Getting Clear

The month of June begins like a hangover from the end of May.  We find ourselves gulping for air left by May’s wake.  We are smack dab between two eclipses in Gemini with Mercury retrograde having kicked into gear two days before June begins.  With the Sun, Messenger Mercury, Valuable Venus and the Lunar north node all in Gemini, the air is thick and rife with communicative energy. So let’s talk Gemini.

This first of the three air signs, Gemini and its planet Mercury rule communication.  Its glyph is the TWINS, a dominant and passive twin of information exchange.  The dominant twin we know and love. It rules information sharing or dissemination:   the talker, speaker, social media maven posting multitudes on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.  The passive twin, however, we have a less developed relationship with (at least in western cultures).  This twin deals with information gathering and collection:  listening, hearing, meditating, cogitating on and processing all the data that crosses our awareness, which the dominant twin shares.

When managed well, Gemini energy is like an electric switch with which we take equal turns, on and off. Equal parts listening and integrating to sharing and posting.  Given that Mercury is retrograde until June 23^rd, it is especially vital that we slow down and take our time processing and reviewing what crosses our radar.  I cannot emphasize enough the trickster energy at play during the first ten days of June. Miscommunication leading to misunderstandings are at peak torque this month.  So be very clear in your messaging; and if you are uncertain about another’s intent or meaning, ASK.  Do not hesitate to check twice if you do not fully understand what you are getting into. Last, by all means, if you can hold off on signing major contracts or significant documents, and delay purchasing big ticket items such as cars, homes, appliances as well as technology devices like phones and laptops, try to wait.

Between June 1^st and 10^th is as much a cosmic dead zone as there could be.  The stretch between the first eclipse on May 26 and June 10^th, coupled with Mercury retrograde is a red flashing light:  stop, look, review, wait, research, think and think again.  This is NOT a time to advance or proceed with much of anything.  As I advise my clients:  you have to live your life.  Because life does not come to a screeching halt, each of us must continue with our day-to-day decision making.  Live your life.  But for anything of key importance now, it is best to do so on or after June 23rd to sign on the dotted line or run the credit card.

While otherwise dicey, we do have help during this stretch.  From Tuesday, June 1^st to Friday the 4^th, the Sun and north node duo in Gemini align with Saturn in Aquarius.  Use this time for connecting the dots, ideas, experimentation, networking, knowledge building, research and data collection, reviewing and writing.  On a positive front, this is a HIGHLY creative and innovative time.  Think of the eccentric artist or scientist working in their studio or laboratory.  Breakthroughs R-US.  Meditation, journaling, as well as employing all of the retrograde RE words:  rest, restore, review, reclaim, renovate, research are your guideposts.

On Tuesday, June 2^nd, Valuable Venus enters nurturing Cancer the Crab, where she draws us to dote on our loved ones and practice radical self-care, what FEELS good and emotionally accurate.  This is the time to invest in yourself, your home and family (whether blood relatives or those who feel like family).   With all the sound and fury generated by planets in air signs, you may be very well want to withdraw into Cancer’s nurturing energy and cuddle up under the covers with a good book.

Withdrawing entirely from life is usually not an option for most of us; but as much as you can, take a beat and hit the pause button especially as Mars in Cancer opposes Powerful Pluto on June 5^th and 6^th.  We are shown in stark contrast boundaries that must be set within our household, family and diet.  Planetary oppositions poke our attention to raise our awareness.  If you have been giving and giving and giving and not saving any time for yourself, THIS dynamic will make you stop, stand up and take note.  Wherever your feelings, home life, family or food related relationships have run amok, Mars-Pluto draws a line in the sand and says:  stop in the name of love, for yourself and others.  It is high past time to get a grip on food, house, home, and family matters.  Mars in Cancer is also concerned with the homeland, our country or nation where we live.  Issues involving our nation’s border are keenly highlighted, the families being reunited or those still yet to be and how to create an immigration policy the majority can agree on.

Honest, clear messaging is all important as we head into the second eclipse of the year on Thursday, June 10^th.  Messenger Mercury is closely tied to both the Sun and Moon, all in Gemini at the time of this New Moon Solar eclipse.  Gemini is known as the “salesman of the zodiac”; our minds, emotions and energy each challenge dreamy Neptune at eclipse time, making for one super slippery smoke and mirrors effect.  Things seem not to be as they appear; something doesn’t quite add up but you may not be able to put your finger on exactly what it is.  Think of this as a test:  to trust yourself, your intuition and gut feelings rather than being swept up in the moment or popular thing to do.  It is imperative now to say what you mean and mean what you say.  If someone is pushing an idea or product on you, or to get you to commit before you are ready, do not be afraid to stand in your power and hit the pause button.  Ask for more information and definitely more time to make your decision.  Time is on your side. 

Be sure to harness the power of three key inner planets, along with the north node aligning to Saturn in communicative air signs, to set your New Moon intentions on June 10^th.  Hand write 3-5 goals you desire to manifest over the coming month or season.  Either plant in the warm spring earth or set alight and release their ashes to the wind.

