July 2019 By Bob Mulligan (a personal note is at the end of the newsletter) On the 1st of July, Mars enters Leo, remaining until August 18th. Mars is energy. He was in his fall (weakest) in Cancer. Mars in Leo gives more oomph to all our projects. July has two Eclipses: a Solar Eclipse on the 2nd and a Lunar Eclipse on the 16th. Right after the New Moon Eclipse on the 2nd, we will have an opportunity to initiate important activities which are close to our hearts (Cancer). We will have time to review. Unneeded methods and attachments can be eliminated two weeks later on the Full Moon Eclipse. This theme reminds us to act in accordance with our conscience (Cancer and Sagittarius). Some of what we know to be right will cut against the grain of the current social direction (Saturn, Pluto, and the South Node of the Moon in Capricorn). Capricorn rules law, but also rules fear. We all need to be courageous to move beyond our limited inventory of our capabilities. Mercury turning Retrograde on the 7th (remaining until the 31st) adds to the reflective quality of this self appraisal. The New Moon on the 31st changes our focus to be more outwardly directed, and less pensive. Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto represent forces operating on us beyond our immediate control or influence. Their unusually powerful interactions for the last several months provide an “ironic foreshadowing” of one world passing away, while a new one is born. By Parallel of Declination they are in orb of each other for a long time. This month Saturn exactly Parallels Pluto on the 15th, and Jupiter Parallels Saturn on the 21st. Jupiter is Parallel Pluto on the 25th. This pattern ends when Jupiter completes his next Parallel to Pluto on September 6th. The die is cast and we all have the opportunity to take a stand on the Truth, regardless of the consequences. The New Moon is on July 2nd at 3:16 PM EDT at 10 degrees Cancer. As the Perfect Master, Upasani Maharaj, has said, this is the most important time to say our prayers, which I try to always do. New Moons are always a good time to initiate activities, but Eclipses are hundreds of time stronger than ordinary New Moons, which happen every month. Solar Eclipses occur about every six months when the Sun and Moon are Conjunct near either the North or South Node of the Moon. This one is Conjunct the North Node which is particularly auspicious. Mars (god of assertion) has just crossed into Leo, is Conjunct Mercury (communication), Square Uranus (lord of change), and Sesquiquadrate Jupiter (god of optimism). It is very likely that we will all be more assertive, more attached to our point of view and yes, more argumentative. So, what to do? Meher Baba’s sister, Mani, used to say, “What you do isn’t important, how you do it is.” The dynamic tension between Cancer (home and family) and Capricorn (worldly obligation) will intensify over the next two weeks. Overcoming fear, hatred, and self-righteousness aligns us correctly. Our newfound energy has great long term affect if we stay calm and are most particular with time allocation. The Full Moon is on July 16th at 5:38 PM EDT at 24 degrees of Cancer/Capricorn. With Venus Opposite Saturn and the Moon with Saturn, South Node, and Pluto Opposite the Sun, there seems to be massive incentive to wimp out. Mercury (mental life) has been Retrograde for a week. He is Sesquiquadrate both Jupiter (king of the gods) and Neptune (lord of culture). This is an entry into a much expanded perspective on life. Now is the time to let go of all the phony bindings. Not by running away from what must be done, but to take care of what is necessary, while always remaining focused on what is important. The Sun, North Node, and Venus Trine Neptune can keep us heart focused. Sun enters Leo on July 22nd at 10:51 PM EDT. This chart describes events for the time the Sun is in Leo. Fire is enthusiasm, the extraverted emotion. With four planets in Fire and no planets in Air (reasoning and discussion), this will be a very assertive month. We may all be a little “quick on the trigger”. The Sun is Sesquiquadrate Jupiter, Mars is Trine both Jupiter and the Aries Moon. Our propensity will be to act, then ask questions later. The New Moon is at 80 Leo on the 31st at 11:12 PM EDT. This New Moon is closely Square Uranus, ushering in periodic disruption to our plans and projections. With Mercury Opposite Pluto, we may feel defeated before we start; this doesn’t help. Taking one step at a time is the best strategy. Mars is Trine a Retrograde Jupiter, so some self assurance is there, but things unfold slower than we would like or expect. Overcoming worry can seem like a herculean task, but it is worth the effort and frees up vast amounts of psychic energy. From the 1st to the 7th we make