Monday 6th July 2026
Sun square Saturn
05.22 The disseminating Moon accelerating at 25 Pisces waning trine Mercury at 25 Cancer.
The Moon is void of course for nearly 10 hours
08.09 The Moon at 26 Pisces waning quincunx Venus at 26 Leo
10.48 The Sun at 14 Cancer waxing square Saturn at 14 Aries
15.09 The Moon enters Aries joining Saturn and Neptune in this sign
17.42 The Moon at 1 Aries waning trine Jupiter at 1 Leo
19.44 The Sun at 15 Cancer waxing quad-novile Pluto at 5 Aquarius
22.19 Mars at 6 Gemini waxing septile Saturn at 14 Aries
22.26 The Moon at 4 Aries waning sextile Uranus at 4 Gemini
23.12 The Moon conjunction Neptune at 4 Aries
23.49 The Moon at 5 Aries waxing sextile Pluto at 5 Aquarius
STATE OF THE SKY. (ALL TIMES ON THIS SITE ARE GMT.)
We will soon be entering the foothills of a new eclipse season. Importantly we are also under the influence of one of the most powerful astrological events of the 21st century. Discovered last century by French astrologer Andre Barbault the period centring around July 20th 2026 bears witness to a dynamic astrological configuration called a 'basket' or a 'cradle'. Barbault's Basket involves Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto forming 4 points of a hexagon in the sky at 4 degrees of Leo, Gemini, Aries and Aquarius. Andre Barbault suggested that this coming period will mark the end (or the beginning of the end) of a long chaotic cycle, leading into a more constructive era. He expected severe political challenges, major shifts in leadership, and a reality check. My take on this is that the basket started on June 30th the day that Jupiter entered Leo and a Full Moon climaxed. It intensifies in significance with the New Moon on July 14th. It peaks on July 20th as Jupiter opposes Pluto and makes tight favourable aspects to Uranus and Neptune. On 29th July the Sun is conjunct jupiter and then the basket starts to dissolve.
There is however a sequel. Another basket is manifest in 2027 with asteroid Ceres taking the place of Jupiter and forming 4 points of a hexagon again with Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. This peaks on June 8th 2027.
Astrologer Louise Edington notes that dwarf trans Pluto planets Haumea and Hekate are involved in the 2026 basket and Haumea is also involved in the 2027 basket.
The conclusion is that we are faced with a very positive event and experience.
The Sun today is at 15 degree Cancer. Mercury now retrograde is also in Cancer. Venus and Jupiter are in Leo. Mars and Uranus are in Gemini. The Moon, from 15.09 today, Saturn and Neptune are in Aries. There are 78 days to the Libran equinox. Mercury and Pluto are retrograde and Neptune turns retrograde tomorrow.
MERCURY
Evening star Mercury entered Cancer on June 1st. Mercury has his retrograde phase entirely in this sign and he is residing here for a lengthy period of 70 days. Mercury is in his shadow from June 13th to August 7th. Mercury turned retrograde on June 29th at 26 degrees Cancer, the day of the Full Moon. Mercury is at Inferior Conjunction with the Sun on July 13th at 21 degrees Cancer. Mercury stations and turns direct on July 23rd at 16 degrees Cancer. Mercury, now a morning star, sextiles evening star Venus on July 24th. Merriment. Mercury enters Leo on Aug 9th. During this extended period of Mercury in Cancer, people will communicate through feelings, tone, and intuition rather than strictly logical or analytical means. Hearts will rule heads.
Mercury retrograde periods ahead.
Jun 29 to Jul 23, 2026
Oct 24 to Nov 13 2026
Feb 9 to Mar 3, 2027
June 10 to July 4, 2027
Oct 7 to Oct 28, 2027
Jan 24 to Feb 14, 2028
May 21 to Jun 14, 2028
Sept 19 to Oct 11, 2028
VENUS
Venus entered Leo on June 13th. She resides in this sign for a brief but very colourful 26 days. Venus leaves Leo for Virgo on July 9th. Venus in Leo this year is highly dramatic. Lots of fun and games.
Venus' next retrograde phase is the 41 day period from Oct 3rd to Nov 14th 2026 in Scorpio and Libra.
MARS
Mars entered Gemini on June 28th joining Uranus in this sign. He resides in this sign for a vibrantly hectic 44 days. Mars is conjunct Uranus at 4 degrees gemini on July 4th. This is a 'hot shot big shock' aspect. The following day Mars sextiles Neptune and trines Pluto, fanning the fires of Barbault's Basket. Mars sextiles Saturn on July 19th, with sharp effort. Mars is squared by Venus in Virgo on July 29th, rubbing up the wrong way. Mars enters Cancer on Aug 11th
Mars is next retrograde from Jan 10th 2027 to April 1st 2027 in Leo/Virgo.
