STARGAZING — Week of June 19th — June 25th, 2017
This week brings us several lucky influences, as well as a season change; the Summer Solstice brings us the first day of Summer. Mercury changes signs, we have a New Moon in Cancer, a Venus/Pluto, trine and Jupiter/Mars square. Whew!
Sunday-June 18th, Father’s Day, is under the influence of an Aries moon, and that supports physical activity like swimming, a walk, or exercise. It’s a fire sign, so that could also indicate a BBQ. On one hand, the Sun is making a friendly relationship to eccentric Uranus urging you to do something out of the norm on Sunday. At the same time, mental Mercury is thinking about all the things you “should” do, but don’t really want to. Keep activities light and friendly, and don’t feel like you need to drag things out. A quick brunch with Dad would be enough.
By Monday afternoon, the Moon moves into productive Taurus to set the stage for Wednesday’s Summer Solstice.
Summer Solstice is on Wednesday the 21st at 12:24:30 am (Eastern). The coming three months brings us a T-Square pattern; this represents a challenge to put things together that do not comfortably fit together. The base leg of the “T” shaped pattern holds Jupiter in relationship oriented Libra. It wants you to expand your relationships to new levels, either with the people in your life now, or giving motivation to open to new relationships of all types. At the top of the “T”, impatient Mars is in watery Cancer. That’s great for home repair projects and family vacation activities, but action and emotions can get all mixed up, mushy, and emotional.
On the other side of the top of the “T” is the marriage goddess Venus and let go and let God, Pluto. This helps good relationships get better and bad relationships to transform. Smoothing out this challenge is gentle Venus and romance-oriented Moon aligning in Taurus. This combination seeks pleasure, comfort, and luxury, but it also knows you need to work hard to manifest your desires and needs. Both make harmony to Pluto, so you get help in improving or transforming relationships. Overall, there is a mixture of energies this summer so find your pleasure where you can and know that there are also some responsibilities calling.
Wednesday brings a lot of talk, and is a good day to communicate your emotions. The Summer Solstice coincides with the Sun entering Cancer and is the longest day of the year. After the Summer Solstice, the days grow shorter at about the rate of two minutes a day. The Cancer Sun highlights emotions, families, housing, homeland security, pregnancies, and women. Mercury conjuncts the Sun that day as well, bringing a time when communication is logical and objective. As the sun sets on Wednesday evening, Mercury moves into Cancer, a sign he is not comfortable in. Communications and your interactions will be based on your gut feelings and the unspoken word.
Thursday morning brings pleasant conversations but the afternoon has you moving to a quieter state of mind.
The New Moon is on Friday the 23rd at three degrees Cancer. Five of the ten planets we use in astrology are in the water element, and that means emotions are heightened. Cancer is the sign of nurturing on the worldly level, and nourishing the spirit on the spiritual level. The action of the Cardinal signs of Caner, Capricorn, Libra and Aries are also emphasized, so the pace is going to pick up considerably now. This doubles the Cancer energy and brings new beginnings, new homes, a family move, or special emphasis on home safety and security. If you’re anxious to buy a new home or a restaurant, the next few weeks are a prime time to do so.
Of course, Cancer likes to spend time with loved ones, fix up the house, or share a meal with people who are in your inner circle. Action planet Mars is making harmony with spiritual Neptune, brings a perfect time to spend on visualizing and planning your higher purpose. That can be a simple as taking a quiet walk in peaceful woods or on a secluded beach.
Put constructive action into that which nourishes your spirit, because assertive Mars makes a challenge to god of abundance Jupiter. This benefits you when you take action towards your next goal. Just get something started and don’t feel you need to complete it right now because there are plenty of other distractions taking your attention away right now. For example, Jupiter is associated with the publishing business and long distance travel. You could create the outline for the book you want to write or begin to research your next world trip. That way, when you are ready to seriously get started, you will already have the early steps established.
On another level, this new moon helps you have those emotional conversations that take you to a deeper level and/or require you to go to a vulnerable place within.
The Moon continues in Cancer on Saturday, as Venus in Taurus makes a trine to sensual Pluto in Capricorn for the first time in 2017. Venus is at her sensual best, and Pluto means business. At best you can expect and enjoy some powerful love scenes, with some serious relationship decisions coming out as well.
The next day, Sunday, Mars squares Jupiter, which can mean that all bets are off and you must remain cautions, even though you may be feeling some deep emotions. This is a time when it’s easier to say “Yes” than a proper “No”. You could experience some minor ups and downs all day, but nothing you can’t handle as long as you keep moving from one thing to the next.
Mars makes a helpful trine to Neptune on Sunday evening. You have been feeling this for several days now. This is your memo to kick back, meditate a bit, and follow your intuition. Listen to your inner voice and amazing things can happen.
Tuesday is a mental day with the morning giving you brilliant ideas and the ability to “sell them” to someone. Mercury trines Jupiter for the second time in 2017, which is perfect for manifesting your dreams and goals. Then the communications planet squares Neptune. Don’t trust what you hear, just go slow and wait it out. Tuesday evening has more of that mental burnout feeling, so earlier Tuesday is best for communicating with people. 
