Vedic Astrological Newsletter: July - September 2025

NOTE: The format is changing for these complimentary newsletters. Going forward, these newsletters will be published quarterly, during fall, spring, winter and summer. In this newsletter,  selected planetary transits occurring in July, August and September 2025 will be discussed. The next newsletter will be published in October 2025. You can always refer back to this newsletter at my website during each season: www.Dgoldsteinphd.com

JULY 2025:

Mercury Turns Retrograde in Cancer on 7/18:

      Mercury turns retrograde at 21 degrees in the water sign of Cancer on 7/18. Mercury continues to retrograde until turning direct at 10 degrees Cancer on 8/11.  This is a weaker transit for Mercury moving through an inimical water sign,  so expect communication complications, misunderstandings and emotional outbursts during this period. Mercury retrograde periods also bring back unfinished issues from the past that still require resolution.  Some issues are more practical, such as a previous leak or plumbing problem that  has to be resolved, or that never got fixed properly in the first place, and now it reappears. Travel delays, mechanical problems and general confusion or mix-ups are also common during such periods. Allow extra time for appointments, double check reservations and expect technical and mechanical issues to arise more readily than normal. It's beneficial to backup computer data, check your car battery and tires, as well as any other appliances or machines that may be in need of repair or maintenance.

      On the other hand, it is a good time to review, reevaluate, clear out files, make backup copies of important information, and otherwise clear one's mind of extraneous material.  While Mercury is retrograde, it is not the best time to start important new projects. This is a better time to go back and resolve, repair or clear up what was already started and may need revision or attention.

Mars/Ketu Transit through Leo:  6/6  to  7-28-2025:

      In last month's newsletter, the Mars/Ketu conjunction in Leo was described in detail. I will repeat part what was written last month, since this conjunction is still activated and peaks on 7/20. These Mars/Ketu predictions have already come to pass since this was written in early June, but we are not done yet with this transit and its indications:

      On 6/6, Mars leaves its weakest sign position of Cancer and moves to the friendly, fixed, fire sign of Leo. Mars will transit there until 7/28. This gives "fuel to the fire" since Mars is considered a hot planet and gains strength while transiting through a fire sign position. 

       Ketu will transit with transiting Mars in June and for most of July, until 7/28, when Mars moves into Virgo. Mars and Ketu will form an exact conjunction at 25 degrees Leo on 7/20, definitely a time frame (late July 2025) to monitor for the enhanced probability of aggression, war breaking out, terrorist acts, explosions, intense fires, accidents and violence/anarchy/riots getting out-of-control in various forms. This aspect of the Mars/Ketu conjunction reflects the negative side of the transit. 

      The combination of Mars with Ketu is interesting since Ketu is known to harbor many of Mars' qualities. However, Ketu handles them differently than Mars. Both display strong impulsive tendencies, want freedom and independence at all costs, and both have the inherent potential to turn anti-social, irritable, angry and violent if restricted or confined. Ketu represents internalized fury, while Mars is much more demonstrative and external in terms of its expression. Put them together, and you have both internal and external restlessness boiling up. It reminds me of a dormant hidden volcano which is loaded with hot red/orange lava sitting there for thousands of years, ready to explode from beneath the earth. Combine that with the Mars trigger, and you get the outward expulsion of hot burning lava flow, bringing out the internal build-up into the open for all to see and experience. We may literally witness more than a normal number of active volcanic eruptions while Mars and Ketu transit Leo.  This did indeed take place in early June, with several major volcanoes erupting in different parts of the world.

AUGUST 2025:

Mars Moves to Virgo From 7/28 to 9-13-2025 and is complicated by Saturn/Neptune aspects:

      On 7/28 Mars transits to Virgo and remains there until 9/13. Mars will aspect Saturn in Pisces and vice versa for the entire transit. The exact opposition occurs on 8/8, with Mars at 7 degrees Virgo and Saturn will be at 7 degrees Pisces retrograde. This is a challenging time, as Mars and Saturn are both malefic planets and bitter enemies. This is a planetary combination for earthquakes, intense storms, hurricane activity, oil and gas explosions, and volcanic eruptions. It is also an accident-prone indicator, but more likely involving ships at sea or accidents involving water, flooding, shark bites and drownings. 

