Your stars 11 July 2010
Posted on 11 July 2010
Your Stars11 July 2010
“These late eclipses in the sun and moon portend no good to us…Nature finds itself scourged” – William Shakespeare, King Lear
Total eclipses of the Sun have long had a reputation for trouble. Take the eclipse of 29 March 1652: people were so convinced it spelled disaster that diarist John Evelyn noted that “hardly any would work, none would stir out their houses”.
Further back, at least 4000 years back, our ancestors were so preoccupied with eclipses that they built monuments like Stonehenge that could effectively predict eclipses: Robin Heath’s excellent and popular books, Stonehenge and Sun Moon and Earth, explain how and why in just 58 pages each. Recommended!
These days astrologers take a more sanguine view of a total eclipse, seeing it as a marker point in one’s personal calendar or even as an opportunity, a point of release from the bondage of the past. A blunderbuss of an old pop tune, ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’, springs to mind.
Today’s total solar eclipse is also a new Moon – at 7.40 PM GMT – and therefore a starting point. It’s certainly the start of the 2010’s second chapter, coinciding closely with Saturn’s movement into Libra and the point where Uranus and Jupiter turn backwards.
Speaking personally, I am taking this eclipse as a point to release myself from writing weekly forecasts on this site. I know many readers enjoy the Sunday morning ritual of coffee and ‘scopes, but work and Saturn compel a reduction, so from August, the forecasts will be monthly.
Cancer
Nothing stays the same forever, not even a Cancerian’s lovingly tended way of life. Those of you keen to start anew can use today’s new Moon as a seed moment for a more assertive, outgoing phase in your affairs. If you also fancy a makeover of your look, here’s your chance. For those of you who are quite happy thanks, rest assured Saturn will give you a firm nudge in the right direction come the autumn.
In the short term, Venus and Mars provide an ideal week for flitting round the ‘hood checking up on buddies, siblings and those you d like to pull into your orbit. It’s still your month remember.
If it’s your birthday today: time to leave behind the part of your life that you least like. It probably won’t happen overnight but by Christmas your hand will likely be forced anyway. Jump or be pushed.
Leo
Swiftly arriving (yesterday) and swiftly leaving (on the 27th), Mercury is not a planet that favours time wasters. Look upon yourself as a communications hub rather than as a force majeure for now. Duck and dive, fiddle and fix, even on behalf of others. If you were born in the early days of Leo – 23-26 July, don’t mistake this phase as merely pleasant – this week also represents an outstanding opportunity!
An eclipse in your solar twelfth house means: secrets come to light. An opportunity to serve selflessly.
Virgo
Back garden astrology will show you Venus and Mars in the east at dusk, now passing through your stretch of the zodiac. In action terms, this pair spell a phase to clarify the terms on which you run personal relationships. You can be Ms Glam or Mr Bam, tender or tough, according to need. Saturn is in the last gasp of its tenure in your skies, so you can also sign off associations that have run their course, especially those started over the last three years. In short, you’re in the driving seat (and if you don’t drive, consider learning).
An eclipse in your solar eleventh house means: a broken association with a colleague can be mended.
Libra
If you are feeling like a fretful bride or groom, wondering what will happen after that fateful walk up the aisle, you are in tune with your ‘scope. The comforting thought is that no-one does know what will definitely happen around the next turn of the road, not even your astrologer (though any worthwhile star-gazer will promise you plenty of Saturnian sweat this autumn). Venus (your guide) and Mars suggest a period of preparation and (to repeat last week’s forecast) self-examination are in order prior to the more decisive phase of August. A first quarter Moon in your skies next weekend is, however, a cue, if not a demand, to stay highly visible!
An eclipse in your solar tenth house means: a change of professional identity.
Scorpio
Onwards, onwards. A red blooded Scorp fears nothing so trivial as a solar eclipse, especially one in your fellow water sign of Cancer (see below). More immediate are the minor planets now casting commercial opportunities before your feet or, if you’re not the business type, linking you with associates old and new. It’s a smooth, obliging phase of the summer – use it how you like.
An eclipse in your solar ninth house means: a link with a distant friend is under scrutiny. Get in touch.
Sagittarius
Mixed signals. The big bad world doesn’t look inclined to do you any favours, just ask for more effort. Turn up to work looking spruce in any case, to show that the buzzards aren’t grinding you down. Bright ideas, research, study, internet surfing are all under Mercury’s illuminating favours. Real life surfing and other jolly sports are also under affirmative stars.
An eclipse in your eighth solar house means: money comes, money goes. Your job is to make it stick around.
Capricorn
You’re halfway through your personal year with a new Moon opposite; a perfect point to contemplate what you want from the next six months. Get those objectives etched into place and pursue them in methodical Capricorn fashion – just now you have a following wind. With the mighty Sun in your opposite sign of Cancer, however, your energy might need conserving.
An eclipse in your solar seventh house means: a relationship reborn, or a partner surplus to requirements disappearing.
