June 2018 finds us in the ‘waiting room’ of the next
eclipse season
beginning in July. How we manage the waiting, the growing sense of
anticipation or anxiety, the mounting tension… or is it
excitement?….depends largely on how happy we are to let things fall into
place. Or would we rather force them there, before discovering we’ve
jammed yet another square peg into a round hole?! Mars in Aquarius
conjunct the South Node through June and July reminds us detaching from
our desires can be useful when progress is slow. It doesn’t mean we must
abandon all hope and give up the ghost, but it can be helpful to turn
down the heat on our expectations and demands when the universe has a
different timetable to our own! Then we can relax despite the stress of
waiting while the cosmic dance allows life to unfold in its own time and
step.
That said, this Mars comes with a warning too: don’t be so detached
as to lose touch with your passion, your fiery core. Remember what sets
your heart aflame and continue to nurture that warm glow inside, even
when externals aren’t looking so hot! Once the eclipse season is upon us
our orientation may change quite significantly, with a focus on inner
adjustments necessary for outer change to happen. In the meantime this
coming month has a lot to say about relationships and raises some
potentially thorny, but enlightening, issues about the role our emotions
play in them.
June begins with an on-going Grand Trine in Water
increasing sensitivities and heightening emotion. Be gentle, choose
compassion over conflict and bear in mind the old adage that many are
fighting great battles, most of them hidden. The first three days of
this month may feel heavy with emotion if we don’t do something
proactive about processing our feelings rather than wallowing in them. A
Yod focused on Saturn reminds us responsibility for ourselves can’t be
abdicated just because we’re not feeling so great. Learning to allow our
emotions space whilst placing a boundary around them so we can keep on
keeping on is a valuable lesson at times like this.
Come
3rd June sensitivities ease as the
Grand Trine in Water and Yod dissolve, life moves on and Pluto in
Capricorn begins to oppose Venus in Cancer until 8
th June.
This opposition highlights the power of love and the love of power, so
can be used to enhance our relationships or exploit them! If you find
yourself at odds with loved ones during this time, see it as an
opportunity to explore the deeper dynamics of your relationship and
learn something about yourself while you do. Whilst a concurrent square
between the Sun and Neptune from
4th to 10th June
may cause us to doubt ourselves just when we need to be firm and clear,
it also invites us to take a different view on a situation which has
felt stuck or stagnant for a while. Use this energy to be creative about
your viewpoint and welcome uncertainty as a sign that a new perspective
is forming.
A quarter moon in Pisces as the Sun conjuncts Mercury on
6th June
reminds us that meaningful connections with other people don’t always
have to be intense. Hanging out with friends, enjoying a few beers and
watching the match can be as important as deep and meaningful
discussions beneath the stars. We need a range of intensity in our
relationships. This Moon allows for the beautiful alchemy of shared
interests, happy moments and light-hearted banter which forges
connections that stand the test of time when the going gets rough and we
need deeper support from those we love.
Eris sextiles the Sun from
11th – 18th June
providing some feisty energy if we have something to say or do that
feels onerous or intimidating. Eris is intimidated by nothing and no one
and wants us to feel the same! Her mighty heart and fearsome attitude
combined with the Sun in Gemini’s gift of the gab can embolden us to
reach out to others, step out of our comfort zone and dare to think new
thoughts to see how they fit in our familiar world. If you’ve been
wondering why something in your life isn’t working out how you’d hoped
and no matter the efforts you make it simply won’t shift, this sextile
from Eris to the Sun can help you find a new route towards your goal.
Preferably one that entails less struggle and more creativity!
Mercury in Cancer from
12th – 29th June
invites us to speak openly about our feelings when we know we’re safe
to do so. It reminds us not to fear all intimacy because some has been
corrupted by deception and betrayal. Most people have been hurt and most
have hurt others, unwittingly or otherwise. No one is immune. Accepting
this fact of life can go some way to regaining a modicum of trust. A
square from Chiron to Mercury
between 12th and 15th June
challenges us to express our emotions and let others do the same. This
may be the only way to ease the pressure of holding it all inside.
Chiron in Aries wants healing to be quick and complete. It simply
doesn’t have time for lengthy exploration and deep inner work! Whilst in
the long run we may need exactly that, right now we can take time to
articulate our inner world and benefit greatly from doing so. No
analysis needed, no interpretation necessary. The simple power of saying
the words can bring healing enough in itself.
