July should be a wonderful month. Mars is now back to your sign, giving you special sparkle. You will now be energetic, courageous, and ready to take on the world, and if you do present ideas, launch new initiatives, or begin relationships, your timing will be on-target. You’ve waited two years to have your turn with Mars’ undivided attention, a trend that started last month, in June, and Mars will continue to put you first until the third week of this month, July 20. During the time Mars is in Cancer, you will find that people will tend to approve your ideas, and you will be able to move forward. The old axiom is that we should never argue with or dismiss a person who has Mars in their sign – as you do now. That’s because you won’t take no for an answer – your determination could light nations to your cause.

This is a special time for fresh starts for you, so I think you will want to stay at home base as things begin to pop for you. If you had your heart set on taking a vacation, you can do so in early July. Choose to go to a beautiful spot near water, as Mars and the Sun will both be in Cancer, a water sign. On July 5, when the Sun reaches out to Neptune in a heavenly angle, you will be especially inspired by being near the sea and surf, or at a pond, creek, or bubbling brook.

Your committed partner in business or in love, such as in marriage or a formal contractual relationship, will be the subject of your attention at the full moon, July 8. The moon will be conjunct Pluto, the powerhouse planet. If you should have a disagreement with your partner, try not to come on too strong. I am not saying you will be upset, but with Mars opposed to Pluto (within a 4-degree orb at the full moon), you will be tempted to use a hammer when a softer approach might work better.

On the plus side, this full moon will receive a gleaming, silvery beam from Neptune from your long-distance travel house. You will be reminded that when feelings are generous and caring, all things are possible. If you are traveling with your romantic partner July 7-9, you are likely to also want to be not only near water but ALSO near lush and verdant mountainous terrain.

This full moon will be a time to decide about where you would like your relationship to go, and what you expect the relationship – whether business or personal in nature – would add to your life. You will also need to think about what you would be willing to give your partner. If you are ready to move forward, an engagement or wedding may result, or you may make a business relationship final by signing papers if your lawyer gives you the green light. Mercury will be retrograde from August 12 to September 5, so this month is the time to act.

On another note, with Jupiter in your fourth house of home, this is the year (until October 10) to buy a house or condo. If you put in a bid on one this month, or schedule a closing on your house, do so on July 14, when Mercury will be perfectly angled to Jupiter, giver of gifts and luck. Send in an application for a mortgage, send a query letter to an editor, take an exam, or give a sales presentation.

Avoid talking about money with a VIP or asking for favors on July 17 when warrior Mars will send an angry glance to unpredictable Uranus. This is a hot-trigger day, when responses could bring on a meltdown.

    Spending money and making more money will be on your mind after Mars moves into Leo on July 20 until September 5. To underscore this trend, the new moon this month will also appear in Leo on July 23. This is your signal to ask for your raise, dear Cancer or look for new business.

Spending money and making more money will be on your mind after Mars moves into Leo on July 20 until September 5. To underscore this trend, the new moon will also appear in Leo, 1 degree, on July 23. By then, the Sun, new moon, Mercury, and Mars will be in your financial house, bringing you lots of opportunity and motivation to reach your goal. Of that trio, Mercury (news) will be the most communicative of all, receiving beams from Uranus (surprise), Venus (profits), and Saturn (stability). It will be a superb time to ask for a raise, or if you are self-employed, to look for new business, for you will do exceedingly well.

The highly unusual part of all this is that this month’s new moon on July 23 (highly significant) will be followed by a SECOND new moon in the SAME part of your chart on August 21 four weeks later. This proves to me that making more money will be a major goal for you. Forge forward, dear Cancer. Furthermore, that new moon in August, in Leo 29 degrees, will be a super-powerful new moon – it will be a solar eclipse, worthy of three new moons rolled into one! New moons are known to open doors to new possibilities, so this period is sure to be a memorable time in 2017. If you are positive you want to make more money, you must ask for it, and look for additional sources of income by reaching out to new potential clients.

