The Wheel of Light
Monthly Newsletter - June 2016
Two significant astrological events take place this month. One is very challenging, the other very interesting and potentially extremely significant.
The first takes place the first two weeks of June, when the Sun, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune align in a major aspect pattern called a Grand Square. All these planets are in mutable signs. The good news about the mutable signs is that they are primarily oriented toward learning, and comfortable with being adaptable and changing both behavior and mind based on new knowledge. The bad news is that they can lose their center quickly. The challenges of the Grand Square can cause endless changes that have no focus or direction.
The mutable signs function best when working within a system. This could be an academic system. For example, the Sun and Venus are in Gemini and Saturn is in Sagittarius, signs that are primarily focused on learning and sharing knowledge. It could also be a practical system such as the building trades or health maintenance (Jupiter is in Virgo). It could also be a system that is oriented toward service in some way (Neptune in is Pisces). If we are connected to at least one such system, we will be better able to withstand the challenges of the Grand Square to the point of actually developing both our awareness and functionality.
The main problem with Grand Squares in general is that we are confronted with multiple energies coming at us simultaneously from different points of our lives. For example, Jupiter in Virgo might focus on a detailed way of solving a problem and being quite discerning or critical in the process. Neptune in Pisces wants us to open our hearts in the spirit of humanitarian compassion and work to heal pain and suffering for all. Saturn in Sagittarius can be either disciplined or dogmatic in striving to understand both the big picture concept as well as the deeper meaning of something. The Sun and Venus in Gemini can be comfortable with all these activities but fail to grasp any at a deep or practical level. Our challenge in early month is to remain open and aware. Integrating the new awareness with previous knowledge and applying new understanding to our lives in ways that make us both more affective in our own lives as well as being of service to others.
The second astrological event this month is the Summer Solstice, which takes place on Monday June 20. The Solstice takes place annually and as a "cardinal point" of the year brings a new season and a shift in energy and focus. What makes this year's Solstice more profound is that the full Moon takes place on the same day. We might assume that this alignment can bring focused and clearly defined energies because, at the time of a full Moon, the Sun and Moon are always in opposite signs. However, the full Moon takes place at 4:02 AM PDT, while the Sun is still in Gemini. The Moon enters Capricorn at 4:55 AM PDT. The Solstice, when the Sun actually enters Cancer, is at 3:34 PM PDT. Even though these two events take place within 12 hours of each other, four signs are involved. This might scatter the energies more than focus them, but these events can also help to exacerbate the influence of the Grand Square, even though the latter will be mostly done by the 20th.
The "cardinal points" of the year are the Solstices and Equinoxes, the times of year when the seasons change. They mark the Sun at its northern most (summer Solstice) or southern most (winter Solstice) or when it crosses the equator and changes hemispheres (the Equinoxes). They initiate a flow of energy that will last for the next 3 months. So here we have a complex cardinal point following a complex alignment involving 5 planets. This suggests that the summer is not going to be a comfortable time of easily predictable events. The political party conventions and the ensuing presidential campaigns come to mind as events that might continue or exaggerate the chaos and extreme statements, policies, personalities and events that highlighted the primary season. Climate change could also prove more extreme and rapid than previously anticipated.
The bottom line, however, is how you and I are going to negotiate this energetic terrain. The past few months I made suggestions in this column to prioritize spiritual discipline and work to integrate your philosophy of life with a clearly analyzed sense of purpose. If you have been utilizing those suggestions you might find this month to be a time of heightened insights, realizations and motivations. If you haven't been doing these or similar activities, the energies this month provide more time, and greater urgency, to get on board. Big changes are happening in the world, and they will continue. The most expansive and positive way we can work with the energies this month is to use them for self-understanding and personal growth. Finding our unique place in the universal scheme of things can provide us with both clarity and motivation to increase the quality of our own being even as we make more concrete, relevant contributions to the world in which we live.
Aries (March 21-April 20)
Aries: Your ruling planet, Mars, turns direct on the 29th. Normal energy levels will start to return from that point, but slowly. Be patient in initiating new projects you have been researching or planning the past 3 months.
Taurus (April 21-May 21)
Taurus: The early month Grand Square could bring challenges to allocation of resources. Take some time to filter new information, before updating your values about what has meaning in your life. Shifts in spending, savings and investment patterns, regardless of the commodity, take place from that point on.
Gemini (May 22-June 21)
Gemini: Challenges coming from partnership, family or career could confront you from mid-month on. Growth comes from being flexible in adapting to new circumstances. Not so flexible, however, that you feel as if your life is spinning out of your control. Contemplation and discrimination should precede decision and action.
Cancer (June 22-July 22)
Cancer: The full Moon at the Solstice can provide clarity about your emotional needs in a relationship. This could be accompanied by realizing behavioral changes that must occur in order to increase your level of fulfillment. Now is a good time to let others know who you are.
Leo (July 23-August 23)
Leo: The Grand Square in early month could bring challenges socially, emotionally and financially. Growth comes from not responding defensively. This is more about adjusting to changing circumstances than to anything overly personal. That being said, proceed with an open mind with the willingness to change behaviors that aren't working.
Virgo (August 24-Sept 22)
Virgo: Early month could bring an information overload about primary parts of your life, from home, to relationship to work. Before making any changes, however, filter the new data so that you put yourself first. Once you understand how you are being impacted, the direction of change becomes clearer.
Libra (Sept 23-Oct 23)
Libra: This is a good time to open your mind to new concepts. These could be scientific, metaphysical or ways in which you could be of service to others. Growth for you comes from taking the new information and applying it in practical ways. Limits and boundaries when helping others are part of the growth.
Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22)
Scorpio: Circumstances at work may bump you from a comfort zone and challenge you to do things in new ways. If you resist the changes, they could actually get more extreme and less comfortable. Embracing them could bring unexpected inspiration and innovative ways to get things done.
Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 21)
Sagittarius: There have been two full Moons in Sagittarius two months in a row. This is extremely rare. This may have forced you to be more aware of your feelings than you normally are. You may also feel confronted by others to be more expressive about emotions. Growth for you comes from opening those inner doors, both to yourself and in sharing your self with others.
Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 20)
Capricorn: Feelings of confusion that may have existed for several months may seem to peak this month. A way out can be to further develop your sense of discernment and selectivity about what to do and the priorities to do them. Integrating left brain understanding with right brain wisdom can provide useful clarity and unexpected understanding.
Aquarius (Jan 21 to Feb 19)
Aquarius: Unexpected information could cause you to rethink a course of action, particularly in the professional arena. Review, research and planning strategy should precede new actions or new directions. This is not a time for moving ahead, but, rather to think about where you are and how you got there.
Pisces (Feb 20-March 20)
Pisces: From mid-month until mid-Fall is a good time for you to rely upon your intuition for guidance and clarity of action. Feeling more connected to the inner self through yoga, meditation, dreams or the arts is a good way to enhance the transcendent connection.
Rio Olesky has been a professional astrologer since 1976. He is the author of A Manual for the Modern Mystic and Astrology and Consciousness. He offers both private readings as well as classes for both beginning and intermediate students. To make an appointment for a reading or to find out more information about classes and lectures, call Rio at 707-887-1820. Check out his website: www.starwatcher.com.