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Transits

June, 2009

ASTROLOGY.COM'S MONTHLY HIGHLIGHTS

IN THIS ISSUE:

--Free Samples: Family Compatibility Reading, The Real You Reading, Sexual Soul Mates Reading
--Free Fun: Celebrity Birthday of the Month, Pizza by the Signs, Music by the Signs, Kindness by the Signs
** All about Cancer
** Your Starcast for June 20 to July 21
** Astrolesson: Your Moon Sign

June 20: Sun enters Cancer

The Sun's entrance into nurturing Cancer each year marks the Summer Solstice (in the northern hemisphere) -- a time when people flock to family reunions and picnics, and make plans for their summer vacations. Just like Cancer's symbol of the Crab, which carries its home on its back, your thoughts naturally turn to your family and house-projects that help make your living environment more comfortable and secure. Make sure you remember to count your blessings while the Sun transits through this compassionate sign!

With such nurturing energy, it's no surprise that Cancer is the sign that rules family. Have you ever wondered why you get along with certain family members more than others? Does it have to do with birth order, personality or Sun sign? Enter your birth date and that of a family member and see what a free sample Family Compatibility Reading reveals about this important relationship.

Have you ever had to remind family members that there is much more to you than how they define you? Sometimes we have to remind ourselves to step away from family-defined roles! A free sample The Real You Reading will bring you an unbiased view from the stars. Read about your personal strengths and weaknesses, and gain insight into your karmic direction.

This time of year also urges you to tune into your intimate relationships. Dive into a free sample Sexual Soul Mates Reading and take your relationship under the covers to a whole new level. If you're looking for information that will help you understand your deepest desires while at the same time draw you closer to your partner, this is a match made in heaven!

Few would disagree that Meryl Streep, born June 22, 1949, is one of the world's great actresses. A Jersey girl raised in the suburbs, she became interested in acting in 1971 and went on to manifest a stellar movie career. Yet, for all of the accolades this talented actress has received, this quintessential Cancer has devoted as much time to her family as to her acting career. Happy Birthday, Meryl! We look forward to your next film. See what the stars have to say about Meryl and other Cancer celebrities in our Celebrity Section!

Cancer is the sign that rules food and how we nurture ourselves, and others. So, your Sun sign undoubtedly has something to say about how you like your ... pizza! Does a Libra like to split the toppings half and half? Does an Aries enjoy hot peppers? In Pizza by the Signs, you'll find out who likes what and get great ideas for delicious toppings!

What's on your playlist? Whereas a sensitive Pisces may love listening to the classical, an Aries is more likely to enjoy loud, raucous music. Whether your style is jazz or reggae, rock-and-roll or world music, our Music by the Signs shows you how the zodiac influences your musical tastes.

Cancer's element is water, the element of the emotions. No wonder Cancers are so sensitive and compassionate! All signs have their own unique way of showing kindness. Feeling down? A Cancer will make sure to bring you your favorite food! A Taurus will help you find your courage. Check out Kindness by the Signs to see what you can do to express your compassion -- straight from the impetus of your zodiacal sign! Then commit to a random act of kindness and help make this world a better and more loving place.

Happy Birthday Cancer! Your compassionate heart and willingness to stand up for those you love inspires us all. Let a Crab in your life know just how much you care by sending them a free astrological e-card!

** All about Cancer

According to most Sun-sign guides, Cancers are famous for one thing: their love of home and family. In fact, they're often portrayed as being fond of nothing else. That, however, is an extremely nearsighted description. While it's true that Cancers have an innate loyalty toward their roots, especially toward the people and places who shape their memories, there's a lot more to them than just where they've come from. They're also concerned with where they're going, and with finding the safest way to get there. So when dear ones are involved, a Cancer will spare nothing to ensure that they're not exposed to any danger on any level. They can even be a bit too protective at times, so much so that they need to be careful of a tendency to be an 'enabler.'

The one trait that's not usually mentioned under Cancer's list of qualities, however, is the one that's the most important to them: privacy. Their symbol is the crab, after all, which is so fond of privacy that she carries a shell on her back to retreat into at any time.

When it comes to relationships, there's absolutely nothing Cancers won't do for a loved one -- absolutely nothing. They're capable of very deep feelings and, in romantic relationships, that can often mean they're easy prey, so they need to be careful in matters of the heart.

As parents, they offer an endless supply of nurturing -- even if it's aimed toward animals, plants or other people's kids. They have a knack for taking good care of anyone or anything that needs them. Cancers make the world a better, kinder place!

Learn more about helpful, sensitive Cancer, or look into any of the other signs at Sun Sign Central.

Not a Cancer? Look beyond your Sun sign and find out where the Crab might appear in your own birth chart with a free sample Astro Identity Reading.

** Your Starcast for June 20 to July 21

The Sun's entrance into sensitive Cancer on June 20 marks the Summer Solstice. Then, two days later, the new Moon in Cancer on June 22 begins a new cycle in this sign of home and family. On June 23, the Sun opposes Pluto when it is time to make sure you have a good balance between your personal family themes and your worldly and career concerns. Expect the unexpected and be super flexible when Uranus turns retrograde on July 1! And, keep in mind that with Mercury's entrance into homebody Cancer on July 3, communication is fused with a lot of emotion. The love planet Venus enters chatty Gemini on July 5. This is a great time to meet someone new or to spice up an existing relationship. A full Moon Lunar Eclipse in ambitious Capricorn on July 7 emphasizes your career and worldly activities, while the Jupiter/ Neptune conjunction on July 10 keeps your idealism and optimism in full bloom. There is not an ounce of cynicism in this spiritual pairing! As feisty Mars enters communicative Gemini on July 11, you have everything you need to sell an idea or convince anyone of anything! You'll have plenty of exciting ideas and stimulating conversations as Mercury trines Uranus on July 16. The Communicator enters dramatic Leo on July 17 -- definitely a time for bold ideas. Make sure you break out of old patterns as the Sun trines forward-thinking Uranus on July 18. The Venus square Saturn on July 21 means it is time to assess your most important relationships. Then, July 21 brings a solar eclipse in the last degree of Cancer and casts a huge spotlight on the security, family and home issues that are so important to this sign.

June 20: Sun enters Cancer

The Summer Solstice is marked each year with the entrance of the Sun into this sensitive, protective water sign. Since Cancer is a sign of home and family, thoughts naturally turn to spending time with those you know and love. Why not organize a family picnic or attend a reunion? Can't get together in person? These days technology offers so many ways to stay in contact. This sign is known for its compassion, making this a wonderful time to remember the importance of family, and to count your blessings!

June 22: Mars trine Saturn

You find it easy to organize and harness your capacity for discipline with this hard-working planet combo in a gentle aspect. Mars in determined Taurus and Saturn in health-conscious Virgo give you a big dose of self-control to help you quit bad habits, get on an exercise regime or create a step-by-step plan to achieve your aims. Make sure you utilize everything this aspect has to deliver!

June 22: New Moon in Cancer

A new cycle in emotional Cancer is made even more hypersensitive with powerful Pluto opposing this New Moon. In a sign of home and family, your attention naturally turns to making sure both are safe and secure. In fact, this is a great time for home and family improvement and renovation projects. In general, something needs to be let go or transformed in some way. Nurturing and nourishing are strong impulses now. So, make your favorite comfort food, volunteer at the local soup kitchen or plan a family picnic!

This new Moon will most affect those born June 20-24, September 23-27, December 21-25 and March 20-24.

June 23: Sun opposite Pluto

The Sun opposes Pluto once a year, marking the midway point of the Pluto retrograde period that this year began on April 4. Any opposition is a culmination of forces already set in motion. With the Sun in homebody Cancer, and Pluto in ambitious Capricorn, it's important to assess the balance between your personal family themes with your worldly and career concerns. Pluto's themes of power help you to examine your own powerbase. Often at an opposition aspect, somebody or something in the environment opposes you and urges you to take a good look at the power-sharing in your relationships. Is it time to step up or let go? If you know what houses this opposition straddles in your own chart, apply these themes to those areas of your life.

July 1: Uranus turns retrograde

When eccentric, independent Uranus turns retrograde, it's best to expect the unexpected. This planet symbolizes the need for change, and emphasizes the importance of flexibility. If you invest your energy into trying to keep everything stable, this will be a disruptive time for you. Over the next several months until December 1 when Uranus turns direct, review the areas of your life that need a bit of tweaking. Don't expect to stick to the same routine now. When you think about it, is your life so perfect that it couldn't use a bit of change?

July 3: Mercury enters Cancer

People who have their Mercury in retentive Cancer in the birth chart are known for having a good memory. It may have to do with the sensitivity that accompanies this placement. Expect everybody to be communicating with much more emotion during the length of this transit until July 17. For best results, put your rational, logical mind in hibernation for now and speak from your heart when you can. Because this sign rules family, time spent with them can be especially rewarding now.

July 5: Venus enters Gemini

Venus in this relationship-oriented sign loves to converse, flirt and learn something new. Your desire for new experiences is strong, making this a great time to sign up for a class, join a book club and seek out interesting people who have had out-of-the-ordinary experiences. If you are single, this is a great transit for meeting a new love. Married? Spice up your love life by doing something totally different from your ordinary routine. If you know your chart, look to the house where Venus is transiting for more ideas.

