 Calendar Page
Special Days and Aspects
for June 2003
Welcome to
June! Click on a date in the calendar to see the current aspects and
events for that day.
June 1, 2003
Have a great
day!
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June 2, 2003
St. Elmo’s
Day: St. Elmo is the nickname sailors gave to one of their patron saints,
Erasmus, an Italian bishop who lived during the 200s. “St. Elmo’s
fire” is a faint fiery pattern that can sometimes be seen near the top
of a ship’s mast on stormy nights. Sailors said the sparks were souls
rising to heaven with St. Elmo’s help. Others explain St. Elmo’s
fire as natural electrical flashes.
Italy Republic
Day: On this day in 1946 Italians voted to do away with the monarchy
and become a republic.
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June 3, 2003
Jupiter at
13 degrees Leo opposite retrograde Neptune in Aquarius
Philosophical Jupiter meets spiritual Neptune to start the month in a dreamy
haze of mystical meditations. There is a tendency to seek escape from the
daily grind during this influence, most often by moving into a higher state
of consciousness. Beware the lure of drugs and alcohol - the escape they
offer will do nothing to bring out the spiritual nature of this transit.
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June 4, 2003
Saturn enters
Cancer
The planet of structure enters the realm of the homey, emotional crab. Geminis
can heave a sigh of relief and hope they’ve passed the use-it-or-lose
tests of the Lord of Karma’s passage through their sign. Cancers, you
berate yourselves regularly enough. Try not to let Saturn’s pass through
your sign increase your self-nagging factor to a deafening roar. Try to keep
a little detachment when Saturn starts his testing. Saturn leaves Cancer
for Leo in mid-2005.
Sun at 13
degrees Gemini trine retrograde Neptune in Aquarius
Quiet study is supported by this aspect, and perhaps some opening of the
doors of perception to some form of ESP. But with Neptune retrograde, beware
of making definite conclusions as some hunches might be false.
Sun at 13
degrees Gemini sextile Jupiter in Leo
There’s a sunny, social feeling in the air. Self confidence and a feeling
of good fortune make it a good day to work together on group projects, or
to approach people in authority.
Double Fifth
Day / Dragon Boat Festival: The fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese
lunar calendar, the Dragon Boat Festival is associated with a Qu Yuan, a
government minister and a teacher who was well-loved by the common people
in a regional kingdom, now part of China, a few hundred years B.C. He threw
himself into a river in despair when his advice was ignored and the kingdom
was conquered by another. As he was so loved by the people, fishermen rushed
out in long boats, beating drums to scare the fish away and throwing zong
zi (rice balls) into the water to feed more agressive fish to keep them from
Qu Yuan’s body. Chinese communities in China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan
hold races of canoes decorated like dragons on this day. Rice balls with
savory fillings are the traditional food. It is said that if you can balance
a raw egg on its end at exactly noon on Double Fifth Day, the rest of the
year will be lucky.
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June 5, 2003
World Environment
Day: A day for learning about threats to nature and for taking steps
to protect the Earth’s future. The United Nations General Assembly voted
this day into existence in 1972 to encourage the people and governments of
the world to weigh current development in light of its effects on the natural
world. The vote was part of the first U.N. Conference on the Human Environment,
held in Stockholm.
Eve of
Shavuot: Religious Jews keep vigil as the counting of the Omer ends and
the two-day celebration of Shavuot begins. Partly a summer harvest festival,
Shavuot also commemorates the three days the people of Israel spent camped
on Mount Sinai when God handed down to Moses the basic spiritual laws of
the Torah, encapsulated in the Ten Commandments, and the Hebrew people were
unified as a nation.
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June 6, 2003
Venus at
24 degrees Taurus square Mars in Aquarius
This can be either a sexy or a squabbly time in one’s relationship,
as feminine Venus and masculine Mars square off. If you aren’t in a
relationship, there may be some lust-at-first-sight going on, but a relationship
begun under this transit might not have a lot going for it other than the
physical attraction.
Shavuot:
Observed on the Hebrew dates of Sivan 6 and 7, which this year are June 6
and 7, Shavuot is a Jewish festival celebrating both the material and spiritual
gifts of God. It officially begins at sundown June 5, 2003. Partly a summer
harvest festival, Shavuot also commemorates the three days the people of
Israel spent camped on Mount Sinai when God handed down to Moses the basic
spiritual laws of the Torah, encapsulated in the Ten Commandments, and the
Hebrew people were unified as a nation.
