Astrological Forecast
July & August 1989
By Terry Lamb, M. A.
Major Planetary Events
Sun opposite Saturn 11° Can/Cap July 2
Sun opposite Neptune 11° Can/Cap July 2
Cancer New Moon 11°15' Cancer July 2
Moon occult Venus 8° Leo July 4
Mars square Pluto 12°27' Leo/Sco July 6
Venus conjunct Mars 16° Leo July 12
Sun conjunct Mercury 26°01' Cancer July 18
Cancer Full Moon 26°04' Can/Cap July 18
Sun enters Leo 0°00' Leo July 22
Pluto stationary direct 12°22' Sco. July 22
Jupiter enters Cancer 0°00' Cancer July 30
Leo New Moon 9°22' Leo Aug. 1
Lughnasad 15°00' Leo Aug. 7
Jupiter oposite Uranus 1°45' Can/Cap Aug. 8
Leo Full Moon Eclipse 24°12' Leo/Aqu Aug. 16
VirgoNewMoonEclipse 7°48' Virgo Aug. 30
As you may have noticed from the time of the Saturn-Neptune conjunction on March 3rd, the energies are shifting. This is part of a deep process which I have been alluding to for the last year—its energies are beginning to show us what we can expect of the future. In this shift, we can expect all manifestation of life to become feminized: what was externalized will be internalized; what could be achieved through active means will require more receptive means; what was achieved by force will require nurturing.
If you are an initiate of an esoteric order or spiritual group (whether external and named or inner and personal), you may have noticed the shift on subtle levels. As it manifests itself, grounding slowly into denser form, we can see that the shift is something we have been talking, thinking and dreaming about for centuries—or at least a few years. The New Age is upon us, for the earth has entered a period of initiation. Initiates on the Path have been, are, or will be attuned to its advent this year. From the beginning of March, so much that was manifested as activity has gone inside. While this was immediately apparent to some people, others are still running on the old energy. In the meantime, the peculiar way that things are turning out has many puzzled, some confused, others in anguish. If you have used your inner awareness of the signs of the times to create a path in alignment with your spirit and soul, you are living through this time in relative peace. The wave of the future will manifest itself in your life in Divine Right Timing according to your path and those of others involved. You should be able to sense that the nature of your new path is in some way different, in some way more attuned to the feminine. If you have been pursuing your path through effort, you are delaying its beginning—allow it to come to you like a chipmunk after a crumb of food. Create your path in your life by creating the space for it. It will fall into the void.
The events in July and August seem to come in pairs. The first occurs when the Sun opposes both Saturn and Neptune on July 2nd. This is the "full" phase, like a full moon, bringing the culmination of the cycles of the Sun with Saturn and Neptune. Expect this to bring about events related to the theme of manifesting spirit in matter—the role of the Saturn-Neptune conjunction. This comes on the same day as the New Moon in Cancer, introducing a month-long theme of nourishment, family and home. Because the energies tend to manifest in concert with the lunar cycles, look for these energies to all peak after the July 18th Full Moon.
On the evening of the 4th, look for a beautiful and rare sight—an occultation of Venus and the Moon. An occultation occurs when the planets line up so that the nearer planet hides the farther. This time, because the Moon is in the crescent phase, you will still be able to see Venus. And Mars will be only 5o off from this conjuncting pair.
On the 6th, Mars moves into its waning square with Pluto, the last one before they conjunct again on November 27, 1989. On their last conjunction—on December 25, 1985—we began a new cycle relating to the use of sexuality and aggression. With the last square, we reach mature consciousness of how to use these energies together. Ultimately they have much to do with our understanding of sexuality. I can't help but feel that this cycle has some relevance to our understanding of sexual abuse and A.I..S. Watch these times to see it I'm right.
Venus and Mars conjunct on the 12th, bringing a new cycle of basic initiative and desire. Venus rules what you desire and Mars rules how you go about getting it. Therefore, a new cycle of these planets rules the way we decide what we want and how to get it. Make your plans now!
Since the retrograde period ended in June, we have been in an outwardly manifesting, progressive phase of Mercury's energy. At this time we become more conscious of Mercury's function in our lives on this cycle (ruled by the house and sign in which it began in our charts). Since this is also the day of the Full Moon in Cancer/Capricorn (when all the energies collected at the New Moon will release), look for this to be a humdinger of a Full Moon!
On the day that the Sun enters Leo, Pluto moves back to its normal direction through the signs. Now, finally, we can complete things begun last November and taken out of our hands on February 16th. The emphasis here is on transformation.
A week later, Jupiter moves into Cancer, not to return to Gemini for another 11 years. This is of particular importance, since it is now positioned to oppose the planets in Capricorn. This full phase of Jupiter with these planets should bring momentous events, the first of which occurs on August 8th, when Jupiter opposes Uranus. The conjunction of these planets started the cycle on January 19, 1984, at 0o Capricorn. This signals the combination of intuition and understanding, creating a suprasensory insight. It also rules the cycle of rebellion and change in the socio-political order. This certainly will have some impact via the current "witch hunt" (excuse the expression) on Capitol Hill. Some say that the Republicans in Congress are out for blood. This, of course, is a yearlong trend and forms a pattern of growing strength of the people at the head of the socio-political order—Congress, the President/Cabinet, etc. Another example of this is the success of Voter Revolt, an organization which brought about the successful Proposition 103 insurance initiative in California. The battle on implementation of this initiative may heat up right about this time.(Hmmm... )
This opposition comes on the heels of Lugh's day, when we begin the harvest period. This is the first harvest, when the grain is ripe but not yet harvested. It is a time of waiting and making your final affirmations to fix the energies of the harvest period. Think of what you want from the harvest, until Samhain begins the cycle anew.
As if this weren't enough to keep our poor, bedraggled souls busy, we have a new eclipse cycle beginning with the lunar eclipse of the Full Moon of August 16th, in Leo/Aquarius. Finally, Virgos and Pisces get a much deserved rest! But watch out you fixed signs! Since all the baby boom people have at least Pluto in Leo, many people will be affected by this new eclipse pattern coming into effect.
The capstone of the eclipse pyramid is put into place on August 30th (my birthday!), when the solar eclipse occurs. But does this have me shaking in my boots? Nooo! I shook out of them long ago! Actually, I got the crucial information of the eclipses in Virgo and Pisces last fall when the solar eclipse fell on my descendant (I have Pisces rising). I look forward to this eclipse bringing some well-deserved changes! For everyone else, this should be the least troublesome solar eclipse in some time. It forms harmonious aspects to all the outer planets and is in a sign that we have gotten accustomed to changing in for over two years. As a New Moon, it is a time to plant the seed of Right Timing in life, for Virgo is the womb of time, the sacred Keeper of the Seed of the Goddess. In fact, a better name for Virgo is "the Priestess."
What I want to emphasize the most at this time is that we need to develop a sense of direction that takes into account goals beyond ourselves. We need to think long and hard about the things we do that destroy our planet—do I really need to drive across town to see a doctor, or is there a closer one that will do as well? Or, maybe I should turn off the water while I brush my teeth. Or, maybe I should get interested in what's happening to the Amazon rain forests. All these give us clues to our collective path. Look inward to find how to manifest your path in this new age.
Many blessings in your process of discovery! | 
