Your July Horoscope Is Here

We begin this month in the midst of a Mercury retrograde, meaning we sadly won’t get to start July free of baggage. Ghosts from our past will loom large and our present-day egos could be rather bruised while Mercury continues to backtrack through Cancer.

The retrograde, already a catalyst for internal (and external) shake-ups, will be punctuated by a penumbral lunar eclipse on the 5th, coinciding with the full moon in Capricorn. If you weren’t already dwelling on past mistakes, loves, and losses, the eclipse will see to that. It may dredge up old regrets; it could remind you of previous versions of yourself you’ve hidden away. This is your chance to reckon with these relics, make amends if needed, and move forward with fewer shadows in your wake and a lighter load on your shoulders.

Happily, Mercury’s retrograde will come to an end on the 12th, before Leo season starts on the 22nd. We’re all liable to welcome a little more drama into our lives while the sun is in this expansive fire sign, so we’re better off having Mercury on a more direct course while we tempt fate with shorter tempers and stronger opinions.

Aries (March 21 – April 19)

Your ruling planet, Mars, moved into your sign at the end of June, setting your self-confidence and temper ablaze. This red-hot energy will be the wind in your sails all month long, so you’ll need to keep both hands firmly on the helm — this amount of fire can easily get out of control. Try channeling your self-assured passion into work, causes you care about, or just your morning jog. Try not to let this Martian influence lead you to speak over others or trample over anyone in the way of your goals.

You’ll continue to feel the heat when the sun moves into fellow fire sign Leo on the 22nd, injecting a much-needed sense of play into your life. Whether you’re spending most of your time indoors or at the beach, this is your chance to kick back and embrace some fun summertime vibes: Make a game of any menial household tasks, establish a weekly video call with your kid relatives, and make some time to romp in the sun (but not before applying some SPF). As much as you’ll be in the mood to kick butt and take names this month, your inner child deserves some time in the spotlight, too.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20)

Keep saving and spending wisely, Taurus — this is a wonderful month to add to your nest egg, tighten up your everyday budget, and put your money toward meaningful causes. Venus retrograde ended last month and left behind a stunning realization about how you deal with money (and other valuable resources like your time and energy, for that matter). If the lesson wasn’t obvious, some soul-searching around your approach to these finite but oh-so-valuable assets will be in order.

While Venus asks you to reevaluate your financial situation, Saturn retrograde will make a more existential demand. When the back spinning ringed planet moves into Capricorn on July 1, your normally change-adverse sign may start itching for just that — a change, a shift, a slight tweak, that can set you on a course toward a better, more informed, aware, and inspired version of yourself. Unfortunately, this retrograde is not conducive to movement. It will highlight where and how you can begin to broaden your horizons, but it will tell you to go over (and reckon with) your previous errors and missteps first, before you can take action.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20)

Mercury retrograde has been eyeing your bank account since June 18, Gemini, leaving you feeling on edge at best and utterly insecure about your finances at worst. Luckily, this period will come to an end on July 12, at which point you can slowly ease up on your penny-pinching and constant password-changing. As you make your way through the two-week post-retrograde shadow period (during which time you still run the risk of Mercurial hijinks), think about how you can replace defensive money habits (i.e. paying the minimum on your bills or stopping all spending instead of creating a budget), with practical, proactive ones (like budgeting wisely or creating intentional savings accounts). Anxiety is natural when dealing with money, but it shouldn’t determine how you deal with your cash.

The material world will remain top-of-mind for you during the new moon on the 20th, when questions around worth — how you define it, where you seek it, how you earn it — are likely to arise. Being realistic with money, while seeking a sense of comfort, can feel like walking a tightrope. How can you redefine what’s worth the most to you, in order to cultivate a greater sense of ease around finances?

Cancer (June 21 - July 22)

Your birthday season has been dampened by Mercury retrograde rolling through your sign since June 18, but it’s not beyond saving. Mercury will begin to direct course on the 12th, making room for a little more levity and a little less self-doubt and scrutiny. You’re a sensitive sign, Cancer, and never want to present yourself in a way that puts off others. It’s fair if you spent the last three weeks picking at every perceived flaw you found in yourself, but the time has come to look past those seeming shortcomings and consider, instead, all the good you have to offer. The 20th will see the new moon arrive in your sign and remind you that treating others well starts with yourself.

