The Wheel of Light
Monthly Newsletter - June 2020
The main astrological events this month are the eclipses. The full Moon lunar eclipse occurs on the 5th in Sagittarius. The new Moon solar eclipse takes place on the 20th in Cancer. This is the same day that Sun enters Cancer, which is the annual Summer Solstice. Eclipses can interfere with the normal rhythms of life. The new Moon is normally a time of new beginnings. We can set an intention to do something that may last the month or longer. The two weeks after the new Moon is a time to build on that intention so that at the full Moon we can see what we have in fact achieved. The full Moon is often a time of high energy, when our emotions are strong and tend to be more overtly expressed than usual. It can also be a time when our perspective on life can be clearer. An eclipse, however, can mitigate either or both. The normal clarity about our progress can be limited. Our normal robust emotional activity can be muted.
The new Moon, usually a good time for new beginnings, is similarly challenged when an eclipse takes place at that time. New beginnings can pertain to a certain project or activity. But it could also suggest a time when we feel internal stimulation. This could involve emotions, strong intuitive perception or clear insights through our dream life. The eclipse can alter these experiences by making them stronger.
One way to characterize a month when we experience eclipses is that the potential of both is changed. The new Moon solar eclipse means that Sun is blocked by the Moon. Astrologically, the Sun pertains to the ego, the self-aware and self-loving individual who can manifest their energy creatively. The Moon is an expression of the soul. With no clarity of the manifest self it becomes a time to look inward and strive for more emotional clarity and spiritual connection. Rather than striving for external interactivity, a solar eclipse points us in a more personal and internal direction. To some degree this is true every new Moon, but when the Sun is eclipsed it is much more so.
The full Moon lunar eclipse can be altered even more. At that time, the earth is between the two “lights” thus blocking the clarity of perspective normally associated with the full Moon. This doesn’t mean that we just don’t have the strong emotions usually associated with the full Moon. By extension, we don’t feel the same powerful drive to express whatever we feel. Thus the promise of the full Moon is mitigated more than the promise of the new Moon as a result of the eclipses. It’s as if an eclipsed full Moon is providing another opportunity to look within.
Given that we have been quarantined for about 3 months, being within our homes, limited in social contact, there hasn’t been much else available to us. We can take advantage of the eclipses this month by using them to enhance our inner striving. The full Moon lunar eclipse will be in Sagittarius, a fire sign that seeks the truth, especially in spiritual, philosophical or metaphysical ways. Instead of relying on texts and dogma, this month offers us the option to find that truth within ourselves. This could manifest through a personal ritual, or seeking to intersect our personal experience with what we have been taught.
The new Moon will be in Cancer, a water sign that tends to be highly sensitive, both emotionally as well as psychically. This is a perfect set-up for us to spend time alone, looking inward for clarity and direction. This could pertain immediately to our inner, spiritual path, but could also include clues or insights into our outer directed activity that could be manifested in the next few months.
This Solar eclipse coincides with the Summer Solstice, with the eclipse occurring 9 hours after that event. This is also rare and adds to the significance of the eclipse. The Summer Solstice takes place annually when the Sun reaches its highest point in the sky. The Sun reaches zero degrees of Cancer and marks the longest day of the year. So at a time when the light should be strongest and brightest there will be an unusual dimming. This is the time of year when people gather together, in family or community groups for rituals, barbecues and other social or spiritual events. We could assume that the general feeling of openness and enthusiasm that normally accompanies this time will be restricted. In some ways, that’s fitting given the amount of planets transiting Capricorn (the sign of limitation) this year. Beyond that, however, the coincidence of these events could deplete their normal enthusiasm and joy that we feel individually and collectively at this time. Coming after months of isolation followed by the slow ramp up to even quasi-normal activities things could be frustrating to say the least. We can respond to this phenomenon by intensifying our internal focus.
To the ancient people, the solstices and the equinoxes were the times of the year when new season began. Our collective focus shifts at these cardinal points. Similarly our collective consciousness can expand so that we acknowledge the flow of the natural order of life. Cancer is the sign of the family. As such, during times of ceremonial celebration, the summer Solstice can be a time to acknowledge our ancestors and celebrate the achievements of their lives as well as thanking them for brining us into this world and providing for us until we were able to do it for ourselves.
