This week, busy Mercury aspects Neptune, Venus, and Mars, and sneaks into quiet Cancer. The Sun seeks rest and clarity as it squares Neptune, then enters Cancer, marking the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. In lunar news, it’s the first of two Capricorn Full Moons. And April answers a listener question about Pluto's strongest signs. Plus: Love letters from the Moon, diamonds in the rough, and what’s on your flag?

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Timestamps

[1:19] June 17 is a full day for Mercury, as it squares Neptune (12:41 am PDT, 29º52’ Gemini-Pisces), enters Cancer (2:07 am PDT), conjoins Venus (5:42 am PDT, 00º19’ Cancer).

[1:50] As Mercury squares Neptune, it may not be the best time to make permanent decisions, sign contracts or make travel plans - you may not have all the information.

[3:13] Mercury enters Cancer (June 17, 2:07 am PDT) and is in this quiet sign until July 2, 2024. It favors keeping our thoughts to ourselves and considering our words carefully before we speak.

[4:24] Mercury conjuncts Venus (June 17, 5:42 am PDT) on the Sabian symbol 1 Cancer, On a ship, the sailors lower an old flag and raise a new one. Consider beautiful ways to describe personal loyalties.

[5:28] The Sun squares Neptune on June 20 (11:12 am PDT, 29º53’ Gemini- Pisces). Which is more important: that others idealize you, or that you become a truer version of yourself? Rest up and have some alone time.

[7:27] The Sun enters Cancer (June 20, 1:51 pm PDT), marking the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. Celebrate your origin story but don't let yourself believe in fairy tales about the old days. A quincunx from Pluto in Aquarius reminds us that we can’t move forward if we’re stuck in the past.

[9:42] Moon Report! We get two Capricorn Full Moons in the next month. The first is on June 21 (6:08 pm PDT, 01°07’ Capricorn-Cancer). The second is on July 21 (3:17 am PDT, 29°08’ Capricorn-Cancer). These Full Moons encourage us to balance professional and personal life with kindness, empathy and understanding.

[11:52] This is the Full Moon in a lunar phase family cycle (LPFC) that began with the New Moon on Dec. 23, 2022 at 01°32’ Capricorn. The First Quarter Moon in this LPFC was on Sept. 22, 2023, at 29º32’ Sagittarius, and the Last Quarter is on March 22, 2025.

[14:07] Void-of-Course (VOC) Moon periods. On June 19 (9:19 am PDT), the Moon in Scorpio trines Neptune in Pisces and is VOC for almost 13 minutes, before entering Sagittarius (9:32 am PDT). The gift here is that your true, fierce, honest self is beautiful and will bring you the love that you wish to have.

[15:35] On June 21 (3:58 pm PDT), the Moon in Sagittarius squares Neptune in Pisces. It's VOC for only 10 minutes and then enters Capricorn (4:08 pm PDT). There could be a certain tension between wanting to be out in the world and making a big, joyful noise, versus, being a little more introspective and maybe spending a little more time with yourself.

[16:38] The Moon in Capricorn sextiles Neptune in Pisces on June 23 (8:05 pm PDT). It's VOC for just 9 minutes and then enters Aquarius (8:14 pm PDT). Let your open-heartedness influence the way you do business and pursue earthly goals.

[17:25] On June 21 (9:22 am PDT), Mercury sextiles Mars at 09º12’ Cancer- Taurus. Mercury’s Sabian symbol is 10 Cancer, A large diamond not completely cut and the symbol for Mars is 10 Taurus, A Red Cross nurse. Your ideas could be diamonds in the rough. Look for helpers who know how to make those ideas sparkle and shine!

[19:00] Listener Elliott gives April a lovely “Thank you!” Listener Franie asks about Pluto’s strongest signs.

[26:12] If you’d like to have a question answered on a future episode, leave a message of one minute or less at speakpipe.com/bigskyastrologypodcast or email april(at)bigskyastrology(dot)com; put “Podcast Question” in the subject line.

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