New Moon in Gemini / Summer Solstice – June 2023
This a mentally active week when we change seasons and shift gears, as linear Mercury competes with dreamy Neptune for rulership of your thoughts, moods and perspective over the weekend – and serious Saturn asks you to contemplate where you are and where you’re going at this point in the year.
June 17 – Saturn turns Retrograde at 7º Pisces and will ultimately retrace its steps back to 0º Pisces, (where it began in March) until Nov, when it will move forward again. This offers you the opportunity to reassess your path and purpose, the structures in your life and course correct what isn’t working or needs attention in the days and weeks ahead – or continue with aligned plans and projects if you feel good about the path you’re on.
June 17 – New Moon in Gemini @t 9:37pm. The New Moon is the time for new beginnings, to plant seeds and make a fresh start. Curious Gemini is an endless fountain of ideas – thinking, chatting, connecting and gathering info, happily busy. Mercury (Ruler of Gemini) and Venus harmonize in the New Moon chart, which feeds relationships, communications and creativity.
Generally, this would be fabulous for making plans, agreements and networking (still may be), but Neptune squares the New Moon, creating potential doubt and confusion, throwing a nonlinear monkey wrench into the very left-brain Gemini mix. Gemini wants clarity. A Neptune square can feel like running through the poppy field in the Wizard of Oz and you want to lie down and take a nap! Or you don’t really know what’s going on, especially in relationships. These are lower expressions of Neptune, but entirely possible.
The best case scenario is to use the Neptune square to allow your intuition to guide you forward. Tune in. Do you feel like you’re on the right track or does something feel off? Instead of just looking for data to back up your thinking, see if you get a gut feeling about what to do or which way to go. And if you’re not clear, don’t make a move. But do look for red flags – signs, little signals that you might want to rationalize or excuse. That’s how you get into trouble…
June 18 – Sun square Neptune. Conventional wisdom says a Neptune square is disorienting and draining, so if you feel dazed and confused, easy does it. But Neptune can be clarifying if you learn how to utilize it. It’s a feeling that everyone can access in their own way. If you don’t receive guidance via meditation or journaling, take a shower, a bath, walk in nature, move your body and see if anything comes through for you. Often, you will get info or answers when you’re not trying to. It’s about allowing higher consciousness to come through. Sitting and efforting won’t do it, but relaxing and having patience with yourself and your process will serve you well.
June 18 – 22 – Jupiter (abundance) sextile Saturn (stability), supports long-term goals and plans, methodical actions that expand your world, inspiration and practical strategies. You can be productive with great enthusiasm; make good use of this energy that is running for much of the week. What a gift!
June 19 – Juneteenth. Now a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. in 1865. 🙏🏼
June 21 – The Summer Solstice / Sun in Cancer @ 7:58am PDT. A major shift from rational Gemini into sensitive, emotional Cancer, where you focus on your needs, feelings, family, home and care. This is about your personal life, issues around security and quality of life, rather than achievement and what others see. Cancer needs its nest to feel safe and secure, so pay attention to how your needs are being met.
The Summer Solstice is the beginning of the new season and second half of the year when you reassess where you are, how you feel about your year so far and where you want to go. This isn’t about rushing forward, but rather, moving with the flow of Cancer (a water sign) that aligns with Saturn in Pisces. Your feelings are your GPS and they will let you know if you’re on the right track or if something needs adjustment – and if so, what.
June 21 – Mercury sextiles Mars, giving you clarity, mental focus, compelling you to speak up, sell a product, idea, project or pitch something. Dynamic verbal acuity. Whatever comes into your mind, write it down or speak it into a voice recorder so you don’t lose it. You will be passionate and articulate today, so use this constructively to create intentions, plans or something useful. If you’re making a speech, doing a video or a presentation – this is performance energy. The words will roll off of your tongue…
June 21 – Mercury sextile Chiron, allows for healing words, a new perspective re: a misunderstanding, making amends or a healing process that frees your mind.
June 22 – Mars trine Chiron, can create new behavior as the result of healing, healing issues around aggression (whether passive or dominant), or aligning with your true passion.
June 25 – Mercury square Neptune, communication and thinking is unclear, great for creative and spiritual practices, but not helpful for detailed work or if linear thinking is needed. Rest, relax, play, pray, create and put off accounting or measuring for another day.
You are still in contemplation mode, as nonlinear Neptune (Ruler of Pisces) is Stationing (basically standing still), about to turn Retrograde on Friday, June 30 – and we’re all feeling the undercurrent. There will be lots of dreamy, emotional energy in the air, and you may be extra sensitive, with thin boundaries, feeling everyone’s feelings.
Take good care – create regular of does solitude to decompress and know this is fertile energy for downloads from your Higher Self / Inner Guidance. Pisces rules intuition, so tune in and make the most of this energy while we’re in heavy Neptune/Pisces season – or just be in nature and enjoy receiving the yin energy.
As always, I am grateful for your presence on our journey together.
“In the spiritual life, our fence is our ethics. If we know we are living ethically to the best of our ability, the mind will become peaceful.” ~ Tenzio Palmo
“In a society that has you counting money, pounds, calories, and steps… be a rebel and count your blessings instead.” ~ Lisa Heckman