July 7: Lunar eclipse in Capricorn

Last month on June 22, a new Moon in Cancer turned your focus toward your home, family and what you needed to feel secure. Now, at this full Moon lunar eclipse, you have the chance to step back and assess the results of what you set in motion. The ambitious Capricorn full Moon is highlighted because of the eclipse, and now your emotions are re-focused on your career and your worldly concerns. To make the most of this time, do what you can to maintain a healthy balance between the personal and professional areas of your life.

This full Moon will most affect those born July 5-9, October 5-10, January 4-8 and April 3-7.

July 10: Jupiter conjunct Neptune

Last May 27, Jupiter and Neptune formed the first of three conjunctions. Now that Jupiter is retrograde, this expansive planet joins Neptune once again to form the second conjunction. This is an extremely idealistic pairing as Jupiter magnifies the spiritual inclusive nature of Neptune. Where ever this duo is transiting in your own chart is likely to bring a huge does of optimism and goodwill.

July 11: Mars enters Gemini

Do you need to sell someone on your ideas or point of view? Do you want to launch a project or business? Take the energetic, feisty nature of Mars and place him in the sign of The Communicator and you have the consummate salesperson. The main thing with this placement is to watch that you don't step over the line from trying to convince someone to becoming argumentative and pushy. After all, Mars has the name 'God of War' for a reason! Know when you need to dial it back to make this a winning transit for you. Mars will be in Gemini until August 25.

July 16: Mercury trine Uranus

Mercury's perceptions shine and sparkle in this harmonious contact with electric Uranus. Exciting ideas and stimulating conversations mark this period making this a great time to meet new people or to join groups that cause you to step out of old habits and thinking patterns.

July 17: Mercury enters Leo

When you speak, do people listen? They will now, what with the communication planet entering bold Leo! If you have a plan or project that you want people to know about, use the drama of this transit to give your ideas an audience. Issues of respect surface now in a big way. Everybody has an eagle-eye on how they are being treated. Make the most of this transit by giving the respect to others that you want for yourself.

July 18: Sun trine Uranus

It's time to break out of old ruts and patterns with this exciting combination. Uranus always favors new, exciting, innovative and creative ideas and solutions. Leave the past behind where it belongs and take full advantage of this illuminating transit. You receive plenty of support to move toward your future.

July 21: Venus square Saturn and July 26: Venus trine Jupiter

When the planet of love (Venus) meets the planet of boundaries (Saturn), you get clarity about your relationship situation and what you want -- and don't want. Then lovely Venus in curious Gemini forms a grand trine with enthusiastic Jupiter. This is a great aspect for socializing and for advancing your personal relationships -- and your business connections if your work is in a socially oriented profession. It seems like everybody loves you now, so take advantage of all of this good will.

July 21: Solar eclipse in Cancer

Batten down the hatches! This solar eclipse takes place in the last degree of this sensitive sign, which brings a huge spotlight on the values that matter the most to Cancer. If you know any Cancers, then you know how much home and family mean to them. For everyone now, watch for an increase in the desire for security and to connect with family members. Social obligations go on the back burner and personal needs blip on your radar screen. For now, the rest of the world will take care of itself! As always, when the Moon increases in light between the new Moon and the full Moon, (solar eclipses always occur at a new Moon) you will benefit be putting energy into something you want to make stronger and more important in your life.

Enjoy the Sun's transit through Cancer!

** Astrolesson: Your Moon Sign

Just as you have a Sun sign, you also have a Moon sign. And just like that old saying: The Man in the Moon watches over us, the position of the Moon at the time of your birth and the sign it occupies, has something to say about your own personal 'protector.' What makes you feel the most comfortable? What feels emotionally soothing? The sign tells you the best way you can take care of and protect yourself. Here is an example: If your Moon sign is Gemini, the data collector, then make sure you always have all of the information you need because this will bring you emotional ease. If you feel that people are withholding information, you are likely feel anxious. In fact, anxiety is the symptom whenever a Moon's needs, no matter what the sign, are not being met. Here is another example: If your Moon is in intense Scorpio, then it is important for you to express the depth of your feelings. Throughout your life, always make sure that you have a best friend or mate that understands how strongly you feel about everything. Don't bottle up your feelings or you may find that you also squash your passion! The house placement of the Moon shows where you feel the most comfortable. Is your emotional comfort zone in the Seventh House of relationships? If so, carving a life out as an independent loner is not for you! You will need to make finding and creating a healthy relationship a priority project. If you know your chart, spend time thinking of activities and environments that support your Moon sign placement. You will give yourself the gift of emotional contentment!

Ready for some good summer reading? Check out our Astrology Blogs! From cosmic clues about bringing up baby in Motherhood & Astrology to the witty and sometimes naughty insights of Sex & the Galaxy to the balancing and energizing teachings of An Intuitive Life -- empower yourself with wisdom!