It's monsoon season in India and honestly it's exactly how I would ever imagine cancer season to be. Nestled in your home, rain pattering on your roof, that petichor aroma in the air, cool breeze and dreaming of a warm bowl of the good old maggi (think instant noodles, but make it desi - turmeric, red chilli, garam masala you got it). I'm sharing this monsoon / cancer season with a wedding so yes it's very monsoon wedding vibes for me (how interesting, cancer szn lights up my 11th house - so yes lots of socializing coming up for me).
This month I am not doing a full reading for each sign but what I am sharing in this substack are major dates, what they mean for us practically and then breaking down a few for signs in cluster.
Neptune goes Retrograde - July 2
Alright, Saturn has freshly gone retrograde as on 29th June (i talked much about it in June readings) and you will notice a lot of slowness in the air. After all, Saturn is the planet of time. When Saturn retrogrades, time feels frozen.
On July 2nd, Neptune joins the retrograde bandwagon together with Saturn. What's interesting is that both these signs are currently transiting Pisces, so if you have Pisces, Virgo, Gemini and Sagittarius in your chart - these retrogrades will feel extra potent. Neptune is retrograde from 2nd July - 2nd December. Neptune is the planet of disillusionment, imagination, fantasy, dreams and spirituality. Naturally when it goes retrograde, it is like driving through a fog where lights have been switched off temporarily. A lot like driving in rain through a foggy patch. This requires trust, gut instinct and intuition much more than your physical senses. You drive based on as far as you can see in the moment and surrender the rest. Excess control will play havoc in this situation. This is what this retrograde is teaching us. To trust in what you cannot see clearly and still move slowly forward in trust and surrender.
For earth signs, this retrograde is creating an opportunity of disillusionment in your connections, community and relationships. You are being asked to trust in your intuition and move forward in faith even if you can't see the full picture yet. Combined with Saturn retrograde, your connections are witnessing a major haul and your trust is asked to be put in action.
For water signs, Pisces/Cancer/Scorpio, this is trusting in who you are becoming. Your sense of perceptions have been deeply challenged this past year. Now it's almost like you are tested, how much you still play small and shrunk is in question. Truth is you have evolved deeply. You have grown tremendously on a personal level. You know the identity recaliberation you have been going through. But it's thing to change but it's another thing to let your life match this new version of you. Are you ready to be perceived differently? Are you okay to let people see you differently? This new version of you, 2.0 has been getting ready hot, but how okay are you to see people this evolved you 2.0?
For air signs, Aquarius/Gemini/Libra, your finances and work has been going through a revival since last March. Saturn retrograde coupled with Neptune retrograde has brought to you reality checks in your workspace. It could be drawing your attention to how sustainable your passion project is or making you aware about the practical intricacies of your dreamy visions. Either way, it's not a bad thing to slow down even in the places you are so used to the daily grind. It'd be wise to remember right now how we speed up by slowing down. Read this piece for some inspiration today when the world seems to have slowed down way too much for your nature, air signs.
Lastly, for fire signs, Leo/Aries/Sag, this is a time to put things into perspective when it comes to the inner chambers of your mind. Think subconscious patterns getting an opportunity to be rewired, think investigating your roots to shift how things have been done in your family, think taking a pause to check in with the spiritual growth you have been harbouring. Needless to say, you don't do this everyday. You don't wonder about the greater meaning of life everyday - there are specific seasons when you do. Seasons of inner shift. Alchemical season. Healing era. When you do, you know there's a catalytic quality to it. A paramount shift. That's where you are.
Mercury enters Leo
On the same day, July 2nd, Mercury enters Leo. So while time is slowing down and saturn gets us serious, mercury in Leo gets us passionate. This, if you think, is perfect. We know what makes us excited and passionate. We know what gets us to take charge and lead. We know what gets us roaring. Mercury in Leo is bold, courageous and fun. So what this does is make us take a beat and feel okay, this is worth it. This is what makes me excited and passionate and this is something which doesn't - so where do I want to put in the work? Work takes time and effort - saturn doesn't mind that. But Saturn wants to confirm if this work aligns with our dreams and ideals (aka neptune!)? It's wise to use mercury in leo with caution because sometimes this energy can take abrupt decisions, get volatile and hasty. That's not what we want to use this energy for.
New moon in Cancer - july 5th
On 5th July, we have a New Moon in Cancer. A lovely new moon to cook and prep yourself or your loved one a meal, or draw in a tarot spread (see below), or take a bath and meditate with the new moon’s intuitive guidance. Water is malleable and intuitive, a water sign new moon is always a carrier of divine messages. So if you wish for some clarity, ask the moon.
Ask yourself on a journal - how do I wish to be mothered?
If possible, catch up with a friend or a sister you deeply trust and have a heart to heart you know you've been craving for a while.
Lastly, go to astro.com and check in where you have Cancer in your chart. Then come back and check this down below to ask or check in where you are experiencing a new beginning and how?
