Monday 6/17/2024: Sneak Peek at the Week; Neptune, Summer Solstice & More

Alllrighty then!

Imagine a big ocean liner making a turn in heavy fog. That’s an apt metaphor for this week’s planetary patterns. Neptune is in challenging aspect with Venus, Mercury, and the Sun through Thursday. Neptune refers to ideals, drugs, dreams and fog. Venus refers to money, values, and social expression. Mercury refers to how we need to think. Sun refers to leaders and ego expression. The “turning point” part of the metaphor refers to Thursday’s solstice, as the Sun leaves Gemini for Cancer, and the wheel turns from one season to another.

Highlights this week:

• Venus enters Cancer on Monday
• Mercury squares Neptune on Monday
• Mercury enters Cancer on Monday
• Sun squares Neptune on Thursday
• Sun enters Cancer on Thursday
• Mercury sextiles Mars on Friday
• Full Moon in Capricorn on Friday

It goes like this:

• MONDAY: Moon entered Scorpio at 2:37 AM ET. seeking to consolidate knowledge for the sake of power and control, perhaps ruthlessly so. If you woke up in a fog this morning, you can cite the Mercury-Neptune square, exact at 3:40 AM ET. That was sandwiched in between two “wobbles,” astrologer Rockie Gardiner’s term for a planet’s change of sign. She would advise LA Weekly and Village Voice readers to note the potential need for adjustment, and to be patient in matters symbolized by the wobbling planet.  Thus, I’m passing that advice on to you.  Venus and Mercury left Gemini for Cancer, at 2:20 AM ET and 5:06 AM ET, respectively. They meet up at 0 Cancer — the Aries Point — demanding our attention at 8:42 AM ET. Perhaps we will hear nurturing news about money, women, mothering, food, and home security. With Mercury now in Cancer, thoughts and communication are more likely to stem from intuition and emotion, as opposed to Gemini’s preferred airy, analytical approach. Mercury-Venus at 0 Cancer activates the horoscopes of Adam Schiff and Elizabeth Warren, who both have Sun at 0 Cancer. So does Prince William. We’ll probably hear from Barack Obama today or tomorrow, given that his Venus is at 1 Cancer.
• MONDAY:  The Scorpio Moon’s need for power and control is supercharged by a square to Pluto, exact at 5:54 AM ET. Moon’s next stop is an opposition to Mars at 3:10 PM ET, and with Mars in Taurus, neither side in any real-life opposition may be inclined to give an inch. Here’s an apt headline for this morning’s patterns.“Benjamin Netanyahu dissolves Israeli war cabinet. Move is apparent rebuff to far right and attempt to tighten grip on decision-making over Hamas and Hezbollah”   “Dissolves”is such a Neptune word!
• TUESDAY: Moon in Scorpio travels without interference after Monday’s Mars opposition, giving it 25 hours to “run wild” on its mission to tighten its grip on the mental processes (e.g., information and decision-making). The only exact aspect today is Moon’s trine to Saturn at 4:10 PM ET, supporting whatever idealistic, sublime or surreal structuring plan may be in the offering.  Note the potential for a surprise upset around 3:24 AM ET on…
• WEDNESDAY: …as Moon opposes rebel Uranus. The dust settles, and troubled waters may be calmed — or put to sleep — by Moon’s easy alignment with Neptune at 12:19 PM ET. At 12:31 PM ET, Moon shift gears, now free to spout its mouth off righteously in Sagittarius. Get out of that state you’re in; go for walk in nature or take in a foreign film. Depth is given to the debate around 3:32 PM ET, as Moon sextiles Pluto. Boundaries are further pushed in the evening, as Moon opposes Jupiter at 11:21 PM ET. Expansion and exuberance, for better or worse, can be yours.
• THURSDAY. There are no exact lunar aspects today. Moon in Sagittarius can run wild with its gambols and gambles, and who knows what to believe. The surreal and/or sublime headlines, especially involving leaders of business and state, reflect the Sun’s square to Neptune, exact at 2:12 PM ET.  Headlines from past Sun-Neptune squares are here and here.  You are more personally affected by the Sun-Neptune square if you have planets or angles at the verrry end of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces or the very beginning of Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn.  Cue the Usual Suspects now, please: Liz Cheney, King Charles, Ted Cruz, Barack Obama, President Biden, Rudy Giuliani — this is off the top of my head.
• THURSDAY: At 4:50 PM ET, summer officially begins in the Northern Hemisphere, as the Sun enters Cancer.

Here’s what you need to know about the first day of any season  — i.e., equinoxes and solstices — from an astrological point of view. The first days of Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter correspond with the first day (or first degree) of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn, respectively (there are thirty degrees in each sign of the zodiac). Got that? Good. (This is for the Northern Hemisphere. The Southern Hemisphere has different rules).

