By Amanda Painter

How is this Eclipse Zone / Mercury retrograde going for you? Personally, I’ve noticed a mix of positive or constructive ways that the astrology is manifesting along with frustrating or confusing effects. And despite the July 2 eclipse having occurred conjunct one of my personal planets, I feel like I’ve had a hard time focusing in on what these events and these couple of weeks mean for me. That said, this week has been filled with some compelling astrology on the way to the July 16 partial lunar eclipse and Capricorn Full Moon.

Pluto in Colorized Infrared from “The Rich Color Variations of Pluto” (PIA19952); photo by NASA / Johns Hopkins University APL / Southwest Research Institute / ZLDoyle

Perhaps you’ve noticed some of these themes: looking for a a balance between the need to express yourself and do your own thing, and fulfilling obligations to others; psychic sensitivity; idealizing romantic partners or prospects; restlessness or impulsiveness; miscommunication and other mental hiccups (and possibly unexpected information).

Or how about these: power struggles, especially with authority figures; wanting to get under the surface of something. These last couple of themes relate specifically to this weekend’s main aspect: the Cancer Sun opposite Pluto in Capricorn. That is exact on Sunday — which puts it right in the direct pipeline to Tuesday’s lunar eclipse. That eclipse is, in turn, an apparent sounding of the exact Saturn-Pluto conjunction in 2020, since it occurs just a few degrees from those two agents of change.

That longer-term process we’re in, which culminates early next year, has been highlighted intermittently this year. Speaking in the shorter term, however, it looks as though Sunday’s Sun-Pluto opposition is either illuminating or churning up the ground of awareness in preparation for the Capricorn Full Moon and eclipse. Since we’re talking about oppositions with both the eclipse itself and the Sun’s current aspect to Pluto, this effect on consciousness will likely come through interpersonal relationships.

One theme of Sun-Pluto oppositions that strikes me as particularly relevant is the potential for seeming ‘breakdowns’ in relationships to be quite revelatory of issues that have been ignored or not understood for some time. That might mean that something about how you and another person relate (or fail to) is revealed; it might mean that someone’s behavior or ways that they’re changing show you your own internal reactions — and they may stand in stark contrast to the previously concealed reality of the situation.

On a more mundane level, Sun-Pluto oppositions can indicate mechanical breakdowns of objects. Thorough repair is called for under this aspect. Yet with Mercury retrograde, that might be less than straightforward; it could require more time, patience and focus; you might need to figure out how to fix it without making major purchases, or navigate complications along the way.

Power struggles and other ‘intense’ interactions could be especially tricky with the Moon also waxing toward Full. There’s a caution here against forcing situations and trying to dictate to people. Being overly aggressive in sex and romance is another thing to watch for (though if you’re into BDSM, I suspect this astrology could work in your favor; just be extra clear with your safe-words and other matters of consent prior to starting).

All of that said, from what I’ve read it’s possible to express personal will in a ‘positive’ way under a Sun-Pluto aspect. One key to that is to be sure the fundamental changes you’re pursuing — however big — are truly for the greater good, and not just your own. Including others in the process is also important; think teamwork, brainstorming, negotiation, compromise and network building, rather than top-down dictating.

With Eris in Aries square the Sun and Pluto — and exactly square the lunar eclipse degree — any kind of subversion, secret activity, manipulation or attention-seeking behavior is definitely off the table. If those feel like your only options, that’s likely a signal that you’re not being completely honest with yourself (and therefore are not being honest with whomever you’re dealing with), and that you’ve given away some measure of your personal, creative power along the way.

I also noticed that Venus in Cancer is making a couple of interesting aspects this weekend. One is a building square to the asteroid Pallas in Libra.

Are you feeling any tension between your heart and your head? Which do you find yourself leaning into more easily? Is it time to lean the other way for better integration of these two guiding forces? Notice if you’re sentimentalizing a situation. The Pallas side of the square appears to represent rationality, wisdom and the ability to re-balance what’s going on inside. That, in turn, could help you to express how you feel without getting ‘soggy’ or co-dependent.

Exact Sunday, Venus is sextile the asteroid Vesta in Taurus. This one is a little trickier for me to read, but a few things come to mind. One is the ability and opportunity to engage in some form of positive service toward loved ones. Another is harmony between strong emotions and the holding of grounded space, particularly in an unorthodox relationship (which may or may not be sexual, or have that potential). It also occurred to me that this aspect could indicate seeking out someone who can guide or hold space for one of the dynamics described, as a more active choice.

We’ll have more discussion of the Capricorn Full Moon and partial solar eclipse in the Monday Morning mailing (which is sent out Sunday evenings). For your planning purposes, that event is exact at 5:38 pm EDT (21:38:06 UTC) on July16. As you move deeper into whatever processes you’re in, remember to keep some time free for doing what you love. And maybe even find ways to love what you must do.

Partial Lunar Eclipse: Dec. 31, 2009. Photo by Anthony Ayiomamitis.

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