New Moon in Gemini and Sun Enters Cancer - Summer is Coming

We had a major astrological event this week with the annual New Moon in Gemini.  It occurred on June 16^th at 10:00 a.m. in 25 degrees of Gemini.  This was a very special new moon because it occurred on the heels of Mercury, Gemini’s ruler, going direct and because Gemini symbolizes the magician and messenger who can send communications at warped speeds into other dimensions.  It was a fabulous new moon to trust your intuition to make new beginnings, which after all, is a major theme of new moons.  In the sign of Gemini, it was also a time to reboot mentally, appreciate the humor in life and accept the exciting challenges coming upon us.

This new moon also made some very powerful alignments with Mars and Chiron.  It conjuncted Mars in Gemini, inconjuncted Saturn in Scorpio and squared Chiron in Pisces.  On that day I posted these two tweets:

“Gemini New Moon today conjunct Mars can make us antsy to take action & be on the move but quincunx to Saturn puts the brakes on.”

“Gemini New Moon squares Chiron in Pisces today. Emotional healing is possible through compassionate communication & forgiveness.”

Other themes which pertained to this new moon in Gemini included reconciling duality and assimilating information.  This was especially pertinent this year because Mercury is direct now, freeing us up to process all of that information before we embrace the new and implement the changes that we desire.  A new moon in Gemini is also an ideal time to forge connections with others in our neighborhoods and perhaps engage in social media to connect with others.  Conversely, if we have become too addicted to technology, it might be nice to take a brief break from social media. And if we are saddled with ancient technology, we can feel a green light to invest in upgrading our technology now that Mercury is direct.  So if you feel like you need a new cell phone or computer, go for it!  Purchase that upgrade.

I understand the moon’s inconjunct or quincunx to Saturn all too well, as I have it natally in exactly the same signs.  I have a natal moon in Gemini and Saturn in Scorpio.  True to form, Saturn being back in Scorpio for the next three months is causing old fears regarding security issues and finances to resurface through memories and dreams.  Indeed, this aspect had a profound impact on me as it caused me to reflect on where I have come and how I need to make adjustments to get where I am destined to be.  I have always been inspired by the work of Carl Jung, and this week has truly reminded me of the title of his biography Memories, Dreams, Reflections.  Carl Jung was one of the first psychiatrists to believe in and use astrology in his practice.  He actually looked at a client’s chart before their appointment and I am convinced that the insight he obtained was invaluable in their treatment.

On June 21^st. we have another big astrological event.  The Sun enters the sign of Cancer, heralding the first day of summer and the longest day of the year. It is also known as the Summer Solstice. This year it also falls on Father’s Day.  The moon changes signs and enters Virgo about twenty minutes after the sun enters Cancer.  So both the sun and moon align in a harmonious sextile around 1:00 p.m. that day.  This is very nice energy indeed.  

Many people like to engage in rituals to commemorate the Summer Solstice.  If you want to keep it simple, try seizing the day by being kind to yourself.  Look at the trines and sextiles in your chart instead of focusing on the oppositions, squares and inconjuncts.  Express a little gratitude for these easygoing aspects.  We are entering the season of summer, when we can kick back a little and enjoy life more. Summertime fun, easy living and time for vacations are officially here.  It’s time to engage with others and be more social.  No one can dispute the fact that the first half of 2015 has been challenging with the last Uranus/Pluto square and the spring eclipses, but we should have smoother sailing ahead for the next couple of months.

If you don’t know what your trines and sextiles are in your chart, consider getting an astrological reading with me.  You can learn more about my menu of astrological services at:

http://phoenixscorpio.blogspot.com/p/services-offered.html

And don’t forget to inquire about my Venus Retrograde Special, which will be $25 through the month of September 2015.  Venus hasn’t gone retrograde yet (that happens on July 25^th), but Venus is in Leo for an extended period of time this year and it will undoubtedly have a profound impact on your relationships and finances.  Contact me directly at lindasim54@gmail.com.

Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter for my daily astrological insights at:

https://twitter.com/danceofphoenix

Happy Father’s Day!

