With Pluto opposing both Mercury and the Sun early this week, we may find ourselves having quite provocative experiences. A sense of urgency may prevail, and feeling as if we’re face-to-face with topics of survival, sustainability, and life and death may ratchet up stress, worry, and tension. Matters of daily life—including environmental considerations—may feel quite extreme. One example of this is the to-the-brink heat currently being in experienced in parts of the world including the UK, where forecasters have noted that conditions this week will approach the global warming models that they projected for 2050! (As I currently write this from Milan, Italy, where the weather has loomed—and will continue to hover—around 100F/40C, I can attest that the intensity is searing.)

The Plutonian focus his week may also have us quite conscious of power dynamics at play, whether in our personal lives or the world around us. If you are aware of a possible struggle existing between someone who wants to wrest control from another, try to attune to the motivation that underlies it. Attempt to pierce below the surface to perceive whether it’s because they want to consolidate their own resources or whether instead it is stemming from a sense of duty and responsibility that truly and honestly safeguards all parties involved.

You may also find it a time when emotions and thoughts, especially those buried in the recessed caverns of your mind and heart, burst forth. And while this can be illuminating, it may also feel stirring and explosive. What arises may appear out of character and may have you initially expressing proclamations such as “But, I’m not the jealous type!” or “It’s not me that’s bothered by this!” or “As I am a very understanding and forgiving person, it’s not me that experiences such rage!” and other similar sentiments. And yet, what may course through are feelings that actually are truly yours, that live within you, but which you have distanced yourself from, having tried to subjugate them to live their lives in another land, that of the unconscious.

And yet, invariably, out of sight is rarely out of mind. And the part of our mind, our unconscious, that seems out of sight never truly is.

So, if you find yourself with rousing emotions, notably those that are accompanied with determined protestations, do some compassionate investigating. Consider whether these thoughts and feelings may actually live within you and play a role in what you think and feel, and how you act.

As you do this, you may find a healing movement, an opportunity to embrace a deeper sense of wholeness. And in that, by not castigating facets of yourself but rather being in acceptance of all of you, these gripping feelings may begin to release; after all, whatever we resist often seems to persist.

There is a sense of integration that comes through embracing our personal “underworld.” That this process can lead to great healing this week feel quite significant given that these two transformative Pluto alignments occur as Chiron, the celestial body that embodies the wounded healer, stations as it sets to go retrograde.

As you approach the weekend, focus upon what you’ve learned over the last several weeks related to family dynamics, the essence of home, and what true belonging feels like. As the Sun enters the last few days of Cancer (set to roar into Leo on Friday), it seems as if we can distill more insights on what we’ve recently moved through related to these realms of life.

As the Sun blazes into Leo, we enter a month-long period in which we’re inspired to be more creative and share ourselves with others. Living through our heart—orienting from a vantage point of love, play, and childlike wonder—may be even more aligned than usual. Let yourself shine and be who you are: not only will that authentic generosity give you vibrancy and vitality, but those around you will benefit as they will be able to experience the gifts that only you can offer to them and the world.

Be well,

xxStephanie

Astrological Highlights

July 18: Mercury/Pluto Opposition
July 19: Sun/Pluto Opposition, Mercury enters Leo, Chiron Stations Retrograde
July 22: Sun enters Leo
July 23: Mercury/Jupiter Trine

All days reflect Eastern Daylight Time (-4 hours GMT)

Stellar Insights: July 18 - 24, 2022