Calendar Page
Special Days and Aspects for June 2004
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Welcome to June! Click on a date in the calendar to see the current aspects and events for that day.
June 1, 2004
Happy Birthday to
skydancer!
June 2, 2004
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.
June 3, 2004
Moon Phase
Full Moon in Sagittarius, 4:20 Universal Time.
Retrograde Venus at 21 degrees Gemini opposite retrograde Pluto in Sagittarius
Powerful forces are at work today as this karmic influence is
intensified by the retrograde motion of Venus. This is a strong and sometimes
dangerous transit that can fuel feelings of jealousy, obsession and compulsion.
The trick here is to remember that love does conquer all — despite the apparent
authority of negative feelings or events, the only lasting strength is the
power of love. This will be easier to understand next month,
after Venus turns direct (June 29) and the themes of today are re-visited
when the planets oppose again.
June 4, 2004
Have a great day!
June 5, 2004
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.
Mercury moves quickly through the signs, so this influence is short, but sweet,
lasting until the 19th.
Sun at 15 degrees Gemini trine retrograde Neptune in Aquarius
An idealistic and quiet influence today suggests an urge to be
alone, perhaps to meditate or undertake some sort of spiritual study. The
intuitive gifts of Neptune offer a chance to experience strong insights into
the people around you, as your psychic radar receives a metaphysical
fine-tuning.
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.
June 6, 2004
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.
Holy Trinity Sunday: Christians honor the belief in one God of a threefold nature.
Orthodox All Saints Day: Orthodox churches celebrate the lives of the saints.
June 7, 2004
Have a great day!
June 8, 2004
Happy Birthday to
vellor!
Sun at 17 degrees Gemini conjunct retrograde Venus
A short-lived but pleasant transit in which your personal
strengths are highlighted by the rosy glow of Venus. You feel attractive,
creative and loving. Today’s transit is made even more meaningful because of
the rarity of this particular stellar event. For more about this Sun-Venus
conjunction, please see The Venus Transit of June 8 in this issue of Metamorphosis.
St. Médardus Day: “If it rains on St. Médardus 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.
June 9, 2004
Moon Phase
Last-quarter Moon in Pisces, 20:02 Universal Time.
Mercury at 6 degrees Gemini square Uranus in Pisces
Your mind is going a mile a minute, there are strange people
telephoning or showing up on your doorstep, and your daughter has dyed her hair
green. Any of the above is likely, and more than can be imagined could happen
under this influence that seeks to jolt us out of our ruts and bring needed
change into our occasionally stale lives.
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.
June 10, 2004
Uranus goes retrograde at 6 degrees Pisces
Uranus represents a force for powerful change out of the
clear blue sky. Its retrograde in Pisces could draw one into the deeper, bluer, oceanic depths of the fish and
an experience of the feelings behind the forces.
Mercury at 10 degrees Gemini square Jupiter in Virgo
Quick-as-lightening Mercury squares up to optimistic Jupiter and
big ideas are born in a flash! You’ll feel inspired to dream grandiose dreams
today, and with the beneficial influence of Jupiter at work here you may just
pull them off. Mercury gives a rational intelligence to the project; Jupiter
adds vision mixed with good luck.
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.
June 11, 2004
Sun at 20 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.
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.
June 12, 2004
Retrograde Venus at 15 degrees Gemini trine retrograde
Neptune in Aquarius
This is a gentle and unselfish influence, dreamy and
idealistic. It’s a good time to slow down and let your mind wander creatively.
Mercury at 15 degrees Gemini conjunct retrograde Venus
The synthesis of mind and emotion expressed in a
Mercury-Venus conjunction is weighted towards the mental realms of Gemini. Be
careful not to over-intellectualize a situation at the expense of someone’s
feelings.
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.
June 13, 2004
Mercury at 15 degrees Gemini trine retrograde Neptune in Aquarius
The communicative ability of Mercury in Gemini favors a
chance to express and sort out details of any ideas dreamt up during the
part-dreamy, part-intellectual transits of the last few days.
Corpus Christi: Catholic religious celebration of the presence of Christ in the sacrament of the Eucharist (the bread and wine of Communion).
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.
June 14, 2004
Have a great day!