These four signs are called cardinal signs. Cardinal signs initiate. They come up with the idea and put it into action, which leads to necessary change. “Cardinal” suggests (from the Latin root of the word), “that on which something turns or depends.”  So the first day/degree of a Cardinal sign is a turning point. In astrology, the technical term for the first degree of any Cardinal sign is the “Aries Point,” just to confuse people who are not professional astrologers. In other words, the first day of Cancer, Libra, Capricorn and Aries is the Aries Point. The first day of Taurus (and the rest of the signs) is NOT at the Aries Point). Clear?

Equinoxes and solstices are also prominent. We make a fuss over them, right? In Japan, the first day of each season is actually a national holiday. How cool is that? Thus, in a horoscope, a planet or angle at the Aries Point needs to be prominent.

A person born with the Sun in Cancer is here to create and maintain emotional security. Cancer is ruled by the Moon, which changes signs faster than any other celestial body. Moon refers to emotional response; thus, Cancers have a rep for being moody. The keywords for Cancer are: I FEEL. If you are a Cancer born on the last day of the sign, my money says you’ll be feeling a lot by August, as transiting Pluto returns to challenge — and hopefully, empower — you until Thanksgiving. Maybe you’d like to talk about it with your astrologer.

Here is the chart for the Summer Solstice, set in Washington, D.C.

Observations:

• Sun is in the 8th house; Moon is in the 2nd house. We see a focus in the U.S. on matters of mine-mine-mine vs. ours-ours-ours.
• Moon’s next aspect is a square to Saturn, suggesting cuts and losses; sobering reality checks.
• For a review of more of what the U.S. can expect to experience in this astrological year, check out the chart for the Aries Ingress.

Back to the forecast:

• FRIDAY: Moon’s wild ride in Sagittarius may hit a speed bump around 12:07 AM ET, as Moon squares Saturn. Not to be derailed so quickly, Moon continues on its righteous crusade, building to a release this evening. Those who wish to show they can walk and chew gum at the same time will appreciate the support from Mercury’s sextile to Mars, exact at 12:22 PM ET. Their message, however, may be muddled or misinterpreted around 6:58 PM ET, as Moon squares Neptune. After a 10 minute void, Moon shifts gears and enters Capricorn, now seeking to Make Something Happen out of whatever was preached around lunchtime. At 9:07 PM ET, the Capricorn Moon opposes the Cancer Sun, and here is what that looks like, set in Washington, D.C.:

Observations:

• Capricorn Moon’s need to take care of business, strategize and utilize resources (including people) opposes the energy of the Cancer Sun, which is centered on building home and homeland security, with feeling. Sometimes it doesn’t matter how it feels; it just needs to get done! And therein lies the conflict — and potential illumination/release.
• Sun and Moon in the 6th and 12rd houses shine a spotlight on the body politic, labor, health concerns, government institutions (especially ones of confinement) , hidden enemies and the self-undoing. It does so with added prominence, suggested by this Full Moon being on the Aries Point (within 2 degrees of 0 degrees of a cardinal sign).
• The Sabian Symbol for this Full Moon is a repeat of the Sabian Symbol for the New Moon in Capricorn, 2022. I suspect we will receive further illumination and release in the aftermath of THIS Full Moon with respect to seeds that were planted on the 2022 New Moon. Here’s what was written back then:

• …the Sabian Symbol for this lunation is “Three stained glass windows, one damaged by bombardment,” and here is Blain Bovee’s intriguing analysis.  As for how it applies to these United States at this particular time, note that we have truckloads of information coming out this week — as Heather Cox Richardson reports —  including the January 6th Committee’s final report. The Symbol for the next lunar cycle smashes some of what may have been rose-colored glass, allowing pure light to shine through. We have an opportunity to move to the next level, so now what?

• You are more personally affected by the illumination and release potential of this Full Moon if you have planets around 2 degrees of Aries, Capricorn, Cancer and Libra. All of our Usual Suspects re: people with planets at the Aries Point are included.

Back to the forecast:

• SATURDAY: The Capricorn Moon drives the action all through the weekend. Got a project to do around the house? Get it done. Moon opposes Venus at 6:19 AM ET; you may well sleep through the demands of an achievement-oriented type who challenges your need for nurturing. Moon’s trine to Mars energizes your trek to Lowe’s, with a potential clash of opinion around 3:24 PM ET, as Moon opposes Mercury. Next aspect for the Moon is a sextile to Saturn at 5:01 AM ET on…
• SUNDAY:…you’ll sort it out, especially if you re-read the instructions. Moon’s trine to Uranus favors social gatherings of all kinds, especially your freakier friends. Moon’s sextile to Neptune softens the edge of the Capricorn Moon’s need for accomplishment. Chill and enjoy. Moon enters Aquarius at 11:14 PM ET, driving the start of the next work week with a need to network, network, network.

