Author: Amelia Shea

“Sometimes life is so surprising, there is nothing to do but live.” Emily Dickinson

“The bamboo for prosperity,”a Japanese friend told me,”the pine for long life, the plum for courage… the plum for courage because the plum puts forth blossoms while the snow is still on the ground.” Anne Morrow Lindbergh

The New Moon – an excellent time for starting something new- is Sunday at 16 degrees of Leo. The closest aspect the Sun and Moon make at this time is a square to Uranus indicating the next 28 days are likely to hold surprises and unexpected events. It’s  wise to be open to new perspectives and to remain flexible.

Other aspects that indicate that courage can arise more quickly than usual if challenges present themselves.

Making a conscious effort to stay in the present moment will be beneficial.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is ,”Native Americans perform a ritual to the sun.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

ALl times mentioned are EDT

“New ways of thinking about familiar things can release new energies and make all manner of things possible.” Charles Handy

“Play is self discovery in the here and  now. It is spontaneous, yet has its own discipline. It is light yet potentially passionate. It is discovery, and it is enjoyment of one’s own and other’s possibilities, capacities and limitations. Most of all, if not all, great discoveries, even in science, have been the result of intense effort along with playful curiosity and joy of exploration on the part of the discoverer.” Edward Whitmont

“Margaret Mead defined an ideal community as one that has a place for every human gift.” Mary Pipher

The Sun and Mars are now in Leo and Mercury will join them this week. The sign of Leo, which governs the fifth house in the astrology chart, is associated with recreation-  but in the sense of re-creation. Fun which breaks up the hum drum of every day life and helps to bring to light a renewed sense of self. This is the season for it -for the next several weeks.

Wednesday Jupiter will retrograde back into the sign of Aquarius where it will remain until December 28. This transit bodes well for inventive thinking. It an awakener about the significance of community and the benefits of working together. It’s a  good time to collaborate with others of like mind.

Venus is moving up to a square to the Lunar Nodes. This provides a time that bodes well for the reconsideration of all things Venusian – self esteem, relationships and finances. It’s a good time for organizing things and catching up on paperwork as Venus in Virgo is a lover of order.

Mars will be widely opposing Jupiter this week. This can lend enthusiasm and energy. Just watch for “overshooting the mark” and for the tendency to be unnecessarily critical of others.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A merry go-round.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“The universe is made up of stories, not atoms.” Muriel Rukeyser

“Some stories leave a trail of light behind them, meteor-like, so that much later when they strike our eyes, we may see their meaning like an aftereffect.”Eudora Welty

There are a number of aspects to Chiron, the asteroid of the Wounded Healer, in the beginning of the week. When Chiron is a prominent influence in the sky , it bodes well to take a look at the old stories we tell ourselves to see if they are in need of updating.

On Tuesday Mercury, the fleet footed god of thought and communication will be making a beneficial alignment with Uranus.   It  bodes well under his influence this week to heighten awareness as this duo is associated with sudden illumination, breakthroughs and revelations. These insights – which can occur with lightning speed – can shift perceptions into new, more liberated directions.

On Wednesday Venus departs the sign of Leo and enters Virgo.  This is a more pragmatic sign and the sign of healing and service. It bodes well for planning and attending to the details. The shadow side of this sign can tend towards being overly critical or judgmental.

Venus will be opposing Jupiter this week  indicating a time for fun and a sense of expansion- just keep moderation in mind as this duo can be associated with excess.

If you have been experiencing delays or difficulties in relationships or with financial matters , Venus moving into Virgo and away from the harsh aspect with Pluto will help straighten out things. Mars in Leo continues in the  harsh alignment with Pluto indicating an uptick in frustration. There’s a tendency for power plays and misdirected anger under this influence.

Thursday the Sun will enter the fiery sign of Leo – an excellent placement for this Sun. This opens up a time when creativity can flourish and fun is in the air. The card of the Sun in the Tarot deck depicts a small child riding bareback on a white horse. The child looks joyful and free and the horse is moving away from a tall cement wall. The wall represents things that constrict or limit us unnecessarily. Tall sunflowers grow behind the wall symbolizing happiness.

The Full Moon is on Friday evening  at 1 degree of Aquarius. The rulers of this full Moon are Saturn and Uranus. The Saturn/Uranus square which is the ongoing,  major alignment of the year, is about the need for  change and innovation and the resistance and push back to it. It speaks of both personal and planetary evolution.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”During a silent hour, a woman receives a new inspiration which may change her life.”

“Spiritual practice is really about weaving a network of good relationships.” Dhyani Ywahoo

“Creativity is the river beneath the river, which flows and flows into our lives…The creative force flows over the terrain of our psyches looking for the natural hollows, the arroyos, the channels that exist in us.” Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Mercury just recently entered the sign of Cancer  and moves up to a very favorable alignment with Jupiter at the beginning of the week. This brings the opportunity for more expansive and optimistic thinking.

Mars and Venus, which have been traveling together for awhile will make an exact conjunction this week on  Tuesday at 19 degrees of Leo. This bodes well for movement forward in relationships and partnerships of both a personal and business nature.