Aquarius
Crank up the dialogue between you and significant others, whether lovers, friends or bridge partners. There’s a lot to learn and impart at present, and no static in the way. Emotionally too, this is a potentially rewarding phase when passions (of a sort that Aquarians are rumoured not to have) can be given expression. Work must, of course, be done, but it looks less rewarding for now than your private life. A strict 9 to 5 approach might help, rather than letting jobs sprawl.
An eclipse in your solar sixth house means: a change of routine. Putting health first.
Pisces
It’s pull and push time, the pull being supplied by people who attract you, and whose personal gravity field seems unavoidable. The push comes from those who openly work against you, rivals out to keep ahead in their imaginary pecking order. A hand-to-hand tussle, so to speak, is probably not to your advantage, better to shine more brightly and let the world at large decide what it will. You’re in a positive phase for all matters of self-expression. As for those compulsively attractive people – what are you going to do but take the bait, at least tentatively?
An eclipse in your solar fifth house means: a change of heart. Re-aligning your priorities.
Aries
The obstinate part of your personal year begins in August, when you have planets in opposition, and even then said month is tempered by helpful factors. Keeping that timetable in mind might help you to extract maximum juice from July, which remains all action, productivity and surprises. Anything likely to deliver that gratifying agenda is where to place your energy. Time enough for actual graft later in the year.
The quarter Moon you’ll see next weekend is in opposition, incidentally, so give partners a little space.
An eclipse in your solar fourth house means: a change in your actual house, whether renovation or relocation.
Taurus
This is a quick-moving, positive phase in which the first challenge is simply to keep pace with events. Putting yourself into situations where you must shine and deliver (or else) may also be required; you, that’ll be you, indominatable with nerves of steel. What’s more, your planets ask you to enjoy yourself in a loud and brazen way. While Taureans are out of the line of fire of this year’s more challenging configurations, this is nonetheless a bright patch, with Wednesday outstanding.
An eclipse in your solar third house means: a new social circle.
Gemini
Rest, repose and reflection…there will be plenty of chances to get all three at the end of the summer, but for now it looks like a case of perpetual movement, with yourself in your favoured role as messenger, agitator and live wire. A little burning of both ends of the candle shouldn’t leave any lasting damage. If you’re an intellectual, arty or writerly brand of Gemini, the rest of July is absolutely for you. For romantics comes next weekend, a charmed spot.
An eclipse in your solar second house means: a hole in your pocket or pennies from heaven.
33 responses to Your stars 11 July 2010
There is so much terrifying information deluged upon us now, from global ecology and economy all the way down to the increasingly horrible uncertainty of each of our lives. For many years I turned to you every Sunday for that one element of hope, and was devastated when at the end of a dark winter the Observer went through that last change and got rid of most of the best pages, including yours.
Thank you for carrying on with the forecasts on this site, good fortune with your work, and see you monthly in future.
@ eve
Yes, one shrinks from adding to the gloom, but when one looks at the planetary cycles you can’t help thinking, at times, ‘Uh-oh’! For example, Saturn-Pluto combinations have a well defined history of glum events (eg 9/11) and we are facing that same duo now. On a personal, microsmic level, it’s easier to find the silver linings.
Many thanks for all your hard work to date- I always look forward to reading your insightful comments. Weekly, monthly…it’s all good!
All the very best with your new projects- I hope they prosper for you!
Many thank yous for all the weeklies these past few months! Glad to hear it is to be continued into monthlies (nice way to start a month with a brief heads up!). Thank you
I will really miss your weekly writings Neil. Thankyou.
Thank you so much for the work you have put into the weekly forecasts, they are fantastic. I will miss them, but along with all your other fans I understand why you are changing to monthly, and will look forward to them just as much. I have actually stopped buying the Observer as it just isn’t the same as it used to be. Your horoscopes are fascinating and insightful, inspiring and reassuring, long may they continue! Thank you x
Great great shame, but entirely understandable.
Thanks for all the forecasts up till now, and I look forward to the monthly ones.
It must be the changes ushered in by this eclipse!
Best of luck Neil and many thanks for your wonderful weekly insights. They will be missed. I will await your monthlies with at least four times as much excitement!
All the bset
H xx
Oh I will be so sad not to have you every Sunday but will understand and be grateful for you monthly. The Observer really were foolish to let you go.
Thanks for all you do – you really are my Sunday guilty pleasure!
Dear Mr Spencer, thank you very, very much for all you have done in the past. You’re simply THE BEST!
Naturally, shall be missing your weekly wisdom, but fully understand you have other obligations. Good luck and all best wishes to you and yours!!!
Dearest Neil Spencer
I have to join the chorus of the disapointed (but understanding ) fans.I have read your Observer weekly faithfully for years and was sad to see it end. And now your weekly ends up too. Could we do something about it? Not only your acuity but your style ( which was tough for me as far as language goes/ being french)will be missed.
