Almanac – June '10

“Life is 10 percent what happens to me, and 90 percent how I react to it.”
–John Maxwell

Tips for almanac use: All the aspects can be felt in advance of the date of occurrence. It is good policy to view these as due dates for various energies and prepare accordingly for one’s context. Some slower interactions can be felt a month in advance, so it’s wise to read ahead and ritual up.
When we proactively manifest these symbols then the world doesn’t have to do it for us.

So June is the start of the really big show—one that last played in the early 1930’s. June begins with a rather dramatic introduction: eager and fresh but highly unpredictable. The middle of the month isn’t that crazy, except for the ever-present undertow. And by the end of the month, well, it should be very exciting and not necessarily in the best of ways. It’s going to be a polarizing time when we’re being asked to do many opposing things somehow in harmony. It’s either do or die, or at least do or cry.

Mars opposes Neptune on the 4^th, lending us more inspiration to take action and possibly confusing us at the same time; although it’s still geared more towards clearing the path before us than punching the gas. Make way.

Jupiter moves into Aries on the 5^th, ramping up the energy a great deal. There is a strong need for action around long-brewing issues of purpose. Hopefully we are well prepared to take some giant steps forward down our path. There’s no need to rush it; steady acceleration is more efficient and safer. But do get moving.

Mars moves into Virgo on the 6^th after a long stretch in Leo. This brings a more exacting and filtration-oriented dynamic into the mix. Eagerness needs to be tempered by astute analysis and removal of unnecessary elements. It could be about purification, but more likely it will still focus on the removal of deadwood and/or the thinning of excess fruit.

Jupiter conjoins Uranus on the 8^th, further lighting the fires of boldness within us. The question may center on whether we choose to be reactionary or proactive. It’s always easier to point out the ineffectual than to fix it. Some kind of new mutation is needed, even though the adjustments may only be slight.

Mercury trines Saturn, also on the 8^th, bringing functionality strongly to the fore. Step by step in due time is the idea: Meaning that you can’t paint the walls before they’ve been built.

Mercury squares Neptune on the 9^th, giving us room to relax our minds and follow the current. Let your attachments to your ideas, plans, dreams and more get out of the way of realization.

Mercury moves into Gemini on the 9^th, stirring up more ideas but making the middle ground a bit more elusive. Feel free to bounce your ideas around before making decisions, because you may want to change your mind.

Mercury sextiles Uranus and Jupiter on the 10^th, frothing the winds of change more and more. We don’t have to know where they are going, but we should focus on where we’re going. And enjoy the ride.

Mercury squares Mars on the 11^th, setting off some of the latent tension. Choose to do something active and informative that feeds the mind. Avoid clashes with others and reactionary tendencies.

The New Moon in Gemini is on the 12^th. It should help to clear our vision and clarify our choices, but things are still majorly in flux and flexibility is recommended. Make sure to check in with your intuition about what is brewing, for the seeds being planted now will be very important down the line.

Venus sextiles Saturn on the 12^th, giving us a more goal-oriented perspective on what’s going on. This could also mean focusing on what we lack, or trying to indulge regret fantasies. Better to learn from the past; let the fear of uncertainty go and appreciate the good stuff.

Venus moves into Leo on the 14^th, prompting us to create and shine our lights and have some fun. We have to take time to lighten up and cut a rug or what is it all for?

Venus trines Uranus on the 14^th, calling for some unpredictable fun. Try something new; step outside of the tried and tested and be open to surprise.

Venus trines Jupiter on the 15^th, also urging us to venture into the unknown with an open heart. Nothing is guaranteed except the urge to change and expand into more happiness.

Mars trines Pluto on the 15^th, highlighting the other side of the equation: that which is prohibitive. There’s still some slash and burn energy that needs to keep reducing things to the essential while, of course, avoiding pulling others into our processes or getting pulled into theirs.

The Sun squares Saturn on the 19^th, giving us room to self-flagellate and/or blame others. However, it is preferable to respect our human frailties and those of others and focus on moving through our own self-limitations first and foremost.

The Sun trines Neptune, later on the 19^th, prompting us to release certain outdated self-conceptions, especially regarding previously-potential futures: what could, in theory, have been. Have faith in universal appropriateness.

The Sun moves into Cancer on the 21^st, marking the longest day of the year as the Sun stands still. This vibration gives us more room to relax and enjoy the warmth of loved ones and the richness of fresh fruit. Put the worries aside and balance the grind with comfort and release.

The Sun also squares Uranus on the 21^st, making the previous paragraph harder to pull off. The uncertainty and shakiness in the air challenges our capacity to savor the sweet little things of life. However, it makes it that much more awesome when we can find the calm center of the storm, at least within.

The Sun squares Jupiter on the 23^rd, bringing our trajectories up into the light. Are we shooting high enough? Are we doing what we can to account for those winds of change? There are some things we can’t know, but we still can try to develop a functional hypothesis.

Mercury squares Saturn and trines Neptune on the 24^th, contrasting our high-minded visions with the practical difficulties and energy requirements that reality engenders. Can we adjust our expectations while remaining vigilant and committed? These are hard energies to reconcile but obviously we should do what we can.
Mercury moves into Cancer on the 25^th. This enhances the value of mutual support systems. Check in with those who have your best interest at heart and be available to those who could use a hug, literal or metaphoric.

Mercury squares Uranus on the 25^th, asking us to break through whatever is preventing us from asking for help and letting ourselves be vulnerable. Any programming that’s preventing deeper connections should be deleted.

The Sun opposes Pluto on the 25^th, placing our fears and resistances clearly in front of us. A peculiar mix of self-acceptance and self-recycling is called for; maybe forgiveness is the key ingredient for this dish.

Mercury squares Jupiter on the 26^th, trying to pop our awareness open to every perspective concurrently. This is not really achievable but opening to it is like a mental yoga of sorts that could really get some things moving.

The Lunar Eclipse in Capricorn falls on the 26^th. This is really a huge one and it’s exceptionally paradoxical. I guess the idea is to toss the bathwater but keep the baby; except that it’s much less distinct and nowhere near as simple, more like trying to stop the flow and then remove millions of barrels of oil from the Gulf. A main theme is freeing ourselves from familial and cultural complexes, patterns and malfunctions. But it has to be a delicate balance that’s permeated with respect and acceptance while still remaining vigilant–along with a deeply-connected autonomy. What would that look like?

Mercury opposes Pluto on the 27^th, stirring yet more gunk to the surface for processing while perhaps uncovering some forgotten treasures. The key is to not take anything too seriously; just save the darkest humor for your own topics.

Mercury conjoins the Sun on the 28^th, asking us to bring our mind back to center and reassess where we’re at. Keeping the focus on what can be directly changed–ourselves–is the basic idea. Well, that and learning, learning, learning.

So… June should really accelerate the rate of change. It’s really hard to say where this is taking us, other than a guarantee that July will keep the show going straight into August. What’s the lesson? It’s a package deal, but simplistically it’s learning to make the most out of our human condition: Keeping the best of ourselves in the driver’s seat while recognizing that there is an urgency to shift malfunctional momentum which, in turn, is always dependent on choice.