It’s going to get hotter, the planets are rather crabby and the season ends with two national conventions.* I expect plenty of blame, disdain and frustration: Probably a surprise or two :+} for the VP slot. And still, there is an abundance of good stuff around. We can get irritated and react or take a cue from Saturn to take the time to look. We can navigate the hot muggy months with the wisdom of planetary traits. They are after all, aspects of us. The stress and flow can come at us or we can bend and allow it to move through us. It takes practice and persistence to see the good stuff.

July: Happy Birthday USA! This nation was born of a revolution and the 4th is the birthday of that big idea that changed the world. I love to look at the big transits to the USA chart at this time. The US has had a series of stressful aspects, but they are nearing an end. In the summer of 2013 she has one abundance aspect after another. This year, it looks pretty much like business as usual: ups and downs in the Market, talk about change, and a desire to shop with a minimal budget. That’s actually good news. However, it might be hard to see more of the same as a gift…but it is if you stop and look around at what “is” in your life.

This July, “We the People” are playing out a little drama of our own. Saturn, the task master, planet of tenacity, frustration and wisdom that is born of that, spends July in the same place he’s been for the last month. In fact, 9 months ago he started a path or plan that seemed quick, but has turned into an endurance test. As we move into July it’s easy to get bogged down in disappointment. However, if you do, then you’ll miss the good stuff. Like the final month of gestation: you might be irritable and uncomfortable…but don’t forget there’s a new life born from your trouble. Get excited! What are you gestating? Even if you just clear out a closet, you’ll find a sense of rebirth.

Venus is moving forward. We’ve learned from the past and our family’s history. Venus is in a lunar mansion that is indulgent at best and compulsive at worst. That said, Saturn reminds us to keep our emotional zippers zipped. The term is “boundaries”; setting yours, not running into theirs. If we get that lesson: Venus, the planet of love and abundance, spends July with Jupiter and the stories of love and abundance are everywhere…including our own thoughts. It’s all about those zippers. I see this with Venus moving up to trine Saturn as Mars, the action planet, joins Saturn at the end of July. This Venus and Jupiter combination is great for beauty and indulgence at every level. Venus is moving forward and love grows, but so does the desire to spend on beauty and food. This is good for the economy, but might be hard on the waistline.

On July 15th through the 20th…or maybe longer, Mars triggers Uranus and Pluto. This can be explosive on all levels. It might be an irritation or a big blow-up at the family reunion or it could be international. Fortunately, Mars is moving quickly, but Pluto-Uranus will last 3 years. If you really want to spew and blow, remember it could be bigger or go further than anyone intended. Think about Saturn’s wisdom and ask: what would your great spiritual teacher do?

Retrograde Mercury: Time to reflect and review and, most importantly, to give yourself a little break from the demands of your technology. If you don’t pay homage to this period of mental rest, then you may find that you’ve flushed your smartphone down the hole. Call it an accident or call it a creative way to create silence. It’s easier to unplug your brain between July 14th and August 8th. If you do, you will end this period refreshed and more productive than you can imagine today. If you don’t, then you’ll spend a lot of time trying to replace important appointments and information. You get to choose….grins.

August: Venus moves out of the indulgent constellation Taurus. Just in time, we notice the soft-rounded Venusian curves and decide if we’ll keep them or shed them. Mars pulls onto Saturn. In fact, Saturn is moving forward…..at last! And so is Mars. They take the entire month to figure out how to get the desired result. Here in Texas, folks walk when the Sun is down. It’s fascinating to see the bees and moths diving into the night-time nectar plants. However, we also get to dive down for the nectar of life. It’s harder in August. In other parts of the country, it’s the end of summer; for us it is more of the same. If you’ve spent the last months complaining, it’s more torture: Time to knuckle down and work to see the good stuff around you.

Mars with Saturn at its best is determination to build something for the future. It may be hot all month, but you can get things cleared out. You might even get away for a while. Jupiter is a traveler and a story teller. Mars conjunct Saturn is such a naturally irritable combination. Rash seems to be a way of life. One antidote: give others the benefit of the doubt. The Republican convention goes from the 27th to the 30th. The aspects suggest there will be demonstrations and vocal attacks along with a powerful party stance. Romney will be strong, decisive and passionate. I always wonder if they use an astrologer. Their convention begins with the Moon on Pluto, the Plutocrat, and it ends with a charming, seductive Full Moon on Neptune. I can’t wait for the show.

