Hi Everyone

In addition to the longest day of the year this month, two planets change directions.

Neptune, planet of illusion, fog, compassion and the higher octave of Venus, stations retrograde (astro-speak for stops and goes backwards) on June 18 at 7:27 p.m. EDT. She’ll be at 16⁰ degrees Pisces and will remain there for the rest of the month. Those with placements around 16⁰ may be more impacted by this change of direction. She is still in an easy flow of energy with Jupiter, who is retrograde in Scorpio (another water sign), and when the Sun goes into Cancer (the third water sign) there will be a grand trine in water. Emotions will be running high, and maybe water. However, Neptune retrograde also presents an opportunity to turn our compassion on ourselves, as we delve deeply (Scorpio) into patterns that no longer serve us. Neptune’s energy is unconditional love – we love because it is in the nature of love to love. I am reminded of the sermon at the royal wedding when Reverend Michael Curry said: “Imagine our governments and countries when love is the way.”

Mars, planet of energy, initiating projects and war, stations retrograde on June 26 at 5:05 p.m. EDT. He’ll be at 9⁰ Aquarius, the sign of rebellion and destroyer of old forms of thinking or just old forms of anything. By the last third of the month, he will be the only planet in the air element, so the realm of ideas will not be as prominent. (There will be a lot of earth along with the water. Good thing – earth provides some boundaries for water and water softens earth.) Mars retrograde can provide an opportunity to break down old patterns of thinking (Aquarius) that have us stuck in a rut.

From the 13^th on, when Venus enters Leo, there will be more fixed energy with Venus opposing (calling for balance, awareness of others) Mars in Aquarius. By the end of the month, Jupiter in Scorpio will make a fixed T-square. A square is a growth opportunity between planets in signs of the same quality, in this case fixed. Fixed energy sustains; it can be quite stubborn and slow-moving, but without it nothing would manifest. Attention those with fixed signs in your natal charts – a growth opportunity may be coming your way, especially for those with planets in the middle of the sign (10⁰ to 20⁰). And Uranus is in the fourth fixed sign, Taurus, but is still too far away to be a part of this fixed configuration. However, all four fixed signs: earth (Taurus), water (Scorpio), fire (Leo) and air (Aquarius), are dancing together this month.

The Summer Solstice occurs on June 21 at 6:07 a.m. EDT when the Sun enters Cancer. Cancer is a water sign, mostly concerned with home, hearth and good food. The New Moon occurs on June 13 at 3:43 p.m. at 22⁰ Gemini; the Full Moon occurs on June 28^th at 0.53 a.m. EDT at 6⁰ Capricorn.

Have a wonderful June!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret