The Sun, or Surya in Sanskrit, is responsible for giving light and energy so that all things can grow and prosper. Too much light, however, and the Sun burns and scorches. He reminds us that too much of a good thing can also be harmful. Sun represents resources and the things we need to survive. As the Sun brings light, it shows us truth, satya, while offering clarity, focus and removal of darkness.

In Jyotish, the Sun represents father and masculine energy. His attributes are like the king and he shares rank and position, power and authority, as well as respect and ruler-ship. The Sun will give us our dharma, the proper path to follow for our enlightenment. Traditionally, the father is supposed to help guide the child on their path of dharma. It is the father who is responsible for instilling self-esteem and ultimately gives the spark of life via his sperm. The Sun is also responsible for illuminating the Moon, as well as the other planets. The Moon directly reflects the Sun's light and shares this filtered light- which is nourishing, supportive and doesn't burn. In fact the glow of the Moon is said to offer soma, or divine, healing nectar. Together, Sun and Moon represent God and Goddess, who together create life and our experience of reality.

Sun represents the soul, our spiritual body, and will show us our relationship to spirituality in this life. Essentially, the Sun is the light of the soul. It is the light within us that guides our lives. The soul is what insures there is life; if the soul is not happy, the body grows sick and dies.

Our sense of self (ahamkara) is also represented by the Sun. On this mundane, human level, the ego is also represented by the Sun. The ego is our shadowed self, the part of ourselves that identifies with the material, transitory, changing reality of life. Having a healthy relationship with the ego, the sense of self, is vital to being a well-rounded human being. This must be a conscious practice- one that is invited into our human experience, while not negating the interplay of our spirit and ego. Deepening our relationship with the Sun and studying its expression in our jyotish chart can help us awaken to our karmas in this regard. There is a necessity to understand the dance between the spiritual and human dynamics at play within the Jyotish chart. I believe this is one of the unique gifts Jyotish provides. Read more about what makes Jyotish so special.

The Sun is the most consistent planet and it sets the pace of time through rising and setting daily. As a result we experience days, seasons and bio-rhythms. In fact, life itself is structured around the Sun as a light source. He is the rhythm of nature and thus represented through the rhythm of music and dance.

Summer Solstice this year is June 21st, which marks the beginning of summer in the Northern hemisphere, as well as the longest day of light in the year.

"The summer solstice occurs when the tilt of a planet's semi-axis, in either the northern or the southern hemisphere, is most inclined toward the star that it orbits. Earth's maximum axial tilt toward the Sun is 23° 26'. This happens twice each year, at which times the Sun reaches its highest position in the sky as seen from the north or the south pole. The summer solstice occurs during a hemisphere's summer. This is the northern solstice in the northern hemisphere and the southern solstice in the southern hemisphere."  - Wikipedia

Solstice this year falls on a Sunday which is also Father's Day in the USA. It is a wonderful day to celebrate the Sun and the fathers in our lives, as well as all solar qualities.  Moon will be transiting Leo (ruled by Sun) on this day, in the nakshatra of Magha, which is dedicated to our ancestors and typically the father's lineage. Read more in my Moon Mind Calendar.

The Sun has just moved to Gemini and will continue through this airy, creative sign until July 17th. The hot, fiery combination of Mars and Sun are conjunct during this transit of the Sun. Gemini is a Mercury ruled sign, known for connection and communication and represents the merging of energies. Represented by the number three, Gemini expresses the third energy that is created when two energies come together. Metaphorically, this connects to the energy of lovers joining, creating a "third energy" out of their unification. From an artistic perspective, Gemini can represent the artist and their medium, plus the arrival of a "third" energy- or the emerging transcendental experience. The creative energy of Gemini is unstoppable, changeable and always moving. Sun in Gemini brings light to our communications, connections and creative energy. What are you seeing with this new light? How can you channel it more consciously?

The week begins with a very inward feeling. Moon is in its final phase of the waning cycle and inviting us to introspect. Monday, Moon transits its exaltation sign, Taurus, with the fiery combination, Sun and Mars, and the mental body planet, Mercury. Feelings are intense, hot and passionate. The mind is stoked and forceful. With Saturn and Rahu giving their gaze, our mind and emotions get extra pressure and chaos. Creative forces are strong with Rohini nakshatra today, so channel the mental and emotional bodies intentionally.

Sun jumps into Gemini mid morning, inviting in a new month of creative potential. Hours later, Mars chases the Sun into Gemini as well. Gemini represents the merging of energies, and the new, third energy that is created as a result. Metaphorically, this connects to the energy of lovers coming together, creating a "third energy" out of their unification. From an artistic perspective, Gemini can represent the artist and their medium, plus the arrival of a "third" energy- or the emerging transcendental experience. The creative energy of Gemini is unstoppable, changeable and always moving. In the coming cycle, merge and connect with new ideas and people, in order to deepen your nourishment, increase wealth and find new resources. How can you extend and expand your reach by joining forces in new ways?

