Stars Over Puna July 2026

By Norma Jean Ream

July Stars Create the Unique Basket of Peace United States

Celebrates 250 years of Democracy.

The Full Moon in Capricorn occurred on June 29, the day that Mercury stationed retrograde, and Jupiter, planet of justice, expansion, growth, and jovial spirits, started its yearlong passage through the sign Leo, sign of royalty, leadership, expensive toys, and expansion of powers. The Full Moon is in the part of the chart that links tourism and infrastructure. Capricorn is about practicality and productivity. This month, before the state Primary Election, is the time to highlight the issues that need attention and to share ideas for improvements and resolutions. July sets up a very dynamic period of review and presents an opportunity to see future possibilities in unimagined ways.

This is the year of the Fire Horse. Jupiter rules large animals like horses. It rules the Fire sign Sagittarius, and is an ally to the Sun, the ruler of Leo. The chart is set for Pahoa and can represent the Big Island. It is striking to see Jupiter at the top of the wheel, highlighting this location to travelers. Jupiter is publicity and popularity. It is in the last degree of the sign of its best dignity, suggesting a change of status that will be driven by economics and politics.

Pluto is often associated with volcanoes and phenomena originating deep beneath Earth’s surface. This symbolism extends to elements that are buried, excavated, or emerge from underground. In the current chart, Pluto is positioned at the bottom, highlighting its connection to significant developments rooted in the earth. One prominent example is the Geothermal plant owned by Ormat, which exemplifies large-scale projects that harness subterranean energy and resources. Pluto’s placement here underscores the importance of paying attention to such ventures, as it represents powerful changes arising from beneath. We need to keep an eye on local legislation and business decisions aimed at attracting investment to the island.

Technology will be a hot topic in the near future now that Uranus has entered the sign of Gemini, a sign of duality, multiplicity, and things related to communication, travel, and the advancement of amazing new technological products. Mars has also entered Gemini, joining Uranus on July 3, accentuating the further definition of territories and boundaries that are factors in governance and trade. When Mars, planet of action, strategy, and agency, is in league with Uranus, it takes on a new intensity and even ruthlessness. Together, the two planets tend to incite revolutionary reactions in people. 

Individuals with these two planets together are often ultra-independent and willful. They don’t take directions from others very easily. Yet, they are visionary and inventive, seeing the world with eyes of new possibilities. 2026 has felt like an intense game of RISK because both planets are coming back to their places in the USA chart. We can feel the energy that repeats every 84 years, the cycle of Uranus. Revolutionary, new ways of doing things, and rapid changes are the nature of these planets. Mars adds urgency and puts a focus on military strategy in the use of resources.

Mars and Uranus are at a 90 Ò angle, a square to the Lunar Nodes. This is a major turning point that will mostly be obvious in interpersonal relationships. The emphasis is on changes, new developments, even a time of genius, rewriting many ideas, and creating new systems.

In personal one-on-one dynamics, some people will be exceedingly difficult to work with. This is where individuals are initiated into self-empowerment. They want to be seen as capable and for their ideas to be given respect, even when they sound far-fetched. Most great inventions came through this type of drive.

Mercury, representing the power of the word, now retrograde, will give us a period to reevaluate, renegotiate, and rewrite the statements of protection for our homes and the nation while it repeats its passage in Cancer. This can focus on constitutional and legal documents. 

Mars is moving quickly now in this phase of its relationship with the Sun, so events are also unfolding abruptly. Mars makes a sextile to Neptune on July 4 and a trine aspect to Pluto on July 5. The two aspects Mars is making are easy, seen as slack in attention to safety and protection. This will be an added danger and challenge to the holiday events with fireworks this weekend. Please be cautious. Neptune can be negligent, and Pluto with Mars is explosive. Both represent elements of force and power.

Mercury retrogrades back into the glare of the Sun for several days, when it is hard to know what is happening behind the scenes in politics. Mercury conjoins the Sun on July 12 and becomes visible again on the 20^th, and it stations direct on the 23^rd as the Sun enters Leo.

