by Silvianne K. Delmars | June 13, 2024 |
This week’s astro update begins on Thursday, June 13, with the 2nd Quarter Moon in Virgo squaring the Sun in Gemini. We end our week late on Friday evening, June 21, with a Solstice Full Moon in Capricorn. Here are the highlights (all times in PDT):
Thursday, June 13
Kokopelli at Faywood Hot Springs Resort, New Mexico
The 2nd Quarter Moon at 23 Virgo 39 squares off with the Sun in Gemini, closely flanked by both Mercury and Venus, with Jupiter trailing behind in early degrees of this effervescent sign. With all this abundant Gemini energy, we may find ourselves following the airy strains of Kokopelli’s magic flute through the highways and byways of the mind, searching for the elusive key that will take us beyond the limits of duality.
Lest we wander too far, however, this Virgo Moon square is here to challenge us with its grounded, quietly demanding presence. It insists that we pay attention to earthly realities, bringing ourselves into alignment with what really matters, grounded in the everyday, sacred rhythms of Mother Nature, including those of our own bodies. As we enter the second week of this Gemini lunation, we are asked to find the creative synthesis between the crazy wisdom of free electron Gemini and Virgo’s sense of steady, sacred purpose.
And don’t forget to keep an eye out for Jupiter in the morning twilight, rising just before the Sun, slowly becoming more visible in the morning sky as the month progresses. It can be found looking to the East, just below the Pleiades.
Friday, June 14
Mercury reaches its exterior conjunction with the Sun at 24 Gemini 06 later this morning. This is the center point of Mercury’s 16-day psychopomp phase, the portion of its 4-month synodic cycle when it is on the other side of the Sun, acting as archetypal guide for souls in their Underworld journey.
The Sun and Mercury are accompanied by Venus, also in her Underworld phase, reminding us that it is time to go deep, to surrender to the cleansing expression of grief for all that we have lost, individually and collectively. This is a very potent alignment for receiving messages from the heart of our galaxy, beamed through the intelligence of the Sun, delivered by messenger Mercury.
Saturday, June 15
The waxing Moon is approaching Spica tonight in the constellation of the Virgin Priestess, visible near this prominent star both tonight and tomorrow. Look for them in the southwestern sky, rising before sunset, and visible until a few hours after midnight. This is a beautiful opportunity, as the Moon activates this area of the sky long revered as a sacred representation of the Great Mother, to seek counsel with the wisdom of the Sacred Feminine.
Sunday, June 16
Venus, in the potent last degree of Gemini, squares Neptune in Pisces this evening, just before entering the sign of Cancer a few hours later. What inspirational visions – or clouds of illusion – will surface from the depths of this watery, mystical alignment. A good time to tune in and find out. The creative synthesis called forth by this week’s quarter Moon square between earth and air has become even more complex, as we add water to the mix and deepen into the current exploration of the in-service-to-Spirit (mutable) zodiac signs.
Monday, June 17
Mercury follows Venus’ lead just after midnight, and squares Neptune in the last degree of Gemini before entering Cancer’s emotional waters a couple of hours later. Just before dawn, Mercury will then meet up with Venus in this first degree of Cancer, presaging the upcoming Solstice, when the Sun will make its yearly entrance into Cancer.
Although Jupiter will continue to amplify all things Gemini as it completes its tour of this airy, unpredictable sign over the next year, we should feel an abatement of the recent amped up mental excitement as Venus, Mercury, and finally the Sun turn our focus to Cancer’s nurturing, watery presence. With Mercury and Venus communing in the underworld, challenged by the square to Neptune’s watery, oceanic depths, we continue to be steered towards the potentially transformative expression of the suppressed grief that lies within, especially any ancestral and collective stories that may be ready to be released to the dark.
Wednesday, June 19
The Moon goes out of bounds today, paving the way for tomorrow’s powerful Cancer Solstice with the Moon near its most extreme south position, which can only happen every 18-19 years. Time to push ourselves beyond our usual comfort zone, and to celebrate our capacity to rise above the artificially induced “hive mind” of the current frenetic, rootless, mindlessly destructive consumer culture.
As we enter the three-day Solstice Window, amplified by the powerful Capricorn Full Moon, there is a potent invitation to participate in ceremonial co-creation of a New Earth vision, a new way of being with each other and all the beings encompassed by Mother Gaia, knowing that our intentions will be magically amplified by the current powerful energies.
Look to the southeast this evening for the waxing gibbous Moon hanging out near the red star Antares, in the heart of the Scorpion constellation. In some parts of the world tonight, the Moon will be occulting (passing over) Antares, which can only happen when it reaches its more extreme south declination during these out-of-bounds Moon years.
Thursday, June 20 – Friday, June 21
Solstice Sunrise
The Sun in Gemini squares Neptune in Pisces just before noon on Thursday, once again highlighting these powerful last degrees of both signs. This last activation of Gemini, challenged by Neptune in Pisces, feels like an exclamation point at the end of this month-long Gemini sojourn, before we launch into the next, pivotal turn of the seasonal wheel.
At 1:51 pm the Sun enters Cancer, marking the exact Solstice point. Remarkably, in this once-in-19-years out-of-bounds Moon period, the Solstice is also occurring within the three day Full Moon window. The Moon in Capricorn will be opposite the Solstice Sun on Friday at 01 Capricorn 07. As stated above, this is an incredibly powerful time to sit in ceremony with the intention of tuning in to Great Mystery.
Any prayers for peace and positive transformation for our world and all of its inhabitants will be greatly amplified by this rare confluence of earth and sky connections. It doesn’t have to be fancy to be effective. Just make the time to sit in stillness and breathe with whatever rises to meet you. Your soul will thank you and so will the spirits of earth and sky, as we navigate together the unprecedented energies of transformation now arising at this Great Turning of The Ages.
Photo credits: Naraya Naserian