It's Time to Go Swimming
The sun, Mercury, and Venus are leaving logic behind and wading into the emotionally sensitive water of Cancer.
What is happening?!
We will witness the synchronicity between Earth’s natural rhythms and astrology this week when three planets converge in sunny, empathetic Cancer; simultaneously, true summer descends upon us in tandem with a dangerous, possibly unprecedented heat wave. It’s shaping up to be a spicy, transformative solstice, thanks to heightened emotional intelligence The Crab bestows on us all, so grab a box of tissue and get ready to feel your feelings in the most feelingest way this year. Here are the major possibilities for the ways in which our mental and physical transformation from air to water might play out:
1. The shadow side of Neptune might heighten some emotional angst and confusion.
We’re coming off a lovely day of fantasy and hedonism, thanks to dreamy Neptune facing off with several planets in succession this past weekend. While pleasurable, it can lead us to eschew responsibility and engage with illusion in unproductive ways. We felt bombarded with information last week thanks to a strong stellium in Gemini, and so much of the data was misleading or difficult to parse. Are we hearing exaggerated gossip or devastating truth? Are we at war? Is the economy excellent or tanking? And did that bitch in H.R. really tank our promotion or was it something else?
Neptune is very good at stress testing our gullibility, so it’s important to double check the sources of anything we feel or hear this week. We need to remain vigilant that we aren’t building unreliable narratives in our heads, or placing emotional weight over logical conclusions - this is the kind of energy that has us crafting malignant intentions based off of one questionable interaction or dour expression from friends, family, and peers. Sometimes things aren’t that deep! Just because HR Brenda said something snotty one time doesn’t mean she’s trying to sabotage our career - maybe she was having a bad day. Maybe she was wearing an uncomfortable bra, or she had gas, or she just wasn’t being mindful. I would tell you not to take it personally, but Cancer has a tendency to take everything personally.
Unfortunately, the shadows of Neptune can be deceptive, like looking at very clear water and succumbing to the illusion that we can touch the bottom. When we combine this predilection for fantasy with the hair-trigger sensitivity of crabby homebody Cancer, it’s easy to see how we might succumb to our own imaginations and find ourselves with slightly skewed ideas about the people and places around us.
2. We could make enormous physical progress on artistic endeavors that have emotional foundations and are close to our hearts.
On the brighter side of things, this is an incredible week for creative projects, love affairs, and ushering the ideas that we cultivated during inquisitive Gemini to concrete, embodied reality. Start that book, buy those oil paints, and renovate that kitchen - Neptune inspires us to find beauty in the same deep waters that can hide delusion, like an astrological echo of the mad artist trope. The thing is, we need these deep emotions in order to hone our creative voice, and to satisfy the human need for communication through artistic expression.
Why would this affect me?
The vibes are pretty palpable when several planets change signs at once, and moving from the rationally inquisitive, verbal airiness of Gemini to the more emotive, subterranean realm of Cancer can be jarring for those of us unused to significant emotional weight. The sign of Cancer has big feelings, and they wax and wane with the phases of her ruler, the moon, which is at its fullest iteration in Capricorn toward the end of this week. If we take a look at the meat of our dominant archetypes, we get a general idea of the vibes that will be with us until July, or at least until the next new moon.
HOUSE OF CANCER - This astrological house is a bohemian, childlike respite from the rest of the zodiac; the furniture is comfortable, the fridge is stocked, there are tea and snacks on the table and heartfelt dramas are streaming 24/7. This is not the luxury of Taurus, who has high standards and expensive tastes, but a more lived-in, boho version of sensuality. Cancer shares many traits with Venusian Taurus, but lacks the stubborn consistency of The Bull, and so their environment waxes and wanes according to everyone’s emotional needs. People with heavy Cancer placements tend to be family-oriented and emotionally generous, but they can also be passive-aggressive and moody as fuck. With the sun, Venus, and Mercury all entering the chariot of the moon this week, expect sensitive vibes to dominate artistic projects, professional endeavors, and communication. Let’s be real, someone is definitely going to have a breakdown.
NEPTUNE/POSEIDON - Our mysterious god of the seas, lakes, and rivers was originally conflated with the underworld god in Arcadian mythology, making Poseidon darker and more chthonic than most modern interpretations acknowledge. His rulership was streamlined to water and all the ocean’s fishy denizens by the time he had his own temples in Athens, wherein sailors and fishermen left offerings as a plea for calm seas and stuffed nets.
Like the other Olympians, Poseidon/Neptune was a petty, oversexed dude whose realm could give or take life, depending on his moods. His unknowable volatility inspires poetry, painting, writing, and any other creative endeavor that requires an imagination so deep as to be dangerous. Oh, and sea shanties. He loves a good sea shanty.
VENUS/APHRODITE - Now in the realm of Cancer, our sexy femme goddess, Aphrodite to the Greeks, will get very comfortable and active in the realm of domesticity, children, friends and family matters - think more loyal doting and less exploratory flirtatiousness. Venus rules art, beauty, pleasure, and money, and she directs all these endeavors to our home environment when she’s chilling on a shabby chic loveseat in Cancer’s domain.
