This may have the appearance of a quiet month, but actually, things are not always what they appear to be. With the Sun, new moon, Mercury, Jupiter, and later, Mars, all in Cancer, filling your twelfth house of solitude and reflection, the time you take to reflect on your life while you are alone is valuable and may determine the direction of your future path next year.

Last month, Jupiter, the giver of gifts and luck, moved into Cancer on June 25. This is the first time in twelve years that Jupiter has been in this sign, not since mid-2001 to mid-2002. Now that Jupiter has made it to the very last house of the horoscope for you, this great benefic planet will give you quiet help, under the radar, that you can expect to glean from influential people. VIPs may help you anonymously, or, if you know the identity of the person working on your behalf, ask that you keep his or her identity confidential. Certainly, people will be singing your praises behind closed doors, and you are likely on many bigwigs' short list as a person to groom for bigger and better things.

This is all leading to your biggest year of your life, to start when Jupiter goes into Leo on July 16, 2014, to stay until August 11, 2015. So far, you've waited eleven years for your big year, so you only have one more year to go before you greet Jupiter in Leo. Because this year will emphasize solitude and reflection, look back over the past decade to see what you have achieved so far, and what you'd like to bring into your life next. Don't limit your daydreaming - allow into your mind all the possibilities, Leo. The seeds that you plant in your garden during your approaching golden year from July 2014 to August 2015 will have a superb chance of materializing, but you must be prepared with a plan, and be ready to roll by next year, July 2014.

Let's discuss what you can do now. Leo is a highly creative sign, and the twelfth house, where you will get extraordinary favor from Jupiter from now until mid-2014, is essentially a very creative house, as it symbolizes the primordial waters of creation, and the placenta, where you grew in your mother's belly before you were born. This is an apt motif, for Jupiter, when found in the sign of Cancer, is considered exalted, meaning in the best sign for Jupiter to be. In Cancer, Jupiter can express its best qualities easily and naturally, and in a way that you will easily absorb. If I were to paint a picture for you of what Jupiter in Cancer is like, it is akin to the symbol of the child growing within - the embryo that promises so much to come.

So for the coming twelve months, gently shut your door and keep out people who burn your time, or at least at arm's length. Others won't quite know what you are doing, and that's fine - during this time, it is smart to keep your work away from prying eyes. You can write your book or screenplay, compose music, paint, write poetry, or choreograph dance for an important project. If you are an actor, get ready for the biggest role of your life, dear Leo. It will demand a lot of preparation, but a major award may await you soon - next year or in early 2015 - if you concentrate and give that role your all now and in the coming twelve months.

You will be highly intuitive in the months to come, too, uncannily so, and you will be able to sense the right answer to a current question you need to solve, but not know precisely why you know it's the way to go. If ever there were a time to trust your instinct, it is now. You need not solicit others' opinions - you know the answers. In fact, it would be better not to have a cacophony of voices around you but to listen only to that small voice within you.

One more area that the twelfth house has to do with is healing and health. If you feel a need to go to rehab to get rid of a substance-abuse habit, or would like to see a psychiatrist about a problem or fear that you have been harboring, this is the time to set the appointment. You can also give up smoking and find the right coach to help you win the battle - you will have the best year of twelve years to reach out.

In my own life, I have found some of my most important surgeries and procedures took place when benefic planets were moving through my twelfth house. This sector rules hospitals (where I have lived on occasion for months since the day I was born) and also rules other "areas of confinement" including nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, physical therapy facilities, prisons, and so forth. Although these are not popular places to be (who wants to go to a hospital?), areas of confinement can now be areas of healing for you. In the case of hospitals, this year, if you do your homework, you may be able to locate the right doctor who can help you with a chronic health or psychological problem, perhaps with a new technique. With Jupiter in the twelfth house, choose the best facility you can afford (or that your health insurance will cover), as it appears you can be in a place that has the most modern equipment and highly dignified professionals. Sometimes it takes a lot of digging to find the right doctor, but doing the research now will be worth your time. Get recommendations from friends as well.

This month's emphasis on the twelfth house, including the emphasis on working alone and taking time to think, will become more noticeable in the two weeks that follow the new moon, July 8. Uranus will be at hard angles to this new moon, so you will encounter a few obstacles from your ninth house, again reiterating that it might not be the best time to travel. If you are in a law case, the hard angle of Uranus at the new moon might mean that the other party in the case may pull something new, something neither you nor your lawyer had anticipated. Or, it may be that the judge may suddenly make a ruling during the trial about what can and cannot be entered into evidence that you feel is unfair, but cannot do anything about.

Overall, however, having Jupiter in your twelfth house is quite a plus, and it is the signature of a brilliant strategist (you). Keep thinking, and you will find the not-so-obvious brilliant answer. Mars will enter your twelfth house of instinct and intuition on July 14 to August 27, making your twelfth house, also ruling privacy and solitude, even more important for you for a while.