Two days later, on Saturday, June 12^th, Motivating Mars shifts into Look at me Leo for the next six weeks. The planet of action is much more comfortable in this creative and festive sign.  Mars in Leo is ready to ROAR.  It wants to get the party started already; especially as many people are now vaccinated against Covid 19 and most of us are now living more outdoors with warmer temperatures.   Over the next month, gregarious Mars in Leo gradually aligns to the lunar south node in Sagittarius and healer chiron in Aries.  Time to let your freak flag fly.  Let loose and let it all hang out.  Pick your pleasure. 

After a looonnnng cooped up and pent up year of pandemic rules and restrictions, the healing afforded in this grand fire aspect abounds.  Take advantage.  It’s time to play again, to plan gatherings with friends and family; think about fun activities like music concerts and indoor events, sporting or otherwise.  Summer upon us now, as the Sun makes its annual passage into Cancer the Crab, marking the longest day of the year via the summer solstice on Monday, June 21^st.   The star coordinates make for one lovely solstice as Valuable Venus aligns with its elder sibling dreamy Neptune.  Our feelings, emotions and intuition guide us accurately.  Follow your internal GPS as it knows the way and will never steer you wrong.

The very next day, Tuesday, June 22^nd, Messenger Mercury turns direct motion.   Thank goddess!  Time to proceed with any plans you have been brewing.  Go ahead and put money down on travel and entertainment.  Buy the tickets, sign the contract and seal the deal.  Mercury conjoins the lunar north node in Gemini aligning to Aquarian Saturn.  Our words pack a heavy punch especially under the spotlight of the waxing full moon in Capricorn on Thursday, June 24^th.  If you have a message to get out, June 23^rd-25^th are THE days for heightened visibility and impact.  You will be seen and heard.  Connections are made and ideas exchanged, accepted and even acted upon. 

The final Sunday of the month, June 27^th, Valuable Venus joins her brother Mars in Leo.  Our energy AND our values now seek creative outlets through fun and festive engagement, relationships romantic and otherwise, as well as how we apply our skills and talents to earn a living.  For the next month, the passage of these two interpersonal planets in fun-loving Leo, mark a distinct gateway through which we say hello to enjoying life again and goodbye to Covid confinement.  We certainly learned a huge amount over the last year or so.  Most certainly, we’ll never take for granted the ease of walking out the front door without a mask, having dinner with others inside, or hugging far-flung relatives.  I know I’m more than ready to travel and play.  I bet you are too.

Of Special Note:

Enjoy my interview with Reiki Master and writer Liza Lentini on my next episode of Mystical Messages.  Liza specializes in animal and distance Reiki as well as teaching the modality via zoom.  Tune into our conversation on Friday, June 11th.

Can't You Hear Me Knocking?

The balance of super strong, sturdy earth energies greet us at the gates to the Merry month of May.  We feel anchored and grounded.  Six out of ten planets cycle through earth signs, four of them in cultivating and sensual Taurus.  The ground is warm, soft and fertile.  The first week of May is prime planting season.  Any seeds, whether your thoughts, words, ideas or actions will grow into exactly what you intend now.  Choose wisely.

Taurus is primal building block energy.  The first earth sign of the zodiac, it offers endless possibilities to cultivate and shape our lives.  From outermost Uranus to interior planets Sun, Venus and Mercury, we are invited to play with opportunities.  For Taurus rules value, worth, our skills and talents.  She asks, how should we make the most of our talents when opportunity comes knocking?  Will you recognize it?  Seize it?  Or refrain, fearful of what might happen if you dare say yes?  If you say no, will you regret your decision later on?  What is the worst that could happen? 

The only constant, guaranteed for sure thing in life is change.  The ongoing challenge between Radical Uranus and Taskmaster Saturn pushes us out of our comfort zone.  Uranus rules Aquarius, the sign Saturn currently cycles through.  Their message is clear:  change and change now.  If you refuse to change, or grow, the alternative is stagnation, like a flower wilting on the vine for lack of water.  So better to tend to your garden.  If you are uncertain, stick a toe in.  Check the water temperature.   Try gradual shifts.  Experiment.  Observe what does not work; then pivot.

Adaptability is just around the corner. On Tuesday, May 4^th Messenger Mercury shifts into its own sign of Gemini.  Our minds flip a switch, become quicker, wittier and increasingly versatile over the next three weeks.  Flexibility is heightened that much more a few days later on Sunday, May 9^th when Valuable Venus joins Mercury in communicative Gemini.  We meet arising problems arising with every variety of solution as we succinctly connect to ideas, people, and resources.  Anything we planted in late April or the first days of May are skillfully tended with ingenuity and alacrity.  The base is established.  We are ready to go and grow as the New Moon occurs in Taurus on Tuesday, May 11^th.  

Aligning to Powerhouse Pluto, we are afforded prime time, heart-centered structural energy with which to build.  Capricorn Pluto asks:  what do you desire?  What are your goals, aims, hopes for achievement?  For this is THE New Moon to plant your intentions in the earth, water regularly and watch them sprout and blossom.  Messenger Mercury tied to the Lunar North Node in Gemini align with airy Aquarian Saturn, also making this a highly innovative and inventive New Moon.  We are blessed with materials (money and more) from the prodigious planets in earth signs as well as sharp-as-a-tack communications connectivity from the air sign planets.  Meaning, we have at our disposal a master manifestor wand.   

