By: Mollie Moorhead, Soil & Stars | Resident Astrologer

The New Moon in Gemini June 18

This is a lovely new moon which will be great for all the new moon things: dreaming, envisioning and maybe even some scheming and planning. The aspects the moon makes to other planets imparts a lot of the character of that particular moon and our experiences here earthside. In this case, the main thing happening is the moon and sun together are squaring neptune. This could look a few different ways for folks. Some possibilities: If things feel hazy or unclear, just let it be for now and lean into the mystery and the beauty - things will come clear later. Neptune can also symbolize alcohol, drugs, and other ways people dissociate or check out, so that is something to look out for here if that's relevant to your life. The positive and beautiful Neptunian expressions are in music, art, and spiritual connection, so if there are ways these things are calling you, this is a perfect time to answer.

Mercury In Gemini June 12-27

Everybody loves Mercury in Gemini. All of us who don't have such a well-placed mercury in our natal chart get to experience the levity and ease of this placement each time it comes around in the year, and we can jump on it and do some great thinking, talking and writing. If you have a communication-related project you need to work on, this is a good time to schedule that in. Mercury leaves Gemini (sigh) and enters Cancer on June 28, and one cool thing that happens is that Mercury is conjunct the Sun (called cazimi - 'in the heart of the sun') on July 1. This day is also a great time to do some deep thinking and writing.

Venus in Leo (for a long time, and retrograde July 23 - Sept 3)

Venus in Leo is a great, fun transit, but this year it has a bit of a different flavor because Venus is making her retrograde there as well. Venus retrogrades can be about revisiting past relationships (romantic as well as friendship) and re-evaluating whatever part of our chart Leo is in, and whatever Venus signifies in our chart as well. The meanings will vary a lot from person to person, but think of reviewing and re-evaluating as key concepts, especially as they relate to general venusian topics of relationships, love, beauty and luxury. Venus is the diplomat and the social worker of the zodiac, and when she is retro, she can't always do her job as well, so consider being particularly careful and thoughtful in the situations in your life which may require tact and diplomacy.

Pluto is back in Capricorn until January

The god of the underworld took a brief foray into Aquarius, where he will be for the next 20(!) years, but has retrograded back into Capricorn, where he has been since 2008 - to finish up whatever it is he is doing there in your life and in our collective experience. There will be another small kiss goodbye to Cap in the next year as well, as he moves back and forth. Outer planet transits like this may be felt more collectively than personally for some people, depending on how it hits your chart, BUT if you have extreme intensity, shame, or overwhelming emotion coming up in your life, that is Pluto's signature. The medicine of course is always the same: to surrender, get curious, and let yourself be transformed in the crucible.