Venus enters Cancer on July 31 this month! Venus is the plant of love, creativity, and pleasure, and Cancer is the sign of deep emotions, of motherly love, and of “home” — this is a placement with lots of love to give! The tarot cards that correspond to Venus and Cancer are III – The Empress and VII – The Chariot. Look at these two! Both are looking the viewer directly in the eyes, with their bodies slightly oriented towards the future. The Empress is crowned by a spray of wheat, the Charioteer a star-spangled curtain and orange clouds of creative ambition: Venus in Cancer means relaxing into new ideas, letting love quell any lingering fears, deciding to let hope take the reins and guide you! Venus will stay in Cancer until it moves into Leo on August 26.

The following reading is a look at how to make the best use of the energy of Venus in Cancer. This “one-card” reading is an example of what’s included in the $35 Planetary Transit Reading tier on my Patreon page, which also includes a one-card Monthly Kick-off Reading, a 5-card reading every time the Sun sign changes, and 3-card readings at the New and Full Moons. For this reading I drew from the Housewives Tarot, Everything I Need to Know about Love I Learned from a Little Golden Book,  and the Mother Mary Oracle. The little camel statue is actually a box with a pearl inside (Cancer’s power stone), and the golden dragon is holding an aventurine sphere for Venus’s heart-centeredness ❤

43. Our Lady of Comfort + “Love gives us a voice,/ but it needs no words” + 3 of Cups reversed

Looking at all these pink/blue pairs, it appears that Venus in Cancer will be all about looking at the “two sides” of yourself, and turning to your closest support systems — siblings, parents, pets, and of course, partners — to find the beauty in these differences, to see them as uniquenesses. Allow yourself to relax and have fun with your favourite people, getting back to “you” before the Fall rolls around and we’re back to work and school, with new projects and responsibilities to take us away from being able to go as “deep” as we can now. No, it goes without saying, nothing compares to these sweaty, sticky, deliciously muggy days of high summer, when all you can do is flop down and relax! Have no mind for anyone who would try to turn your fun on its head — don’t waste your summer time on them. You know who makes you feel good — seek them out and spread the love!

Yes, love is in the air, love of just about every kind — in such a way that it’s clearer than ever what you don’t need in your life as well! This is the perfect time to focus on the people who make you feel strong, who would do anything for you no matter what, and also to forgive and let go of the people who you know only hold you back. the divide is clear: who can you just “be” with, without the need for any extra effort? Who makes you feel like You, and who do you need to put on a mask for? Venus in Cancer will be filled with happy opportunities to determine your team and keep moving forward!

Everything I Need to Know About Love I Learned from a Little Golden Book. Diane Muldrow. New York: Golden Books, 2014.

The Housewives Tarot. Paul Kepple and Jude Buffum. Quirk Books, 2004.

Mother Mary Oracle. Alana Fairchild. Artwork by Shiloh Sophia McCloud. Victoria, Australia: Blue Angel Publishing, 2014.

Tarot Mucha. LWB: Lunaea Weatherstone. Artwork: Giulia F. Massaglia. Torino, Italy: Lo Scarabeo, 2014. © Lo Scarabeo Italy.

This month, Uranus in Aries forms a semi-sextile with Chiron (retrograde) in Pisces on July 29. Uranus is the planet of innovation and fresh thinking, and Chiron is an asteroid that represents the pains that we must learn to live with in life: our unhealable wounds, those which are best soothed with spirituality and self-understanding. Chiron in deep, sensitive Pisces is a great place to do that kind of work, especially with Uranus in motivated, action-oriented Aries! A semi-sextile is formed when planets form a 30′ angle to each other, and is considered a very minor aspect — it’s like the half-way point to being presented with an opportunity! Uranus semi-sextile Chiron represents recognizing where real action can be taken in order to heal the “wounds” that are the last bits holding you back from realizing your full potential in some area of your life. The numerology of this aspect, which occurs at 28’31 in both signs, suggests achieving a work/life balance that allows a new creative project to take off will be the opportunity to come when Uranus and Chiron form a sextile. These are slow-moving bodies, so you have lots of time! 0 – The Fool is the tarot card associated with Uranus, and Chiron doesn’t technically have a tarot card, but The Mythic Tarot has him on The Hierophant. Appropriate considering Uranus in aspect to Chiron is about rethinking how we can make sense of the ideas we have received from others in order to find ways to know and trust that we are safe and protected in our current positions!