Jupiter sextiles North Node - july 9th
On July 9th, Jupiter sextiles North Node. This is a transit that brings in a lot of positivity and faith instilled in the direction your life has been nudging you towards. Maybe you are already on this path. Maybe a new one is forging for you. Either way, you feel Jupiter’s generous luck supporting you towards your north node. Jupiter is currently in Gemini and North Node is transiting through Aries. Naturally there's been an emphasis on claiming your individuality and independence since early last year. This sextile with Jupiter in Gemini asks us to communicate and share our knowledge, our wisdom and our resources. Jupiter is generous. What are the resources you are sitting on and how can you share them with your community? Is it publishing, is it social media, is it collaboration and partnerships - what is it that can ripple out that abundance out into the world? Right now you are being driven (north node) with Aries’ bold courageous confidence coupled with Jupiter’s deep seated desire to teach and help the groups curious and willing to learn (Gemini) new ways, beliefs and attitudes of life.
Venus enters Leo - July 11th
On July 11th, the planet of love, Venus, enters the self loving, audacious, sunny Leo. If you have Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius prominently in your chart, use this energy to fire up your lost passion, art, and talent or romance in your life.
If you are a Virgo, Capricorn, Taurus, this could be a few weeks of prodding through the inner chambers of your heart & mind. Ask - what stops me from falling in love? What stops me from being loved wholly? Where am I being critical and not seeing my lovability?
If you are a Scorpio, Pisces, Cancer, let this be a time when you use your charm to make bold moves with respect to money or work.
If you are an Aquarius, Libra, Gemini, Venus in Leo can be a beautiful time to connect to people and share your expression open heartedly. People have this likeability towards you and they want to connect to you.
Sun enters Leo - July 20th
On July 20th, we kickstart the Leo season. The vibes shift from soft cottage core to unabashed flame of fire and passion! There is one thing about Leo - leos love themselves and loves being seen by others in their spotlight. This could be either a time to shine if say you are a Leo, or it could be a time to self reflect and tend to your blocks around being seen and heard if you are say, a virgo! No one wears their heart on sleeves like a Leo does. So if you are a Leo, sun, moon, rising, venus - know that this is a time when people are looking at you and actually wanting to see what's on your heart. Don't hide. Pretty much same, if you are an Aquarius, Taurus or Scorpio. Be ready for the spotlight, attention, adulation and embrace it.
Full moon in Capricorn - july 21st
On July 21st, a Full Moon occurs in the sign of Capricorn. Remember the last full moon was also in the sign of Capricorn and on the exact date - 21st June. This full moon is happening on the later degrees and we are once again tending to subjects of last full moon. Last month I shared in my June readings what subjects Capricorn full moon touches for each sign. The essence of a Capricorn full moon is always celebrating the hard work, resilience and tenacity for completion of a personal or professional endeavour.
This time, again, this full moon is asking you to look at the same things differently. What more lessons have you learned around these issues since a month. What new pieces have come together for the subject where you have Capricorn in your chart. (Again refer to the houses in astrology infographic above). This is especially in regards to commitments and responsibilities that come with tending to your dream projects or dream relationships - or any other theme that Capricorn tends to in your chart. Capricorn is afterall ruled by Saturn, right? With Saturn retrograde, this full moon may become extra potent - especially if you are a Capricorn, Pisces, Aquarius, Cancer, Libra or Aries. For one we can certainly know is that, we are being taught how to be responsible and how to stay committed irrespective of the distractions or emotional upheavals. There needs to be a practical structure that supports your personal and spiritual growth. If you do not have them in place, it's time to get them in order. Do you need a new app, a mentor or a new productivity tool? Do you need alloted time in your calendar to connect with your partner? What do you need in practical concrete terms to support your goals and ambitions?
There is also a lot of intuitive support coming through from Neptune, Uranus and Pluto so take some time to sip through epiphanies and realizations and sit for a journaling sesh.
Chiron goes retrograde - july 26th
On July 26th, Chiron goes retrograde until December 29th. Chiron is the planet of healing and has been in the sign of Aries for the past few years. When it goes retrograde, we get an opportunity to assess how far we have come in our healing journey when it comes to our boldness, courage, and ability to initiate. What shadows have we made peace with? Are we still trying to prove, to resist and fight battles that are not our own? Are we still holding ourselves back from taking the leap? Aries is the child. Aries asks us to embrace the inner child. When Chiron in Aries, it asks us to embrace this inner child with faults and all. We are meant to make mistakes as humans, as children. We are meant to jump right into the water at times instead of standing on the sidelines and overthinking. The whole joy is about the spontaneity. The whole point is to leap in! How okay are you to be seen as unready? As unprepared? As half baked? As she who just went for it? This is all psychological stuff playing out as that's what chiron relates to, so reach out to the right tools, therapies and teachers you need to.
Who will get impacted the most with this Chiron retrograde? Aries, ofcourse, Libra, Cancer, Capricorn. Again more so if you have personal planets here (think sun, moon, rising, mercury, venus, mars).
That's all from me this month! I am so grateful for your heart to be here and receive this from me. Sending you so much love for the month ahead. 🤍 Let me know down below if this sparked some awareness for you 🦪✨☁️🧺🌽
It’s a new era! I have bid goodbye to my old brand name in all ways and my website’s new address is ‘shivanib.co’. Things will be changing slowly… But this month, I am pausing 1:1 one-off sessions. However, you can order your HD + Astrology recordings for Love, Money, Expression, Work, and Health here.
You can also listen to my meditations for free here.
I've also collaborated with Hibiscus Monkey - a bodycare brand I've fallen in love with through my skin healing journey. Click here to checkout their lovely skincare products for your body🍒
Purchase my Read your natal chart - foundational workshop here!