By Leo Knighton Tallarico
Last week, as expected, there were solutions found over previous disagreements in global affairs.
In the greater world two important situations found apparent resolution. The nuclear talks with Iran ended with an agreement.
Iran agreed to terms with United Nations’ most influential member countries around its nuclear program, and as a result sanctions relief is on the way for Iran, which will free up billions of dollars for them.
Greece and European powers also came to an agreement on Greece’s debt and struck a deal for loans to be matched by a commitment to austerity measures for the Greek economy and its people.
As we predicted, the agreements came before the New Moon in Cancer and Mars opposition Pluto on July 15.
In personal lives there was much emotional intensity expressed this past week, especially in regards top relationships, but in some cases there was some resolution found through all the emotion.
On the global level, the agreements with Greece and Iran sit on shaky ground. Greece has not been able in the recent past to keep their commitments to pay off their debts, and its leaders and people feel they had to give in to the deal because of coercion. They also feel they were humiliated in the process.
Iran has powerful factions within its government who disapprove of the deal, as does the United States. Many countries in the Middle East and elsewhere are vehemently opposed to the deal, including nuclear power Israel.
Both of these agreements can very easily unwind and fail.
The Universe will be throwing some curveballs to the people who have made agreement, which will include our recent personal life agreements too.
This is because next weekend brings important planetary movements that could begin to reverse the tide of agreements.
On Saturday July 25, Venus goes Retrograde and Mars triggers the Uranus/Pluto square again. Mars will square Uranus on the 25th as Uranus slows downs to go Retrograde on the 26th.
Venus Retrograde will put the spotlight on relationships, and will cause us to reflect on, remember, readjust, rebuild, reclaim, and rewind our relationship lives.
If there are issues that have not been truly resolved on deeper levels, then Venus Retrograde will bring these issues out so we can look more closely at them, face up to them, and try to find clarity and insight about them.
Dysfunctional or toxic relationship patterns can be transformed during Venus Retrograde. Relationships that have lost their heart and soul connection will be hard pressed to be revived.
It is interesting that on the day of Mars opposing Pluto this past week, there was a meeting up in space with Pluto, with close-up pictures of the planet.
And there is a region of Pluto that is obviously shaped like a heart, which synchronizes with what we have been writing about recently: That it is important to know what and whom your heart is into now.
As we take off more passionately into a new world, it is important on our soul journey to be heart invested in all our endeavors.
Love will keep you and your life with meaning, even in the face of great change. Security based on co-dependence and familiarity will not be enough.
And with heart based Goddess of Love Venus going Retrograde from July 25- September 6, relationships will be examined for their heart connections.
Perhaps on a global scale we cannot call agreements between countries exactly as heart based agreements, but nevertheless we can state that agreements between countries that are not based on a true connection between parties will not last.
In your own life, are your important relationships kept together mainly by negotiation of needs or by love? What I mean by that is that relationships based mainly on quid pro quo tradeoffs will not bring much real and deep satisfaction.
If two people have maintained a relationship because one promises money while another promises sex, for instance, and love does not exist or is of secondary importance; then neither will be satisfied beyond physical and security needs.
Of course there are people who have relationship standards that are mainly based on image, prestige, money or sex and that is fine for them; but then if they complain there is little true intimacy in the relationship, they need to know it is because of how they have set their relationship priorities.
You will be learning so much about your relationships during the next 6 weeks or so, and that can mean romantic ones, family ones, work ones, friendships, etc.
Pay attention as the Universe will bring you many signs and symbols and synchronicities around relationship during Venus Retrograde. And you can expect relationships from the past to come back into your memory or even in the flesh.
And relationships that you thought you understood or were resolved will shift and your perception of it will be challenged.
Mars square Uranus on the same day as Venus going Retrograde promises a most profound Venus Retrograde period.
The Uranus influence will help take you outside the old boxes in your mind about relationships. It will tend to bring you liberation from stuck patterns and control by others.
And Venus Retrograde may also bring important new relationships into your life, ones that may change your life forever.
It will be important however to not jump too quickly to conclusions. Try to hold off on ending a relationship for good or making a relationship commitment during Venus Retrograde. Wait till Venus goes back Direct before doing anything drastic or permanent. And marriage is not advised during Venus Retrograde.
This week before Venus goes Retrograde and Mars squares Uranus, there are other more minor planetary shifts.
Venus leaves Leo and enters Virgo on Saturday July 18, so there is a humility that is important in your relations now. Leo pride and ego need to give way to self evaluation and humility. This will happen naturally for most so you do not need to try too hard.
After Venus goes Retrograde, still in Virgo on July 25, it will stay in Virgo until July 31, at which time it will creep back into bold and heart opened Leo. And it will then stay in Leo for the remainder of its Retrograde journey.
The Moon will join Venus in Virgo on Saturday night the 18th, so purity of intention will be strong. An open, fun loving time will not be as important as keeping thing simple and real. Then on Tuesday morning the Moon will leave Virgo for Libra, leaving Venus alone in Virgo for awhile.
On Wednesday July 22 the Sun will make its yearly entrance into Leo for its usual month; and on July 23 Mercury will also leave Cancer to dance more in Leo.
Leo is by nature open hearted, creative, and spontaneous like a young child. But its open-hearted honesty can also cause problems for others as it is more oriented to open expression than it is to seeing how people are affected by its open hearted expression.
But overall Leo is a joy to be around most of the time, as it shines its light and warmth generously to others, much like the Sun (its ruling planet) does. A Leo smile can melt hearts.
But sometimes Leo will take itself too seriously and let compliments go to its head instead of its heart. Then ego takes over and Leo is not as great to be around.
Overall you will usually have a fun and sometimes dramatically interesting time with a Leo or during Sun in Leo time of year.
There is a second quarter Moon in Scorpio on Thursday the 23rd, so whatever was started or agreed upon at the Cancer New Moon last week may now be met with strong emotional challenge.
This may set the stage for more challenge after Venus goes retrograde on July 25.
Keep in mind that this Venus retrograde period, which will last until September 6, will be getting us all ready for a most powerful September period with two strong eclipses.
Getting our relationships in order will make a strong foundation for what will develop during the Eclipse Season.
So this week get ready to shift gears again. Best to not have any rigid agenda or too tight conclusions now. Flexibility and trust in the Universe will be good friends for you now.
Till next week,
Leo
I have created a new YouTube presentation for the Spring Portal.
You can get an astrological consultation with me during these changing times to help you on your path and with your life. Please write soulus@aol.com for more info..
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Leo Knighton Tallarico has been a full time professional astrologer, spiritual guide, counselor, and writer for 30 years.