Highland Park! Where We Gather This Weekend !

 

 

This weekend I'll be spending time in Highland Park.

Starting Friday, I'll be heading to the Pacific Opera Project on Avenue 57, which sits in one of Los Angeles' oldest corridors of movement. Long before there were streets or neighborhoods, this was part of Tovaangar, the homeland of the Tongva (Kizh) people. The nearby Arroyo Seco shaped life here for thousands of years, with trails connecting villages, the Los Angeles River, the San Gabriel Valley, and the mountains. During the Spanish and Mexican eras, this area became part of Rancho San Rafael, remaining largely open ranchland before the subdivision boom transformed Highland Park into one of Los Angeles' earliest streetcar suburbs.

Highland Park has always attracted people interested in culture, ideas, and place. Charles Lummis established nearby El Alisal and later helped found the Southwest Museum. The neighborhood became a home for artists, preservationists, and storytellers, and later an important center for Chicano art and community activism. The Pacific Opera Project itself occupies part of the historic Highland Park Ebell complex, founded in 1907 as a gathering place for music, lectures, education, and civic life. It feels like the perfect setting for what comes next.

Why am I going?

The second annual LA Astro Festival will be held at the Pacific Opera Project. I'll be taking the Metro from my neighborhood, thanks to the new extension and in about the same spirit as Angelenos did a century ago, I'll step off near Avenue 57 and walk the final block through one of the city's great historic neighborhoods.

Throughout the weekend, astrologers from all over will gather in one room. Every hour a different speaker takes the stage. There are no breakout sessions—we all listen, learn, and experience it together. I attended last year and was genuinely blown away. The speakers brought fresh perspectives to a discipline that has been evolving for thousands of years.

Whether you're completely new to astrology, simply astrology-curious, or you've been studying it for years, there's something here for you.

If cost is a concern, let me know. I'll happily connect you with Vivi, the festival's producer. She's been working to make sure the event remains accessible.

Come spend a day in one of Los Angeles' most beautiful historic neighborhoods. Gather where people have been gathering for generations, along the path of the Arroyo Seco, beneath mature trees and among Craftsman homes that continue to nurture artists, musicians, and curious minds.

Get your Tix here. 

Shazam Meet Pow: The Final Days of June

 

We are at the halfway mark of 2026 and at this point I can say with some authority that the universe certainly likes to change the subject at the end of the month.

All year, as we approached the end of each month, the outer planets have changed signs (Neptune, Uranus), we've had some noisy aspects (Mars and Uranus), and beginning in May we've been ending each month with a Full Moon. If you find yourself extra exhausted at the end of the month, now you know why.

And now June is doing the same thing. Just when we think we know what the month is about, Mercury retrogrades, Jupiter changes signs, and a Capricorn Full Moon arrives to remind us that 2026 is not done changing the subject.

6/28: Mars enters Gemini

6/29: Mercury retrograde (26 CANCER 15)

6/29: Jupiter enters Leo

6/29: Full Moon (Capricorn)

I often find myself saying to my friends and family when I discuss the astrology of now, “Well, I guess we all wanted to experience ‘this,’ cuz we are all here for it.”

Remember, our takeaway for the Gemini lunar cycle is to pivot. So keep cha-cha-cha-ing through these final days of June. It’ll help, because we’re going to be doing more pivoting in July.

Capricorn Full Moon: June 29, 4:56 PM (PDT )

 

Capricorn Full Moon 

June 29, 4:56 PM (PDT)

8 Capricorn 14

The Capricorn Full Moon landing on June 29 is all about Saturn. First, Saturn is the ruling planet of Capricorn, so he gets a little extra spotlight when we assess the tone of the Full Moon. At the same time Saturn is speaking to both the Sun in Cancer and the Moon in Capricorn.

To visualize a Full Moon, consider a teeter-totter. On one side is the Sun and on the other is the Moon. Now picture the Moon going up while the Sun goes down, and then the Sun going up while the Moon goes down. This sums up every three-day Full Moon phase. At some points we lean into the solar energy, which in this case is Cancer. At other points we are all about the lunar energy, which in this case is Capricorn.

As we discussed in the Mercury retrograde section, Cancer energy taps our emotional field: childhood, family, memories, and in short, our tender spots. Empathy and sympathy live here.

Capricorn is not any of that stuff.

Capricorn looks at careers, worldly matters, businesses, corporations, government, and systems that either work for us or against us. Social Security is Capricorn. So is red tape.

Navigating both Capricorn and Cancer is the challenge of every Capricorn Full Moon. Got it?