Your relationships sector will get some celestial attention this month as well: The full moon on the 5th will push you to give as good as you get in your partnerships, romantic and otherwise. This lunar phase comes with a penumbral lunar eclipse in tow, suggesting that you could stand to learn a valuable lesson on equal relationships by looking to your past.

Leo (July 23 - August 22)

Cancer season always finds you in a quieter, more pensive mood, Leo, and that reflective air felt heavier than usual this year, thanks to the Mercury retrograde that’s been spinning through Cancer since mid-June. Even if a pall has been cast over your normally exuberant sign, this period will garner important insights about who you used to be — and what you used to hold dear. Your past lays the foundation for the future, but that is not to say things are predestined. Whether you realize it or not, that foundation is slowly being unearthed. And when Mercury directs its course on the 12th, you can set about breaking down the parts of that foundation that won’t support your current hopes for the future.

Your birthday season kicks off on the 22nd, when the sun moves into your sign and sheds further light on how you’ve changed and grown in the last 12 months. Specifically, Leo, how has your view of yourself changed since Leo season 2019? Your public reputation is of the utmost importance (especially while the planet of revolutionary change, Uranus, is still strolling through your career sector), but you must first draw confidence from within. If you aren’t buying what you’re selling, why should anyone else be interested? Take the next 30 days to consider which of your qualities and accomplishments you’re proudest of (and why) — then celebrate them for all to see.

Virgo (August 23 - September 22)

What does it look like when a Virgo takes a break? You’ll find out on the 5th, when the full moon (and an accompanying penumbral lunar eclipse) occurs in Capricorn, your fellow earth sign. This lunar event will remind you that all work and no play is, indeed, no way to live. Spending one night kicking back, honing a hobby that offers no professional gain, or even indulging in some mushy pillow talk won’t tarnish your ironclad reputation as one of the hardest-working signs in the Zodiac, Virgo. Besides, the eclipse will make sure this evening isn’t solely a walk in the park: In fact, it will press upon this matter of work and play: How can you balance the two? What kinds of personal sacrifices have you made for your career in the past? Are you willing to make sacrifices in the other direction?

It’ll be wise to ponder these queries in the days following the full moon — getting into a reflective state will be good practice leading up to Leo season, which rears its noble mane on the 22nd. This time of year always catches you in a thoughtful mood, particularly willing to review the structure you’ve applied to your life and the values that determine said structure. Don’t be afraid to go dark for a few days to listen to your internal monologue without interference from the outside world, Virgo. You’ll be happy you did it a month from now, when your own solar season arrives.

Libra (September 22 - October 23)

Mars moved into your partnership sector in the final days of June, setting the stage for perhaps your least favorite kind of interactions — fiery clashes that are only stomped out with swift and direct confrontation. Normally you rely on your charm and charisma to ease interpersonal tensions, but this month you’ll be better off practicing your powers of mediation. Approach disagreements or conflicts with a solution in mind. Doing so will help you overcome any reluctance to deal with these problems head-on.

The new moon on the 20th will afford you a rare opportunity to look back on last month’s new moon and solar eclipse and see what’s changed since then. Has your career path veered off-road? Have your professional aspirations shifted? Have you opted to seek new opportunities for work altogether? Hit pause, step back, and check in: Even if things have remained mostly the same at work, that doesn’t mean they’re completely static. You have the power to set changes in motion for yourself — and your industry as a whole. Start small, Libra, and remember the social powers you possess.

Scorpio (October 23 - November 21)

Your concerns take a turn for the practical this month, Scorpio, including your sleep schedule, hydration habits, and exercise regimen. Optimizing your approach to wellness might not be the sexiest way to spend the dog days of summer, but it is necessary — and this sort of granular thinking, so closely pinned to everyday matters, can be comforting in its own way. June was a time of restlessness, creatively and personally. It was likely difficult to know where to direct your energy, as there were just too many options. This month, your mission is clear: Channel your efforts into creating a restorative routine that not only sustains you but enriches your day-to-day life.

Mark your calendar for the 22nd, when the sun moves into Leo and your career sector. Some much-deserved attention, if not an outright promotion or commendation, could be headed your way. The clearer your professional goals and aspirations are, the more likely you are to see where this solar transit is actually taking effect. Who do you want to notice your efforts? Where do you want to go next? When you set your mind to a goal, Scorpio, your focus is laser-sharp — employ that level of concentration now.

Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21)

Thanks to your naturally curious, adventurous spirit, you tend to be more comfortable flying by the seat of your pants than other signs, Sag — but that doesn’t mean you must go without a sturdy safety net. The full moon and accompanying lunar eclipse of July 5 will remind you that planning ahead doesn’t make you stuffy but, in fact, quite clever. Look back on the times you felt the most exposed and the least secure in your material standing. What remedied those feelings? Did you revise your monthly budget, take out a sensible loan, or create a side hustle out of a hobby? Whatever the solution was, exactly, it may be wise to employ it once again this month, if for no other reason than to make sure your net is, indeed, there, even if you land on your feet.

Following the moon to the opposite end of its cycle, you’ll find the new moon on the 20th in Cancer. Your thoughts will once again drift to the question of security, though with a wider definition: Yes, money matters (particularly long-term saving and investing) will be top-of-mind, but so will exchanges of a personal, social nature. You tend to welcome people into your life rather freely, Archer, but how much do they really get to know you? And what do you learn about them in return? It may be time to let someone farther in — or, alternatively, pull away from those who aren’t reciprocating.

Capricorn (December 22 - January 19)

A disciplined earth sign like yours is no stranger to self-sacrifice, Capricorn, so your mood on the 5th, when a full moon and penumbral lunar eclipse take place in your sign, could come as a surprise. Recent moments when you “took one for the team” or suffered a short-term loss in the name of long-term gain will bubble to the surface of your memory, begging the question, was it all worth it? You’re suddenly very interested in getting yours — right now. Whether it actually comes to you depends on how you ask for it. Your instinct may be to loudly demand your reward, but you may garner more favorable results with a subtle (yet stern) approach.

Cancer season, when the sun sheds its light on your relationships, is still underway, and will peak with a Cancerian new moon on the 20th, two days before the sun moves on and into Leo. Your self-sufficiency is a major source of pride, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you're always better off on your own, Cap. Spend the new moon pondering whether you value actual independence or merely the appearance of it — you won’t lose reputation points if you ask others for help sometimes, stubborn Goat.

Aquarius (January 20 - February 18)

The full moon and penumbral eclipse on the 5th will urge you to go deeper and deeper into your own mind, Water Bearer. Carve out some alone time that evening and, simply, wait. Something — news from a distant relative or friend, a sudden change at work, a disruption to your nighttime routine — will arise that requires intensive thought. Again, this is not the time to act, but to receive. Absorb the information and see how that changes your inner workings.

Luckily (depending on how you look at it), this month will offer much more than introspection. Since the sun moved into Cancer on June 20, you’ve been working to care for yourself in the most practical sense, getting plenty of rest and making relaxation a conscious choice. Now that you’ve shown yourself such love, it’s time to direct that level of affection outward and to those closest to you. On the 22nd, the sun begins its annual month-long stay in your partnership zone, during which time you’ll feel at your most fulfilled when you’re caring for and collaborating with your loved ones. If they share your quarantine bubble, make time for some in-person, one-on-one hangouts. And if your friends, family, or S.O. must remain socially distant, regularly scheduled video calls will be more important than ever.

Pisces (February 19 - March 20)

Your sign is often painted as the wise sage, the great healer, of the Zodiac, Pisces, which is a bit of a blessing and a curse. On one hand, you do have a knack for helping others — and may even have a penchant for getting personally invested in their problems. On the other, living with that level of empathy for everyone you come by can be downright exhausting — and lead you to neglect your own needs. The full moon and lunar eclipse on the 5th will ask you to find a balance. A friend, coworker, or family member will come calling for assistance and you’ll be more than happy to help, but previous instances of emotional burnout will loom large in your memory. Once their problem is squared away, what will you do for yourself, Pisces?

Meanwhile, Mars will supercharge your money sector all month long, urging you to optimize your earning potential and do some major spending in the same breath. Let’s return to the idea of balance: Is there a practical splurge you’ve been putting off in the name of thriftiness? This could be your cue to make the purchase. Have you been waiting to ask for a raise until the time feels right? Take stock of your recent accomplishments at work — your track record just might speak for itself, timing be damned. Ignore any feelings of awkwardness and speak up for yourself and act in your own financial interest this month, selfless Pisces.

Here, take a look back to see if your June horoscope was on point.