trip due to possibility of car issues.
Sagittarius
Ketu and Rahu lie on the 3rd/9th axis, houses of growth, development and maturity. The 3rd house rules skills and traits that are developed intentionally, and Ketu indicates meditation in spiritually inclined people, while in more mundane charts it depicts very precise mechanical skills. Since the 3rd house also oversees siblings and friends, it can cause a fallout with those near and dear to you, or one such person could be undergoing suffering. Rahu and Jupiter in the 9th house can cause zealotry if not careful, but otherwise it is a fine opportunity to cultivate your relationship to a spiritual guide or to a new way of life. Rahu is an iconoclast, and breaks down old views of the world to exchange them for new, mature views. Jupiter guides it in this process and leads these changes towards a better way of life with purpose and meaning. Saturn in the 12th, its home for the last year, will likely continue to cause financial problems, foreign residence, or issues with family. It could also lead to sexual health issues or digestive/colon problems. The transit of Mars into the 12th should alleviate this for a while, and is a good time for any medical procedures or treatments to be done.
Capricorn
The retrograde motion of Saturn is likely also making your finances go retrograde! But luckily when this retrograde motion ends on August 14th, finances will improve substantially owing to the wealth-combination of the lord of the 2nd in the 11th, as well as the auspicious aspect of Jupiter on your ascendant. Family should also benefit, and health issues brought about in the last months by Rahu in the 8th should also relax. Venus, Mercury and Rahu all in the 8th house next month provides an excellent opportunity to educate yourself about health and diet, which in turn will help you mitigate the malefic affects of Rahu in the coming months (so take advantage of this combination!).
Aquarius
Since Saturn went retrograde it has likely made you feel as though your career has been slipping backwards, especially once Mars went back into Libra last month. Now as Mars begins to move back into Scorpio the malefic side of Saturn will relax some and the 10th house of career and destiny strengthens, Mars bringing some much needed passion and purpose back into your life. Next month on August 14th Saturn ends its retrograde motion, which will bring better results in your professional life as well as health. Rahu and Jupiter in the 7th will likely continue to change your relationship situation (living apart, living together, separating, getting back together), and there may not be a sense of emotional stability in your relationship for some time still to come. An important note in this regard is that Ketu in the ascendant also aspects the house of relationships, indicating that your own afflicted views of yourself as a person are playing a definite role in any relationship problems, and this needs to be addressed through reflection or even getting some therapy or counseling.
Pisces
An interesting ascendant during these months! The 12/6 Ketu/Rahu can either be incredibly spiritual and liberating, or incredible malefic and destructive. Generally though the astrological principle of malefics in malefic houses holds true, as Ketu in the 12th liberates you from destructive views and opinions while Rahu in the 6th liberates you from your enemies. But Rahu will also make you work alot! The 6th house is the house of service, and Rahu alongside Jupiter ensures there is plenty of service to be done, Jupiter especially signifying service for a high-ranking person or someone of spiritual attainment. The entry of Mars back into the 9th house this month is a much welcomed blessing, strengthening your health and finances, but also giving creative energy for new projects or finishing old ones. Venus and Mercury accompany this from the 5th house, lending their own energies towards creativity, procreation and education.
