As this weekend brings the year's longest days, may the sun light our souls as well as our world. Let's take this opportunity to celebrate whatever bounty our lives have to offer.

This attitude of gratitude can be a challenge if we've lost more than we've gained this year; we're in a several-year astrological cycle of deconstructing old forms to prepare for new growth, but sometimes that new growth is hard to see. It helps to remember joys that the economic swings cannot take away.

Venus and Mars, now conjunct in fertile, earthy Taurus, nurture us with simple sensual pleasures. They also nurture anything we now plant, whether good habits or bad, hate or love. It's a great week to renew vows or start a business or say what we really mean. But we'll need to weed the Taurean possessiveness; though it can protect what we have, it can choke the very things we want to protect. This Taurus energy also reminds us that once our garden is planted, it needs attention, time, sunlight, and rain.

This weekend we are flirtatious and creative; we can just enjoy the moment or we can tap into this slow but powerfully manifesting energy. Summer begins as the sun enters Cancer on Sunday, just as Venus and Mars conjunct under a talkative Gemini moon.

Early next week, a new moon in emotional Cancer heightens our self-protective qualities. It's temporarily easier to see what we've lost than what we have as the sun opposes Pluto. If this makes us sad, cranky, or homesick, we just need to listen and let the music flow.

Friday, June 19: Hearts are warm and stubbornness digs in as a Taurus moon conjuncts Venus and Mars. Nurture seedlings; water plants and cuddle one another.

Saturday, June 20: We see progress with steady effort after a fuzzy-thinking and slow-moving morning. Share the bounty and it comes back in spades. Gather and celebrate tonight as the moon enters verbal Gemini. Some keep the conversation light, but deeper feelings run under the chatter.

Sunday, June 21: Happy summer solstice! Our inner guides may send messages that set us on the right paths as the Gemini moon conjuncts Mercury. Midday we may have cravings that can disorganize our plans. A competitive edge wafts through the news as the sun challenges or semisquares Mars.

Monday, June 22: Emotions roll like waves in the north Atlantic — deep, slow, and powerful — as Venus and Mars conjunct and trine Saturn. We know what we love and what we want. We may need to find mature responses rather than give into surface feelings. Our oceans deepen later as the moon enters Cancer.

Tuesday, June 23: Some headlines or experiences remind us of existence's transience as the sun and moon oppose intense Pluto. Some respond by getting defensive or controlling; they need compassion, not retaliation. Understanding flows around dinnertime, but later, crankiness needs rest, not action.

Wednesday, June 24: In the morning, we are quiet if moody. Crops, whether in our gardens or of the soul, need tending under a waxing Cancer moon. Midday brings an expressive, stubborn vibe as the moon enters Leo; insecurities come up quickly if we feel unappreciated.

Thursday, June 25: We may not mean to argue but can bounce off one another like bumper cars as the Leo moon squares Venus and Mars in Taurus. Debates and pillow fights are OK, but hugs are better. Respect one another's personal contributions, and share credit.

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