This is a monthly horoscope, which is correlated to the lunar cycle. It starts on July 17, 2023 and ends on August 16, 2023.

We finally realize that we are not making enough changes to create a life that is truly aligned with our emotions, keeping us stuck and unhappy. We then make the big choices in order to do it — choices we may have been avoiding making for a while. It is very scary and uncomfortable — but it works to put our lives in a better place.

Explore this lunar month’s four major moon phases below.

New Moon in Cancer

Realizing we need to make big changes

July 17-25, 2023

We are trying to more fully adjust our identity and behaviors to be sensitive, emotional, nurturing, and vulnerable. However, we are still resisting making this change completely, making us feel extremely upset, angry, and stuck. This feeling doesn’t let up and only gets worse.

North Node enters Aries (July 17, 2023)
Venus goes retrograde in Leo (July 22, 2023)
Sun enters Leo (July 22, 2023)
Chiron goes retrograde in Aries (July 23, 2023)

First Quarter in Scorpio

Overcoming deep trauma from the past

July 25-August 1, 2023

Because we are very angry, upset, and stuck, we then realize that we need to deal with the deep trauma from the past that is causing us to resist change and make the actual changes that we need to fix out situation. It is painful at first, but works.

Mercury enters Virgo (Fri., July 28, 2023)

Full Moon in Aquarius

Feeling more free, but still not ready to take big strides forward

August 1-8, 2023

We are now feeling more free to move forward in life, with a lot less deep and intense emotions. As a result, we begin to think about the future and what we might do next that is enjoyable and in our best interest. However, something still feels off, which is confusing

Mercury in pre-rx shadow in Virgo (Aug. 4, 2023)

Third Quarter in Taurus

Trying to get grounded in a better experience

August 8-16, 2023

We are now trying to re-center ourselves after making many positive changes earlier this month, and feel more confident within our situation. That then leads us to try to do some more things in life that we will enjoy. However, it backfires because we still aren’t ready.

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If you are still feeling stuck by the end of this month, it is because you are not making enough changes to in life to honor your emotions, or are resisting doing the few things that will fix your situation.

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Planetary Guide

The Moon

The Nurturer

The Moon is the ruler of this new moon in Cancer, and therefore holds extra important over this lunar month. It represents our emotional nature, instincts, and deepest feelings. It influences our intuitive responses to the world, highlighting our need for emotional security, nurturing, and connection.

Questions for Reflection

You can answer these questions to yourself, in your journal, or in the comment section.

What in your life currently feels out of alignment with your true emotional desires and needs?

What small steps can you take to fix that — so that your inner world and outer world align? List whatever comes to mind.

What bigger and more drastic steps can you try after that to help the two align? These bigger steps are probably the more necessary ones you will need to make for your situation (not the smaller ones). These are probably also the steps you are avoiding doing the most, think are off limits, or never wanted to do.

What internal blockages might be preventing you from following through on the big changes that are most necessary you wrote in the previous question? This can be a fear of rejection, a fear of failure, a fear of being seen, etc. 

How can you soothe, or heal, your fears and inner blockages so that they do not prevent you from making the big changes that are necessary at this time? This could be through mantras, meditation, shadow work, etc.