Welcome to winter as the days grow shorter and the nights grow longer…a time when we embrace and let go of the past to pause before moving forward again. It seems fitting to let you know that after 29 1/2 years in Australia (a whole Saturn cycle) I have decided to return to the land of my birth to help take care of my parents – a huge change in my life and hopefully the beginning of a new adventure. Here’s a photo of them on Mike’s 82nd birthday (he’s turning 90 this week – a Gemini born 9 days after Marilyn Monroe)!
I won’t stop being an astrologer and tarot reader, but I’ll be completely changing the way I work. Once I’ve settled in England (the wilds of Yorkshire) and have my computer and IT connections all sorted, I’ll be offering Skype and phone readings from October onwards and may develop some online courses and write another book if I have time. I’m looking forward to visiting all the sacred sites of Europe and reporting back on my findings. As our world wakens up to the power and potential of ancient esoteric and healing modalities and the divine feminine, this is a very exciting time to be alive. I’ll do my best to make sure AstroUpdate arrives in your inboxes each month, though there will be no newsletter in July as I’ll be in transit – please check my Stella Starwoman Facebook page for updates.
I want to say a huge THANK YOU to those of you who have supported my work in Australia over the past 25 years, especially those of you who have come for personal readings, attended my lectures, courses and workshops and purchased my book and card deck. You have taught me so much and made me a better person in the process. You’ve also enabled me to do a job I love in a city I adore and it’s very hard to say goodbye. I’m busy sorting and packing everything up at the moment – sifting through all my teaching notes… drifting down memory lane to my very first astrology lesson back in 1987 and reflecting on this amazing journey down under. Thank you for being part of it and my very best wishes to you all!
Winter Solstice – Slow Down & Reflect
This year’s winter solstice falls on the 21st June, the day after the Sagittarius full moon. The word solstice is derived from the Latin words sol meaning "sun" and sistere meaning "to stand still". The solar energy is now at its weakest and the dark lunar forces are on the rise.
Now is the perfect time to stay indoors in front of the fire feasting on nourishing and warming stews, pies and roasts. Embrace the cooler weather and long dark evenings and snuggle up in bed with a good book and a mug of hot chocolate. Take the opportunity to slow down, rest and meditate and refuse to be rushed or pressured. Observe the beauty of the season and also reflect on the inner landscape. Winter represents a time of quiet when old growth has decayed and the soil is readying for a new season of fertility and renewal.
Consider creating your own winter solstice ritual to release the past and plant seeds for the future. Light candles, burn incense, decorate your home with winter greenery and invite friends round for a feast. Visit the sauna or spa, take a bracing walk on the beach or enjoy the mountain air or ski season. Those who honour the energy of the season of death and decay will easily ward off illness, exhaustion and the winter blues. Think of winter as a time to release unwanted energy and possessions in preparation for the freshness of spring.
Purple Pain - Vale Prince & Jonathan Cainer
Born 6 months apart and dying just 11 days apart, they form an unlikely duo - Prince the lithe, charismatic, seductive and intensely private musical genius from Minneapolis and Jonathan Cainer, the loquacious, jovial and larger-than-life British astrologer. But the two had many things in common – their signature colour was purple (colour of the crown chakra); they were both vegan and highly spiritual; both had Neptune conjunct the North Node in Scorpio and their Ascendant rulers conjunct the Midheaven (fans often talked about how they felt these men were addressing them personally); both came from broken homes (Prince was 10 when his parents separated, Cainer was 12); both were going through their second Saturn return when they died and despite international fame and fortune, both experienced personal tragedy in their thirties. Cainer’s wife Mel died after a car accident in 1992, leaving him with 7 children, while Prince’s baby son, Boy Gregory died in 1996, at just 4 days old. The deaths of Prince and Cainer came as a complete shock to their millions of fans all over the world, even though those close to them knew they had serious health issues.
Crown Prince
Prince Rogers Nelson was born on 7th June 1958 at 6.17 pm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA with Sun and Mercury in youthful Gemini, Moon in spiritual and creative Pisces and magnetic Scorpio rising. Those born under the sign of Gemini are generally flirtatious, quick, clever and good with words. Prince always looked younger than his years, had seemingly boundless energy and penned hundreds if not thousands of songs. Powerful Pluto ruling his Scorpio Ascendant and placed on his Midheaven in fiery Leo gave him a glamourous and commanding stage presence. Prince believed his inspiration came from God. He told CNN's Larry King in December 1999, “I've always known God is my creator. Without him, nothing works." The Scorpio Ascendant describes a seductive persona and intense need for privacy.
