June Solstice & the Full Moon
Portal to Transcendence
Hold on to your hats, ladies and gentlemen, as we have a very powerful energetic portal coming to us through the June solstice and full moon in Capricorn. The solstice will occur on the 20th of June as the Sun moves into Cancer. For those in the northern hemisphere, this marks the time of the summer solstice gateway, and for those in the southern hemisphere, it is the winter solstice. The fact that we also have a full moon in Capricorn at 1 degree, 6 minutes happening the very next day brings extra oomph and potential to this already powerful gateway. Let us explore the exciting themes this event is bringing to us all.
These two consecutive events bring us energetic themes of profound transformation, initiation, new beginnings, change, freedom, authenticity and self-actualization. The solstice always marks a time of transition and always carries potent energy that is deeply connected to nature and the elemental realms. With the congruent energy of the Capricorn full moon, the solstice becomes intensified, able to bring us into the most profound depths of our true being as well as the greatest heights of our potential. It marks a time when we shift into a new stage, a new cycle, of our individual and collective evolution.
Sounds a bit grandiose? Indeed, it is. This process of change and transformation comes under the umbrella of this year’s energetic themes, brought to us through Chinese astrology and numerology. As a reminder, we are in the year of the wood dragon and it is a universal 8 year. Both of these energies indicate tremendous metamorphosis, alchemy, and change propelling us toward massive power, authenticity, and abundance. What I am driving at here is these themes of the dragon/8 energy are the undercurrent carrying us through the year, which may at times feel more subtle in our lived experience. However, the combined solstice/full moon is like a crescendo of these energies as it heralds new shifts that are the result of the work we’ve already undergone.
This isn’t to say that on the day of the solstice or full moon your life is going to suddenly be completely different (although, that is a possibility for some). It indicates a marked time, a gateway, a portal, which bridges us from one timeline to another. We have been doing work, each of us in our own way. This work is our calling toward a higher purpose and the upgraded timeline we each have “prewritten” into our life’s journey. As cliched as it sounds, we’ve all been undergoing a process of metamorphosis, much like a caterpillar in a chrysalis. These past six months or so, we’ve melted into butterfly soup and have been working to deconstruct all the parts of ourselves that cannot hang for the rest of the journey. This solstice/full moon event marks a point in that journey in which we undergo a new spiritual rebirth.
Let’s talk about the astrology. At the time of the full moon in Capricorn, we have the Sun conjunct Venus and Mercury in Cancer. These three planets oppose the Moon in Capricorn, and this opposition then forms a square to Neptune in Pisces – also known as a T-square aspect pattern in astrology. Through the oppositions, we feel pulled in different directions and struggle to find balance. We are under tension as we’re called to release the more negative expressions of Capricorn in order to transcend into something higher and more aligned with our potential. The tension of the oppositions can find release through the square to Neptune. Here we become receptive to our higher selves and spiritual guidance system. We may receive new insights and perspectives that help us to release what’s no longer working.
Capricorn plays an important role this year, not just during this astrological event. Many of you know we have 13 moon cycles each year. These cycles present as one full moon and one new moon in each sign of the zodiac through the 12 months of our Gregorian calendar. That 13th cycle shows up as a month in which we experience two full moons and month when there is two new moons. Let’s put it this way: we started 2024 with a Capricorn new moon; we have two consecutive full moons in Capricorn this summer, and we will conclude 2024 with another new moon in Capricorn on December 30th. The June full moon happens at 1 degree of Capricorn the day after the solstice and the second full moon in Capricorn occurs at 29 degrees the day before we enter the Lion’s Gate portal and Magdalene Feast Day on July 21st. Wowza!
The significance of Capricorn doesn’t stop there. I have written previously about Pluto’s shift into Aquarius and how 2024 is this planet’s final turn through Capricorn via its retrograde cycle before it completely leaves this sign, not to return again for another 248ish years. What that means for us, here on Earth, is we are wrapping up the lessons of Capricorn. Pluto represents our shadow (individual and collective), our soul’s desire for evolution, and the process of transformation we undergo to continually integrate our shadow to embody our highest potential. Thus, the expressions of Capricorn become a predominant theme as Pluto bridges its way into Aquarius.
Capricorn represents many things, one of which is authority. This authority can be expressed through external entities such as hierarchical organizations, government, big business, bosses, and even our parents. It can also be expressed as personal authority, which comes through self-confidence and integrity. Capricorn is also strongly associated with the past and tradition. Having the Moon in Capricorn at this time indicates a “return to the past,” as the Sun illuminates for us what kinds of traditions – whether family, personal or cultural – we have been engaged in as they come under review. With Venus and Mercury conjunct the Sun in Cancer, we have distinct themes related to our relationships (Venus) and our modes of perception and communication (Mercury). The axis of Cancer/Capricorn also brings themes of the masculine and feminine as well as mother and father.
I mentioned Pluto before and it is involved in an important aspect the day of the full moon. Pluto is part of a minor grand trine configuration as it forms a sextile to Neptune in Pisces along with Uranus in Taurus, with Pluto and Uranus being trine each other. This means that all three of these outer planets are playing some prominent notes for us during the portal window.