Now in this case we've got something else going on. Saturn is square both the Sun and the Moon.

Which means standing at the hinge of the teeter-totter is a boss, a parent, a drill sergeant, a CEO, a general. Saturn is watching Cancer and Capricorn go up and down and yelling:

"I don't know what you two are doing, but if it doesn't involve freedom or self-agency, you're wasting your time."

Saturn, the planet of time, authority, leadership, responsibility, and occasionally cynicism, is not interested in people being overly sentimental or chasing ambitious pipe dreams.

Saturn is the strongest player in this Full Moon. Capricorn thinks it has an in with Saturn, and to a degree it does. But if Capricorn starts relying on snotty classism, status games, or superiority complexes, Saturn in Aries is likely to push back and remind everyone:

"That attitude smells like insecurity. Why don't you knock it off?"

As for Cancer, Saturn in Aries may say:

"You know all that sadness underneath? That's anger. Why don't you use it to motivate yourself?"

Or perhaps:

"You know all that anger underneath? That's sadness. Why don't you use that to motivate yourself?"

This three-day phase is excellent for tackling hard tasks.

The Sun's square to Neptune is fading (exact June 25), which gives us a little more room for fortitude, patience, and competence. We can get some high-end production done under this Full Moon.

This is not a warm and fuzzy Full Moon. Not even a little.

But if you need to have a real conversation about issues that require maturity, accountability, and follow-through, this Full Moon can help you keep a cool head while doing it.

June 21 - Jun 27 Astrology Landscape

 

First Quarter Moon 

June 21, 2026

2:55pm PDT

 

 First Quarter — Taking Action

Now we act on the information we received. We pursue the idea again. What hurdles have appeared involving the seeds you planted at the New Moon? We make another call, reach out to someone, mail something, or stir the pot again. Sometimes this phase reveals that the goals we planted require more effort from us. Independence may need to be asserted. Others may resist our growth, even if they believe they have our best interests at heart.

Hero’s Journey: Crossing the threshold and committing to the journey.
Creative/Science Process: Commitment — the work begins.

 

Focus on:   How are the seeds you planted on the new moon impacting your relationships?  What communication are doing differently with partners?  What are you hearing from your relationships about communication?  Is there an action you are taking?  

 

Planetary Notes:

 

6/23: Sun trine N.Node (1 PI 53) Healing childhood memories may surface in ways that seem perhaps divine. 

6/25: Venus trine Saturn (13 AR 55) Big love, big creativity is put through big work for solid results that feel independent. 

 

Gibbous Moon

June 25, 2026

2:11pm PDT  

 

 

Gibbous — Refining the Process

We refine our information. We pick and choose, discriminate, and organize. This is the phase where we become a bit “Virgo-like.” We sort through details and ask whether something has been overlooked. Adjustments are made. Plans are refined. The goal is not to abandon the seed but to improve how it is unfolding.

Hero’s Journey: Training and preparation before the major test.
Creative/Science Process: Editing and refinement.

 

Focus on:

On the new moon we kicked off a new adventure in fact finding, finding novelty, finding new ways to communicate, since that time how are we refining the information, we have received?  What are we learning about data or practices that is dead?  No longer relevant?  Can we release it?   

 

Planetary Notes:  

 

6/25: Sun square Neptune (4 AR 22)  So, how is family and childhood seem at odds with intuition which is seeking new ways of  independence.    

6/27: Mars sextile Jupiter (29 CA 33) Opportunities that are practical nurturing can be pursued or may be attracted.  

Sun Enters Cancer: Solstice June 21.

 

June 21, 2026

1:24am  PDT 

Just before the First Quarter lunar phase, the Sun enters Cancer, marking the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of winter below the equator.

The Sun's square to Neptune suggests a season with confusion, faith, creativity and sensitivity woven together that may hit us when we least expect it. Pack tissues no matter where you go.

The Sun's trine to the North Node in Pisces may be the net that catches us when we think we're on the verge of falling. Intuition can run high.

However, the Moon in Virgo reminds us that inspiration still needs practical follow-through. Cross the t's and dot the i's all season.

Mars in Gemini: June 28 - Aug 11.

 

Mars

We do not always bring out the red pen and circle Mars when it changes signs, but this move into Gemini deserves our attention.

The last day Uranus was in Gemini was June 10, 1949. Then it went around the zodiac until April 25, 2026, when it returned to Gemini. A whole lotta stuff happened between 1949 and 2026, but more to the point, most people walking around right now looking at their cell phones, having food delivered, getting in driverless cars, and trying to find a job while AI changes the landscape have never experienced Uranus in Gemini before.

