Take a look up at the sky. What do you see? If the night sky is clear, you’ll see the Moon and stars. In the morning sky, you may catch a glimpse of Venus. In the evening, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are visible.

Humans have watched the planets traverse the sky for millennia. It’s in our blood. Over time, people from many different cultures have noticed and catalogued a correlation between planetary phenomena and worldly events. Astrology is the art of applying this ancient wisdom to our world today.

Our forebears taught us that certain aspects (angular alignments of planets in the sky) tend to show up at times of difficulty here on earth. Others signal harmony and ease, things falling into place— an interplanetary “kiss!” Like our ancestors, we can watch these signs of the times to anticipate events in our world. These events are like the weather— the same for everyone, regardless of your sign. Even more insight can be had by analyzing the relationship of this changing sky with your birth chart.

But the planets impel; they do not compel. Life is part fate, part free will. This is where astrology is so useful— knowing the “lay of the land” gives you a huge advantage when you’re making decisions and scheduling important events.

June 1-3

The first couple of days of June are pretty easygoing except for a jumpy sesquisquare between Mars and Uranus. Be a little extra careful in traffic. There are two planets at the end of their signs, Mars and Mercury. This suggests that we’re wrapping up loose ends from some old matter, and getting ready to start something new. The waxing Moon supports our developing and growing outward from the roots we established and nourished in the last two weeks of May.

On Saturday morning, Mercury moves from thinky, talky Gemini to emotional, feely Cancer. This is symbolic of our minds shifting from the realm of ideas, to a more emotional place. It’s time to tune into the emotional currents in your work and business, as feelings will affect people’s decisions and purchases this month and next.

Aslan is on the move

Saturday afternoon, Mars exits Cancer and pushes forth into regal Leo, where he will stay until late July. This is a good transition. You can think about planets in astrology as characters in a play, and the Zodiac signs as the costumes they wear. Mars in Cancer has G.I. Joe in a nurse’s uniform, performing a mothering, care taking role. Uncomfortable, touchy. And when Mars is uncomfortable, our physical energy is lower than usual. As Mars enters Leo, it’s time for a costume change. Rock star! Aslan, the gentle yet awe-inspiring lion king. Father, protector. Yes, that’s better.

The Gambler

As Mars enters Leo, he brings the count of planets in fixed signs up to five. That’s a lot of fixed energy! Fixed signs indicate deeply held convictions, and the energy is slow moving, but good for building things that are stable and permanent. Fixed signs have stamina. But fixed energy can also signal stuck feelings, stubbornness and rigidity. You need to know when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em, especially if you have planets in the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) in your birth chart. And pay special attention when the Moon moves through a fixed sign in the sky.

June 4-7

Yet the weekend still packs a serious vibe, maybe even gloomy. Venus entered her home sign, Taurus, in late May. On Sunday, she meets up with Saturn in a challenging square. The Sun squares electric Uranus as well, bringing an element of shock and surprise to the picture. Keep things simple this Sunday. Caution lights are on around relationships. This is not the time to try to change someone’s mind.

Illustration

Meanwhile, Jupiter over on the other side of the sky in Scorpio is getting close to a square to Saturn, which will be exact on June 22. As Venus moves through this incoming square, Sunday through Wednesday, she plucks its strings, bringing it into play, especially in the areas of love, money, and beauty— Venus’s domain. With Jupiter and Saturn involved, we may swing between confident optimism and pessimistic negativity. The trick is to find a balance. Be aware of your own and other people’s limitations, and be practical as you work toward your vision, but don’t lose your faith.

One of the downsides of Venus in Taurus is accumulation of material things. My own downfall is books. I am constantly buying books. But do I constantly read books? No! Even though I get so much benefit when I do sit down and focus on one book for an extended time, I tend to be more of a skimmer. The message I am getting from this Jupiter-Saturn square, particularly as Venus in Taurus gets involved is, focus on effectively using the resources you have, rather than acquisition. This week, ask yourself what you have accumulated but not appreciated. Maybe it’s books, or clothes, or plants, or power tools, or underutilized talent in the workplace. Quality, not quantity.

