Summer/Winter Solstice And Sun/Mercury Superior Conjunction – A Time For Adjustments

Astro Butterfly

On June 21st 2017 we have the Summer or Winter Solstice. Those of us in the Northern Hemisphere will enjoy the longest day of the year, aka the Summer solstice. People in the Southern Hemisphere will have shortest noontime shadow instead.

No matter where you live, astrologically 21st of June is one of the most important days of the year. The Sun is either at the highest point in the sky, or at the lowest. This marks some sort of culmination – a point of “no return”. The Sun cannot go any further than that.

Just as everything around us in the nature gets born, grows, dies, only to be born again, the Vernal solstice is a symbol of change, it is a reminder that we are all part of nature, a part of a higher evolutionary process.

Solstice

In Astrological cyclicity the Solstice acts like a square, it is similar to the first quarter Moon. The Spring Equinox is the New Moon, the two Solstices are the squares, and the Fall Equinox is the Full Moon.

At this time of the year, we are being asked to make the necessary adjustments to the plans we started at the time of the Spring Equinox. This square can bring some frictions, but will also give us great resources of energy to make change happen.

This is the time of empowerment, we are even more empowered than we were at the time of the Spring Equinox (which corresponds to the New Moon phase). The Equinox (the beginning of the astrological year) marked the beginning of a new cycle.

Even if back then we could “pick and choose” what we want to do in the upcoming cycle, and we could literally swim in an endless ocean of possibilities, still back then we were not necessarily very clear about what exactly we want to do.

By now, we know what we need to do. In the last 3 months we also learned what we need to stop doing, or what we need to start doing more. It is more and more clear what our purpose for this year’s cycle is.

Immediately after the Solstice, Mercury makes a superior conjunction to the Sun marking the peak of the current Mercury cycle, a time of manifestation for our “Mercurian” pursuits. Whatever you started at the beginning of the current Mercury cycle around April 20th will come to fruition now. Look which houses in your chart are ruled by Mercury for more clues on how this is going to affect you.

The Mercury Sun conjunction takes place at the very potent degree 0° Cancer – this is one of the four cardinal degrees, the most powerful degrees in the zodiac. Transits to 0° of Cardinal signs are the best times to take action and assert ourselves.

This is not a time to play small or hide in the house. Get out there, do what you know you need to do. Mercury will make you very articulate so make sure you speak up and tell the world your truth. Get out our your comfort one. Feel the fear and do it anyway.

If you have Gemini, Leo or Virgo ascendant you will feel especially empowered by this transit. Similar if you have planets or angles around 0° in Cancer. We will all get some exciting news of some sort, Mercury is the messenger of the Zodiac after all.

The New Moon on June 23rd will carry on the theme of this Vernal Solstice, so there is more to come this week, stay tuned!

Neptune Retrograde – Remembering The Source Of All There Is

Astro Butterfly

Neptune is our connection to the web of life, the sacred script of our existence. Neptune is the ‘space in between’, all that cannot be seen, or defined.

Probably the most mysterious and misunderstood planet of our solar system, Neptune rules Pisces, the last sign of the zodiac, acting like the ‘final frontier’ of our existence, the place where everything merges into oneness, the Source where we all emerged from and where we will all return to.

The experiences of ego dissolving and the yearning to be ‘one with’ the cosmic ocean of completeness are what we call ‘Neptunian’ experiences.

Neptune

Neptune’s station retrograde on June 16 is an invitation to find this space of ‘oneness’ inside, as opposed to chasing for it in the outside world. The inner world becomes now the fertile soil of imagination, the place where everything becomes possible. During Neptune stations, we feel that God, the source of all there is, is on our side. The ocean, the sky, the mountains, each plant, each animal, everything is God manifesting and coming into being from that place of completeness, of perfection.

The message of Neptune is that there is a unity beyond the egos, bodies, and that separation is only an illusion. This reality of ultimate unity cannot be explained with our limited processes of the mind, it has to be experienced. We cannot “prove” Neptune.

