The Cosmic Story: The Wheel of the Year: Summer Solstice: June 21, 2019

The Cosmic Story: The Wheel of the Year:

Summer Solstice: June 21, 2019

The Blossoming of the Light

Summer Solstice at Stonehenge

We’re moving into a new season. A new energy. Full of light and warmth. We’re out of school, taking vacations, picnicking outside. The Sun is high overhead and vital! Everything is growing. Nature is blossoming.

This week, the Summer Solstice marks the high point of light in the northern hemisphere, the longest day, the shortest night.

While in the southern hemisphere, you celebrate the Winter Solstice, the longest night and shortest day. (I’m sorry I’ll be concentrating on the North. But the energies are the same. It’s just that they are being seeded in the South now at the New Moon phase of the year’s cycle/Winter Solstice – you are the next stage of development of this moment.)

At the same time, we can’t forget that the dark is rising. We might not acknowledge it, but the body knows. Summer is the time to sink into your body as you laze on the beach or on your doorstep. Your body enjoys the warmth and the light but it also unconsciously knows these days will soon be gone. So it wants to enjoy it now! 

 

For the energy has shifted into the Yin part of the year, into withdrawal and ultimately darkness. For the dark is slowly rising even as we celebrate the Sun’s power.

Light and Dark. Two sides of a never-ending cycle of change. The Sun stands still (Solstice) for 3 days twice each year, as the Sun travels to its furthest points both North and South of the Equator.

Two sides of life. Both necessary. The Celts name them twins – the Oak King and the Holly King, one to rule the warmth and light, one to rule the cold and dark. They battle for the hand of the Goddess but let’s imagine that they switch off gracefully and peacefully. It is during these 3 days at the Solstices that they switch authority over the Sun as it continues its travels through the year.

Melissa Benson

All things that live decay and die. Life and death are woven together. Letting go of old habits, or old cultural beliefs and systems, are part of the natural process. As a culture, we need to leave patriarchy behind so there is new life and new growth available to us. This is one of the lessons of Summer/Winter Solstice. Eternal renewal.

Most ancient cultures were aligned with the Earth and the heavens, and so they celebrated the turning points of Light and Darkness, growth and death. While our modern society has forgotten the meaning and rituals of these turning points, it is surprising how we unconsciously still celebrate them. Before the Summer Solstice when we celebrate the gifts of Father Sky, we celebrate Father’s Day. And what is America’s 4^th of July except a celebration of summer and the triumph of Life! It’s time to celebrate them with deeper meaning and insight into our lives. We need their sacred information so we can learn to live attuned once more to the Earth.

With a full summer of light and warmth ahead of us, most of us don’t think about the fact that after Summer Solstice, the light begins to fade and the darkness grows. With our modern conveniences and our disconnection from the Earth, we no longer live within the Great Mother’s rhythms and cycles.

But when we do, we experience the Summer Solstice as the height of a symphony of sounds and sights, tastes and touches and smells that will slowly fade away with the year. It is the season to experience the possibilities of heaven on Earth: that we can most surely nurture and create life to sustain us in the darker times. 

Sacred Marriage

 

At Summer Solstice, we experience the orgasmic ecstasy of life as Heaven and Earth engage in the Sacred Marriage. We get to experience the fullness and beauty of life. And also now, the over-heated threat of climate change. Gratitude and hope need to be coupled with determination and action.

Like a Full Moon, Summer Solstice gives form and intention to the seed planted at Winter Solstice – the Seed of Light and Life returning. What did we need to shed? What do we need to manifest? What have you made of your life so far this year? 

 

Summer Solstice, June 21, 2019

Summer Solstice occurs on the day the Sun enters the sign of Cancer. This year it occurs on Friday, June 21^st at 8:54am PDT/ 11:54am EDT/ 4:54pm GMT.

 

This is the season to honor our family and to feel the roots of our existence and the deep foundations of our soul. Cancer asks us to meditate on what it means for our souls to be at home here on the Earth plane as well as in our body, which is the temple of the soul.

Cancer, ruled by the Moon, also awakens memory, so we can begin to understand what has gone before, so we can heal the hurts and wounds of the past. Cancer wants our emotional body to be whole and healthy. We need our lessons if our soul is to grow, but once we’ve learned them, we need to let go of that life, of that old story. If you’ve learned your lesson, then become whoever you’re mention to BE! How have your past lives, your ancestors and your present life circumstances shaped you? What are the lessons? Have you learned them? If so, move on!

