A Basket Full of Surprises
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| In the Chazen Museum of Art, University of Wisconsin-Madison, US; Public commons |
The June Solstice is one of the four main angles of the Tropical Zodiac marking the change of the seasons. The 0º Cancer is one of the zodiacal World Points indicating the beginning of the Summer in the Northern hemisphere and the Winter in the Southern hemisphere. It describes the energy for the next three months of the year, reason why, astrologers pay close attention to it.
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The Ascendant
The chart is cast at Washington DC, because it seems that whatever happens in the US is now change the destiny of the entire world. You might agree or not, however and it is the sad reality. We live in an interdependent world where the law of the jungle prevails now: the stronger animal eats the weaker.
The Ascendant of the chart in Gemini features Uranus rising still square to the Nodes of Destiny. This planet is often associated with trauma, usually caused by unexpected turns of events, eccentric and erratic movements, decisions or shocks. A significant surprise might happen that turns things upside down. Keep in mind that with Uranus, nothing is foreseeable, it's always something you never imagined that could happen. Gemini talks a lot and gives a lot of information about it.
Uranus has been within orb of the square to the Lunar Nodes for a couple of weeks, it was perfect June 12, and is still operative at the Solstice. This indicates a powerful moment when there is a choice to make between Pisces (surrender) and Virgo (discernment). Uranus is applying to the South Node in Virgo in the 4th house, which means that things are switching from the public and authority figures to the people, the common folk. Uranus brings an air of liberation, and freedom from oppression.
Just one week later, Mars will square the Nodes on June 29 indicating an action that changes everything. (Please watch my video on the Capricorn Full Moon that also happens the same day) More so because, Mars will conjunct Uranus on July 4th. I refer you to my article on the chart for the 250th Anniversary of the US.
The Ascendant in Gemini 9º is conjunct Ceres. Let's see what Ceres adds to the meaning of the entire chart. Ceres is the biggest asteroid and her archetype combines several meanings of the Mother. She is the nurturing mother doing everything necessary to promote growth, and the preservation of the physical aspects of life. She relates to food, food production, storage, supply and distribution, as well as the protection of life through feeding and sharing food. Ceres goes deeper into the mysteries of life and death, she helps us understand death, and resolve our fear of death. In fact, the mythological goddess Ceres was in charge of performing the rituals of death, guiding the dead through the threshold toward their final destination. She can help us understand issues of separation and renunciation. If you remember she was conjunct Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn on January 2020 at the start of the pandemic that had a lot to do with those themes.1
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Ceres is also the archetype of the mystery of conversion of blood into life and life sustaining food. Rules the conversion of the blood from the womb (menstruation) into pregnancy, and the mother's blood into milk to breastfeed the newborn. 1
Ceres in Gemini conjunct the Ascendant is not minor influence. On the contrary, she defines the coming three months period. She is probably telling us to learn and talk about nutrition, the harvest, supply, availability, transportation and distribution of food as a key issues during this period. Since Mercury, Gemini ruler, is in Cancer, the conversations and teaching will concern home, shelter and family protection. Mercury in turn is in mutual reception with his ruler, the Moon. In close collaboration, they indicate the need to use discernment, be methodical and consider the implications on our health.
Ceres conjunction with Uranus also relates to learning and using astrology to guide ourselves through these challenging circumstances where technology and specifically AI do not respect the natural processes and rhythms of the Earth. The cutting edge technological science develops ever more 'devices' and 'entities' in complete disregard for the consequences they may have on the environment, the soil, the water and the air necessary to grow and produce food. Observe that the Ascendant is trine Pluto in Aquarius, or the overwhelming power of technocracy.
Ceres is also strengthened by a sextile and parallel north with Venus in Leo. Venus is supporting Ceres job by making our desires take center stage in the conversations (3d house). People will talk about their needs and sensitivities regarding the ability to feed their families.
The Sabian symbol for the 10th degree Gemini says
"An airplane performing a nose dive. A superior ability to challenge nature and play with danger. Through the controlled use of mental powers man is able to challenge the most basic force in nature: gravitation. [Man] challenges himself as well as outside. Gravitation is the universal binding force of the material world. By challenging it, man prepares himself to pierce beyond the physical and to reach higher realms of existence.
The symbol has a strong sense of finality. No possibility of half measures exists. Man is committed irrevocably to success or failure — at least as a conscious and self-reliant mind. The alternatives are clear-cut. One may describe it as MIND vs. MATTER, or as Man’s will against the fate that gravitation so aptly symbolizes."2
The way to interpret this description for the chart's Ascendant is that humans may think they can challenge the forces of Nature, however, not knowing all the principles that rule them, if they fail, it could be the end of Humanity. After all defying gravity is a life and death challenge, one either succeeds or dies.
The Chart's Ruler
The chart's ruler is Mercury travelling very slowly now in preparation for his retrogradation on June 29, 2026. Mercury comes back to the 23º36' of Cancer two times: July 8 and August 5, 2026. Mercury here is a very busy fellow. He is parallel to Jupiter, even though he will revoke their longitudinal conjunction, meaning that he seems to be headed to meet Jupiter, but then turns retrograde before getting there. In addition, Mercury is at the apex of a small triangle, conversing with the Moon in Virgo and Mars in Taurus.
Transits to the Sibley Chart
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| Solstice on US chart |
Just a few highlights.
Uranus return has always been associated with a significant war in the history of the US in a timely manner. Not surprising that it is currently involved in yet another one. Though, if you think about them, they have all defined an important new chapter: the independence, the end of slavery, the start of its hegemony, and now an obvious decline... but, who knows!
The transiting Moon conjoins natal Neptune at the top of the chart, showing the great confusion, ambiguity, and even dilutions, which smear the public image of the country.
Transiting South Node on the 10th house has weakened not only the executive branch of government, but also the governing political party, whereas the North Node has been strengthening the people and the opposition. By the way, the North Node is applying very closely to the natal Moon.
Transiting Pluto by the natal South Node denotes the obsession with looking back at the past glories that are no more.
Transiting Saturn square the natal Sun represents the criticism, restrictions and the reckoning to which the President is now submitted. Saturn will have three passes June 12, September 9, in 2026, and March 2, 2027. There will be no respite! At the same time, transiting Saturn opposes natal Saturn, and will station direct at the exact degree. Last time this one happened, in 1997 Great Britain returned Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China that started the "One Country, Two Systems" policy. I'd say that it resonates with the current flow of events.
In conclusion, the situation is very complex; whereas the US government has its eye on the international affairs (Venus transiting 9th house), people inside the country are neglected and suffering from lack of resources they need to thrive.
References
1- Demetra George with Douglas Bloch, Asteroid Goddesses, The Mythology, Psychology and Astrology of the Reemerging Feminine.
2- Dane Rudhyar, An Astrological Mandala.
Charts are cast in Solar Fire
Sat Nam
