And with the Sun squaring Neptune, there’s tides of unitive compassion that wave through the day. We can feel a deeper sense of others’ joys as well as their pain. There’s a thinner veil between us and others, as we experience how connected we all really are. Neptune washes away boundaries. This can be an asset for inspiring creativity and artistry but a challenge for those who are dealing with co-dependent patterns. Neptune reflects an opening of awareness, allowing us to pierce through to access often-shrouded truth. That said, it’s important to not fall into this planet’s diffusive pull on our conscious that can result in spacing out and/or not taking personal responsibility.

Astro-Atlas*
4:31 am: Moon enters Cancer
10:43 am: Moon (Cancer) trine Neptune (Pisces)
1:57 pm: Sun (Gemini) square Neptune (Pisces)
7:30 pm: Moon (Cancer) square Uranus (Aries)
10:34 pm: Moon (Cancer) opposite Pluto (Capricorn)

* all times are PDT

Astro-Atlas*
2:24 pm: Moon (Gemini) conjunct Venus (Gemini)
3:51 pm: Moon (Gemini) trine Saturn (Libra)
3:51 pm: Moon void-of-course

* all times are PDT

Since yesterday’s Solar Eclipse what’s opening up in your life? What are you seeing is starting to take root on its way to blossoming? Did any life-changing events or realizations occur that have shifted your path in unexpected ways?

No need to write your answers in the Comments section–although that would be great too. I just wanted to ask these questions for you to use as reflection points.

Astro-Atlas*
7:13 am: Moon (Gemini) sextile Uranus (Aries)
2:17 pm: Moon (Gemini) square Mars (Virgo)
10:58 pm: Mercury (Taurus) conjunct Jupiter (Taurus)

* all times are PDT

Astro-Atlas*
5:35 am: Moon (Taurus) conjunct Jupiter (Taurus)
5:35 am: Moon void-of-course
8:16 am: Sun enters Gemini
4:05 pm: Moon enters Gemini
4:47 pm: Solar Eclipse: Moon (Gemini) conjunct Sun (Gemini)
10:23 pm: Moon (Gemini) square Neptune (Pisces)

* all times are PDT

After all, not only is the Moon in steadfast and hold-tight Taurus but the Sun spends its last full day in this sign that would rather amass than release. Therefore, you could feel pushed and pulled by contrasting notions. On the one hand, there’s an urge to give away what you know is holding you back from new beginnings. And yet, a clinging based upon scarcity fear — “will I ever experience something like this again?” — may put doubts in your mind and brakes upon your actions.

Yet, the overarching direction is towards the new. So how can we use the Taurus energies constructively to this aim rather than have them stop us in our tracks and cause more potential tension? Practice Taurean practicality – and go slow. Instead of thinking of EVERYTHING that may need changing now, just pick one thing and focus on that, being pragmatic about your approach.

Once you get into this groove, the idea of letting things go to make space for what you truly desire will become a rhythm that you can flow with. And since Taurus definitely grooves on being in a rhythm and a routine, this energy can than transform to being your support rather than your restriction.

Astro-Atlas*
9:37 pm: Moon (Taurus) conjunct Mercury (Taurus)

* all times are PDT

Astro-Atlas*
3:03 am: Moon enters Taurus
9:18 am: Moon (Taurus) sextile Neptune (Pisces)
9:46 am: Moon (Taurus) trine Pluto (Capricorn)
11:32 pm: Moon (Taurus) trine Mars (Virgo)

* all times are PDT

Astro-Atlas*
2:40 pm: Moon (Aries) sextile Venus (Gemini)
2:44 pm: Moon (Aries) opposite Saturn (Libra)
2:44 pm: Moon void-of course
9:17 pm: Pallas Athene enters Aries

* all times are PDT

Also, remember that Venus is now retrograde. During the next six weeks, it’s like we’re taking a crash course in re-evaluating our values, finding out what’s really and truly important to us.

Astro-Atlas*
5:11 am: Moon (Aries) conjunct Uranus (Aries)
9:10 am: Moon (Aries) square Pluto (Capricorn)
9:20 am: Mars (Virgo) trine Pluto (Capricorn)

* all times are PDT

The goddess planet that governs relationships, money, art, beauty and all that we value and to which we are attracted goes retrograde today. While she does this backward dance every year and one-half–a time period when we learn to re-evaluate what it is that we value–this current cycle is going to be quite a profound one.

That’s because during this six-week period of retrograde Venus inspiring re-assessment of what’s really important is rife with a buffet of other powerful planetary shifts and alignments. Before Venus motions direct again on June 27, we experience two Eclipses (May 20 and June 4), Neptune stationing retrograde (also June 4), Jupiter’s entry into Gemini (June 11), the Solstice (June 20), the first of the Uranus/Pluto squares (June 24), and Saturn stationing direct (June 25).

In addition to this wide array of powerful planetary connections, sure to impact our life’s r/evolution, there’s also a very significant event on June 5 that involves Venus herself. This is the Transit of Venus, where as she comes between the Earth and the Sun we will see her shadow cast upon El Sol. The Transit of Venus is profound in that this paired event (the last one happened on June 8 2004) occurs every 121 years. So, these are truly once in a lifetime events.

I’ll write more about the Transit of Venus in the coming weeks, but will note here a few things. The Transit of Venus certainly brings to our attention the archetype of Venus–the feminine and her mystique that lives within all of us. Within that we not only are reminded of her bright side but also her shadow, the part of us where we don’t consciously embrace healthy relationships and a true value of our personal beauty and therefore cast it out. So this is a time when we can fully see all facets of the feminine, of love and beauty, so that we can embrace it in ourselves and in others.

The Transit of Venus occurs at 16 Gemini. While everyone will experience it, if you have planets or points around that degree of Gemini–or the other mutable planets of Virgo, Sagittarius, or Pisces–you may feel it more intensely.

Given that Venus retrogrades in Gemini, and Gemini is the sign of communication and the wordsmith, I’m feeling the urge to write a lot about this event and this time. I will do so more in later posts. In the meanwhile, to learn more about Venus retrograde, read this post I wrote on the subject.

Astro-Atlas*
2:09 am: Moon (Pisces) sextile Jupiter (Taurus)
2:54 am: Moon (Pisces) square Venus (Gemini)
4:59 am: Moon (Pisces) sextile Sun (Taurus)
4:59 am: Moon void-of-course
7:33 am: Venus stations retrograde
2:45 pm: Moon enters Aries

* all times are PDT

Astro-Atlas*
1:09 am: Mercury (Taurus) trine Pluto (Capricorn)

* all times are PDT