(Totally My Opinion, of Course)
Early Friday morning, July 23rd, until Saturday, we will be under the influence of the Earthly Capricorn Moon. 
Ruled by Saturn, the planet of boundaries and life lessons (not always fun, but can be maturing) use the serious, authoritarian and focused Capricorn energy to accomplish, complete and be in charge.
Get ready for the arrival of the unpredictable Aquarius Full Moon on Sunday 7/25!
Good day Sunshine as we all experience a little bit of Leo for the next few weeks. In 2010, the Sun moves into Leo on Thursday July 22 at 6:21PM EDT/ 3:21PM PDT
Leo’s are generous, dramatic (great actors), attention seeking, creative and full of a lion’s pride – really fun folks. (Leo = Tom Cruise jumping up and down on Oprah’s couch declaring his love – not for Oprah – a “look at me” moment)
“Regal” is the key word when that lucky old Sun, ruler of Leo, shines and heats the talent, self confidence, fun and romance factors of your life. We should be active, upbeat, and magnanimous. You don’t have to give everyone you meet diamonds or tip $100s to the hot dog vendor, just ooze that Leo charm and you will be looked at, admired, loved.
BTW: Mercury, the communications planet, will also be in Leo at this time. Great opportunity to speak, write, present with the Sun’s grace. This can be a joyful, full of yourself time!
Leo: Color = Gold (of course) * Rules= Heart * Gem= Tiger’s Eye
Saturn will finally reach Libra again on 7/21/10. This planet went retrograde into Virgo in January and reversed course in May. It has inched its way forward back into the 7th sign of the Zodiac.
Discovered in 1610 by Galileo, I think of Saturn sometimes as the Castor Oil of the planet world. Ancient Astrologers considered it a malefic, but recently, a more positive spin, such as a bringer of life lessons, responsibility, etc. , has been attributed to it–like medicine that tastes awful, but does you good, eventually. (Ugh)
It is now the Libran’s turn, Birth Signs and Ascendants, to experience the planet for grownups. Saturn (transit lasts until 2011) can change this gracious, relationship sign from an indecisive, social coquette to a serious seeker of commitment. Everything must still be lovely and beautiful, partnerships will be highlighted, but with an underlying base of steel mesh, focus, ambition.
This is about boundaries, “reality”, discipline, karma. Yes, there is a heaviness as it transits a sign, but you can get a lot done with Saturn’s “duty bound” attitude, it just isn’t always fun.
BTW: If you have experienced a recent 30/60 year Saturn Return in Libra (the planet returns to the same place in your chart as at the time of birth every 30 years) you may notice the effects too.
Friday morning 7/16, the Moon does a social dance into partnership prone, harmony loving, artistic Libra.
The 7th sign of the Zodiac fosters good feelings, people activities, beauty and creativity. Seeking harmony with others and harmony for the home are all traits of the Libra vibe. These are good things! Invite a few folks to lunch?
By Sunday 7/18, the Moon will slide into serious, secretive, stubborn, Scorpio – intense (I ran out of “S”s). Use all that heat and power to your advantage. Be aware of the tendency to be easily wounded – hold the grudge for 5 minutes max, then move on. By the time the perky Sagittarius Moon bounces in on Monday, you will have forgotten the drama anyway.
This 2006 film, directed by Martin Scorsese, was just on network TV last night and I couldn’t help myself, I watched it again. Even with all the commercials and bleeps, it is a fabulous movie. (If you can, find the DVD to have a seamless experience and no bleeps – If you like Scorsese, you’ve heard the words before.)
The Departed is a violent, hard film, no sweetness here, no happy ending. A young police officer goes undercover in a local gang, just as another cop infiltrates the same gang.
Who’re the good guys? Who’s wearing the “white” hat? Who is doing what to whom? Cynical with assorted shades of grey – both cops and criminals seem to have other revenue sources, sort of a cross pollination effect.
As always, this director knows the value of a good story- a lot of blood, high suspense and one of the most explosive final lines of any film that I’ve heard. The actors were totally committed to making the bizarre characters real and believable which is not just an example of the talent of Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon, Alec Baldwin, Martin Sheen and Mark Wahlberg, but it is also a testament to Scorsese’s skill.
I’ve seen most of Scorsese’s films and if this isn’t the “best” he has done, it won the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Director, it’s pretty close to my other favs like Goodfellas, Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, etc.
