Scorpio (October 23 - November 21)

Your July Horoscope by Susan Miller

In just one month, two eclipses are due. These eclipses will be more important than most because we generally only get four eclipses a year (the others were in February) and because this time they will touch the very top and bottom of your chart. In August your life could change dramatically, both in terms of your career and your living situation.

The first, a powerful total eclipse of the Sun, will light your tenth house of fame and honors on August 1. You may leave one position for another or get an important promotion. If you are self-employed, you may see one or more clients leave and open talks with a better one. This solar eclipse is fairly friendly and will open a new path, so even enforced changes (should any occur, and I am not saying any necessarily will) should work in your favor. Here is your chance to head up the ladder of success. At the month's second eclipse, a full moon lunar eclipse on August 16, you will discuss housing, property, family, and domestic matters - you may settle them now, or in 2009. I will discuss these eclipses in detail next month, and I hope to post Astrology Zone early to help you get ready.

My point in telling you about the eclipses now is to show you that next month will be an unusually busy one for you, for truly dramatic shifts could take place. You don't want to have an overcrowded schedule because you will need room to move around - to think, adjust, and take care of things. You may be thinking, "I have to change my job," or "My lease is up, and I have to decide if I want to stay in this apartment or find another one." Or, you may not have had any thoughts like this, and in that case, developments may come up suddenly that you don't expect.

News is often delivered at an eclipse, but it doesn't necessarily mean you will be ready to act next month - you might, or you might not. That depends on your circumstances and choices. More eclipses in this very same area of your chart ruling career and home will arrive in 2009: January 25, February 9, July, and August 5. You had one on February 6 in your home sector earlier this year, so it appears what was discussed back in February may be acted upon soon.

Any eclipse will show you whether change is due, and if so, see it as an opportunity to improve your life. Only when we step out of a comfortable or routine situation to consider a new situation can we create positive change. Eclipses also change our timetables - initiations you thought you'd do a year or more from now will happen very quickly, possibly immediately, even if you thought you weren't capable of taking the big step you find yourself taking! We are often more ready than we assume!

This month, try to take a vacation. Time off - whether you choose to take a long weekend or a couple of weeks away - would be a good idea in July. In August you won't likely be able to get away (not unless it's at the very end of the month in the very last days) because too much will be going at work and at home.

Happily, this month your chart will brim with opportunities to get out of town, so don't fight it - give in! If you are concerned about money, keep in mind that with Jupiter in your third house, it appears your sister or brother could be the answer. Take a trip together and plan to share the cost of the rental car and gas, or visit your sibling in a distant city and enjoy being in a comfy guest room or on the living room sofa, cost free.

You will see travel opportunities arise the moment you begin the month, for the new moon on July 2 will be enormously friendly. This new moon will conjoin Venus, ensuring a happy, even luxurious experience - and it will also be in wide mathematical contact with Uranus, the planet of spontaneous surprise and actions. It looks like you'll be journeying for fun, not work, although the Sun's presence in your ninth house of foreign travel certainly makes business-related travel possible and profitable, if that's how things play out for you.

If you do travel for work, you would most likely go quickly and unexpectedly over July 14, when the Sun and Uranus will be so beautifully oriented.

Your ninth house was brilliantly lit last October 2007 through early May 2008. This tells me that it's possible you were laying the groundwork for an international trip or project that is happening now, or working on an important broadcasting, publishing, or university endeavor that is finally crystallizing. All those areas will sparkle brightly for you again in July.

If your birthday falls on or within five days of November 3, this new moon will speak directly to you, and you will benefit quite a bit from this new moon - more than most Scorpios.

As you get to the full moon July 18, you may also find yourself traveling to a new setting, but this time your trip would take you over fewer miles. Again, you seem to be in a spontaneous mood, so the trip you take at mid-month seems not to be planned. Jupiter, planet of happiness, will be close enough to the full moon to ensure a fun and possibly profitable trip. Again Uranus will be on hand to provide a zing of happiness you'd perhaps not expect.

There are other developments that could come up as you get closer to July 18. A special contract that you had been talking about could materialize then, and if so, you can sign now that Mercury will not be retrograde as it was in June. Of course you should always take time to show the document to your lawyer before you put your signature on the dotted line, but I do not anticipate you'd have too much to change. No full moon is for "just a day," and this one will exert a powerful influence on you until July 22.

Your third house, so lit near July 18, also rules advertising, publicity, marketing, and sales, so you may launch a campaign with great success. Sending out the word on your goods and services should net you cold, hard cash. This full moon would be the ideal time to do so. Be sure to do your launch PRIOR to the full moon to catch the sweetest energy of it - anytime LEADING to July 18. If you unveil things after the full moon, say July 21 or 22, it's still good, but the energy of that full moon will be in the process of deflating a bit, so I would rather you catch the energy on the way up, not on the way down. (Again, I am splitting hairs, dear Scorpio! If you can't, don't stress out!)

All communication comes under the third house, so you may be asked to be a guest on TV or radio, or you may now be ready to unveil a blog or new website. If you write for a living, it looks like a manuscript would be due at this time, too. It will be a busy time, with a great many phone calls and emails to answer, so be ready!

