Author: Amelia Shea

“We must always be thinking about what we are thinking.” Dalai Lama

“All we are is the result of what we have thought.” Buddha

Jupiter, the planet of expansion and sometimes, excess, is in the sign of Gemini now through early June of 2025.

Gemini, the  sign of the Twins in astrology, is a mutable, adaptable sign associated with the gathering of information and the ability to see many sides of a situation.  With Jupiter’s influence, it’s an excellent time to expand thinking and gather information, but there also can be the tendency to overload and, as a result, to have scattered thoughts.

If this occurs, a good antidote is to set a boundary limiting how far you will let your thoughts go. This is also a good strategy now in general, with Saturn’s placement in Pisces, which can be on its own a boundary-less placement.

The New Moon this month is on Sunday August 4th at 12 degrees of Leo. The Sabian symbol associated with this time is, “An old sea captain rocking on the porch of his cottage,” summoning up the image of a man towards the end of his life,  gazing out at sea,  contemplating or rethinking his experience from a wiser point of view.

This symbol is very  apt at this time with Mercury stationing retrograde the next day at 4 degrees of Virgo – ushering in a good time to sort through ideas. Life is moving at a fast pace on Planet Earth these days and this period – through August 25 – gives us a good opportunity to slow down, integrate recent events and to discern which ideas and plans to pursue and which ones need to be put to the side.

An astrologer or Tarot Card reader should be a trusted ally on your life’s path.

 

The fleet -footed messenger god, Mercury  is transiting the late degrees of Leo now and will station retrograde on August 5 at 4 degrees of Virgo.

The sign of Virgo governs  critical thinking and discrimination. Symbolically it is represented by the process of separating the wheat from the chaff – using discrimination to separate what is important from what is not. The key word associated with it is “I analyse.”

The symbol of this sign – The Virgin holding a sheaf of wheat- represents the gathering of material needs at harvest time. This detail- oriented sign rules the assimilative system in the body.

The retrograde period will last through August 28 when Mercury will station direct at 21 degrees of Leo.

Retrograde periods are a good time to rethink, redo, refresh and  revive. It’s a good time to revisit the order and routines in your life, whether they build or tax strength and overall well being and if change would be beneficial.

If you’ve been wanting to make changes in your diet or lifestyle, this time -frame would be beneficial for thinking about or researching what to do and how best to implement it.

Mercury will then retrograde down into the late degrees of Leo, providing a good time to revisit creative projects and think about the kind of activities that provide recreation in your life – not just fun but “re-creation” or restoration of the vital energies.

There can be new and fresh perspectives that come to life as the result of this retrograde period.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A person becoming aware of nature spirits and normally unseen spiritual energies.”

 

 

 

“That full bellied Moon, she’s shinin’ on me.
She pulls on my heart like she pulls on the sea.” Gregory Alan Isakoff

Emotional tides run high at the Full Moon and Sunday’s Full Moon in Capricorn  at 6:17 AM EDT is no exception. It is a good time to stay grounded and maintain equilibrium.

The Moon in Capricorn, in general, provides a good time to look at goals and aspirations and assess whether your  efforts and strategies have been effective. And to think about putting others in place if not.

At the time of the Full Moon, the Sun, the Moon and Neptune  are all at the 29th degree. The 29th degree in astrology signals a time when there can be more confusion than usual so it’s wise to exercise caution  with any decisions that need to be made at this time.

The Moon will be conjunct Pluto and the Sun will oppose it indicating a time which can be emotional and intense.

The Sun and Moon will be making good aspects to Neptune – which can provide insight and inspiration.

The pull to addictive  behavior can be stronger at this time.

Best to keep it simple. Strong boundaries and pragmatic solutions will work best at this time.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,” Directors of a large business meet in secret conference.”

 

“Certain  hurts and harms and shames can never be done being grieved… Although there will be scars and plenty of them, it is good to remember that in tensile strength and ability to absorb pressure, a scar is stronger than skin…Tears are a river that takes you somewhere.”Clarissan Pinkola Estes

“Happiness is good for the body, but it is grief which develops strength of mind.” Marcel Proust

Venus is now in Leo and moving up to an opposition to Pluto. People who have this placement in their natal charts often have very deep feelings and experience loss in a very deep way.

