June Solstice with Solar Eclipse

How are you faring in these tumultuous times? How's your heart as we move from a global shutdown from a pandemic into a worldwide activation for justice and the end of police brutality against people of color? The chaos of this restructuring is getting deep and I am again reminded of the Tower card in the tarot. Systems of White supremacy are a part of the dominator culture that is crumbling. I am seeing acts of bravery, beauty, unity, and division play out on social media and in the news. I see how far people are stretched attempting to meet this moment. Emotional reactivity on social media seems to be at a peak. This falling apart is part of the process of death and rebirth. And there is more to come.

As we approach the halfway marker of the seasonal year, we will experience a rare, "ring of fire" total solar eclipse at the exact June Solstice point (0 degrees Cancer.) Eclipses are intensified portals of change. Yes, life may get more intense for all of us, and especially for those who have planets or angles near that point. I will be one of seven astrologers exploring the meaning of this potent June solstice with Astrology Hub on Thursday, June 17th at 11 am PT. You can sign up for that free event here: http://astrologyhub.com/solsticesashabenedetti

Yet, there is something else going on that is more subtle and may be harder to track, like the silence between sounds. Can you feel the shift, the stirring, the new beginning? The Feminine Principle awakens and puts on her new dress - her Gemini gown. Venus opens the door to her dressing room a crack, so we can catch a glimpse. I imagine shifting colors, greens and blues, glitter and translucent wings. On June 2nd, she shed the last of her Scorpio/Libra wardrobe - her bone earrings, her leopard skin, her faux fur, and her scales of justice. Naked, she met her Beloved, the Sun, on June 3rd and made passionate and tender love, merging Eros and Heart, Body and Light, the Real, and the Infinite. Their union symbolizes our devotion to love - no matter what.

Venus meeting the Sun, closest to Earth, was the end and a new beginning. The last threads of the old burned in their union. Then, Venus rested for a week unseen. Perhaps with so much going on in the external world, you missed that diffuse energy. Or maybe you found moments to retreat into the dream space. Many women shared that they were bleeding this past week. No matter where you have been in your awareness of this change, honoring our inner life is powerful at this part of the cycle. And we still can in the weeks to come. Now Venus, still retrograde, is emerging as Morning Star in the East before dawn. I have not yet seen her yet people are reporting she is out! She will go direct on June 24th and her medicine will be more apparent.

As we stand on the threshold of the Age of Aquarius, the resurrection of the feminine (in each of us) is key to which version of the future will manifest as reality. For the next 19-months, we are learning about the Feminine Principle in the Gemini Mystery School. Can we learn how to live from a wildly open heart in the face of increasingly intense times? I have found syncing with the Venus cycle to be a wellspring of resilience and inspiration to show up more authentically grounded in the essence of who I am, no matter what challenges I encounter in the external world. This is the Heroine's Journey; to claim the primal innocence of one's heart and to make a wild bid for living our deepest vision, fully alive and willing to feel.

I invite you to ride this next cycle consciously to discover if your own heart wisdom is supported through creating more intimacy with Venus, Sun, Earth. The world needs more humans willing to lead with our hearts, our minds as badass backup and extraordinary assistant, in service to Love. To support you in this endeavor, I have created a map as a visual mandala with all the key dates. It was a delight to collaborate with another Venus lover and artist, Selena Wilson, on this project. I realize the version embedded in the email is not super clear. I will try to find a way to send it as a PDF separately so you can easily print it out. I also included a listing of the key dates to reference throughout this cycle.

Finally, our next seasonal 5-Day Cellular Detox starts June 26th - free coaching, online community, and $50 off your order. My commitment to wellness during these toxic times is a huge part of my devotion to the Venus Mysteries. Seasonal shifts are a brilliant time to release heavy metals, radioactive particles, chemicals, plastics. I created the Pure Body Detox protocol using Touchstone Essentials products. These are the best organic superfoods and ancient minerals I have found for clearing out toxins, nourishing deeply, and building immunity. Orders are customized according to needs and budget. Products ship to 40 countries. Join our FB group to find out more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PureBodyDetox/

We are on the brink of a whole new world. We have so many challenges and so many resources. Venus says the most powerful resource is connection - finding kindred spirits and allies. If you are feeling alone or isolated, please remember there are others just like you who feel similar alienation. Keep putting out your signal so they find you and you, them. Find the ones who spark you to be your unique self and bring your gifts forward.

One of my favorite statements from our 2020 Forecast was Gary Caton's statement that 2020 is "the Rise of the Exiles." Now is the time for those who have been in the minority to be heard and to collaborate towards a positive future. This past Venus cycle began on the heels of the #MeToo movement and is ending with a swell in the Black Lives Matter movement. New voices and perspectives are being given space. And we are just beginning this process. The rebels, the misfits, the outliers, the creatives, the sensitives, the ones who don't fit in the box are going to be needed to provide diverse perspectives as we envision the future.

May you remember to care for your sweet self as this turbulent year progresses. Map the resources that help you stay grounded and centered. Make a list and put it where you can see it - from simple nourishment to your heart's longings: water, singing, quiet, writing, resting, cuddling, sun on the skin, laying on Earth, etc. Most of all, let's be kind.