A certain dynamism charges us forward into this new cycle with relationships and communication being a primary source of desire. Feel, search, express- while flowing, expanding and creating new pathways. This Sun and Mars cycle will be a time of many new insights, ideas and a very strong imagination and it will give us the potential for new connections, collaborations and relationships. But in order to have space for new relationships, we must let go or loosen attachments to the old. Use writing, the hands, art and expression to get the job done.

New Moon, Tuesday June 16 at 09:06 CDT while in Gemini and Mrigashirsha Nakshatra. During the New Moon, movement will be felt on the three levels of your being- mental, emotional and physical- which may invite in a sense of being pulled in too many directions. With three planets in Gemini, Sun, Moon and a sandhi Mars, all in Mrigashirsha nakshatra, a passion for change and growth will be intensifying in the upcoming waxing cycle. The new Moon is conjunct Mars and Sun- who have just arrived in this airy, creative sign known for connection and communication. As Mars and Sun chase each other into Gemini, this sparks a heat wave of creativity, communication and connectivity.

Do you want more astrological details about the Moon and the coming waxing cycle? Use my 2015 Moon Wisdom Calendar to track the powerful cosmic themes ahead. Part 2 of my calendar {July to December} is almost here!! This week only, I'm sharing a special promotional price + extra special bonuses! Learn More.

Moon continues through Mrigashirsha nakshatra today and Soma is the presiding force for us. Attend to inner nourishment and vitality. Create new pathways and channels for sharing, creating and moving forward. Early evening, Moon shifts to Ardra nakshatra and an abrupt shift occurs. Notice how Rudra's energy invites in a certain intensity. How can the nourishment of Soma from earlier in the day protect you and help you keep your balance?

Moon continues through Ardra on Wednesday which invites us to listen carefully to Rudra's message. Moon in Gemini and Mercury in Taurus, offer a nice exchange between Taurus and Gemini today. Find ways to express and share in order to get more nourishment and support. Get focused and clear on what you want and need. Don't let the chaos interfere with finding nourishment and support. Notice how intense emotions pulls you off from your center and undermine your self power. Track yourself intentionally today on the mental, emotional and physical levels. Trust your steps and your purpose. Early evening Moon moves to Punarvasu nakshatra and Aditi arrives. See if you feel her wisdom coming through.

Midday on Thursday, Moon shifts into its own sign, Cancer, joining exalted Jupiter and Venus here, while continuing to transit Punarvasu nakshatra. Aditi brings her expansive wisdom, a unity consciousness, a feeling of oneness with her. Move towards this oneness, the unified experience of life and self. Trust the holding, the containment of spirit, to guide and protect you. We are one with all, any separateness is an illusion. Where are you feeling separate? Where are you feeling whole? As Moon shifts to Pushya nakshatra early evening, a deepening sense of this holding can offer deeper support to us.

Friday is a day of nourishment, if we allow it in. As Moon moves closer to Venus today, our feeling and emotions deepen. What is underneath the waves? What is the emotional body sharing with you about support and stability? Find your rhythm with opening and closing, yes and no, as well as healthy boundaries. Balance comes when we unite the expansive and contractive energies within us. What are you opening to? What are you closing to? As evening approaches, the Moon moves to Ashlesha nakshatra, conjunct Venus and Jupiter. Ketu's drishti can bring flashes of insight and awareness. Can you catch the sparks?

Themes of Balance continue during Saturday, the day dedicated to Saturn's energy. Find ways to expand, flow and invite in more ease and grace today. The breath is a perfect metaphor of opening and closing, and the continuous flow of life that it offers. Tame the unruly mind today with consistent attention to its imaginal ways. How can its stories prove to be valuable resources for unlocking your subconscious messages and programing? Get curious and ask the right questions. Ask the mental body what it wants and needs. Just before midnight, Moon leaps to Leo and Magha nakshatra.

Sunday is perfect day for celebrating the father's in our lives as well as the solar qualities! Moon transits Leo (ruled by Sun) on a Sunday in the nakshatra of Magha which is dedicated to our ancestors and typically the father's side of our lineage. Saturn's drishti on the Moon shares a contractive feeling and can remind us of grievances and pains. Keep it on the sunny side while attending to any depth and sadness that arrives on the emotional body. Notice how the balancing factors of open and close from the previous days can help support this process.

Summer Solstice is June 21st. This marks the beginning of summer in the Northern hemisphere, as well as the longest day of light in the year.

Monday arrives with creative life force energy activated! Let the shakti stir you and expand your vision!


Do you want more astrological details about the Moon and the coming waxing cycle? Use my 2015 Moon Wisdom Calendar to track the powerful cosmic themes ahead. Part 2 of my calendar {July to December} is almost here!! This week only, I'm sharing a special promotional price + extra special bonuses! Don't miss out. Learn More.