Pluto is the Lord of death – not just death in the literal sense but in the sense of significant loss that can seem like a death or represents a significant ending. The grieving process is just that – a process that can evolve throughout  life.

Some people say that the grief process over time is like peeling the layers of an onion and can put us in touch – eventually – with the true nature of love.

This alignment which will be in effect for four or five days may trigger feelings of loss. It is wise to remember that this is an evolutionary process and wise to stay in the present when moving through it.

Issues of self esteem, feelings of scarcity can also arise at this time in order to present an opportunity for another level of healing.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”An unexpected thunderstorm.”

 

“Out of Ireland we come,
Great hatred, little room
Maimed me from the start

I carry from my mother’s womb
A fanatic heart.” W.B. Yeats

This verse is an excerpt from the  poem by William Butler Yeats called Remorse for Intemperate Speech.

Mars is conjunct Uranus now and this is an impulsive, somewhat volatile and accident prone combination. It’s wise to use moderation in thought and speech and be prepared for some impulsive and erratic behavior on the part of others. There can be sudden occurrences in the realm of Mars so it’s also wise to take extra care when driving.

It will be an influence through the 19th of the month.

Neptune recently stationed retrograde for the Sea God’s backward trek through the beginning of December. The station was at 29 degrees of Pisces. In astrology the 29th degree is known and the “Anaretic” or “fated’ degree. It symbolizes “coming to the end of a path”. It contains a certain kind of wisdom, gained through experience.

With Neptune in Pisces at the 29th degree there can be considerable  confusion and indecisiveness. With Neptune’s  boundry-less nature, it’s wise to have good boundaries in place in terms of thought and speech.

Through the 19th of this month, it bodes well to look at your path or journey to see what might be coming to an end.
The Mars/Uranus alignment can help with breaking free of outlived plans and behaviors. But it’s best to avoid impulsive actions and approach any decisions more carefully now with additional patience and insight.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”Light breaking into many colors as it passes through a prism.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
The world offers itself to your imagination,
Calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting-
Over and over announcing your place
In the family of things.” Mary Oliver

We are under a watery sky this week – with the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Saturn and Neptune all in the water signs of Cancer and Pisces. The Moon will join them on Wednesday.

Saturn is a strong influence now as it prepares to station retrograde on June 30. The retrograde periods will last through mid- November.

In general this week it’s wise to communicate with forethought and consideration with the aspects Mercury is making. Mercury will square Chiron- making it easy to trigger other people’s vulnerabilities and create misunderstandings.

It is a week when fear and confusion can more easily arise so  it’s wise to create some down time and- like the Crab which rules the sign of Cancer – retreat to a place of safety and security if needed.

Best to keep an eye on short term and long term goals.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A prophet bringing down the new law from the mountain.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

 

 

“I’m going out to clear the pasture spring;
I’ll only stop to rake the leaves away
(And wait to watch the water clear, I may):
I shan’t be gone long – You come too.

I’m going out to fetch the little calf
That’s standing by the mother. It’s so young.
It totters when she licks it with her tongue.
I shan’t be gone long – You come too.” Robert Frost

“All of my seven Narnian books, and  my three science fiction books, began with seeing pictures in my head.” C.S.Lewis

One time I went to visit a friend for tea at her house in the country. When I arrived, she was busy clearing out her entry way, preparing for trips to the library, the antique shop and the recycling center.  When I asked her about it, she said, “I have to clear the entry way to make space for new people and experiences to enter my life.”

The Moon waxes Full tonight – Friday 6/21 at 1 degree of  Capricorn. This is the part of the Moon’s cycle when it is wise to think about shedding what is no longer necessary in our lives – outgrown beliefs,  attitudes and patterns that no longer support  the vision of our journey forward.

Under this influence it bodes well to review commitments, responsibilities and the way your life is organized to see if there’s room for improvement.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is, “A table set for an evening meal.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“maggie and milly and molly and may
went down to the beach (to play one day)

and maggie discovered a shell that sang
so sweetly she couldn’t  remember her troubles, and

millie befriended a stranded star
whose rays five languid fingers were;

and Molly was chased by a horrible things
which raced sideways while blowing bubbles:and

may came home with a smooth round stone
as small as a world and as large as alone.