The following reading is a look at how to make the best use of the energy of Uranus semi-sextile Chiron. This one-card reading is an example of what’s included in the Angular Aspect Effect Readings tier on my Patreon page, which also included a one-card Monthly kick-off reading, a 5-card reading every time the Sun sign changes, and 3-card readings at the New and Full moons. For this reading I drew from The New Mythic Tarot, the Druid Plant Oracle, and Oracle of the Mermaids. I laid out a crystal grid using an abalone shell, an amethyst pendulum, black onyx and ruby zoisite for heart healing and protection, chevron amethyst for connection between your intuition and higher guidance, peachy carnelian and pink opal for nurturing creativity, quantum quattro for emotional healing and manifestation of new things, and agatized coral for understanding your patterns and finding power within.

Oracle Cards: Imramma + Puffball reversed

This transit of Uranus semi-sextile Chiron will represent the realization that you are no longer “in the dark,” combined with the knowledge needed to take action to get you back into the light. You’re feeling very connected as it is, and this transit will find you seeing real movement on welcoming in the wonders that overcoming your fears has allowed, especially where it comes to other people coming out of the woodwork to help you on your way!

Tarot Card: King of Wands

Indeed, your personal magnetism is incredibly powerful now, and part of the lesson in this transit will be finding a humble balance while maintaining your attractive fire. You’re learning to let your accomplishments make you glow from within, happily sharing them but knowing that they’re hot enough to speak for themselves! You’ve done amazing things and now it’s a matter of finding ways to keep up this level of commitment to your cause. You are steadily expanding, and you are in control of your next direction — continue to be honest with yourself *and* your team, and keep planning carefully. It’s not time to get comfortable yet!

Uranus semi-sextile Chiron will be about healing your perceptions and receptions surrounding success, especially the success that you are currently earning and the trajectory it is taking now. You are putting in exactly what’s needed, so keep your tank full and be excited for the journey ahead! Bask in the admiration you’re receiving in your personal relationships, too 😉 You’ve been doing so well in identifying the parts of yourself that were outworn, and the endeavours that needed to be scrapped — all of that was making room for the influx of the fresh and new roiling up to you now, and which will continue to flow in for the forseeable future!

Decks used:

The Druid Plant Oracle. Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm. Illustrated by Will Worthington. London: Connections Book Publishing, 2007.

The New Mythic Tarot. Juliet Sharman-Burke and Liz Greene. Artwork by Giovanni Caselli. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2008.

Oracle of the Mermaids. Lucy Cavendish. Artwork by Selina Fenech. Victoria, Australia: Blue Angel Publishing, 2013.

Tarot Mucha. LWB: Lunaea Weatherstone. Artwork: Giulia F. Massaglia. Torino, Italy: Lo Scarabeo, 2014. © Lo Scarabeo Italy.

Mercury enters its “home” sign of Virgo on July 25! Mercury is the planet of communication, quick thinking, and movement, and in earthy Virgo, we’re provided the chance to solidify plans that we’ve been thinking on and organizing all year long. Mercury’s time in Virgo may get complicated, as it goes retrograde August 12, then slips back into Leo as its retrograde progresses on August 31, finally going direct again September 5 and re-entering Virgo September 9. Phew! It looks like we’ll be dealing with a lot of reoccurring themes — I’m hearing the line “it’s a repeat” from the song “Throw Away Your Television” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. We have a lunar and solar eclipse coming up too, reinforcing the fact that we’ll be working through “past” stuff in the weeks to come — make the best of it and keep in mind that you’ve worked hard for your happy present, and nothing can take it away from you if you! Looking at the corresponding tarot cards for Mercury (I – The Magician) and Virgo (IX – The Hermit) we see opposites back-to-back: the sunny, smiling Magician with all laid out and ready to share, and The Hermit reserved and in the shadows, watching, thinking, and learning, keeping her lantern close until she’s ready to come forward with her own light to share.

The following reading is a look at how the energy of this first round of Mercury in Virgo will play out! This one-card reading is an example of what’s included in the $35 Planetary Transit Readings tier on my Patreon page, which also included a one-card Monthly kick-off reading, a 5-card reading every time the Sun sign changes, and 3-card readings at the New and Full moons. For this reading I drew from Tarot Mucha, Astrological Oracle Cards, and the Nature-Speak Oracle. I laid out a little crystal grid using black onyx for groundedness and protection through this potentially bumpy Mercury transit, aquamarine for connecting your heart and your voice for clear and well-thought-out communication, agatized coral for personal power through understanding your own patterns and how to use them to your best advantage, and chevron amethyst for zappy connection between your intuition and your Higher Consciousness. The immediate message that came through is to make the most of the rest of the summer! Autumn is looming, but it’s not here yet!

