Jupiter in Cancer

Jupiter is now in the sign of Cancer. For the next few weeks under the influence of Mercury retrograde revisit and take care of tasks in need of repair and renewal around the home. It is also a good time to work on healing old wounds- particularly those related to home and family- through an expanded, enlightened perspective. The Sabian symbol for Jupiter’s entrance into Cancer is, “On a ship sailors lower an old flag and raise a new one.” It is a good time revisit allegiances to ideas that may have outlived their purpose.

Sabian Symbol reference from Lynda Hill’s 360 Degrees of Wisdom

Jupiter in Cancer part 2

I live in a small New Hampshire town close to Main St in a neighborhood of massive, old Victorian homes.

At the Town Meeting last fall the residents voted to replace the sewer system on our street. By late June the process commenced and – without notice – the public works department closed access to a section of the road and chopped down a towering maple tree which was more than a hundred years old. Access to the road and been blocked and visibility limited so that by the time we found out about it it was too late to do anything – such as explore options to cutting down this lovely, long term inhabitant of our neighborhood.

Now when I look up into the sky from my front yard I no longer see the tree’s massive graceful branches, I can no longer hear the rustling of its leaves or sit in its dark shade on a hot summer day.
In the local press I have followed the occasional town disputes about saving a beloved tree or keeping a granite boulder deemed in the way of progress. Often these battles go on for a long stretch of time. But we had not been notified and did not have the option to organize and make our voices heard.

I usually walk past the tree every day at dusk when reflections in the windows of the looming houses create strange apparitions. On the first walk since the tree’s absence I noticed that someone had placed a cup filled with bright pink flowers – Indian paintbrush, I think -on the remaining stump. And some hearts constructed of pipe cleaners lay on top of it too.

A few days later there was a piece of paper stapled to the stump on which a poem was written. It was from The Lorax and read,

“I speak for the trees. I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.”
And I’m asking you sir, at the top of my lungs,
Oh please do not cut down another one.”

Jupiter is now in Cancer and forming a harmonious aspect to Chiron the asteroid of the Wounded Healer. There is an opportunity with Jupiter’s wise, benevolent influence to understand and heal wounds – particularly those associated with home and family – from an expanded perspective. It is a good time to look at how we deal with painful events and when we can’t avoid them, how we can learn from them,

With Chiron in Pisces raising the level of consciousness is indicated. Forgiveness and surrender are key.

The family in my neighborhood illustrated this clearly by creating the little memorial for the tree and expressing their love and appreciation for it as opposed to- for example- calling town officials to angrily shout at them or blame the workers.

We can hope that everyone learned a little bit from this incident and that residents will also now know that we need to exercise more vigilance in protecting the things we love about our neighborhood.

Mercury Stations Retrograde Wednesday

One day awhile back I was pressed for time and realized there was no way I could make an appointment for an oil change later in the afternoon. When I called the shop to apologize the mechanic said,” That’s fine – only the appointment was yesterday.”
In so doing he reminded me Mercury was retrograde.
Mercury stations retrograde Wednesday June 26. Mercury is the trickster god and during the retrograde period (through July 21) it is wise to give additional attention to the details – particularly as regards travel, communication and the tools of communication. It is a good time to make an extra effort to communicate more clearly, to leave extra time when traveling, and in general to have more patience when things go awry.
Mercury will station at 23 degrees of Cancer making this a good time frame to reflect on issues related to family, relationship and security. The Sabian symbol is, “A woman and two men cast away on a small island,” reminding us of some of the challenges inherent in relationships and family life – particularly issues related to the need for privacy and space, the need to accommodate the wishes of others and the need to live authentically and autonomously in a family or relationship structure. Jupiter will enter sign of Cancer on Wednesday and will help with accessing wisdom in these areas.

All times mentioned are EDT. Sabian Symbol reference from Lynda Hill’s 360 Degrees of Wisdom

Sunday’s Full Moon

“Whatever happened to the way things are supposed to happen?” Van Morrison

The Sabian symbol for Sunday’s Full Moon at 2 degrees of Capricorn is, “The human soul in its eagerness for new experiences, seeks embodiment.” At the time of the Full Moon there is a kite pattern in the sky formed by the Sun, Moon, Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune. Under this magical alignment take some time to nurture your soul’s aspirations and to see them emerging into form through concrete steps. It is a powerful time for imagination and creative visualization.

Sabian Symbol reference from Lynda Hill’s 360 Degrees of Wisdom
Van Morrison quote from Down the Road

Jupiter, Mars &Chiron

The skies are full of significant planetary activity for the next two weeks. The Sun will conjunct Jupiter tomorrow – bringing with it the opportunity for for increased wisdom and growth – given certain caveats.

One of the Sabian symbols for the Mars/Chiron aspect this week is, “A sword used in many battles, is now in a museum.” With this aspect events can conspire to trigger old emotional wounds in need of healing. These wounds can be of an ancestral, cultural and familial nature and can appear as events that come back to haunt us. Mars is square Chiron indicating the need to overcome something such as limited perceptions or illusions about the past. Use Jupiter’s love of wisdom and knowledge to shed light on these areas and to awaken new perspectives.

Jupiter can have an excessive side and it is best to keep moderation in the picture and to watch the overuse of the conscious mind which can lead to mental exhaustion.

Keep intentions clear as this summer – the laws of attraction will be strengthened by planetary activity.

Sabian symbol references from Lynda Hill’s, 360 Degrees of Wisdom

Jupiter in Gemini

“Jupiter bestows the gift of perspective upon those who are ready for it. It makes conscious the previously unconscious models we’ve been using to confer meaning on things. These models frame our relationship with the big, wide world.” Jessica Murray

Jupiter is in Gemini now for another couple of weeks until it moves into Cancer on June 26. Gemini governs the thinking process and with Jupiter in that sign there is the opportunity to expand the lens through which we perceive reality. It can broaden our understanding, vision and horizons and make customary or habitual thought patterns feel limited and outdated.