But Neptune is also associated with illusion, delusion, and deception. The paradox of Neptune is that, when we start to believe too much in this perfection, in this unity, we lose ourselves, we are left without any reference point, we have no more home to come back to. When we realize we have ‘lost ourselves’ the tendency is to prolong our stay in this space of oneness by using drugs, alcohol, and other artificial mediators.

Like with every spell, Neptune magic does not last forever. Neptune retrograde is a reminder that you can dive into the Neptunian divine waters as many times you want to connect with that space, as long as you don’t forget to take your diving gear with you.

Psychologically, Neptune is described by our drive to return to the womb. In this way, Neptune acts in opposition to Pluto, who wants to preserve the matter, and sustain life as we know it. Because of these opposite drives, we humans want to live, create, leave our mark, reproduce, in order to honor our purpose as outlined by Pluto, however no matter what we do, the longing to return to the Source, to find again the paradise we have lost when we came into existence, is always there to haunt us.

I experienced Neptune strongly during a hypnosis session few years ago. The hypnotherapist had his natal Neptune conjunct my natal Mercury to the minute.

During the session I envisioned myself in my mother’s womb. From there I plunged directly into the deep waters of the ocean, where I experienced the fury of the water and had to fight with sea monsters. Soon after, I drifted into a space where I would float effortlessly. My heart and the heart of the Universe were beating as one. I felt one with the universe, there was no distinction between me and anything else. There was no separation.

When Neptune is active the sky like it is now, or when we have Neptune transits to personal planets or angles, we feel an urge to unite with something vaster than the self, to lose the boundaries of our small egos and merge with something larger. Our instinct for preservation dissolves and we let ourselves dive into the unknown, without any fear.

‘I never walked near the edge

Used to fear falling

I never swam far from shore

Never tried the secret door

But when you five me love

When you give me love

I have no fear of heights,

No fear of the deep blue sea,

Although it could drown me,

I know it could drown me’

Katie Melua / No fear of heights

The recent Neptune / Saturn square has showed us what happens when we fail to distinguish the dream (Neptune) from reality (Saturn). The square has brought us the crisis of immigration in Europe and the crisis of “fake news” all over the world, proliferated especially through social media.

Things gotten out of context and posted on Social Media have become viral. We don’t know any more if what we share on Social Media or what we see on TV is the reality. Fake news also bring very important questions: What is a fact? What is reality? Is perception the same thing with reality? Where do we cross the line?

The dystopian world described in the book 1984 gives very good examples of the shadow sides of Neptune. In the book, the so-called Ministry of Truth is in fact a propaganda machine. The word used is a misnomer because in reality the Ministry of Truth is responsible for the opposite, to falsify the historical events that do not serve Big Brother’s agenda.

With Neptune, it is very important to distinguish between awareness and deception. Neptune tells us we are one with the universe, but in this vast universe you can find the good and the bad, you can assimilate energy that serves your higher purpose, but also energy that drags you down.

During Neptune retrograde we need to be as awake as we can possibly be. Instead of putting the rose colored glasses on, simply put you glasses on, you want to see the world for what it really is. You can chose to lose yourself into the world of imagination to unleash the divine spirit inside you, and you also want to turn the TV off when you realize that what you are watching is someone else’s novel.

During Neptune retrograde, allow your ego take a break through myth, poetry, artistic cinema, and listen to the whisper of the dream. Allow memories and dreams to surface. Look for the truth that transcends the ego and remembers its source. And then take what has been revealed to you and bring it to the next level to fulfill your unique purpose. Not someone else’s.

Jupiter Is Now Direct – Expand Your Horizons

Astro Butterfly

Life is good! Jupiter just turned direct after a 4-month hibernation period. What makes Jupiter’s direct motion so special is that it took place immediately after the Full Moon in Sagittarius. And Jupiter is Sagittarius’ ruling planet. What happens when the planet of luck, happiness and generosity turns direct? Life starts to move forward.

After 4 months of doubting our goals, hopes and dreams, it is time to start over again with full confidence. Jupiter direct is about going forward, no matter what. No dream is too high, no challenge is too  great for the God of all Gods!

Ready for the next big adventure of your life?

