Summer Solstice 2024: Nurture, Deepen, Protect
Thursday, June 18, 2024
Sun in Cancer immediately after Sun squared Neptune in Pisces with Sun at 29 Gemini
Sun at 0 Cancer Combust Venus at 4 Cancer, Mercury at 7 Cancer
Sun at 0 Cancer quincunx Pluto at 1 Aquarius
Moon at 15 Sagittarius square Saturn at 19 Pisces
Mercury at 7 Cancer sextile Mars at 8 Taurus
Sun has now reached the ultimate height of its intensity as Earth’s tilted axis primes the longest day of the year. The Cardinal ingress points of the Tropical Zodiac are what not only the seasons are based upon, but this is the underlying principle of modern Tropical astrology, observation of the Solar cycle at these points of celestial power (the Solstices and Equinoxes) have defined the pattern of seasons on our planet since time immemorial. Evidence exists of astronomical and astrological observation, interpretation, and prognostication dating all the way back to ancient Mesopotamia, and every culture noted the power and significance of these Cardinal ingress points, whether we’re looking at them according to a Tropical or a Sidereal Zodiac, it’s the Equinoxes and Solstices that mark the passage of time according to the travel of Sun. The Zodiac may shift over time according to precession, but Sun remains constant in it’s cycle of light, life, and illumination. The Equinoxes are equal light and dark, day and night, whereas the Solstices are EXTREMES of darkness and light, night and day. Summer Solstice, as a height and intensity of DAY is an extreme of Cardinal drive in Cancer, the space of intuitive feeling, of building home and family.
If the Aries Solar ingress is the beginning, where initiative is first undertaken, then the Cancer solar ingress is our first point of digging in at the roots. Cancer is the sign of home, family, Mother, intuition, empathy. Aries is about defining ME, I AM and Cancer is about defining FEELING and NEEDS. This is the full height of the Sun at its most magnificent and influential, and the Solstice not only gives light and life, but burns with intensity of understanding and illumination. The call of home and family is strong in protective and nurturing Cancer, and the power of intuition inspires us toward our higher callings. Every Cardinal Solar ingress marks the change of season and the chart for each one sets the influence not just for the transit of Sun through the sign, but for that of the entire Season. This chart is significant not just now, but in context of all New and Full Moons through the next Cardinal ingress, when Sun moves into Libra upon the Autumnal Equinox. The point of 0 Cancer is always at the same place in your natal chart, but the influences of the planets change from year to year, so it's always important to consider how the entire chart impacts you.
Sun in Cancer immediately after Sun squared Neptune in Pisces with Sun at 29 Gemini
This Solstice is unique because it arrives with a precursor aspect that compounds the direction of the seasonal change into one of RESPONSE, because we step into the light of Solstice immediately following a square from Gemini Sun at 29 minutes and 53 seconds to Neptune, planet of dreams and intuition, in Pisces at not just the end of the sign, but the end of the very ZODIAC itself! Neptune is preparing to Station Retrograde in just over a week, so this is a Neptune that is already grinding down to a halt and looking back, from a place that absolutely demands CLOSURE but we’re hesitant to accept what we need to accept, and Gemini Sun is overthinking, overstimulated, and at the absolute HEIGHT of the solar cycle. This is a profound intensification of dreams dreamt and lost, or wishing things were different, and frustration with overwhelming feelings. This square is the big challenge, and the demand for final acceptance and realization surrounding fantasies or illusions we’ve been clinging to, spiritual bypassing will no longer get us anywhere, and Gemini doesn't actually HAVE the answers that we’ve been seeking, perhaps things have been so scattered as to prevent a coherent method, what we know is all surface level, we see now that it takes substance, not just the gloss and facade of information but the depth of knowledge to move forward. That’s the other side of the axis, and it’s time for the Wheel to turn so that we can eventually get there. The Sun/Neptune square sparks debate, with our higher selves, as to what it is that we know, and what we need to DO to turn that into not just wishful thinking, but the culmination of our hopes and dreams. Neptune can be a powerful deceiver, sometimes that arises from our own seeing the best and falling prey to illusion as we idealize and ignore red flags, but Cancer Sun makes them unavoidable as we step across the threshold and the square becomes out of sign, with both sides now being places of POWERFUL intuition. We see through it, even if we can’t do anything about it. What was uncertain yesterday is now illuminated with overwhelming INSIGHT upon the moment of Solstice. Pay attention to feelings, especially those that are uncomfortable or intense. They are your guide under Cancer Sun.
Sun at 0 Cancer Combust Venus at 4 Cancer, Mercury at 7 Cancer
Cardinal signs are about ACTION, initiative, and taking CHARGE. In Cancer, that regards home and family as the domain of interest, where we must nurture and protect, and where emotional security is paramount. This is about the safety of FEELING, and being able to truly reveal who it is that we actually ARE underneath all the facade and masks we’ve layered under the Gemini transit. This doesn’t just entail ripping off the surface level glimmer of Sun now that we’re confronting raw, emotional honesty in Cancer, it entails repairing damage after the Neptune square to both Mercury, planet of thought and communication, and Venus, planet of relationships and resources, which both just made Cazimi to Gemini Sun in the past couple of weeks followed by culminating squares to Neptune at 29 Pisces as well. Mercury and Venus have already had a profound shift and experience of immersion in the deep Water of Cancer with their conjunction that took place at 0 Cancer immediately after their simultaneous ingress, and this was really the first aspect to begin to feel out the Solstice influence ahead of the Solar ingress. These two are still rather close to Sun, and both are still Combust, burned by the glare of Sun and we have to remember that right now, Sun is at its MOST powerful point of its cycle. Its influence is strongest in Leo, when it’s in its own sign, but as far as the astronomical influence of Sun directly upon Earth, the Cancer Solstice is the tipping point of the entire season.