a big push to get everything done in a hurry. This is a special week for boys and girls getting together and sharing some romantic sparks. It is as if everything happens in a flash. Not that events now are trivial; if we put our attention on things that will really stand the test of time, we win. From the 8th to the 14th complications from our recent actions create barriers and slow us down. These are protective guidelines, not obstacles, if we devote time and energy to our responsibilities. Regardless of what must be done in our personal lives, the weight of history is catching up with circumstances in our external world. From the 15th to the 21st we need to be cautious in all our activities, but still need to burst the artificial bubble that creates fear. This is a passionate and dramatic moment; the artistic side of our nature can flourish. The more emotional energy we pour into a project, the more passionate we become. From the 22nd to the 31st belief in ourselves and in the inherent goodness of life can lift us into a new dimension of experience. We do not need to be competitive in order to find our potential. This is a moment for finding the value of things, even while events are whirling around us. 1st – Monday – Mars enters Leo – Events bring up memories from our past. Reflections on our personal history can leave us with a feeling of incompleteness. Progress is made by releasing the pain connected to yesterday. 2nd – Tuesday – The New Moon Solar Eclipse is at 3:17 PM EDT on the 10th degree of Cancer – Security is found in the familiar, but new options encourage us to move beyond the normal. We can, and should, move a bit beyond our comfort zone. At the same time, our mind projects forward faster than circumstances permit us to act. When we view life from a more comprehensive outlook, we can choose the correct path from the many competing alternatives. 3rd – Wednesday – Mercury Sesquiquadrate Neptune, Venus enters Cancer – Our emotional impulses pull us in two distinct directions. We are haunted by the mystery of things beyond our vision; at the same time we long for a rest in comfortable surroundings. The adventure continues as the world around us is stepping up the pace of change; again. 4th – Thursday – Mars Sesquiquadrate Jupiter – The surge of energy that we felt two days ago (on the Eclipse) is starting to take hold. With renewed enthusiasm we can master all of the various tasks at hand. Anything that can be completed quickly is especially favored. 5th – Friday – Venus Semi-sextile Mars – Adjustments can be made with our partners if we take quiet and unassuming steps. We progress in our personal lives by following our heart. Just being ourselves and allowing the same for others can work magic. 6th – Saturday – Innovative thinking, translated into actions, takes material root. Coaxing others through firm but controlled conversation brings a modicum of harmony. Relaxing activities allow us time to reflect. 7th – Sunday – Mercury Semi-sextile Venus, Mars Sesquiquadrate Neptune, Mercury turns Retrograde – Passions are strong, but certain things that enter our minds require others to cooperate. If we have made a mistake, now is the time to correct it. Admitting to others that we may need to change course, methods, or attitude can clear the air, making new engagements possible. 8th – Monday – Venus Sextile Uranus, Sun Quincunx Jupiter, Mercury Conjunct Mars – We can accomplish much quickly if we focus on one thing, and don’t try to do too much. It is a true gift when we know when we have had enough, and acknowledge the limits of our time, energy, and information. Our opinions may be strong, but so are other people’s. Listening to what others think may provide a short cut to satisfaction. 9th – Tuesday – Sun Opposite Saturn – Relinquishing a quest for expansion allows us to reevaluate what we have; we need to acknowledge what has already been accomplished. Getting cooperation for our cherished goals may be elusive. This doesn’t mean that we, or anyone else, is wrong. Sometimes harmony comes through personal sacrifice. As long as we hold true to our higher perception of the truth, we are on the right track. We may be alone, but this is ok. 10th – Wednesday – Sun Contra-parallel Jupiter, Sun Trine Neptune – When our own heart is clean, we can see a higher way through the next stage of the journey. Taking time to savor our surroundings, and indulging our needs for comfort and security, brings much desired peace of mind. 11th – Thursday – Mars Square Uranus, Sun Contra-parallel Pluto, Sun Contra-parallel Saturn – Circumstances in our personal lives haven’t actually changed as much as we might have imagined at first glance. When anger or impatience prompts our actions, we create difficulties. Moving forward is important, but the cosmos indicates we get real traction when we move slow. 12th – Friday – Mercury Sesquiquadrate Neptune – We learn a lot through allegory and fantasy. Poetic inspiration is grist for life lessons. First, we have to distill what we gather by way of our imagination, then translate it into something useful. 