Jupiter direct

Anything we start in the days following June 9th (when Jupiter turned direct) will be blessed with Jupiter’s luck and good fortune . Especially if your relationships have been stagnant (Jupiter is in Libra, the sign of partnerships of all kind) now it is time to take action and bring them “back to life”.

If you have Sagittarius or Pisces ascendant, or planets or angles around 13° Libra you will benefit greatly from this energy.  Jupiter cycles starts every 12 years, so if you are 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96 years of age, you have your Jupiter return. During Jupiter return our desire to expand our horizons, our desire to travel, to experience the world, to learn and grow is stronger than ever.

Does Jupiter really bring good luck? Jupiter has always been associated with good fortunes. Jupiter, the protector of the Romans, the God of all Gods in Olympus, and the giant gas ball of our solar system is indeed linked to expansion, growth, and good fortune.

It is believed that the pull of Jupiter’s gravity has helped shape the fate of our solar system. In the early years of our solar system’s history, Jupiter, thanks to his immense gravitational field, has stopped asteroids form bombarding the smaller planets, including the Earth. We won’t be here without Jupiter!

Jupiter gives a sense of optimism and faith, being the official ruler of religion and missionaries. No matter how bad things get, Jupiter always brings a positive outlook. He truly believes that things can ultimately turn out well.

“People who wonder if the glass is half empty or half full, miss the point. The glass is refillable.”

Jupiter loves scale and he doesn’t like to stay small. He wants to go farther than anyone else. That’s why Jupiter rulers everything that is “higher” or “farther” – higher education, long distance travel, faraway and exotic places, foreigners, government and religion.

Under Jupiter’s beam, we are more keen to experience new places – either literally or with the mind’s eye – and to seek a higher meaning in everything we do. Our risk appetite also increases, as well as our sense of adventure – Jupiter transits are notorious for giving us a push to move into unknown territories.

When Jupiter goes over important points in our chart, we suddenly get more interested in different places, different cultures and different points of view. We get excited about the unexpected, about the possibility of discovering something new.

Does Jupiter trigger any point in your chart? Take a trip, read a book, or get in contact with a foreign culture. This is a good time to broaden your perspective and grow.

Saturn, Jupiter’s sky neighbor has been for a long time in Sagittarius, trying to temper Sagittarius’ notorious optimism. Saturn has been teaching the archer some valuable life lessons and although he hasn’t completed his mission yet, we are all less impressed with Saturn’s lessons. Right now, Jupiter direct, stronger than ever, is infusing everyone and everything with optimism and joie de vivre and as a result, Saturn’s power is starting to fade.  We’ve learned our lessons, thank you very much Saturn. We are now ready to move on.

The world is changing and our beliefs are changing too. Jupiter direct is giving us the enthusiasm we need to change what is not working, what is keeping us stagnant. Which hopes and dreams have you been neglecting? Jupiter direct is the sign you’ve been waiting for. Time to take action and make your dreams a reality!

In the spirit of Jupiter direct, in the following week I will be doing readings focused on relocation and travel astrology. In you are planning a move to a different city or country, or if you wonder which places are best to travel check out my Etsy store. Knowing your exact time of birth is required for this type of reading.

Full Moon in Sagittarius – Nothing Else Matters

Astro Butterfly

The Full Moon in Sagittarius on June 9th will get us in touch with the truth of our nature: divine and glorious, and in the same time messy and limited. The Full Moon takes place at 19° Sagittarius and is conjunct Saturn, The Great Teacher.

What makes this Full Moon truly special is that Jupiter, the Full Moon ruler, turns direct literally one hour after the Full Moon. Jupiter is now in Libra, the sign of “the other” – if you’ve been struggling in your relationships, Jupiter direct is good news.

The Full Moon in Sagittarius brings a mixture of adventure and discipline. While Jupiter is all about expansion and new opportunities, Saturn warns us to take it easy and be responsible for our decisions. As a result, we are asked to ponder how far we want to go vs. how far we can go. The message? You can do what you want, as long as you play by the rules. You have all the freedom, within the framework of accepted social responsibilities.