D-Day:
Commemorates the triumph and sacrifice involved in the Allied troops’
1944 invasion of occupied France, via the beaches at Normandy. The successful
assault against Hitler’s Atlantic Wall opened the door for the Allied
victory over Germany. Ten thousand died or were wounded achieving the goal.
Many were buried in Normandy, where memorials are held on D-Day’s
anniversary.
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June 7, 2003
Moon
Phase
First-quarter Moon in Virgo, 20:28 Universal Time.
Shavuot:
Concluding day of the Jewish festival that celebrates the gifts of the
Torah and the summer harvest.
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June 8, 2003
Pentacost
Sunday: Just as the Christian Last Supper comemorates a day when Jesus
was celebrating a Jewish holiday, Passover, so the Christian holiday of Pentacost
hearkens back to a day, 50 days after Jesus’ Easter resurrection, when
Jerusalem was filled with Jews from many lands who had come to the holy city
to celebrate Shavuot. As the Bible tells it, the resurrected Jesus had spent
40 days among his followers. Then he instructed the apostles to remain in
Jerusalem to await the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and he ascended into the
heavens before their eyes. On the 50th day, when the apostles were together
praying, the sound of a strong wind filled the sky, the Holy Spirit descended
upon them like tongues of fire, and they began speaking in tongues they
didn’t know before.
St.
Médardus’s Day: “If it rains on St. Médardus’s
Day, it will rain for 40 days.” That’s the jingle associated with
Médard, a bishop who lived in France about 470-560 and became the
patron saint of farmers and good growing conditions. In neighboring Belgium
he is called the rain saint.
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June 9, 2003
Sun at 18
degrees Gemini opposite retrograde Pluto in Sagittarius
This opposition points to power struggles or perhaps big blow-ups that lead
to forthright sharing and clearing the air. This can be an intense time,
but in triggering the Gemini-Sagittarius axis, it’s all about learning.
St. Columba’s
Day The story of St. Columba, one of Ireland’s patron saints as
well as one of Scotland’s, bears the Celtic sense of tragedy and poetry.
He began many churches, schools and monasteries in his native Ireland in
the sixth century. But he felt responsible for a battle at Cuildremne where
3,000 died, and he vowed to make amends by saving 3,000 souls. As penance,
he would never see Ireland again. He founded a new monastery on Iona, an
island off the Scottish coast, and preached throughout Scotland. He is said
to have returned home blindfolded years later to save the poets, who were
politically outspoken and in danger of being forced out of Ireland.
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June 10, 2003
Venus enters
Gemini
Party with eggheads and go dancing with twins. Be a social butterfly this
month. But try not to get so talkative that you say more than you mean.
Time Observance
Day: A seventh-century Japanese ruler, Emperor Tenchi, is known for inventing
a clock that kept track of time through measured amounts of water falling
out of a vessel. As he commanded, temple bells and drums sounded out the
hours, originally beginning on a June 10.
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June 11, 2003
Mercury at
27 degrees Taurus square Mars in Aquarius
Touchy and defensive ego battles are characteristic of Mercury square Mars.
Adding to that energy, this square is in fixed signs. Communications feel
like challenges and everyone is ready to duel.
King Kamehameha
Day: The man who united the islands of Hawaii in 1810 and became their
first king is celebrated by state holiday there today. King Kamehameha is
the only member of royalty who is honored by a public holiday in the United
States. Parades, singing, dancing and cookouts go on for several days after
the official holiday. The king is known for creating a more peaceful and
prosperous Hawaii than existed when the lands were controlled by numerous
tribal chiefs.
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June 12, 2003
Mercury enters
Gemini
Writers - on your marks, get set, go! Mercury in a sign it rules (where the
Sun is also shining) favors quick thinking and snappy communication. This
lasts until the 29th.
Mercury at
2 degrees Gemini conjunct Venus
These two planets stay together in Gemini within the orb of conjunction all
month. You may feel moved to talk about your feelings or analyze the emotional
patterns in your life. This is a union of head and heart, with the head having
a bit of an edge in the matter.