13th – Saturday – Our horizons expand and we can see further down the path. A vision of a better way of being is good, but will take time and attention to germinate. Encouraging others can have a curative affect in our own lives. 14th – Sunday – Sun Opposite Pluto – Before we can move forward with our quest for improvement, we need to know the facts. Pushing others or blaming circumstances for our fate doesn’t help much. When we feel criticized, manipulated, or suppressed; we can benefit when we see the larger virtue of the opposition. Some objective we cherish may be better accomplished by others. There is much unrecognized good that can emerge through current circumstances. 15th – Monday – Saturn Parallel Pluto – World conditions take a predictable turn and will have an immediate effect on our lives, but not necessarily our thinking. Now is not the time for revolution; it is a time for resolution. Love, peace, prosperity begins with each of us adhering to what we know to be true in the larger arena of the world environment. 16th – Tuesday – Venus Quincunx Jupiter, the Full Moon Lunar Eclipse is on the 24th degree of Cancer/Capricorn at 5:38 PM EDT – In the process of getting rid of things we don’t need, it is important to take stock of past unresolved hurts. If you find an emotional or psychological wound that won’t heal, throw it into the fire of enlightened insight. Letting go of the past is an important step in being able to be truly present in our current life. 17th – Wednesday – Venus Opposite Saturn – It is valuable to deal effectively with rejection. However, fear of rejection can make our life smaller. Our history should enlighten us, not imprison us. Good conversation can be most productive. We can establish common ground with those entering our lives now. 18th – Thursday – Mercury Sesquiquadrate Jupiter, Venus Trine Neptune – With our mind unleashed, and our creative spirits soaring, we are lucky. Much can be accomplished quickly. Lingering fears may limit our reach, but basically we get what we actually go after. Dream time is over; we must act. 19th – Friday – Mercury enters Cancer – Getting along with others is easy when we find concerns that affect everyone. Making practical issues as the foundation, we can build on the past while still preferring a new direction. 20th – Saturday – This is a time of peace, if we don’t over-think the choices confronting us. What we choose isn’t as important as our motivation for making a choice. We must act on something and be self-affirming. 21st – Sunday – Venus Opposite Pluto, Sun Conjunct Mercury, Jupiter Parallel Saturn – Fear, greed, and addictive behavior are all ingredients for trouble. If our moral compass is operating, and our passions are active, but channeled, this is our moment in the Sun. Navigating the space between duty and adventure is part of staying relaxed; the result is allowing goodness into our own personal world. 22nd – Monday – Venus Contra-parallel Saturn, Venus Contra-parallel Jupiter, Venus Contra-parallel Pluto, the Sun enters Leo, Sun Sesquiquadrate Jupiter – Lots of behind the scenes maneuvering and backroom deals allow abundant energy to stream forth. Fiery bursts of energy and flashy self display can still have a good outcome if we don’t take ourselves too seriously. Accentuating the positive will make things work momentarily, but what about the long run? We need others, at some point we must return to our roots. 23rd – Tuesday – Continuing what we have started is better than embarking on a new course. Keeping one eye on the goal and the other on the rule book gives us an appropriate balance for sustainable growth. 24th – Wednesday – Mercury Conjunct Venus – Head and heart can stay together when we focus on family, history, and mother nature. Being connected to the natural world is as important as reaching harmony with our associates. When we relax and enjoy the woods, trees, green growing things, we link into our place in the cosmos. 25th – Thursday – Mars Trine Jupiter, Jupiter Parallel Pluto – We may think we are running as fast as we can, but not so…everything is being kicked up a notch. We can do more, be more, give more. Our inner world expands, and we have the power of the universe at our backs, if we know how to “tune in”. 26th – Friday – Sun Sesquiquadrate Neptune, Mars Quincunx Saturn – Creativity flows and our efforts will be rewarded, but not necessarily in the material world. Sometimes we make mistakes and it is important to not waste effort trying to make a situation something that it isn’t. We should avoid “throwing good money after bad”. Effort is not wasted if we learn. 