There is a magician like power to this New Moon.  The question is, will you use your magic manifestor wand wisely, take it for granted or misuse its power?  Think Harry Potter.  It is vital to focus clearly on your New Moon intentions, to understand your reasons, motivation, the WHY far more than the how, of your desires.  If your reasons are unclear, hit the pause button and contemplate precisely why it is you want to achieve a certain goal.  If your answer resonates with a ping of truth in your heart center, proceed.  Hand write 3- 5 goals and plant in the softening, rich earth.  Eleven is a master number and the May 11^th New Moon means business.  Achtung!!  Be ready to go when it arrives.  You do not want to miss this ripe chance for growth.

Growth and abundance of a different kind surface three days later when Generous Jupiter rolls into inspirational Pisces on Friday, May 14^th.  For a few brief months of 2021, the titan of abundance gives us a taste of its upcoming 2022 cycle through dreamy Pisces.  Water, water everywhere.   You can either surrender to the flow or swim against the tide and get pulled under.  Believe, trust your intuition or drown in fear laden woe. Maybe you will paddle back and forth between the two.  Oceanic Jupiter in Pisces seduces us to dream BIG.  Music and water in ANY form will be of great benefit with this placement.  Use both generously.

For the next two and a half months, until the end of July, Jupiter floods us with divine guidance.  Tune in.  Listen.  Is it your imagination or reality?  Perhaps, a bit of both.  This window of late spring through early summer affords us a peak into how we may craft our dreams into reality.  For if we have learned anything from our pandemic reflections, we create our own reality forged from our imagination and intent.  Necessity is the mother of invention.  Look back for just a moment.  Where were you one year ago?  How has your life changed?  What was your state of mind?  How did you spend your days? 

I know my mind and situation last May were dramatically different than this year.  Have you stayed the course, steered the boat of your life carefully, harnessing the winds in your sails. Or, have you run aground?  Pisces is imagery, visualization, a camera and film projector.  Jupiter cycling through Pisces projects the movie of our life on to a larger than life screen.  It reflects back to us all that we were, are and could possibly ever be.  Use this ten week stretch from mid-May to July’s end to dabble and dip into what might be as we resurface from the pandemic. 

One week later, the Sun joins Mercury and Venus in Gemini on Friday, May 21^st.  Through the end of May, the Sun gradually aligns to Taskmaster Saturn, which turns retrograde motion on Sunday, May 23^rd for the next several months.  This is the first of two planetary retrogrades as we wind down the month of May. There is a noticeable gear shift as we head into June, a turning of the tide and mood swing of energies. 

While we may not feel it so much with Saturn’s retrograde, we surely will when Messenger Mercury turns retrograde on Saturday, May 29^th.  Expect communication and technology snafus galore especially as Mercury’s retrograde occurs on the heels of the Full Moon Lunar Eclipse on early on Wednesday, May 26^th in Gemini and Sagittarius.  Mercury-Venus in Gemini challenge Neptune, making this one very slippery eclipse.  Pay particular attention to your thoughts, words and language in general.  Say what you mean and mean what you say. Use language carefully and LISTEN intently to others’ messaging:  not just what they are saying but how they are speaking and even more critically, pay attention to what is NOT said.  Read between the lines.  Watch for body language and facial cues. There is far, far more than meets the eye than what you see or are aware of now.

The end of May is really tricky and chock full of prankster energy.  Smoke and mirrors, spin, spin doctors and con artists.  You may be stunned at manipulative twists from otherwise above board people; double talk is rife now.  Use caution and care.  THIS is the time to ask for more information and time, time to think about a prospect overnight, or longer; to do more research, to ask a trusted partner or friend for their opinion. 

Given the signs involved with both Mercury retrograde (Gemini/communication) and the Lunar Eclipse (Gemini/Sagittarius), you may very well experience prolonged delays or difficulties with products and travel plans purchased at the end of May.   If you need to make buy electronic, technical devices or secure travel plans, be sure to do so no later than May 16^th or prepare to wait until late June. 

And as with all Mercury retrogrades, REmember to practice the RE words:  reflect, revisit, restore, renew, reclaim, review, research, etc.   From the May 26^th eclipse through the end of Mercury retrograde on June 23^rd, make the most of this nearly month long period by clearing out the old to make way for the new.   This is an excellent time for a thorough, top to bottom spring cleaning as well as taking a vacation.  Schedule a grown up play date.   Take a few days off, an afternoon or staycation, simply to get a change of scenery.  The prevalence of Gemini energy shines with variable uses of time; the more you take time to BE, the more you will DO.

Of Special Interest:

Please tune into my podcast Mystical Messages on Friday, May 14th to hear my conversation with  Certified Tarot Master and Astrologer John Marani.  We dive into John's depth and breadth of experience with the Tarot and how it may be used for guidance and direction.  John is the author of In Their Own Words: The Major Arcana of the Tarot and lectures widely on the subject.