Full Moon Sagittarius

Let’s get back to what Sagittarius stands for.  Sagittarius is our inner guru, our inner prophet, our inner pilgrim, ready to explore the many unfamiliar territories of the world and of the self, in search for the Truth. Look how Sagittarius is depicted, armed with a bow, focused intently on the direction in which his arrow is headed. The bow, full drawn and ready to let fly, symbolizes the divine power embodying the tension of spiritual force.

The Full Moon in Sagittarius will give us a potion of the Truth, a potion with magic herbs and bitter medicine.

And what is this truth about? Jupiter stations direct in Libra , the sign of one-on-one partnerships. We can only discover who we are through the Other, through the process of Projection. The other becomes a mirror of our inner self, especially of the unconscious side of our inner self.

Do you like what you see? Are you ready to make friends with the man in the mirror?  What about your relationships? Which relationships honor the truth of who you are? Which relationships help you grow and which one drag you backwards? Which people do you trust?

“Trust I seek and I find in you
Every day for us something new
Open mind for a different view
And nothing else matters”

Metallica – Nothing else matters

The Full Moon in Sagittarius will ask us to accept our human limitations and love our divine imperfections. The process can be awkward. Jupiter is applying to Neptune with an inconjunct, and in the process we might experience a crisis of faith. Thankfully Saturn will give us the clarity we need to discern from this communication which is of God and which is not. And Jupiter direct station means we WILL move forward, no matter what.

This is the last Full Moon in Sagittarius with Saturn in Sagittarius. The next series is in 28 years’ time. This is our last chance to integrate the message of the Great Teacher and move forward, with a renewed sense of optimism.

The sabian symbol of this Full Moon is “Pelicans menaced by the behavior and refuse of men seek safer areas for bringing up their youth”. The symbol stands for the process of transmutation. We are asked to take what is truly valuable, what is absolutely essential for our journey and with this move towards safer and brighter realms. We need to be very clear about who we are, as we won’t have too much time to ponder. But ultimately, this is a message of faith and optimism. The new place WILL be a better place for us.

The Full Moon in Sagittarius will affect all of us, and especially those of us with Sagittarius or Pisces ascendant, planets or angles around 19° in Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) or planets or angles around 13° in Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn).

Hold The Torch – Venus At Greatest Elongation And Triple Conjunction

Astro Butterfly

Venus is in the spotlight on June 3rd . If you look at the night sky 2 hours before the sunrise you will notice she is very bright these days. This is because Venus reached the maximum eastern elongation, a.k.a. she is at the greatest distance from the Sun.

Venus is highly independent she is at her greatest elongation, especially when she is a Morning Star. Far away from the light of the Sun, she can express herself freely, and enjoy her creative independence at the maximum.

In this part of the synodic cycle, Venus knows what she stands for and what she wants. She expresses her views freely. Many leaders of the feminist movement were born under this Venus phase. But independence can be a blessing as well as a course. After she reaches the point where she cannot go anywhere further, Venus decides to dive back down to earth. But before that, more exactly on June 3rd at 03:15 (EDT) Venus reigns undisturbed from her Eastern throne.

And if having Venus at greatest elongation was not special enough, Venus also makes a record of 3 conjunctions with Uranus, Eris and Pallas. The closest aspect is with freedom-seeking Uranus (at 27° Aries), signifying the awakening of the feminine to its intrinsic power. The aspect promises electrifying experiences and can bring sudden changes in the area of your life ruled by Venus (look in which house you have 27° Aries).

Venus Eris Pallas Uranus

Venus conjunct Uranus in the bold sign of Aries is the feminine version of Prometheus, the Greek God who stole the fire from Mount Olympus to give it to the mankind. Venus touched by Uranus brings the eternal flame of love to the mankind, holding the promise that no matter what, we are loved.

The second conjunction is with the asteroid Pallas. In Greek mythology, Pallas Athena is the goddess of wisdom, courage, strategy and skill, and is associated with creative intelligence, especially related to war and craft making, as well as with perception – more exactly our ability to see patterns in large amounts of data.