Things can get serious and heavy in Thursday, the 15th, with a Sun-Saturn opposition. Check your feelings on Thursday and Friday when the moon moves into sensitive Pisces. The Sun is opposite Saturn early on Thursday, and Neptune is slowing down to turn retrograde on Friday morning. This is the only time this year that the Sun opposes Saturn, and the result is that you must face and fulfill your responsibilities. You need to learn your karmic lessons as well as learn to accept authority figures and decisions. All of that can have you feeling tired or wanting to retreat from the harsh world. Meditate of go on retreat.
The early workweek is under a focused Scorpio moon. You can accomplish a lot if you put your mind to it. Tuesday is the shifting day this week. Venus enters Taurus for the rest of the month. Taurus likes sensual pleasures and manifesting its needs and desires. Some go in an artistic direction; others go in a “make money” direction for the rest of this month. Get ready to make plans and move ahead with projects, because Venus and Juno together can bring you many blessings.
The Full Moon is on Friday at 19 degrees Sagittarius. It forms a pattern called a T-Square, where you are challenged to put contradictory things together. The full moon is at the top of the “T” shaped pattern and lands very close to Donald Trump’s Gemini Sun and Sagittarius Moon, making him a good person to watch to see how the energies manifest. Things can get a little tricky at this Full Moon because Saturn can put a damper on Sagittarius’ luck. Usually this energy brings completions to projects, but with Saturn’s presence, you can expect slow downs, obstacles and delays. 
You can make progress on big projects now if you are willing to break them down into smaller, more manageable pieces. Neptune serves as the base leg of the “T” square, challenging you to open to a higher vision. Neptune bursts illusions and opens your intuition to spiritual truth, or it can have you doing escapist behavior. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to sneak away for a short trip, even if it is just a day trip into nature. Expansive Jupiter ends his retrograde cycle this week. Lucky Jupiter turning direct brings a time for your hopes and dreams to come out of the shadows of your mind and enter the world for the first time since February. In the weeks ahead, the pace will increase and projects and plans put on hold will begin to move faster. This change could also bring you travel abroad or a new partnership from foreign lands. 
May closes with a Mercury/Pluto trine in Earth. Time to make plans, set your focus, and discuss important matters, from business to close relationships. 
June begins with the moon in hard-working Virgo, and Venus makes a nice trine to Saturn. That is a good business combination where you can accomplish a great deal. Being focused and committed is your new path to love, although you could feel a bit wobbly when Venus conjuncts Uranus on Saturday. This combined energy can bring exciting, unusual relationships that breaks down all barriers, while bringing powerful sparks to the flames. Be careful not to burn this out too quickly.
With Venus aligning with Uranus early Saturday morning, you can step beyond your comfort zone to try something new and different. At the same time, the Sun makes a happy trine to expansive Jupiter. This supports writing, philosophical pursuits, or being in nature. 
Jupiter ends his retrograde cycle next week on the 9th (since early February), so the stuck energy of spring will get moving at a faster pace in the days ahead. Combine that with a variety of Mercury aspects all month and you have a formula for a bunch of short projects and activities that keep you on the move all month. So roll up your sleeves and let’s begin.
The early week’s activities is setting us up for Thursday, May 25th, as Venus squares Pluto. This is a rough patch for love and finances, as it involves obsession, dangerous power-plays and relationships ending in a negative and aggressive way. Watch North Korea and the Stock Market. This is a prelude to the effects of the late August full eclipse in Leo. 
Accomplish practical tasks on Tuesday and Wednesday, especially where you are finishing up projects started last month. Get it done!
There is a challenge between “I want it now Mars,” and be patient Saturn; there is also a challenge between love and money Venus wanting new opportunities quickly, and Pluto advising that you must clean up the past first. This brings the need to dramatically move forward without being exactly certain where you are going, while going at a slow-but-sure turtle speed. Check to verify that your values are on the same page as the people you are working with rather than making assumptions now. Although it feels a little like you are being jerked back and forth, know that it is just the universe multi-tasking. 
Friday is an active day, so put on your good walking shoes and keep on the move. Saturday has the Moon moving into Cancer for a nurturing weekend. Food and family are favored as we go into the USA Memorial Day holiday weekend.
Blame Mercury if you feel your week is getting a slow start, because Taurus is known to plod along. You can expect to think things through and have a focused instead of a scattered mindset over the next three weeks. 
On Thursday, Saturn makes a trine to Uranus. This happy combination has been going on from December 2016 until late November 2017. Saturn wants stability and long-term growth. Uranus wants freedom, excitement and something totally new. Combine these energies to open to new possibilities, yet make them work in the mundane world. It’s great for story writers or inventors. Uranus rules technology and Saturn can rule the older generation, a surprise invention could be something focused on elderly care and maintenance. 
Saturday, the Sun leaves serious Taurus into Airy and fickle Gemini. The focus switches from your body and the physical world good use of mind and a social whirlwind. Careful now, as there could be an unrelenting need to find out about everything and everyone. See if you can stay in one place long enough to process all of your new data. 
