By Amanda Painter

There are seemingly opposite forces at work today, at least in terms of tone and temperament. On the one hand, there’s some astrology offering a relaxed and possibly empathetic or idealistic vibe; on the other hand, that could take a backseat to more confrontational and entrenched interactions, depending on your personality and social context.

Coriander flowers, with salpiglossis in the background. Photo by Amanda Painter

If you’re in the U.S. and celebrated yesterday’s Independence Day holiday, how did things go for you?

I ask, because given the nature of typical July 4th celebrations (lots of people gathering together, fireworks, possible alcohol consumption, family cookouts, enhanced patriotic spirit) and given the high-stakes cultural standoffs that are receiving heated, emotional attention currently, your interactions yesterday will likely give you a clear indication of which astrological aspects you’re more tuned in to.

Which is not to say that today needs to be a repeat of yesterday. If you didn’t like what came out of your mouth or how others behaved toward you, you have an opportunity to make a course-correction today. It will likely take some introspection — which likely means disengaging from whomever might have set you off.

On the other hand, if you simply felt content to go with the flow yesterday and chill out, that could be a nice vibe to continue. Yet, you also have the option to take those good vibes and harness them to get something accomplished. That’ll take a conscious decision to motivate yourself, but you’ll likely find it to be worth it.

In case you were wondering, here’s the astrology I’m describing: on the easy-breezy side of things is a trine between the Cancer Sun and retrograde Jupiter in Scorpio, exact today (with Neptune in Pisces within reach, making a grand trine in the water signs). If you can use your empathy and idealism to help someone, do a little meditative self-study, or get something in order (maybe your living space, or something creative or financial), chances are you’ll be happy you did.

On the potentially volatile side of things, Mercury in Leo opposes retrograde Mars in Aquarius, exact at 7:48 am EDT today (11:48 UTC). Mercury-Mars oppositions are pretty much always a reminder to stay conscious of what you’re saying, how you’re saying it, and your underlying motives for doing so. It’s a good idea to keep tabs on your own hostility and aggression, and to take a step back if you’re on the receiving end of someone else’s, rather than engage it directly.

With Mercury and Mars in fixed signs, there’s an increased need to be aware of things like rigid opinions, pride, calcified social patterns, and stubbornness. That’s one reason why I suspect some 4th of July gatherings and interactions might have been tricky to navigate for some people: nationalistic pride and nuanced conversations are a challenging match anyway. Add The Trump Effect and a national humanitarian crisis, and things can get inflammatory very quickly.

It’s possible that by the time you read this, anything that flared up for you is dissipating, though it’s probably a good idea to stay aware of the potential for someone to be a little testy — and of your abilty to choose not to take the bait.

Speaking of being baited: it’s also worth noting that the asteroid Juno makes a conjunction to Uranus in Taurus today, and both oppose the object Typhon in Scorpio. If you notice a sudden spike of jealousy, possessiveness, envy or resentment, what’s that really about? Does someone actually have something you don’t have (and is it truly that important), or are you simply neglecting to notice how much you can do with your inner gifts?

Are you open to innovative or unexpected ways to give what you want to yourself, both materially and emotionally? Shifting focus like that could help you to tame the green-eyed monster.

Finally, I want to mention that on Saturday Mercury enters its pre-retrograde ‘echo’ or shadow phase. It stations retrograde in Leo on July 26, and will station direct on Aug. 19. This means the upcoming Mercury retrograde will coincide with the summer eclipse season — we’ll have more on that in the coming weeks.

If there are important purchases, computer upgrades, contracts and so on that you’ve had in mind, consider this your early reminder to try and get to those sooner rather than later — though the current Mars retrograde suggests it’s best to wait a couple months on buying mechanical things, if possible. And if it’s not possible to wait, it won’t be the end of the world. Even when things get a little screwy (or chaotic, or scary, or stuck, or confrontational), there’s something to be learned, and there are constructive options you can take. Sometimes that takes more effort and focus than we were expecting; sometimes it’s all part of the flow.

Eric has now completed all 12 signs of The Sacred Space of Self, the 2018 Spring Reading on Chiron’s transition into Aries, and Mars retrograde in Aquarius over the summer. Order today and get all 12 signs for just $99. Check out our sample videos here, and the full Guide to Chiron Transits here.