Venus at
2 degrees Gemini square retrograde Uranus in Pisces
This square can create an impulse to find new excitement in life, and
particularly in one’s love life. But be a bit patient and flexible or
you might provoke an argument just to get the feeling of something exciting
happening.
Mercury at
2 degrees Gemini square retrograde Uranus in Pisces
Again, be flexible and this can be an inspiring day as minds work quickly,
events happen quickly and things feel exciting. But be careful of accidents
and don’t be too rattled if your plans for the day have to change. If
you try to control the fast pace, it could be nerve-wracking.
Philippines
Independence Day: Celebrates the day in 1898 when, with American backing,
the Philippines declared independence from Spain. The United States acquired
the islands the following year in the resolution of the Spanish-American
War, and the country was granted full independence nearly 50 years later,
in 1946.
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June 13, 2003
St. Anthony
of Padua Day: The patron saint of Portugal, San António, is also
the finder of lost things, and many a prayer has been said to him in the
midst of frustrating searches. Born in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1195, St. Anthony
is also associated with the blessing of children and animals and with
matchmaking. His feast day is especially celebrated in Italian, Spanish and
Portuguese communities and among the American Indians in the southwestern
United States.
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June 14, 2003
Moon
Phase
Full Moon in Sagittarius, 11:16 Universal Time.
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June 15, 2003
Fathers Day:
A day dedicated to appreciating dads, Fathers Day has been celebrated in
the United States since 1910 and was made official by presidential proclamation
in 1966. Like Mothers Day, Fathers Day was born of the dedication of a woman
who wanted to honor her parent. Sonora Louise Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington,
is credited with seeking a day to honor fathers. Her father fought in the
Civil War and raised his six children after his wife died in childbirth.
Dodd’s minister took her idea to the local association of clergy, and
the YMCA also supported the occasion. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge
recognized the day. The 1966 proclamation by President Lyndon B. Johnson
set the date of the celebration as the third Sunday in June.
Sanno
Festival: A festival of the Hie Shrine in Tokyo, whose deities are said
to protect Japan’s Imperial Palace, the festival features Shinto rituals
and the performance of ancient bugaku court dances with elaborate
costumes. The highlight is a stately parade led by an ox drawing a sacred
carriage and accompanied by mounted samurai, musicians and dancers. Passing
first through a purifying ring of foliage, the procession circles the grounds
of the Imperial Palace and continues through several of Tokyo’s business
areas.
Orthodox
Pentecost: For Christian Orthodox churches, the celebration of the day
when God as Holy Spirit came to the disciples in tongues of fire and rushing
wind, bringing gifts of the spirit. For western churches, the holiday was
June 8.
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June 16, 2003
Guru Arjan Dev
Martyrdom: Sikh time of remembering the faith’s first martyr and
others who have suffered for Sikhism. Lassi, a churned dairy concoction
something like a milkshake, is offered to passers-by to commemorate the occasion.
Recipes for several flavors of lassi, as well as other delicious summer
drinks of India, can be found in this issue in the article
Yummy and Exotic Summer
Concoctions.
Bloomsday:
Few authors have holidays in their honor, but Irish novelist James Joyce
is celebrated on this day each year in his hometown of Dublin. His novel
Ulysses, considered scandalous when published in 1922, now forms the
basis for Bloomsday. The novel tells of a day in the life - June 16, 1904
- of a character named Leopold Bloom. On Bloomsday, observed since 1954,
partiers retrace Bloom’s path through Dublin, dress in costumes and
hold public readings from the book.
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June 17, 2003
Mars enters
Pisces
Mars will be in Pisces a rather long time for the red planet, until mid-December,
and some of that time it will be retrograde. It will be interesting to see
if the transit brings the agressive egotism in the world down a notch or
if it irritates the egotists so much that they go crazy. This is the planet
of ego, will and energy immersed in the impersonal waters of Pisces where
ego is negated and movement is slowed. This is a good time to engage in selfless
acts to benefit others. Selfish acts may well backfire.
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June 18, 2003
Have a great
day!
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June 19, 2003
Juneteenth:
A freedom celebration! The news that slavery had become illegal in the United
States was suppressed in some slave-holding areas of the country during the
Civil War until Union military officials were able to enforce the new law.
