Those Lazy Crazy Days of Summer!

Well here we go with the Craziest Days of Summer -- JUNE! We're in a Moon Wobble, a cycle which reflects that the affairs here on Planet Earth will be chaotic. In June the energies are very unstable. People are emotionally volatile, accidents and calamities increase, and errors in judgment are common. To add to the mix, Mercury will be going Retrograde from June 3rd to June 27th in the sign of Gemini. Whenever the Planet Mercury moves Retrograde in the signs it rules (Gemini and Virgo) it is more problematic on an external level than in any other signs. Gemini is the sign of communications, transportation, computers, and commerce and Mercury's "backwards" passage through Gemini can cause some serious glitches in all these areas.

Most people are familiar with the term "Mercury Retrograde" even if they know nothing else about astrology. I frequently hear the groans and see the look of fear when I mention the arrival of Mercury Retrograde. Everyone has his or her own example of a Mercury Retrograde horror story. On one hand it's wonderful to see so many people acknowledge the importance of planetary cycles but on the other hand, having knowledge of planetary cycles should be empowering. No one should fear a cycle. We are blessed to have the astrological weather forecast so that we can make it work for us in a positive way. Astrology is not at all fatalistic. If the astrological weather forecast says rain, we shouldn't fear it, we simply make the choice to carry an umbrella (or not). We have free will to experience the cycles in whatever way we choose. Through awareness we are not victims of cycles, we use the cycles wisely.

So how do we use the Mercury Retrograde cycle wisely?

On June 21st, the Summer Solstice, there is a solar eclipse at 0° of Cancer which will be in effect for a full year. This is an especially potent eclipse since it falls on the Solstice, reflecting a major activation of world affairs. We are at the beginning of a long cycle of Pluto in opposition to Saturn which has historically brought wars and conflicts between nations. When the U.S. got into conflict with China over the spy plane incident, Pluto was opposing Jupiter and the parties were able to come to a resolution without violence. Now that we are moving into the Pluto-Saturn opposition, differences can be much harder to resolve because it reflects that no one wants to back down. The Pluto-Saturn opposition occurring in the signs of Gemini and Sagittarius will also impact transportation. The airline industry will face a breakdown if it does not transform itself. Strikes, oil prices and an over-taxed flight system could cripple the industry. The severity of the problems that manifest will be in direct proportion to the level of resistance the airline industry exerts against making crucial changes. The Sagittarius-Gemini axis also represents education and we will likely be witnessing more news stories about disruptions, violence and structural problems within the school system. The planet Pluto represents power and the California power crisis will continue to be a difficult issue and could well become a crisis for the rest of the nation as Saturn moves in direct opposition to Pluto throughout the summer, coming into exact aspect on August 5th.

On a personal level, the Cancer eclipse will magnify whatever area of life the eclipse point impacts in your own natal chart. For Cancer sun signs, especially those born in the June 21st - June 30th timeframe, every area of your life will be put under the magnifying glass. It can be a shock to see things about yourself that you were previously unaware of, but ultimately after this year, you will have much more clarity on what you want for your life and how to get it. This eclipse energy can really move you forward. For you Capricorns, relationships will be the arena where you will experience awakenings. If you are in a marriage or significant partnership, you will see things about the other person that you were not conscious of previously. If you are not in a relationship, you will become more aware of any internal blocks that prevent you from attracting a healthy relationship and you will have more opportunities to find a compatible partner.

Even though June is not an ideal month for moving ahead with major plans, there are a couple of days in June that have some positive aspects. Use the dates of the 14th and 15th to get those things accomplished that just can't be delayed.

In a nutshell my advice for June is to treat yourself to a lazy month. We tend not to value laziness in our activity-oriented society. Often what we label laziness is a very real need to take a break from the constant pressure. There are some days that I just can't get motivated despite my best intentions and when I reflect upon the inner resistance, I realize that I've gotten out of balance and the so-called laziness is a self-correcting mechanism. If I don’t put enough relaxation time in my schedule, then the denied need usurps my schedule!

I also believe that we all have an intuitive faculty that can sense the best times to move forward with our life plans and the best times to hold back and let things percolate. I have met very successful business people that know nothing about astrology but amaze me with their uncanny ability to time important business activities at the ideal astrological moment. They call it a hunch or a gut feel. Unfortunately many of us do not listen to our gut. The intuitive messages are squelched by our need to achieve, our ego agendas, the agendas of our loved-ones, and a culture that is designed around a mechanical clock without any sensitivity to nature's rhythms and cycles. Astrology is nature's clock and nature's clock is saying June is a month to slow down and chill out.

As we move into July, we are out of the Mercury Retrograde cycle but the chaotic energy of the Moon Wobble-Solar Eclipse is in effect until July 20th. In general, after the 20th and all through August is a good period to move forward with those plans you've been incubating with the exception of the following dates: August 1-3, 7th, 14th-17th, 20th-21st. There are also difficult travel aspects on Aug 2nd, 9-10th, 20th, 27th and 28th.

Get everything accomplished and your decisions finalized before our next Moon Wobble which begins on September 6th and continues until October 4th (and October 1st starts another 3 week Mercury Retrograde cycle). Most of September carries chaotic energy but if you have to choose between taking important actions during a Moon Wobble period or during Mercury Retrograde, choose the Moon Wobble. Unexpected things may happen but at least the project will move forward. A good day for new starts is September 5th. Be cautious on September 8th when Mars moves into Capricorn and triggers the June eclipse point. Capricorn, Cancer, Aries and Libra sun-signs will be very busy in September while Mars is in Capricorn so clear your schedule in preparation for increased activity level.

The Importance of Right Timing

Timing is a critical factor in the success or failure of any enterprise. Just as we would never consider planting seeds during winter if we want the seeds to sprout and grow, we can not expect the best-laid plans to flower if they are launched at an inopportune astrological time. Anything begun at a specific moment in time will contain the qualities of that moment in time. Therefore, choosing the most ideal moment in time to start an important venture can greatly improve the odds of success, mitigate the obstacles and harmonize the purpose of the venture with the cosmic plan. I recently read an article by a business astrologer who reported that the Wall Street Journal did a study of 1400 businesses that went bankrupt and all the businesses were started during a Moon-Void Cycle. The Moon is called Void-of-Course when it is not making any aspects to any other planet. The meaning of the cycle is "nothing will come of it" and all 1400 businesses went bankrupt! I'm sure many of these businesses were well-planned and viable but the poor timing did not give the fledgling companies enough support to survive.

Any venture that will have a significant impact on the quality of your life or that requires a big commitment of time and money should be astrologically timed for the most favorable outcome. It's a small investment for such a big payback. A marriage, elective surgery, a new business, a website launch, expensive purchases such as a car or house, a residential or business relocation and a major trip are all types of events that warrant proper timing. Of course, the right timing can not overcome an inherently bad plan. If two people are not compatible, the most ideal marriage date can make things easier but will not overcome the incompatibility. I have frequently observed in my practice that the clients that commission me to time an event that is inherently flawed, specify time parameters within which they want me to pick the best moment and those parameters yield no moments without serious drawbacks! Or some obstacle comes up to prevent them from initiating the project at the time I specified. This phenomenon clearly illustrates the law of synchronicity, the power of time and that there is no escaping reality. Assuming the proper foundation has been laid, the election of the proper initiation time can greatly enhance the outcome.

I hope you all enjoy the beautiful summer season.

© May 2001