Tuesday July 2, 2024
– Balsamic Moon Phase – release, transform, healing, forgiveness, prepare for the new
![](http://astrogardens.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Daily7-2.jpg)
– Retrogrades in 2024 –
- Pluto – May 2 – October 12
- Saturn – June 30 – November 15
- Neptune – July 2 – December 7
– Moon in TAURUS –
– Best Days (from the Farmer’s Almanac) – July 2nd – 3rd – Write, Host a Party, Buy a Car, Mow to Slow Growth, Harvest, Kill Plant Pests, Wash Wooden Floors, Quit Smoking, Cut Hair to Slow Growth
– Planting Calendar (from the Farmer’s Almanac) – July 2nd – 3rd – Poor days for planting, seeds tend to rot in ground. Good harvest days.
– Sabian Symbol for the Solar-Lunar Year: – 20 ARIES: a young girl feeding birds in winter
– Aspect of the Aeon Sophia: (Wisdom): – Kali – The Destroyer
– Aspect of the Aeon Thelete: (Will/Desire): Kathe, God of the South – Waves and Music
– Sabian Symbol for the Solar-Lunar Month – New Moon in Gemini SUN/MOON – 17 GEMINI: the head of a robust youth changes into that of a mature thinker (EARTH – 17 SAGITTARIUS: an Easter sunrise service)
SUN – 12 CANCER: a Chinese woman nursing a baby whose aura reveals him to be the reincarnation of a great teacher
EARTH – 12 CAPRICORN: a student of nature lecturing, revealing little-known aspects of life
Wandering Stars
The word ‘planets’ comes from the ancient Greek word πλανήτης (planētēs) meaning “wanderer”, and the Greek word for “star” is ἀστήρ (astēr) – and so ἀστήρ πλανήτης (astēr planētēs), means “wandering stars”, and that was what the Greeks called the planets. They appeared as bright stars, but their paths wandered and deviated relative to the “fixed” stars, which appear to wheel overhead at night.
from https://www.wandering-stars.net/
![](http://astrogardens.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/retrograde-1.jpg)
You look in the sky at night and see lots and lots of stars (if you are in an area not polluted by light of course). From the time people looked into the sky, they noticed the heavenly lights. And noted that there were a few of them that were first brighter than the rest. And that these tended to wander in the sky when viewed day after day. Not moving so fast as to notice. But if you noticed them night after night, they wove move in relation to the others.
We know now that these were the planets. They are closer to the Earth than the stars. And since they all orbit the sun, they move in relation to one another.
Due to the difference in distance in the orbits, the planets “lap” each other. As one passes the other, it appears to move backwards in the sky for a period of time. This passing time is known as a retrograde.
Astrologically, it represents a review of the energy that had been experienced. For close planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars) this means a relatively short retrograde period 1-2 months. For the outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Chiron) the periods are longer (3-5 months)
I first became aware of retrogrades in college Astronomy class, and only as the phenomena offered something of interest to look at in the sky.
Astrologically, I discovered it as a result of Mercury Retrograde – in December of 2011. I heard a speaker talking about it, and started putting things together.
The discovery sent me own a rabbit hole that I am still down inside of. For myself, my chart is Mercury heavy – In rulership in Gemini. And over the next year, I saw how it affected me. At the time I was actively seeking employment, after being laid off. I found that during Mercury retrograde, I would receive more than usual hits from job inquiries. And interviews that went no where.
Would I call it bad? No. But something to pay attention to and to learn to work with.
Not all retrogrades are as dramatic as Mercury. We tend to hear more about it because of the fact that there are usually 3 of them every year. And other planets just do not get the same press. But the energy is still there. When you pay attention, you can work with is. And hopefully not get pulled under.
I put together some comments about the present retrogrades. The comments are not my own. But they give a flavor of what to expect.
Pluto – May 2 – October 12
Pluto’s shift into Aquarius on January 20, 2024, marked the beginning of a new era. From May 2 to October 11, 2024, Pluto’s retrograde will briefly move between Capricorn and Aquarius before settling into Aquarius for the next 20 years. As we reflect on the changes brought by Pluto in Aquarius, it’s an opportunity to tap into our inner strength and power.
Saturn – June 30 – November 15
On Saturday, June 29th, Saturn, Teacher of Karmic Lessons, shifts to retrograde motion at 3:07pm EDT until November 15th. He will travel from 19 degrees of the spiritual sign of Pisces, back to 12 degrees, so anyone who has planets, angles or points covering these degrees in the signs of Pisces, Virgo, Gemini and Sagittarius will be mostly effected by this cycle of the ringed planet! Although we all have this this Pisces energy somewhere in our charts so it does effect everyone in some aspect of our lives. Look to where 12-19 degrees Pisces falls in your chart, and what house, or houses of the zodiac it is traveling through during this time. Saturn is known as the Task Master and rules responsibility, ambition, structure, discipline, patience, resilience, authority figures, control, testing, karmic lessons, wisdom and mastery. As he turns retrograde his energy is turning inwards so that we take the time to contemplate these things and what they might mean as far as our soul evolution and growth. Where do you need to take responsibility for your current circumstances? How can you restructure your life to create a more solid foundation and sense of security for yourself? What lessons did your soul choose to learn in this lifetime and what steps can you take to master them now? These are some of the questions to ask yourself over the next few months as he travels back in time until November 2024.
Neptune – July 2 – December 7
Today, NEPTUNE moves retrograde, joining both Pluto and Saturn, taking you on an introspective journey within. How do you feel? Have you noticed that cosmic energy is intensive and that people or situations from your past are back and featuring strongly? This retrograde is the MOST SPIRITUALLY DIRECTED of all. It’s why our DREAMS have been so potent for days and why the potential for your deeper awakening is close. From now until early December, you’re in the most empowering period of the year for developing your ‘purposeful’ spiritual path.
Also be aware that the following planets will be stationing soon:
Chiron – Jul 26 – Dec 27
Mercury – Aug 5-28
Uranus – Aug 29 – Jan 27