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 8, 2014 – June 14

It isn’t true that oil and water can’t mix; they just resist it. We must apply effort to get oil and water to share their qualities with each other. But when we apply the right process the results are usually well worth it. Something new is created. So, what does this have to do with this week’s astrology? During this mutable Gemini season*, I am noticing different energetic bodies within my own body and how these energy states don’t always blend effortlessly. And blending isn’t the only problem; it can also be hard to shift between them. For me, the work of the remaining Gemini lunar cycle will be to attune to these energy states and find easeful ways to move between them and to synthesize them.

Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces) have an innate talent for perceiving subtle and gross energy states. They are the perceivers and synthesizers of the zodiac. Mutable signs are very good at sensing through their particular elemental filters. Gemini, being an air sign, emphasizes mental perception. Pisces, the mutable water sign, senses through emotion. Sagittarius, the mutable fire sign, through energy and motion. And Virgo, the mutable earth sign, processes information through the physical realms. Being sensitive, the mutable signs can also be prone to absorbing energetic fields around them. All mutable signs benefit from self care regimens that help them center and release information overload. Not all of us have mutable sign emphases in our charts, yet during this lunar cycle, it is a good idea to be mindful of this tendency.

Air perception styles are emphasized this lunar cycle. The New Moon in Gemini sets the tone. Mercury, the ruler of Gemini, stationing retrograde from Cancer back into Gemini, adds zesty spice. Mercury retrograde cycles give us the opportunity to see from a new perspective. Some questions to consider: What is the nature of your mind? How do you clear your energetic channels to keep your perceiving mind open and receptive? What do you do with the information? What is useful? What could be let go?

Back to the mixing of the energy-body states. During stressful times, we can get stuck in one mode of perception, forgetting that other ways of knowing are possible. If feeling stuck, sense into another energy body.

Air body—what thoughts keep returning? What feels hard to grasp? How important is it to understand? Look to the other elements. One gift of air is perspective, what is the big picture?

Water body—are emotions overwhelming? Do you feel a strong desire to isolate from others? Do you feel stuck in one emotional story? Look to the other elements. One gift of water, empathic compassion for self and others.

Earth body—are you over-focused on perfection? Do you desperately need to establish control in your life? Are setbacks causing you great discomfort? Look to the other elements. One gift of earth, taking small steps to wholeness.

Fire body—are you experiencing a great deal of flight or fight reactions? Are your energy levels fluctuating too much? Are you attachrd to being right? Look to the other elements. One gift of fire, finding the joy that elevates our thoughts and feelings.

We are always shifting between the elements. Sometimes we get stuck; sometimes we take up a gift from another element to help us move along. Notice those states this week. Find a new way to combine oil and water.

 Forecast– June 8, 2014 – June 14

Moon in Libra

Sunday, June 8. The square between the Sun in Gemini and Chiron in Pisces presents a chance to notice the interplay between air perceiving styles and water perceiving styles. The real challenge is to mix the two. Wouldn’t it be great if we could think our way out of every problem? Or maybe that isn’t true for you. Perhaps your inclination is to express your emotional truth. Chiron reminds us of heartbreak of the unhealable wound. The Sun shines a light on how uncomfortable that makes us. How do you shift between these ways of knowing? More water emphasis comes from Saturn in Scorpio. The Sun is quincunx Saturn creating even more desire to find the intellectual solution to emotional problems. It is all about investigating your natural tendencies and looking again with a new way of perceiving. If we remain stuck, we get caught defending positions we don’t really believe in. The trine between Venus in Taurus and Pluto in Capricorn, both earth signs, gives strength through the difficult passages of the day. The goal is to find authentic connection in our important relationships.

Moon enters Scorpio 5:38 am CDT

June 9—Gibbous Moon: Perfecting. What has been your heart’s desire for this lunar cycle, which began on May 28? Or do you even know? Gemini, in its ever-mutating processes, doesn’t really help us stick with just one desire. Every day, every moment, can bring a new longing. This doesn’t mean we aren’t engaged in important learning, and it doesn’t mean we won’t achieve our heart’s desire eventually. Assuming we recognize it when it appears. The mutability of this mutable sign just might be driving us crazy at the moment. How do we perfect our intention (the keywords for the gibbous phase of the Moon) when we can’t even keep track of what we want in the first place? We are in the hall of mirrors at an amusement park today. We’re learning something even if it is only how to be amused at wanting to keep a firm grasp on reality when there is no such thing.

Big news: Neptune stations retrograde today. This outer planet of dream and illusion makes this station only once a year. It is mirrored by the direct station, which also happens once a year. A planet’s influence is stronger at its stations. Neptune has slowly made it to 7+ degrees of Pisces and now retreats as slowly back to 4+ degrees of Pisces where it will turn direct in November. Boundaries may be non-existent for the next few days, so be mindful of your own core. The Moon in Scorpio, although in another water sign, helps us to remember an anchor to the essential self. What is your bottom line? The Moon is trine to Mercury (recently turned retrograde) and to this stationing Neptune. Mythic reality is potent. Communication takes an odd turn. How do you check out the stories you are telling yourself? Since logic is not much favored under this transit, use your intuition to navigate out of tough spots. But hold absolute certainty at bay. We just don’t know, and won’t know, what is up or down for a while.

