Grasshopper Kung Fu: The Summer Solstice Chart

the balance

Summer Solstice
Sun enters Cancer
Moon in Scorpio
June 21, 1:04am EDT

The Summer Solstice arrives overnight Friday. One of the great hinges of the year, this apex of light in the Northern hemisphere is celebrated as Midsummer––a time of magic, lighthearted fun, and a bit of madness.

Grasshopper time, when fields are green, skies are blue, warm breezes caress the skin, and merriment is rife––like the Saucy Solstice Burlesque Cabaret scheduled for this Sunday in Nottingham, UK.

And why not? What's wrong with forgetting care and having a bit of fun? Nothing, really. Except turning points are just that: Reminders we've reached a culmination and now turn toward something completely different.

In ancient times, the bonfires of Midsummer blazed for protection. Cattle were driven through twin fires to protect them from disease and magical interference. Charms of protection were made, and worn, by those out and about at this thin time of year. Elaine Kalatarian of Blue Moon Astrology has posted a lovely essay exploring these traditions.

The Chinese symbol of yin and yang shows a small dot of white in the black, and likewise black in the white. When we are most deeply in yin, yang is born. When we are most deeply in yang (as we are at Midsummer), the yin of winter begins to stir. Carl Jung pointed this out as well. Each quality, when most in its suchness, potentiates its opposite.

Sometimes, grasshopper behavior is denial. We will not look at what's around the corner, hidden in shadow, down the lane, in back of beyond. We don't want to know.

This year's solstice chart suggests denial will not be a viable option.

The newly-Cancerian Sun triggers the Grand Trine in Water anchored by Neptune in Pisces, Saturn in Scorpio, and Lilith in Cancer. These are oceans of dreams, visions, illusions, the subconscious, our fears and our deepest desires.

Since all three anchors are retrograde, these are deep, deep waters indeed. I picture the Cancer Sun putting a toe in the waves and wanting to pull back. Nope, uh-uh, too cold ... looking around for sunnier playmates.

But with Mercury, Venus and Vesta conjunct in Cancer, and Ceres there as well, the pull of the waves is undeniable. The Scorpio Moon flows easy energy with these four planets in late Cancer. Dreaming will be very strong on this night.

Yet, we're not being drawn into a well of emotion just to wallow about. Signs point to action. 

Mars in grasshopper Gemini might feel ripe for distraction and fun, except he's conjunct Pallas Athena, the ever-cerebral protectress of civilization. And ... hmmm ... Mars is point man for a yod (that awkward, pushy pattern that demands adjustment) with the North Node and Pluto––nothing lighthearted there. Then, wow, the North Node is at the apex of another yod with Mars, Pallas, and Uranus at its base.

Last but never least, Jupiter clings to the end of Gemini, conjunct the Sun and therefore part of the Grand Water Trine. This year, we're meant to think, connect, and act. Get out the swim goggles, pull on the fins. We're heading into deep emotional territory and we're meant to dive in with eyes open for the opportune moment.

If your life feels overfull of challenge and turmoil, remember that Gemini Mars keeps us light on our feet, and possibly light-fingered as well. This is the trickster, the one who dances away from danger with the prize hidden in his pouch.

Think of whistleblowers, of dancers in gas masks, of children speaking up to CEOs of huge corporations. These are the Mercurial heroes and heroines now, the ones seemingly without power who still find a voice and a way to act.

Our lives these days can seem filled with challenge and turmoil. That same Mars catches a square from Chiron, the healer and mentor. What do skillful means look like now? How can we finesse this situation? How can we be both effective and safe?

At the Summer Solstice, we hold this paradox. We celebrate, we sing, we dream ... and we remember those who suffer, we know it's not all fun and games. This knowing brings poignancy, brings depth, and the courage to stand and say yes to the whole catastrophe, YES to life.
    

Good Questions: Listening to the First Quarter Moon

deep listening

First Quarter Moon in Virgo
June 16, 2013 1:24 pm ED

Today's First Quarter square between the Sun and Moon brings BIG energy around communicating with precision, analysis, and possibly excruciating detail. The Moon and Jupiter are conjunct, so if you find yourself talking nonstop, take a deep breath and slow down.

If you find yourself listening to someone else talking nonstop, take a deep breath and tune in to what's being communicated on all levels.

Listening on all levels will be key in the next weeks. Today's Virgo Moon could go with some fairly detailed critiques of what's being said––but Virgo is also a grounded, compassionate healer, with the ability to tune in and really, really listen. So, lose the critical voice and go with deep listening.

Early this morning, Chiron the wounded healer stopped in his tracks and then turned backwards. This is a powerful moment for any planet, and brings focused attention to the idea that sometimes we get hurt. Then, we find that when something bumps up against that old hurt, it hurts again, worse. Ouch.

As we mature, gaining insight along the way, we can get some perspective and learn how to understand and integrate those hurt places. Since the broken places are where the light gets in, those same wounds become sources of healing for ourselves and, potentially, others.

In an intriguing synchronicity, the asteroid Lilith stopped less than half an hour before Chiron, and turned backward in a one-degree trine (easy flowing connection) with Chiron.

Chiron's in Pisces, Lilith is in Cancer. And here's Venus in Cancer just one degree away from Lilith. Mercury, who rules both Gemini (where the Sun and Jupiter are) and Virgo (where the Moon is), sits in Cancer just three degrees on the other side of Venus.

What's coming up includes deep emotions, female power in relationship, sexuality and power, delusions, illusions, Shadow, and how we talk about all that. Yep, the easy stuff (not).

This is the crossroads of what we think we think, what we think we're supposed to feel, and what we actually, really feel deep down. Today's energy could bring up how far apart those are in us, or in those around us.

Response choices includes everything from distraction, denial, dismissal, 'correcting' what is said, to taking that deep breath I mentioned and diving into something way more vulnerable and real. And this can happen with those close to us, or in our own internal dialogue.

We're heading into an intensely emotional and personal time, astrologically, as the Sun and Jupiter prepare to shift into Cancer. Our Cancerian sojourn will include a Mercury retrograde in this sign too, beginning right after the Full Moon. With Neptune and Saturn continuing to flow energy together in Pisces and Scorpio, there's a whole lotta Water goin' on.

At this First Quarter Moon, we're invited to step into this realm of deep feeling with our mind in an open, attentive state. There is much to learn here, much to be healed. There are gifts of depth, insight, creativity, spiritual connection, and relationship.

In the midst of ongoing transformation (ok, yes, also turmoil), stepping into the shadowy spaces of emotion is a good thing. When the mind is running the show, we miss a lot. We're more interested in what we have to say than in listening to what anyone else says. We can fail to ask the right questions.

Today's Moon asks, are we asking good questions, of ourselves, of our loved ones, of our world? And (this is the important part) do we listen to the answer with our hearts as well as our heads?
     

Creating Meaningful Connections: Growing with the Moon

fractal connections

Crescent Moon in Leo
June 12, 2013 2:55 pm EDT

First Quarter Moon in Virgo
June 16, 2013 1:24 pm EDT

Gibbous Moon in Scorpio
June 20, 2013 2:28 pm EDT

Full Moon in Capricorn
June 23, 2013 7:32 am EDT

Today, we rest in a dark moon time after the New Moon.

Seeds in the ground, we've begun a new cycle of growth. Already, we're pushing against the boundaries of our wrappings, sending out rootlets and wondering what lies ahead ... because we can't. quite. see it. (yet)

If you haven't made New Moon wishes, today is perfect. The Moon is strong in her home sign of Cancer, ready to listen and lend her nurturing support. This cycle looks to be busy, with lots of bright energy for getting stuff done, so, best to be prepared and focused!

The Theme for this Waxing Cycle: Making Meaningful Connections

This waxing (growing) lunar cycle began with the New Moon of June 8 and culminates with the Full Moon of June 23. During these next weeks, the Sun remains in Gemini, moving closer and closer to Jupiter, the guy who makes everything bigger, brighter and buzzier.

Mars and Pallas Athena remain together in Gemini too, energizing a connection between thought and action, helping make sure at least some of those ideas lead to something concrete.

LOTS of energy for connecting, communicating, networking, exploring, crafting, brainstorming––and, yes, flirting, laughing, lighthearted trickstering, and getting distracted. At this time of year, playfulness is a good thing! Possibly hard to stay on task, easy to get carried away by whatever arrives in the moment, so keep your goals in mind.

At the Crescent Moon of June 12, the Moon in creative, passionate Leo channels that shiny Gemini into personal expression. Make sure your unfolding intentions reflect your own style, your own heart light.

This cycle is not all about fun, games and butterflies, though. Mercury, ruler of Gemini, has moved into nurturing, emotionally connected Cancer. Venus, Ceres, Vesta and Eris also move through Cancer now. Venus and Mercury, in fact, stay close together throughout this cycle.

This Cancerian energy links our emotional selves into the scintillating thinking of Gemini. We want our connections and communications to reflect our values and feelings. We want to know where home is, to protect what means the most to us. We want to feel safe.

This pulls our attention to meaningful connecting, not simply whatever shows up in our perceptual field. Between now and the Full Moon, pay attention with your inner as well as outer radar.

This is absolutely the time to make new connections––to people, ideas, organizations, projects, whatever––but before allowing yourself to be distracted, check in with how it feels.

Ask: Does this new bright shiny feel right? Is it aligned with my values? Does it resonate with my heart?

This can be a tricky balance, one we'll be exploring. Gemini keeps an open mind, ready to consider any and all possibilities. Cancer is much more reserved, preferring the tried and true. Which makes this cycle a wonderful time to explore our set points and triggers in this area.

Ask: Where do I feel I can boldly go, exploring new areas fearlessly? Where do I feel a need to pull back, stay safe, not take risks? Are those places good for me at this time in my life, or do I need to expand in some areas and maybe pull back in others?

Opportunities for Healing

This is a time for building meaningful connections, not necessarily easy ones. It's true, Gemini tends to prefer easy––and there are other energies out there.

Giving added weight to the realm of emotions, Chiron the wounded healer continues to flow energy to Mercury and Venus during this cycle. So, emotional buttons may get pushed, which opens up opportunities to make internal connections. When we gain new insights into our inner landscape, it releases energy and opens doors.

And then, we've got Saturn in Scorpio and Neptune in Pisces continuing to flow energy together. They will be players in the coming Full Moon, so don't count them out. (Actually, never count Saturn out, and keep an eye on what Neptune's up to as well.)

These two, Saturn and Neptune, will make sure we don't stay in shallow waters too long. Scorpionic Saturn pulls us deep within. Cosmic Neptune expands our connections outward.

At the First Quarter Moon of June 16, the Moon in Virgo asks whether we're paying attention. If we've become too distracted from important goals, this Moon will gently guide us back. Well, she can be gentle. If the inner critic pipes up, move to a more compassionate place as you refocus.

By the time we reach the Gibbous Moon of June 20, the mood could feel a bit more serious. The Moon's in Scorpio and she's tightly conjunct the North Node, the path into the future, the place we all have approach-avoidance issues with.

The Gibbous Moon will be a checkpoint. Are we on track, on task, moving in a good direction? Where are we missing important stuff? Look into Shadow for the answer to this, because Scorpio is all about the things we'd rather not see.

The lightheartedness of Gemini is still around, still potent. We're reminded of the old stories in which a bit of humor, some trickery, clever strategy at the opportune moment, were what saved the day.

If we've made those meaningful connections, within and without, we'll be ready.

A Serious Supermoon

When the Full Moon arrives, she'll be in pragmatic, serious-minded Capricorn. This Full Moon of June 23 will be a Supermoon, the largest of this year. She's be at her closest point to Earth, looming large in the Summer sky.

Arriving just after the Summer Solstice, this Full Moon is a yin reminder in the midst of high summer yang. Winter will come. We can't be grasshoppers all the time. I'll be writing more about the Solstice and the Full Moon, so this is just an early head's up: Gather ye rosebuds!

We're in summer now. It's good to kick back, relax, vacation, celebrate. It's wonderful to explore, connect, and communicate. And we remember this season is one turn in an ongoing spiral. We remember who we are, where we're heading, and what we need.

This cycle is about the balance between the serious and the playful, the inner and the outer, the bright and shiny and deep and shadowy. We celebrate them all!