This Solstice season, with the lunar nodes creating eclipses in Cancer and Capricorn, we have an opportunity to release old karma and to understand the lessons involved. Now it’s time to leave the past behind and write that new story. Create your life – live a creative life!

So let’s look at where this cycle began – back in December of 2018.

At Winter Solstice last December, the Sun entered Capricorn, already made powerful and heavy by the presence of Saturn, Pluto and the Lunar South Node there. The necessity of societal change put pressure on the new Light to take us deeper and wider than we’ve ever gone before. The world literally rests in our hands and now we see what’s at stake if we don’t act.

Society is just a construct, like a corporation thinking it has person hood. Every society has its own rules and beliefs. Ours is called patriarchy, but other societies has had different rules and beliefs. We can change constructs. We don’t have to live in a society that values greed, materialism and power over Spirit, people and the Earth. It’s our choice. What we can’t change is the fact that we’re destroying our own world and killing our children’s future. Unless we take it upon ourselves to change and bring change to the world.

The other energy pattern in the Winter Solstice chart was a T-Square between the Gemini Moon, Mercury and Jupiter conjunct in Sagittarius and Neptune in Pisces. Jupiter and Neptune opened us to new spiritual possibilities and a larger, deeper imagination, while Mercury and the Gemini Moon contained the capacities to see the truth and to communicate what these new perspectives might entail. What was your true Solstice wish? What did you find yourself desiring?

Venus was busy with Ceres in Scorpio resurrecting a deep nurturing spirit in us while Mars in Pisces was grappling with his wounded warrior spirit. They asked us, What is important enough to us to stand up for, to fight for, to work for?

The next shift came at Spring Equinox, when the 0* Aries Sun was conjunct Chiron, the Wounded Healer and Mentor of Heroes. We were called to see our wounds to understand who we are. Hopefully, we began to listen even more intently to our imagination and intuitions (Mercury conjunct Neptune in Pisces) while we worked with its Virgo Moon to understand how to manifest what we are called to do (grand trine with Mars in Taurus, Moon in Virgo and SN, Pluto and Saturn in Capricorn). If we let go of our old story, our old karma, could we find ways to manifest the New Story, for ourselves and our culture?

Venus in Aquarius challenged Mars in Taurus to stand up for everyone, everywhere. We can see it happening in the world. People are standing up. Children are standing up. So the new Winter Solstice seeds took root. We have to boldly stand up for our beliefs if we want to change things. And we have to do it together.

Now, at Summer Solstice with the Sun at 0* Cancer, we are getting ready to incarnate our soul’s essence in a whole new way. We must name our desires and hopes and stand up for what’s important in life.

Neptune stations retrograde an hour before the Solstice, so its power is especially potent. As Neptune turns within, our focus will be on the inner world of our soul, the world of the creative imagination. What do you really want to imagine into being?

Neptune in Pisces has been a major player this year, working with Pluto, Saturn and the South Node in Capricorn to help us dissolve old karma by offering us a more spiritual, meaningful paradigm to live by. Neptune awakens us to the timeless place of beginnings and asks us to operate in Kairos time (timeless) as well as Chronos time (3D time). Bring the spiritual vision into our everyday life.

Neptune has also been squaring Jupiter retrograde all year, dissolving what is false in us and in the world. Neptune’s spiritual imagination is inspiring Mars and Mercury conjunct in Cancer now, so we feel and know (Mercury) what we need to do to nurture life, while Mars, the spiritual warrior, is ready to stand up for it.

There’s a feminine grand air trine illuminating this Summer Solstice. The Aquarius Moon aligns with Venus in Gemini and Pallas in Libra. The issues of freedom, equality, inner knowing and balance will offer us a chance to communicate our ideals. Venus asks that we use self-awareness to communicate our beliefs with charm and wit and kindness, and with wisdom. Use your imagination to figure out how to approach issues in ways that speak to the heart. It never hurts to engage with kindness and an open ear.

Venus in Gemini is opposite Jupiter retrograde in Sagittarius and they both square Neptune in Pisces. What truths need to be communicated? Truth isn’t simple. “Truth is deadly. Truth is freedom. Truth can break and mend and bind.” (Sarah Maas, Court of Mist and Fury).

