July horoscope for Cancer (June 21 - July 22)

It's your birthday - your favorite time of the year. You have every reason to be optimistic about your year to come, dear Cancer. Life will be brighter than it's been in a long time, for stubborn planetary placements that have held you down are about to move on. You've been through many cosmic storms, particularly in regard to money, but your coming birthday year will be a big improvement over ones past.

There will be two planetary aspects that will bring you reason to rejoice. First, Saturn, the planet that calls for sacrifice and hard work, often against all odds, will finally move out of your house of income on September 2. From then on, your financial tests will be noticeably reduced and may even possibly melt away altogether. Saturn was there to teach you the value of money and how to manage it in the future - the better you learned these lessons, the better position you will be when Saturn returns to this same position in 2034, a very long time from now! Most people report a much easier experience the second time, mainly because Saturn rules maturity, so as we mature, Saturn has less to show us. You will carry the lessons that you learned about money over the past two years (since Saturn arrived, July 2005) for at least three decades, if not forever.

The other big planetary event to look forward to is the coming arrival of Mars to Cancer on September 28, 2007. This is a once in two-year treat that usually lasts seven weeks, but Mars will do something very unusual this year by planning a stay that will extend to May 9, 2008! Everyone wants Mars in their sign, for having the Red Planet in your corner implies you'll be assertively starting a whole new chapter in your life. The overture on your new chapter will begin now at the new moon July 14 (more about that in a minute), but your life will really get rolling in late September or early October when Mars enters your sign. At that time you will be ready to put into place the plans you're making now.

This month, two heavenly bodies will work like loving little relatives to make sure your birthday month is extra special: Mars, now in Taurus, will zoom through your people / events sector, ensuring that you'll see many more friends than usual. Prepare for a very social time!

Mercury has been retrograde in Cancer since last month, but will normalize by turning to direct speed on July 9. Since Mercury has been in Cancer, this particular retrograde period had to have made you more frustrated than usual. All sorts of delays, false starts, mishaps, and redos are often necessary. It is never wise to buy electronics when Mercury is out of phase, for Mercury rules moving parts. Do yourself a favor: If you have to buy a new, expensive item (particularly if it's an electronic), wait until July 14 or beyond.

Prior to July 14, while Mercury is still in retrograde, you will have a chance this month to fix something that was not working properly. This could be a relationship, or something physical, like a computer, but in either case, you will have the time to see if you can make it "click" again the way it should. While the first two weeks are a good time to look back, the beginning of July won't be the right time to take decisive steps forward. Wait, instead, until on or just after the new moon in Cancer, July 14.

July 14 will be an extra special day, for it marks the new moon in Cancer. From that point on, you will go from waiting to acting quickly. It will be time to push your dearest plans forward with all your might - you will have two weeks in which to do so, but the first week will be the more powerful of the two. That means July 14 - 21 will be your strongest. Prior to that, you won't have all the planetary support you need to get things done your way, but by mid-month, you will.

We only get one new moon a year in our own sign, and that occurs always during birthday month. Ancient astrologers always wrote that the birthday new moon has the power to materialize wishes that are near and dear. Choose the one desire that is most important to you. Set your cell phone alarm for this date - July 14 - and be sure to make an initiation in the days that follow.

Working with the flow of the universe is the reason we study astrology. It's the best tool you'll ever get for planning, for you can ensure the most success by anticipating upcoming conditions - looking at the aspects of your birthday new moon. What you do just after that new moon appears will affect you for the full year ahead. It's that important. Incredibly, this year, the moon will be in elegant angle to Uranus, planet of unexpected developments and lucky breaks. You may be able to take a trip, and you may also find that your finances improve. If your birthday falls within five days of this date, July 14 (or if you have planets in Cancer, Pisces, or Scorpio at 22 degrees), you will enjoy a double dip of luck.

As mentioned earlier, your financial situation has probably frustrated you since July 2005, mainly because Saturn has asked you to get by on less. You likely discovered it was nearly impossible to get a decent raise or to even be paid fairly, as just about every employer seemed tightfisted and unwilling to grant you the fees you felt you deserved. You clearly aren't comfortable with your cash flow.

At the full moon July 29, you might find an entry point, a way to earn more spending money. Good timing. If you act immediately (and truly, you won't have more than a couple of days on either side of the full moon), there's a good chance you could find a pipeline of money. Although you will likely earn your cash, or receive money someone owes you, at the same time you might ALSO get a windfall given to you, perhaps as a commission, belated birthday gift, scholarship, or even a prize that you would win on the radio or Internet! (This full moon is in Aquarius, ruling digital forms.) There are many ways money may come to you, but the point is, be cheerful! You can find money if you look for it!

