So this week marks six years of moon missives.
The first moon missives offering was sent at 1:14 am on June 5, 2016. True to the mutable chaos that this Pisces rising, Gemini Sun, Gemini Moon (with Jupiter in Virgo and Neptune on the ascendant) project is, it has gone through many iterations since.
What began as fun experimental place for me and Celine Song to put our astro-nerding (June 2016 - May 2017); then became a passion project quarterly print astro journal (September 2017 - June 2018); within that period, we switched to TinyLetter and this became a space for me to sporadically share my first attempts at horoscopes (February 2018 - July 2019); then it was a safe space to occasionally share astrology writing post-Saturn Return burnout (October 2019 - July 2021); now, the evolution has brought us to Substack (August 2021 - ). From her humble beginnings, moon missives has really grown up.
I know some of you have been here since that first glitchy bcc’ed Gmail—major thanks to you, and everyone who’s joined along the way, for sticking with this project through all of its glow ups, comedowns, and reincarnations.
When moon missives began it was June, as it is now. But this June is very different than the June of six years ago. June 2016 was defined by a mutable grand cross—inspired, frenetic energy going in every direction, encouraging both curiosity and division.
Now in June 2022, rather than a mutable grand cross, we have many planets collected in fixed signs, where the crone goes to his tower, the bull goes out to pasture, the scorpion lies in the sand, the lion takes his throne, and it takes a lot to change. Fixed signs are comfortable where they are. Why move when you’re in the zone? As far as the astro weather goes, this might be the “chillest” month since 2019.
But chill doesn’t mean without difficulty.
To focus for a moment on some good news though: as of this morning (6/3), Mercury is no longer retrograde! Mercury is stationing direct, just as Saturn slows to station retrograde tomorrow (6/4). While Mercury’s direct station speaks to getting back on track as far as communications, technology, and general daily details, Saturn’s retrograde station speaks to a longer period (through October 22) of reflecting on big picture goals. Rather than continuing to push ahead on something that, frankly, deserves to be refined and refocused, we’re allowed to take a pause and re-strategize. Though a moment to focus on the details while productivity is on hold sounds pretty dreamy right now, there is a catch. Mercury in Taurus and Saturn in Aquarius are stationing exactly square to one another, bringing out the reluctance of both signs. These stations come as slow reboot and a deliberate course correction. Think back to April 24, when Mercury first squared Saturn before going retrograde, what ongoing issue that came up then needs to be settled once and for all now?
Tension eventually brings resolution.
After this pressure-building station of Saturn and Mercury, there are no planetary aspects—beyond the daily connections of the Moon—until June 10th. This blank slate is what really makes me say that the month of June is chill, especially after the constant cosmic action of April and May. I encourage you to be patient. With yourself and with others. Nothing is “happening” because it’s not supposed to be. We all have choices to make. There’s a lot to unpack because even after disappointment, heartbreak, injustice, life must go on. Or so we try.
Mercury stationed direct on Algol, the fixed star of Lilith and Medusa, representing the wild woman and the impulse of feminine rage. Collectively, we are still punished for speaking up against the established order, for challenging any kind of active, masculine power—a dynamic illustrated so clearly in the verdict of the Depp v. Heard defamation case. There is no perfect victim and no defenseless villain. The stationing Mercury-Saturn square speaks to the frustrating conclusions that result in a difficult untangling, both in the greater details and the larger ideologies. How do we get ourselves out of this mess? Mercury square Saturn insists that we choose our words wisely, but Algol wants those words to be radical, paradigm-shattering, and most of all: brave. What’s “acceptable” just won’t be enough.
While we’re sitting in this détente, choosing our words, Venus is in her home sign of Taurus. Comfort and sensuality still reign supreme. We can take solace in pleasure, sex, our special meals. It’s no longer cool to be contrarian. We must act out of love.
Simple delights in devastating times.
It might be because I just started reading Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing’s The Mushroom at the End of the World, but with Venus in Taurus, foraging also comes to mind. The Mushroom at the End of the World is an anthropological dive into the Matsutake, a mushroom that both grows as a weed, and is a culinary delicacy in Japan. Worth more than gold. Matsutake grows in forests that have been destroyed via late capitalist overproduction. When humans fail, Matsutake thrives because it’s adaptable. I think we can learn a lot from the Matsutake in this moment: how it makes a point to exist, even when circumstances are not ideal, and does so through a network. Versatility through community.
Preservation should be a top priority right now. Like literally making room in the pantry and putting things in jars. What do you need to stock up on before the next dry spell? And more importantly, how can you make sure there’s enough to share? Because knowing what you personally want isn’t enough. There’s no getting out of this moment alone.
After June 10th, things pick up again, and there won’t be time to listen so deeply. Whether you’re patiently untangling the frustration this moment or choosing cut it off and leave it behind (Austin Coppock describes the third decan of Aquarius where Saturn is stationing as a place where we make this kind of last ditch effort), do so with intent. Go slow. Be thoughtful. Just because you’re prepared doesn’t mean you have to do it all right away. Opportunity for grand gestures and inspired beginnings come later this month, and those will be all the more satisfying after practicing a little patience.
If this writing resonated, and you want to dig into what it means for you, book a reading and we can talk about it! Today (6/3) is the last day to book at current prices/offerings.