Venus enters the passionate sign of Scorpio along with the New Moon this week, too and we welcome the Mars trine Neptune on Thursday. This could be a very nice time for social exchange and visiting with friends and business associates — so try to set aside something like a lunch date with those you miss and need to see. It changes the texture of the day and the tenor of the week. The sociability energy continues throughout the weekend as Venus and Pluto connect making for some exciting new relationships as well.

More immediately, however, the coming weekend presents some very nice social opportunities as Venus embraces both Neptune and Chiron for a few days. This is always a great time to do ‘dream’ type activities like going swimming, walking by a river or a creek, catching up on your favorite movie viewing, painting that picture, designing that photo album, organizing your art box, or just doodling and scribbling while listening to your favorite music. There was a time when friends got together to listen to music before the onset of multiple visual inputs like televisions and computer monitors and smartphones. Just listening to music shifts something inside of people opening up new perceptions and discovering new insight.

Communications improve as Mercury and the Sun line up on Friday setting into motion a very busy fall season. Come Monday, Labor Day, we see Saturn reaching its shadow point (the point at which it went retrograde on January 13, 2010). I love it when Saturn gets to its shadow point — because it is like picking up a dropped stitch or addressing a disconnect with regard to attacking a project or how to get something done. The Saturn shadow point is like the coveted missing link of information that provides the know how needed for finishing something important. This affords the opportunity to start planning and structuring things so that they work this time.

This is further supported by Saturday’s second Saturn square Pluto aspect that began earlier in 2010. Honestly, this is not a fun aspect. In fact, it wreaks difficulty, endings, hardship, depression and decay. Underneath all of that, however, it requests you get motivated, make that call, re-write that resume, apply for the job that you don’t think you can get, go back to school, sell your valued third automobile and do whatever it takes to make a change. It suggests the end of ‘magical thinking’ for those too naïve to think that someone will come along and save them. Every time you feel one of those ‘down’ feelings mentioned above, take an action to change and redirect the energy.

Note all the trend lines in our calendar denoting movement up and down the scale as the week ends with a rather confusing Sun square Neptune while Venus conjuncts Mars. Confusion is one way to interpret this combination. Another way to interpret it is a vision or a thought or a sudden perception that you need to talk to so and so and follow through. Perhaps a romantic getaway or escape is just what the doctor ordered to balance out this rather stressful week or call that friend that you haven’t seen for a while and talk to them about what is going on with you. A fresh perspective is the ticket.

A little backpedaling is actually a good thing to finish what one started on and off throughout the spring of 2010. This week transiting Uranus (the awakener) moves retrograde back to Pisces on Friday. The degrees of the zodiac that it hits are the ‘release from bondage’ degrees (again), and, then, of course, the last pass occurs at the late January and late March 2011 dates. This pass suggests the need for a resolution, which requires a bit of a hard response where you set boundaries for your own survival or for taking care of yourself. The challenge that began earlier in 2010 is coming back and each person, regardless of that challenge, is asked to face it and if you can’t change the situation, then change your response to the situation.

Earlier in the week the New Moon accompanies the Venus square Pluto while opposing Jupiter (talk about hanging on a hook and having to get off that hook by making a choice that is difficult or hard — this is the week in which to do that). It is time to try new things and free yourself of co-dependent habits that keep coming back. By not making a change, you are stuck in limbo and are kept away from your primary responsibilities to yourself and your life. Stand up and set some firm boundaries offering reasonable solutions that work for everyone and not just a chosen few. They lead to changes that support your life rather than challenge it.

One can avail themselves of these social opportunities as not only fun, but very good for cultivating your already established business or jobs or your new burgeoning businesses and jobs. It is far more effective to have fun while doing business than it is to just work. Saturn and Venus in Libra really like the combination and this is the week in which to do this. There are, however, other challenges.

One of them is the August 2 Jupiter square Pluto aspect. I tried to describe the energy surrounding this very subtle but important energy and decided to go directly to Solar Fire 7.0 (one of the programs I use and which is available at astrolabe.com) for the explanation. So here it is, “Tensions arise as you struggle to achieve your goals. It seems as though other people and external events are deliberately plotting to thwart your every move. However, it may be that you are going overboard in your attempts to get your own way. The trouble is that you want to make great changes in your life, but lack the necessary tolerance and patience to get the timing right.” Sound familiar?

Just remember there is a new energy in the air this week, everyone is in a change mode, and it is time to ally yourself with people and values that reflect your own conscience and needs.

Civil Rights are again in the news as Arizona adds a law to the already booked Federal Law regarding United States borders. Many issues regarding immigration and the Civil Rights of Americans versus non-citizens are up on the block for re-examination as well as re-tooling the laws regarding immigration. America was founded by immigrants that came from all over the world – however, they left behind their countries, learned the language, contributed to citizenry and the populace and jumped right into the melting pot now known as Americans.

More issues around Civil Rights have arisen recently – such as the Civil Rights of the Oceans and their inhabitants and the invasion of the huge oil spill by BP. In addition, the controversy regarding unemployment, unemployment benefits and the delay in jobs is about to burst open with new possibilities coming from many new directions along with the onset of technologies that open opportunities to those who can’t even travel far from home.

In addition, last week Saturn entered Libra, which is an action cardinal sign and this week on July 29 Mars enters Libra, too, suggesting a very focused week on getting down to task to finish all those loose ends of projects that have been laying around all summer. The Mars conjunct Saturn aspect on July 31 and the opposition of Mars to Uranus the day before, suggests confrontations in relationships where roles must be defined in order for them to work better. However, it takes courage to be the one who opens up their mouth to talk about ‘the elephant that is in the middle of the room’ in order to change so that conditions improve and there is a win-win for everyone.

In addition, the big deal of Saturn entering the cardinal sign of Libra on Wednesday is important. This is a little taste of the negotiations skills we all need to develop over the course of the next few years since Libra is the sign of negotiation and the peace process as well as the law process. The week’s markets may be up and down as Jupiter then goes retrograde on Friday and might be a great time for those savvy investors to buy considering that early that same morning the Sun and Uranus are in sync with each other. The full moon on Sunday in Aquarius promises some very active network, community, and group activities.

There is a book, entitled, The Road Less Traveled. The unknown path is that of the hero or heroine-the person who has to set a new direction or new standard. Warriors all must do their own version of a walkabout. In addition, the total eclipse of July 11 is intense and illuminates issues regarding survival and security as well as family and clan. This is supported by a very fine aspect between Mercury (contracts) and Jupiter (the laws). The United States is a Cancer, a sign ruled by the Moon. The Moon rules food, housing, families, antiques, security, and tenaciousness. There are new opportunities opening up this fall (usually about 90 days after eclipses) for housing acquisitions and financial investors. As Mercury enters Leo (a fiery energy) and Venus enters Virgo, it is time to get down to business and figure out the necessary schedule or system or method to get ideas moving forward. Cross pollinating techniques and methods from different environmental systems offer the answers to and the way out through the door.