Think back to the last two times Jupiter was in Leo: from August 1990 to September 1991, and then again, from August 2002 to August 2003. The other planets in the sky at the time were in different positions during those years than they are now, of course, for the planets are always on the move. History never repeats itself exactly. Still, you may be able to recall a special break you received, or a victory that you achieved back in those years, brought to you from Jupiter in Leo.

Let's start at the top of the month now, as I have to tell you about the first week of July, which will start out rocky. Your ruling star is the Sun, and the Sun will be assaulted on two occasions, by Pluto and Uranus, so you may find these days more troublesome than most. I tell you about them so that you will not plan big initiatives on these days, as things may not go right if you do.

The first day, July 1, brings forceful Pluto in direct opposition to the Sun. This could bring out a subversive subordinate under you, or a very difficult co-worker, who may talk back to you and is otherwise very aggressive. This is not a great day for your health, either, as the Sun governs your health and vitality and will be under siege by Pluto.

The second day, July 3-4 (depending on which time zone you live in) will bring Uranus in sharp 90-degree angle to the Sun, and unexpected news may shock you. Uranus is in the ninth house, so it could be that you will be traveling and things go wrong in a foreign country or distant city. Keep track of your passport (never leaving it in your hotel room, but keeping it in a safe, secure place away from pickpockets on your person). While you are at it, you may want to avoid crowds on July 3-4, too.

Although the first week of July may prove to be hard on your health and your nerves, you will find your health may begin to improve when Saturn goes direct, July 8. Saturn has been retrograde since February 18, and because Saturn is the ruler of your solar sixth house of house and work projects, you may have had to be patient for months in regard to a health and work matter. From July 8, all systems will systems will be go, now, and into the future.

Mercury will be retrograde in Cancer during the first three weeks of July, a holdover from last month, but those weeks present a perfect situation for reflecting on your past. You may run into old friends, or you may delve into a situation from the past that was never quite resolved. If you want to reconcile with a friend or lover, Mercury retrograde is generally a favorable time to gently open that door.

Mercury retrograde is not a time to buy electronics, as Mercury rules the moving parts to machines, and all electronic devices - you won't enjoy your purchase if you buy it now. This is also not the ideal time to present a new idea, take a new job, or get a deal signed. You will do best to make things official after Mercury moves direct, for Mercury is the planet of contracts, negotiation, communication, transportation, electronics, and commerce (buying and selling of all goods and services). All these areas go haywire when Mercury is out of phase, so you should not put any plans into action until you have moved beyond July 20. Mercury will stay direct until October 21, so you have time. I would suggest you give Mercury a few days to regulate its orbit, so plan to act on the full moon, July 22, at the earliest.

On the full moon in Aquarius, 0 degrees, on July 22, your plans for a partnership will be on your mind. You may be getting engaged, for example, or you may be signing papers with a business partner. This full moon is highly collaborative, but if you sign on this full moon, Saturn will be prominent, so the contribution you will make in this union will be considerable and possibly feel heavy on your shoulders. This full moon will be in hard angle to Saturn, also indicating that you may be trying to figure out a difficult dilemma regarding housing or a family matter.

Most times when a residential or other property matter needs change or attention, having money comes in handy, and that's where I have some very good news on that front that I have been anxious to share with you!

This month a rather extraordinary golden triangle will appear in the sky, linking three planets - Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune - in water signs. This "grand trine" as it is called will be operative all month but especially strong from July 8 to August 7, and peak at July 17 to 19.

This triangle will link Neptune in your eighth house of other people's money (loans, mortgage, refinancing plans) to Saturn in your fourth house of home, family, and property. The third leg of the triangle, indicated by Jupiter's position, will come under your twelfth house of confidential matters. This may mean this unusual confluence of planets may bring you the funds you need to move forward on an idea you have to fix the home-related matter that has been going on for some time. November 3 brings an eclipse to this same area of your chart, so you may be ready to finally crystallize your plan at that time.

Now let's go back to the subject of travel, for if travel was not possible for you, or was going wrong, earlier in the month, you will have far better luck with travel when Mars conjuncts Jupiter on July 21. This is a rare and very special day that will only happen once ever two years.

You may want to use the July 21 window of opportunity, for matters involving foreign people and places may go off the rails again later, on or near July 31 when Mars in Cancer will be in very hard angle to Uranus in Aries. Again sudden problems will erupt stemming from foreign people and places, and because Mars is involved, it pertains to a matter that you have not been privy to and are completely shocked about when you hear what is happening.

The month's end is going to hold two very difficult days. First, watch Saturday, July 27, when the Sun, your ruler, and Saturn will be at very hard angles then, making you feel tired and worn, or laden with too much responsibility in regard to a home or family matter. On the same day, Mars and Pluto will be in direct opposition to each other, another very forceful, difficult aspect where someone will be pressuring you to accept an idea you clearly don't like.

