WEEK OF July 10 – 1 6, 2023
All in—or are you all out? You may have to make that call on—or within a few weeks of—Monday, July 10, as impassioned Mars blazes into Virgo and your eighth house of eroticism and intimacy until August 27. The red planet hasn’t paid a visit to this white-hot zone for two years, so there could be some serious pent-up energy waiting to be dispelled. On the one hand, you won’t have to do anything to be wildly magnetic. Yet on the other, no-strings hookups may be the last thing you’re interested in. (Of course, if a summer fling feels like what the lust doctor ordered, far be it for us to judge.) But if you know in your heart of hearts that what you’re craving is a soul-deep bond, then make that your intention, and hold the bar high enough that no indifferent types slip through.
If you’re in an LTR, you can look forward to some fervent and frisky Mars interactions, but to get beyond “merely” the physical, you may have to confront some buried anger or resentment, Mars’ stock in trade. The eighth house is associated with strong emotions, also secrets and mysteries, and you can confess or discover things that one or both of you have been hiding. But no double standards! Either you each come clean…or you keep playing the “nothing’s wrong” game. As awkward and potentially hurtful as these disclosures might be, sincerity and honesty are what will restore the love and reignite those smoldering embers—and keep them burning!
Because this sultry cycle only comes every other year—and because Mars will relocate again on August 27—make haste with any additions or adjustments you’d like to see in your romantic life. It would be almost criminal to let this sexy spell pass you by, so do what you must to take full advantage. Could your lingerie drawer use a refresh? Would bae join you in a couple’s tantra workshop? And if you’re totally unhitched, make a point of mingling more (and perhaps in tonier venues) and unabashedly bask in the admiration that comes your way.
On a less steamy note, the eighth house also rules joint ventures and shared investments, like commissions, royalties and dividends. Consider this seven-week stretch a cosmic wakeup call to raise your financial IQ. Make a list of all the ways your money could make you more money. Think passive income and compounding interest. Offset any gambles with fiscal conservatism, and you could be ticking off some major bucket list items before the end of the year.
On Tuesday, communicator Mercury joins charm magnet Venus in Leo and your commitment corner until July 28, elbowing you to speak your truth. But if you’ve been avoiding that out of fear of hurting someone’s feelings, take a minute to reflect on your true motivation. If this is someone you’re dating, what are you afraid will happen? If you’ve been suffering in silence, there’s no one to “blame” except yourself. If the person you share your bed with isn’t willing to hear you out, it might be time to audition some new candidates. Do a little personal-inquiry work to figure out why you keep making the wrong choices—then challenge yourself to make smarter ones. Couples still in the golden glow of courtship might test out a few “how about we…” conversations. The right word, glance or touch could turn things serious, stat!
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Identical twin sisters Ophira and Tali Edut (a.k.a. The AstroTwins) are ELLE.com’s resident astrologers. They have written several astrology books, including Momstrology and Supercouple, and star as the astrological matchmakers for Prime Video’s Cosmic Love. The Eduts have read charts for celebrities the likes of Beyoncé, Karlie Kloss, and Emma Roberts. For their spot-on predictions, books, and online courses, check out our horoscopes coverage or visit astrostyle.com.