Going back to Capricorn, Pluto’s involvement here indicates a need for us to transform and transcend whatever shadows of Capricorn we are still carrying. What kinds of traditions have we held on to that no longer serve us? Where do these traditions come from? Have we ever considered their true origins and if we (the people we’ve evolved into, thus far) actually align with them anymore? Doing something simply because “it’s always been done this way” is no longer a valid reason for doing it. As we prepare to make this leap into Aquarius, we must be able to open ourselves to higher wisdom and enlightenment, but we cannot do this if we are blocked by old paradigms, traditions or “ways of doing things” that are outdated.
So we are being called at the time of this full moon/solstice gateway to do some deep investigation into ourselves. We find this theme highlighted by the position of Pallas Athene during the full moon. She will be retrograde in Scorpio, standing in opposition to Uranus in Taurus. For those who don’t know, the goddess asteroid Pallas symbolizes our unique vision, creativity and higher wisdom. She represents feminine power and is particularly associated with mental ingenuity and brilliance. Being in Scorpio – and retrograde – Pallas is asking us to dive deep into ourselves, our past, and our ways of thinking so they may be transformed into a higher expression. This higher expression is facilitated by her opposition to Uranus – who is receiving tools and deeper insights via its sextile to Neptune.
Thus, we have spiritual inspiration that is bringing us “enlightenment,” higher guidance and insight that can totally transform the way we think, how we create and our unique brand of brilliance. This is our transformation as we are shifted into our highest potential and timeline. Yet, this call for transformation doesn’t imply we’re abandoning tradition. It doesn’t mean we totally reject the teachings of our parents or authority figures, the institutions that have helped shape who we are. True wisdom transcends, but includes. So we are doing some “cross pollination” during this time as we revisit old traditions and find ways to alchemize the parts that work for us with the new cycle we are beginning and the bright, pearlescent versions of ourselves we’re meant to become. This is no easy task and any process of rebirth comes with some birth pains. This is why Neptune (another prominent planetary player this year) holds the key for us to move through this process with grace.
We can also look to Mary Magdalena, whose asteroid is conjunct with Mars in Taurus at the time of the full moon, for further support and guidance in this process of becoming. Asteroid Magdalena’s conjunction with Mars is yet another symbol for synthesis of the feminine and masculine. While we may have desires and ambitions, and we may seek to take action on those things, we also must attune to our intuition and be receptive to the guidance coming from our higher selves. Mary Magdalena is the ultimate expression of the Divine Feminine acting through Christ consciousness, and this full moon event is a prelude to the powerful events that await us in July. As I mentioned before, the next Capricorn full moon is happening the day before Magdalene Feast Day. This is no coincidence.
These planets are in Taurus (Mars and Asteroid Magdalena) along with Uranus who is opposite Pallas. Then we have the Capricorn full moon itself, thus giving us many powerful earth energies. So this full moon also indicates an initiation into the powers of manifestation. We are learning to become realm bridgers as we connect deeply with nature and the elemental kingdoms through the solstice. Through the higher inspiration of Neptune and the deeply transformative energies of Pluto and Uranus, we have an opportunity to manifest not only great abundance, but the incredible vision and creative genius each of us embodies on the soul level. We are supported in anchoring this innovative, authentic brilliance into the 3D, thus helping us to manifest New Earth.
There is great magic in the air at this time. Through this spark of energy and the thinning veil between realms, we are being initiated into the higher expressions of our manifestation abilities. We have the potential to create whatever we want, especially as we work with this energy of synthesis and integration of opposites. We are essentially undergoing a process of alchemy, both within and without, and the results of that alchemy represent authentic brilliance and innovation. Yes, this could mean something more literal like a scientific discovery or invention, but it can also be something more subtle. We could simply be embodying a purer expression of ourselves which is altering the very paradigm of our reality through simply existing within it. I love music metaphors, so here’s another one. It’s like we’ve discovered a new bell within ourselves and have struck a new tone, which will ripple through reality, causing greater incoherence with the things that don’t resonate while simultaneously harmonizing with all that does – but to a much greater degree.
In conclusion we are entering a new cycle at the time of the solstice and full moon in Capricorn. We’re called now to shed the layers of ourselves that are unnecessarily chained to outdated traditions. We’re liberating ourselves from what’s heavy, burdensome and out of alignment with our potential. We are becoming more free – and that freedom is in direct correlation to the embodiment of our authenticity. The more we become who we truly are, the higher we soar.
I recommend bringing some conscious awareness to your deeper self during this portal. Connecting with nature can help ground you, but it can also facilitate your communication between realms. Deep listening and receptivity is called for now. Your intuition will speak to you through synchronicity, signs, symbols and magical occurrences. You are being guided through this process, and no matter the degree of ease or difficulty you encounter in your transformation, you are supported and held in unconditional love. This is both fate and choice as you step through the gateway into a higher timeline and more powerful version of yourself.
Happy solstice and full moon!