Eclipses have both a personal and universal effect, directly affecting individuals with important planets or points in their chart that correspond with the degree of the eclipse. One can only imagine how people in ancient times, before there was knowledge of astronomy, would have reacted to the sight of a total eclipse.

Both the USA and England are vulnerable to the power of these eclipses having planets closely affected. The global economy, especially for Britain, looks like it heads for more bad news on the lunar eclipse of the 7th, but the solar eclipse of the 22nd, affords some relief for both countries, but within a crisis mode.

This is a very busy month astrologically. There are many aspects at work, and a much activated period dominated by the Sun in Cancer, but there is much Gemini energy at work in the ether too, plus some Taurean input.

The Sun is in Cancer until the 22nd when it enters Leo; and Mercury is also in Cancer between the 3rd and 17th. This favors the U.S. and its art, as the U.S. is a Cancerian country and indeed, inevitably, New York which is a Cancerian city and likely to be in sharp focus in some way.

Beware the 4th when Mercury in Cancer and Pluto align in confrontation. This may be a critical day internationally when harsh words are exchanged and some sociopolitical shock is in the air

Cancer is an emotional, feminine water sign. It is largely motivated by the unconscious and self-protection. It is very sensitive and will protect itself by withdrawing into its crab-like shell in a mood of passive resistance when overwhelmed by what it only too readily absorbs from the atmosphere and everyone around them.

It is caring and nurturing and is the sign of the mother and needs emotional security more than any other sign and is not responsive to situations or people unless the heart and the emotions are involved. Cancer also has strong influence from the mother and indeed often needs to get away from this psychic bondage. It is a sign ruled by the Moon and is therefore changeable (moody) but is very shrewd in business and loves its home. It is tenacious like its totem the crab, with its claws, and also approaches situations indirectly and in a rather sideways fashion, again like the crab, sussing out, before fully engaging. It tends towards fluid retention and has marked ebbs and flows of energy. It is a very charming sign but it can also be very melancholy. It craves understanding, but it is hard to understand the changes within a Cancer as they often can’t even understand them themselves. They are shrewd in business and excellent players in the hospitality and service industry. They are often sentimental, love history and antiques and are often great cooks. Cancerians need to confront, engage with and liberate their feelings rather than keep them trapped in their unconscious, inviting irrational behavior.

Obama (Venus in Cancer) is in fine form this month, with Jupiter opposing his ruling planet of Uranus. This augurs well for some sort of breakthrough in foreign policy. However, with Afghanistan being his declared main focus in his fight on terror and with Pluto in that sign for many years to come, that country will prove intractable ground and threatens to become Obama’s Vietnam.

Venice is also a Cancerian city and being in Italy (Leo ruled) the Venice Biennale is in full flood this month. So far it seems that the U.S. (Cancer) Pavilion is deemed the best national presentation with Bruce Nauman’s keenly awaited exhibition. Bruce Nauman has his Moon in Cancer square to Mars in Aries, which is a sensitive but volatile, over-reactive and angry combination. He is quoted as saying, "Generalised anger and frustration is something that gets you to the studio and gets you to work, though it’s not necessarily evident in anything that’s finished."

Jupiter remains conjunct to Neptune, being exact in the first two weeks, maintaining the mix of idealism with fantasy and continuing to support the flourishing of the arts, especially photography and film, despite prevailing economic conditions.

Venus is in Gemini from the 5th and Mars is there from the 12th, which also certainly supports writers, critics and journalists. After the 5th, London becomes a point of esthetic focus. London is a Gemini city.

The power of photography has become massive as an art form since the mutual reception of Uranus (technology) in Pisces (film / photography / arts) and Neptune (ruling Pisces) in Aquarius (ruled by Uranus) established itself in the heavens in 2003. Mutual reception is when two planets occupy the natural home sign of the other, hence combining and strengthening their power. Additionally, Neptune’s current combining with Jupiter creates a real expansion and growth of the world of film and photography and promotes the ability to cross and extend boundaries, enter fantasy worlds and think the impossible.

Cancer is a sign very concerned with history and the new exhibition "Flashback" by Tom Hunter on show at the Museum of London (running till next March), is a remarkable portrayal through photography, of a juxtaposition of imagery and objects that cross time boundaries. Hunter says of his commission, "In these photographs I wanted to convey a freedom to travel in time, but unlike the museum itself, which sets out to make sense of history, I set out to confuse." He willfully jumbles the past with his images. He builds installations that comprise of objects, fashion and people from different historical eras and layers them together incongruously, then photographs them. One of his shots photographs the lead designer of the Galleries of Modern London, Gail Symington, posing in an 18th-century silk dress with a 1950s Vesta scooter. In another, a private equity investor, dressed in a 1750s silk frock coat and a huge periwig, leans on the bonnet of a Model Y Ford 8 car, dating back to 1932.

