Shadow and Light
“Winter’s Raven” by Lyn Dalebout
I’ve had a challenging time even writing this week. I think I am feeling this coming Mercury retrograde cycle before it occurs later this week. That often happens to me. With sunspots, I feel them when they erupt on the Sun, not a couple days later when they hit the Earth. This is uncomfortable at times. I hope these entries are even readable. My mind is elsewhere, hard to focus, looking inward. Oh well, here goes.
This is the week Mercury, our Messenger planet, heads into another retrograde cycle from June 7-July 1. Take this almost four week period to clear out the inboxes of your life, research new options, create moments for inward reflection in your day. There will be loads of inner analysis of your key relationships, both personal and professional. This cycle takes place in the sign of sidereal (true planetary alignment) Gemini, the sign of shadow and light. We will all be given opportunities to integrate these two essential aspects of what defines us.
So here is the most positive definition of the shadow I have ever encountered from the combined teachings of the Mother and Sri Auribindo (from “Our Many Selves: Practical Yogic Psychology ~ Lotus Press 2002): “Everyone possesses two opposite tendencies of character, which are like the light and shade of the same thing. You cannot have an object which gets the light from one side without its casting a shadow on the other. The shadow is like a sign of what you had to conquer in your nature in order to be able to realize what you have come to do. If you have a part to play, a mission to fulfill, you will always carry in yourself the main difficulty preventing you from realizing it, so that you have within your reach the victory you must win. If you had to fight against a difficulty which is everywhere on Earth, it would be very difficult, while if you carry in your own nature, just the shadow or defect you must conquer, well, it is there, within your reach: You see all the time the effects of this difficulty and can fight it directly, immediately. It is a very practical organization.”
May you see great gains in this coming Mercury retrograde cycle to make peace with your shadow and to discover the gifts and opportunities that come from the integration of the bright shiny self you show to most people and the more mysterious, intriguing, unfathomable mystery you will always remain, even to yourself. Honoring both aspects of who you are is miraculous and will transform your life in the most postive ways. And above all, have fun exploring this.
We will also be in preparation this week for Neptune turning retrograde on June 9, but I will speak about that at greater length in next’s week’s post.
Tue June 3
Today’s T-square of Cancer Moon ~ emotionally private or moody ~ to Juno in Aries ~ initiating new relationships ~ to Saturn in Libra ~ decision time ~ tends to mean there may be some tensions around deciding something major ~ like should you stay together ~ or exploring something more minor, like having several invitations and being torn between where to spend your time.
Wed June 4
Two upbeat excitation sextiles energize the heavens today. The personal love planet, Venus, sextiles Neptune, the universal love planet, creating a heavenly portal of support, artistic inspiration, gratitude. You may feel this arise within your own psyche, creating a feeling of inner peace that comes seemingly out of nowhere, or you may experience appreciation from an unexpected source. An artistic Leo Moon conjuncts Pallas Athene ~ goddess of creativity/strategy ~ creating a dynamic portal of sharing in joy and celebration, especially since both sextile talkative Mercury in Gemini. Try not to yack it up in useless banter, but explore meaningful dialogue in a flirtatious manner.
Thu June 5
With the activating influence of the First Quarter Square of Taurus Sun ~ foundational issues in your life ~ to the Leo Moon ~ how to create what you need doing what you love ~ you can feel more focused by choice or necessity to make your dream come true. The effortless sextile of Moon to Saturn potentially makes these efforts feel less scary, more fun and exciting. Our Sun is nearing an exact sextile to Uranus happening early tomorrow. This aspect is always great for stimulating creative surges, sudden shifts and breakthroughs, creating uplifting energies in our planetary Field.
Fri June 6
Re-read yesterday as today, early this morning, the earthy practical Taurus Sun harmoniously sextiles watery spiritual Uranus in Pisces. Scientists are opening to their mystical side, and more spiritual types are seeking ways to get more grounded. By the end of today, Juno ~ ruler of important partners/marriage/committments ~ moves from Aries (where it’s been for weeks stirring the pot and initiating new alliances) to Taurus ~ time to ground those partnerships in organized, physical ways. Lastly, Mercury is virtually standing still, going retrograde tomorrow. Your mind may suddenly not be able to, or want to, handle so many details or multitask. Enough distraction. Pause, turn in early.
Sat June 7
Today makes for a major astrological day. First off, Mercury will appear to travel backwards in the heavens from now till July 1. Please re-read my above description of this cycle in sidereal Gemini. Since Mercury rules factoid information, think of this as a period to fact-check everything, every purchase, new relationships, even what you believe or think you know is truth. Venus in Aries ~ launching new ‘rockets of desire’ as Abraham-Hicks says ~ makes an inconjunct to Mars in Virgo ~ what adjustments or actions do you need to make for those desires to happen. You may have to experience temporary discomfort to be able to move forward. Sun trine to Vesta always makes for a day of focus, easy discipline, sexual magic. Wait there’s more! The Moon and Mars align in analytical Virgo. You want to act immediately upon your feelings, but discerning Virgo makes you second-guess or analyze your desire for spontaneity. That sucks. As this day winds down, it’s not over yet in terms of emotional intensity as Moon will square Pluto tonight ~ passionate or obsessive ~ and Uranus overnight ~ electrical surges, interrupted sleep, accidents in the night. Phew. I am SO DONE with this day.
Sun June 8
For most of today the Virgo Moon aligns with Ceres ~ caregiving, cooking, environmentally oriented ~ and Vesta ~ extremely focused ~ so this can naturally become a project or service day or a good time to visit a friend or elder in need of comforting and care. Around bedtime, the relational peacemaking Libra Moon conjuncts the North Node of your future destiny. Since Neptune is standstill, heading into retrograde tomorrow, I sense we are all being prepared by our future Selves to take a leap of faith in some area of Life’s unfolding mystery. The guidance may come in a dream tonight.
