Mysteries in the Sky: What a multitude of wondrous shapes, colors, and infinite configurations the stars form in the heavens above. Look up, on a warm Summer night, and the awe of our realm will reveal itself.

Friday shows more tension than harmony… probably the residual energy from a busy week. Remember that you can always choose how you use this energy. Just like you should let a harsh email sit and “cool” for a while, how you respond to stress is a result of discernment and wise choices. Pray for discernment. There are a couple of positive signs too, as the week ends, with the Moon in trine with Uranus, bringing new ideas to the table, and conjunction with Mercury and Pisces, allowing you to tap some hidden reservoirs within as you enjoy communicating with colleagues and mates.

“Celebrate the freedom to be who you are.”

Saturday looks quiet with the Moon opposing the restrictions Saturn likes to bring. Do you feel boxed in by plans, commitments — agreements with loved ones? That’s actually an opportunity for you to examine why and when to make such agreements… you don’t have to say yes to everything. Decide what you want. Then proceed by crossing off things that you need to do to refresh your own Spirit. After that you will be in a good place to help others. Enjoy your holiday and the celebration of freedom.

On Sunday, emotions find a kind of healing harmony, as the Moon dances in synch with Neptune (Spirituality), and Jupiter (Expansion). This brings about a pleasant mid-summer day to spend with friends and loved ones. It is also a good time to simply “take a break” and get in touch with yourself via reading, meditation, hiking and other solitary enjoyments. Not the best day to begin new pursuits, but better to get in touch with old ways, core beliefs, and long-time friends. Find your common ground that holds it all together — and enjoy the Summertime for those in the Northern Hemisphere. Celebrate the freedom to be who you are.

Looking toward next week, we see a bit of stress getting back to work after an enjoyable holiday (4th of July in the US) over the weekend. It might feel like a tough week to get going with a lot of colleagues and friends on vacation. But that also offers an opportunity for you to relax a bit, regroup, and approach your work with a new outlook. Pluto’s energy of renewal is shining today, so look for some ways to get exercise, read a book or magazine you have not looked at in a while, and enjoy the mid-summer days for those who live above the equator.

As theses planets in our Solar System interact in the heavens, so the energy centers on earth are affected and moved in your own spheres of influence — your own “solar system” — in the same way the Moon causes tides.

Welcome to Saturday… when the Moon (Emotions) dances nice with Saturn, and you might be feeling inventive today. That’s right, it’s the weekend, and you can simply “make up” what you’re going to do. Use your imagination. Meanwhile, Mercury is jumping hinky — squaring off with both Chiron, the Healer, and Neptune… planet of Spirituality. Better to simply meditate on matters and leave them lay today. Speaking about and thinking about Spiritual matters can leave you a bit torn. Get back to that new idea… and go do it. Hobby idea? Great. Go to an Expo with your mate… just what the doctor ordered.

What is going on in your own “solar system” that you need to find, and bring to the light of day?

Earlier this week, we saw a quadrupal “Opposition” Wednesday. Oppositions, in Astrology, happen when two planets tug on each other, and today we find the Moon (Emotions) tugging on Mars, Venus and Uranus. This sets up a sort of classic male/female dilemma where as an individual you’re unsure of the energy to use as you approach new ideas. Feminine is nurturing, Male is bold and assertive. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. Consider each situation carefully — sometimes it will call for a bit of both as you move forward. The fourth opposition today, is between Mars, and Aries. Anyone being stubborn? Usually, the nurturing side will conquer willfulness. Often stubbornness is born out of anger — which covers pain. Help the stubborn ones feel, heal and deal — gently.

On Thursday, the Sun (Personality), was happy with Pluto — planet of transformation and renewal — today. Renewal Thursday, we called it… a time to ask ourselves what can we do to make things new again? Remember that Pluto was not “found” as a planet until relatively recently. What is going on in your own “solar system” that you need to find, and bring to the light of day? In a relationship, this can mean resurfacing something fun you used to do, or perhaps an issue that is not yet settled. Maybe you can combine both — journey back to a place you picniced, or vacationed some time ago, and enjoy it, but also handle anything you need to get past… leaning to renewal. That’s not a bad recipe, and the heavens are in alignment to assist.