As Uranus is squared by Venus from
12th to 17th June
we may discover that honest emotional sharing raises some interesting
issues! Here we see the consequences of speaking our feelings into the
world. It changes things and yes, we may fear those changes which is why
we didn’t do it in the first place. But if we keep inside something as
powerful as emotion it will change us anyway. The inner twists and turns
needed to avoid what we don’t want to see can be significantly more
harmful than the consequences of looking it in the eye and owning it.
Uranus and Venus remind us that only by engaging with the world around
us can we discover what we truly desire and how we can go about getting
it. And most emotion is ultimately about desire: our reaction to what we
do and don’t want to happen, how we do and don’t want to be and what we
do and don’t want to have to deal with. This square identifies desire
as the driving force at the heart of all that we are and all that we do.
As such, being honest about our desires is a radical act of
self-determination and personal sovereignty.
This emphasis on authentic communication is further enhanced on
13th June by a
New Moon in the 23rd degree of Gemini which occurs just a couple of hours prior to Venus entering Leo (where she remains until 10
th
July). This Moon encourages openness and honesty, whilst helping to
keep things light. It reminds us relationships don’t have to be a battle
ground or an endless therapy session. They can also be fun, creative
places where we get to know ourselves and others through mutual
exploration and revelation. Bringing a more light-hearted attitude to
any challenging inter-personal issues we encounter may be just what’s
needed to ease the tension preventing their resolution. Once Venus is in
Leo we’ll all benefit from some affection and acknowledgement along the
way so using this new moon to shift heavier dynamics and brighten
things up will put it to good use indeed.
Once in Leo, Venus invites us to celebrate ourselves and embrace the
sheer pleasure of unapologetically being who we are. She recognises the
wonder of our individuality, the nuance of our speech, that certain way
we approach other people, the glint in our eye and the lilt in our walk.
She loves us just as we are, whoever we are, and bids us look in her
mirror to see ourselves through her eyes. She sees behind the
uncertainties and fear, lack of confidence, social faux pas,
embarrassing moments and deepest shame to the sacred humanity at our
heart. She celebrates us all and urges us to do the same. In a busy
world where life rushes by at a lightening pace it’s easy to overlook
the importance of appreciative moments: a compliment here, a kind word
there, a vote of thanks or a gesture of gratitude. She reminds us to
acknowledge each other and ourselves, to focus on the best of humanity
and accentuate the positive in our relationships. Not as some Pollyanna
act of denial but because in doing so we can find a balanced view which
might just save the day.
Saturn in Capricorn opposing Mercury in Cancer
between 14th and 17th June
adds some grounding ‘common sense’ into the mix, encouraging us to
share our wisdom and insight as well as our emotions. ‘I feel this way
and I think it’s about something that’s happening between us’ can be an
easier message to hear than ‘I feel this way and it’s all YOUR fault!’.
If we want others to listen we need to present a message they can hear,
especially if it challenges their own perceptions, feelings and
security. This opposition helps us take responsibility for the
expression of our feelings, by being clear where they’re coming from and
knowing what’s ours and what’s someone else’s to address. In doing so
we can take communication to the next level, exploring our thoughts and
feelings in greater depth without others feeling threatened or our
retreating into denial because owning up to who we are comes at too high
a price.
Between 16th and 24th June the
theme of relationship dynamics continues with Venus conjunct the North
Node while Mars is conjunct the South Node, reminding us that all
healthy relationships require a balance of opposites, an acceptance of
contradictions and the embracing of paradox. It’s helpful to examine and
learn from the past but not to carry it with us like a pack on our back
weighing us down. We’re not destined to repeat the past if we choose to
do things differently this time around. And no matter what’s happened
before, we can opt for a positive and hopeful attitude towards the
present rather than a negative or combative one. True positivity is born
of awareness and realism, not a denial of the challenges we face.
Negativity isn’t ‘common sense’, it’s a decision to allow past struggles
to define our future rather than choosing a new approach to how our
life unfolds.