Moon in Scorpio

Tuesday, June 10. Although we are feeling fluctuating emotions due to Neptune and Mercury shenanigans (both stationing retrograde recently), we also find some grounding energy today. The Moon contacts Pluto, Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter in ways that can help us get to deep emotional truth and resonance. Notice where you need to put your energy. We are willing to commit to work that we feel gives us lasting benefit, especially if it supports our values and transformation.

 Moon enters Sagittarius 10:23 am CDT

Wednesday, June 11. Another mutable day dawns. The Moon moves into the fire mutable sign of Sagittarius and also forms a challenging square aspect with just-stationed Neptune. See the introduction to this week’s column for more information about the different energy bodies of the mutable signs. Air, water, and fire are vying for our attention. The challenge will be to focus at all; the gift may be a new way to synthesize thought, emotion, and action. Chances are, the way will be unexpected and possibly confusing. Enjoy the process as it unfolds, if you can.

 Moon in Sagittarius

June 12—Full Moon: Illuminating. The Full Moon, which falls today in the CDT and tomorrow in the Eastern Time zone, represents a peak moment of integration for this Gemini lunar cycle. That’s the job of all mutable signs, to take in as much information as possible and weave it together. What I’ve noticed about the mutable genius is that this process comes without much effort. The mutable signs live in the energetic body of the elements: air’s mental processing, water’s emotional response, earth’ systemization, and fire’s exploration. Have you been more aware of your own energy body the last two weeks? An energy body, like the mutable signs, is subtle and quickly changing. When we are balanced and in the flow of mutable energy, we are uplifted, curious, and able to adapt easily. When we take in too much information or feel pressured to produce results with the information we take in, the nervous system can be overwhelmed. Times when the mutable signs are emphasized by transit, is a chance to notice how we run our energy and what we need to do to balance the systems.

Interaction between mutable signs amps up the gifts and the challenges of mutability. The Sagittarius Full Moon pairs the micro-focus of Gemini air with the macro-focus of Sagittarius fire. It’s a head trip! We are inspired when we perceive both the pieces and the whole that comes from this pairing. The Sun and Moon in the Full Moon chart are square to Chiron in Pisces, giving us the input of water. Pure intellect and expansive energy cannot solve the complex problems we face. Tenderness, grief, and compassion play a role too.

Sensitivity is strong now with another important feature of this chart: a Grand Water Trine between Chiron, Saturn in Scorpio and Jupiter in Cancer. This pattern presents the potential of deep emotional wisdom. But grand trines need to be stimulated into action. Venus provides that role. This grand trine is actually a Kite formation—a pattern caused when a planet opposes one of the planets in the trine and is sextile to the other two. Venus in Taurus opposes Saturn and is sextile to Chiron and Jupiter. Taurus is a fixed earth sign ruled by Venus; this is the anchor to the mutability and flow we are experiencing. I like to think of the Empress card in the Tarot when I imagine what Venus in Taurus wants from us. This card represents the power of the earth’s fecundity. The Empress invites us into our senses. From the body’s wisdom, we orient ourselves to our deepest values. Beauty is the guide and the anchor helping us expand our ability to perceive and integrate.

That isn’t all. Mars, just recently turned direct, triggers the Pluto/Uranus square for the next two weeks. You may remember the tension of the Grand Cardinal Cross in late March and April. Any unresolved issues are revisited. The symbolism of direct motion describes the energy we may encounter: direct opposition, direct action, direct choices, direct consequences. The mutable lessons in perception and energy management will help us move forward with mindful intention.

Moon enters Capricorn 12:04 pm CDT

Friday, June 13. The Full Moon is still felt today. We are expansive and maybe jittery. Mercury retrograde makes this Friday the 13th just a little more interesting. What are the omens? Take them with humor and curiosity. We have choice even when we play with the idea that the cosmos is giving us messages. The Moon in authority-minded Capricorn opposes Mercury. Is there a conflict with someone in power? Are temporary setbacks to your ambitions making you doubt yourself? These are just lessons that ultimately will give you more mastery. Time to claim your authority.

Moon in Capricorn

Saturday, June 14. Tension and conflict are present today. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t positives as well. Mars in Libra is square Pluto in Capricorn. The Moon in Capricorn, as well, joins the conversation. The issue may be authority vs. relationship. We are more sensitive to power differentials and injustice and some people will react. Goodness knows, we just may be seeing greater imbalance in these areas of U.S. culture than ever in our history. The gift comes from Pluto’s transformative power. When we claim personal power that is shared with others, we are stronger than the powers that hoard and deny. Do you believe that? I do.

 *The Gemini lunar cycle began on May 28 at the New Moon. Read more about the beginning of this lunar cycle on my Starsdance blog.

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