For whatever we lose (like a you or a me)
It’s always ourselves we find in the sea.” e.e cummings

“I should have been a pair of ragged claws
Scuttling across the floors of silent seas.” T.S Eliot

Mercury and Venus move out of  the airy sign of Gemini and into the sign of the ocean creature, the  Crab, Cancer on Monday.

The Sun remains in late  Gemini and will move into Cancer on the Summer Solstice which is Thursday.

The week gets off to a complicated start with the Sun, Mercury and Venus all squaring Neptune. It’s best to keep very clear in communications and double check to make sure the information you are receiving is accurate.

Mercury in Cancer is a nurturing alignment and bring thoughts to home and family. The Crab carries her home on her back wherever she travels and retreats inside when threats arise. Cancer is an emotionally sensitive sign and people born under this influence can retreat to their inner world when things become difficult.

Insights can be had during this time but it’s wise to not get too caught up in the past.

Venus and Mercury  make  a challenging alignment to Pluto late Monday and into Tuesday. It is a good time to let go of old attachments that are no longer relevant in your life.

The Sun is moving up to a square with Neptune which will be  exact on Thursday at 29 degrees of Gemini. This is a “rose colored glasses” alignment and under this influence there can be more confusion, illusion and the manipulation of information. It’s wise to make an effort to stay grounded throughout the week.

The Sun moves into Cancer Thursday at 4:50 PM EDT – marking the time of the Summer Solstice. This is a great day for celebration  and for appreciating the beauty of the natural world and all she provides for us.

On Friday  the Moon waxes Full at 1 degree of Capricorn.

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

“All spiritual growth requires walking the quiet path of patience.”Rilke

“When you forgive, some deeper, divine generosity takes you over. When you cannot forgive, you are a prisoner of the hurt done to you.”John O’Donohue

The significant planetary activity this week is that Mars – the planet of the war god, will form a challenging aspect to Pluto in Aquarius. Mars has been in the sign of Aries – the action oriented sign where Mars is comfortable – and recently moved into the sign of Taurus. This sign, ruled by Venus prefers a  slower, more moderate and steady  pace and a more diplomatic ways of taking action.

Under the Mars/Pluto alignment  frustration that can arise from things not happening fast enough or in the desired way. People can be more inclined to insist on their own way.

This is a passionate alignment and can help build courage. It is a powerhouse combination of energies  and is a good time to be more active and get more exercise.

In general the best approach is patience.  This alignment will be exact on June 11 and in influence through June 16.

On Tuesday Venus will make a harmonious aspect to Chiron.  Venus is in Gemini now and favors communication of a kind and diplomatic nature. This influence favors forgiveness and a willingness to build better bridges for communication.

Saturn in Pisces will make a favorable alignment with Ceres – the great mother – this week. Saturn in Pisces is about developing emotional maturity and good boundaries.  When lined up with Ceres in harmonious way, it provides good timing to implement Saturn’s lessons into relationships with family members.

Mercury in Gemini is moving up to a square with Saturn this week.  This alignment favors serious thinking and conversations. Saturn can put a bit of a damper on Mercury’s lighter side – best to keep a good mental balance.

The Sun is moving up to a harmonious alignment with Chiron this week providing a good time to make progress with evolving in a more harmonious direction through healing fragmentation.

On Friday the Sun and Mercury align at 24 degrees of Gemini. Heed any information that surfaces under this influence as it can lead to significant realizations and breakthroughs.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”Natural steps to a lawn blooming with clover.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves  awake, not by mechanical aids, but  by  an infinite expectation of the dawn.” Henry David Thoreau

“Reality is always much bigger than the data we collect.” Charlotte Shelton

Today and for the next few days, influences are very good for expansive thinking, realizations and getting to the bottom of things as Mercury and Jupiter in early degrees of Gemini align harmoniously with Pluto.

There can be a lot of  energy and optimism at this time but it is wise to guard against overdoing as Jupiter is prone to excess.

This alignment can deepen relationships and can have a revelatory nature to it. Best to watch for information that is revealed at this time that can be very helpful on the journey forward.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”The charming life at the garden of Tuileries in Paris.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill