Current Transits for June 2010 Current Transits for June 2010Here's some of the important astrological news this month ...
Chiron Retrograde Station at 0Pi59, 6-4
Jupiter enters Aries, 6-6
Mars enters Virgo, 6-7
Ceres reenters Sagittarius, 6-7
Jupiter Conjunct Uranus at 0Ar17, 6-8
Juno enters Cancer, 6-8
New Moon at 21Gm23, 6-12
Jupiter Semisextile Chiron, 6-13
Pallas Direct Station at 4Sc08, 6-24
Full Moon / Partial Lunar Eclipse at 4Cp46, 6-26
Saturn Quincunx Neptune, 6-27
An online ephemeris for the month is available.
If you liked May, you're going to love June. For the rest of us, gear up for a long, demanding, high powered month that gives us little time to sit back and catch our breath. Except for a few days here and there, June looks like one long, overwhelming planetary storm brought to you by the same outer planet configurations that powered much of May. Basically, the opposition of Jupiter-Uranus across the sky from Saturn, with help from Neptune and Chiron and a parade of faster moving planets, rules the scene yet again. Especially now that Uranus is firmly in Aries (soon followed by Jupiter on the 6th), life goes into overdrive. My early impressions of this Uranus in Aries energy is that it's fast paced, highly dynamic and a lot more fun than the old Pisces energy, but only if you are adept at handling the high voltage Uranus vibration. He's a Trickster and an iconoclast, with little concern for the way things used to be once he gets focused on a new and different way of doing things. He'll be bringing out the rebel and outsider in us all over the summer. Unfortunately, all too few people are really expert at handling such a revolutionary tendency. I suspect it will also bring out a lot of unthinking anger and resentment, bringing all the contradictions of our thinking to the surface. (The political fallout from the Gulf oil spill are a handy barometer of how screwed up people's perspectives can become.) There is plenty of astrological news to discuss this month, so we'll be kept very busy. Further, we are heading into an eclipse season, with the full moon on the 26th being a hefty partial lunar eclipse with lots of Pluto overtones. (The July 11 new moon is a total solar eclipse, with the 4th of July squarely in the middle.) Get ready for a bumpy ride!
There's plenty of news to talk about in June: 4 sign changes, 3 "big aspects" and a pair of stations , plus the full moon is an eclipse. Let's dig in...
Chiron reaches its retrograde station of 0Pi59 on the 4th, starting 5 months of backwards motion. It backs up to 26Aq04 by Nov 5 before going direct again. One of the more useful metaphors I use to understand Chiron is the "psychic closet", that place deep in the back of the psyche where a person stuffs all the parts of themselves that don't meet the approval of others. We all have things we want to keep hidden from others, things that eat away at our pride and self-confidence, not to mention the ego's need to look good. The closet starts to fill up early in childhood and by middle age the door is bursting off its hinges. It's usually not until the second half of life that one gets around to gingerly opening the door and seeing what's still in there. The surprise is that it's not all bad in there. In fact, some of our best traits that contribute to our individuality have been stored away in an effort to fit into the social roles we thought were important. Chiron retrograde cycles are generally a great time to open the closet, start taking things out, dust off what is useful and have a good chuckle over what we've outgrown. This year is perhaps more important than most years, since Chiron is dancing back and forth across the Aquarius-Pisces border. Not only are our ideas and plans up for revision, but its time to look at the deeper emotional issues that shape us. Pisces helps us overcome the boundaries that divide us, the fears that separate us. We're not so different as we believe. Curiously, Chiron entered Pisces on Apr 20, the day the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded. Perhaps by the station we'll get some good news about taming the oil leak under the Gulf or else learn how bad it really is.
Jupiter moves from Pisces into Aries on the 6th. Due to an upcoming retrograde cycle, he'll return to Pisces one last time on Sep 8 and only move into Aries for good on 2011-1-22 for a 5 month stay. Although Jupiter is technically "at home" in Pisces (he used to rule this sign), it can often sap his strength and prevent him from operating effectively. There's something passive and unfocused about Pisces which keeps Jupiter from shining. Aries is another matter! The natural optimism and enthusiasm of Jupiter seems to thrive well in this sign of dynamism and directness. Granted, due to his dance across the border, it will take some time to settle into Aries, but this placement is often an extremely useful time to start new projects that may take years to complete. There's a "get up and go!" attitude at work, plus the urge to expand and make new contacts with the world is emphasized. And if nothing else, life just seems more exciting and enjoyable now. Your situation may be more chaotic than usual, due to Jupiter's connection with Uranus these days -- it's certainly not boring. Take advantage of this burst of constructive energy!
