Water takes many forms: vapor, solid, liquid, crystals, clouds, fog. In astrology, the water element is associated with feelings, and like water, our emotions are varied and changeable. It will be hard to ignore them in the current flood tides. Will all this water cleanse you? Will it saturate or satiate you?

Our long watery downpour began in February 2012 when Neptune entered Pisces for 14 years. In October 2012, Saturn began its travel through Scorpio of more than two years. Since then, we have had at least two planets in water signs at all times, and frequent brief visits by quicker planets. (And that's not counting asteroid Chiron in Pisces 2011-2019.) For the next year, there will always be at least three planets now that Jupiter is in Cancer (6/25/13 - 7/16/14). That covers all three signs in the water element. This summer, Cancer takes center stage.

The summer solstice is the first day of summer and the start of the Sun's annual journey through Cancer. Factors present at the starting moment of a season send a ripple through the three months to follow. At the summer solstice on June 21, Mercury, Venus and Ceres were in Cancer, for a total of five planets in Cancer plus Saturn and Neptune for a total of seven in water signs. That's a strong dose of one element for a season!

The emphasis on Cancer continues in earnest until late August, after which time just Jupiter remains. As some planets leave, others arrive. After the solstice, Venus and Ceres moved on to Leo around the time Jupiter entered Cancer in late June. A week before the Sun shifts to Leo, Mars comes into Cancer July 13, remaining until Mercury also departs.

Mercury's swimming extra laps in Cancer and plays a key role in this month's New Moon (see below). Currently, Mercury is doing the backstroke. If you missed the details on its retrograde in last month's eNewsletter, you can read it from the archive. (Or if you are a new reader of this eNewsletter, you can see prior editions.)

Speaking of archives, have you seen the LOOKING UP episode about Neptune in Pisces? Or if you have seen it, maybe you want to watch it again for a good background about this important influence or see a different show from the archive.

As if the spout wasn't spewing enough! This month, we'll have a pattern that I often describe as turning the faucet on all the way, the Grand Trine. When such an equilateral triangle between 3 or more planets forms, it usually occurs in one element. That's the case now, in water of course.

The planets involved help us make a beneficial blend between the ideal and the real. Neptune, the planet of vision, coordinates with Saturn, planet of manifestation, and Jupiter, the enlarger, to make dreams come true in a big way. The beneficial power of this Grand Trine is strong for the better part of a month, centered on the peak July 17-19, when the component sides of the triangle are perfectly in place.

Neptune is slow and Saturn is no speed demon. They line up a third of the sky apart in a pattern with gaps between occurrences of 10-13 years alternating with gaps of 22-24 years. Jupiter circuits the zodiac once in 12 years so it's not often in position to make a Grand Trine with them. In the past 200 years, there have been two Grand Trines but neither with component sides of the triangle all being exact within days. Looking ahead for the next 200 years, the next time there's a Grand Trine between these three is an imprecise version in 2192. So this is rare! We ought to appreciate this opportunity and use it to advantage.

In the Mayan sacred Tzolkin calendar, there is an intensified period for manifesting intentions. As luck would have it, that ten-day period begins July 15 and ends July 24, totally encompassing the peak of this Grand Trine. The period for the setting of intentions ran from Dec. 7, 2012 to March 31, 2013. Do you remember your heart's desires from that time range? If so, see if and how those prayers are answered in the weeks ahead.

(If you are interested in studying the Mayan calendar, I highly recommend the work of Gevera "Bert" Piedmont. She has an annual calendar (covering the normal January to December year) as well as a guide book to Mayan astrology for use from year to year.)

The Sun is in Cancer now, from the summer solstice to the day of the Full Moon. Cancer is the sign ruled by the Moon. Each summer when the Sun visits, it's always a time to be more conscious (a solar trait) of our subconscious (the Moon's territory). Our instincts are strong and we're more sentimental and protective. Home and family matters are front and center.

The July 8 New Moon [12:15 am (P), 3:15 am (E)] is at 16 degrees of Cancer with Mercury just two degrees ahead. Because Mercury is going backwards and the Sun forward in the zodiac, they cross paths quickly on the 9th. With the planet of the mind featured so prominently at the New Moon, this lunar cycle is one where our thoughts and discussions are in the spotlight. We may find our opinions shifting back and forth.

The Water Grand Trine is moving into close alignment by the time of the New Moon, thus its power is available to us for the four-week cycle following the New Moon. Be sure to state your wishes in the first 48 hours after the New Moon.

The Sun and Moon at the New Moon are also in the right degree range to form a T-square with the ongoing Uranus-Pluto square. This means we're at another gear-shifting point in the process of getting rid of old outworn ways and embracing new challenges.

The Sun has been in the T-square for days, including at the USA's birthday July 4th. Since the Sun represents the head of state, this foretells bumps in the road ahead for the President. He's likely to be torn between interests of corporate America (represented by Pluto in Capricorn) and the needs of the people (associated with Uranus).

July's Full Moon comes on the 22nd [11:17 am (P), 2:17 pm (E)] at zero degrees of Aquarius. The Sun enters Leo just hours before [8:57 am (P), 11:57 am (E)]. Because Full Moons occur about 29 days apart and signs are 30 degrees, whenever there is a Full Moon at zero degrees, the next Full Moon will be in the same sign, in this case on Aug. 20 also in Aquarius, near the end (28 degrees).

Mars joins Jupiter shortly before the Full Moon, amplifying our emotions to the boiling point (especially for people who are the angry type). They're both strongly in the Grand Trine and only loosely moving into the T-square. Mercury is in forward motion again and moving away from the T-square. It's in another Water Grand Trine with Chiron and the North Node in Scorpio. That triangle encourages us to improve our thinking and communication by incorporating more tenderness and caring as part of a transformational process of putting the past behind us.

With Jupiter in Cancer at the forefront this summer, it's a great time to get together with family or be in touch with relatives at a distance. Jupiter is the planet of travel and summer's a popular time for trips.

Of course, before you head out the door on vacation, check your Janet's Plan-its 2013 Celestial Planner to select a favorable day (rated 3 or better). Look at the Best/Worst List for travel (see Sagittarius) or pleasure (see Leo). For a fun time with no particular purpose, it's not as essential as it would be for a new venture to avoid the Moon Void of Course. That's when the Moon has finished making its last aspect (connection to another planet) in its current sign and we coast on the tailwinds of that last link until the Moon enters the next sign. The possibility exists that intentions run out of steam or don't turn out as planned. If you have a goal for your time off or a schedule to meet, you might want to select a start time when the Moon is not Void.

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