Everyone under 80 years old is doing Uranus in Gemini for the first time.

What this means is that when planets interact with Uranus, it gets our attention. Every spring the Sun and inner planets will move through Gemini. Mars, however, has a different rhythm and will only meet Uranus four times before Uranus leaves Gemini in 2032.

July 4, 2026 (3° Gemini)
June 23, 2028 (11° Gemini)
June 15, 2030 (19° Gemini)
June 6, 2032 (26° Gemini)

The United States has a lively relationship with Uranus in Gemini because Uranus occupies Gemini in the Sibley chart. Additionally, Mars conjuncts Uranus in the U.S. chart. Historically things get loud for America when Mars enters Gemini and prepares to join up with Uranus. These two carry a lot of punch and in Gemini they love technology, communication, transportation, and new ideas.

I will not go long here because Nick Dagan Best and Chris Brennan covered it all in Episode 515 of The Astrology Podcast. This spring, my husband and I were driving across the American Southwest when I asked, "Do you mind if I play this podcast?" He said sure. Four hours later, as we were driving into Palm Springs, my husband, who is not particularly versed in astrology, said, "Wow. Mars and Uranus is really a thing. When did they say that first date was?"

I replied, "You mean back near Phoenix when we got gas?"  “July 4th.”

He then switched over to R.E.M. because that's what you must do after listening to four hours of Mars-Uranus history.

I do recommend the episode if you are itching for in-depth analysis from two gifted astrologers who at this point, I would also call historians. In the meantime, Mars enters Gemini on June 28 and remains there until August 11. Things will be flying around.

Expect some rebellions in the news. Verbal fights can escalate. We may find ourselves swimming in rapid-fire arguments. Technology will move fast. AI will continue to reshape the landscape. Media upheaval could spike. (I still can't believe CBS is on the air.)

On a personal level our thinking processes may speed up considerably. We can become mentally restless, but amazing insights may also arrive like a lightning bolt in a thunderstorm. We could be driving on a mindless errand when our brain suddenly goes hunting. We think about a person, a situation, a problem, and out of nowhere put two and two together.

"Shit. Why didn't I think of that earlier?"

We all benefit if we take a breath. Our words can become sharper than necessary. Let's use the good news of Gemini and stay flexible. Let's pivot.This is also an incredibly creative and sparky transit. Use it to freshen up projects that have been sitting on the shelf waiting for a final push.

As for July 4th?

We're heading toward it and will know more after June 28. In the meantime, breathe.

June 29: Jupiter Enters Leo - Showtime!

 

Jupiter enters Leo
June 29, 2026
10:52 PM (PDT)

Since 2000, Jupiter has been in Leo during these periods:

July 13, 2002 – August 1, 2003
July 16, 2014 – August 11, 2015

Do you remember where you were and what was going on in your life? Boilerplate Jupiter in Leo is: "Let's get loud."

Everything gets filtered through the question: "Is it big enough?" Remember the launch of American Idol? How about the Iraq War? Very 2002 Jupiter in Leo.   People can seek and be a hero during Jupiter in Leo.  

Then in 2014 social media influencers infiltrated our phones, Hamilton debuted, and branding was everywhere. Streaming was ramping up and by 2014 binge-watching had become a thing. So, the bigness that Jupiter craves and Leo provides was largely unfettered in both cycles.

What will it look like this time?

This Jupiter in Leo is not working in a vacuum. During its one-year cycle Jupiter will interact with all the outer planets. It will trine Neptune in Aries, sextile Uranus in Gemini, oppose Pluto in Aquarius, and later trine Saturn in Aries.

Jupiter likes big and Leo is big, but this may be even too much big for all of us.

This is the first Jupiter-Pluto opposition since Pluto entered Aquarius, so we should all watch this space. By all measures, this can be a difficult aspect for anyone who lives to be the center of attention.

Galileo posed a simple question: What if the Earth revolves around the Sun rather than the Sun revolving around the Earth? For challenging the accepted view of his time, he was condemned and placed under house arrest.

This time the opposite may be in play.

If anyone insists on being the center of attention, they may be called out. Egos not left at the door could get their asses kicked.

Let's put a red square around these dates and see how Jupiter in Leo plays with others:

July 20 — Jupiter trine Neptune (4 AR)
July 20 — Jupiter opposite Pluto (4 AQ)
July 21 — Jupiter sextile Uranus (4 GE)

In the meantime, think back to 2002–2003 and 2014–2015. What was happening in your life? What themes emerged? And is there anything from those periods that might be returning for another look during this Jupiter-in-Leo cycle?