Mars shifts from Leo into Virgo on the 7th. He'll stay in this sign until Jul 29, when he enters Libra. Due to a retrograde cycle, Mars has been in Leo for a long time, since last October. Although Mars enjoys the flashy Leo, the sign where the ego shines, it's actually a relief when he moves into Virgo. Mars is a warrior, a "get it done and think about it later" kind of guy. Brute force without forethought doesn't work so well with Virgo. She demands that actions be performed with skill, discipline and awareness. She prefers to think through her course of action ahead of time instead of just barging in. This kind of discipline and patience is actually very helpful to Mars in the long run, as it makes him more effective and less destructive. The analogy I often use for this placement is that its the difference between a martial arts master and a drunken bar room brawler. Use this time to refine your efforts, so you get the best results for the least effort. It may not sound like the macho thing to do, but it works surprisingly well.
Ceres retrogrades from Capricorn into Sagittarius on the 7th. She will remain here until Oct 8, when she returns to Capricorn for 3 months (until 2011-1-3). Ceres the Great Mother is in an extended dance between Sagittarius and Capricorn this year, just out of the reach of Pluto's arms. These are some funny signs for Ceres to hang out in, but somehow it works out. I often visualize Ceres as the web of connections each of us has with all the other living beings in your world, both your support network and the people who in turn depend on you. In these signs, these connections take on a larger social dimension. Especially in Sag, Ceres shows you how both your dependencies and your responsibilities extend far beyond your own backyard. Your life has ripples that reach out and affect people you've never even met. (Capricorn is more concerned with working out the nuts and bolts of these connections, making society work as a whole.) For good measure, the Galactic Center, a symbol of how we belong to the universe, not just the earth, is right in the middle of this retrograde zone. Yes, our lives have repercussions, more than we can possibly imagine. It's time to take such a spiritual responsibility seriously.
Jupiter is conjunct Uranus at 0Ar17 on the 8th, the first of 3 such contacts in coming months. The other contacts will be on Sep 18 and 2011-1-4. First of all, we are ending a cycle that began 14 years ago (1997-2-15) during a massive planetary storm and outer planet dance I dubbed the Grand FInale -- much like what we are seeing now. That conjunction, in Aquarius, proceeded to overhaul our mental/intellectual lives, with a massive boost from all the computer technology that has transformed everyday life during this cycle. The current conjunction in Aries and Pisces, has a different focus. While Jupiter and Uranus both have a strong mental, intuitive streak, I suspect the whole mental paradigms and technology focus of the previous cycle is more muted this time around. Aries is more a sign of action than thinking and planning, a desire to make a tangible impact on the world around you rather than just doing so in your imagination. Yes this is a revolutionary energy that can remake the world, but such changes have to be intelligently and wisely chosen and pursued. Change simply for change's sake, while it may appeal to an emotional level of the mass mind, is exactly not what this aspect promotes. While we have responsibilities for society at large, we need to do so from a position of all our individualized wisdom and insight. Conventional thinking is the problem, not the solution. Exercise your freedom to really think for yourself for a change...
Juno leaves Gemini and heads into Cancer on the 8th. She'll stay in this sign until Aug 2, when she moves into Leo. Juno is the queen of relationships and partnerships. She's motivated by the need to be loved, cared for, respected and treated as an equal; she's more than willing to return the favor. However, when faced with a relationship that doesn't live up to this ideal, she can turn decidedly jealous and bitchy, looking for revenge and a place to vent her rage. It's always best to stay on her good side. In Cancer, she wants to make home and family a refuge from the outer world, a place where she can relax and be herself, safe in the understanding that her loved ones are on her side. Of course, few homes are this ideal. Juno can put up with a little trouble in her castle, but if home is an emotional battleground, it brings out her worst. Deep down, we all want to love and be loved. Open up your heart to this level of trust and commitment, no matter how great a challenge it may be. It's worth the effort...
The new moon chart is quite a powerhouse. Between Saturn opposite Jupiter-Uranus and Juno opposite Pluto-Ceres, we have a wide (a 7 degree spread), but very influential Grand Cross. As you go around the chart, you see that nearly every planet is closely tied into this Cross pattern, which amps up its energy considerably, not to mention the complexity of how it affects us. The only holdouts are the Sun and Moon -- curiously, the new moon is the weakest point in the chart.
It's really hard to say where to start with this chart, as it has so many intriguing features. As I've mentioned several times already, we're in one of those rare times when all the outer planets, the carriers of high spiritual forces that emerge from unconscious levels, are working as a group. This has a marked, but dimly understood (for most people) influence that pervades all our actions. Life seems a bit freer, more lively, but also more "crazy" and hard to understand. You can be filled with great enthusiasm to accomplish big things these days, but the distractions and detours in daily life can be even more powerful. Make sure your actions are practical and easily implemented -- think big, but act in baby steps. It's a good time to coordinate your plans with other people who have similar goals. Working together amplifies all our efforts. Be aware, however, that cooperation can be quickly derailed by misunderstandings or hidden assumptions if you're not clear with others. Now that Mars is in Virgo (opposite Neptune and Chiron), it's important to work smarter, not harder. Neptune has the tendency to be a drain on Mars, scattering his strength and focus. You may run into some important lessons in how you sabotage your own efforts along the way. And yet, all this energy is essentially cut off from the new moon itself. It's almost as if there's so much buzzing energy flying all around us, but somehow we're out of touch with it. We feel the crazy, out of control part of it, but we can't figure out how to make it work for us. You have to work diligently with this chart to get the most from it. If you just let events evolve on their own, it'll be exciting, but it won't reflect what you want to happen. Don't be left behind...