Looking at Sunday, we see the Moon making nice with Mars and Venus… that’s a great recipe for romance. Whoo hooo. Enjoy the day with your partner. It’s also a good day to take a look at your Spiritual health. Church would be a good idea. A hike in nature would be good for your soul. Remember that your soul needs feeding and care too. And, romance is even better when your soul has proper nourishment. You can talk about your Spiritual needs and goals with your partner… that’s what best friends and lovers are for, right? When you feel the time is right — and you will know it — talk about where you are going Spiritually, in addition to physically.

Most Astrologers identify eight distinct phases of the Moon — we are in Phase 2 right now.

Today, Saturday, the Moon (Emotion) is dancing with Mercury (Communication) which makes it a good time to speak about what you feel. Are you able to express your feelings? It can seem difficult, but when you speak what is in your heart in a calm collected way it is for the best. Think of three steps: meditate quietly on what you are feeling so you can put the right words to it, pick a good place to talk with the person your feelings involve, and after you get it off your chest, be sure to listen intently for what you can learn from your friend/partner/spouse.

“Maybe it’s time to get creative about your spirituality? …to be healthy, Faith always requires an active and passionate awareness.”

Looking into Sunday, Venus (Love) is dancing well with Uranus and this can bring out a passion for a new idea that you present in a group (like a club) setting. Mercury and Neptune’s dance today make it possible for you to address your spiritual beliefs, and creative pursuits. Maybe it’s time to get creative about your spirituality? Sometimes the way you deal with your Faith can become a sort of habit on auto-pilot. But to be healthy, Faith always requires an active and passionate awareness. Is it time for a Spiritual retreat?

Looking forward into the week, the Sun and the Moon are working well together on Monday, and this gives the right balance to start it off right. You’re coming back from a vacation, you’ve seen your family and friends, and you’re ready to tackle the mid-summer projects at work. You’ll have some creativity left over from Sunday to help you get started. And the Moon this week is in “Waxing” (growing larger) mode, which is also a good time to focus on your ambitions. This is a time of “doing” and a time for action. Make good use of it.

Mercury squares the Moon

The Moon squares off with Mercury today (Saturday), so you may have to think about how to express your emotions — before you speak. It’s always good to go with gut hunches and trust your emotional intelligence, but sometimes it’s difficult to put feelings into words. Poets are good at that. Don’t be afraid to speak from your heart — even if it doesn’t sound exactly logical. Just make sure to be true to your deepest feelings.

“It’s been a week of emotions, initiative, and reflection. That can feel like work.”

Earlier this week (after Spring Break vacation with the family), the Sun (Personality) was working with Mars (Initiative) to give you that “take charge” feeling at work. But Mercury and Neptune were dancing in such a way that what you communicate could sound a bit dreamy. So if you had all of your facts and figures together that would have brought it back down to earth when you talk about your latest plans and projects.

Later in the week, the Sun (personality) was wrestling with Jupiter (Growth) bringing some tension to your plans to move ahead. Where do you need to be in your career? What about moving forward in your personal life? You can get ahead, but you have to plan it out… then do it. You also feel that it might be taking too much time to happen — that things are progressing too slow — but remember how fast time really moves? You will get there… sooner than later.

On Friday, an opportunity occurred to touch in with your emotions and see what they’re telling you. Sometimes it seems easier to avoid them, but you really move ahead when you feel, deal, then heal. It would be good to write down, “journal”, or blog, about what you’re feeling as a way to get in touch. This also works as a reference where in a week or so, you can look back and sort out what you were feeling. Your emotions are keys to your motivation, and often the reactions of people around you. Don’t ignore them.

Tomorrow, Sunday, the Sun dances with Neptune to bring out your imagination once again. It’s been a week of emotions, initiative, and reflection. That can feel like work. So now, take what you’ve learned and imagine your future. Keep it real. Imagination is great — but you have to bring it down to Earth.