Oracle Cards: Mercury + Autumn – Harvest and sow reversed

The Astrological Oracle was one of my first decks, along with Tarot Mucha, and it loves to play with me! I laughed out loud when it gave me “Mercury” in a reading about Mercury in Virgo energies. Haha! But look at the orange through both cards: it’s not time to be “finished” with the ambitious creative work you’re in the midst of — there is much work still to be done. That’s appropriate, though, as Summer is far from over: imagine what your current line of thinking will have drawn to you by the time Autumn is here!

Tarot Card: 4 of Wands reversed

Yes, you wish you were a little further along in all the good things that are going on around you — but it’s pretty hard to maintain a frown amongst it all as well! The 4 of Wands is one of a few “irreversible” cards in the tarot deck — it’s shining energy promises good things to come, if they aren’t here already. You’re doing “good,” and all you need to do now is keep making connections, knowing both that you’re in control, but also that you’ve put the power into other people’s hands for now, and can trust that they will make you proud. Remain buoyant even as your mind races with excitement at all the new possibilities on the horizon — things are very much in the process of coming together. Do what you can to enjoy the fun and opportunity to relax while it lasts!

The energy of the New Moon this past Sunday has you all fired up and ready to jump into action. Appropriate, because this very Virgoan nervous energy is preparing you for a huge change, finding you taking on extremely propitious new responsibilities in a brand new position, one you’ve worked towards for a long, long time. You may even be starting to waver as new choices come up and decisions need to be made — trust in your vision. Stay true to it, knowing you are making it real right now! No, it’s not time to celebrate fully just yet — there’s work to be done, and more importantly, people to seek in order to see your personal success-vision into reality. You are almost there!

Decks used:

Astrological Oracle Cards. LWB: Lunaea Weatherstone. Artwork: Antonella Castelli. Torino, Italy: Lo Scarabeo, 2012. © Lo Scarabeo Italy.

Tarot Mucha. LWB: Lunaea Weatherstone. Artwork: Giulia F. Massaglia. Torino, Italy: Lo Scarabeo, 2014. © Lo Scarabeo Italy.

The Nature-Speak Oracle. Ted Andrews. Jackson, TN: Dragonhawk Publishing, 2006.

Happy New Moon in Leo! This cycle we’ll be focusing on making new starts in terms of work habits and finding productive new ways to shine – and putting them in action! I’m seeing us all as The Fool, dancing forth and excited to get down to work like the person in the 8 of Pentacles! We can all launch forth knowing that our “vision” is protected, and that we’re working towards something that will feel like a full spiritual deliverance once it’s complete. Let your passion run wild, and have fun with it!

For this reading I chose The Cosmic Tarot, the Moon Phases Oracle, and Chakra Wisdom Cards. I laid out a crystal grid using selenite and desert rose for Higher Self connection, opal and moonstone for understanding of the cycles beginning now, singing quartz for clear communication of your spiritual ideals, ruby zoisite for accessing heart-centeredness while unearthing new “gems” of ideas, and tiger’s eye for connecting with the confidently flexible, cat-like energy of Leo. The following reading is an example of what’s included with the $25 New and Full Moon Readings tier on my Patreon page, which also includes a 5-card Sun Sign change reading and a one-card Monthly Kick-Off reading!

Oracle cards: Rest + Perfection

I’m loving how direct the oracle cards messages have been lately! Rest-Perfection: let your need for everything to be “perfect” lay to rest this month — what you do is beautiful, and you are so truly adored for simply being you. You don’t need to strive for perfection, your work is perfect just the way you do it!

Tarot Cards – Working with New Moon in Leo Energies

1. What new start can you make in order to truly shine in your work? 2 of Cups: know that you are truly loved by the people in your life, and that they believe in what you’re doing — trust that and let love’s warmth propel you forward! What you’ve started has the potential to sweep you away like an old-time movie, and all you have to do it allow it!
2. What intention will provide you the best structure in order to succeed in your goals? IX – The Hermit: knowing you have the support you need, prepare to really take the time you need “away” to develop what you’ve recently started, trusting that it will not threaten your personal relationships. Virgo Season (Aug 22 on) will be busy with people being drawn to the light you’re preparing to share!
3. How can you have the most fun this lunar cycle? Queen of Wands reversed + 5 of Pentacles (jumper): by letting go of that “mother” voice in your head that would have you think you don’t ave the resources you need to create your vision – it’s true that you should be careful not to exceed your means, but at this stage in your creative process, know that nothing can stop you!