The Departed – a tough, entertaining movie!
Btw – The Departed is a remake of the 2002 Chinese movie called Infernal Affairs, directed by Andrew Lau (also on DVD)
Awesome weekend… We have a Saturday morning Cancer Moon (family, food, caring) and since both luminaries, Sun and Moon, are in the same water sign, we experience all the positive push of the “New” Moon on Sunday 7/11. To add to all that emotional, sensitive, nurturing power of Moon ruled Cancer, there will also be a Solar Eclipse in the same sign. Don’t be surprised if you have urges to cook, fluff pillows, press cold damp cloths on heated brows. Friends, family are good to be around.
Moon/Sun in Cancer and a Solar Eclipse – good stuff. New Moons are great times to “begin” something – start ups, initiatives, action, etc. With the additional power of the Eclipse, take advantage of all the positive energy, be creative and bold! Do your elevator pitch with passion and style, launch that boat, make that marriage proposal, take a chance! (I get carried away J )
Careful not to over react during this sensitive and emotional time, but do pay attention to your heightened instincts. The universe is telling you something.
However, before you know it, the Moon will have moved into regal and happy Leo – a definite attitude change – on Monday morning 7/12. Instead of Florence Nightingale, it will be Superman or Superwoman, whichever fits. You will perform great feats just to bask in the attention that often comes with great feats. Dial down the drama, get a smaller cape and have fun.
Solar Eclipse: As seen from the Earth, a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, and the Moon fully or partially covers the Sun as viewed from some location on Earth. This can only happen during a new moon, when the Sun and Moon are in conjunction as seen from Earth.(Wikipedia)
Reminder:
12th Annual Harlem Book Fair & Arts Festival 
This is the largest annual African American book fair and it’s free!
Featured on Friday, Saturday and Sunday July 17 thru July19, will be over 200 exhibit booths, there will be music stages, panel discussions and children’s activities.
Harlem Book Fair 7/17 thru 7/19, 2010
“The vision of the Harlem Book Fair is to partner with local and national leadership organizations under the banner of literacy awareness, affirming HBF as the nation’s largest African American literary event celebrating family literacy, community empowerment and community cooperation. “
The long 4th of July Weekend begins with the Moon in sensitive, highly imaginative Pisces. Stay as grounded as you can, drill down and focus so that you can get your holiday preparations done before the Moon snaps into Aries early Saturday morning July 3rd.
The effects of the Aries Fire sign energy will be felt until Monday. Great time for activities, verbal sparring, and kinetic movement. Use the physicality/ jettison any anger that might be lurking. A reminder that “bigger is better“Jupiter and unpredictable Uranus are still sitting in Aries, which just adds to the power surge. A cautionary shout out for extremes and spontaneous combustion. Stick to sparklers, leave the grenades. (Stay safe/ stay calm.)
Happy Holiday!
“I Paint My House” by Margaret Courtney-Clarke is a collection of photographs of African women decorating their homes. In addition to pottery and textiles, there is a South and West African tradition of painting the outside of the house with bold shapes and bright colors. The women not only express themselves, but also document family history through their art and design.
Ms Courtney-Clarke has also produced coffee table sized books filled with her photographs of the bright geometric designs of Berber and Ghanaian women such as “African Canvas: The Art of West African Women”.
BTW: “I Paint My House” is actually a book of postcards. But, the murals and decorations are so vibrant and alive, I haven’t mailed any. (I don’t want to tear any of the cards out.)
I guess I am officially a resident of San Francisco. I experienced the “punch” of an earthquake this morning and nonchalantly went back to reading my paper. The building felt like a large person had given a short, quick, left hook to its brick walls. I knew what it was as soon as it happened – but I was cool.
Found out later that it was just a 3.5 – which is why my building didn’t move. It can do a swaying, hesitation waltz during Mother Nature drama times like these. The few seconds of dancing will start when the quake is nearby and above the 4.5 range. I hate those.
When I had my cat, he would know an earthquake was coming before it actually hit. Grey would look at me/I would look at him, both of us wide eyed. He would scurry under the couch, I not as smart, would be frozen in place waiting to see if anything cracked or fell.
This morning’s 3.5 and subsequent 2.0 aftershock were just blips.
Just another day in “Bagdad by the Bay”.