Astrology Transits: The Blessings Sometimes Arrive In Crappy Packages
- Astro Anarchist
- Jul 18
- 12 min read
"That which we obtain too easily, we esteem too lightly." - Thomas Paine
I’m coming off a high from a festival, but also just had another round of chemo, which seemingly gets harder and harder to bounce back from. I missed telling you about the first activations of the basket/cradle formation. I’ve said that this is big astrology, but I guess I say that so often, it could be losing its power.
But, and, also: It’s true, all I have to do is look at my own life, and the twists and arrows of outrageous fortune. I’ve moved residences several times, been ejected from a community, made new friends, and I’m fighting cancer, and that’s all in the past couple of years. These types of changes fortify you, and while the experience of these changes were mighty unpleasant and threatened my existence more than once, they also turned me into someone who is:
Much more energy hygienic (I have learned to notice where my energy is going and if it’s reciprocated.)
Really aware of red flags.
More grateful.
Surrounded by people who are trustworthy, loving, and fierce; so I feel more connected than ever.
Healing major family wounds.
In a home that no one can weaponize against me.
Operating with a true sense of purpose.
More connected to nature, and to astrology in general.
Operating with far more appreciation for the body that houses my soul.
Strangely, as fragile as I find myself now physically and existentially, I feel my strength. In 2024 I was delicate: spiritually, emotionally, and mentally, but now fully understanding that my world was built on shaky ground, and I’m proud that I finally found a way to say “no” to such blatant disrespect, even though it was like cutting off an arm when I did it. The astounding grief that followed (which still comes around from time to time) has been replaced with far richer, stronger, and autonomous power. Come what may.
I mention all of this because the blessings sometimes arrive in crappy packages.
Pluto, Uranus, and Chiron were major players in my “downfall” and currently Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune are major players in my cancer/health situation. The North Node also did a lot of fated work throughout its tour of Aries and then Pisces in these last 3 years, enough to show me that I am on a karmic path; I have major placements in both signs. These planets are social and transpersonal, and these are the planets we look to when making predictions.
These planets initiate action to help us get where we need to go, and sometimes the ride is unpleasant. And that’s important, because our natal chart is a blueprint that evolves over time. There are nuances with transits, progressions, profections, synastry with others. This basket forbodes really good stuff. But how we get to the good stuff, that can be a bumpy ride.
There are major patterns, and cycles coming up in a chart when I read it. Or with a ruling planet. And these are all unique to YOU.
Also I now do horary questions, that is– I can draw up a chart to answer questions related to:
Timing: Is this a good day to launch my product? When should we get married?
Decision making: Should I take this job, should I commit to this partner?
Trajectory: Should we buy this property, is this a good investment?
Lost items: Where is the passport, I’ve looked everywhere? Etc.
If this interests you at all, let me know at info@astro-anarchist.com I have a few freebie opportunities related to this type of question with some agreements.
Back to astrology weather; here are the timestamps, this is a long one:
July 15: Gemini Uranus sextile Aries Neptune @ 4°
July 17: Gemini Uranus trine Aquarius Pluto @ 4°
July 19: Gemini Mars sextile Aries Saturn @ 14°
July 20: Leo Jupiter opposite Aquarius Pluto // Leo Jupiter trine Aries Neptune @ 4°
July 21: Leo Jupiter sextile Gemini Uranus 4°
July 22: Sun moves into Leo
July 23: Mercury stations Direct 16° Cancer
July 24: Aries Neptune sextile Pluto 4°
July 24: Cancer Mercury sextile Virgo Venus @ 16°
I just want to mention the astrology of July 15th- July 17th. The truth of the matter is: Mercury is in retrograde, and on the 15th was my 4th round of chemo, so the idea that I would get anything out that day was pretty insane. And yet I tell myself these lies all the time. I have spent the last couple days trying to figure out my mailing software, which forced a change on me last week. Yesterday my area lost power during my writing time for over 3 hours. My capacity to get things done these days is considerably lower. But these last couple of days we have had exact aspects with Gemini Uranus with both Aries Neptune and Aquarius Pluto.
Wednesday July 15th would have presented some kind of allure or opportunity for action, perhaps to make your vision for yourself more obvious, or an invitation to take some sort of course of movement, especially around your vision, and unexpected information, ideas, disruptive news, or breakthroughs.
Yesterday’s (July 17th's) trine with Uranus and Pluto; trines are effortless benefit, and generally thought to be “easy flow.” But Pluto is revealing, destructive, and investigative. In Aquarius we are looking at social situations, humanity, technology, and even: astrology. Uranus is the modern ruler of this sign, so there is some sort of information, conversation, or social situation that might have offered itself around these topics, or a free flowing conversation happened. I was reminded by Suzanne Gerber, another astrologer, that this trine happens once every 100-110 years, so whatever is flowing well, is really significant in this story.
