Summer Solstice

Summer Solstice - Expanded Perimeters

"Out here on the perimeter there are no stars. Out here we is stoned. Immaculate."

— Jim Morrison

This week's shifts may feel quite unsettling, as we move from Gemini's generally lighthearted, inquisitive spontaneity into a more vulnerable, sensitive Cancer mood. Before we reach the Summer Solstice on Thursday — when the Sun arrives in Cancer — both Venus and Mercury step — essentially, in tandem — into watery, emotional Cancer. However, just before they reach Cancer, they each square Neptune which is stationing to turn retrograde only 5 minutes from the cusp of Aries. The squares to Neptune may elicit some highly idealistic inspiration but also, some uneasy feelings of insecurity. The insecurity feeds directly into the ingress of Venus and Mercury into Cancer. We are inclined to try to set some kind of 'perimeter' of safety in order to bolster our security. However, upon arriving in Cancer, both Venus and Mercury are met intensely by a quincunx to Pluto in Aquarius. The shifts of Venus and Mercury set an uneasy tone for when the Sun, just before the Summer Solstice on Thursday, makes the same aspects. While we might like to enjoy setting a safe and rhythmic new pace in the newly established Cancer atmosphere, we are simply too unsettled. The series of idealistic squares to the very strong, stationing Neptune are trying to encourage us to find enough faith to simply 'let go' and allow our perspective to expand. But our instincts are likely to be telling us that we need to define our boundaries, lock them down, and make preparations for any and all possible circumstances. We may even struggle with a feeling of impending doom. Once the Cancer/Aquarius interactions take over at Friday's Capricorn Full Moon (6:07 PM PDT 1° Capricorn/Cancer) the message is that we actually need to expand our perimeters — if not dispense with them completely! The Full Moon is in quite an interesting 'out-of-sign' square to Neptune. This is a Cardinal Sign/Mutable Sign combination that is really offering us encouragement to step through a process of letting go of 'the old' and begin to bravely explore 'the new'. The fact is that we either have to take a 'leap of faith' towards the future or stay stuck — and essentially buried — in the past.

We find some extraordinary insights on Sunday that we are inclined to try to share as broadly as possible. However, as we move through the day our focus shifts toward being more circumspect and 'safe'. There is an uneven sense of caution and uncertainty on Monday. While we may be trying to put forward an outward appearance of strength, hiding our insecurity will only leave us 'tied up in knots'. We may struggle to maintain our confidence levels on Tuesday. We may actually become somewhat suspicious or even paranoid. We feel both idealistic and uncertain on Wednesday. Emotions are quite intense. We turn an important and precipitous corner on Thursday on the Summer Solstice. We may struggle to recall the lessons of the last few months that have taught us to let go of self-doubt and hold tightly to faith. We are likely to continue to feel quite cautious and uncertain on Friday but at least we may be willing to talk about it openly. We need to take a leap of faith in order to move forward. The remnants of Gemini nervousness are in the air on Saturday. We are encouraged to expand the 'perimeter' of our comfort zone in order to develop a more durable sense of security.