11th: Full Strawberry Moon in Sagittarius
12th: Father’s Day
20th: Summer Solstice
21st: Midsummer
25th: New Moon in Cancer
The month is June. By now, our skins have soaked up the sun’s radiance like a kind of photosynthesis. We are warmed and able to make our own sweet sugar. This consistent dose of potent energy gives us the ability to generate a great impetus for growth and lasting change. It is a life-giving source that we can emit to help inspire and fuel others in our shared ecosystem. The dream we birthed in May has been raised in this light, and is strong enough now to wander and explore. With Juno’s help, goddess of childbirth and marriage, we feel more confident in its upbringing. The energy of the month also lends a paternal hand to help provide, teach, and guide this dream to actualization. We are encouraged to make the most of the month by staying in full momentum. Halfway through the growing season, we can see the trajectory between what we have planted and what we’d like to harvest, and use this to motivate ourselves to stay on track. Still, we are cautioned by the tale of the fern blossom that blooms in the final hour of Midsummer Eve. It is the hail mary surrounded by peril and darkness. It holds promises of fortune, the power to speak to animals, or read minds…if only we had this “thing” in our possession, our lives would finally fall into place. We are advised not to waste precious time hunting for a shortcut, and instead to focus on the resources and gifts we already have at our disposal so we can follow through on our intent.
The Full Strawberry Moon in Sagittarius can take on several meanings depending on the tradition–in Cherokee tradition it can symbolize love and resolution. For the Inupiat and Tlingit peoples of Alaska, the moon symbolizes a time of birthing instead, since in Alaska a June birth will give their offspring the maximum time to grow and mature before they have to face the winter. This suggests we should develop our dreams and projects as much as possible before the end of the year. In the States, we celebrate Father’s Day, a figure whose metaphorical properties are likened to the sun. In Sweden, Midsummer, the longest day of the year, is a time of lasting festivities. This is symbolic of a phenomenon in the north called the Midnight Sun, when the sun hardly sets and can even stay visible up to 56 days. Finally at the end of the month we’ll experience a New Moon in Cancer, we are invited to explore our inner worlds, our relationality with others, and our ideals for home and family.
Below we use a Summer Solstice Spread by the Astrotwins.
Sol: Where opportunity is bright right now ~Queen of Cups~
This June, our golden opportunity is represented by the Queen of Cups. We thrive when we experience life through the magnificence of her splendor. The sun rises from the ocean’s horizon, casting its brilliant reflection on the water with its rays catching on the waves like sparkling diamonds. Rainbows form in her presence - a divine bridge of creation between consciousness and spirit. The sun shines off the Queen’s chalice, hinting at its contents. Sunlight glints in her eyes–our window to the soul, and exemplifies the majesty of her crown. The sword she uses to protect her vision is a blinding force to any who would interfere. The Queen inspires confidence in us to follow her example. Water is the force that forms and shapes the world, eroding seemingly hard formations, creating new courses and pathways, and making smooth. Under her guidance we are encouraged to actualize any dreams we’ve been harboring, to enter the channel of great creation and flow along its river. The sun warms and brightens waters of more typically intimidating depths, emboldening us to plunge in and hunt for treasure on sunken ships. We become like mermaids, comfortable and at one with the elements of our personal and collective subconscious, bringing up the gifts they have to offer.
Sistere: Where to stand still and reflect ~Hierophant~
The Hierophant in this position advocates resolution through stillness. To seek clarity and wisdom, we can find an ideal quiet environment to meditate and commune with spirit. This also provides us the opportunity to reflect on teachings and lessons learned, and think about what we would like to model with our own behavior. This reflection creates space for transformation of the soul, integrating and alchemizing these lessons into spiritual gold. This process is necessary to better aid, guide, and channel for others. The messages we channel, the drive with which we work–these reflect the content of our principles and values. With the help of the Herme’s triple crown, the Hierophant helps to balance our inner and outer work, and our moon and sun signs. around the Summer Solstice. Per the Tarot of the Holy Light, this is the best time of the year to do alchemical work, which we can do under the mentorship of the Hierophant. Under his tutelage, we can learn, experiment, and work with others, maximizing the absorption of knowledge and exchange.
Shadow: What needs to be illuminated ~Eight of Cups~
The shadow that needs to be illuminated and tended this month is represented by the Eight of Cups. We are being called to examine where we are experiencing drought, whether the source is personal, relational or communal. What isn’t filling our cup, or worse, draining it? On the Queen of Cups’ ship we can sail off to new adventures, but not if we don’t lift the anchor. Where are we feeling stagnated and stuck? How can we keep ourselves growing and learning in a positive way? Per Between the Worlds, emotional mastery is a result of knowing when to push harder, when to let go, and when to walk into the unknown. The Hierophant card above will help us hone in on the inner voice buried underneath the noise of conditioning, but it is up to us to change course once we do. Per Tarot of the Holy Light, the Eight of Cups indicates long-held wounds we haven’t addressed. This keeps us in a state of struggle that actively drains our life force and prevents us from setting sail. It’s a shadow we must release to glide into the light.
Sunbeam: Advice for the situation ~Reverse Chariot~
Our advice this month is to step back and think about where we want to exert our efforts–not to keep pushing harder for the sake of it, full steam ahead. We really want to think about where we want to exert our effort and will, and whether our various forces are on the same page–our passions, desires, fears, etc. We’ll want to address the Shadow presented by the Eight of Cups using the help of the Hierophant, and really assess whether our intuition, reason, ego, will, and spiritual vision are all aligned. Otherwise, they will act as oppositional forces that will derail all our efforts and conflict with one another, preventing movement. Per Tarot of the Holy Light, the reverse Chariot encourages us to reflect on and learn from our failures so that we can become a better Chariot. It is important to note our failures were not a waste of time and effort–they are something that gives us knowledge of what doesn’t work, so we can remap our future. It is never too late to learn self mastery so that we can move forward more efficiently.
Cultivate: What to grow for the rest of the summer ~Reverse Magician~
For the rest of the summer, we are advised to get really clear on what we really want, free of societal expectations and the desires of others. We should be able to refine it into a single sentence. We are reminded that if we can imagine it, we can do it. Per Strange Magic, we can use limitations to our advantage, as we already have everything we need. Our only true limitations are mental blocks such as doubt and disbelief. We don’t have to wait for the perfect thing to make it happen–the proverbial fern flower that blooms in the last hour of Midsummer’s Eve and grants us with potent abilities, if only we could find it. What resources and gifts do we already have at our disposal to actualize our will? Are we happy with the dream we birthed in April, or does it need further adjustments to become something we’re satisfied with? This month is the optimal time to consider what we’d like to cultivate for the rest of the growing season, so that we are content with what we reap in the fall.
Shine: Opportunities to shine this summer ~Reverse Knight of Pentacles~
We have an opportunity to shine when we reevaluate the work we want to show up for consistently. Per Between the Worlds, the reverse Knight of Pentacles asks us to reconsider what work feels forced or extractive. In combination with the Eight of Cups, we are asked: what work are we forcing ourselves into that we don’t have to do? What work would bring us more pleasure and growth instead? This is the work we’ll want to lean into consistently, day after day, even when we don’t feel motivated. If we do the work in June, we’ll build up the strong discipline needed to fulfill our vision in the long run. Our commitment to putting forth our best effort comes from intrinsic motivation. However, we are reminded to be accepting and forgiving of imperfections. This will allow us to keep moving forward and stay grateful to ourselves for doing so. Vision takes time, and embodying the Knight of Pentacles will give us the lasting power to bring it to life, if we can only set him on the right path.