The third conjunction is with the minor planet Eris. Eris is a powerful feminine archetype. She is the feminine version of Mars, the God of War (Mars was Eris’ brother), and is associated with the concept of discord. We tend to give a negative connotation to discord, however discord in necessary for the perfection of the harmony. Many astrologers (including myself) believe Eris rules Libra, the sign of the scales.

Indeed, “balance” and “discord” can be the different sides of the same coin, and you can’t have one without the other. If we break down the word “discord” we have the prefix “dis”, meaning “different,” and “cord”, which means “heart.” So that leaves us with “different hearts.” When we believe too much we tend to know very little. Eris tempers the absolutist quest for one single truth and brings the much needed “balance”, ironically, through discord.

If we look at the famous Trojan war myth we can get a better understanding of how these feminine architypes (Venus, Pallas, Eris) play together.

“The goddesses Hera (Juno), Athena (Pallas) and Aphrodite (Venus) had been invited along with the rest of Olympus to the forced wedding of Peleus and Thetis. Eris was not invited to this wedding because of her history of creating troubles. She then tossed into the party the ”Apple of Discord”, a golden apple inscribed  “For the most beautiful one”, or “To the Fairest One” – provoking the three goddesses to begin quarrelling. Paris, Prince of Troy, was appointed to select the fairest. Hera offered political power,  Athena promised infinite wisdom, and Aphrodite tempted him with the most beautiful woman in the world: Helen of Troy. While Greek culture placed a greater emphasis on power, Paris chose to award the apple to Aphrodite. His choice marked the beginning of the 10-year Trojan war”

Altogether the triple conjunction in Aries stands for freedom, empowerment, integrity and justice. These aspects are particularly important now when Venus is at the greatest distance from the Sun. Venus, struck (Eris) by the divine fire (Uranus) of wisdom (Pallas), shines brighter than ever. We have pure, empowered feminine energy. Venus is truly a Goddess now and is asking every single one of us (regardless of gender) to stand for our sacred feminine values.

On top of the quadruple conjunction, Venus joins Saturn and the North Node in a Grand Fire Trine, being at the apex of an aspect called Castle. A Castle is a rare astrological event which stands for a promise from the Universe that if we build solid foundations (Saturn) in our life, only the sky is the limit in what we can accomplish (North Node).

We need to build a torch, a solid foundation, to keep the divine fire alive.

 

Astrology Of June – Dream Big And Aim High

Astro Butterfly

June is one of the best months of the year. Optimism will be restored, the impossible will suddenly become possible, and things will just feel right. The month is very intense and eventful though so don’t expect to rest too much during June ;).

Intuition is also heightened so you can make very good decisions right now, especially around June 20th when we have the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the Winter Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. Traveling of any kind is highly favored tanks to a very active Mercury, Jupiter and Gemini/Sagittarius axis.

We have some very positive aspects in June, including a Grand Trine and a Castle early June, we have Jupiter turning direct at the time of the Full Moon in Sagittarius, and we also have numerous trines in Air, Fire and Earth signs.

June

June 1st – The month starts smoothly thanks to a trine between Venus  (25° Aries) and Saturn (25° Sagittarius).

June 3rd  is one of the most positive and progressive days we can get thanks to a series of highly beneficial transits – we have a Grand Trine in Fire signs (North Node, Saturn and Uranus) which is triggered by two kites and forms an unique aspect called Castle. The apex of the Castle is Uranus which is conjunct Venus – expect surprising turns of events. In the same day Sun (13° Gemini) is trine Jupiter (13° Libra), accompanying with a truly upbeat and optimistic energy.

June 4th is an emotional day. Mars enters Cancer and Sun (14° Gemini) applies a square to Neptune (14° Pisces)

June 6th – Two personal planets change sings today – Venus enters Taurus and Mercury enters Gemini. If I could use one word to describe the energy we have today that would be “homecoming”. Both Venus and Mercury enter the signs of their domicile, the place where they can express themselves at their best. In the coming weeks there will be a feeling of “rightness” in the air, love and beauty will be expressed joyfully and communication will run smoothly. If you have Venus or Mercury in less friendly signs (Venus in Aries, Virgo or Scorpio or Mercury in Sagittarius or Pisces) use the following weeks to learn about the “natural” expression of these planets.