Truthfully yesterday, I noticed many opportunities to connect with others, with Pluto in my 8th house of intimacy. I lost power in the middle of this article and was unable to do 2 readings I had scheduled (Mercury retrograde.) Then some information was revealed to me (Uranus in Gemini- 12th house) about a situation I was involved in (Pluto in Aquarius, 8th house,) which really bothers me, so I have something to chew on for a while. This information came effortlessly, and it really doesn’t affect me, it’s just more fuel on a fire that’s already burning. The flow for me, this special trine, shows the truth of a matter that I’ll never be able to change, and my own insecurities around it which need further work.
We are at the end of Cancer season now, with Mercury retrograding through this sign, so a degree of emotional, healing, and spiritual work is happening. We are also in the first– 0 degree– for both the North Node in Pisces and the South Node in Virgo. This is a critical degree for the story that is unfolding in our chart. We are at the end of a karmic lesson regarding this area of our life, and that’s about to change dramatically. These are feminine signs that have a degree of reflectivity, introspection, and real world application. That’s about to intensify, and I’m sad to report that the fires will not be dying down; rather, they will increase. With a Leo South Node and Aquarius North Node (coming soon,) there will be an increase of fire and air soon, which does not bode well for our forests, but it does bode well for change.
Sunday, July 19th has Gemini Mars sextiling Saturn in Aries @ 14 degrees. Opportunities to take action and do the work should be heeded, because even if the work seems undesirable– it may not be. Mars is the planet of desire, initiation, movement, and Saturn is the planet of boundaries, limitations, and nothing coming easy. Together in a sextile, these two are working together towards a broader goal of what you are envisioning, and how to bring it into manifestation, so it’s worth going for whatever presents itself– when and if you can.
Gemini Mars suggests this might come through communication, research, and your curiosity, but remember that Mars is ruled by a slowed down, emotional, and nostalgic Mercury in Cancer. That isn’t a bad thing, per se, but it’s something to note when we are having ideas and the ideas are emotionally rooted.
Saturn in Aries is in its fall, they say, but I don’t like this nomenclature. I–personally– have noticed a lot of self parenting and discernment coming through this transit that I highly appreciate. Saturn lessons demand commitment and taking responsibility. This can be hard to do in the middle of very undesireable circumstances (trust me.) But recognizing your involvement in your own story can really set you free, I have found. Saturn slows down the impulsivity of Aries, the rush to get it done, and curbs the certainty of Aries’s nature; it makes us have to work for it.
What kinds of opportunities are coming up right now? Where have you realized that you have to work harder than you want to? What house holds Aries for you?
Monday July 20th is a big day, where the basket really comes to a nadir with Leo Jupiter coming to an exact opposition to Aquarius Pluto– at the same time that it comes to an exact trine to Aries Neptune. We explored these Sabian Symbols last week, around these 4 degree points-- so that might be worth looking at again around this day, but just to say that trines are an effortless flow, whereas oppositions represent major tension. There is a push/pull effect on this day, and the other planets will definitely be activated.
With Jupiter trining Neptune we have this idea of belief in the self, perhaps a teaching or something to teach based on a personal vision. This could be born from what is coming from the opposition from Pluto; destruction, fear, shame, coming through tech space, or through collective humanity.
Jupiter is known as a lucky planet, but it is also a planet of excess. In Leo, this can be Wolf of Wall Street energy, and without seeing the movie, we all have an idea of real estate bubbles, cons, and greed. Ego is unleashed by excess, and we are on the precipice of some unmasking with Pluto directly opposite. Pluto reveals, shames, and brings forth fears; it reveals what has been hidden. Oppositions usually show up as relationship issues. This is also part of the basket- we are elevating, but that means some things need to go. For example, we saw how much environmental change was possible during COVID, yet everyone wanted to go back to “normal.” We get entrenched in what we’re used to. We will typically fight change before embracing it.
Our vision; learning, and acceptance becomes important here.
On Tuesday July 21st Leo Jupiter makes a direct sextile to Uranus in Gemini, denoting potential surprises and breakthroughs that could offer an opportunity to take action. Jupiter is growth, Uranus is disruption and non-linear change, usually with a social flavor. Sextiles deliver some sort of opportunity to do something, and this could be financial, reputational, or a chance to lead or teach. How this hits will depend on where this occurs in your chart, for me it’s in my asset house (2nd) and subconscious house (12th.) So I can guess I might get an opportunity of realization, or something brought to light that tells me more about my self worth or financial patterns. As we all know there is always new information to work with through our subconscious, familial, and trauma patterns, and we have excellent ways of hiding those things from ourselves. The 12th house represents this kind of work, and I’ve got Uranus there for several years, uncovering Gemini-eque patterns I may not see.
I illustrate my own chart to help you inquire into your own. You may not have any planets or points directly on this sextile, but that doesn’t mean the sextile won’t affect you. The houses that are occupied will give you an idea of what area of life is affected; but there is always much more nuance than that.