Jupiter is semisextile Chiron on the 13th for the first of 3 contacts. The next contacts are Oct 5 and 2011-1-12. This semisextile is the first milestone in the cycle of these two planets that began a year ago (as part of the Neptune Knot phenomenon) and lasts until 2023, so we're still trying to figure out what this cycle means for us. Since Jupiter is about reaching out to the world around us, while Chiron is concerned with where we experience limitations, I suspect this aspect deals with some tentative attempts to come out of your shell and join the larger party. Jupiter in Aries is certainly gung-ho to make some new contacts, but Chiron in Pisces is more prone to be a bit fearful or anxious about trying something new and untested. Semisextiles are by and large rather constructive, so it makes sense to set aside your reservations and give it a try.
Pallas hits her direct station of 4Sc08 on the 24th. She has been backing up since her retrograde station of 23Sc02 back on Mar 14. Pallas is first of all a highly mental-intuitive lady, a masterful planner and also a bit of an artist. Normally her interests are in the outer world, but during her retrograde cycles, her vision is turned inward instead. As with retrograde cycles in general, it's not uncommon for the normal abilities of a planet to fail us and show us some unexpected problems. This has been a time when intuition may not work as well as usual and shows some limitations. Since the cycle has been entirely in Scorpio, unconscious emotional issues may be clouding her vision. This can be turned to advantage if channeled into some kind of artistic endeavor. Now that she's turning around and moving forward again, the fog should be slowly lifting. Put her inspiration to good use during this last pass through Scorpio in coming months.
Coming off the big Koz Quake, here's a chart to pay attention to! First of all, this is a partial lunar eclipse, making it stronger than the average full moon. Even more importantly, the Moon is exactly conjunct Pluto just before she dips into the dark part of the earth's shadow, so there's a pronounced Pluto vibration to this eclipse. The Grand Cross plus friends is as loud as ever. However, unlike the new moon, this time the Sun, Moon and Mercury are part of the Cross, while Venus and Mars are on the sidelines.
(Incidentally, if you get up before sunrise and look to the southwest, you might catch some of the early parts of the eclipse. The show is much better on the west coast, but you need to be out in the Pacific to get the full show.)
Astrologers have been talking about the big, nasty Grand Cross coming up this summer for months now. I presume that this eclipse chart is the clue that the Cross is in its prime. Yes, there's a lot of heavy duty planets tied together by difficult squares and oppositions. Yes, Pluto is making a comeback after being fairly quiet since early April. Life is more challenging than it usually is, but that's no excuse to head for the storm shelter. Take some precautions and keep your goals modest. Realize that some situations you may be trying to promote have been chosen by Pluto for elimination from your life instead, so if it gets too hard to hold them together, consider letting go instead. The full moon axis (which includes Pluto) touches the US Venus, as it has since Obama was inaugurated, so we're slugging through some national karma as well and not just on the economic front. On the other hand, Jupiter and Uranus are at least as significant as Pluto is and their energies are much lighter and constructive in nature. The Sun and Moon are engaged this time around, while Mercury (the thinking mind) is working at full speed. There are as many good things about this chart as there are problems, so don't freak out about it. If you behave cautiously, patiently and with our eyes wide open, you'll get through fine. Keep in mind, as is standard with any eclipse, that these times have long term repercussions, with ripples that last for 6-12 months easily. Check where in your own chart the eclipse degree falls -- that house will give you some clues about where the impact is greatest in your life. Be smart about things...
Saturn is quincunx Neptune on the 27th. This is the last of 3 such contacts, with previous contacts on 2009-9-12 and 2010-5-2. The first contact in this series is another throw back to the Neptune Knot energies. Also, Saturn and Neptune never really separated after their contact in May (maybe a degree from exactitude at most), so these latter contacts bleed into each other into a 3 month event. Saturn, of course, is our connection to concrete reality, the way we ground ourselves in the here and now. Neptune is much more of a Dreamer, living in a mythic world that he is constantly trying to make real. These planets, as totally different as they are, need each other to operate effectively. The creative imagination needs to be grounded in reality if it's going to make a difference, while the Realist in us needs to loosen up and dream a little to stay fresh and alive. Quincunxes are not known for smooth cooperation, however. If I had to call it, I'd say that the mass mind is becoming increasingly ungrounded, especially when personal impressions substitute for cold, hard facts. But as we've been learning about Neptune, what we believe (even if we don't know it) becomes our new world. The inner world of the psyche has a potent creative ability to shape the outer world. It is our responsibility to be as clear and realistic about our ideals and expectations so we create the best world possible. Look at the news and see what humanity is creating on a daily basis -- we can do better...