If your birthday falls on or within five days of November 17, this full moon will help you quite a bit, although all Scorpios should have something to celebrate.

Your friends will also be very prominent in your thinking this month and in August too, as Mars, your ruler, will move through your eleventh house of people / events / hopes and wishes. As you begin the month, however, Saturn will be orbiting close to Mars, and they will meet in exact conjunction on July 10. This suggests you may be concerned about the welfare of a friend and be moved to help.

At the time, you may feel a little helpless, wishing you could do more for this person, but can't. A Mars to Saturn conjunction is a little like a meeting of fire and ice, causing a standstill. Still, just being sympathetic can be enough - lend a willing ear and after your friend has fully discussed the perimeters of the problem, give your best advice. At this time you may be quite aware that friendship has its privileges and responsibilities, and the latter is one of those times. You will want to be helpful to your friend, so see what happens near July 10.

Under no circumstances should you give a knee-jerk reaction or, if you are feeling overwhelmed by the seriousness of your friend's problem, be tempted to dismiss the problem by saying something trite. That would only make your friend feel worse, so aim for the intelligent, compassionate, caring answer that reflects that you understand the depth of the problem and the extent of your friend's pain. As you move away from this date, you'll feel in a lighter, less serious mood, and it appears that your friend may be doing better, too.

There is another way this aspect may work out, and that would be if you are a member of a group or club, and choose to take on a very responsible leadership role this month. Be aware that you would work hard, but that you'd also achieve much. Saturn would see to that!

If you'd like to take a trip with a friend or to see a friend, say to a nearby seaside resort or to the mountains (more likely mountains), a lovely weekend to choose would be July 26, when Mars and Jupiter will be beautifully cooperative. It would be hard to find a better weekend than July 26! Gorgeous!

If you are creative, this month you'll blow out the windows with the originality that you'll demonstrate in July. Days when you should set aside time to brainstorm, experiment, or present an idea will be July 14 when the Sun and Uranus will align, and on July 22 when Mercury and Uranus will also cooperate. These are jewel-like days that are due to be very special. July 14 would be slightly better for visual work, and July 22 for anything involving words, computer code, or scientific exploration. I am splitting hairs - you can use both days and win!

Romantically, you have several reasons to be excited. This month brings the Sun to Cancer, and Venus will be in Cancer, too. Cancer is a sign that's divinely compatible with yours, so the first half of the month could bubble up delicious fun. If you can travel too, then romance will be even better.

One outstanding day to watch will be Sunday, July 6, when Venus and Uranus will bubble up all sorts of amazing experiences for you. If you hope to meet someone new, you should plan to be out this weekend!

Also when it comes to love, July 14 and 22 should be extra special. You may meet someone new very suddenly or grow closer to someone you already care for now.

Best days for romance: July 2-3, 11-12, 14, 22, and 26.

Summary

Feeling a little cabin fever, dear Scorpio? You could not wish for a better month to travel. Trade your stilettos or moccasins for flip-flops, your business suit for a swimsuit, and your reading classes for designer shades. Rather than book a meeting, book a reservation! It's high time you had time off!

Planets in Cancer point to the possibility of going to a sunny mountainous setting, or a cottage by the sea. Alternatively, you may opt to take a cruise to an exotic island surrounded with turquoise waters, snow-white powdery sand, and swaying palm trees. On the other hand, if lounging in a cabin by a crystal blue lake is more your cup of tea, that too can be arranged.

Next month, your career will bring sweeping changes at the time of the eclipse August 1 and you won't be able to travel. Nor will you likely be able to get away when home-related shifts require your attention at the lunar eclipse August 16. Enjoy the time you'll have in July. Even the busiest Scorpio should be able to pull away from work at the full moon, July 18, even if only to visit a nearby town.

Creatively, you'll be a powerhouse, and you will prove that in spades. Present a big idea at mid-month when the bigwigs are most likely to give you full approvals.

As you begin July, a friend's difficult situation seems to be on your radar screen, and as you edge close to July 10, when Mars and Saturn will conjoin, it appears to reach a culmination point. Your friend's situation seems to be difficult and not easily solved. Offer a willing ear and don't dismiss your friend's crisis because it does appear to be serious. As you move to month's end, the hardest part of the problem will be over, and you can breathe a sigh of relief.

Romantically, travel will bring silly fun and seriously close moments too with one you love. Uranus will signal Venus on July 6 and the Sun on July 14 - both days should find you feeling like you're the center of your partner's attention.

In addition, from July 1 to 12, Venus in Cancer will see to it that your magnetism stays high. Mars will help you strengthen bonds with friends too, so you'll have plenty of cosmic help.

On July 22, if single, rare cosmic energy will spoil you with exciting messages and encouraging signs that love is on the way.

You will soon see that if you ask for a favor, one friend in particular will respond with genuine care. Want proof? Watch two dates: July 14, and then later over the weekend of July 26-27. In both cases, a friend's gesture will deeply touch you, and you'll see just how lucky you are to have people in your life who genuinely care about you and love you.