June 15, 2004
Mercury at 20 degrees Gemini opposite retrograde Pluto in Sagittarius
Like the Venus opposition to Pluto on June 3, this is
another day of powerful forces with the risk of Pluto face-offs. Mercury and
Pluto, especially in the “learning axis” of Gemini-Sagittarius, make a good
combination for getting to the bottom of things. On the other hand, overly
forceful communication towards others could set off a power struggle. Or you
could be the target of strong words or propaganda-type pressure being applied
by another.
June 16, 2004
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 the article Yummy and Exotic Summer Concoctions in the June 2003 issue of Metamorphosis.
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.
June 17, 2004
Moon Phase
New Moon in Gemini, 20:27 Universal Time.
June 18, 2004
Sun at 27 degrees Gemini conjunct Mercury
The Sun highlights mental activity and communication. It’s
a good time to initiate new business and sort through the old.
June 19, 2004
Retrograde Venus at 11 degrees Gemini square Jupiter in Virgo
Self-disciple slips and idle chatter is not uncommon under
this transit. Kick back and enjoy some summer sunshine.
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.
Juneteeth: 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.
Rath Yatra: The state of Orissa in India hosts a major Hindu celebration in honor of Jagannath, meaning Lord of the Universe, one of the manifestations of Krishna. During the festival, huge temple-shaped chariots called raths are used to transport wooden images of Jagannath and his brother and sister between two temples about a mile apart in the 12-century town of Puri, on the Bay of Bengal. The main chariot, a towering 45-feet high, is mounted on 16 wheels, each seven feet in diameter. Crowded with riders and pulled along by thousands, it becomes an unstoppable moving monument and is the source of the word “juggernaut” in the English language.
Kuwait Independence Day: Celebrates the day in 1961 when the country gained full independence from Great Britain.
New Church Day: The Church of the New Jerusalem, founded in London in the 18th century, celebrates the day in 1757 when followers of Emanuel Swedenborg believe a great spiritual judgment occurred in heaven and new doctrines were communicated to the church founder by Jesus. The Swedenborgian church was founded on the anniversary date in 1770.
June 20, 2004
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.
June 21, 2004
Summer Solstice, 0:57 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 2004 summer solstice occurs at 0:57 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.
June 22, 2004
Mercury at 6 degrees Cancer trine retrograde Uranus in Pisces
This transit could stimulate intellectual curiosity and
bring with it a sense of excitement about insights you may discover.
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.
June 23, 2004
Mars enters Leo
Mars in Leo is proud, courageous, impulsive and full of vibrant
energy. The lively Sun-ruled Lion does well when combined with the masculine
and creative energy of Mars, provided that the natural gregariousness of this
paring doesn’t go beyond a positive sense of self-worth into the danger zone of
arrogant and willful battles of personality.
June 24, 2004
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.
June 25, 2004
Moon Phase
First-quarter Moon in Libra, 19:08 Universal Time.
Mercury at 12 degrees Cancer sextile Jupiter in Virgo
If you’re ready to do some effective planning for the next
stage of your life, figuring out how to arrange the puzzle pieces, this is a
fine time to sit down with pen and paper and work on the schematics.
June 26, 2004
United Nations Charter Day: The anniversary of the day in 1945 when representatives of the 50 founding member nations signed the United Nations Charter. The organization seeks to create international cooperation for the world’s peace and security to promote human rights.
June 27, 2004
Mercury at 15 degrees Cancer conjunct Saturn
Saturn may put a damper on some of the dreams and plans stimulated by the dreamy and intellectual
transits of the previous weeks. Use Saturn’s cautionary influence to carefully check the details,
but don’t fall prey to negative thought, as things will look brighter tomorrow.
June 28, 2004
Sun at 6 degrees Cancer trine retrograde Uranus in Pisces
The excitement of discovery is highlighted again, re-emphasizing the chances for mental growth
inherent in the transits for much of this month.
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.
June 29, 2004
Venus goes direct at 9 degrees Gemini
Issues that arose during the Venus retrograde may be resolved as Venus returns to direct motion.
St. Peter’s Day (Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles): Fishermen, sailors and others associated with the sea celebrate in honor of Peter, 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. In the Catholic Church, the day now also honors St. Paul, a devout Jew who experienced a dramatic and mystical conversion to Christianity on the road to Damascus shortly after the death and resurrection of Jesus, and who went on to write many letters to the early churches that are included in the Bible.
June 30, 2004
Have a great day!
Astrology by Terri Smallwood and Maria Barron
Holidays compiled by Maria Barron, Anindita Basu and Sucheta Shetty
Birthday graphics by Maria Barron for Metamorphosis