The New Moon is on July 13, at 21 Cancer. This is near the Mercury position in the USA chart. Mercury retrograde brings attention to national documents, as I mentioned, this is a review period of the meaning and usefulness of foundational ideas. In this week through the next, the astrological geometry with the outer planets is quite unique, forming a trapezoid, or basket made with blue lines and one red for the top, the opposition between Jupiter and Pluto.

Jupiter passing through Leo can be full of fun and happy social times for people in general. It is also a planet that brings out exaggeration and over-the-top behaviors. Jupiter has a twelve-year cycle around the zodiac. Jupiter is called the great benefic. It is seen as bringing advancements, honors, and rewards. It magnifies and brings truth to light.

The outer, slow planets are connected by harmonious angles that mark opening phases of their cycles, relating each pair of points. 

The next most impactful event coming up on July 20 is the Jupiter in Leo opposing Pluto in Aquarius. The last time Jupiter in Leo opposed Pluto in Aquarius was on September 1, 1789. 

Pluto’s cycle is 248 years. Pluto’s return to its place in the United States’ chart coincided with the Covid event in 2020, which changed the world. Pluto is about Power, Control, and Money, which we know go together. 

Within the framework of national history, we are at a timely point of reviewing some of the earliest established Acts of Congress. Congress was established in March 1789. One of the first Acts was the Act of Registering and Clearing Vessels for the Coasting Trade, enacted on September 1, 1789. This was to regulate shipping for foreign trade, limiting approval to American built and American flagged ships. Congress established the Treasury the next day to fund the Revolutionary War. This was the period of the Napoleonic War in France.

With the current war with Iran and the closure of a major shipping waterway, this could be a time of reviewing maritime trade routes. Much of the foundational work done by the original Congress will be up for review.

Jupiter will oppose Pluto on July 20, 2026. Jupiter is the fastest of the outer planets, and Pluto is the slowest. Their opposition brings social improvements, turning points for the better during times of conflict, and financial growth after a period of hardship and sacrifice.

Uranus is in a trine, 120 Ò angle to Pluto, creating a very harmonious phase of their cycle, conjunction of 1965-67. The last big social revolution came through music, art, and many struggles to break free from the post-war paradigm. 1967 was “the summer of love.”

Technology bloomed after the last Uranus/Pluto conjunction. The trine aspect between Uranus/ Pluto, along with Jupiter trine to Neptune, offers a massive spiritual growth component to the elevation of consciousness in humanity. The Saturn/Neptune conjunction at 0 Aries plays into the harmonic geometry of the outer planets, with them all connecting at 4 degrees of the signs they occupy. 

This has been called “the most benefic configuration of the century and its interplanetary partnership will work for the best in a splendid relaunch of civilization.” – Andre’ Barbault, Planetary Cycles, 2016.

The Sun enters Leo on July 22. Mercury stations direct on July 23. On the 24^th, Mercury aspects Venus, bringing out harmonious relationship energy for agreements and reconciliations. Neptune sextile Pluto becomes an extraordinarily strong vibration of collective assimilation at the deepest level of the unconscious. Their cycles relate to the development and spread of religions, collective thought, and esotericisms. 

The Sun joins the configuration with an opposition to Pluto and trine to Neptune on July 26. Over the next week, the Sun will energize each planet in the formation. It is conjoined with Jupiter on the Full Moon on July 29. This is an auspicious lunation. It brings the light to its brightest. It will be a wonderful time for social gatherings, and global relationships will be enhanced.

Saturn stations retrograde on July 26 at 14 Aries. It is exactly opposed to the Saturn of the USA chart at 14 Libra in the 10^th house, representing the current administration. Saturn limits, restricts, puts a stop to, or delays the business it has responsibility for. There will be a renewed focus on the general rules that regulate what can and cannot be done by the Administration.

July is going to give us the personal potential to be self-witnessing and shine the light of awareness on the wounds and beliefs that hold us back from our most creative expressions. I hope you find answers to your inner questioning, insight into your personal best, and the experience of love and support surrounding you.

Note for August: There is a Total Solar Eclipse on August 12 at 20 Leo. The Partial Lunar Eclipse will be at 4 Pisces on August 27. This is also the time of the Hawaii State Midterm Primary election.