Weekend Entertainment Guide + New Moon 7/5/24

The conjunction between Mars, Uranus, and Algol draws closer

Again, the lunation falls on a Friday, so the New Moon and Weekend Entertainment Guide will be covered in the same post. This has worked out pretty well for me during a busy part of the summer!

New Moon, looking ahead to the Mars-Uranus-Algol conjunction

Today’s New Moon in Cancer is trine Saturn and sextile Mars, both with a 5° orb. Mars and Saturn are exactly sextile each other earlier the same day.

New Moons in general are a good time to start a new endeavor. The positive connections to disciplined Saturn and assertive Mars make this particular New Moon an especially useful opportunity to take productive and grounded action.

That said, Mars is part of the biggest astrological news story of July 2024 — the potentially disruptive conjunction between Mars, Uranus, and fixed star Algol on July 15, 2024. Mars and Uranus are only 6° apart at the New Moon, so the influence of their union may already be felt. Uranus and Algol have been closer than that for a while.

Clif High has gone on record expecting a very dramatic event on July 15, and he has elaborated on this prediction since I last wrote about it. In the more creative corners of the internet, the cataclysm has been expected to occur next month for the last four years, and I am over it. It is great to explore the realms of intuition and other alternative ways of knowing, but there also needs to be accountability. If you get everybody all stirred up about some date, and then nothing happens, you need to be accountable for that.

We do not need another Danielle Ayoka, so nobody should do anything stupid. I don’t think July 15 will be a cataclysm. That said, I think there is enough volatile energy afoot that you need to be especially realistic about your personal limits. Taking a thoughtful risk that you’re ready for could pay off handsomely, but going too far beyond your capabilities might blow up in your face.

For example, I have some friends who are going on a trip over the course of July 15. From what I have heard about it, the agenda for the trip involves seeking out intense spiritual experiences. Under the influence of the Mars-Uranus-Algol conjunction, I think those who are in the right space to enjoy a totally transformative spiritual experience will probably be able to get that and enjoy it. Sometimes an explosion can be a good thing if it shatters barriers that are holding you back.

However, I decided not to go on the trip myself, even though I could have gone with them. I’m younger and in a less settled phase of life than the people going on the trip, and I’m feeling spread pretty thin between various work and family commitments already. A mind-blowing experience that might be fun for someone grounded enough to handle it would more likely be distressing for me at the moment, just in terms of being one input too many.

Instead, I’m going to stay home and watch the Republican National Convention on July 15. I’ll spend the day liveblogging it from an astrological perspective on a paid subscriber chat thread here on Substack, so start your paid subscription now if this appeals to you!

Hot on Substack

Bryan Winchell

, The Astrology of The 2nd Half of 2024: Dipping Our Toes And Diving Into The Rest of the Decade

Winchell points out that themes of the December 2020 Jupiter-Saturn conjunction may be revisited at the upcoming Jupiter-Saturn square, which will have exact hits on August 19, 2024 (or August 20, depending on your time zone), and December 24, 2024.

Frederick Woodruff

, Astrological Myth Busting 101

Woodruff reviews the book Experiments & Experience with Astrology: Reflections on Methods & Meaning by Stephen Arroyo — sounds like it contains a lot of common-sense advice!

Posts regarding Mars-Uranus-Algol conjunction on July 15

Sun Moon Self

, MARS CONJUNCT URANUS – A LOOSE CANNON?

Olivia Solner looks at how the transits of July 15 will interact with the natal charts of Donald Trump, USA, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, and Iran.

Caroline Lindon

, Lamia, Medusa and Algol

Lindon notes that Algol, which is part of the constellation Perseus, represents Medusa’s severed head held by Perseus. She then goes into the similar myth of Lamia and points out that the stories of Medusa and Lamia also have positive qualities.

Posts regarding Saturn retrograde, which began June 29

Caleb J McCoy

, Ghost Ships of the Abyss

I have the same combination McCoy does of Pisces 6th house and Gemini 9th house, meaning that the approaching square between Saturn in Pisces and Jupiter in Gemini is playing out in conflicts between daily work routines and opportunities to travel. I find his assessment relatable. I am presently writing this post while on an out-of-state trip.

Adam Sommer

, Saturn's shadow

Sommer notes that the Saturn retrograde is a good time to look at our shadow, especially in terms of issues related to the Puer and Senex archetypes.

Astrological posts regarding the June 27 Trump/Biden debate

The Cranky Astrologer

, Astrological Rear View Mirror: 7.1.24

This post argues that the June 26 trine between Mercury and Saturn gave us Mercurial clarity on the negative Saturnian qualities of the two older male candidates.

Barry Goddard

, THE DE-SELECTION OF JOE BIDEN

Goddard looks at Biden’s August 2024 lunar return to evaluate his prospects at the Democratic National Convention.

Janet Boyer

, Who's Responsible for the U.S. Presidential Debate Debacle?

Boyer expresses admiration for Marianne Williamson.

Free online events

T. Susan Chang will discuss her latest book, Dreaming the Decans, for Nightlight Astrology’s speaker series on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at 9 am PDT. I cited another book of hers, 36 Secrets: A Decanic Journey through the Minor Arcana of the Tarot, in my essay for Astrologers’ Co-Op. Register here.

Dorothy Oja's PlanetWeather

will give a presentation through Kepler College on the 2024 solar return of the United States on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at 10 am PDT. Register here.