Summer Solstice

On the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, we celebrate the solstice. The sun moves into the sign of Cancer tomorrow morning on the west coast, marking the beginning of summer. Cancer is the sign of the home, of family and our sense of belonging. Cancer is intuitive, emphatic and protective. But its energy can also be overly cautious, moody and defensive. Just as a crab’s shell protects what is of most importance, Cancer can have a hard exterior.

Ruled by the moon, Cancer’s energy changes, shifts, and moves in a circuitous way. With Mercury and Mars already moving through the sign of the crab, our minds and our desires have already been infused with this energy.

The north node of the ecliptic is also in the sign of Cancer, so while the sun moves through Cancer, we will have two eclipses. Eclipses occur when the path of the Earth orbiting around the sun intersects with the moon’s orbit around the Earth. Symbolically, the north node is thought to be the direction that we are moving towards and striving for. On a collective level, this means we are in need of more connection, vulnerability and empathy.

The south node is in Cancer’s opposite sign: Capricorn. Capricorn is the sign of worldly ambitions, of rules, and of traditions. If Cancer is the energy we need when we are feeling hurt or broke, Capricorn is the energy that keeps us grounded and level. We need both: unconditional love as well as structure. Love cannot thrive and grow without healthy boundaries. Cancer and Capricorn both have the ability to build walls. Cancer brings emotional inclusivity, but also has the potential to shut down and have its guard up. Capricorn holds traditions and boundaries in place, but can be stoic and detached.

For the next four weeks, the Cancer-Capricorn axis will be highly activated. Mars moved into Cancer on May 15, and Mercury moved into Cancer on June 4. Saturn has been in Capricorn since December 2017, and Pluto has been there since 2008. Cancer season will bring unexpected shifts, encouraging us to move through layers of fear and uncertainty. Cancer season also holds the second of three Mercury retrogrades of 2019. On the surface June has appeared to have forward momentum, but July will bring a time of reflection and reprocessing.

This is not a time to fear or to isolate. It is important to remember that everything is energy: every thought, every emotion, everything we can see, and everything we cannot see. Summer is a time of abundance and manifestation. The sunlight allows us to access our inner radiance and shine from our hearts.

Celebrate the solstice by connecting to nature, and allowing your inner light to shine.