Things get really interesting on July 22nd when it becomes Leo season! Leo is the king, ruled by the Sun, so the Sun is always bright when in Leo. Leo wants to be seen, lead the pride to safety and abundance, and it is associated with hair/ hairdo’s/ being in front of the crowd. It’s spokesperson, theatre, drama energy. Leo is a fixed fire, it doesn’t move easily, it doubles down. Leo season, with Jupiter in Leo, will be EXTRA, and also with the South Node coming around the bend, it might be EXTRA with some element of decrease. It’s being tempered with the South Node on the other side, but not yet. We have a bit of time before that happens, so for the next few days: EXTRA EXTRA.
Generally this is a time we want to look our best, we are dressed to be seen, we have our best rags on, even if fashion or hair is not our thing. If it’s summer in your hemisphere, this is the peak of beach life, summer vacations, being out and about. And if it’s Winter where you live, this might have the same or different flavor, depending on how balmy your winter is. But there is a outer relationship to the Sun and how it powers you.
The increase of fixed fire– well we’ve seen this already with forest fires, extreme heat waves, all kind of climate emergency– we could see this coming a mile away, you didn't need to be an astrologer to fortell this. The fires of revolution burn worldwide (Pluto in Aquarius) as we are starting to see what happens when narcissism runs wild; when we treat the earth as a neverending resource to be used; when we don’t listen to land defenders; when we worship money and wealthy people; and not food producers, land, water, and those that have been protecting these things. Humanity is being brought to a biglesson, and that lesson is that basket. I feel personally suppressed in what I can do about any of this while I sleep for 10 hours a day, wringing my hands and trying to find a way to counter my inertia, but here I am. I cannot deny my body’s needs, and survival for me is localized.
Back to Leo Season, the Sun, and your leadership. There must be pleasure. If the fires burn too hot, the Sun will burn it all. We must find ways to cool down, to love, to heal, to lead that are inclusive, that involve others. Let your fiefdom be benevolent, open, and kind. Be better than those you are fighting, or who hurt you. Terrible people will trigger their own downfalls- eventually. This is a time of TRUTH– and liars will start to be exposed this summer- not only because of Leo Sun and Jupiter, but because of Aquarius Pluto too.
On Thursday July 23rd Mercury stations direct in Cancer at 16 degrees, and starts to cap off a lesson that started in June, when we went into the shadow. Gemini and Virgo placements rejoice! Venus and Uranus will act a little different under these circumstances. But the day that a planet stations direct means it’s quite slow, and doesn’t work as well as it’s about to when it gains speed. Mercury highly affects our brain: cognition, words, learning, communication, and generally the way we think. It also affects transportation and communication. I have a presentation this day, and I’m definitely going to double check everything I do and say before I do it, then hope for the best, especially with the trine with Saturn in Aries still in orb.
On Friday July 24th we have 2 sextiles, one which is part of the cradle/basket formation, and one that is not. Sextiles represent copacetic opportunities to do something, they have an energetic flow and share the same quality.
When Aries Neptune sextiles Aquarius Pluto, we have a chance to make our vision more sound. We have a chance to build on more fertile ground, and make our vision better. Whatever we are personally going for, whatever desire in our heart, this always needs fine tuning, and we will get some offering to do that.
When Cancer Mercury sextiles Virgo Venus, we have another interesting offering. One born from the lessons of Mercury retrograde, and now moving forward from that, which is the ruler of Virgo Venus. Virgo Venus doesn’t mess around with fancy stuff, it wants the bare bones important things to be on the table: respect, love, dependability. Venus is the planet of abundance and connection. It rules what we subjectively like and do not like. Someone I knew once did something incredibly mean to me, then tried to smooth it over with some grocery store flowers. Virgo Venus will never go for that. Obviously neither did I. But basic decency, support, love and respect, that’s Virgo Venus’s domain. Virgo Venus is not blind to receiving the bare minimum, even if it’s dressed up in jewels and bling. She knows the truth, and this Mercury sextile will help her reorient herself after a review of her ruler through Cancer.
Well that was a lot of words, as Mercury retrograde has thrown a few cannonballs into my way to get this out. Essentially I see a lot to be grateful for, for me and for all of you. Many of you coming up to me with new opportunities showing up, and sometimes that feels jarring, scary, or uncertain. But you are a powerful being, with lots to work with. Don’t ignore the harder lessons, but don’t ignore the beauty either.
One last note about this 4 degree cradle/ basket. 4's in the tarot are about foundation and rest. While this basket offers opportunity, remember the cradle is a place where the baby sleeps, it's the baby's first resting place to grow. Its a foundation. Whatever you do during these interesting times, remember it's foundational work for the rest of your year/life. Work done here is never wasted.
And if you want more, drop me a line, I’d love to work with you!
Xo Astro-Anarchist
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