Slaves in Texas were freed June 19, 1865, when a U.S. general, Gordon Granger,
arrived in Galveston to make Texas slave owners obey the Emancipation
Proclamation that Abraham Lincoln had signed two years before. The holiday
is celebrated as the anniversary of the day the last group of American slaves
were freed.
Kuwait Independence
Day: Celebrates the day in 1961 when the country gained full independence
from Great Britain.
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June 20, 2003
Venus at
12 degrees Gemini trine retrograde Neptune in Aquarius
Dreaminess and empathy are sparked by this combination. With the usual caveat
to beware of the possibility of Neptunian illusion, people who already know
they can rely on their romantic partners can have a beautiful romantic time
during this transit.
Mercury at
12 degrees Gemini trine retrograde Neptune in Aquarius
Sensitivity and imagination reign. It’s a good time to study mystical
or spiritual topics. It’s also a good time to talk about your dreams
with others who might understand.
Mercury at
12 degrees Gemini conjunct Venus
These two planets stay together in Gemini within the orb of conjunction all
month. Here they are exact again. You may feel moved to talk about your feelings
or analyze the emotional patterns in your life. This is a union of head and
heart, with the head having a bit of an edge in the matter.
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June 21, 2003
Solstice,
19:10 Universal Time.
Moon
Phase
Last-quarter Moon in Pisces, 14:45 Universal Time.
Sun enters
Cancer
Crabs, it is your turn to shine! With the Sun in Cancer, it is a good time
to pay attention to home and family.
First Day of
Summer: The 2003 summer solstice occurs at 19:10 Universal Time, and
summer officially begins in the northern hemisphere. The sun reaches its
farthest point north of the Earth’s equator on this day, making this
the longest day of sunlight of the year in the north, and the shortest day
in the southern hemisphere. The day was a religious holiday in ancient,
nature-based religions, although often celebrated on the 24th of June. The
gates between the upper and lower worlds were said to be open at the time
of the solstice, permitting beings to cross from above to the Earth. In modern
times, the event draws a crowd to Stonehenge in England, site of ancient
worship. The point of sunrise in the eastern sky has been moving northward
daily since the spring equinox, but it now stops and begins moving southward.
The solstice is literally “sun-stopping” day in Latin.
Litha: Wicca
celebration of the abundance of summer. In many Wiccan celebrations, this
is when the Oak King, who represents the waxing year, is triumphed over by
the Holly King, who represents the waning year. Healings and love magic are
especially suitable at this time. Wiccans consider the Goddess to be heavy
with pregnancy from the mating at Beltane, while the Sun God, in his approaching
fatherhood, is at his greatest strength. The faeries abound at this time
and it is customary to leave offerings - such as food or herbs - for them
in the evening.
First Nations
Day: The summer solstice is a sacred day for Canada’s native cultures
of Indian, Metis and Inuit descent. Communities hold feasts and invite
guests.
Midnight Sun
Festival: The sun shines 22 hours a day in Nome, Alaska, at the time
of the summer solstice. People celebrate the longest day of the year with
parties that peak at midnight June 21. Nome holds a river raft race at midnight.
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June 22, 2003
Mercury at
16 degrees Gemini sextile Jupiter in Leo
A great time for seeing the big picture and making long-term plans to put
your dreams into action.
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June 23, 2003
Mars at 2
degrees Pisces trine Saturn in Cancer
Action-Man Mars, already slowed down by the Piscean depths, needs to proceed
even more slowly and methodically under the Saturn influence. Take your time,
be practical and just keep going.
Mercury at
18 degrees Gemini opposite retrograde Pluto in Sagittarius
Plutonic communication, along the lines of propaganda and indoctrination,
could be heavy today. You might fall for it, or, using the investigative
power of Pluto, you might uncover it and get to the bottom of a situation
that has been confusing you.
Mars at 2
degrees Pisces conjunct retrograde Uranus
This is an impulsive, rash influence that could lead to sudden blow-ups,
although the influence might be dampened down a bit in peaceful Pisces. Assert
your individuality in ways that are constructive, rather than selfish and
egotistical, to avoid the harshness of this conjunction.
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June 24, 2003
Sun at 2
degrees Cancer conjunct Saturn
This is a favorable day to take care of duties at home, and to organize and
plan. Work at what needs doing and you’ll make steady progress.
