June 2015 Newsletter

This month is dominated by Mercury, Mars and Neptune.

The Sun is transiting Gemini - the sign that Mercury rules – while Mercury is retrograding in Gemini.  The Mercury / Gemini theme highlights thinking and communicating and creates the potential to illuminate outmoded patterns that are ripe for change.

Mars is tracking close to the Sun, forming an exact conjunction on June 15, but it features strongly in all the key charts: the full moon on June 3, the new moon on June 17 and the Solstice on June 22. Mars can be very energizing and it is energizing the Sun and Mercury so try to think before you speak and beware the potential for arguments.

Neptune is stationing retrograde and tracking close to a square with Mercury all month and with Mars during the latter part of the month. This great time to dream, meditate and explore your inner worlds but can be tricky for getting things done.  …More information below.

Blessings

Christine Rothwell
0438 730 133
Email: christinerothwell@outlook.com
Website: www.christine-rothwell.com
 
Contents
1.      June Overview
2.      Winter Solstice
3.      Astrology Classes for 2015.
4.      Consultations and Gift Certificates

All dates and times are for Australian Eastern Time. The month starts with Mercury, Pluto and Saturn retrograde and Neptune joins them on June 12, the day that Mercury turns direct.

• June 3: Full Moon in Sagittarius
• June 6: Venus to Leo
• June 12: Mercury direct
• June 12: Neptune retrograde
• June 15: Sun conjunct Mars
• June 15: Saturn retrogrades back into Scorpio
• June 17: New Moon in Gemini
• June 20: Saturn semi-square Pluto
• June 22: Jupiter trine Uranus
• June 22: Sun to Cancer: Winter Solstice
• June 24: Mercury square Neptune
• June 24: Mars to Cancer

 
 June Overview

Mercury moved retrograde on May 19 and remains retrograde until June 12. This is its second retrograde cycle for 2015 and takes place in the sign of Gemini, highlighting thought patterns and the process of communication. Please be aware that the retrograde phenomenon is activated from the time that Mercury entered the loop to the time that it leaves: May 4 to June 27. The most chaotic times are when Mercury stations – around May 19 and June 12.

 Key dates / degrees

• Exact dates: retrograde from  May 19 to June 12
• Sensitive degrees:  4 to 13 Gemini
• Full time of influence: May 4 to June 27
• Time for insight: around May 31 when the new Mercury cycle begins
• Time to act on new ideas / beliefs: June 12 to 27.

Remember, that in spite of the chaos that sometimes accompanies this transit, Mercury retrograde always provides us with the opportunity to free our thinking from habitual ruts and develop a more conscious set of mental attitudes and beliefs.

Concerns may arise early in the retrograde phase but around May 31 when the new cycle began, new solutions and insights may have emerged.  Sit with your insights until after June 12 when Mercury goes direct. The next few weeks are the time to express your insights and put new plans into action however with Neptune forming a square to Mercury on June 24 I would advise caution …you may need to wait a few more weeks to get real clarity on any situation.

The Full Moon in Sagittarius falls on June 3 at 11 degrees of Sag. This full moon highlights our beliefs and calls us to see the big picture. The Sagittarian quest is the Search for Meaning, hence this full moon invites us to step back and see the bigger picture in our lives and expand our awareness and sense of what is possible for ourselves and humanity.

The Full Moon forms a T-square pattern with the Moon in Sagittarius opposite the Sun, Mercury and Mars in Gemini with Neptune in Pisces at the apex, squaring them all. The conjunction of the Sun and Mercury [retrograde] climaxed on May 31 and marked the beginning of a new Mercury Cycle. This highlighted the potential for insight and illumination into our communication and thought patterns and processes. The Full Moon in Sagittarius invites us to expand our consciousness and let go limited thinking and any outmoded beliefs and mental ruts that we may have noticed.

Mars can ‘heat up’ the situation so beware speaking before you have thought things through or speaking in anger. Neptune will sensitize the whole process and may create confusion. The Neptunian influence  may be heightened as Neptune will soon make its station [ on May 12]. The negative potential of this is [self] deception and delusion but the positive potential is heightened intuition and deeper access to our inner wisdom. Sit with any insights until Mercury moves direct to be sure they are not wishful thinking and the product of self-deception.

Venus moves into Leo on June 6 and enters Her retrograde loop around the Solstice, on June 22. She will begin Her retrograde path on July 25 and retrace Her path backwards from 0 Virgo to 14 Leo suggesting that we are entering a time of major review of our values and relationships. The July Newsletter will focus on this phenomenon in more detail.

Neptune is stationing retrograde and tracking close to a square with Mercury all month and with the Sun and Mars during the first part of the month, giving the whole month a Neptunian influence. . This great time to dream, meditate and explore your inner worlds but can be tricky for getting things done in the ‘real world’.  Don’t push too hard and be prepared to wait before you make any major decisions to see if they are grounded in, ‘reality’. Neptune can create a fog that makes it challenging to see what is really going on so there is plenty of potential for [self] deception.

  Key Neptune dates
·         Conjunct Mars May 26
·         Conjunct the Sun May 31
·         Neptune stations retrograde on June 12
         Conjunct Mercury June 24

The Sun conjucts Mars exactly on June 15 but the two planets have been tracking through Gemini closely together since late May and will continue this pattern through to the middle of July. This is a fiery and combustible energy and it features prominently in the charts for the Full Moon on June 3, the New Moon on June 17 and the Solstice on June 22. This is a very energizing aspect but it can easily become over-energized and argumentative and aggressive. Beware of this potential and try to look for constructive outlets for pent up aggression.