Mercury in Cancer is intuitive and understands that the family, the tribe, is there to be supported and to support us. With Mars and the Lunar North Node there as well, we are ready to act on our beliefs because we see the breakdown of our culture and our institutions (Pluto, Saturn and the Lunar South Node in Capricorn) and we know that it is time to protect and defend life. Everything else is irrelevant.

Our world is ripe for change. Will we be the change agents it needs?

This summer, engage the Spirit of the times. Yes, summer is the time of light and warmth, fun and love. But it is also a time to act to overcome the obstacles of the fear of change that makes us want to pull back and stay safe in the comfort of ignoring the pain and suffering in our world.

We need to upgrade our consciousness, to open to the blessings that came to us at June 17th’s Sagittarius Full Moon which occurred on the Galactic Center, the Womb of our galaxy. Open up to revelation! A new belief system will give us new insights and possibilities. With Vesta the priestess conjunct Uranus in Taurus, our rituals will be potent. Rituals help us to hold onto and ground in meaning.

Count our blessings, which are so abundant. I feel like I live in paradise compared to the rest of the world. Which is true for most of us reading this. Spirit wants us to accept the challenge of our times. We can share our abundance – of life, of hope, of change – with the world.

What are we here for if not to create a better life? A more creative life. More alive to possibilities. We can do simple things like walking instead of using our cars. We can shut off our TVs and talk to our neighbors and see what our town needs that we can offer. We can do something big or something small, but we all need to take some action around the issues that we are passionate about.

Our world is dying. If we don’t want to literally kill people or exacerbate climate change, then we have to choose to sacrifice (to make sacred) ourselves. Let go of old habits that no longer serve your beliefs. Let go of old addictions that keep you stuck. Let the old world, the old story, die within you, so a new world, a new society, a new story can be born.

Now is the time to open up our vision and communicate it to our communities. The masses (Aquarius Moon) are ready to hear the right stories. Like Scheherazade, we have to take the risk and enchant people with the beauty, power and truth of our vision of a free, healthy and creative future. The Arts are especially important now. Just as they were in the 60s/70s. Art is an easy way to get to the heart of the matter. We can turn the fear of the future into a positive image of the future for ourselves and for others who do not have hope.

Where do we look for the parts of the new Story? Begin by asking, what does our world need? What does our immediate environment need from us? How can I contribute? What gifts can I offer? Go out and speak with the trees, the water, the winds, the Earth. Listen. They will speak to our hearts. We just need to use our imaginations to discover how we can help.

The Cancer/Capricorn Eclipses

Cancer and Capricorn are the signs most related to family and country. Cancer is the expert on family and nurturing. Capricorn is the expert manager of the community. We have to let go of the old way of managing things – and start to manage our lives around the good of our people. A shift must occur from the head to the heart – and then the head can help the heart instead of ignoring it.

With the Lunar Nodes going through these signs, we are being asked to reconsider if our society really supports our lives. So far, we’re seeing that it doesn’t. How can it, when we put the economy (which really serves the 1%ers more than it serves the rest of us) before the welfare, health and happiness of we the people?

Both the Cancer Solar Eclipse on July 2^nd and the Capricorn Lunar Eclipse on July 16^th confront us with these questions. And Mercury’s retrograde from July 7^th – July 31^st in Cancer will help us dive deeply into the emotional foundations of life to help us discover what is really important for our own happiness. Once we understand what that is, it’s our responsibility to see that we attain it. And along the way, we might help others attain their desires. 

Cancer Solar Eclipse, July 2, 2019

 

The Cancer total Solar Eclipse will be visible in eastern Oceania and most of South America. The Sun and Moon at 11* Cancer faces Saturn, South Node and Pluto in Capricorn. Our collective soul needs an upgrade. It’s time to plant a seed of emotional intelligence so we can recognize what is life-giving or life-destroying. The eclipse trines Neptune in Pisces, adding the spiritual imagination to the mix. Our spiritual beliefs can power our resourcefulness. Uranus helps us stay awake and aware and rebellious enough to push back against the old ways.

The Sabian symbol for the Sun and Moon at 11* Cancer is: A clown caricatures merrily all kinds of human traits. This ability to see and understand human nature is important. Make fun of yourself and your habits before you make fun of others. But also see through the illusion to the truth. What is just being human and what is cruelty and evil? We need to learn to discern!

