Monthly Horoscope: Taurus, July 2018

July 5 has mixed energy: Although the Sun will make a harmonious connection with lucky planet Jupiter, creating a fun, generous, and easy vibe in your relationships, communication planet Mercury (soon to retrograde) will oppose Mars (already retrograde), creating a very argumentative energy and bringing confrontations regarding work and home. Tension is in the air on this day; but luckily, it doesn’t seem you will have to face it alone, as your partners are eager to lend an ear and offer support. Easier energy flows on July 8, when the Sun connects with dreamy Neptune, boosting your intuition and finding you easily connecting with people in your community.

Big conversations are taking place in your relationships on July 9, when Mercury squares off with Jupiter—the mood is very optimistic, but people are prone to exaggeration. Also on July 9, your ruling planet Venus enters fellow earth sign Virgo, bringing blessings to the romance and creativity sectors of your chart—very cute! Have fun, Taurus: This is a fantastic, fertile time to enjoy yourself, flirt with crushes, and make art. An especially exciting day is July 11, when Venus makes a harmonious connection with electric Uranus. Not only is this a fab time to buy a vibrator, the atmosphere will also be conducive to trying new things in your relationships and your art. You may find yourself stepping outside of your comfort zone, or even rebelling a bit. A more conservative, but just as helpful, energy is in the air on July 14, when Venus connects with Saturn, encouraging people to discuss their values, boundaries, plans, and commitments.

Another sweet day for Venus will be July 22—the start of Leo season—when it connects with lucky Jupiter to create a very social energy. The day to watch out for? July 24, when Venus will oppose hazy Neptune. Neptune might be the planet of fantasy, but it’s also the planet of delusion, and you'll find yourself wading through confusion around your social life and love life, as well as trying to find your purpose. Venus’s opposition to Neptune is a time of insecurity and neediness—you are reaching out for meaning but can’t find it… you wonder, what's it all—your friendships, crushes, and projects—for? You’re reaching a point of frustration now, but if you’re able to stay grounded and trust your intuition without veering into paranoia, you may bypass feelings of insecurity to stumble upon Neptune’s whimsical and magical side. Plus, a big shift will bring unexpected changes on July 25 (likely concerning your home and family) when the Sun clashes with Uranus, shaking you out of any Neptunian fog—and Venusian longing—you may have been languishing in.

The solar eclipse in Cancer arrives on July 12, which will find you having some very uncomfortable, but necessary, conversations. Eclipses bring big reveals and this one is no exception—some very sensitive things will come up, and it’s information that you need to make the right choices about which direction you'll need to move in. Eclipses are all about placing you on your correct and destined path (if you believe in that sort of thing!). Cancer is a very emotional sign (and yes, this eclipse will be an emotional doozy), but its energy isn’t always great at expressing itself… so practice your listening skills now, Taurus. And listen to your inner voice, too, as Cancer is a sign that asks us to trust our intuition. Part of the reason this eclipse will be so emotionally draining is because the Sun will oppose Pluto, finding people in intense confrontations and power struggles. You will especially notice this in your communications. Take note if people are being manipulative with their words, and if someone is being a bully, be sure to bring in a third party to help mediate—a very climactic energy is in the atmosphere, and it’s all going to come out. There’s no reason for you not to have back-up as you work through hard conversations.

Speaking of hard conversations, Mercury retrograde in Leo begins on July 26, so watch out for miscommunications—especially at home. Mercury rules commerce, in addition to communication, so hold off on making important or expensive purchases for now. Mercury retrograde is a time to slow down instead of pushing forward, so pick up projects you previously had to put on the back-burner instead of starting new ones. If you’re moving or making changes in your home, this Mercury retrograde may present some setbacks; however, something you may have lost, perhaps in your couch cushions or under your bed, may now resurface during your move or reorganization.

The lunar eclipse in Aquarius arrives on July 27, and while Leo season will find you focusing on issues at home, this eclipse will be major for your career. Mars retrograde in Aquarius has you rethinking what direction you want to go in, and the lunar eclipse will give you more information about what you want to do. Expect to be exhausted, Taurus, so don’t overbook yourself. The Sun will oppose Mars during this eclipse, finding people in a very argumentative mood—egos flare and endings take place, making you very frustrated that things aren’t moving as quickly as you'd like them to (which is saying a lot, Taurus, since it’s not like you move at the fastest pace, let’s be real).

But there is something very exciting and special happening on this day: Your planetary ruler Venus connects with the planet of transformation, Pluto, finding you realizing some very important philosophical, or even spiritual truths. You’re not just receiving new information about your life direction—you're also having some brilliant a-ha moments about who you are, what you need, and what you believe. A deeper understanding of your values will be realized. This is also a hugely profound day to connect with people—lovers, friends, creative partners—on a very deep level, both intellectually and emotionally. Kinky sex may even be on the menu—you know how Pluto is! Anyway, good luck this month, Taurus, and see you in August!