Prince’s Moon in water sign Pisces at the base of his birth chart forms a square with Mercury in air sign Gemini, meaning the way he felt inside was completely different from the way he expressed himself to others. Gemini is the sign of the twins – the dark side and the light side. Fellow worshippers at the Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall in St. Louis Park describe Prince
as exceptionally shy, understated and dressed in a simple black suit, while his adoring fans worship him for his innovative and eclectic music, flamboyant stage presence and extravagant dress and make up. Close friends say the musician led an extremely healthy life style and was completely drug free, while others claim Prince suffered from depression, anxiety and chronic pain and was addicted to pain killers, which eventually killed him.
So who was the real Prince? We will probably never know. Scorpio rising individuals are notoriously private and Prince’s birth chart is full of oppositions, showing a person racked by inner conflict. The Sun opposes Saturn, suggesting he had issues with authority and perhaps a strained relationship with his father; the Moon opposes Pluto, indicating explosive emotional highs and lows and an obsessive need for control, perhaps resulting from the early life relationship with his mother and Venus opposes Neptune, a combination that idealises eternal love and beauty and the promise of a better world, but often finds the reality of daily life a disappointment. Whatever the truth, his death is a great loss to the music world.
Rock Star Astrologer
Jonathan Anand Cainer was born on 18th December 1957 at 8 am in Surbiton, UK, with the Sun in optimistic Sagittarius, Moon in Scorpio and Sagittarius rising. Sagittarians have big visions and ideals and Jonathan was no exception with ruling planet Jupiter conjunct the Midheaven. A hugely successful astrologer, Cainer had built up a massive business through his website, books, phone lines, TV appearances, and newspaper columns with a turnover of £2 million a year and a staff of 30. Like a true Sagittarian he loved travel, freedom and philosophy, lived life to the full and hated being told what to do. In his youth he ran a night club in L.A., visited India, enjoyed life as a hippy, played bass guitar in bands and was part of the free festival movement.
On the surface Cainer was an amiable, friendly, generous and good-natured man, but he had four planets in secretive Scorpio (Moon, Neptune, North Node and Mars), suggesting hidden depths, a need for control and a private side to his nature, just like Prince. Scorpio is one of
the most psychic signs and Jonathan’s talent was to make people feel he was speaking directly to them.
He died following a massive heart attack in his office in Yorkshire on a Sunday evening. It was his third heart attack and those close to him had advised him many times to slow down, something Sagittarians hate to hear. Colleague and friend Kathryn Cassidy said: “I can’t grieve for Jonathan - his faith was too strong. I think he must have wanted to get out on top. The strain of doing that sort of output day in, day out was huge. He managed it well but it was relentless and with such a huge family and a growing number of employees and a big generous streak, I think it was only a matter of time before he knew it would reach a tipping point…. He was an absolutely top man. Never met anyone like him and never will.” RIP JC!
Mars Direct – Express Your True Nature
Action planet Mars has been opposing the Sun and travelling backwards through Sagittarius and Scorpio since the 17th April, bringing any underlying grievances to the surface and helping us deal with unfinished business. Towards the end of June, Mars will slow down and on the 30th June start moving forward again. The purpose of the Mars retrograde transit is to help us align our actions and goals (Mars) with our true nature and purpose (Sun). Think about what that might mean for you.
Mars, Saturn and superstar Antares will be clearly visible in the eastern night sky every evening after dusk . Mars can easily be spotted with his reddish tinge; Saturn looks slightly smaller and is pale yellow in colour, while the ruby-red Antares (also known as Alpha Scorpii) completes the picture. Antares marks the heart of the constellation of Scorpio and is one of the brightest stars in the sky.
June New Moon – Full Moon
The June new moon falls on the 5th at 14-15° Gemini. The Sun and Moon conjunct Venus, oppose Saturn and square Jupiter, Neptune and the nodal axis. That’s no less than six planets plus the nodes engaged in what astrologers call a mutable Grand Cross, The energy of this new moon is tense, unpredictable and somewhat inflexible and there will certainly be battles between fate and free will; pleasure and duty and fantasy vs reality. As Mars is still retrograde the best advice is to be patient and bring the various parts of your life into balance as best you can.