Sun at 2
degrees Cancer trine retrograde Uranus in Pisces
This transit brings energy and clarity to your perception, adding a nice
spark to what otherwise might have been a low-energy day with Saturn weighing
on the Sun.
Midsummer Day
/ St. John’s Day: Many European and Scandinavian countries, and
Hispanic countries in the Americas, meld their festivals celebrating the
solstice with celebrations of the birth of Jesus’s cousin, John, who
came to be known as the Baptist. June 24 is the traditional Midsummer’s
Day, as in Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Many of the world’s celebrations include customs dating back to ancient
pagan summer solstice celebrations, such as bonfires, dancing and decorating
with flowers. The ancient Druids built bonfires at the summer solstice to
honor the Sun God. In Latvia, France and Germany, St. John’s Day fires
are part of traditions for good luck with the harvest. In Denmark, symbols
of winter are burned in the summer fires. In Portugal, the fires lit on this
day are said to be able to cure illness. St. John’s Wort, now frequently
used as an herbal remedy to improve mood, has traditionally been used in
Mexico for good luck rituals on St. John’s Day.
Incan Feast
of the Sun, or Inti Raymi Festival: Celebrating the rebirth of the sun,
the Incas of ancient Ecuador, Peru and Chile honored their Sun God, Inti
Raymi, at this summer solstice festival. The ritual was held in La Marca
Hills, roughly on the Earth’s equator. Today the major celebrations
are held in Cuzco, Peru, the Incas’ capitol city of the 12th century,
and the parties last a week. One ritual involves donning new clothes and
burning the old in the holiday bonfires.
Kupalo
Festival: The Ukrainian version of the Midsummer Day festival honors
the ancient god Kupalo, who sleeps under a tree in winter. In spring he awakens
and shakes the tree to make the seeds fall. During the festival, unmarried
men and women, girls and boys, dance around a tree that has been decorated
as Kupalo and at night they search for a special fern from the forest to
bring good luck. Symbols of Marena, goddess of cold, death and winter, are
burned to reduce her power over the coming winter.
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June 25, 2003
Saturn at
2 degrees Cancer trine retrograde Uranus in Pisces
Make new plans and evaluate the old. This is a bridge or transition time
where the old karmic patterns of Saturn can segue into the changes Uranus
suggests with some smoothness and grace via the ease of the trine aspect.
Still, the changes may be emotional because of the deep-feeling signs involved.
Venus at
18 degrees Gemini opposite retrograde Pluto in Sagittarius
Intense learning experiences may be afoot in love relationships. Pluto’s
subconscious compulsions may make lovers act like fools, so this could be
a rough transit. Relationships begun under this transit could be bad for
you. But lovers who can handle the energy and the honesty could experience
the intensity of their love in a good way.
Sun at 3
degrees Cancer trine Mars in Pisces
Waterlogged Mars in Pisces gets a boost of energy from the Sun. It’s
a good day for being alone and figuring out where you want to be headed.
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June 26, 2003
Have a great
day!
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June 27, 2003
Have a great
day!
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June 28, 2003
Peru Independence
Day: Simón Bolívar and José San Martín led
the 1824 battle that ended 300 years of Spanish rule for Peru and Bolivia.
Bolivia celebrates its independence in August.
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June 29, 2003
Moon
Phase
New Moon in Cancer, 18:39 Universal Time.
Mercury enters
Cancer
As Mercury enters Cancer, the tendency is to turn the mind’s attention
inward, examining feelings. This influence favors communication about deep
feelings and examination of their roots in early life. It’s also a good
influence for talks with parents.
St. Peter’s
Day: Fishermen, sailors and others associated with the sea celebrate
in honor of their patron saint, who walked across the water to reach Jesus.
Ceremonies are held in certain port cities around the world, including some
in Belgium, Peru, Chile, and Gloucester, Massachusetts in the United States.
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June 30, 2003
Mercury at
2 degrees Cancer trine retrograde Uranus in Pisces
This is exciting, problem-solver energy which could be beneficially applied
to emotional issues. It doesn’t last long, since Mercury moves so quickly,
so make the most of it today.
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Astrology
and holidays compiled by Maria Barron
|
Website copyright © 2002-2008 by Gregory Ellison and Mary Barron, all rights reserved
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