Capricorn Lunar Eclipse, July 16, 2019

The Capricorn partial Lunar Eclipse occurs on July 16^th. It will be visible in most of Asia, the Middle East, Europe and eastern South America. It will involve the usual suspects in Capricorn (Pluto, Saturn, SN) along with the Moon. They will stand opposite Venus, the NN and the Sun in Cancer and both square Pallas in Libra. We have to find new ways to work with each other, ways that are nurturing to all of us. We are all in this together! That makes it our job to do the work of reconciliation. Offer to read the Mueller report at your local library. Let people know the truth of what’s going on.

The other aspects occurring during this lunar eclipse is a square between Uranus in Taurus to Mars and Mercury in Leo, opening our minds to alternative sources of energy and technology. And we’re still in the energy of Neptune square Jupiter, pushing us to really walk our talk – beliefs must lead to action.

The Sabian Symbol for the Sun at 25* Cancer is: Leader of men wrapped in an invisible mantle of power. This symbol indicates that when we are courageous enough to take a stand and lead, our soul’s power is there to protect us as well as to attract others with our light. Play to your strengths!

The Sabian Symbol for the Moon as 25* Capricorn is: Little boys frolic on soft rugs in an oriental carpet shop. (Shades of my trip to Istanbul!) This symbol indicates that our imagination must be grounded in reality to do what we need to do. Little boys rock at playing and imagining. They lose it as they grow up though. The magic carpets of Scheherazade’s stories bring a spiritual dimension to our 3D reality. Magic can happen. Stop being such grown-ups and start to believe! That will make you the leader we need.

The rest of the summer/winter transits:

1. Mercury goes retrograde from July 7^th – July 31^st from 5* Leo to 24* Cancer. As mentioned in earlier newsletters, all of the Mercury retrogrades this year are in the 3 water signs. The first was in Pisces in March, where we had to contemplate our oneness. This one in Cancer asks us what our personal stake is in life. The last Mercury retrograde this year will be in Scorpio, where we’ll have to consider how much more we grow when we interact with other people in our lives.

2. Venus moves into Cancer on July 3^rd and into Leo on July 27^th, into Virgo on August 17^th and into Libra just before the Equinox on September 13^th. She’s moving quickly now and will disappear behind the Sun from the morning sky from July 8^th – September 20^th when she’ll appear as the Evening Star.

3. Mars leaves Cancer and enters Leo on July 1^st, enters Virgo on August 17^th, squaring Jupiter in Sagittarius on September 12^th and Neptune on September 13 – 14, reigniting our passion for being a spiritual warrior.

4. Pay attention on August 11^th. Jupiter retrograde turns direct at 15* Sagittarius (divination), Mercury re-enters Leo (creative mind) and Uranus turns retrograde at 7* Taurus (a new revelation) . It should be an interesting day for all.

5. Saturn retrograde turns direct on September 18^th at 14* Capricorn (enduring values).

This is the time when Light blossoms along with the flowers and fruits. This Summer Solstice season asks us: What can we do to nurture ourselves, our communities, our clans, our people? If each town and village pledged to heal their immediate environment, it would begin. We can’t depend on corporations or governments which are failing to do the right thing. It has to come from the people. And that is what is happening again.

The children are rising. The workers are rising. The repressed are arising. Women are arising. The Earth is arising. We will be reborn.

May the peace and the love of the Goddess and the God be ever with you. Merry meet, merry part and merry meet again!

Cathy

What Is There Beyond Knowing?

What is there beyond knowing that keeps
calling to me? I can't

turn in any direction
but it's there. I don't mean

the leaves' grip and shine or even the thrush's
silk song, but the far-off

fires, for example,
of the stars, heaven's slowly turning

theater of light, or the wind
playful with its breath;

or time that's always rushing forward,
or standing still

in the same -- what shall I say --
moment.

What I know
I could put into a pack

as if it were bread and cheese, and carry it
on one shoulder,

important and honorable, but so small!
While everything else continues, unexplained

and unexplainable. How wonderful it is
to follow a thought quietly

to its logical end.
I have done this a few times.

But mostly I just stand in the dark field,
in the middle of the world, breathing

in and out. Life so far doesn't have any other name
but breath and light, wind and rain.

If there's a temple, I haven't found it yet.
I simply go on drifting, in the heaven of the grass
and the weeds.

~ Mary Oliver ~

(New and Selected Poems Volume Two)