a soft doorway into summer
musings and moon phases for the month of June
Temperature-wise, there is no such thing as a ‘soft doorway into summer’. Not here in NYC anyway. It’s a wicked dance between extreme heat and random cold spells. But today as I write to you, the windows of my bedroom are cracked, and a gentle warm breeze is rolling through - pushing the smoke of my incense all around. Energetically, however, June does offer a sweet and soft portal into the more radiant and robust months of summer. I will dive into the details below.
As I reminisce on previous Junes, I am reminded of the summer rains of cancer season. How my heart feels so full and wide open and vulnerable all at the same time. I often find that the rain forces me into a state of reflective meditation and surrender. That’s the nature of the season, I suppose.
In the Taosit lineage, summer is represented by fire and is the peak expression of yang (opposite of yin). It is the time of the year when we celebrate our accomplishments, observe what has been culminated and built, and assess where we want to go from here. To truly acknowledge the fruits of our labor, there is a part of us that has to open our hearts a little wider, allow ourselves to be seen, maybe even appreciated. Before we can bask in the radiant summer light fully, we have to first walk through the soft doorway (cancer season) and tend to the quiet corners of our soul.
But I am getting ahead of myself.
Before the arrival of Cancer season (and the summer solstice), we still have two full weeks of Gemini season to soak up. Gemini is a beautiful precursor to Cancer in the way that it ensures we deepen our social connections before we start to open our hearts. It’s a season that encourages us to feel safe and seen by the people around us before we take the journey into vulnerability and eventually greater visibility.
And so, for the next two weeks of Gemini season, I invite you to consider your networks. Your webs of friendships, loved ones, collaborators, co-workers, etc. I encourage you to show up a little more and ask others to show up in return. Put a little more effort into the relationships you care most about and notice what happens in your heart space in return…
✶ mark your calendar
June 14th - Gemini New Moon 🌑
Think of this new moon like a magnificent spiderweb of your work glittering in the sunlight. Like a delicate work of art, woven together in a perfectly unique pattern. Under this new moon, we can open our minds to all of our various (sometimes even contradicting) passions and strengths that work together to create our beautiful life.
If you feel called, hand draw on a blank piece of paper the web of your experiences, skills, passions, and even obstacles you’ve overcome. Notice where the intersect and weave together.
June 21st - Cancer Season Begins 🌞 Summer Solstice
Here in the northern hemisphere, as the sun moves into the sign of Cancer, it marks the longest day of the year, also known as summer solstice.
Cancer is an interesting energy. As a water sign, it is yin, offering a cool-down, nurturing, and reflective time. But as a cardinal sign, Cancer has more power than we give it credit for. Like Aries, Libra, and Capricorn, it has a strong urge to initiate, create, and bring something into form. As you’ll read below, Cancer is the cosmic mother after all. Creating and sustaining life is no easy job. Cancer teaches us the beauty and importance of soft strength. It’s a sign that reminds us that in order to grow big and strong, we need to be well-rested, regulated, and nourished.
Vibe of the season - a refreshing sip of water after a long afternoon in the hot sun. ⛲️
June 29th - Capricorn Full Moon 🌕 (and more)
This is beautiful, iconic, peak full moon energy. Capricorn is the sign concerned with legacy, longevity, and accomplishments. With a bright illumination in the midst of our summer radiance, this full moon offers us a chance to reflect on our journey. What detours have we taken, what lessons have we learned, where have we surprised ourselves, what is it all for?
How does the road we’ve walked inform the direction we will go in? Will we blindly follow the comfortable path or will we make informed and soul-led adjustments along the way to keep us aligned with our truth? That is the question this moon poses.
In addition to the full moon on the 29th, we will also be seeing Jupiter move into Leo (!!!) and Mercury retrograde (not ‘!!!’) I’ve been waiting for this Jupiter shift into Leo all year, I am particularly excited to see how it helps expand our sense of individual power, creative energy, and connection to FUN! Mercury will be retrograding through Cancer, asking us to re-absorb old lessons and ensure that we are making decisions from a place of self love first and foremost.
✶ meditations / musings
Last month, I told you I was looking forward to deepening my tea practice after my trip to Japan. I thought that being home in front of my beautiful alter and big balcony windows was going to inspire me to sit and meditate over a warm cup of sencha.
Well I was wrong. My body needed something different. And sometimes when we release the need to follow an exact plan, we make space for what really needs to happen to unfold. My practice of May turned out to be a combination of early morning pilates videos in my pajamas, weekly spirit animal cards, and an intentional break from yoga. I am tenderly working through hip pain that has been lingering for far too long by incorporating more strength training. As someone who rarely ‘works out’ I am finding new levels of spirituality and perseverance with each and every squat and plank. After months (years?) of softening my mind and my body, it turns out I needed to add back in some rigor and effort again.
This month, I am looking forward to getting stronger and making space for consistent stillness in my days. What about you?
✶ loving lately
How to Feel Loved: // I just rented this book from the library on the science behind feeling loved and true happiness, which, now that I think about it, is a perfect read for upcoming Cancer season.
Mint: // our balcony garden is abundant with mint. I’ve been enjoying it in my sparkling water and attempting to infuse it into tea.
Little notes: // putting my adorable japanese stationary and stamps to good use. writing little notes to myself and my partner. leaving them all around the house. it’s fun and it’s silly and I highly reccomend.
Lead and Be Well by Jessica Boots: // I recently wrote a review for my friend, Jess Boot’s book. It reminded me of what a golden resource this book is and what a great writer Jess is.
! One Announcement !
I am starting a Summer Park Social series this summer.
If you are in new york and want to get together outdoors and hang out and talk astrology, I’d love to have you.
Astrology books are open, and I am available for private events through the summer. I hope you soak in the fleeting beauty of late spring and remember to stop and smell the roses ;)
Until next time ;) xx Anna
My heart is bursting with joy and delight from the shoutout. 🥹❤️. Saving this post for all these summer journal prompts. Pure gold. 🤩