WEEK OF July 10 – 1 6, 2023
Dutiful obligations can wait, Virgo! This Monday, July 10, action planet Mars lunges into Virgo, serving double shots of passion until August 27. The fierce and focused planet hasn’t touched down in your sign for two years, so be ready to take full advantage of everything it’s got on tap. These next seven weeks are ripe for your own projects to achieve liftoff, but to do so, you need to unapologetically put yourself first. And no, Virgo: This isn’t being greedy or selfish. It’s a rare directive to prioritize your desires, including self-development. You might think of this time as a personal retreat, perfect for soul-searching and getting clarity around what makes YOU feel happy and fulfilled. You get to choose the path you’d like to follow as well as how you want to express your talents. And if, upon reflection, you realize you’d benefit from some specialized training or coaching, don’t let money get in the way. This isn’t mindlessly blowing cash; it’s a wise and confident investment in your own future!
It’s not your style to bark orders or steal another person’s spotlight, and yet with magnetic Mars in your sign, you’ll draw eyeballs your way simply by opening your mouth. If you have a message, pitch or big reveal, don’t convince yourself that spontaneity is better than well-thought-out talking points. If you’re getting heaps of positive feedback, it’s possible that your captivating dynamism needs—and deserves!—a larger platform. Don’t freak yourself out with phrases like “stepping onto the world stage.” From where you’ll stand, it’s not so different. (Just don’t imagine an audience of millions—at least not at first.) If you had the chance to give a motivational speech or TED Talk, what would you want to discuss? No one’s saying you HAVE to, but it’s an interesting exercise in plumbing your own depths.
One downside of hosting the red planet is that it can make you excitable, explosive and even combative. If you feel strong feelings rising up from your core, consider seeing someone for anger management. Or take some boxing lessons or sweat it out in power yoga!
Your body and emotions might feel like they’re in overdrive, but on Tuesday, your analytical brain gets sent to the metaphorical timeout chair. Mental Mercury joins affable Venus in Leo and your internally focused twelfth house until July 28. When Mars isn’t revving you in high gear, leave blank spaces on your calendar to slow down, unwind and recharge those nearly depleted batteries. The muse will be in the house—your house—so make art, resume a regular movement practice, learn a musical instrument, dance in your living room.
This short but galvanizing Mercury cycle is about letting go and surrendering. To create more unstructured personal time, you may need to bow out of a few social or work engagements, but if that’s the only “cost” of lounging about, reading for pleasure (rather than assignment), swimming or soaking in the tub, we’d say that’s not a bad deal. This is a perfect time to start, or deepen, a meditation practice. Ease in slowly (with even a few minutes a day) to keep you motivated. The twelfth house is a place for healing, so consider booking some sessions with a therapist, energy worker or spiritual coach to support you in busting out of some old limiting beliefs that have held you in their grip far too long.
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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.