As you move away from last Friday’s fertile and nurturing new moon, this week’s astrology cranks up the temps and the passion. What to expect? Oh, just a value shift, a potential power struggle, a few excitable conversations about the future, annnd a first quarter moon. The highlight of the week—as in, the transit everyone will be talking about—is Venus in Leo. The planet of love, money, and art struts into the fierce, attention-grabbing, hot and heady fire sign, beckoning YOU to be bolder in your self-expression and more demanding with your desires. But first, the actual astrology:
July 8 – Mercury in Leo sextile Jupiter in Gemini (9°43)
July 8 – Venus in Cancer sextile Uranus in Taurus (26°2)
July 9 – Mercury trine North Node in Aries (10°49)
July 10 – Lilith in Libra trines retrograde Pluto in Aquarius (at 1°11!)
July 11 – Sun trines Retrograde Saturn in Pisces (19°19)
July 11 – Venus trines retrograde Neptune in Pisces (29°55)
July 11 – Venus enters Leo
July 12 – Venus opposes retrograde Pluto in Aquarius (1°8)
July 12 – Jupiter in Gemini sextiles North Node in Aries (10°36)
July 14 – First Quarter Moon in Libra (22°)
You may have noticed I’ve included the degrees in which these transits take place. That’s because, rather stupidly, I haven’t done much of this before (mostly because as soon as I see too many numbers, my dyslexic brain blacks out). This is stupid because it doesn’t allow YOU to determine whether or not any, some, or all of this week’s astrology impacts planets in your chart. (Of course, if you’d rather me do this for you, check out my 2024 Birth Chart Reading to get in-depth insights into how this week (and all other weeks this year) are affecting YOU.) Anyway!
It literally feels like everything happens on July 8 and July 11. First, on July 8, Mercury & Jupiter facilitate a meaningful chat, or a new writing / publishing opportunity. The importance of said conversation or opportunity might get overblown; but it’s a great day for announcing something!
Then, there’s an opportunity to free up your relationship(s) or relationship to money, thanks to the beneficial connection of Venus and Uranus. Really, relationships, money, values, beauty, art…these are ALL hot topics for the week. Because Venus, the planet that rules over all that love / relationship / finance / art noise, is making moves.
By July 11, Venus in Cancer and Neptune Rx in Pisces align for a beautifully brief moment of dreaminess. This is highly creative, highly idealistic, highly compassionate astrology. If you want to collage your feelings, or write a lovely poem, it’s then. But not too long after, the love planet enters Leo, and it feels like a reclamation is in order for every Leo Sun and Rising, as well as the Leo part of your chart. Because last year, we had Venus Retrograde in Leo and it was not fun. Which is lame, because Venus in Leo is ALL about having fun.
Naturally, there’s a caveat to this year’s Venus in Leo, because apparently the planets really like to fuck with fixed signs. Almost as soon as the planet moves into Leo, it opposes Pluto Retrograde in Aquarius. If you’re unfamiliar, Pluto is the planet of shadows, catharsis, drama, death, and destruction. (Pluto is also the planet of seduction, mysterious magnetism, tantalizing, titillation, and a whole lot of other uncomfortable things like envy, obsession, etc.)
Basically, this means your relationships, finances, and even your creativity are taking a deep-dive into the shadows. As such, things might get dramatic, they might get a little emo; or, they might get heavily doused in waves of blame/shame, passion, resentment, or some sort of power struggle—if only for a day or two. So, it might actually feel a bit like last summer’s Venus Retrograde, because that was when the Love Planet pulled an Inanna and descended into darkness. (You can read more about Venus’ connection to that Sumerian myth in this article on Venus Retrograde.)
Venus opposite Pluto Rx will feel like a momentary descent into darkness, because you’re being pulled into the shadows of your partnerships or money habits—the things you’ve ignored or overlooked. But the purpose of this plunge is transformation. You want to think about how you can compost injustices, slough off the slights, and get really honest about where/how you’ve maybe given your power away, or taken away someone else’s power. The process is likely to be intense, frustrating, and seemingly destructive. (After all: Pluto destroys before it rebuilds!)
The good news? It shouldn’t last more than a couple of days. The not-so-good news? It involves two proud, independent zodiac signs who don’t like to admit they’re wrong (if they can help it). But that’s where the opposition comes in: it’s calling for balance. It’s calling your attention to the imbalances of power or wealth in your relationships, and urging you to not get stuck in those darker feelings—the shame, the rage, the envy, the possessiveness.
If you want to avoid confrontation on this day, that’s fine but it’s not going to solve any problems that come up; and neither will stonewalling your partner / friend / boss. So, if you lean into the Leo energy of this opposition, and throw your ass up in the air because you feel affronted; OR, you lean into the Aquarius energy, and completely shut down because you the other person is acting irrationally, consider what would happen if you INSTEAD put your pride aside and said I’m sorry.
If you are the Leo in this situation, you’re likely to be the first one to admit you’re wrong and apologize—I know, it’s blasphemy to think such a thing, especially when you’re never wrong—but this is because after the initial shock of being disrespected has worn off, and your temper over being affronted has cooled, you’ll realize you value love, harmony, and togetherness more than being right. Or, maybe that’s just my advice.
That we have Lilith in Libra trining Pluto a couple days before this opposition is important. Lilith is the asteroid of personal power and conflict resolution. In Libra, the Venus-ruled zodiac sign of partnerships, mediation, and collaboration, Lilith is having us think about our personal power and conflict resolution in our relationships. The first quarter moon in Libra also brings our attention to balance; rather, the tipping of scales in one direction or another (you hear that, SCOTUS??) So, it’s a somewhat shadowy week for Venus. But it’s nothing you can’t handle.
Next week, Mars takes center stage. The planet of action, energy, assertiveness and war, meets up with Uranus for a rare (and potentially EXPLOSIVE) conjunction in Taurus; then, it connects with Neptune Rx for a day of sensual dreamweaving. Finally, the red planet enters Gemini. A whole lotta action and talk follows. Be sure to keep an eye on your inbox for an exciting announcement from yours truly—plus, YOUR Venus in Leo horoscope.
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+Are YOU a Cancer celebrating your b-day this week? Discover what the next 365 days means for YOU with a Solar Return Birth Chart Reading. Get a detailed roadmap of the opportunities, challenges, and transformative moments awaiting you in your next year.
+ Annnd, if you haven’t heard the news: I’m launching my debut novel, Jupiter Returns, a laugh-out-loud comedy-romance about an aspiring astrologer who navigates fierce competition, a surprise about her identity, and a new romance during her Jupiter Return. The Kickstarter for Jupiter Returns is launching soon. Be sure to follow me on TikTok to watch my self-publishing journey unfold!
Sizzling Passion and Potential Power Struggles: Venus opposite Pluto Rx