M
Will miss the weekly horoscope desperately but so glad you are still doing a monthly. Thank you!!
thank you so much for a delightfully different interpretation of the stars. I only wish I’d discovered you earlier.
Dear Neil,
You’ve been a star to continue your horoscopes post The Observer at such a trying time for many.
This creative freelance Saggy devours every word with enthusiasm and gusto. Thank you so much for keeping up the monthly horoscopes. They are most appreciated. Best of luck with your endeavours.
Saggy
Personally, I’m surprised (and have been pleased) that you kept the weekly ones going for so long! That is a lot of toil, as weeks fly by so very quickly. We have been spoiled!
I am delighted to know that you will be keeping in touch monthly – thank you so much. You are the best Enjoy your new projects.
By the way…re this week’s scope…how right you are yet again Neil,as I embark on my “new professional identity”. Clearly, I am not the ‘retiring’ type of person. A year ago I couldn’t wait to stop working. Soon I will be able to appreciate a fresh and invigorating extension to my career.
(Personal/family concerns may be a different matter)
Thanks again for your scopes, on behalf of myself and o/h (Sagittarius).
MARKC–
You can make a donation to the site, there’s a paypal link if you look for it. Since Neil is first of all a writer and second, an astrologer, 1) it’s why his forecasts are so well written, and 2) Idon’t think he’s the sort to ask for money upfront.
But if people were to donate unasked, it would be all the more appreciated.
And I don’t know him personally, I only believe in supporting people who provide services such as this, and I’ve sent ‘thank you’ gifts by paypal before he put up the logo. I’m unemployed myself, so it’s not much…but a lot of ‘not muches’ can add up…
Neil, as the others have said, once a month is good, since it will be from you. And I hope you don’t mind my ringing the bell for your paypal button.
Kia ora Neil
Thanks for your work here, always enjoyed you in the Observer and will still appreciate your monthly guidance.
As an 11 July birthday I am looking forward to embracing the new opportunities you have forecast. Especially with my own career!
All the best with your work plans
Hi Neil:
Thanks for providing these weekly ’scopes. They are the only accurate ones I read, and will miss them dreadfully. What are you working on?
Many thanks
Leslie
Looking forward to getting my horoscope monthly now – and great to see that you are so busy.
Thank you so much for taking the time to do these, you make so much sense and they are so interesting to read. Look forward to the monthly scope. Bestwishes from a Capricorn.
I will continue to look forward to your writings! As ever I relish the connections you make – with the stars, the arts, & the world stage as well as my own. Thank you so much.
Monthly is fine with me – I’m a bit of a slow burner at the minute, so I might feel less like I’ve ‘missed’ my chance as the ensuing 6 days tick by!
til August…
Always such a pleasure to read your writing, Neil. Thanks for all the time you’ve spent on these and I’ll look forward to a monthly treat even more!
Thank you Neil for all that you do and have done – Your accuracy is as always breathtaking. The weekly task must be an onerous one and we can only understand and feel lucky that you feel able to continue to a monthly forecast. As ever I will look forward to it and the light it sheds on life. Thank You.
A big thank you for providing us with further astral guidance. I always enjoyed reading your ’scopes as part of my Sunday morning ritual. If once a month is all you can provide us with I think we should be more than grateful.
Good luck with your new ventures!
sad..but understandable its a lot of work, thankyou for keeping the monthlies though! one question – distant as in far flung or also close yet out of touch?
neil,
a shame these are going to be monthly, but better than nothing – yours are the only astrological forecasts I read, and I find them apt.
Don’t know what happened with the Observer, but its their loss.
Well hope you can keep them going, even if its monthly – we all really enjoy them.
john
Thanks so much as ever for this heads-up on the eclipse and the planetary direction of travel. You manage to be literary, insightful and metaphysical, in less than 100 words a sign! You’re absolutely the best sun sign astrologer out there.
So sorry your forecasts will be monthly, but that’s just selfish. Their gift is priceless however often you do them. Hope Saturn cuts you some slack, and thank you for this site.
i’m so going to miss your weekly writings! ;-(
Dear Neil
Many thanks for continuing to provide your much appreciated insights and interpretations. I can appreciate the work this has involved and I’m only too pleased that you are still willing to provide a monthly review – you are a star!
I’ll miss the weekly horoscopes, but monthly ones are still very welcome. Your horoscopes are very good. I’ve not checked your alexa rank, but I’d guess that you could monetize this site; if you so wished.
What are your plans for future writing and website development?
Oh, I’m sad to hear you’ll only be posting monthly ’scopes but better that than none at all eh?! Wishing you everything wonderful with your upcoming projects. On a more personal note I look forward to saturn leaving virgos skies soon! Ah bliss.
Thanks for the scopes, and I totally understand the pull of Saturn! Good luck with your mahi (māori for work) & I hope it’s paid in kind.
Monthly is fine with me. Thank you for all that you do.