by Teri Parsley Starnes

Teri’s interest with astrology lies with helping people see how following a practice of intention and self-awareness leads to a fuller relationship with Mystery. Astrology is a wonderful tool for this. Her weekly column orients readers to the seasonal energy of
each month’s Sun sign in order to set magical/mindful intention for the lunar month beginning at the New Moon.

Each week Teri will write about the unfolding energies that support and challenge our intentions. The ebb and flow of the lunar cycle resides deep in our souls. Through following the phases of the Moon, we remember the natural cycles that guide us.

Astrologers divide the lunar month into eight phases. These are:
New Moon: Dreaming
Crescent Moon: Beginning
First Quarter Moon: Manifesting
Gibbous Moon: Perfecting
Full Moon: Illuminating
Disseminating Moon: Sharing
Last Quarter Moon: Evaluating
Balsamic Moon: Surrendering

Come follow the Moon as we practice intentional awareness together.

Forecast June 23, 2013 – June 29 

 

From what I understand, quantum theory supposes that matter and energy have the properties of both particle and wave, but of course, not at the same time. It depends on the observer. There is a good metaphor in here for what we are experiencing this lunar cycle. The Gemini New Moon, that began on June 8,* has been infused with a mixture of air and water, inviting the integration of mind and heart into this cycle. This week, notice whether events take on waveform (emotion) or particle form (thought) for you. Or do the forms keep switching back and forth? With Mercury—the ruler of Gemini—stationing retrograde in the water sign, Cancer, we’ll notice an abundance of changing forms that vacillate between emotion and intellect.

This lunar cycle reaches its apex at the Full Moon on June 23. After that peak, the waning phases of the Moon ask us to reconsider what we thought we had learned and what we believe to be true. Don’t jump to conclusions! We have a ways to go before the end of this cycle, and it may not be until Mercury stations direct on July 20, that we go back to being sure of what we know. So, enjoy the quantumness of it all: being a particle type, you might want to see what the wave has to teach you. And if you’re a wave kind of person, allow the particles to fascinate you. The process of integration requires us to be open to everything.

Although particle thought forms dance through the week, a tide of emotional waveforms is poised to wash over us. Jupiter leaves Gemini and enters Cancer for the next year on June 25. Sensitivity to the needs of others expands with this transit. We become more attuned to issues of protection and nurturance. Leaving Gemini, the mind becomes less important as a way to understand everything and we begin to value memories, instincts, and intuition as a way to know the truth. In addition, there is a Grand Water Trine of Saturn in Scorpio, Neptune in Pisces, and the Sun in Cancer. These planets, in all three of the water signs of the zodiac, offer cooling respite from anxiety or frustration. Take advantage, especially, of the reinforcing connection between bottom-line Saturn and empathic Neptune. These forces don’t often get along with each other so well. This is an excellent time to deepen spiritual practice that is in alignment with pragmatic reality.

Forecast June 23, 2013 – June 29

Moon enters Capricorn 3:08 am**
June 23—Full Moon: Illuminating. Thoughts and emotions become useful tools, rather than distractions, when we know our primary objective. The Full Moon in Capricorn gives us the perspective of the Mountain Goat who sees the goal and commits to climbing toward that goal with integrity and fortitude. What is your goal? Of all the diverse, sometimes fascinating, and sometimes distracting opportunities that flit by in this season of pollination, what is worth committing your whole attention to? That is the certainty of Capricorn—a gift of clarity. When we know where we are headed, the vagaries of emotion and thought don’t feel so overwhelming and can even bring delight and new inspiration.

The Capricorn Moon helps us harness the potential of the Grand Water Trine. The harmony between Neptune and Saturn allows us to give our dreams a firm footing in reality and our grim realities an influx of compassion and idealism. Rather than feeling brought down by the serious tone of this Full Moon, we are relieved to know what is really important, and that there are allies who can help.

When the Moon triggers the square between Uranus and Pluto later in the day, don’t let the temporary disruption to clarity deter you.

