“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

“The fog comes in
on little cat feet

It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
And then moves on. ” Carl Sandburg

“What seas, what shores, what grey rocks and what islands
What water lapping the bow
And scent of pine and wood thrush singing through the
fog
What images return
O my daughter.” TS Eliot

Today is the second exact square of Uranus and Saturn – the third and final square to come on December 24. In astrology Uranus is the rebel, the maverick, the outsider, the one who loves freedom and doesn’t necessarily respect traditional forms of  authority. Saturn represents law and order and the status quo and tradition. Saturn represents the past, Uranus the future.  Uranus governs technology, computers and the internet. Uranus disrupts outdated systems – sometimes in ways that are surprising.

But Uranus also governs innovation. This alignment is in effect throughout the year and provides excellent timing to think about what is no longer needed in your life in or  what is in need of an update. And what kind of changes you can make in your life that lead to a better, more innovative future.

Jupiter and Neptune are strong influences in the sky now as they both slow down to station retrograde – Jupiter on the June 20th  and Neptune on the 25th. Mercury stations direct on the 22nd ending the retrograde period – right in the middle of these two stations.  This is a good time for dreams, creative projects and spiritual growth.  But do be aware the Trickster is about – with Mercury retrograde  in Gemini , so it’s best to double check that communications are clear as Neptune, the planet governing fog, and Jupiter the planet of excess and exaggeration are both major players this week.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A  materializing medium giving a seance.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious.” Stephen Hawking

“Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in.”Isaac Asimov

“Well! I’ve often seen a cat without a grin,” thought Alice; “but a grin without a cat! It’s the most curious thing I’ve ever seen in all my life!”

This week’s Solar Eclipse is this Thursday  6/10 at 19 degrees of Gemini at 6:53 AM EDT. This is a New Moon eclipse and opens up a new cycle that bodes well for learning new things and being open to new perspectives. Solar Eclipses signal a time of a new start.

North Node eclipses – which this one is- are like a crossroads where important choices can be made about how we want to move forward  and what is important to us – what we need  for the journey and what is best left behind.

The effect of eclipses can be felt both in  advance and following the actual event.  There is a fair amount of confusion at this time – with the retrograde Mercury conjunct the Sun and Moon and this trio making a challenging alignment to Neptune, the planet of illusions. Best to double check the details  and keep thinking and communications clear.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A cafeteria with an abundance of choices.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“Perhaps it would be  well to say that the old conception, replaced by a later choice, is a way of seeing and then seeing again.”Lillian Hellman

“In mythology Mercury is said to travel in all dimensions and all directions and to have witnessed creation, both original and perpetual. Having seen it all, he is wise an funny, and has an infinite number of perspectives.”Caroline W. Casey

Mercury will remain in the sign of Gemini throughout the retrograde period which will end June 22 in close proximity to the Summer Solstice on June 20. These two events so closely aligned in time, speak of a time when new and significant insights can emerge.

Gemini is a mercurial sign and gifted at taking many perspectives of any given situation.  Some of the  keywords for Mercury retrograde periods are rethink, revisit and redo. Additionally at this time a good word to add, is resolve. We live in such fast moving, future-oriented times when bringing resolution  or another level of resolution to old issues can be  something that is not adequately taken into consideration.

This time frame brings a good opportunity for this process.  With Gemini and Mercury prominent in the sky,  synchronicity is more likely to be a guidepost along the way. In ancient Greece there were statues of Mercury at crossroads providing  direction.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A young gypsy emerging from the woods gazes at far cities.”

“Perception is an ongoing interchange – a silent conversation I carry on with things. By perceiving (really seeing) I enter into a sympathetic relation with the perceived. The act of perception is always open-ended and unfinished.” David Abram

Mercury stations retrograde May 29 in the evening EDT at 24 degrees of Gemini. Mercury, the busy Trickster God is happy in this mutable, mercurial sign.

Mercury will travel retrograde until June 23 when he stations direct-  making this  three week period an excellent time to pause, rethink and revision. Mercury is a lover of multifaceted ideas and perspectives. It’s wise to be open to options in thinking and  ideas that might need an update.

Mercury and Venus are together now and making an alignment to Neptune – a reminder of the power and wisdom of kindness, compassion and forgiveness in effecting change.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”Carefree children skating on ice.”

Sabian symbol from Linda Hill

“Lady called the blue boy love
She took him home
Made himself an idol yes
So he turned to stone
Like a pilgrim she traveled
To place her flowers
Before his granite grace
And she prayed aloud for love
To waken in his face
In his face.” Joni Mitchell

“Take some more tea,” the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly.
“I’ve had nothing yet,” Alice replied in an offended tone: “so I can’t take more.”
“You mean you can’t take less,” said the Hatter: “It’s very easy to take more than nothing.”  Lewis Carroll

“Why sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” Lewis Carroll

This week’s Lunar Eclipse is at 5 degrees of Sagittarius on Wednesday May 26 at 7:14 am EDT. At the time of the Eclipse both Jupiter and Neptune are strong influences – with the Sun and Moon in a tight square to Jupiter and Neptune in a square alignment with Venus and Mercury.  Squares are dynamic and call for action or indicate the need to overcome something.

It is a very good week for creative endeavors. But with these alignments and  Saturday’s  Mercury retrograde station (at 24 Taurus) as  it can be a more confusing time. Misunderstandings and miscommunications can happen more easily so it’s wise to be extra clear in communication. Best to double check emails and texts have actually been received and read before jumping to any conclusions. Make sure important info is backed up.

As far as matters of the heart are concerned, Venus in a square aspect to Neptune is a muse -type alignment – when a form of  higher love brings inspiration to the artistic process.  It is also associated with unrequited love or being in love with an idealized or unavailable person. It can be a time when illusions of this type may be  made made more visible. Feeling a scarcity around love or abundance may be present at this time as well.

This alignment bodes well for meditation and spiritual growth. It also speaks of  the higher aspect of love and the need to bring more love into the world.

Whenever there is a planetary station – either retrograde or direct- it bodes well to heed any information or guidance that surfaces that represents a culmination of information. This process applies to this week and into early next week.

There is a fair amount of confusion and illusion around this week as well as a tendency to overreact. It’s a good time to keep strong boundaries in place, back up important information and proceed with discrimination and  moderation.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,” An old owl perched up in a tree.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill