Neil Spencer

Your Stars 20 June 2010

Posted on 20 June 2010

The midsummer solstice, which arrives at 11.28 a.m. GMT tomorrow, occupies a special place in folkore and in astrological lore. In our Northern climes it’s ‘the longest day’, when the Sun hardly sets before it rises. In Britain it’s a time for bonfires and druid gatherings, for Sun rise at Stonehenge, for feasting and celebration and for the Glastonbury festival. The church, always keen to get in on a pagan festival, made it St. John’s day.

For astrology, the solstice is one of the cardinal, i.e. turning points, of the year, marking the Sun’s ingress into the sign of Cancer. This week, however, the solstice is challenged for supremacy by Saturday’s full Moon, which is a partial eclipse. Eclipses are not always a big deal – there are four or five a year and this is but a partial lunar eclipse. However, spooky Pluto is heavily involved, and while astronomy has downgraded Pluto to a ‘dwarf’, for astrology the planet is still big trouble. As the eclipse is in Capricorn, sign of the establishment, corporate capitalism is the place to look for a tremor, or an act of bullying.

(Note: apologies these forecasts are late, a frozen computer put paid to them yesterday).

Cancer

Talk about a time to have intentions focused and a Big Plan in your pocket. The second half of 2010 promises to be more challenging, more rewarding, so amid your birthday celebrations a sharp eye on the future is called for.
This week’s birthdays have particular cause to ruminate, having already been confronted by circumstances that obliged you to rip up your script. You are in the midst of a rare planetary alignment (see introduction above) that calls for bold, perhaps survivalist measures. There probably aren’t many instant-fixes – you need a course of action that will sustain you through to 2010.
For all Cancerians, this month’s two eclipses mark points of change. Saturday’s full Moon in your opposite sign spells one wild weekend – good for a party but also for mighty arguments. Don’t get pinned down.
There’s a jumble of good news too. The Sun in your skies brings energy and belief. Mercury, arriving Friday, makes your contacts canny. And, against the grain, money tends to stick. Romance? The force is with you this week, but avoid ultimatums.

Leo

Venus’s presence signals an appropriate time to flaunt yourself and act snooty, but behind the bravado stay alert. These are fast-moving days with calls and contacts vital. Make sure your sign reads ‘Open for Business’, whether your intention is commercial or romantic (in the latter instance, you have cards to play over the next fortnight).
As your governor, the radiant Sun, ducks behind the scenes for a month as of tomorrow, a major part of your intention and activity should be covert. Oh, and even royalty sometimes must humbly serve.

Virgo

The pressure to ‘achieve’ can get wearing. Sadly you can’t let of that burden just yet, but the month of Cancer promises a more convivial stretch of your professional life. It helps to make common cause, be among the gang. But retiring into the quiet life? Not just now.
On a more personal level, Saturday’s lunar eclipse makes for an intriguing weekend; a splendid chance to be on show. It also marks a point where disillusion with one formerly close individual kicks in, leaving room for someone else to gatecrash your affections.

Libra

As this very weekend may have illustrated, you have options, probably too many of them. There isn’t a better week to play Billy Wizz – run, scoot, travel, seek and find. Put Libra’s ‘I know everyone and let me introduce you’ powers to good effect/
Next weekend’s eclipse moves the agenda onwards to a more serious phase, when the powers-that-be must be appeased. Oo-er.

Scorpio

You’re moving right along. That Cancer is a kindred water sign makes the incoming month a responsive time for business or play, with any overseas contacts highlighted. You’re largely unopposed (unlike a lengthy spell this spring) and can get your way with brisk common sense and personal magnetism. The Moon in your skies on Monday and Tuesday adds to the momentum. If you are circling round a love interest in the workplace, you’re at an optimum moment to act.

Sagittarius

Work and a private life occupy two distinct realms now. The former calls for a cut-and-dried attitude where you don’t rise to the bait of your fellow professionals, get the job done and clear off on time.
By contrast, you can be frisky around people who fascinate you; they look willing to repay your goodwill and, who knows, offers to share a twin berth on the Orient Express (just an idea). A spirit of daring won’t cost you bean in any case; an almost full Moon in your skies on Thursday and Friday helps your cause and may usher you into the limelight. Talking of beans, Saturday’s eclipse in your ‘scope’s cash zone; hold on to your money.

Capricorn

You’re all but certain to be on parade next weekend, when a full Moon shines from the Goats skies, partial eclipse included. You might as well make the most of it and give the public a twirl, but for big-time decisions, skip it. Likewise big-time showdowns with your other half. It’s their turn to serve, anyway.
For administration, lecturing, teaching, and good economics, the planets are beautifully aligned. Issue your commands!

Aquarius

Your initiatives are promised a speedy response, whether you are pitching a project, leading a workshop or trying to rope a certain someone into your sphere of influence. The personal touch, rather than cold-blooded business propositions, helps win people to your side. Friday is particularly well starred.
Saturday’s eclipse taking place in the most hidden sector of your horoscope impacts on a secret plan or private obsession. If you want to keep it secret, take precautions.

Pisces

Without wishing to promote a game of cowboys and Indians, who are your allies and who your rivals? Your ‘scope is stuffed with both stripes of significant other. From your allies expect a show of loyalty, from your rivals a challenge.
It might seem like a harum-scarum time, but actually it’s all part of a highly fruitful churn that will make more sense at the end of summer. Meanwhile you have important bods to meet and, apparently, big bucks to make. At least, that’s what your planet, Jupiter, insists, but as we both know, he exaggerates.

Aries

It’s a season of change and excitement, but don’t get ahead of yourself. You’re in ‘tumble and spin’ cycle, when colours and impressions get happily blurred. Just keep in mind that next weekend’s eclipse is something of a marker and note what transpires. For the moment, it’s enough to know you have your mojo back, not least where a tender touch is involved.

Taurus

Taurus has an affinity with the world of nature, with growing and blooming, but at present a steelier approach may be needed to carry your affairs forward. Mix your patience with some aggressive bargaining; at this point, energy expended correlates with rewards won.
You can apply something of the same attitude to affairs of the heart; good time to put prospective lovers to the test. Saturday’s full Moon moves on business and/or personal associations in a fruitful way.

Gemini

A week when Mercury dominates your ‘scope is a week to dazzle with your powers of thought, speech and intuition. Outfox the opposition and circulate among kindred spirits; a live wire of two is involved in the outer regions of your social circle.
The weekend’s full Moon impacts on you less directly than on most of the zodiac, but since it falls in your ‘scope’s zone of shared resources, a frantic tidy up of financial affairs might figure amid your mad dash.