The biggest relief of the month will be when Mercury goes direct on August 11. Not soon enough for many, I imagine! It was so disruptive that most of us missed the USA’s Jupiter return in Cancer in July.
Ordinarily, I’d be hard pressed to say that there are any bad Jupiter aspects. But the outcome of all aspects depends on how one uses the energy. In the chart of the United States, Jupiter is in 7th house conjunct the Sun and Venus. That should give our country wonderful relationships with other countries. Sadly, that is not the case right now.
The only other aspect this trio makes is a square to Saturn in the 10th house of reputation. Saturn in a square aspect is not a cheerful placement and represents contraction, restriction, and responsibility. In the USA’s chart this is playing out as a contraction (Saturn) of our world reputation (in the 10th house) as a benevolent (Jupiter conjunct the Sun and Venus) partner (in the 7th house).
Our country does have Mars in the 7th house as well, which represents aggression and war either with or against allies. And the natal Mars squares natal Neptune, which represents exploitation of others and resources. So the USA’s natal chart has aggression and exploitation written into its energetic blueprint. Mind you, Neptune hadn’t been discovered yet when our country was formed. But the original Constitution does speak for itself. In July, transiting Mars conjuncts Natal Neptune, forming a square to our natal Mars. Not everyone is buying what the USA is serving up to the world right now.
In addition to the recent Jupiter return, our country’s chart is now within orb of its Uranus return in Gemini. Uranus takes 84 years to go around the Sun, so not all humans get to experience this aspect in their lifetime. But countries do! At the time of the American Revolution, the American Civil War, and the USA’s entrance into WW2, Uranus was in Gemini. I do not think the country’s current unrest is coincidental. Uranus is on the country’s 7th house cusp, meaning that all our contractual relationships are in flux as Uranus returns to its natal position.
Change is difficult, both for individuals and for institutions. The United States has experienced a great deal of planetary recalibration with Pluto in the recent past and Jupiter and Uranus in the present. In a young country populated with people who see themselves as rugged individuals, it may be difficult to agree collectively on a vision for the future of the country. While change was inevitable at this point in our country’s history, the outcome is still to be determined.