Fireworks may fill the sky this week, but let’s not forget that behind them always are the stars, trying to express a message for us all.
Saturn begins its four-and-a-half-month retrograde — this week it trines the Sun and Venus and sextiles Mars. These are interesting transits during the Fourth of July week, a time we celebrate freedom and independence. That’s because Saturn always brings a message of responsibility, hard work, and karmic cycles. This is a period in which freedom is clearly put in context, a time of awareness that we can’t just rest on our laurels. There is more work to be done, problems to be fixed, things to be improved.
We celebrate to remember our accomplishments but also to let the holiday reenergize us for the challenges ahead. There’s no freedom until we’re all free.
ARIES
March 21 – April 19
You have permission to enjoy the finer things every now and then. There’s no need to prove yourself to yourself. Everyone deserves a little treat now and then. Maybe a nice dinner. But for two, not just you.
TAURUS
April 20 – May 20
Your desires can often cloud your judgment. This week, make choices that benefit the whole as opposed to just yourself. There may be a time for selfishness, but for you, Taurus, that time is not now.
GEMINI
May 21 – June 20
What parts of your life could expand? And what is standing in the way of that? You’re entering a time of rapid growth — as long as you allow yourself time, space, and resources for it.
CANCER
June 21 – July 22
This week may have you focusing on romance. If you don’t have a significant other to focus on, you can still let those feelings grow: do something you love, embrace joy, and have fun.
LEO
July 23 – Aug. 22
If your dreams are more bizarre than usual, your intuition is trying to tell you something. Things that have been left unexamined will likely bubble to the surface for the next few days.
VIRGO
Aug. 23 – Sept. 22
You may be feeling like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders. It’s worth recognizing that’s because of all the hard work you’ve been putting in. If you’re still feeling like Sisyphus, I promise it won’t be forever.
LIBRA
Sept. 23 – Oct. 22
They say time heals all wounds, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore a wound and let it fester. If there’s something you’re not attending to, now is the time to do it. Take your medicine with a spoonful of sugar if need be.
SCORPIO
Oct. 23 – Nov. 21
You may be navigating a complicated emotional landscape this week. Sometimes life hits you with the hard stuff and offers you joy and comfort at the same time. Accept the good with grace; it’s here to help you through the rest.
SAGITTARIUS
Nov. 22 – Dec. 21
When you overcommit, you’re not doing anyone any favors, including yourself. Give yourself fully to the tasks you can handle rather than spreading yourself so thin. Focusing on what’s important will take you farther than trying to do it all.
CAPRICORN
Dec. 22 – Jan. 19
If you don’t learn a lesson the first time around, you can be sure that life is going to make you relive those teaching moments. I hope you did your homework, because life will be testing you this week.
AQUARIUS
Jan. 20 – Feb. 18
You may feel the temptation to be hard on yourself. It would be better to just be clear with yourself. You’re not perfect and neither is anyone else. What is important is that you commit to what matters to you.
PISCES
Feb. 19 – March 20
Your mantra for the week should be “praise the deed, not the doer,” meaning that the best way to make good and consistent progress is to celebrate the steps you’ve taken. It’s your work, not your title that matters.
