The general tone is overall a lot more relaxed this week, with the Sun in homebody Cancer, Uranus turning retrograde, and not a whole lot else going on. Finally, we can catch our collective breath.

The week begins with the Moon in Aquarius, conjunct Neptune and opposite Mars. We may get a brief revisit of issues or events that cropped up during last week’s Mars-Neptune opposition. As Mars was approaching opposition to Neptune last weekend, I spilled an entire pot of piping hot clam chowder on myself. Fortunately, I was wearing an apron and didn’t get burned. I also heard a report of a fire onboard a boat last weekend. Just try to be careful and keep your mind on what you’re doing.

Mercury is direct but still a little slow at the beginning of the week, and he’s in the post-retrograde shadow period until July 4. I’m getting reports that some of you are still having difficulties with communications problems that began in the pre-retrograde shadow phase. I hate to have to report this, but you may have to endure some mild-to-moderate frustration for another couple of weeks. Astro-Twitter, which began having problems in the shadow phase, still isn’t back up and running, so I’m using this as our “canary in the mine” (Neith’s line; I can’t take credit for it).

On Tuesday, the Sun in Cancer sextiles Saturn in Virgo, emphasizing service and health-related issues, especially regarding diet and the food supply. Watch the headlines for news involving these topics.

The Moon conjoins Uranus in Pisces on Wednesday, the day before Uranus turns retrograde. Aquarius, Rising Aquarius, and Rising Pisces will feel this, along with anyone who has transiting Uranus at a critical point in their charts. Things to look for will be a drop or wild fluctuations in your energy level. I always tell my clients to monitor their caffeine and alcohol intake during this shift, because it may affect you differently than it usually does.

Once Uranus turns retrograde, all of the outer planets except Saturn will be in retreat until early September, when Jupiter and Pluto return direct. Because the outer planets spend so much of the year retrograde, it’s not an uncommon event for several of them to retrograde at once, so I don’t see much significance in this, in and of itself. That said, if you have more than one outer planet in aspect to personal planets or key chart points, you might want to consider getting a transit reading. Neith and I both do them.

May we all have a restful week…

Love and blessings,
Pat

Image:  Photo by Neith. Irises have a long history in symbolism and are associated with death, particularly with transporting women’s souls to the afterlife. Irises are a main feature in the 14th key of the Tarot, which corresponds to Sagittarius.