by Rick Levine
Love is bound to heat up this summer as warmer weather and longer days get people out and about where they can see and be seen. But summer 2005 will pack a lot more than just fun in the sun when it comes to relationships. “Keep it real” is the call this year with Saturn, the planet of honesty and practicality, clearly in the beam of this summer's love spotlight.
Saturn isn't usually considered a "love" planet, but he is a major player in all aspects of our lives and relationships are no exception. While Venus is the planet that rules romantic love, Saturn acts like superglue to hold a relationship together. Saturn has been in the self-protective sign of Cancer for the past two years, but on July 16 he breaks out of his crabby shell, demanding to be seen in the showy sign of Leo. We are strongly reminded that real passion must be grounded with integrity.
But we don't have to wait until mid-July to feel Saturn's cool breeze imposing restraint on us, for we begin the summer staring his inescapable lessons right in the face. If we play by his rules, however, the heat of romantic passion will be served again and again by the summer sun at picnics, outdoor concerts or on beds of roses.
This summer season of love also opens with mental, communicative Mercury conjunct romantic Venus. Chatty Mercury and sweet Venus travel hand-in-hand through mid-July, giving us the verbal finesse to express our feelings. We are less afraid to ask for what we want. However there may be a rough period around the end of June, as both Mercury and Venus have their first encounter with the strict rules imposed by Saturn. We may feel – temporarily – as if sweet love is far away. Loneliness at this time is a symptom – it's a signal to reclaim individual space and redefine relationship boundaries. Do this now and more love should be just around the corner.
The New Moon in Cancer on July 6 brings any conflict between impulsive thought and security-seeking feelings to a head. With talkative Mercury now aligning exactly with sensual Venus in demonstrative Leo on July 8, the previous obstacles to loving connection are removed by a bit of sweet talk. The danger is that we can get carried away, believing what we say and hear is completely true. Dreamy Neptune is being activated and our grip on reality is tenuous – especially between July 10 and July 14. By July 15, we are answering to a deeper passion and may have to adjust the story accordingly.
Fiery Mars enters sensual Taurus on July 27 for an extended visit, giving us the stamina and determination to get our needs met. It is surely a time to get back to the basics of love and to focus on simple pleasures.
As Venus relates to personal love, Neptune extends our desires into the broader realms of fantasy and illusion. When Neptune and Venus work together, we can easily become infatuated with beauty itself. On August 18, there is a slow-moving and long-lasting harmonious trine between Neptune, the Goddess of the Seas, and Jupiter, the optimistic King of Mount Olympus. This inspires us to push past all of Saturn's resistance from earlier in the summer, to “dream the impossible dream” of ideal love.
Labor Day Weekend holds the promise of unexpected romantic reward as Venus aligns with jovial Jupiter in Libra, the sign of relationships. There are other days this summer when the planets are smiling upon the potential for love: July 11, July 16-17, July 31, August 8, August 16, August 26, and September 13-15 are a few to note on your calendar.
Remember, pay homage to Saturn by respecting love and expressing truth in your words and actions this summer. If you do, he'll smile upon you and grant your heart the fulfillment of what it desires.
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