One day when good news will likely result for long-term gain will be July 19, linking Saturn in your house of workaday projects, and your second house of income. You may get a new assignment or be able to hire a new recruit that turns out to be a great choice.

On July 30, you may get good news about your rising status in the industry or that a confidential meeting you will schedule goes exceptionally well. On the same day, you will be charming and capable of getting almost anyone’s attention. Be careful if you are tempted to flirt with the boss, however – that’s playing with fire, and I mention it because this is possible in your chart.

Romantically, the best news will be when Venus enters Cancer on July 31, to stay in your sign until August 25. Before that, keep in mind that you will have Mars in Cancer for nearly three weeks this month, and Mars will make you more attractive and more likely to make an effort to be out an about socially. Mars will give you confidence, which is quite an aphrodisiac. While Mars will teach you to be assertive, Venus will show you the value of sitting back and not trying too hard to capture someone’s attention. Venus teaches that your natural magnetism will be more than enough to work its magic.

A serious, close relationship will become clear this month, due to a full moon in your opposite sign of Capricorn on July 8. You may tell yourself you won’t say a word – until something small happens, and you will come out with the words you’ve been thinking but have been hesitant to utter for so long. You’ll have no choice but to thoroughly air feelings and let the chips fall where they may. Pluto will oppose the Sun, a rather heavy aspect, and you will feel under considerable pressure to comply with your partner’s demands. However, Mars is in Cancer, giving you a feisty nature and the determination to stand up for yourself. Good – there is no reason to cave.

You may feel like you need to defend yourself on several fronts, when on Monday, July 17, a completely unexpected challenge may come up at the office and may involve an authority figure. You may disagree or even be aghast at the decisions being made or an announcement you hear. Listen and watch, for it may take a few days to fully understand all facets of what has occurred. Take things slowly and plot your strategy in private, but keep your feelings mum for now.

Despite what will happen on July 17, the smart money is on you. At month’s end, a golden triangle will appear in the sky, linking Mars in Leo in your second house of earned income, which will be in direct communication with Saturn, the planet of stability and structure in your sixth house of work assignments. The last leg of the triangle will involve Uranus, the planet of surprise, in your tenth house of fame and honors. All three planets will work together to give you reward and praise for the good work you’ve done, and more prestigious, complex projects will be on the way.

Additionally, now that Mars is in Cancer, you are about to begin a new two-year chapter, and this month you will have more clout than you might assume. Mars is giving you presence, passion, determination, and drive, so there seems to be nothing you are not willing to tackle and overcome. Mars will remain your sign until July 20, so use the first nearly three weeks to rally forces to your side. Judging by the power of the new moon, you may doubt that this is possible, but once you get four days beyond the full moon of July 8, you will find the going easier. It won’t be all work and no play – Mars in Cancer will give you time to be with family and enjoy being with children too.

Once Mars enters Leo, you will be in the mood to treat yourself to new clothes, travel, and one or two luxuries. You’ve been working hard, so that is understandable. Mars is the natural ruler of your tenth house of achievement and prestige, so take your cue after the new moon in Leo on July 23 to ask for a raise or to negotiate a high salary for a new position. If you are self-employed, it’s time to search for new clients and assignments. Each year, we get a new moon in one of the twelve houses of the horoscope, but this year, two new moons will both appear in Leo, one now, July 23, and one next month, August 21, the latter being a major solar eclipse (a new moon). It appears you are about to change the source of your income, and you won’t stop until you do.

In terms of romance and fun, you will have a better month in August. You seem to have a lot of financial considerations on your mind in July (especially at the end of the month), and you will need to keep your concentration. You may have a flirtation with a VIP on July 30, when Venus in your house of secrets receives electric beams from Uranus. You may be tempted to start an affair, but hold back. You have plenty of changes coming, and among them, Venus will enter Cancer on July 31 until August 25, favoring you above all others. You will have your chance at love, so be patient. As they say, all good things come to those who wait.