Neptune begins five months retrograde in Pisces on
18th June
reminding us that no matter the cacophony of the world, inner silence
remains, patiently waiting. It calls us into stillness where we are
nothing, no one and yet in all things everywhere. Stillness itself can
overwhelm, however, threatening our sense of identity and meaning, in
which case life’s demands come as a welcome distraction from
disappearing into the void! But when Neptune’s retrograde it’s important
we find time to do exactly that when we can. Trined by Jupiter as it
changes direction, we have deep and powerful support to explore life
aside from the world, from who we think we are and believe others to be.
Extraneous distractions can be seen for what they are, we can pare life
down to what matters and unlock great riches within.
A Grand Trine in Water formed by Mercury, Neptune and Jupiter from
19th to 21st June
encourages us to walk gently and with grace in the world. Let our words
be comforting, our actions wise and our wisdom humble. Battles fought
now may wound deeply so they’re best avoided. Conflicts engaged in will
hurt so if we can step around them or postpone them for another day this
would be best. The Sun begins its month in the sign of Cancer on
21st July.
Squaring Chiron in Aries as it does so, it sets, in part, the theme of
the solar eclipse in Cancer next month. The power of emotional healing
is emphasised and the influence of emotional wounds highlighted. The
world can be a hurtful place and we can cause much pain to one another.
The Sun’s journey through Cancer helps us acknowledge this fact and turn
to face, rather than avoid, our own wounds. Emotional pain isn’t a sign
of weakness or an indicator of not being ‘spiritual’ enough. It simply
means we’re human and so we suffer, and then we heal, and then we
suffer, and then we heal, and so it is in this realm as we let go those
things that bind us and blossom into who we truly are.
Pluto opposes Mercury from
21st to 25th July.
Words have power and ideas can change the world, so what we say and how
we think are key factors in how we impact others. Mercury in Cancer
seeks common ground, emotional sharing and a sense of belonging. Pluto
in Capricorn sees these priorities as sentimental hogwash when change is
necessary and truths need to be aired! This opposition can augur harsh
words and cutting speech or exchanges which get to the root of a problem
so completely that it never need recur. Which of these results we get
is largely up to us. If we can use Mercury’s ability to create a safe
space in which to have difficult conversations, and then embrace Pluto’s
life-changing truths about how we move through this world, use our
inherent power and respond to that of others, we could experience some
truly profound exchanges during this time, capable of shifting not only
our relationships but also our perception of how the world really works
and what’s actually going on around us. Pluto reminds us that what looks
like destruction is purification and what feels too hard to bear is our
spirit rising up anew to reclaim its own. Keeping this in mind now can
help us stay with emotionally challenging situations and see them
through into renewal.
From
24th to 30th June an
opposition between Saturn in Capricorn and the Sun in Cancer takes over
from Mercury and Pluto, affirming that emotional sensitivity, when
accepted and understood, can be a source of wisdom rather than a
liability to be controlled at all costs! This world rarely welcomes
those who feel deeply and live life without emotional armour. This
opposition may augur a suppressive or punitive response to emotional
sensitivity, or a supportive effort to contain and make sense of
emotional pain. For those we encounter who are struggling now we can be a
safe witness for their pain. And if it is we who struggle, we can seek
out that safety for ourselves. But finding it isn’t a given. A square
from Chiron in Aries to the Sun reminds us that at the end of the day it
is we who must contain ourselves and know ourselves as whole. We cannot
forever seek to pour ourselves into another’s cup but must become our
own chalice, offering up our difficult emotions, challenging
circumstances and painful experiences to be transmuted by the
restorative capacity of life itself which makes all things new
eventually. If we find that safe space and grounded person who can help
us allow and make sense of emotional pain now all well and good. But if
not, Saturn reminds us we can be that person for ourselves, and there is
a wise and grounded self wanting now to emerge.
From
26th June to 27th August
Mars is retrograde, first in Aquarius and then in Capricorn, giving us
five retrograde planets to end the month (Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune
& Pluto). With so much retrograde activity our inner life takes on
great importance and needs careful attention. Whilst external progress
can falter when Mars is retrograde, inside we can make great strides in
self-knowledge which will serve us well for a long time to come. Mars
only turns retrograde once every two to two and half years so it’s worth
making the most of this opportunity to explore issues of motivation and
hone our clarity about what’s really driving us. Are we pursuing one
thing on the surface but in fact sabotaged by more hidden forces in our
psyche which undermine our stated goals? Are we wholeheartedly pursuing
our dreams only to find they’re not actually ours but someone else’s
that we somehow co-opted along the way? Are we intent on proving
ourselves to others according to their values and losing touch with our
own in the process? Mars retrograde blows the cover on the many ways in
which we work against ourselves, clarifying issues of motivation and
intent and bringing them into line with a more authentic expression of
who we actually are.