June 9th – We have Full Moon in Sagittarius (18°) and in the same day, the Full Moon ruler – Jupiter turns direct. When a planet changes motion is super powerful and having the ruler of a Full Moon changing course exactly at the time of the Full Moon make it even more powerful. This rare occurrence will make the Full Moon of June one of the most important and eventful full moons of the year. You will be asked to expand your horizons and embark into a new journey, be it psychical or metaphorical.  Something “big” will happen because Jupiter likes to expand everything it touches. If you have planets or angles around between 13°-18° in Aries, Gemini, Libra or Sagittarius make sure you mark your calendar 😉

June 13th – Communication can get “all over the place” because Mercury (13° Gemini) is trine Jupiter (13° Libra) and a bit later, square Neptune (14° Pisces). New projects of all sorts are favored, as ideals run high. Now is time to “dream big” and worry less about the “how” – wait for the upcoming Saturn transits to make a plan on how are you going to get there.

June 15th – Time for the first “reality check” of the month as Sun (24° Gemini) is opposite Saturn (24° Sagittarius). Few days later on June 18th is Mercury’s turn to confront with the Teacher – Mercury opposite Saturn (24° Sagittarius).

June 16th – Neptune changes course and turns retrograde at 14° Pisces – our sensitivity and receptivity are heightened. Pisces risings, you are especially affected.

June 20th /  June 21st – Sun and Mercury enter Cancer and conjoin immediately after the Solstice at the very powerful degree 0° Cancer – whatever you started at the beginning of the current Mercury cycle around April 20th will come to fruition now. If you have your ascendant in Gemini, Leo or Virgo you are especially in focus 😉

June 23rd  – We have New Moon in Cancer (2°) conjunct Mercury, encouraging intimate conversations and family bonding. Some sort of information will come to you though intuition, alternatively some old memories may resurface now.

June 24th / June 25th – the atmosphere gets very intense: we have Venus (18° Taurus) trine Pluto (18° Capricorn), Mars (13° Cancer) square Jupiter (13° Libra) and later on Mars (14° Cancer) trine Neptune. Feelings and passions run high – we will want to “merge” with the object of our desire. Make sure you socialize – it is a good idea to plan a date or a nigh out around this time.

June 27th – Mercury (13° Cancer) is square Jupiter (13° Libra) and later that day trine Neptune (14° Pisces). Again, this is a good time to “dream big” and pursue creative activities.

The month ends with some more Mercury action (Mercury has been very active this month!) On June 28th – Mercury is conjunct Mars at 15° Cancer and one day later on June 29th Mercury (18° Cancer) is opposite Pluto (18° Capricorn). This time Mercury is sharped-tongued and can get bad tempered! Try to stay cool, do some meditation, spend some time by water – would be a pity to spoil such a fantastic month right at the end. Remember, words can never be taken back, so chose them carefully 😉

Have a wonderful June!

Juno – Undying Devotion

Astro Butterfly

The Juno archetype comes from Roman mythology, where Juno was the wife of Jupiter, the King of the Gods, and patron of the Roman Empire. Her marriage was not without problems – Jupiter cheated on Juno again and again, but despite that, she stayed loyal and faithful. In almost all schools of astrology, Juno is associated with commitment, loyalty, marriage, and legal contracts.

Let’s take a closer look at the Junonian themes and see what Juno really stands for. My research conducted on private clients and celebrities charts show a Juno closer linked to the 8th house of shared resources rather than to the 7th house of partnerships. And more important, Juno stands for the commitment to protect these shared resources – be it monetary resources, emotional resources, cultural resources, or life itself.

Juno
Christian Schloe

Money: Juno had a variety of roles, among them being protector of the Roman people, protector of women and children, and counselor of the state. In her role as advisor, she was known as Juno Moneta. The first coins had Juno Moneta on the face, and were called “moneta”, from which the term “money” is derived.

John Keynes, the founder of macroeconomics and the economic policies of governments, who advocated the use of fiscal and monetary policies to mitigate the effects of economic recession, has Juno conjunct MC. Economy and money as we know them today come from the work of an man with Juno on his MC.

