July 9/10: The New Moon and the Cat's Eye Nebula focus on complex and refined situations, while star cluster M50, the Sun and Mercury confront ideas into practice. Venus, the Saturn Nebula and the Swan Nebula balance difficulties with warmth and vitality

July 9/10: This month's New Moon is conjunct the Cat's Eye Nebula. A New Moon marks the beginning of the monthly cycle, which basically concerns our daily lives and our emotions. At the start of any cycle is the seed that will develop later, so it is always interesting to check the prevailing conditions of that particular beginning. On this occasion, the Sun and the Moon meet in ecliptic conjunction the Cat's Eye Nebula, located in the constellation Draco. This nebula is actually a dying star, whose intricate structure and complex morphology suggests complicated situations that are difficult to understand and unravel. On the other hand, from a more positive approach, the Cat's Eye represents sophistication and refinement, that can be contemplated in all its grandeur in the fantastic images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.

     Thus, we can expect the next month to unfold in a very complicated way if things are not kept simple and direct. We have to make a conscious effort to avoid tangling over what it is already complicated... However, to focus on simplicity can make us lose the real prospect of how things actually are. In any case, it is a month to find new approaches to complex situations. Understanding well their inner mechanisms can lead to solutions that fit them perfectly, like a key in a lock, which is hard to open if its complexity is not really grasped. In addition, this Sun/Moon cycle, which runs until August 6, can be helpful to manage and develop a refined, sophisticated, unique creativity, manifesting beauty and harmony in an original way. This is excellent for all types of artwork, personal or professional.


    The Sun conjunct Mercury retrograde and star cluster M50 shows the need to give practical application to our ideas, whether they consist of everyday issues or a refined philosophy. Mercury retrograde symbolizes the review or reconsideration of our ideas, while its conjunction with the Sun indicates the enormous force that our thinking will bear: handle it carefully. Star cluster M50 is composed mainly of B-type stars, of high temperature that strongly stimulates the mental plane. However, M50 has a lonely giant M type star, of low temperature, highly visible by the contrast of its red color with the blue of type B stars. M-type stars symbolize the material world, and thus, M50 represents the need to give practical application to ideals and convictions. If these do not work in practice, they must be corrected. In order to do this, of course, we must recognize our mistakes putting our ego aside. Holding rigidly to concepts without flexibility can be counterproductive today, or even humiliating.

     But this practical reconsideration of our own ideas can be very valuable, since it will actually show us  if our thinking is rooted on external reality or if it's just an abstract theory. It's a hard lesson to assimilate, but quite interesting for those in search of the truth... As the Sun is 150° from Juno, the asteroid of relationships and partners, this test may come from people nearby: spouse, friends, family or colleagues, which can be irritating in some cases. But it's better this way, as everything stays in a private context, avoiding public confrontations...

    Venus is square (at 90°) to the Lunar Nodes, and in opposition to the Saturn Nebula. This frequency affects mainly social relations, which must be approached with a relaxed attitude, avoiding ideological confrontations. The Saturn Nebula is another planetary nebula or dying star, located in the constellation Aquarius. It emits most of its energy in the ultraviolet frequency, and its temperature is very high (90,000 ° K!). This represents a very strong ideological bias, which must be balanced by the more mundane, realistic and enjoyable approach of Venus in the zodiac sign of Leo, which is in opposition. Both celestial bodies are at 90° to the Lunar Nodes, which represent the evolutionary scheme of our relations. Therefore, it is important not to take things too seriously and try to flow with a relaxed social and emotional approach.

         If some of you think that this approach is frivolous, keep in mind it may actually lighten some heavy circumstances, always present in this world at some point. On the one hand we have difficult, drastic situations, (the dying Saturn Nebula), and on the other hand we have harmony, warmth, vitality, love (Venus in Leo). It's a great time to give strength, vitality and harmony to those most needing it. Be generous with your resources and share them! The Lunar North Node in parallel to the Swan Nebula (M17), on the other hand, reveals that this process can be wonderful for artistic creation, as it is an extremely beautiful nebula. Within M17, a star cluster lies hidden, illuminating the nebula as if it were a lamp, making it glow with an unusual beauty. Thus, art and beauty can actually brighten dark corners of human existence, whether from a rehearsal room, from a workshop, from a public or private stage, or simply from the warmth of a hand that extends to share generously. Check this by yourself!

Carlos Duarte
Research Astrologer

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