Venus is now entering into the Pluto/Uranus square – feelings of scarcity- particularly involving love and abundance – can arise under this aspect. It is a good time to review progress made in confronting these types of issues and to harness the energy of the aspect to transform these areas. Look to innovative ideas and breakthroughs.

Jessica Murray is an author and astrologer and can be found on mothersky.com

Saturday’s New Moon in Gemini

Years ago when a group of friends and I would get together and talk about the future we used to joke about restaurants that would have psychic waitstaff – that there would be no need for words when ordering because their psychic powers would be so highly developed that they would know what you wanted without speaking. I was reminded of this yesterday when I was having lunch with a friend at a local cafe. When the chef brought out our lunch my friend pulled a sheet of paper out of her bag and said to the him, “Here is a recipe I copied down for you. I thought you might like to try it – it is for an organic chocolate cake which has beets and zucchini in it.”

Looking surprised he responded, “This is great thank you. Today is my wife’s birthday and when I asked her what kind of cake she would like me to make she said, ‘Something with beets in it.’ ”

Much of the evolutionary process going on individually as well as on the planet now has to do with integrating and implementing untapped powers of the mind and using synchronicity as a guide and for affirmation. As Saturday’s New Moon at 18 Gemini approaches it is a good time to heed intuitive knowing and to be aware of knowledge that comes in nonlinear ways. Mars is square Neptune at the time of the New Moon which is an indicator that integrating higher knowledge is a process that needs to be learned and tested over time rather than a once time occurrence. It will lead to more holistic perceptions.

Venus Aspects this Week

“Transformation comes from looking deeply within, to a state that exists before fear and isolation arise, the state in which we are inevitably whole just as we are.” Sharon Salzburg

This week’s Venus/Neptune/Saturn trine provides excellent timing to create an increased sense of harmony and equilibrium in our lives. It is a good time to acknowledge progress and growth. As Venus makes her trek into the Pluto/Uranus square pay attention to opportunities for breakthroughs which reveal a way forward from a sense of scarcity to one of increased appreciation and abundance.

Quote from Divine Sparks by Karen Speerstra

June 2013 Astrology

“The king could look into the water of the magic cauldron and see whatever was happening wherever he chose.The water of the cauldron has a reflective quality, as well as a quality of depth.Gazing into the water frees you from the immediate stimuli of the senses and permits you to think about something that is not in front of you, that is, to reflect on something you saw at another time and place, or to imagine something you haven’t experienced before, or become a philosopher, thinking about abstract concepts and what lies beyond concepts.” David Tresemer

There are powerful planets in water signs now – Saturn in Scorpio, Neptune in Pisces and Jupiter and the inner planets will follow along this month. This represents a shift away from the busy Gemini energy to the more intuitive and emotional realm of the water element.
April and May have been an interesting time frame – with the series of three eclipses followed by the procession of inner planets transiting through the mercurial sign of Gemini. Eclipses are evolutionary in nature.They offer opportunities to leave the past behind and usher in the start of a new cycle. Gemini gives us new frameworks through which to view our lives and offers options for new directions.
In June with many planets in water signs it signals a time to integrate the recent eclipse lessons on an intuitive or inner level and to make small, pragmatic steps to forge new paths. It is best to let the dreams or aspirations be the North Star and chart your course with pragmatism. There is guidance and support all month long for manifesting dreams and higher aspirations that have solid footing and are implemented with care.
It is a good month to spend by the water – to experience its healing and restorative powers and to gaze into its mysterious depths.
Throughout time the cauldron or chalice or Grail Cup has represented a vessel containing spiritual energy which awakens our connection to spiritual worlds. Historically when Neptune has been in Pisces as it is now, there has been an increased interest in spirituality on the planet which has resulted in a time of heightened spiritual awareness and growth. Chiron’s close connection to Neptune now indicates it is a time to move from a fragmented perception of the world to one that is more interconnected and whole.

“And therefore I look upon everything
as a brotherhood and a sisterhood,
and I look upon time as no more than an idea,
and I consider eternity as another possibility,

and I think of each life as a flower, as common
as a field daisy, and as singular,

and each name a comfortable music in the mouth,
tending, as all music does, toward silence,

and each body a lion of courage, and something
precious to the earth.” Mary Oliver

Some significant activity this month:
June 1 Mercury in Cancer
June Venus moves into Cancer
June 8 New Moon at 18 Gemini
June 11 Saturn trine Neptune
June 19 Sun conjunct Jupiter
June 21 Summer Solstice, Sun enters Cancer
June 23 Full Moon 2 degrees of Capricorn
June 26 Mercury retrograde at 23 Cancer
June 25 Jupiter in Cancer.
Quote from David Tresemer’s book, The Venus Eclipse of the Sun 2012, Quote from Mary Oliver’s poem, When Death Comes. All times mentioned are EDT.

Weekend Astrology

“A wise old owl sat on an oak;
The more he saw the less he spoke;
The less he spoke the more he heard;
Why aren’t we all like that wise old bird?” Edward Hersey Richards

One of the Sabian symbols associated with Saturday’s Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse is,” An old owl perched high up in a tree.” This symbol speaks of the value of wisdom and perspective and it is a good time to make an effort to be in touch with both. This is the final eclipse in a series of three since late April. Events have conspired to show us we are living in times of great change. This weekend provides a good time to take some time to reflect on what brings meaning and value into your life and and to be in touch with higher wisdom.

Quote from Lynda Hill’s 360 Degrees of Wisdom