Shared resources:  Juno’s position in society comes from her marriage to Jupiter, so she can’t just walk out the door, even if he is cheating on her and treating her badly. To maintain power, she paradoxically has to give it away to her husband.

With Juno, there is always something we gain from our relationship with another – money, resources, power. And there is always something we have to give away.

Jordan Belfort, known as the Wolf of Wall street (Sun conjunct Juno in Cancer) made a fortune with other people’s money, by trading overpriced penny stocks. This was until he got caught and he had to spend 2 years in prison. You see, nothing comes for free.

The famous actor Jeremy Irons made a remark few years ago worth of his Juno conjunct MC in Aries. He basically opposed gay marriage on the grounds that it could ‘debase’ marital law, suggesting it could be manipulated to allow fathers to pass on their estates to their sons without being taxed, because he supposed incest laws would not apply to men. Talk about shared resources!

Marriage: Juno is strongly linked to marriage, and the asteroid pops up indeed very often in marriage charts. Both is more to Juno than what we usually associate with the astrological 7th house of partnerships. Libra and the 7th house is the mirror of Aries / the 1st house, and is more about how we discover ourselves (Aries / 1st house) though others (Libra, 7th house). The 1st / 7th house axis is about monoidentity vs. dual identity.

A partnership brings together 2 individuals with 2 different identities. Hence the need to negotiate, to adapt, to reconcile the differences, but the key differentiator here is about who we are (not what we have). With Juno we cross the realms of the 8 house, and the union becomes more about “what we share together” vs. “what we are together”. And in practice, marriage and money have to go together.

When two people decide to get married, they make a commitment to share the good and the bad, to share resources and responsibilities. Juno in this regard is about building security in a relationship through shared resources and experiences. Marriage in this context comes to “seal the deal”, to ensure the commitment is valid and passes the test of time.

Emanuel Macron, the president of France has Juno conjunct Sun. At the age of 17 he promised his then 40-years-old drama teacher to marry her. He kept his word.

Commitment: Both Pope John Paul I and John Paul II have Juno exactly conjunction the Ascendant.  Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of the Indian independence movement, also called the “Father of the nation” has Juno on his IC, his roots. His “passive resistance” campaign is if you want, the definition of commitment to a cause.

Eva Peron, the first lady of Argentina, who got the official title “Spiritual leader of the nation” had as well Juno conjunct IC. Tom Cruise, known for his commitment to scientology has the Sun Juno conjunction in Cancer.

Juno shows very often in the chart of celebrities known for their social activism: Jane Fonda (Juno conjunct MC in Scorpio), Woopy Goldberg (Juno conjunct MC in Sagittarius) or George Clooney (Juno conjunct ascendant in Pisces), who is known not only for his activism, but especially for his wife’s activism, who is a human rights barrister.

Other iconic figures with prominent Juno are Walt Disney (Juno conjunct the ascendant in Virgo), Michael Jackson (Sun conjunct Juno in Virgo), Gordon Ramsey (Juno conjunct IC in Leo) or “born in the USA” Bruce Springsteen (Juno conjunct IC in Leo).

Devotion: If it is one theme that stands out when we try to understand Juno, that is the theme of devotion – devotion to a partner even if they are cheating (Juno/Hera and Jupiter/Zeus), devotion to your nation (Ghandi, Eva Peron), devotion to music (Michael Jackson), devotion to God (the Popes).  The underlying sense of love and devotion is so strong that it goes beyond rationality, it comes from a sacred space of compassion and reverence for the human kind, for life itself .

Mother Theresa, well-known for her humanitarian work, had a tight Sun-Juno conjunction in Virgo. Anna Politkovskaia, another Sun conjunct Juno in Virgo, is a human right activists who refused to give up reporting on the Chechen war despite numerous acts of intimidation and violence, including poisoning.  Clarence Darrow (Sun conjunct Juno in Aries), one of  the most famous lawyers and civil libertarians, devoted himself to opposing the death penalty, which he felt to be in conflict with humanitarian progress. In more than 100 cases, Darrow only lost one murder case.