September: Politics heat up. The stressful transits suggest that the summer is already full of irritating political ads that were created by spin masters who presume we are idiots. However, September is a month when things get busy in Washington and the conventions are looming. It is also a month where Mars pulls away from Saturn and Saturn, thank goodness, is back in a place in the heavens where he is productive, creative and should be good for the Market. The planets are spread out. The Month begins with a spurt of optimism.

The Democratic National Convention goes from the 3rd to the 6th. Happy Birthday Mr. President! The convention ends with Jupiter and the Moon on President Obama’s Moon. Jupiter makes a lovely aspect to his Ascendant, which is his physical body, appearance and gravitas in general. This is a good combination to help him start a new cycle. I hope to see the charisma again. Still, the convention will be plagued by demonstrations around the world.

Pluto square Uranus will last until March of 2015. This is a major cycle of change: Political, economic, social and spiritual. Pluto is deep and cathartic so a Pluto transit to your chart often feels like the undertow of a river is pulling you to death’s door. However, it’s pulling you down and back out to life. There is no denying the fear of disaster and that fear sells and compels. That is why it is so powerful in advertising and political campaigns. Uranus, the planet of change, is unpredictable and electrical. A Uranus transit feels as if you have your fingers in a light socket. Call it plugged in if you like. The best way to deal with a Uranus transit is to accept that change is part of life. Better still: bend like a reed in the wind. We cannot plan everything, but most of us want to be certain that we have enough of what we want…not just what we need. Life and death bring an abundance of opportunities. Change happens to us…but ultimately it works through us.

How the Money Grows: It is tentative and slow with ups and downs. Venus and Jupiter are good for spending. I looked back in time and found that since the beginning of the 20th century when the planet Saturn came to linger in the constellation Libra, we had significant economic growth. However, often when he left Libra, the bubble burst for a while.

When the Love Flows: It flows when we look for the good stuff and graciously give the benefit of the doubt. Romance is easier in July. However, it is gratifying all summer long because we are working for that wisdom and find it when we do!

I don’t care if you are on the left or the right. We need a plan to deal with the debt. Saturn holds our heels to it as we leave the summer. If we pay attention, then he reminds us that something needs to be done and that we need a plan- not promises. Venus and Jupiter are all about desires and in the political world they are all about charm and promises. No matter who gets elected, the Uranus Square Pluto transit suggests that change is upon us and we might as well get busy at this end of it rather than the end in March 2015. The last time these two squared was April 1932 until January 1934. I hope we’ve learned a lot since then.

President Obama is still under very difficult transits. July 24th is officially the end of an illustrious 16 year Jupiter [political] cycle. It is difficult to end one cycle and begin another under the microscope of the Presidency. However, “We the People” will see him do just that. I suspect that President Obama is already frustrated with his party’s lead figures and advisers. He’s in a period that is so frustrating that I suspect a part of him has already given up. As an astrologer I know to never underestimate the power of a new cycle. He begins his Saturn master cycle, but I doubt he’ll have time to gain momentum. However, the convention will show him at his best. Watch to see his good stuff!

Both The President and Governor Romney have favorable transits on Election Day. However, the aspects leading up to that time are definitely more favorable for Romney. I have a hunch that President Obama is very tired and at least a part of him longs for the status of living former president. I do expect a mixed outcome in the Supreme Court decision on Obama Care. I will be surprised if Biden remains his VP. Even if he loses this election, he will have a long career as a statesman. These are interesting times and Romney does not have an easy summer or fall in any way.

Cynthia Novak is a professional astrologer. She can be contacted at metro 817-261-2984. Read Cynthia’s daily astrological message atwww.HolisticNetworker.com/dailymessage/ or see www.CynthiaNovak.com Come hear Cynthia’s talk at the Wellness Expo in Addison on Sunday, October 14 at 11:30am entitled “Astrology & You”.

Tags: Astrology