The June full moon falls on the 20th at 29-30° Sagittarius. This is a very powerful full moon for two reasons. Firstly it’s the second full moon in Sagittarius this year and secondly it occurs on the eve of the Winter Solstice, a turning point in the seasonal calendar, being the shortest day of the year and a time when we are particularly open to messages from the unconscious mind. Mercury forms a grand cross with Saturn, Jupiter, Neptune and the nodal axis, bringing clarity and wisdom. The Sun and Venus in the final degree of Gemini oppose the Moon in Sagittarius offering love and intellectual stimulation in personal relationships.
Sun in Cancer Caring for Home, Family & Community
This year from the 21st June to the 22nd July the Sun travels through cardinal water sign Cancer whose symbol is the crab, an instinctive creature dwelling in the watery depths in the safety of its shell. Those born under the zodiac sign of Cancer are extremely sensitive. They love to mother and nurture others and have a strong attachment to home, family and community. At best Cancers are in touch with their feelings and display kindness, love and compassion. They are highly emotional, usually love food and have a reputation for taking care of friends, family and workmates. Negatively, the Cancer individual can be moody, dependent, irrational, manipulative and insecure. Cancer rules the stomach, breasts and solar plexus. When Cancers are out of balance they can suffer from mood swings, digestive upsets, water retention and breast problems. The Cancer colours are silver and pastel shades and women born under this sign often love antique jewellery and lingerie. Cancer is ruled by the Moon, so those with a prominent Moon in their birth chart often display Cancer qualities. Cancer’s greatest lesson is to live in the present and to deal with mood swings and feelings of fear and insecurity.
Happy birthday to all Cancerians – here’s wishing you a fantastic year ahead!
June & July Moon Calendar
Launch projects at the New Moon, bring them to completion in the period from just before the Full Moon to the Third Quarter phase and wind them down and reflect on developments in the week before the next New Moon.
The period between the New Moon and the Full Moon is the waxing moon (moon getting bigger and fuller). The period between the Full Moon and the New Moon is the waning moon (moon getting smaller and thinner).
You can use this moon table to select the most favourable days to slow or increase hair regrowth. Full instructions can be found in my Lunar Hair Care guidelines at www.stellastarwoman.com/files/LunarHairCare.pdf but to get you started I’ve marked the best dates for waxing/shaving to slow regrowth in yellow and the best dates to cut hair for thicker, lusher growth in green. If you’re serious about Lunar Hair Care - order your own Moon Calendar from the Stella Starwoman Store then you’ll know exactly what time of day the moon changes from one zodiac sign to the next, meaning you can fine-tune your activities with confidence.
| Date | Moon Sign | Element | Moon Phase |
|---|---|---|---|
| JUNE | |||
| 1st-2nd | Aries | Fire | |
| 2nd-4th | Taurus | Earth | |
| 4th-6th | Gemini | Air | New Moon 5th |
| 6th-8th | Cancer | Water | |
| 8th-10th | Leo | Fire | |
| 10th-13th | Virgo | Earth | First Quarter |
| 13th-15th | Libra | Air | |
| 15th-18th | Scorpio | Water | |
| 18th-20th | Sagittarius | Fire | Full Moon 20th |
| 20th-23rd | Capricorn | Earth | |
| 23rd-25th | Aquarius | Air | |
| 25th-27th | Pisces | Water | |
| 27th-29th | Aries | Fire | Third Quarter |
| 29th-30th | Taurus | Earth | |
| JULY | |||
| 1st | Taurus | Earth | |
| 1st – 3rd | Gemini | Air | |
| 3rd-6th | Cancer | Water | New Moon 4th |
| 6th-8th | Leo | Fire | |
| 8th-10th | Virgo | Earth | |
| 10th-13th | Libra | Air | First Quarter |
| 13th-15th | Scorpio | Water | |
| 15th-18th | Sagittarius | Fire | |
| 18th-20th | Capricorn | Earth | Full Moon 20th |
| 20th-22nd | Aquarius | Air | |
| 22nd-24th | Pisces | Water | |
| 25th-27th | Aries | Fire | |
| 27th-29th | Taurus | Earth | Third Quarter |
| 29th-31st | Gemini | Air | |
| 31st – 2nd | Cancer | Water | |
Thanks for being part of AstroUpdate. If there’s something you’d like to see featured, or have something you think would interest others, please contact me at stella@stellastarwoman.com
PS – Don’t forget to check out your June Monthly Stars at www.stellastarwoman.com to see what’s coming up this month. Happy Stargazing - Stella Woods www.stellastarwoman.com