The New Moon in Gemini falls on June 17 at 25 degrees of Gemini, once again highlighting the Mercury / Gemini / Mars themes with Mars conjunct the Sun and Moon. The Gemini New Moon always suggests a busy time when our curiosity may be stimulated. It creates a more sociable and extroverted mood where we may feel inclined to learn something new or just break out of our routines. The conjunction with Mars may energize the sociability of Gemini but can also create ‘hot words’ and arguments as well over-stimulation that can become irritability and anxiety. There is a fine balanced needed here between our need to satisfy our curiosity and need for stimulation with an awareness that too much can be counter-productive.
 
The Winter Solstice: June 22 [AEST]
The Winter Solstice or Cancer Ingress of the Sun marks the time of the longest nights and shortest days when the Sun is reborn from the darkness. The times of sunrise and sunset appear to stand still for two weeks before and after the peak time of June 22, and then the day light begins to slowly lengthen.  The Winter Solstice symbolizes the rebirth of the solar principle and the light and the divine spark within us all. It marks the beginning of a new solar cycle and is time for those of us who live in the Southern Hemisphere to create our New Year Resolutions and reflect on what we want to achieve in the coming year.

The Solstice marks the moment of the Cancer Ingress, the moment when the Sun is overhead at the Tropic of Cancer and moves into the sign of Cancer. The four ingress charts [the solstices and equinoxes] mark the turning points in the seasonal cycle and the annual solar cycle. As such they are given added weight in astrology and are considered to influence the next quarter, or 3 months.  

This Solstice chart contains the Sun conjunct Mars at the apex of a T-square with the nodal axis, suggesting a possible turning point in how we use the Aries / Libra polarity.

The South Node in Aries is a point of release and suggests what and where we need to let go and share so we can use the gifts of the South Node to move towards the highest potential of the North Node. The gifts of the South Node in Aries include courage, a sense of adventure, a pioneering spirit and the archetypal ‘White Knight’ who uses his gifts to fight for what is good and just. The highest potential of the North Node in Libra is a desire for peace, harmony and social justice. Libra is concerned with equality and what is fair for all. It calls us to compromise and work together for the greater good.

The dark side of this configuration warns us about the potential for anger, egocentric behaviour and the need to do our own thing even if it is at the expense of others.  This is specially emphasized with the Sun and Mars square the nodes at what is called the ‘bendings’.

Some questions for consideration
How can we become a warrior for peace?
How can we befriend and harness our Inner Warrior / White Knight to work for more harmony and fairness in both our lives and the collective?
How can we create alliances and work co-operatively with others and different parts of self?
 
A Simple Solstice Ritual
The most traditional way to celebrate the Solstice is to rise early on the day of June 22 to observe and honour the sunrise. Ideally you will find a place where you can observe the horizon, free of buildings and welcome the Sun as He appears. Allow yourself to be filled with wonder and gratitude for His rebirth. As the Sun gains strength and power, feel yourself being blessed with His light and vitality and invoke the blessing of the Divine Masculine for the year ahead.

A special Solstice meal is another wonderful way to honour this energy. This is the time for roast dinners and a roaring fire where a special Yule log was burned to honour the Sun and bring his warmth and radiance into the home. If you don’t have a fire then light gold candle to honour the Sun and invite his blessings into your life and home.

A more intimate ritual could also be called for…
Create a sacred space with candles, incense, meditation and intention. Tune into your inner guidance to find the seeds of new potentials that are stirring within your inner darkness. When you are ready, record the seeds in red or gold ink [as long as they do not seek to influence or harm any other individual] and then burn them in your fire or from your candle. As the paper burns, see your seeds flowering and your potentials manifesting as the fays grow longer and the Sun grows stronger. Give thanks and light your candle whenever you need to refresh your visions and intentions.

Blessed Be!

May the Goddess & God Bless You All
Christine  Rothwell
christinerothwell@outlook.com
www.christine-rothwell.com  

 
2015 Astrology Classes
…are enrolling now.
 
First Year/ Beginner’s - Thursday nights
 
Second Year / Intermediate – Tuesday nights
 
Advanced Group - one Saturday afternoon a month
 
Christine offers an in-depth psychological and mythological approach to astrology. These classes are suitable for those individuals who are wishing to learn more about themselves as well as those interested in becoming a professional astrologer. Classes can be taken on a term by term basis and sound files are provided for any classes you miss.
 
Students with some background in Astrology are welcome to join in the Second and Third Year classes.
 
First Year covers all the basics that you need to begin to understand a birth chart.
 
 Second Year goes deeper into horoscope and looks at predictive techniques.
 
Third Year gives you the opportunity to integrate what you have learned through a tutorial and experiential format.
 
Please ring or email for a brochure and let me know the level you are interested in
christinerothwell@outlook.com
or
www.christine-rothwell.com
for more information
 
 
Consultations & Gift Certificates
 
Are available as:
Personal Consultations
Mail readings [recorded onto a CD]
Skype Readings [recorded]
Telephone consultations [recorded].
 
Prices available on the web-site at http://www.christine-rothwell.com/astrology-classes.html
 
Gift Certificates are available for most consultations.
 
AN INITIAL CONSULTATION explores the soul’s journey as revealed through the personal symbol of the birth chart.  The focus is on the potential inherent in the birth chart and the challenges that need to be embraced in order to realize this potential.

Other readings available include:

In-depth Consultation: Two one hour CD’s exploring both the soul’s journey [see above] and the year ahead.

Chart Up-date: The Year Ahead: Explores the year ahead from a psychological perspective.

Understanding Your Child: A wonderful gift for new parents and explores a child’s unique needs, motivations, potentials and challenges.
 
Relationship Analysis: Helps explain the dynamic between two people to facilitate their understanding of each other and them selves.

Relocation:  Explains how a different location may impact on your psyche. This can be helpful if you are thinking of re-locating and can be included with any of the above consultations.