Now let's turn to love and your emotional life.

While money (rather than love), and taking steps to launch your own desires and projects, will take the center of your attention in July (especially in the second half), you still will have a chance to relax and have fun.

If you are attached, then July 1 should be a thrilling time when your other half may confess deepening feelings for you. You may be taken completely by surprise by a confession of love. This lovely development is due to the full moon that fell only days prior to the start of July, on June 30. That full moon will still exert a strong influence in July's first four days. Full moons bring inner feelings out in the open - the person you love will fully share his or her feelings with you. What you decide to do next will be up to you.

If you're single, the fact that Mars will be intent on putting you in the center of so much social action is a stroke of luck. It suggests that friends and new people that you meet with this month will want to help by offering introductions. Let them. Sometimes we need to ask for what we need in life - no harm in that!

One of your favorite days may turn out to be July 11, when Uranus and the Sun join forces to make this a day filled with adventure and all sorts of exciting developments. If your birthday falls near this date, you'll be doubly lucky!

You may travel with a friend and cook up plenty of action on one of July's best days for a quick "Let's go!" overnight trip, July 20. Thanks to the interplay of Mars and Uranus, you'll have an amazing time together. Is July 20 your birthday, or close to this date? Your year will be filled with surprises galore!

Most romantic evenings: July 1, 4 - 5, 8 - 9, 11, 13 - 14. 17, 20, 22, and 28 - 30

If a real estate deal doesn't quite work out at this time, don't worry about it. Blame Venus retrograde, the planet that rules your house of home. You'd be likely to change your mind later anyway. If you need to buy furniture or other pricey things for home, do so from July 14 to 23, no later.

Before Venus settles down for a nap on July 29, schedule a consultation about your looks from a hair stylist, wardrobe consultant, or other image professional. This month's new moon will put you in the right mood to experiment. You seem tired of your current look, so be brave and change it for your birthday year ahead.

Some extra chocolates:

Promise your love forever: July 1 Ask for payment due: July 29 - 31 Travel on a whim: July 11, 20

Summary:

A close relationship will proceed really well now and it matters not whether you've dated this person ten minutes or ten years. When things between two people begin to truly click, as they will at the start of July, it will be as through you can read one another's mind. If you've known each another for some time and are ready for a commitment, your partner will surprise you by being ready, too. Wait until well after Mercury turns direct on July 9 to promise your heart.

If you want to get married later in the year, consider December 23, the luckiest day of the year, when Jupiter and the Sun will merge energies. Jupiter will be in your marriage house for the first time in 12 years - vavoom! If this December is too soon, then consider being wed on December 27, 2008, which will be the new moon in your marriage sector.

Now, let's return to July! If you are already married or in an established relationship, you will find that in July you'll be in rare sync. Consider drawing up the blueprints for a new goal to work on together.

If you have no one and you have no idea what I am talking about, then you may be using this glorious full moon energy so prevalent in the first three days of July for setting up a new business alliance. Any sort of twosome collaboration will be fortunate for you, dear Cancer, and can even be used if you need to choose a new roommate.

If you are forming a business partnership or are about to agree to hire a manager or representative in business, wait until Mercury turns direct. Do so from July 14 onward (any day that week would be fine).

During the rest of the month, with Mars in gentle Taurus, you'll be in contact with many friends who will have ideas to share and places to take you. Once you start venturing out with them, it will be like nibbling on fine chocolate - hard to resist! (This month, there will be no reason not to!) It's birthday month, so your pals will want to celebrate with you. Plan to gather them all together on one of your happiest dates, when Mars and Uranus will bring lots of surprises, July 20.

You'll start to see your confidence soar after the new moon in Cancer, July 14. Actions you assumed were too big to tackle and beyond your ability will suddenly seem possible.

Travel could come up rather suddenly on July 11 or 20. When it does, shake off your need to plan every detail and be spontaneous. Sometimes life won't wait for all those plans and details. This could be one of those times.

A plan for a rental or purchase of real estate may not work out in the days surrounding July 28. If so, be glad - you may have inadvertently dodged a bullet. You will find something infinitely better. On that date, Venus will begin to retrograde, not to return to normal until September 8. Resume your plan then, when in America it will be after Labor Day in early September.

Financials will need tending on the full moon, July 29. On or near this date, it's time to restack the cards in your favor. Call your cell phone provider, credit card company, mortgage broker, ex-husband, or anyone else in your life that you feel a need to negotiate with for better terms. You may earn a commission, get a generous birthday gift, finalize a divorce settlement, finally be paid child support, or win a court decision. Expect near-miraculous developments that will turn the tables in your favor, very possibly now but if not, certainly within a few months.