‘Be glad of life because it gives you a chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at stars.’ Henry Van Dyke

This month your life will progress at a slow yet steady pace. It must be said however that with Pluto (), Chiron () and Neptune () retrograde and burrowing deeply into your interior, and with Jupiter () reversing on 15 June, you will be very aware of the adjustments you are making regarding what you’re feeling on the inside and what you are experiencing on the outside. Through awareness and conscious effort you will be discovering exactly who you are and what you now want for yourself.

Planets are channels for the expression of signs; when a planet is retrograde (), a portion of its vitality is directed deeper into the heart, toward the unconscious, away from the world. Safely hidden deeply in the psyche, there is a chance of revaluing how you truly feel about how you fit into the greater scheme of things. As a planet moves to and fro over certain degrees you are given opportunities to understand more clearly how you limit yourself and define your reality according to your social conditioning and the beliefs you hold. In the last instance then retrogradation leads to greater understanding, independence and a greater authenticity – it does slow the process down however and dealing with the ensuing frustration is part of the process!

To magnify the process, the Sun, reflecting our core self, is in Gemini (), the sign of becoming mindful of duality. The task of the Gemini part of you is to come to an understanding of your own (often conflicting!) archetypes and to somehow build a connection between them and integrate them without getting distracted along the way.

Traditionally Gemini is ruled by Mercury (), The Messenger of the Gods, who served as go-between for the Heavens and the Underworld: sampling Ambrosia with Zeus in Olympus or hobnobbing below with Pluto was all in a day’s work for Mercury! Mercury, after turning direct on 31 May, is slowly moving through Taurus () and only enters his own Gemini on 15 June. During this time, he squares the Jupiter/Chiron/Neptune conjunction in Aquarius (26° Taurus-Aquarius).

Mercury is all about your perception and how it steers your life and with Mercury squaring this Aquarian Consortium from Taurus, circumstances will be compelling you to become a bit more detached in your evaluation of how life ought to be and open your mind to alternative possibilities: the blend of uncommon intuition with good old-fashioned horse sense will reward you with the best of both worlds.

The last conjunction between Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune occurred in 1945 as World War II was ending and as we were then, we are preparing for the radical changes that are soon to affect the fabric of global society. The Water Bearer is a large constellation and is shown as a figure carrying a jar of water which is being poured down from above. The desire to pour out the water (true caring) for the benefit of all concerned is very sincere in this sign, but the images of the constellation also portrays supreme effort to the extent that the figure seems off balance. Sometimes the river flowing from above is depicted as a huge snake or a yoke, reflecting the burden of applying our unique and creative individuality for the Greater Good.

Taking up the challenge of the Age of Aquarius is going to take its toll and the optimism of Jupiter, the healing of Chiron and the compassion of Neptune is there to nourish and support us to move beyond what is not working and to be inspired with new inner and/or outer possibilities.

The warning is the blowing of bubbles –it could be a time of optimism not based in reality: you cannot dream yourself out of a recession; it takes discipline and hard work. Jupiter expands everything it touches and so close to the God of the Oceans it could also mean huge floods. Neptune in its capacity as dissolver has many associations with tragedy and sorrow and there may also be a collective outpouring of grief if the bubble bursts.

Neptune rules oil and the oil price may escalate.

Both Venus (what we value) and Mars (assertive action) are in Taurus and they actually meet up at 15° Taurus on 21 June, the Summer Solstice. Venus, considerably more at home in Taurus than Mars, points to harmony and balance and Mars lends itself to a me-focus and we can only hope that a new balance in relationships based on interdependence will occur.

Saturn slowly moving ahead in Virgo, very close to Ceres, Goddess of Agriculture could spell an emphasis on future food shortages. On a more personal level we are learning how to care for ourselves and others equally.

To the extent that you are indulgent is the extent to which you are in sacrifice; you need to indulge to compensate for the fact that you sacrifice yourself. If you truly give, you would truly receive; there would be no need to indulge (with food, work, sex, drugs, alcohol....) which wears you out as much as sacrifice does. A vicious cycle is set up: you indulge, you feel guilty, you sacrifice. The cycle repeats as you burn out from the sacrifice and then you start feeling a certain level of rebellion and resentment to those to whom you are in sacrifice.

Take a hard look at your life and decide how much you want to do and for whom. Prioritise and choose to centre yourself. From your centre you can give to others what they need without sacrificing yourself. This gift is part of who you truly are.