Although the light may be dimmer at the highest and brightest part of the Sun’s annual journey, this year may be a time to look inward, to find our inner light. We can share that light with our loved ones who have passed. Thus sheltering in place can mean more than being physically restricted. It can also mean reflecting on the people who loved and provided for us. It can shed light on some of the more meaningful and personally significant events that have affected us. In turn, we can find inner guidance from them at this time so that as we emerge from this pandemic we can do so with clarity, confidence and joy guiding our way.
Aries (March 21-April 20)
Aries: As suggested by the eclipses, this is an internal month for you. You may feel frustrated by the lack of drive or absence of opportunities for expression. Growth for you this month comes from surrendering to the nature of time and look within for inspiration and guidance.
Taurus (April 21-May 21)
Taurus: Venus, your ruling planet, remains retrograde until June 25. This continues the pattern of May, with you focusing on updating values and priorities. Striving to reorient budgeting and spending patterns are also supported at this time.
Gemini (May 22-June 21)
Gemini: As an air sign, you generally enjoy social interaction. With that, limited by circumstance and available energy, this is a good time to focus on material self-reliance. Use your networking and data gathering skills to research ways of taking advantage of the economic downturn in order to create enhanced prosperity in the future.
Cancer (June 22-July 22)
Cancer: The new Moon solar eclipse on the 20th provides ample time and energy for introspection and spiritual attunement. You may find some unexpected inspiration and clarity of self-awareness in that process.
Leo (July 23-August 23)
Leo: Early month provides energy to be involved in some type of group activity. This could be as a leader or organizer or a volunteer group. The energy can also be used to utilize the internet as a way of bringing people together such as through Zoom chats or meetings.
Virgo (August 24-Sept 22)
Virgo: You may feel blockage or restriction from a combination of the eclipses and your ruling planet Mercury, going retrograde on the 18th. This is clearly a time of reorientation for you and much of that may pertain to job or career. Take a step back this month to reassess and be prepared to go forward.
Libra (Sept 23-Oct 23)
Libra: You may tend to look outside yourself for positive feedback and personal validation. This month those tendencies need to be reversed. Look within for clarity and self-awareness. This will enable you to feel better about yourself and to rely less on other people’s opinion of or perspective about you.
Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22)
Scorpio: The quest for truth continues. Priority one in that search is you. What is important to you? What are viable and current priorities? Is your life coinciding with your understanding of the mystery of life itself? Big questions that require time and deep contemplation to answer. There is plenty of time and energy for you to make significant progress in finding satisfactory answers.
Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 21)
Sagittarius: The full Moon in Sagittarius on the 5th could bring conflicting energies. One is to impel you to be direct and honest in your interaction with others. The other is to seek some alone time to clarify feelings, emotional needs and if necessary update social behaviors.
Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 20)
Capricorn: You could feel somewhat isolated this month unless or until others come into your life and provide opportunities for interaction. These people could be connected to your personal or professional life. The socializing may not always be harmonious or fulfilling, but it can offer some stimulation and clarity about your feelings for these people and your desire to continue connecting with them going forward.
Aquarius (Jan 21 to Feb 19)
Aquarius: This is a time to be slow and steady. Your intuition is strong this month. Use it to thoroughly contemplate significant issues in ways that enable you to integrate your conception left brain with right brain insights and realizations.
Pisces (Feb 20-March 20)
Pisces: Early month could bring situations that leave you feeling scattered. Increasing alone time will help with that. Physical drive and energy grow strong in mid-month. Use that energy to get things done because by month’s end you may feel like going back to your alone time for both spiritual connection and creative inspiration.
Rio Olesky has been a professional astrologer since 1976. He is the author of A Manual for the Modern Mystic and Astrology and Consciousness and The Astroreader. He offers both private readings as well as classes for both beginning and intermediate students. Call Rio at 707-887-1820. Check out his website: www.starwatcher.com.