London itself is full of historical incongruities, without resorting to contriving the point artistically. Many of its pubs and buildings are centuries old, and are filled with the people, artifacts and gadgetry of the new millennium. The architectural landscape of London juxtaposes the ancient church alongside the newest skyscraper. Victorian structures seamlessly are attached to modern concrete structures which then give way often remarkably comfortably to the Georgian. Sometimes the contrasting historical architectural alignments to the objective eye are just weird and slightly upsetting. London is quirky and full of anomalies. Our parliamentary buildings along with the often risible ceremonies and traditions that our politicians still observe, belonging to centuries ago, are taken for granted, alongside the modern business of the day. Pluto (power) in Capricorn (status quo / England) will always try and uphold the bastions of establishment tradition. However, one suspects that such pomp and ceremony, so idiosyncratic to our countries governmental procedure, serves to merely to alienate politicians from the average voter. A job they do admirably on their own anyway.

Talking of London and parliament, Gordon Brown, England’s beleaguered Prime Minister has, after his onslaught last month, a bit of a respite this month from the slings and arrows of misfortune. But he should not be complacent, as come August and September, when Saturn opposes his north node (karmic) and then challenges his Venus and Mars, there is another and possibly decisive chapter of his nemesis in action.

Recent uproar and public disgust in the UK over both the bankers’ (and politicians’) profligate misuse of finances, has just about run its course and with Pluto (power) in Capricorn (establishment / economy) there is an inevitable stealthy, but certain return to the bankers retaining their advantages and largely carrying on as if nothing had happened.

The fundamental revolution in the economy desired and demanded by many, after the near cataclysm of a mere few months ago, has not taken shape. There were a few demonstrations and continuing media hysteria; but that seemed to cover it. Neptune rules the collective mood and its ability to be spread amorphously through the media. From Neptune’s current long term position in Aquarius, the spread of a desire for more parity and a more humanitarian (Aquarius) world is strong. However with Neptune, things are very transient, ideological and idealistic, and not very concrete. Hence the power of the media to be the seeming mouthpiece of collective public outrage, also somehow creates a paralysis of actual action. It is as if the media reaction alone is enough of a cleansing, expiation and catharsis.

All the blogs, YouTube coverage, letters to editors, phone-in shows. etc., allows people to express frustrations, rather than act on them. The safety valve effect, no less.

An overdose of scandal shoved in our face daily eventually leads to public apathy, as there is a feeling among the public that the media furor alone will ensure there is change. It is a safety valve that works well for the guilty. For them it is a case of heads down, let the public roar and then it is business as usual. The new boss of the Royal Bank of Scotland is about to paid in the region of £10m a year. Since 70 percent of that bank is now owned by the government, after being rescued by public money from its spectacular screw up, we can’t blame market forces for this incredible level of remuneration. The word now in the city is also that bonuses are back (BAB).

The next time financial crash under the same old regime will be unredeemable.

There is now an insidious but distinct sense amongst the public of a collective shrug of resignation to the fact that things won’t change and there will always be injustice and that "those *******’s will always get away with it."

Media freedom and coverage can it seems in so many ways be a substitute for action.

Cynicism runs even deeper now and there is a distinct sense of "plus ca change. . . ."

It is interesting that in countries where the media is heavily censored and state-run, there is often the growth of a much more proactive, if underground revolutionary spirit, as dangerous as the consequences may be for those involved.

The Media (Neptune) is so often the opiate (Neptune) of the masses.

Neptune now combined with Jupiter suggests that the media is currently more powerful than ever, to affect the course of history.

While Pluto remains in Capricorn the establishment and big business will fight ruthlessly to prevail, despite exposure of their toxic behavior and against all evidence of the fact that change is inevitable. Till approximately 2024 they will do everything to retain the upper hand, while all around gradually collapses.

Even Barack Obama has become heavily influenced by the vested interests of the big energy conglomerates, resulting in his green environmental plans and targets promised in his campaigning, being now modified significantly.

However, public complacency cannot be relied upon, as once a critical mass point is reached and when middle class lives are severely affected by the coming long years of financial crisis and debt, especially in the UK, the worm will eventually turn. The increasingly insidious effects of climate change on us all that will develop in concert with severe economic challenge will add to the unrest. The concept of change is always difficult. Change often equals pain and people often will prefer to put up with the devil they know, until there is the realization that not changing will be even more painful.