Moon in Capricorn
Monday June 24. Monday mornings are a great for looking at the week’s goals. Let the energy of the Capricorn Moon fuel your ambitions. What does success look like to you? The Moon opposes both Mercury and Venus. Any miscommunications, especially those that have an emotional component are a signal that we are about to enter a Mercury retrograde phase. Make note of your response to frustration. Do you want to give up or try harder? The contact with Venus adds a note of uncertainty in relationships. The trick is to be determined about our own agendas but accessible to others at the same time.

Moon enters Aquarius 2:26 am
Tuesday, June 25. If you didn’t take your goals seriously yesterday, you may be feeling some guilt today. With the Moon squaring Saturn it is easy to be self-critical. Acknowledge your inner critic and then move on. The real news today is that Jupiter enters Cancer. The water works begin. Since the Moon is in a distinctly non-emotional sign, Aquarius, the tension between thought particles and emotional waves could be noticeable.

Moon in Aquarius
June 26—Disseminating Moon: Sharing. Think back over the last two and a half weeks since the New Moon, what drew you out into the world like a foraging honeybee to discover sweet new experiences? What alchemy did you work to transform your experiences into deeper wisdom? Did you also experience the tide of emotion carrying you into memory—stored joy or pain—that caused a shift into new spaces within your heart? If you are feeling overwhelmed, the good news is that the waning phases of the Moon invite us into a more reflective frame of mind. We don’t have to entirely understand everything we have experienced but only need to trust that the experience wants to find its way deeper into our souls.

Mercury stationing retrograde in Cancer today is an ally of becoming quieter. Astrologers talk about all the “re” words that are appropriate to a “re”trograde of Mercury: reflection, restoration, replenishing are three such words that I invite you to use for the remaining weeks of this lunar cycle. One unique feature of this retrograde journey for Mercury is that Mercury will not make any aspects during this retrograde cycle with any planets, except with the Moon and one conjunction with the Sun, which happens during every Mercury retrograde cycle. Mercury is going on a retreat too. Cancer is the water sign most associated with nurturance. Rather than be frustrated, as often we are by Mercury retrograde periods, let any disruption to the normal flow of information be a call for you to find the restoration that you need. Our lives are so busy, and we are so dependent on quick connections and easy access to information, that we forget we pay a price for those demands. Mercury retrogrades are about rebalancing. Let that happen for you.

The Sun exactly trines both Saturn and Neptune today. These planets are allies of our intentions to be more balanced. The way into this balance is through our emotions. Trust the mysterious nature of your heart. True structure, reliable tools, and real progress are available to us through this medium.

Moon enters Pisces 3:32 am
Thursday, June 27. The Moon entering Pisces seals the deal; we are in the flow now. Only one planet, Mars in Gemini, is left in an air sign. This Mars can be an ally for gaining perspective about overwhelming emotional experiences. Venus enters Leo and becomes an ally for releasing stuck emotions through acts of creativity, joy, and plain ole flirtation. We can’t forget that she IS a goddess of love. What happens when you go with the flow?

Moon in Pisces
Friday, June 28. To challenge our resolve about integrating heart and mind, the Moon in a water sign squares Mars in an air sign to see how well we are doing. What does integration of heart and mind look like to you? Really. How will you know when you have it? The Moon trines Mercury later in the day, remember to relax by turning off information overload and feel into the moment.

Moon enters Aries 8:06 am
June 29—Last Quarter Moon: Evaluating. Before deciding whether we’ve been successful, we need to know what success would look like. Yesterday’s question was, what does integration of heart and mind look like to you? Another good question is, what good comes from integration between heart and mind? Or perhaps, what harm does a separation between heart and mind cause us? This phase of the Moon is about evaluating our intentions. Not every intention succeeds, not every intention gets us to the place we really want to be. This is the time to gently wonder: What about my intention seems worthy of repetition and what might need an overhaul?

The Moon in Aries may create impatience with any sense of failure we have, or it may give us the daring to scrap everything and begin again. I suggest that you be gentle with yourself, regardless.

*See http://tinyurl.com/mvn5k8j to follow along with the themes of this lunar cycle that began on June 8.

** All times are CDT.

Contact Teri at teri@starsdanceastrology and visit her website at www.starsdanceastrology.com