      During the period between 7/28 to 8/13, Mars will transit through Purva Phalguni and Saturn will transit through Uttarabhadra nakshatras, respectively. This is stressful, negative and problematic for relationships, partnerships and financial dealings. This is not a good time for marriage, negotiations, or setting up business partnerships, for example. It's particularly challenging when the Moon joins with Saturn in Pisces from 8/11 to 8/13. Recall that Uttarabhadra nakshatra has the symbol of the "funeral cot" and it relates to endings, death and renewal. The shakti of this nakshatra is "the power to bring rain." With Mars irritating Saturn, especially while Saturn is in Uttarabhadra, expect the greater possibility of flooding and major storm activity during this period. 

       While not traditionally considered in Vedic Astrology, the outer planet, Neptune is also intimately connected to this particular Saturn/Mars transit, as Neptune will also be transiting at 7 degrees Pisces. When outer planets join with other planets, it is worth considering their influence. Neptune and Saturn are completely different in their inherent natures. Whereas, Saturn represents "solid grounding," "material reality", "boundaries imposed," and responsibility, the outer planet Neptune represents "the non-material, spiritually-oriented, boundless dimension" that is hard to quantify, visualize and describe. 

      When Neptune joins with Saturn, by transit, it forces the energies of Neptune to either become more realistic and apply higher spiritual principles to the material world that can actually be experienced, or the Neptune/Saturn combination can indicate being scammed, dupped, deceived, believing falsehoods or being encased in a fantasy, illusory mental state. There is a sense of feeling trapped and that can lead an ungrounded person or weaker personality to seek escapism through drugs, alcohol or breaking laws and ignoring boundaries of society, thus ending up in jail or worse. That person may develop a false sense of understanding or harbor a belief system based on ignorance, wishful thinking or deception. 

      Since Mars is also aspecting the Neptune/Saturn transit during August and into September, the more negative side of this transit is more likely to manifest during this phase.  Therefore, a greater tendency for scams, foolish behavior, deceptive practices, escapism and fantasy schemes runs higher than normal into September. Be more cautious, ask questions, seek proof and double check facts when something appears too good to be true, or major, unusual promises are made, especially into September this year. 

      The Saturn/Neptune combination in Pisces can also indicate having to confront a faulty belief system, or having one's fantasies become shattered by the hard material reality that hits a person like a ton of bricks. Basically, this individual realizes that he can't run or hide in a fantasy world or within his illusory mind because the harsh reality or truth now confronts him in a very real and direct manner. The Mars transit is highly stimulative during these months to push this situation to the front line of awareness. 

      With this transit happening along the Pisces/Virgo axis, at least some of this issue is likely to play itself out in religious and spiritually-based institutions, which are founded on a series of beliefs and ideals. Sometimes, distortions or erroneous interpretations creep into such places of worship and the masses are led to believe falsehoods, leading to erroneous assumptions or even scandals. We may witness more of this over the next few months.

SEPTEMBER 2025:

Mercury moves to exalted Virgo on 9/15:

      On 9/15, Mercury moves to exalted Virgo, which is particularly strong and beneficial for analytical endeavors, education, technical and detail-oriented activities, as well as communications. Mercury transits through its own exalted sign of Virgo until 10/2. Normally, this transit would be particularly strong for Mercury's significations. However, in this case, Mercury also receives the aspect of Saturn for the entire transit period. 

     Saturn's aspect does not completely negate  this strong Mercury transit, but it can delay or slow the positive impacts, or curtail them, and it indicates more seriousness, fear, worry and increased responsibility. Saturn's influence to Mercury brings in more discipline, attentiveness and concern. This is a good transit for learning, developing a new skill, learning new languages, practicing and doing homework, and even learning how to play a musical instrument--which requires diligence, practice and repetition over time. This is also a beneficial time to improve one's health, lifestyle habits and anything that requires attention to detail, practice and repetitive study.

Total Lunar Eclipse on 9-7-2025:

      The next total lunar eclipse takes place on 9-7-2025, which consists of the full Moon across the Aquarius/Leo axis, involving the nakshatras of Purvabhadra (Moon/Rahu) and Purva Phalguni (Sun/Ketu). Generally, it is best to avoid starting major projects or activities within 3 days on either side of the eclipse. It is a weaker time for externals and better approached as a more introspective time. Mercury will also be combust with the Sun during this eclipse and its energy is curtailed. Therefore, logic, good judgment and wise decision-making are lacking at this time.  This is not a good time for making important financial decisions or for relationship matters.