The Sun is making a good aspect to Neptune, the planet of dreams, and visions. This offers an opportunity to grow in empathy and altruism. It is an aspect that bodes well for the imagination and works of creativity.

Chiron stations retrograde at 12 degrees of Aries on Thursday. Chiron is the asteroid of the Wounded Healer and governs the evolutionary journey of wounding and healing. This provides a good time to look back at progress made in this area of your life.

On Thursday Venus will move up to a quincunx to Neptune this week. This can be a very romantic and idealistic combination but  the quincunx alignment tends towards overly idealistic or unrealistic  ideas. When planets are in a quincunx alignment it indicates there is a constant need for adjustment. So it’s wise to exercise extra care with finances or in romantic matters. Yearnings and cravings can be stronger with this influence also.

Recently  I was out with friends and a pragmatic woman who was with us  said at one point,” I think we have to watch not to get carried away here.” Good advice at this time!

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is ,”A magic carpet hovers over the depressing reality of everyday life in an industrial area.”

“I’ll send you my words
from the corners of my room
Though I write them by the light of day
Please read them by the light of the moon.” Gregory Alan Isakoff

“To change something build a new model that makes the old model obsolete.” Buckminster Fuller

The New Moon on Friday July 9 at 9:17 PM EDT  is at 18 degrees of Cancer. New Moons are an excellent time for intention setting or resetting. The sign of Cancer governs nurturing and this is an excellent time to initiate new endeavors for self care. This watery sign also rules the home and family and  provides a good time for improving your domestic surroundings.

The challenging aspects that are with us now involving Venus, Mars, Saturn and Uranus will be in effect at the time of the New Moon. These influences can indicate  a time of hard work as well as frustration and delays  with things Venusian – love and finances. Feelings of loneliness can easily arise.

At the same time though, the Sun and New Moon will be making a very positive alignment with Uranus indicating that intuition is strong at this time and a good tool for seeking solutions.   It is also a good time for innovative solutions. Patience and kindness will go a long way.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A fragile woman of proud old blood is married in a wedding ceremony to an eager youth of a new order.”

“When we dance with Mars, we enter the realm of fire, where qualities of bravado, boldness, courage and forthrightness are formed.” Caroline W. Casey

“Your words and actions are magical- they create waves of energy that travel out into the world and into nature.”David Spangler

Venus and Mars are now in the  fiery,  passionate sign of Leo. This week Venus will aspect Jupiter which can bring a sense  optimism and good cheer. It is a quincunx aspect though – indicating the need to find balance. It’s wise to avoid excess and the tendency to overdo.

Mars is moving up to a square with Saturn this week indicating that there can be a push and pull dynamic between moving forward and holding back. This can be a time a good time for getting work done but it can be a frustrating time and  patience is key. This alignment will be in effect through early July.

Mars will be making a favorable alignment with Chiron. In the fiery signs of Leo and Aries, this gives courage and optimism for taking action on healing initiatives. Schedule that massage appointment you’ve been putting, for example.

There’s definitely tension in the air and it’s wise to provide extra down time for rest and rejuvenation this week.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”An evening garden party of adults.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“You can wander into the wrong classroom,
And hear great poems lovingly spoken
By the wrong professor. And you find your soul
And greatness has a defender, and even in death you’re safe.” Robert Bly

“The fragrance always  remains in the hand that gives the rose.” Gandhi

The Moon waxes Full midday Thursday June 24 th at 3 degrees of Capricorn. The Moon is making a very good alignment with Jupiter, the planet of wisdom and good fortune.  Jupiter opens doors, offers expansion and offers  new opportunities.

Life can have its challenges this week  and it can be an irritable, testy time. It’s best under the circumstances to “take the high road” with any obstacles that surface. Doors can open when now with a big- hearted, generous, positive attitude.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is, “The human soul in its eagerness for new experiences, seeks embodiment. ”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“Puzzlement is the beginning of wisdom.” Erich Fromm

“Atoms arrange themselves into complicated structures from stars to snowflakes almost as if the particles were obeying a hidden yearning for organization and order.” Mitchell Waldrop

This week’s planetary activity may indeed lead to a  yearning for organization and order.  Jupiter will turn retrograde Sunday, the Sun will enter the sign of Cancer, also on Sunday, marking the time of the Summer Solstice. Mercury will station direct on Tuesday at 16  degrees of Pisces. Venus will oppose Pluto on Wednesday,  the Moon is full on Capricorn on Thursday. Neptune stations retrograde on Friday. This is a bit like being at a busy intersection with the traffic lights out of service.

On the Solstice the Sun will make a favorable aspect to Jupiter indicating that the time from now through the Fall Equinox is an excellent time to move in a direction of more inner growth and wisdom.

The Mercury retrograde period will end Tuesday but Mercury will continue to make a challenging aspect to Neptune until July 9.  It’s best under this influence to make an extra effort to keep thinking and communications very clear and to double check the details.

Venus will be opposing Pluto this week which can bring up financial concerns or issues having to do with loss or the loss of love. Pluto offers and opportunity for transformation if so.

Neptune will station retrograde Friday at 23 degrees of Pisces.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is.”In a quiet moment a creative individual experiences the flow of inspiration.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill