The Solstice occurs on Saturday, 21 June at 03.42 BST (adjust for your time zone and hemisphere). This is the longest day for the northern hemisphere and the shortest day for the southern hemisphere. Either way, it’s a change in the Sun’s direction. For the northern hemisphere, the Sun has reached its zenith; for the southern hemisphere, it has reached its nadir.
The Sun, being as far up or down as it can get, can show more extremes in both temperament and weather patterns. It’s an important turning point in the middle of the calendar year, as the Sun then changes direction and moves in the opposite direction.
Take the time for some stillness as we alter course.
Mercury in Cancer
Mercury lingers in Cancer longer than usual this year due to its retrograde from 18 July to 11 August. This retrograde is likely to feel intense, amplified by other planetary influences, and the simple fact that Cancer is a more emotive sign.
Mercury in Cancer can make communication more emotional and less rational. Thoughts may be clouded by emotions, making it harder to express or understand what is being communicated. Still, like any planetary placement, this can manifest positively or negatively.
For better or worse, emotions can take over, often at the expense of clarity.
On the positive side, this can be a deeply intuitive time, allowing for heartfelt communication and emotional attunement, especially with Jupiter in Gemini, which supports dialogue and learning from the exchange.
The exchange may not only be between two people, but between your head and heart.
Yet there's also a type of role reversal: Mercury, usually logical, channels more intuitive communication in Cancer, while Jupiter, usually wise and intuitive, gets caught up in Gemini’s information overload. Each planet is working outside its comfort zone, trying to express what’s hard to say.
Mercury's retrograde in July and August intensifies this. With added pressure from Saturn's station in Pisces and Mars’ conjunction with the 'headless one', Ketu, there may be a collective emotional weight and disruption to normal routines. It might feel like the world needs a pause, and indeed, it does.
Personally, this might be a good time for a holiday, though typical Mercury retrograde issues—especially with travel and communication—are likely. If you can slow down, whatever you're doing, you'll have a better time of it.
Do the same in your communication. Pause before sending that text or email. Speak less and listen more.
Try to build in extra space for delays, technical issues, and unexpected emotional responses. Don’t rush things—take time to understand what's being said. Be patient with others who may be struggling to articulate their thoughts.
Expect tech glitches and schedule disruptions (Mars conjunct Ketu). Prioritise rest, reflection, and emotional self-care. A quiet retreat with a good book or journal might be better than pushing through a busy schedule.
Above all, speak from the heart. Even if words fail, your sincerity will be felt by others.
People may not remember what you said, anyway - but they will always remember how you made them feel.