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Mercury Retrograde in Cancer

Mercury officially goes retrograde on Saturday, June 7^th at 7:56 a.m. in 3 degrees of Cancer.  This is yet another Mercury retrograde that starts in a water sign and ends in an air sign.  The last one was from February 6-28, 2014 in Pisces and Aquarius.  Be aware that any unresolved emotional issues from that period may rise again.  I think that fellow astrologer Robert Ohotto said it best when he described this Mercury retrograde being about healing the split between your mind and heart.  Indeed, Mercury retrograde in Cancer has a theme of bridging the gap between the heart and the mind to communicate and connect.  Changes in home life will be also be reviewed.

Mercury retrograde in Cancer can cause general anxiety and overreactions, especially for folks with planets in Cancer, Scorpio, Capricorn and Pisces.   Mercury retrograde in Cancer can be a very introspective period because our subconscious fears can return to haunt us and we may be forced to deal with emotional issues.  It is a time of reflection, review and perhaps renegotiation.  This is the stuff that soul searching is made of!

But the mind piece comes into play into when retrograde Mercury enters the sign of Gemini on June 18^th.  It will resume stationary direct motion on July 1^st at 24 degrees of Gemini. And let us not forget that Chiron in Pisces is a major player in all of this action.  On June 3^rd, the Leo moon inconjuncted Chiron in Pisces, which inspired me to tweet: “Be prepared to face old wounds today as Leo moon inconjuncts Chiron in Pisces. “  This tweet actually garnered me 109 views on Twitter, so it must have resonated for quite a few other people.  We had a first quarter moon in Virgo on June 5^th which featured Chiron in Pisces trining Saturn in Scorpio and squaring the Sun in Gemini.  Authority figures may have been a problem for some on that day.

This Mercury retrograde is occurring in my 9^th house and I had a conference with an attorney to discuss some financial concerns regarding 8^th house matters on June 5^th.  Even though the weather was perfectly dreadful with drenching rains, I wanted this to be handled before the official Mercury retrograde on June 7^th so that I could trust the advice that I received.  It was definitely worth braving that rain for the pearls of wisdom that I received.  And there is nothing like a Virgo moon for taking care of business details. 

But we all know that Mercury entered its retrograde shadow period on May 23^rd at 24 degrees of Gemini.  Many of us have begun to feel its effects since then with computer glitches, communications and transportation problems, etc.  On June 5^th I went to pick up a prescription at my local Walgreen’s and wouldn’t you know that the computer froze while it was ringing up my transaction?  I am also concerned that when Mercury finally does station direct on July 1^st in 24 degrees of Gemini, it will be inconjunct my Venus in Scorpio in the 2^nd house.  This is going to be a challenging aspect for me in terms of expressing my feelings.  This transit first hit me on May 23^rd, and there were definitely some communication problems that weekend. How will that play out for me the second time, especially concerning my values, feelings and finances?  Time will tell…

So, what can I say but be prepared for Mercury retrograde by allowing extra time to get to our destinations, not signing contracts, launching new projects, making an offer on a new home, or starting a new job.  If you start a new job during Mercury retrograde, it will not turn out to be what it was described during your interview.  The job responsibilities may be quite different and you risk the chance of leaving a less than favorable impression on your new employer.  And by all means, don’t buy a new car, computer, install new software and avoid unnecessary travel at all costs.  Forewarned is forearmed.  Life must go on during Mercury retrograde, but take precautions.

Please feel free to follow me on Twitter for my daily astrological insights at:

https://twitter.com/danceofphoenix

Wolf Full Moon

We had a wolf full moon on Wednesday, January 15, 2014 in 25 degrees of Cancer.  Why is it called a wolf full moon?  According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the Native Americans coined the phrase because they observed wolf packs howling hungrily outside their Indian villages in the cold January weather.  It wasn’t that cold this year on the east coast, but I have to admit that it was a beautiful moon.  I was mesmerized by its luminescence as I left my weekly meditation group shortly after 8:00 p.m.  Its radiance seemed to follow me as I walked the short distance to my home.  I literally couldn’t take my eyes off of it.  I didn’t hear any wolves howling but I did hear a dog barking as I was crossing the street and that really nailed the experience of the wolf full moon for me because of the prevalent belief that dogs are descended from wolves.

