June—Goddess as Mother, Queen of Summer

In June, our northern hemisphere shift is from spring to summer, and it is in summer, season of life-giving power, that we most fully see the Goddess in her aspect as Mother. The month begins with a waxing Moon that becomes First Quarter on Saturday, June 3, with Moon in the earthy sign of Virgo. Earthy? Yes! Though some astrological calendars will say she's "barren," I object! Of all the symbols, mostly animal, that make up our signs and constellations of the zodiac, Virgo is sole Goddess, and she holds in her arms the bounty of the harvest. Barren? Hardly. Discerning, perhaps, but I've always thought she deserves redefinition from the ancient lore that came down from her arbitrary assignment of Mercury as her "ruler." The late, great astrologer, Zipporah Dobyns, Ph.D., proposed the asteroid goddess Ceres as a modern ruler. That fits much better. The Roman Ceres, or her counterpart of Greece, Demeter, is the archetypical Earth Mother. While in most cases, I've paid due attention to the idea that planting is best in signs of earth or water, I've ignored guides that advise against planting with Moon in just one earth sign, the so-called "barren" Virgo. I choose instead to honor her elemental identity with earth. My results have been good. If you wish to question this (or anything else I've written), or share your opinions and/or experiences, send me an email. I won't promise to answer personally, but if it fits, I may include reader comments in this column, along with my own response.

First Quarter Moon—June 3, 7:06 pm EDT, 13 Virgo 13
Ritual of Preparation for Summer

First Quarter Moon is a phase of action. As promised, I did do the "spring cleaning" rite I published for First Quarter Moon in April's column—took my own advice—and it was very effective. That ritual took me several hours to complete, but after my space was cleared, obviously my mind was clearer, too, for within the remainder of that one day, I accomplished more effective work on my current priority project than I'd been able to do within the two weeks prior. So, once again I intend to create an active First Quarter rite, this time to do what I can to clear away spring and prepare for summer. What needs to be cleared away and prepared could mean many different things, indoors or out. For me, the focus will be on my gardens. Though I managed to get some cleanup and planting done in time that my outdoor circle was ready for our Beltane rite, the spring flowers are now fading, weeds are sprouting fast, and a great deal work is needed rather quickly!

Whatever your particular tools or project, assemble what you need to do the work, then center yourself with three deep breaths, then feel the energy of Mother Earth beneath your feet. Send psychic roots down through the soil and strata, the rocks and waters, to feel the warmth and energy that comes from her heart center. Allow that energy to flow upward into your body and flow throughout. Now you are ready to give back that energy toward completion of the task you've chosen. Here's a little charm you could chant while you work:

Mother, in this month of June
I do my work by waxing Moon
Charged with love and energy
By gracious Goddess, blessed be!

Full Moon—June 11, 2:03 pm EDT, 20 Sagittarius 41
Shoot for the Stars of Truth and Healing

Brighid of Ireland is the Goddess whose mythology I chose for the fire signs in Moon Tides, Soul Passages. Her name means "fiery arrow," a fitting image for the Sagittarian zodiac symbol of the Archer. Sagittarian enthusiasm and idealism needs outlets for expression, so those flame-tipped arrows shoot toward the stars, seeking the highest truth.

The final aspect of this Full Moon in Sagittarius is her conjunction with Pluto, the Dark Lord of transformative power, and there is a transformative nature to this Moon, as well, because Sagittarius is a mutable [changeable] sign. Moon of any sign rules the emotions and memory. What is your truth at this time? Are you able to express it freely, or might your feelings be somehow frustsrated and suppressed? If the latter, then to confront Pluto, as symbol of darkness or the truth that you can't yet clearly see, has the potential of healing emotional release. Moon conjoins Pluto at 10:34 pm EDT on June 11, and then she is void-of-course. For stronger energy, begin your ritual in the evening enough prior to that conjunction so that you can finish before it begins to separate. (After 10:34 pm EDT, Moon will move past Pluto, to "separate.")

Place within your ritual space two cords with which you can make two circles on the floor big enough to stand within. On a small center altar, prepare incense and a white candle for Spirit. Have a drum you can play or recorded drumming music in a rhythm that inspires you to move in dance. Center yourself and then create sacred space. A simple method for a fire ritual could be to first banish unwanted energy from your circle by walking the permimeter clockwise while wafting the incense. To charge and seal your space, light the Spirit candle as you ask for protection and guidance, then carry it around your circle with intent, and place it on your altar.

For your magical working, first make your cord circles on the floor, a few feet apart from each other, designating one to be Pluto, the other Moon. By moving alternatively from one circle to the other, you can dialog with yourself to gain greater insight into what you may have been hiding from yourself that has blocked your true expression. Alone with yourself, under the protection of Spirit, you can argue through inner conflicts—yell or cry if you feel like it. As you more clearly understand what has been suppressed, you can release it, freeing yourself to clarify and express your truth. Celebrate and raise the energy of your transformative power with drumming and dancing!

Summer Solstice—Sun enters Cancer on June 21 at 8:26 am EDT

Midsummer Lore and a Personal Midsummer Ritual

New Moon, June 25—3 Cancer 58, 12:05 pm EDT
A Ritual for Blessing the Home

New Moon in Cancer, as the sign of home and mother, is a good time of year to do a ritual house cleansing, blessing and protection. Of course it's always best to do a good old-fashioned non-ritual cleansing and decluttering first. You can do the ritual alone, or with others in your family. With family is good, both because then all can be vested in the intent, and also because the various parts can be assigned so that the whole process takes less time. If you are working with others, explain the process before you begin, and you also might join hands in a circle to call upon the Mother Goddess (or whatever deity or deities you prefer) to aid you in your work.

Begin with a broom just inside the front door. Move clockwise all around the perimeter of your home sweeping from center to wall and then forward a bit, with the intent that you are gathering all unwanted energy into a pile that you will sweep along with you until you've gathered it all. When you get back to the front door, open it and firmly sweep the pile out, banishing it. If you have land around your house, you can then also continue on, sweeping around the outside of the house, this time visualizing that you are sweeping all that unwanted stuff completely off of your property into oblivion, with harm to none (because you don't want to send it to your neighbors)!

Next, bless Water and Earth (a bowl of salted water, then again move clockwise around your entire home, dipping your fingers and sprinkling, with the intent that you are completing the cleansing of your space. Follow this with blessed Fire and Air (incense), with the intent of beginning to charge your home with energies that you want to be present.

Finally, bless and light a white candle, and carry it all around your home. Your intent now is to seal what you have done, and to protect your home from the intrusion of harmful energy. Hold that intent as you move. Pause at each opening to your home (doors, windows, vents, even phones and internet accesses), and scribe a pentagram or a solar cross in the air before the opening. When you are finished, give thanks to the deity or deities you have called and then extinguish the candle.