This New Moon in Leo, run with your dreams! They’re already in action. Intend to be authoritative with what makes you uncomfortable in order to come into more powerful alignment with your core truths. You are not alone, and you can easily receive the help you need to keep going, but you must ask for it! There is so much energy buzzing around that you may be feeling crazy, part of the reason you’re finding it hard to imagine asking for help, but keep your head up! Be mindful of not letting fear get in the way of noticing new opportunities. You’re on your way!

Cosmic Tarot. Norbert Lösche. Neuhausen, Switzerland: AGMueller, 1998.

Chakra Wisdom Oracle Cards. Tori Hartman. Illustrated by Gretchen Raisch-Baskin. London, England: Watkins Media Ltd., 2014.

Moon Phases Oracle. Devin Strickler. Artwork by Lexie Marquez. First edition. Mystic Moons Tarot, 2015.

The Sun enters Leo on July 22 this month (staying there until it moves into Virgo August 22), which finds it in its power placement — and we all feel the positive effects! Looking at the corresponding tarot cards, XIX – The Sun and VIII – Strength, we find a scene of brightness, warmth, and togetherness, with opposites coming together to share ideas in a way that finds everyone comfortable, at ease, prepared to lay everything bare and take a leap of faith — one that will have results that may have once felt unbelieveable, but now are coaxed smoothly into the light of day! This Leo Season, show your true colours with pride: your tribe is waiting for you, and you have everything you need to succeed. All that needed to be revealed has been, so you can feel certain that you know what you’re working with: allow yourself to relax and trust that you have the inner strength you need to succeed as well!

For the Sun’s transit into Leo, I chose to draw from The Wild Unknown tarot deck and Connected and Free: The Alchemist’s Oracle and Crystal Reading Cards for their vibrant colours, their references to the Sun, and their cool lion imagery. I laid out a crystal grid using citrine for sunny abundance, sunstone for brightened inspiration, two amazonite (one small, one large) to increase balance between the masculine and feminine forces in our lives, prehnite, aventurine, and fluorite to help heal and open our hearts to others, lapis lazuli for clear and effective communication of our greater ideals, and yellow calcite to solidify our personal power and help us project it effectively. The following is a 5-card reading for how best to make use of the energies surrounding the Sun’s transit into Leo. A personalized version of this reading is included in the $15 Sun Sign Change Reading tier on my Patreon page, which also includes a monthly kick-off reading on the 1st of every month!

Oracle Cards: Aquamarine | Communication + Opportunity

This reading has a definite theme of “not letting emotion get in the way of opportunity.” Things ahve settled down a lot, due in large part to you being clearer with what you need, especially in your home life and personal relationships. Things are going so well that all it will take to improve even more is consistent reflection on how far you’ve come from out of the shadows that threatened to take over not long ago! You’re growing, and it’s showing in a truly beautiful way.

Tarot Cards — Qualities of Leo Spread

1. How can you be warmer, more loving, more giving this Leo Season? I – The Magician: know that you have both the resources and the skill to do exactly what you want to do, and that the endeavour you’ve set in motion recently will yield shining results. With this in mind, be open to others and their many unique ways of expressing their opinions — none of that matters, because your star is rising!

2. How can you maximize your creative potential this Leo Season? 10 of Pentacles: truly, all you need to know is that as of right now, you have things “in the bag.” You are surrounded by support and good advice, but you are also very much in control of your own material situation and are proud of the service you are providing to others. This refers to either your workplace or your home life, both areas where things are finally starting to feel “settled” and you can enjoy the glowing feeling that comes with it.

3. What’s the best way for you to present yourself in order to share your ideas productively? 9 of Cups: Know that the way you phrase not only your speech, but your thinking, is very powerful, especially now! Keep things positive, knowing that everything you want is within your reach and not letting even the shade of a doubt to enter the picture. You’ve fought long and hard for what you want, especially in the form of emotional battles, and you’re way too far beyond that now to go back on your dreams! Well, they’re here, and now all you have to do is live them and enjoy!

4. How can you best maintain your energy without getting lazy? II – The High Priestess: You know how you got to the place you are now, and you know what not to do in order to maintain your current state of balance. You’ve got the world in your hands, so know that you can trust your instincts to steer you in the right direction from here on in. If it doesn’t feel right, don’t do it! Your intuition is powerful now and you do have the answers you need to continue.

