If you were expecting some kind of sun sign nonsense, forget it. This is real astrology. See the section above. Please note: this forecast is expressed in terms of Universal Time (UT).

There aren't many major planetary alignments in July, a month with no SuperMoons and no eclipses either. That doesn't mean things will be dull, but it does point to July being about wrapping up unfinished business and works in progress.

The Moon's northward equatorial crossing on the 2nd ushers in a slight increase in the risk of strong storms, flooding and moderate to severe seismic activity (including Richter 5 or greater quakes and volcanic eruptions). Although hardly in the same league as a SuperMoon or eclipse, this will be in effect from the 1st through the 3rd and it will be accompanied by geological and meteorological disturbances - including powerful storms in particular. Also in effect throughout this time (and within a degree until the 6th) is the Mars-Jupiter conjunction in Cancer: scores are settled, feuds perpetuated, the sins of the fathers are visited upon the children. Except for companies benefiting from military conflict, this is bound to be a fairly tough time for equity markets.

Speaking of which, the only two major planet alignments all month are both symbolic of military conflict, terror attacks and the like - and both negative for the broader markets. In addition to the Mars-Jupiteralignment at the beginning of July, the other major celestial indicator is the Mars-Neptune opposition on the 28th, in effect from the 24th on into early August: sneak attacks, poisons, betrayals. (On the financial front, criminal fraud.) The only way these could turn positive for major equity markets would be for them to coincide with a stunning betrayal and reversal of fortune for Islamic terrorist leaders.

A more potent significator of storm and seismic potential is in effect from the 7th through the 13th, as Luna reaches maximum northern declination a day ahead of the new moon on the 10th. The Moon reaches perigee (closest approach to Earth) on July 14, and crosses the celestial equator southward on the 16th: in combination, these factors stretch the risk window for strong storms, flooding, moderate to severe earthquakes (Richter 5 and higher) and volcanic eruptions all the way out to the 17th.

The period around the 20th - give or take a few days either way - looks like a lull in the bear market trend bedeviling so many investors around the world. But I do expect a time of testing will come again toward the end of the month, as noted earlier.

A brief respite sets in on the geophysical front after that, until the July 24 full moon risk window takes hold on the 21st. This lasts all the way through the 27th, and includes the Moon reaching maximum southern declination on the 22nd. While this entire period is one during which storms and seismic action will make news, the 22nd through the 24th is bound to be the peak in the cycle. A day of relative calm comes on the 28th, and then the northward lunar equatorial crossing of the 30th sets in on the 29th, and carries through the rest of the month: once more, disturbances sweep through the crust and atmosphere of our home planet.

  

SPECIAL FEATURE: This month's birthdays of the famous and infamous (with astrological birth charts)