With Mercury and Venus both Combust, it may take time before we’re able to actually OUT our feelings surrounding changes in how we think, and within our relationships and resources. There is a strong fear of getting burned, and with fear, Cancer Sun does one of two things: hides within the shell, or lashes out protectively. Confronting these fears is an INTERNAL process with these planets being Combust, and as Cancer is ruled by Moon, we can look to MOON as to see how this is best navigated. At time of Solstice, Moon is at 13 Sagittarius, which is interesting as Sagittarius lies opposite Gemini and opposite the point at which we experienced VENUS CAZIMI at 14 Gemini followed by a New Moon Combust Venus at 16 Gemini!!!!!! With Moon, the ruler of Cancer highlighting the exact opposing end of the axis within a degree, this is where we see the point/counterpoint of Venus Cazimi, the Venus Star Point that now underlies our experience of the Venus cycle. Hidden answers are here if we care to look for them, and can step from Gemini thinking into Cancer feeling. It may feel like a confrontational process, whether confronting hidden situations, external challenges, or internal fears. Regardless, we are moving from Mutable adjustment and shifting to Cardinal ACTION, an active process that requires us to DO something, not just talk about it or dream it, but DO IT.
Sun at 0 Cancer quincunx Pluto at 1 Aquarius
Whatever pitfalls belie us under this Solstice, we may not see them nor have a direct experience of them thanks to this quincunx from Cancer Sun to Pluto at 1 Aquarius. A quincunx is a tension that cannot be resolved, and there is a sense of either glossing over or just being completely unaware of the influence, as these signs do not relate in any way and cannot see nor sense the reach of the other. As such, be careful of hidden enemies, and don’t be surprised if your understanding of Cancer home and family is somehow required to unexpectedly evolve, or shift. Pluto may require us to strengthen boundaries we didn’t realize we needed, or may reveal issues of trust or security that we were unaware of, but it takes time, and catches us off guard. We can’t plan for that which we do not expect, and Cancer moves in a REACTIVE way already. Aries is ACTIVE and Cancer is where we are REACTIVE…so keep in mind that if external circumstances seem to pull a Pluto and pull the rug out from under you in some regard, the REACTION needs to be feelings first, and protecting the security of what lies closest to your heart.
Moon at 15 Sagittarius square Saturn at 19 Pisces
Sagittarius Moon cannot be underestimated in its optimism and search for truth, especially surrounding the nature of BELIEF, and with Saturn, planet of structure and discipline in spiritual Pisces, that’s precisely what we must confront in this tense square. The influence of Moon is heightened under Summer Solstice ESPECIALLY given proximity to FULL MOON that happens tomorrow (which I will discuss on the Divine Lunation Tier) and Saturn, like Neptune, is slowing down to Station. Saturn in Pisces has already reached its degree of Station and is now just 3 minutes from its exact point of standstill. What has been procrastinated or avoided now MUST be finished, and we’re in a hurry, but that does us no good and serves no purpose because Sagittarius Moon isn’t caring about things being DONE so much as cares about things being TRUE…what we believe absolutely has to have merit, source must be valid, and whatever crazy schemes and dreams we’ve conceived under all of the Gemini influences must now pass the knowledge test. Does it hold up? Saturn in Pisces will not allow anything that doesn’t come with profound TRUTH to remain standing, and we can no longer just “fake it til we make it.” When we consider that Gemini Jupiter is a long term influence in Gemini for the rest of the year and will later square Saturn, we would do well to remember that NOW.
Mercury at 7 Cancer sextile Mars at 8 Taurus
Mercury is still Combust in Cancer, and it’s nearing the point where it pulls far enough away to be seen once again at the end of the month, but for right now, Mercury is still in this state of internalized tension…and under Solstice, it will be sextile Mars, planet of action and drive, which is in detriment in Taurus. This can lead to passive aggressive EXPLOSIONS when either emotional security (Cancer) or physical security (Taurus) feel unstable or threatened. Mercury in Cancer is highly protective, and this is likely to happen when defending others close to us, or our own personal space and needs. IT IS IMPERATIVE to communicate needs under this Solstice, and if issues arise, to get to the center of not the explosion, but the actual, real, underlying unmet need that drives it. This aspect also says that what we begin now may be slow to start and require concerted effort over time, this is not a quick manifestation Solstice, rather it’s one that requires deep thought and hard work to take the roots we are nurturing and to drive them deep enough to do something REAL.
This is the Solstice, and by the time we reach tomorrow’s Full Moon, the Moon has changed signs and the nature of the astrology is vastly different. Please keep in mind that the two celestial events, while close in proximity, have an impact upon one another, but are distinct and separate charts that require separate analysis and action put forth to make the most of them and harness the opportunity that lies within the challenge. This Solstice is a BIG REACTION to the external events that have conspired around us to get us to this point so far in the year, and we can take it forward by allowing INTUITION to be the guide. This is the grand vision for the next three months, so know that when Sun crosses the point of 4 Cancer where Venus now lies, we will get to the heart of the relationship issues, and when it gets to 7 where Mercury sits, the communication struggles will come out into the open as well. The Quarters of the Solar cycle are not a stagnant one time chart, they are points in time that are important and continue to remain relevant as we proceed ahead into Cancer support and Cancer emphasis on home and family.