5. What strength of yours can you focus on in order to dissuade your fears? 5 of Cups: The pain you’ve come through couldn’t bring you down, and weary as you may be, you’re still standing. You’ve recognized that things are getting better all the time, and the sheer determination to simply keep looking forward is all you need to keep in mind. Keep your head up, as more opportunities are pouring in all the time! You truly are unstoppable, and now you know you have the grit to keep working towards bigger, better, and brighter things.

This Leo Season is rife with New Start energy, and it’s time to start producing those new ideas you’ve been having! In fact, you’ve already taken the first steps, and you’re about to enter the “seedling” phase where your dream will need more nurturing, love, and deep understanding than ever before. Your creation is good, it’s only a matter of trusting in your vision and letting yourself shine in the spotlight that’s being shone on you now! Healing is occurring on every level, and all you need to do is keep up the good work.

Decks used:

Connected and Free: The Alchemist’s Oracle. Lauren Aletta. Illustrated by Tegan Swyny. Inner Hue, 2014. {First edition pictured, link is for Second edition}

Crystal Reading Cards. Rachelle Charman. Sterling Ethos, 2016.

The Wild Unknown. Kim Krans. Philadelphia, CA: The Wild Unknown, 2012. {First edition pictures, link is for HarperElixir edition}

 

This month, Mars enters Leo on July 20! Mars is the fiery planet of passion and of fighting spirit, and Leo is the sign of pride and warmth. Combined, these energies create an environment of massive achievement, the type that leaves the old way of doing things behind in favour of shining new opportunities. This is combined with heaping doses of the type of self-understanding that finds others opening unexpected doors for you, as your personal magnetism attracts what’s good for you and repels what’s not, in one way or another! Mars in Leo makes your personal darkness unbearable, in such a way that all you can do is avoid it and seek what and who you do like to be around, all for your own betterment overall, as there’ll be no time for laziness once it’s time to rebuild those old structures that are about to get shaken up!

I’ve recently started using the Thoth Tarot, and was really feeling it and its astrological symbolism for this post — I’m testing out the readings now available as subscriptions/rewards on my Patreon page! This reading falls under the $35 Planetary Transit tier, which also includes a one-card monthly kickoff reading, a 5-card reading every time the Sun sign changes (next is Leo on July 22!), and 3-card readings for the New and Full Moons. Each reading involves three decks (2 oracle and 1 tarot), and focuses on how you personally can best make use of the planetary energies that affect us all. For this reading I chose the Isis Oracle and Crystal Reading Cards, the first because the Thoth Tarot has lots of Ancient Egyptian symbolism and the second for its bright colours to enhance the Thoth’s. Both oracle decks were happy to be included, as each produced a jumper card during shuffling!

Yes, it looks like Mars’s time in Leo — it enters Virgo September 5 — will ultimately be a time of regaining your balance and more fully realizing your own potential. I gasped when I turned over The Sun card, because the Sun is Leo’s power planet: looking back at the cards for Mars and Leo, it looks like The Sun is shining on Strength this month! Anything that’s destroyed is part of a greater purification process, as your life visibly starts to come together and what’s left to be worked on is clearer than ever too. In realizing what you can do right now, you open yourself to receiving the team that will help you grow even more, drawn to you by the sheer sparkle of your own flame when you’re lit up by doing what you truly love. Major shifts are occurring, but it’s safe to allow change, as we’re all doing the same sort of inner work right now. What’s meant to fall away will, leaving you lighter and freer to fly on and come that much closer to realizing the next part of your destiny — the next step on the path is about to become crystal clear!

You’re ready to build something great, in large part because you stayed where you were needed for as long as you could. You maintained that by holding a beautiful vision of what “next” might look like, and now an opportunity is being presented to bring that bubble out of the “dream” category and very much into stunning reality. This is something that will work, and you have the strength and energy to do it now! Be excited, and let any fear act as a fuel to get you closer to what you want, in turn propelling you away from whatever would stamp out your flame — nothing can stop you now! Trust that you are protected when the going gets tough: nothing great can be born without some labour pains. Know that the seed is already planted for a splendid result.

Decks used:

Crystal Reading Cards. Rachelle Charman. Sterling Ethos, 2016.

Isis Oracle. Alana Fairchild. Illustrated by Jimmy Manton. Victoria, Australia: Blue Angel Publishing, 2013.

Tarot Mucha. LWB: Lunaea Weatherstone. Artwork: Giulia F. Massaglia. Torino, Italy: Lo Scarabeo, 2014. © Lo Scarabeo Italy.

Thoth Tarot Deck. Aleister Crowley. Illustrated by Lady Frieda Harris. Stamford, CT: US Game Systems, Inc., 1983.