I have it on good authority that Beth Owl’s Daughter’s always-in-sync Tarot Card of the Week is The Fool. Note that the Fool is represented by ZERO, which I find an apt reflection of Sun, Mercury, and Venus at ZERO degrees of Cancer. While the Fool moves  faster than an ocean liner turning around, perhaps, the Fool’s idealism could well be a Neptune fog — and so, with an easy flow between Mercury and Mars, over the cliff the Fool goes!

Beth makes a persuasive case for why there is no downside to the Fool’s strategy.

And now, the news.

After writing these words several hours ago:

Venus and Mercury left Gemini for Cancer, at 2:20 AM ET and 5:06 AM ET, respectively. They meet up at 0 Cancer — the Aries Point — demanding our attention at 8:42 AM ET. Perhaps we will hear nurturing news about money, women, mothering, food, and home security.

…WaPo published this story:

President Biden on Tuesday will announce a policy to clear the way for hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens to apply for legal residency in one of the most expansive immigration programs of his presidency, according to two federal sources with knowledge of the plans.

Elsewhere…

As it turns out, Barack Obama’s horoscope is functioning as designed — and anticipated. With transiting Mercury and Venus activating his natal Venus over the weekend, and exact today, you can find plenty of articles quoting him on what media he consumes and whether his daughters will follow in their father’s political career footsteps. Google him and you’ll see.

And then there is this related article:

• “’Rupert Murdoch’s Sad Little Super PAC’: White House Pushes Back Again At New York Post, This Time Over Biden-Obama L.A. Fundraiser Video”

Since Jupiter’s ingress into Gemini last month, fake news seems more mainstream than ever, as reporter/lawyer Judd Legum of Popular Information explains here in must-read detail. Seriously — that linked article is important. You might not consume much mainstream news, but plenty of people you know do. Legum’s investigation exposes outright lies.

Perhaps the flood of disinformation reflects Jupiter’s first stop in Gemini; i.e., its trine to Pluto in Aquarius last month. News behaving badly (one potential of Jupiter in Gemini) received an empowering (Pluto) networking (Aquarius) tool? And then of course, we have Neptune at the verrrrry end of Pisces — at the Aries Point — and demanding attention.

Meanwhile…

We don’t have a birth time for Jeff Bezos, but we have enough info to know that transiting Uranus recently squared his Venus-Saturn conjunction in Aquarius. Translation: we anticipate a shake-up and a need for something or someone new, exciting — and possibly risky. With respect to his ownership of the Washington Post (motto: “Democracy Dies in Darkness”), his need for excitement appears to be reflected by the hiring of a new ad agency to help it “broaden its image” and expand its number of subscribers from 3 million to 100 million. That’s a lofty goal indeed, and apt for Jupiter (which refers to publishing) in Gemini (which thrives as a jack-of-all-trades).  Good luck with that, Mr. Bezos.

Bezos’ hiring of the controversial Will Lewis as WaPo’s publisher (as of January) continues to make waves. Lewis is adding “editor” to his job description, and reporters at other publications are digging up dirt:

• “Will Lewis is said to have used stolen records as an editor in the UK,” reported the NYT over the weekend. Lewis is an Aries with Moon in Libra, born April 2, 1969 in London, according to Wikipedia. Like Bezos, he has a Venus-Saturn conjunction, though his is in Aries — and Venus is retrograde. His Mercury (how he need to think) is also in Aries, and it was eclipsed at the end of March. Thus we can appreciate why how he needs to think is attracting so much attention in recent weeks. We can appreciate how his need for action and assertion could be push boundaries, given his Mars in Sagittarius. Plus, his Uranus is at the Aries Point, opposing his Mercury. He certainly can gain prominence for being a maverick — or just plain rebellious.  Of concern in the present moment is his Jupiter at the verrry end of Virgo, currently opposed by Neptune. Neptune transits to Jupiter suggest a need for vision…and/or that things may not be as they seem.

Here’s a fun item:

• ‘Inside Out 2’ calms box office anxiety with blockbuster opening. How perfect for a weekend with Neptune (film) squaring Mercury-Venus (values, money, mindset), with the boffo box office announced as Mercury-Venus enter Cancer (emotions). If you didn’t see the original Inside Out, you missed a gem. I can’t wait to see this sequel.

Finally, from across the pond…

• Catherine, Princess of Wales made her first public appearance since the announcement of her cancer diagnosis. The appearance “coincided” with transiting Mars conjunct her Midheaven (profession and public status), which is when we might expect her to take assertive action. Here is her horoscope. Astrology is amazing.

And here is the 411 on personal consultations...in case you’re wondering what all of these planetary patterns mean for YOU. Astrologers are like dentists. It’s good to check in with us every six months to a year.

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Solstice greetings…