NorthPoint Astrology Journal: Your guide to planetary energies for June 1 to 7, 2015 By Pam Younghans

Photo: Full Moon (from Bing images, credit unknown)
NorthPoint Astrology Journal

Your guide to planetary energies for June 1 to 7, 2015 By Pam Younghans  Highlighted Aspects this Week:TUE: Mars quincunx Pluto, Full Moon 9:18am PDT, Ceres goes retrograde; THU: Venus trine Vesta; FRI: Venus enters Leo, Sun quincunx Pluto, Mars sextile Jupiter, Venus trine Saturn; SAT: Vesta enters Aries; SUN: Saturn trine Vesta WE REACH a culmination point this week, as the Moon reaches the midpoint of her monthly cycle. Since the Taurus New Moon on May 17, we've been working to realign ourselves with our foundational values. During these past two weeks, we may have struggled internally as we questioned our choices. We may also have struggled externally with others who reflected our uncertainty back to us -- or we may have chosen not to share our ideas with others, preferring to nurture them and to watch their development in private. NOW, as the Sagittarius Full Moon shines brightly on Tuesday (at 9:18am PDT), we have the opportunity to assess our progress. And yet, our assessment will need to take a different form than we might expect. This is due partly to the fact that Mercury is still retrograde. While Mercury is moving backward in Gemini, we are encouraged to use our minds in less linear ways. Instead of using logical decision-making tools like the "pluses and minuses" comparison chart, we will benefit from tapping into our intuitive knowing as a primary resource. Mercury being retrograde also means that the external signs of progress that we would normally expect to see with this Full Moon are delayed a bit -- another reason we must use our ability to see beyond the physical if we want to take stock of where we are. MYSTICAL NEPTUNE plays an important role in Tuesday's Full Moon, adding to the themes of using intuition over logic. Neptune is square four planets in the lunation chart: the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, and Mars. Neptune aspects, especially squares, challenge us to use our nonphysical senses to perceive the truth of our reality, and may -- with this Full Moon in philosophical Sagittarius -- even ask us to redefine what our "truth" is. Neptune's involvement in the Full Moon tells us that it is time to quiet our minds, to go within, to meditate and reflect, and to allow the higher aspects of our being guide our perceptions and our decisions. THE SABIAN SYMBOL for the Full Moon reinforces the idea that it is time for us to look beyond the purely physical perspective: "A flag turns into an eagle; the eagle into a chanticleer saluting the dawn: The spiritualization and promotion of great symbols of a New Age by minds sensitive to its precursory manifestations." Our rational minds tell us that a flag cannot become an eagle, and an eagle cannot turn into a chanticleer; and yet, if we are "sensitive to precursory manifestations" this week, we may perceive alternate versions of reality that can help guide our steps now. A bit more about this Sabian symbol, from the writings of astrologer Dane Rudhyar: "The eagle symbolizes spiritual will and the power to rise to the highest possible altitude of consciousness and purpose ... This symbol urges us to bring our noblest ideals to actual life through the power of the spiritual will." A MARS-PLUTO QUINCUNX also occurs on Tuesday. In keeping with the themes of Neptune and retrograde Mercury, this aspect insists that we make adjustments in our understanding of logic and sequence. Mars in Gemini would normally insist on basing actions on informational evidence, but the quincunx to Pluto in Capricorn tells us that it is time to shift our understanding of where our true power lies. MARS represents personal will, while Pluto represents higher will. Gathering more data may not be what is needed now, as it may be mostly driven by the ego's need to be in control. Instead, we may want to hold center and focus on stabilizing our connection with our own higher authority.  The Sun forms a similar quincunx with Pluto on Friday, keeping our attention on this theme and making it important that we stay as centered as possible. But, we also have flowing aspects on Friday that may provide options we didn't see earlier in the week. ONE OPPORTUNITY is offered by Friday's Mars-Jupiter sextile, which can help us access a greater sense of optimism and possibility, and perhaps provide new directions for us to consider. Also on Friday, Venus trines Saturn, indicating that friends and other resources may help us feel more hopeful and more on track. Remember, though, that Mercury is still retrograde in Gemini until June 11. Progress may be slow or we may not see results as anticipated. These first days of the month are better spent in refining plans rather than committing to a specific course of action based on current knowledge.