June 8-13

The energy shifts pretty quickly as several trines form in the sky. Trines signal harmony, compatibility, removal of obstacles. On June 8, Mercury trines Jupiter, and attitudes are more optimistic, people are more agreeable and in the mood for adventure. Both planets are in intuitive water signs, a signal that we all tend to be more aware of our own emotional temperature, and sensitive to others’.

On Friday the 9th, the Moon is Void of Course all day. It’s a drifty, spacey day, made for getting organized and performing routine tasks, not for complex meetings and decisions. Save the important stuff for Monday if you can.

Sag

The weekend looks splendid, with the Sun, Venus, and Mercury all in happy relationship with other planets. The Sun trines creative, intuitive Neptune, while Venus sextiles Uranus, signalling excitement and pleasant surprises.

A Full Moon in Sagittarius Sunday night is a good time to take aim— focus on your goals and visions, those things you would like to bring into your life. While the Sun is in Gemini, we tend to focus on the details, the “how” of what we are doing. The Full Moon in Sag awakens us to the “why” and asks that we tune into our innate wisdom deep within. With Pluto moving through the late degrees of Sag, many of the whys have changed in the past ten years. We are no longer satisfied with “just because” or other surface explanations that leave us feeling hungry.

Monday morning, the Moon enters hardworking Capricorn, and Mercury trines inventive Uranus. It’s the best day of all for taking care of important business and solving complex problems. Tuesday morning also looks good, until the Moon goes Void of Course at 12:50 pm ET.

June 14-22

On Wednesday, Venus in Taurus squares idealistic Neptune. Stay grounded, and hold on to your money. It’s a dreamy day, a day made for imagination and creativity. But it’s easy to mistake your creations for reality, and disappointing when you realize you have. Thursday and Friday, the Sun opposes powerful and uncompromising Pluto. There’s an awareness of the currents of power with this pair, an emotional current (almost obsessive) that draws us in deeply to look at the reasons behind the reasons. You can channel this energy and use it to create something transformative and healing, or uncompromising, dark and destructive.

Happy Father’s Day? Well, that depends. Mars and Saturn meet up in Leo, the sign of the father. Mars is action, speed, desire. Saturn is limitations, responsibility, results of past actions. It’s like having one foot on the gas and one on the brake. Sounds frustrating doesn’t it? And dangerous— take things slow, and don’t take chances with safety this weekend. And join me in sending a prayer out to all who are affected by war at this time. Jupiter’s also in the picture (Mars touches the Jupiter Saturn square).

This is one of those times when, more than ever, we need to apply a reality check to guard against overconfidence. A happy-go-lucky attitude can cost you. Instead of jumping in impatiently, spend time connecting with your Source, that inner wisdom that shapes your ethics and guides you to your goals. For bonus points, help others do the same. A new Lunar cycle begins next week, and it’s time to think ahead, make plans, and clear the way for a new flurry of activity.

The first day of Winter!

Don’t forget the Solstice on June 21. No, I don’t live in the southern hemisphere. My friend Judith says she considers the day of the Winter Solstice to be the first day of Summer, so she has something to look forward to. Same for the Summer Solstice. The days are getting shorter, so… happy first day of Winter, everyone!

June 23-30

Phew! That was intense, wasn’t it. Things are mellowing out now that the Jupiter-Saturn square has passed, Mars has moved away from the square, and Venus moves from fixed Taurus into mutable Gemini on Friday evening, moving the relationship vibe to a more flexible, adaptable place.

A New Moon in Cancer on Sunday afternoon draws our attention to home and family matters, and gets the ball rolling on new projects. Cancer is a proactive cardinal sign, a builder who is primarily concerned with creating security, safety and emotional well being. Cancer governs the stomach, so it’s time to pay attention to your diet, and the ways you are caring (or not caring) for your physical being.

If you want to be ahead of the game, back up your computer and get your car in shape this week. Then you’ll be ready for Mercury retrograde, which begins on July 4 and lasts for three weeks.

The end of the month is upbeat, with the Sun in an easygoing trine with lucky Jupiter on Friday evening.

Mark your calendar!

The best days for your highest priority plans are June 8, 10, 12, 30.
Take it easy on June 4, 6, 14, 16-22, 26-29.

Stevie says, “relax!”
Stevie relaxing

Molly Cliborne