How has this Mercury retrograde been treating you? Have you been reflecting on or reconsidering what “home” means? This Mercury retrograde in Cancer is about critically analyzing the ways we nurture one another while considering how we can care for one another better. “Home” is an energy we carry from place to place. What does that look like for you? If you’re not quite sure what your path forward is, Sunday, July 12 should offer a clarifying moment of vision when Mercury crosses the sun. In addition, Neptune is stationing retrograde this week. Neptune is the planet of ideals and illusions, and when it stations retrograde we are given a big dose of reality. Our belief system may be challenged or our dreams may be brought down to reality. This transit is about letting go of false hopes that do not reflect the evidence in front of us, but it’s also about committing to the beliefs that sustain us. We do not have the divine support to hold our idyllic hopes and dreams up for us while Neptune is retrograde, so we need to figure out how to keep our hopes alive on our own. It’s a challenge that strengthens.
Here are your horoscopes for Neptune’s station retrograde and Venus entering Virgo. Read for your rising and sun signs.
Cancer
June 21 – July 22
What is your highest vision of your public presence and your work life? Particularly in our society, we are sold this view that our career is a major part of our identity. Is that the case for you? It’s certainly good to have dreams and goals, but remember that you come first. Don’t lose yourself in the desire to attain higher status. Also, ask yourself how you can be a better neighbor in the next few weeks.
Leo
July 23 – Aug. 22
When you dream of the adventures you want to have in this lifetime, where does your mind go? Let your imagination soar. Now take those dreams and consider what is actually feasible for you. Too many dream destinations can be paralyzing, but a couple manageable options make your goals probable. Start to pay attention to your spending. Aim for quality, not quantity.
Virgo
Aug. 23 – Sept. 22
Invest your time, energy and money in ways that will bring you the returns you desire. When you merge with another person or share your resources with other people, there is a hope that accompanies that interaction. Hope for the best, but pay attention to what is actually possible. Protect your heart and/or your assets. For the next couple weeks, self-love is the name of the game.
Libra
Sept. 23 – Oct. 22
Partnership is sold to us as the highest goal we can achieve. “True love” is part of the Disneyfication of our world. That’s not to say love and relationships aren’t great, but hyper-romanticization can prevent us from seeing who is actually our other and how they are showing up. A real person comes with flaws. Can loving the flaws be the goal? See if you can love your alone time these coming weeks.
Scorpio
Oct. 23 – Nov. 21
There is an ideal way to go about your daily routine. But, rather than fitting yourself into a new structure, make the structure fit you. You don’t have to follow a TikTok fad or a fitness influencer’s demands. No external structure can compete with your own intuition. Lean into what makes your body feel healthy and keeps your mind pleasantly occupied. Love your die-hard friends a little extra in July.
Sagittarius
Nov. 22 – Dec. 21
Simply being alive is a creative act. We are all here with a creative impulse to put something out into the world that makes it a bit more beautiful, expresses our unique perspective and contributes to the evolution of the human spirit. What do you put out there? Don’t be too lofty about your creativity because that can stifle the flame. Just share your unique spark. Bring your grace to work with you in the coming weeks.
Capricorn
Dec. 22 – Jan. 19
Trying to get back home is an archetypal motif built into some of our greatest stories, from the Odyssey to Oz. Once we are born and thrown into a chaotic world, we are always seeking a return to the comfort and love of the womb. And yet, we are confronted with an imperfect reality and mere facsimiles. Carry the dream while holding the real. Some new attractions are coming your way. Embrace the adventure.
Aquarius
Jan. 20 – Feb. 18
Many times, the medium is the message. How we say something is just as important as what we are saying. Is there an ideal way to get your point across? Maybe. However, the ideal medium is not an abstract concept, it is a living message. Share your point of view in the best way you know how and have faith you’re doing it right. Silence will get you nowhere. Do your best to practice some vulnerability.
Pisces
Feb. 19 – March 20
When you picture your ideal surroundings, has it been organized by Marie Kondo or is it like a maximalist witch’s cottage? What you fill your space with is a direct reflection of what you fill your psyche with. You can dream of your perfect space and what it’s filled with, but you also need to work with what you have. Don’t fall into the trap of cheap and fast. Find items that last. Revel in partnership in the coming weeks.
Aries
March 21 – April 19
Our self-image is different from our actual self. We can think we have a good idea of who we are, but the reality of how we show up in the world can be quite different. I do not think it is possible to actually make our self-image align perfectly with our actual self, but there is a proximity we can achieve. Part of that is dropping our desire for perfection. Be a squirrelly mess and love it. Find ways to love the things you have to do.
Taurus
April 20 – May 2
In the age of quick dopamine and endless scrolling, deep reflection and genuine relaxation are harder and harder to achieve. We may think that we need a massage and a spa to enter into quiet meditation, but those are not always available. How can you unplug in your quiet time to realistically drop into calmness? Seek the achievable, not the perfect. Your creative juices are about to flow, so find your medium.
Gemini
May 21 – June 20
Sometimes, the illusion of support is all you need. If you believe there are folks who want you to succeed, you can set out to achieve whatever goal you set for yourself. This week, though, it’s time to take a good look at the folks who are genuinely rooting for you. Let their voices get louder and let the half-hearted platitudes be drowned out. In the coming weeks, home is where the heart is.