After that day, another one comes barreling down the pike. July 31 brings an angry confrontation between Mars and Uranus, which could bring latent, resentful feelings to the surface from someone near (but not likely to be anyone in your personal life).

Some astrologers have been excited about July 29 when a series of rare and positive aspects will occur, mainly in "sextile" to one another (indicating opportunity), but I feel this day will be sandwiched in between July 27 and July 31, so I am skeptical. The very fierce aspects of July 27 and July 31 will have a halo tolerance of a few days before and after, so the difficulties of those two days will overlap with each other, and also color July 29. Also, I feel a new moon is needed to push good energy forward and make it accessible to you. Failing that, then I like to see a full moon enlarge the prevailing energy. Alas, the new moon is July 8, and the full moon is July 22, so July 29 falls too far from the full moon to be special.

I simply don't buy the idea that July 29 will be good for you. I could be wrong, so in case you find that July 29 outranks July 17-19, the day of the peak of the exceedingly rare and glittering golden triangle (which should bring good news about money or home / family matters), I would like you to report what happens to you on my Twitter account, @AstrologyZone. Please use the hashtag #July29 in your comment, for this way everyone in our community - the other readers - will be able to group the comments on July 29 versus July 17-19 together on my Twitter feed, and you can see what others are experiencing. Life is a laboratory, and I want to learn.

Romantically, you are in a good place this month, as Venus will be in Leo, favoring you with her special brand of attractiveness and love, from the very start of the month until July 22. During the first days of the month, you will also have Mars enlivening your house of friendship until July 12. I particularly love the weekend of July 6 and 7, when Venus will flirt with Uranus, and all sorts of the right surprise encounters may come up. More happy days will be July 9 and 10, when the moon will be in Leo, surely a happy time for you.

Leo is a warmhearted sign, and you have a way of spreading cheer wherever you go. This month you seem a little less gregarious and a little more interested in spending time alone to think about your next move. That's the right idea, dear Leo, for by spending time by yourself, you will be in touch with your inner feelings and can strategize a path ahead. Jupiter has just moved into the sign just prior to yours, Cancer, which means next year, on July 16, 2014, you will need to be ready to welcome the rare and important visit of Jupiter to Leo, a once-in-twelve-year occurrence.

For now, it may be easier to decide what you don't want, or what should be jettisoned from your life in coming months, rather than what you want to add. That's fine - that is valuable to think about, too.

Dreams change. Sometimes something we dearly hope to achieve at age 21 appears to be downright juvenile at 31. So if certain daydreams no longer hold fascination for you, it is time to draw up a new life plan. You will have a year to do so - start now.

July 17-19, the peak of the golden triangle, when rare and sublime harmony will prevail in the universe, should be special for you. You may be able to get the funds you need to transform a sticky home or family situation that has been on your mind for months.

Your romantic relationship (or a business one) will be the center of your attention at the full moon, July 22. With Saturn in hard angle to the full moon, I see that one of two completely different discussions are likely to come up. The first may center on time you spend at the office. Your partner or a close family member may feel neglected and ask that you spend more time at home, giving you very conflicted feelings.

Alternatively, a different discussion may surface and center on a parent who seriously needs your help and attention. You may wonder how much time you can give your beloved parent the time she or he needs, for you have so much work to do at the office, and your boss is expecting so much of you. It will require a juggling act, but you may be able to find a happy solution.

If you need to change your residential situation, or want to rent or buy a country house, your live-in partner / spouse may not agree about your ideas. Be prepared for the need to persuasively lay out your plan in detail. You may want to purchase real estate and this month, if you need a mortgage, a golden triangle involving many planets will help you get one with attractive terms, reaching a peak of goodness on the golden days of July 17-19. Mercury will be retrograde during the first three weeks, so withhold your signature until after July 21.

Several days require attention for possible sudden adverse news: July 1, July 3-4, July 27, and July 31. Some astrologers feel that July 29 will be outstanding, but I feel the jury is still out on that day - let me know on Twitter @AstrologyZone, using the hashtag #July29 in your comment. I put my poker chips on July 17-19 as memorable and worthy of four gold stars.

In matters of love, you have Venus in Leo from the start of the month through July 22. The weeks that Leo graces your sign will represent a perfect time to refresh your looks. Book a salon visit, or after July 30, buy new clothes. You'll love how good you look in your new clothes and you will want to cut off the tags immediately to wear those items that night. Venus will add a great deal of magnetism to you, so be out and about if you hope to meet someone new. If attached, the full moon, July 22, will help you to crystallize a big plan for the future.

Three very difficult days will be July 1 when Sun will oppose Pluto, July 3 when the Sun squares Uranus, and July 27 when the Sun squares Saturn. You are ruled by the Sun, so these are not days to schedule big initiations.

Your relationship will be a big focus July 22 plus or minus 4 days. If you are getting married, you may have to allow more time than you might ordinarily estimate to find a suitable place to live. You'd do best to start looking early.