Skywatch for June 2009: The summer retrogrades begin!

The outer planets spend about 5 months in retrograde motion every year, and for the past thirty years or so, the outer planets (Uranus, Neptune and Pluto) have traveled retrograde during at least a portion of the summer months. The outer planets are also called “transpersonal” planets as they govern areas of life that are often outside of the boundaries of our personal experience.

When planets are retrograde, their influence becomes more subtle; more internalized. It can be more difficult to achieve momentum in the areas over which the planet presides. It may be necessary to apply a greater conscious intention to areas of life ruled by that planet. When all three outer planets retrograde at once we are often forced to perfect a part of our life that has been neglected and which is holding us back from evolving as individuals.

As June begins, Neptune has just turned retrograde along with Chiron. The three planets will remain within 1 degree of orb until the end of July, and their influence will continue into the beginning of August before they begin to separate (until they align once more in 2010).

For many of us this event has opened up a call from deep within the soul for a life with more meaning and a greater awareness of our spiritual nature. Jupiter is helping to add flame to the spiritual fire. Not everyone will experience this triple conjunction the same way – for some it will be extremely painful; for some it will feel exhilarating and blissful, and for some it will be a roller coaster ride between extremes of sensation.
Maintaining an understanding of the underlying nature of this planetary event will help to navigate this period with greater clarity.

Chiron and Neptune are both soul teachers but they operate with different tools. Chiron is the teacher of wisdom; he opens up the inner doorway to retrieve aspects of our soul that have been lost or hidden from us for quite some time. Neptune reminds us that we are indeed spiritual beings having a physical experience on Earth; we are inspired to dive into the depths of our soul and connect there with the Divine seed that lies within our core being. In order to accomplish the lesson of Neptune, we must walk through the fire of the Chironic experience.

Jupiter expands this process for better or for worse. If we are momentarily retrieving an old wound, Jupiter will open up the doorway for a more complete experience. More painful, yes; but also more effective. Once the healing process is complete we experience the joy of a total alignment between the body, mind and spirit and a blissful Oneness of being.

When transiting planets aspect the triple conjunction they activate it in a variety of ways. On January 2 and for a few days before and after, Venus will facilitate the potential in the conjunction to integrate a deeper wisdom into our lives. Venus is the planet of attraction, and in a harmonious aspect like the sextile which will be in force at this time there is a beauty and a creativity to everything that happens.

A harmonious aspect of Mars and Pluto on the 4th will provide a few days of energy and focus that will help us to utilize the good energy that Venus has brought.

On the 5th we must face our responsibilities. We may feel more solitary than usual and more serious, but there is also potential on that day to accomplish a great deal and work towards our goals.

Venus enters Taurus on the 6th. Taurus is one of the signs ruled by Venus (the other is Libra), and for the next month or so we are governed by a love of fine and beautiful things and inspired by creative beauty. This is not a particularly good time to go on a diet, because Taurus loves fine food and Venus can be particularly self-indulgent.

For much of the month, a combination of Venus and Mars will energize our social life and even the homebodies among us will have a stronger desire for interaction with others.

This will be particularly true at the time of the Full Moon in playful Sagittarius on June 7. This Full Moon is the perfect time for group ritual or celebration in which a spiritual purpose combines with a structure and focused plan in a social gathering. This Full Moon gives us a longing for greater understanding of our world and a desire for experiences that expand us, but an aspect from Saturn seeks to confine us and instill discipline and a desire to work hard and achieve success. This is a somewhat complicated combination of planets that will be best served in a balancing act that includes both structure and freedom.

A short-lived but powerful influence on our relationships is already in effect at the time of the Full Moon but peaks on June 8th. Romantic feelings are intensified now, and with them the opportunity to deepen our relationships and find a new level on which to communicate.

On the 9th and 10th Mercury a challenging aspect could bring out some of the more difficult qualities of the triple conjunction. Our mind wants to think one thing, but the experiences bubbling up from deep within are something else entirely. This is just a 2-day event that will require an effort to maintain that inner balance and fortunately, Mercury will also form a trine to Uranus that day which will help inspire us with new ideas and a higher level of understanding to facilitate that balance.

Mercury enters its own sign of Gemini on the 13th, where it is most at home. In Gemini, Mercury matters such as the operation of small equipment, short trips by car, communication devices, negotiations – should run more smoothly than normal until the 24th when challenges will arise.

Jupiter turns retrograde on the 15th, at which time there will be four retrograde planets. This is an average number of planets to be retrograde and nothing to worry about. Jupiter retrograde periods last about four months, and during this time we may have to revisit areas of our life where we experienced opportunities in the past that may no longer be as advantageous. During these periods we often must turn inwards to find the good fortune that Jupiter typically brings.

For a few days around June 16-17 we will see the best of the triple conjunction which helps us to utilize its energies most effectively. We could experience some unpleasant surprises, and we may feel restless and potentially a bit uncomfortable in our skin for a day or two.

The Sun enters Cancer on June 21st, marking the Summer Solstice and the longest day of the year. The four Summer Solstice this year is just one day away from the New Moon on the 22nd.

New Moons mark the beginning of a new lunar cycle, and are therefore seen as being particularly auspicious times to begin new projects of all types. Because this New Moon is in Cancer, the sign of the family, we may experience a hearty desire to gather our tribe around us in whatever form we find it. A family occurs when we share our heart and open up our home with others; this can occur with parents, children, friends, pets, or our celestial guides. Feeling deeply is what is noted here, and building a home that reflects the depth of our emotions and our need to nurture and be cared for.

We are called now to go deep into the subconscious mind and unearth the mysteries that lie there. Just like the New Moon which emerges from the dark to begin to illuminate the night, in order to truly begin a new, we must dig out all of the debris of the subconscious and eliminate it so that we can make a new start.

The last significant aspect of the month on the 26th lasts only a couple of days, but following on the heels of the intensity of the Full Moon, this planetary event will force us to remain introspective for a few days longer. This aspect is also linked to communication difficulties and machinery that breaks down, but this is usually a reflection in the outer world of our inner mental acuity. Saturn periods are best used in contemplation and planning, and within a few days we will be ready to step out once again.

On July 1 Uranus will turn retrograde at which time there will be five retrograde planets, and the summer retrograde season will begin in earnest!

As always, if you have any questions about this information please email me or schedule a personal consultation.

peace and blessings,
Lynn

http://www.astrodynamics.net