The concept of mortality once thought to be solely human, is now understood to permeate the animal kingdom. Animals from chimpanzees to elephants to dogs exhibit reactions to the death of their kin that are eerily familiar to our expressions of grief.

Elephants, known for their profound social bonds, mourn the loss of their herd members in an unmistakably human-like manner. They may touch the deceased's body, trumpet loudly, and walk slowly, often seeking comfort in the presence of other elephants.

Similarly, dogs display grief and change behavior when they lose their owners. They exhibit signs of grief, such as sadness, separation anxiety, and changes in eating and sleeping habits. 

Although different in their complexity and manifestation, these reactions underscore the profound impact that the experience of death can have on a sentient being.

The focus for today is:
I treat my actions in the world as important.

Queen Elizabeth II’s record-breaking long reign was exceptional in many

When it comes to money, are you a big spender or a fearful saver? Do you

The focus for today is:
I choose to let go of trying to control everything.

Astrologer Pam Younghans writes this weekly astrological journal based on planetary influences, and offers perspectives and insights to assist you in making the best use of current energies. This column is not intended as prediction. Your own experience will be more specifically defined by transits to your personal chart.

Aspects of Note this Week:
All times listed are Pacific Daylight Time. For Eastern Time, add 3 hours; For Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), add 7 hours.

MON: Jupiter sextile Saturn, Mercury sesquiquadrate Pluto, Venus sesquiquadrate Neptune
TUE: Pluto trine Ceres
WED: Sun quincunx Pluto, Sun enters Cancer (Solstice), Mercury sextile Mars, Sun square Ceres, Mercury sextile Chiron
THU: Mars trine Chiron
FRI: Mercury semisquare Jupiter
SAT: Mercury sextile Eris
SUN: Mercury square Neptune

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JUNE SOLSTICE: When the Sun enters Cancer this Tuesday, it will momentarily appear to be at a standstill. This is the June solstice, when the Earth's tilt — either toward the Sun (Northern Hemisphere) or away from it (Southern Hemisphere) — is at its maximum. The English word solstice is derived from the Latin word sōlstitium, which translates to "the Sun stands still."

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The focus for today (and the weekend) is:
I feel more alive when I finally come home to who I am.

The focus for today is:
To get in touch with my Higher Self, I silence my mind and listen with my heart.

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The focus for today is:
I interact with nature anytime I can.

The focus for today is:
I choose to make a fulfilling contribution to the whole.