What were the themes of this rather loaded full moon in its home sign of Cancer?  It was a very emotional full moon characterized by a need to find balance between Cancerian dependence and the Capricorn need to be grown up and responsible.  Earthly family matters needed to be addressed.  This full moon reminded us how we really felt and Saturn in Scorpio trined it to support the soul’s evolution.  It was literally a time to trust your emotions and express them.  How nice of Saturn to be cutting us some slack and giving us a break with this full moon!  This full moon could also herald changes in long-term relationship patterns.  Caregivers might have discovered that they need some of the nurturing that they have long been providing in relationships.  Role reversals in relationships are a common theme. The Sun in Capricorn facilitated objectivity about who we are and what we really want. Self-awareness around relationship issues could prove to be a tricky road to navigate.  Learning to value ourselves is essential and development of self-worth is crucial if we are to get our needs met because the bottom line is that we need to believe that we are worth it.

This one really hit home for me because I have Saturn in the first house and I have always struggled with self-esteem.  The full moon in Cancer also conjuncted my Jupiter and Uranus in Cancer the 10^th house, opposed my Chiron in Capricorn in the 4^th house and squared my Neptune in Libra in the 1^st house.  I did manage to reap some benefits of the full moon in my 10^th house by obtaining some new business, but its opposition to my Chiron in the 4^th house triggered some painful memories from my childhood and made me sad about the family members that I had lost.  It’s impossible to be 59 and not have experienced the loss of family.  Of course my parents and grandparents are dead, but I lost a younger brother seven years ago and that loss still hurts. That square to Neptune also gave me some pretty intense dreams, to say the least.

I really enjoyed seeing Michael Lutin’s take on the full moon. He reminded me that that the full moon did cross over an exalted Jupiter in Cancer, but he had a photo of a dog on a dolphin’s back.  Check it out at:

http://www.michaellutin.com/

The point he was trying to make is that the dog might be suffering or too scared to accept the dolphin’s ride and jump back in the water.  We all have options even if we don’t yet recognize them.  But the photo of the dog on the dolphin triggered a memory of a particularly vivid dream that I had several years ago in which a dolphin brought me to shore.  At that time I knew that the dream was spiritually significant, but I didn’t know why.  I always thought that dolphins were friendly, helpful and cool, an impression that no doubt came from watching Flipper on TV as a child.  But I did a little research and realized that I had dreamed about a dolphin because it was guiding me through a very stressful time in my life.  These are some of the meanings I found attributed to dreaming about dolphins.

Dreams about dolphins are thought to be highly spiritual and can be viewed as a symbol of encouragement to seek spiritual guidance.

If the dreamer is riding a dolphin, this can indicate that he or she wishes to move upward in life, using the mind to its greatest capacity.

After I had that dream I really started believing in the spiritual power of dolphins and actually purchased a silver pendant with two dolphins and an amethyst between them so that I could tap into that spiritual energy whenever I needed it by wearing it close to my heart.  I wore it on a silver chain and it became one of my favorite pieces of jewelry. 

The full moon in Cancer was also sandwiched in between Mercury in Aquarius squaring the nodes of the moon on January 14^thand Mars in Libra squaring Venus in Capricorn on January 16^th.  Mercury squaring the nodes of the moon may have felt like a Mercury retrograde experience for some.  I knew it was coming, but still I was surprised when I missed connections on public transit that day.  Mars squaring Venus probably brought up relationship issues for review for many people, especially with Venus still being retrograde in Capricorn.  There even may have been some hurt feelings as a result of it.  It also lent an aura of irritability, impatience and hopefully some creativity.  Today, January 17^th, Mercury in Aquarius sextiles Uranus in Aries and I have high hopes that this aspect will facilitate alignment with our higher mind and provide inspiration.  Not a bad way to start off a long holiday weekend commemorating  Martin Luther King’s birthday, known for his “I have a Dream” speech!