A
Full Moon in the 7th degree of Capricorn on 28th June
conjunct Saturn affirms the importance of honouring process rather than
seeking after premature outcomes. It cautions patience and rewards
those who respect the natural order which necessitates firm foundations
before we reach for the sky! We may have to let go of unrealistic
notions at this moon, recognising that our previous timetable for an
important project may be flawed. Alternatively results achieved now may
fall short of what we’d anticipated and require a grudging return to the
drawing board. However this full moon manifests in your life, take
heart and don’t give up hope. This isn’t an unsatisfactory end, but a
staging post on a longer and altogether more significant journey. There
is much wisdom available in the light of this Moon. Those who are
willing to look with eyes wide open will see with greater clarity where
they’ve sought to side-step responsibility in favour of an easier road
or more naive approach to matters of gravity. Sometimes we must simply
walk through the flames to reach the other side, for they are purifying
and strengthening, even as they burn through our egoic defences. If
we’ve tried to rise above rather than journey through them, this Moon
gets our feet back on the ground and reminds us this time we must walk
to where we’re going and learn along the way. If, however, you’re
rewarded with blessings at this moon, pat yourself on the back and enjoy
the moment for these rewards have truly been earned with commitment,
hard graft and a refusal to back down no matter what. You deserve this
moment, so enjoy it!
The month comes to a close with Mercury entering Leo on
29th June, where it remains until 6
th
September, turning retrograde in July. Aspecting Uranus and Chiron,
Mercury’s arrival in Leo awakens the lion in us all, with its need to
roar, make its presence felt and establish its territory.
Uranus now in
Taurus is working away on all that has been resistant to recent forces
of change. We can use this Mercury to stamp our feet and resist the
inexorable march of progress or climb on board and spread its message
far and wide! Chiron in Aries reminds us that sometimes we simply have
to get over ourselves and get on with life, even and especially when
it’s tough and challenging and not looking how we hoped it would.
Feeling hard done by or insisting life is unfair is simply a waste of
energy that could be invested in finding better solutions to current
problems or quicker ways to change our state and feel differently about
the world around us. Mercury’s journey through Leo will test our
commitment to pursuing a purposeful life rather than a frustrated one.
We can use it to insist we know best no matter what and impose our ideas
and values on everything and everyone. Or we can use it to contribute
positive energy and ideas, perspectives and insights, into the ongoing
process of change occurring personally, locally and globally. We may, in
fact, find ourselves swinging between these two extremes, in which case
observing how each makes us feel will be time well spent.
As June ends this Mercury reminds us of the radical healing power in
self-expression. Others may not like what we have to say and the feeling
may be mutual! But it’s time to speak openly and honestly, with
integrity and grit. For only then can the truth be aired and its
rectifying power radiate through the world around us. With Mercury
turning retrograde next month and three eclipses approaching, now is the
time to think deeply about what truly matters and how best to express
its importance to the world. This may require some inner adjustments as
well as outer ones. The current abundance of retrograde planets will
help us make them if we harbour an enduring commitment to authenticity
and truth.
Sarah Varcas
Tagged as:
authentic communication,
Chiron in Aries,
Conscious Evolution,
Conscious Relationships,
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Eclipse Season,
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embracing the shadow,
facing fear,
Grand Trine in Water,
healing energies,
Jupiter in Scorpio,
managing change,
managing the mind,
Mars,
Mars in Aquarius,
Mars retrograde,
Mercury,
Mercury in Cancer,
Mercury in Leo,
Moon cycles,
motivation,
Neptune in Pisces,
Neptune Retrograde,
North Node in Leo,
patience,
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personal truth,
planetary healing,
Pluto in Capricorn,
releasing ego identification,
Saturn in Capricorn,
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Uranus in Taurus,
Venus,
Venus in Cancer