Talk of economic recovery by politicians, though a consummation devoutly to be wished by them is to be treated with great cynicism.  

The first week of this month sees Mars and Venus in stubborn Taurus square Jupiter and Neptune. This brings a great danger of smoke and mirrors and also foolish adventure and over-confidence by both nations and individuals.

Iran is a Taurean nation and its controversial leaders may be indulging delusions of grandeur and some provocative and dangerous daring, during its current constitutional crisis.

On the 4th when Mercury opposes Pluto, there are intense statements and communications in the air. The 9th, 16th and 27th are all harmonious days when the newly exciting and the celebratory are in the ether. The 21st is a time of some reality checks as Venus squares up to Saturn and being the same day as the solar eclipse, it could be a notable period. The 28th is a great day for experimentation, particularly creatively, and the 30th and 31stt when Mercury opposes Jupiter and Neptune, is a time of inspiration but of some potential for illusion and self-delusion.

With Jupiter (expansion, wealth, generosity) hand in hand with Neptune (idealistic, spiritual, glamorous and clandestine) in Aquarius (altruistic / futuristic), a conjunction that runs all year, there is a creation of a new phenomenon nicknamed the "Good Club" where the rich and famous, such as Bill and Melinda Gates, Oprah Winfrey, George Soros, David Rockefeller, Ted Turner, Warren Buffet and other business giants, collaborate in secret and make moves seemingly to try and help the planet in some way. The new golden age of philanthropy is abounding, whether it is investing many millions of dollars in green projects and technology (or controversially adopting children from the developing world). This new philanthropy has been dubbed Bilanthropy, or another phrase used is Philanthro-Capitalism. The very secretive nature of this group however creates cynicism, and the smoke and mirror nature of the group’s activities has evoked distrust of their agendas. More openness might ameliorate this distrust. The concept of the trickle-down effect, the idealistic social capitalist concept, could be exemplarily displayed by the mega-wealthy donating some of their wealth for altruistic causes, but as ever the question of personal priorities and egos will cloud issues.

After the 17th Mercury moves into Leo, which highlights Leo-ruled places (such as France and Italy) as centers of interest and also as artistic centers of excellence. The Sun joins Mercury in Leo on the 22nd.

Talking of Leo places, currently and till September 5th, Banksy, the "anonymous" graffiti artist, has an uncharacteristic exhibition of his work in the City Museum on Queens’s Road in his hometown of Bristol, which is indeed a Leo city. The so called "quality vandal" conforms. He has gone from somewhat of a reprobate and scourge in his home city, to now being feted as its prodigal son. The world acclaim and six figure sums for his work may have something to do with it. Money talks. Bristol anticipates at least an extra 100,000 visitors during the exhibition.

It is believed (though never confirmed by his loyal crew) that Banksy is actually Robin Gunningham, born July 28, 1973, making him a Leo Sun native. He attended the private Bristol cathedral school and is thought to have trained at Bristol Art College. If this birth date is correct, he has an unsurprising Mars (energy, drive) in Aries in opposition to Uranus (unpredictable / revolutionary). This is a very subversive and risk-loving combination and both of these planets also square up to his Mercury (communication) in Cancer (sensitivity) creating a hugely vibrant and bold "T square" formation. If his Moon conjuncts Mercury in Cancer, as is very likely, his capacity for surreal wit abounds.

Banksy’s moon in Cancer also gives him real public appeal. The USA (Cancer) is a country that suits him and responds to him well and indeed his real big financial break and triumphant entry into mainstream pop art, was accomplished in his first U.S. exhibition in Los Angeles in 2006, when Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie spent more than $2m on his work.

Banksy is reputed to love animals and to hate war.

He is reported as saying about the Bristol exhibition, "This is the first show I have ever done where taxpayers’ money is being used to hang my pictures up, rather than scrape them off." His unique wit, cheek and sheer boldness have made Banksy beloved by many and eventually the establishment could not avoid embracing him wholeheartedly and he seems to be now reciprocating.

Holly Kirkwood of Country Life magazine said of Banksy, "Switching from subversive to extremely lucrative is difficult to do without losing your credibility, but when you come from the streets so literally, and the comments your work makes are more irascible than anything seen in official galleries for decades, then I guess you’re allowed."

The problem lies in the fact that by definition his work may seem out of place in an art friendly formal setting, as its very joy resonates precisely because of its characteristic incongruous and somewhat illicit placements.

N.B. If you know your ascendant (rising sign), you should read the general trends for that sign in conjunction with your Sun sign for a more accurate forecast. In astrology, the nature of the planet symbolizes the type of energy that is happening, the sign it is in how it is happening and the house it is in where it is happening.

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