The New Moon of July 30, 2011 falls at 7° Leo. This New Moon conjoins the USA North Node, so this should bring a boost in confidence and a brighter outlook. Venus joins the Leo NM so this has a somewhat dramatic and celebratory ring about it.

In the chart cast for Washington, D.C., this New Moon falls in the Ninth House of long distance travel. The Sun in Leo is strong and should be of benefit to this house, especially with Venus nearby. This brings an increase in traveling and there are important visits exchanged with other countries. Those of royalty travel. This NM is helpful to foreign trade and in relations with other countries. The Sun, ruling the President and government, is trine Uranus and sextile Saturn, so the government may score some successes. This helps in making reforms and infuses strength into the country, which can lead to advances.

Besides travel, shipping and trade, the Ninth House rules over religion, immigration, legal matters, the courts, universities, science and invention. The NM lends strength and importance so that subjects governed under this house come to the foreground, with new developments.

There are a great deal of public meetings and speeches this month; lots of things to report on in the news. This is shown by Mercury in the Tenth House. There are discussions about matters that touch upon the First Family. There may be some ceremonial connected to the First Family or national or governmental functions. There are discussions about health, jobs and money matters.

The First House of the country and its people has Scorpio on the cusp, demonstrating willpower and the tackling of difficult tasks that have been put off in the past. With ruling Pluto in the Second House of the nation’s economy, this suggests strong financial motivations and much attention directed to economic affairs. Sagittarius on the cusp of the Second House is usually a sign of adequate resources though this continues to be an area of power struggles. There are heavy expenses and waste that causes discontent. This house is prone to sudden trouble; excited speculation, and many ups and downs.

New Moon

We note that several USA natal planets fall in the New Moon Eighth, another financial house. This shows a great deal of internal focus on the matters of this house; the national debt, taxes, interest rates, pensions and social security. Such subjects are a source of concern. (Click the image to view the chart, then use your back button.)

It is interesting that Mercury goes retrograde on August 2, 2011, the day of the deadline for the debt ceiling to be raised. This suggests a temporary solution. The rejoicing suggested by this NM may be due to the raised debt ceiling, an expensive, unsustainable fix. Jupiter in square to the NM suggests high costs attached to the celebration; as in an extravagant habit, excess, impracticality or overreaching. Maybe it is an unconscious desire for luxury that is our undoing.

Nevertheless, the Stock Market often gets a boost with a New Moon in Leo or in good aspect to either Venus or Jupiter so we’ll see. In this NM chart the unpredictable Uranus is in the Fifth House. This is the house that rules children and their interests, schools, entertainment, theaters, sports and those who work in these businesses. It rules gambling and speculation such as the Stock Market. Uranus in the Fifth House is not usually a good influence although in this case it does form a couple of nice aspects. However, Uranus in this house may bring sudden or unexpected occurrences and may have an adverse influence on these matters. Risks increase August 8 – 21.

Jupiter in the Sixth House in square to the NM suggests heavy expenditures in military affairs. The health of the nation is poor. There may be some new health threat and discussions.

With Venus ruling the Seventh House and conjoined with the Sun, it signifies an increase of marriages and engagements this month. This also brings improvement in foreign relations.

Mars in the Eighth House is associated with the deaths of soldiers or those in occupations ruled by Mars; surgeons, naval or military men, or notable people who work with iron or steel or in trades to do with fire. It sometimes means suicides or accidental deaths from fires or crimes. The South Node is also here in the Eighth house and on USA Mars, suggesting similar losses.

The most angular planets are Mercury in the Midheaven opposing Neptune in the Fourth House. On its own, this close aspect suggests scandals in high places. We may hear gossip or scandalous news. Some failure, disgrace or discredit attaches to a public official or prominent person. The aspect is associated with remarkable frauds, mysterious crimes, poisonings, blackmail and other unsavory practices. We’ll have to see how this plays out. At worst, this opposition may mean that the government loses ground in some way or a failure attaches to legislative measures.

Weather is very much under the influence of Neptune, which is a damp, wet influence. With Neptune near the cusp, there could be downpours, flooding or freakish weather events, something out of the ordinary. Neptune is associated with elements of distortion. For example, Neptune was an influence on the weather during July when we had the massive dust storm (called a Haboob) in Phoenix, obliterating vision. Recall that the Cancer Ingress chart of June 21, 2011 indicated weather extremes for a three month period and the Solar Eclipse in Cancer suggested rain, floods, accidents by rivers or seas, with possible storms at sea or affecting the coasts. While hurricanes are more likely for the East Coast, high temperatures and drought may plague much of the country during August. Stormy conditions increase by August 18.

Transiting Mars forms a number of important aspects in August. Mars enters Cancer on August 3. Mars squares Uranus on August 8 and opposes Pluto on August 10. This T-square of Mars, Uranus and Pluto is a troublesome and dangerous combination. It increases the risk for accidents due to impatience, risk-taking or careless behavior. This may mean increased global tension, riots, demonstrations, conflicts or violence as we approach the Full Moon of August 13, 2011.

In your own chart, check the house where this New Moon falls at 7° Leo. The New Moon will energize this house and for the four weeks following you will have more of your attention directed to the matters ruled by this house. The Fire signs or those with a Fire sign rising may experience this NM most positively. But, it will bring a new enthusiasm and pleasantness to the house where it falls and much could be accomplished. Just beware of going over your budget to create the changes you aspire to. It would be easy to do. Mercury goes retrograde on August 2, 2011. This would be a good time to regroup and take a look at your long term strategy going forward to be sure it is practical and doable. Better to take this time now than to have regrets later. Have a good one! Celeste Teal 7/26/2011

Actual Events: An agreement on raising the debt ceiling was reached in the eleventh hour, the evening before the August 2 deadline. As part of the agreement, a Super Committee must now find 1.5 Trillion in deficit reductions by December 23, 2011 or automatic cuts go into effect for entitlement and other programs. As that bit of work was completed, the President celebrated his fiftieth birthday and Congress left Washington for a five week recess! By the weekend, S&P downgraded the USA credit rating from AAA to AA+ on August 5, 2011. The announcement came on a Friday night after the stock market had closed for the day. Being “blindsided” was described by one investor when the Dow dropped 632 points on Monday, August 8, with investors worried about credit freezing up and a fall back to 08 conditions. The Stock Market roller coasters wildly in the first weeks of August (Uranus in the Fifth House squared by Pluto and by transiting Mars). Insurgents shot down a U.S. military helicopter during fighting in Afghanistan on August 6, killing 30 American troops, including Special Forces and Navy Seals; the greatest number of casualties in a single incident since the start of the ten-year war. Another Haboob (severe dust storm) occurs in Phoenix. Heat wave and drought in Texas and triple digit temps in many states. Obama promises changes in immigration laws so that unless having committed a crime, illegals won’t be deported. The world celebrates the crumbling of the Gaddafi regime in Libya as rebels take control. Steve Jobs announces he will resign as CEO of Apple. Earthquakes occur in CO and in VA.