MERCURY/HERMES - The messenger of the gods prefers to be in their own logical chariot, Gemini, but they now find themselves broadcasting feelings to the earthly realm instead of ideas. Speedy Hermes was bombarding us with ideas and uncharted data during their Gemini transit, and now they must quickly synthesize those ideas into physical and emotional reality. In layman’s terms; there will be trauma dumping in our future.
When do I have to deal with this?
MON 6.17.24 - Confessions of Deep Feelings Day
Venus and Mercury ingress to Cancer today, where they form a very sensitive conjunction and prompt us to spill our dramatic guts to anyone who will listen. Practice kindness and patience, but don’t be afraid to set boundaries if someone is getting too personal or unhinged. There could be a lot of therapist recommendations flying about this week, as this conjunction will affect us until about Thursday.
THURS 6.20.24 - Mutable Square Paranoia Day
The sun squares Neptune in Pisces right before he leaves Gemini, which puts in a very sensitive, uncertain mental space. Gemini sees all the possibilities and is often torn between several paths, and at this late degree he gets a bit more manic and flustered. Neptune can plunge that indecision into delusion if we aren’t careful, so approach situations cautiously and as rationally as possible. Walk away from the internet conspiracy theory rabbit holes and treat yourself to some fun at a pool, beach, or hell, even a bathtub or spa - just keep attention on devices to a minimum. There could be a lot of paranoid psychobabble filling our collective airwaves today, so detach from the chronically online contingent of humanity and get grounded in nature.
FRI 6.21.24 - Summery, Sexy Sextile Day
Glad Midsommer, Blessed Litha, and Happy Heatwave! Mercury and Mars form a harmonious and productive sextile in Cancer and Taurus, respectively, and these sensual zodiac houses add quite a bit of charisma and pizazz to our drive and communication. Plus, the fantastical mutterings of an unhinged Neptune die down by today, leaving us more clear headed and ready for action. Utilize this moment to be persuasive and effective at work, or to charm the pants off of everyone within a twenty foot radius at the beach, the pool, or a sumptuous dinner.
Cool, what does the Tarot say about this?
Speaking of paranoia, who is it showing up on Monday, 6.17, but The Devil himself, reversed, accompanied by chalcopyrite. This card, upright, is one of bondage; occasionally involving others, but most often some variety of self-restriction. Reversed, we seem to be throwing off our self-imposed shackles, which could be the restraints of materialism, or addiction, or any number of self-limiting beliefs or bad habits. Perhaps we are starting to see things as they really are, instead of falling for collective deception.
On Tuesday, 6.18, we continue to purify with Burn and Sacred Rest from The Devil’s Oracle deck. The Cancer-heavy astrology of the week supports this transformative unburdening, as does the companion pull of protective obsidian. It feels as though Gemini season loosened our tongues, giving us the verbiage to shield ourselves from actors with ill intent… and Cancer is now here to help us reconcile our feelings with this fresh reality. Still, proceed with caution when it comes to any accusations or bridge burning; Neptune is still influencing us, and he loves a good conspiracy theory.
Justice is showing up heavily these last few week, have you noticed? This day, 6.19, is showing us a triumphant femme with her scales amidst a background plume of smoke. The companion pull of rhodonite indicates this justice is executed on matters of the heart, and I feel like that could mean a myriad of things for Wednesday. We might be looking at some expression of social justice, as it is Juneteenth, or we could see important matters settled in the court of law or public opinion. All we can deduce most securely is that there will be big feelings about it.
Thursday, 6.20 brings us the 5 of Wands and a companion pull of carnelian; rather fitting for our transition from air to water and a waxing, gibbous moon in fiery Sagittarius. We could experience very passionate philosophical debates in the social collective, although carnelian can often indicate legitimate physical struggle as well. It’s possible that issues from the day prior erupt into mass disagreement - after all, what some of us consider just and fair can be interpreted as backwards and criminal by those with opposing views.
By Friday, 6.21, hopefully we are feasting, jumping over bonfires, and burning people we don’t like in said bonfires a la The Wickerman. If those options are unavailable due to things like work and the legal system, consider a teeny ceramic bowl of burning herbs and bay leaves adorned with the scrawled names of enemies as a purification ritual writ small. We’ll have prosperity and $$ on the mind thanks to the 7 of Pentacles and a companion crystal pull of green aventurine, so maybe don’t get fired for burning down the office.
Saturday, 6.22 gets all weird and antagonistic again via the 5 of Swords, but a reversal indicates resolution, perhaps even dissolution of some long simmering resentment. (Maybe we get over it once we burn their bodies names on a bay leaf during Friday’s celebrations.) Finally, Sunday closes out our week with continued healing, maybe even forgiveness and release courtesy of the 10 of Swords reversed. The addition of fluorite hints at the possibility of newfound harmony if we choose the path of reconciliation, but as with any bullshit, woo predictions, only time will tell.
Visit @alectochaos on IG for the full, wordy breakdown and video of each card pull, and to get the jump on the Mon - Wed card pulls. If you are into that sort of thing.