JUPITER
Jupiter entered Leo on June 20th joining Venus in this sign. Jupiter in Leo brings a year of lavish outpourings, theatrical displays, flamboyant creativity, ego-entered motivation, powerful self projection and colourful fashion. This particular residence is characterised by Jupiter making 3 fire trines to Saturn and 1 fire trine to Neptune. The residence starts with jupiter opposing Pluto and making a big time impact with 'Barbault's Basket'. Fasten your seatbelts, this one is a year long party.
Jupiter trines Neptune and opposes Pluto on July 20th. The next day he is sextile Uranus, this is the high point of 'Barbault's Basket', sounding a new note in our destinies. Jupiter trines Saturn on Aug 31st, April 3rd 2027 and 11th July 2027. Mars is conjunct Jupiter (and the south lunar node)on Nov 16th 2026 at 26 degrees Leo. Jupiter is retrograde from Dec 13th to April 13th. Jupiter leaves Leo for Virgo on July 26th 2027.
SATURN
Saturn is direct in Aries. He finally settled in Aries on February 14, 2026.
The astrology of Saturn in Aries has a focus on disciplined action, pioneering leadership, and structural changes. This transit brings karmic lessons regarding individual responsibility, courage, and self-assertion, often manifesting as intense global transformations and a need for new, bold leadership. Wars do manifest.
During this residence Jupiter in Leo will 'fire trine' Saturn in Aries 3 times, 31/8/26, 3/4/27, and 11/7/27. This is very courageous. Saturn sextiles Pluto once, March 28th 2026, this signaled a transformational tome for global structures, focusing on reforming power dynamics and strengthening foundations. Saturn leaves Aries for Taurus on April 12th 2028. Saturn in Aries forces us to build personal authority and take responsibility. Aries fire forges steel.
URANUS
Uranus is direct in Gemini. Uranus's initial residence in this sign was from July 7th 2025 to November 8th 2025. Uranus reenters Gemini on April 25th 2026 for a 6.25 year stay, leaving for Cancer on August 3rd 2032. Major tech revolutions ahead. Uranus and Pluto will trine five times between 2026 and 2028, and there will be three sextiles between Uranus and Neptune between 2026 and 2027.
NEPTUNE
Neptune re-entered Aries on January 26, 2026, where he will remain until March 23, 2039. On January 26 Neptune entered Aries for the first time since 1875-during which there was the American Civil War, the unification of Germany and Italy, and the rise of spiritualism and new religious movements. Essentially, this planetary transit is a time of great shifts in beliefs and opinions, in paradigms and world orders. Aries brings the pursuit of bravery, freedom, and fresh starts. However, Neptune can be tricky, illusionary and hard to pin down, so we may not see ourselves clearly, or we might struggle with clarifying what we're really trying to change, and why.
PLUTO
Pluto re-entered Aquarius on Nov 19th 2024 and will remain there till the year 2043. He is currently retrograde.
Pluto was last in Aquarius from 1777 to 1798. Pluto in Aquarius will revolutionize society, technology, and collective power structures. This era marks a shift from Capricorn's top-down, traditional control toward Aquarian-driven horizontal power, emphasizing AI, digital rights, and, crucially, the 'power of the people'.
UPCOMING ECLIPSES
Aug 12th 2026. A Total Solar Eclipse at 20 Leo visible from Europe(far northwest Spain, low at sunset), quintile Uranus. Electric Avenue.
Aug 28th-29th 2026 A Partial Lunar Eclipse at 5 Pisces visible from Europe, Africa and America, opposite Mercury. Magic mirror on the soul.
Feb 6th 2027 An annular Solar Eclipse at 17 Aquarius.
Feb 21st 2027 A penumbral lunar eclipse at 3 Virgo.
Aug 2nd 2027 TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE at 11 Leo. ECLIPSE OF THE CENTURY. ONE YOU MUST NOT MISS.
Aug 17th 2027 A Penumbral Lunar Eclipse in Aquarius.
Jan 12th 2028 A Partial Lunar Eclipse at 22 degrees Cancer.
Jan 26th 2028 An Annular Solar Eclipse 6 degrees Aquarius.
THE LUNAR STANDSTILL.
The Mean Lunar Node is in Pisces. We are (early July 2026) at the end of a Major Lunar Standstill. This is a period lasting for three years within the 18.6 year lunar nodal cycle. The last major lunar standstill centred on June 2006, and this current one was centred on January 2025. During these years we are observing extreme northerly and southerly lunar rising and setting points on the local horizon when the Moon is in tropical Gemini/Cancer or Sagittarius/Capricorn. The next Minor standstill is 2034 and the next Major standstill is in 2043.