As the planet Saturn slows to a near standstill in its retrograde motion into Scorpio, it has dominated the southern night skies with the Scorpion constellation. This alignment is slow to move, but will be activated by the waxing Moon as it climbs out of the west toward its 1st Quarter phase on the night of July 23rd here in the Americas. At that phase, it will join the planet Saturn in the sign of Scorpio.
The First Quarter phase is a time to take action, using one’s instincts and feeling of things rather than with the mind. Adding the Scorpio energy it is about exercising your desires and will to get what you want. It is even more important to those who were born during a 1st quarter phase of the Moon, as it represents your monthly Lunar Birthday (by Moon Phase only).
Two nights later, on July 25th, the Gibbous Moon will join Saturn on the edge of the Scales Constellation with the 
Scorpion Constellation very close by. The ringed planet is finishing up with its visit with the sign of Scorpio, entreating us to have awareness of our limits and face the underlying issues we’ve buried in the structure of our soul. The Moon’s conjunction with Saturn that night (and after midnight) can assist us in letting go of toxins from the past that we not have known we were harboring.
The alignment on the 25th also roughly corresponds to Venus’ standstill motion as it has nearly caught up with the Earth in its orbit around the Sun. The motion signals Venus is about to go retrograde (officially stationing retrograde in the early morning hours of July 24th) and nearing the end of its 19-month cycle. Venus is still visible just after sunset in the WNW twilight skies with a very faint Jupiter.
For Saturn, look toward the south in late twilight for a yellowish pinprick of light (The Moon will help you locate it on the 25th). Saturn will be one of the first lights to appear with the red star Antares (Heart of the Scorpion) and the white-colored star Spica, way off to the right in the constellation of the Priestess. Knowing where these celestial lights are can help you not simply with observation, but with a deeper knowing as you tune into what those planets and stars symbolize. It is then you can work with them in your personal ceremonies as teachers, initiators and navigators in life’s journey.
– Erik Roth, Shamanic Astrologer 7/21/2015