27th – Saturday – Venus Sesquiquadrate Jupiter, Venus enters Leo – We finish one thing and start another. Even when it seems that we are on a treadmill, and just repeating what we have already done, we are really going in a new direction. Generosity, channeled through common sense, allows us to contribute much to the larger world. What we give away comes back. 28th – Sunday – Mercury Parallel Mars – Plunging into our personal history is rewarding. A walk through past memories can be comforting or disturbing depending on our level of attachment to the various outcomes of past endeavors. This experience is exhilarating if we remember the impermanence of both good and bad. Thoughts come in rapid fire, but won’t last unless we hold onto them. 29th – Monday – Sun Square Uranus – The urge for freedom is powerful, but doesn’t cause a problem unless it is coupled to a feeling of entitlement. Both objectivity and flexibility are in short supply, and to assert them may find us talking to an empty stage and audience. We can’t change the past, but we can alter our habits of mind and behavior. 30th – Tuesday – Venus Sesquiquadrate Neptune, Mars Quincunx Neptune – Emotional causes, internal and external, scream for our attention. Listening to music, painting a picture, observing the beauty of nature are all worthwhile. Throwing ourselves into a social cause can dissipate our vitality. Both appreciating and creating beauty can lift the vibration of the planet much more efficiently that fighting “the enemy”. 31st – Wednesday – The New Moon is at 8 degrees of Leo at 11:12 PM EDT, Mercury turns direct – We are offered an opportunity to mentally realign. We can discharge negative thoughts and occupy our attention with the bounty of a new day. We can’t fill our cup with something good, delicious, and meaningful unless it is empty. We don’t have to drink the old brew however, we can just dump it out. Bob Mulligan is available for personal appointments, astrology classes, and astrological material. Call him at 239-261-2840 or by e-mail at bobmulliga@aol.com. Visit our web site, www.theastrologycompany.com. On June 15th I spoke at the online conference sponsored by Celestial Vibes. It was well received, recorded, and available to anyone who would like to view it. Last month’s newsletter contained an error. It said the Sun was entering Scorpio, and it should have been the Sun enters Cancer, which is the Summer Solstice. Although I’m really careful with the details of this newsletter, sometimes errors occur and I’m always glad when someone points it out. Two people emailed me the day the newsletter was released. Rain everywhere in the Heartland. From Denver to Atlanta, from Chicago to Mobile, there is flooding. Farmers are having trouble getting their fields planted. We will see what happens. Every year on the 10th of July I keep silent. This is to commemorate the beginning of Meher Baba’s silence which started July 10th, 1925. Several astrologers took the time to write nice comments about my article on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. It will appear in the August issue of the ISAR Journal. Well, on June 17th I took Katie to the Ft. Lauderdale airport and she was off to India; she comes home July 17th. She has her own condo within sight of Meher Baba’s Tomb; she hadn’t been over there in almost two years. Something interesting happened; all along the way, she could talk to me using Facetime; we both have iPhone 6. This is a Godsend so we can bypass the inconvenience of neither of us having international calling plans on our cell phone. Also, she is without an Indian cell phone (but does have a landline in her condo). Keeping up with important correspondence, updating charts, processing charges, etc. are only part of the work she does for me here, she helps a lot over the phone, but I am doing much more on my own until her return. She has a blog – www.katiehopemulligan.com – take a look at her last post “Belonging”. It touched me very deeply. My friend, and fellow astrologer, David Cochrane sent me this: https://www.facebook.com/david.cochrane.71653/posts/10159355028738499 It was so entertaining with a powerful message, I just had to pass it on. I leave for India on August 29th and will be back on September 22nd. My friend in India, Adair Adams, sent me this post. If you worry about the earth’s future, you’ll find this interesting. https://scroll.in/video/923723/eco-india-episode-28-could-an-innovative-revival-of-recycling-unlock-a-more-sustainable-future “God Alone is real, and the goal of life is to unite with him through love.” – Meher Baba | 
