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by Lilly Roddy

The highlight for June is Mercury going retrograde. I know it seems like this happens often, too often for some. But Mercury goes retrograde three times a year for usually about a month at a time. And astronomically, this occurs when the Earth and Mercury are on the same side of the Sun and Mercury is passing the Earth. Since it takes Mercury only 88 days to circle around the Sun, we experience Mercury passing the Earth about three times a year. (Called an inferior conjunction, in astronomical terms.) Now you can go out and wow your friends with this fantastic information. Mercury, in Gemini, goes retrograde on June 4 and direct on June 28. Start your projects before the 4th and revisit your past experiences through the 28th. Sun begins the month in Gemini and slides into Cancer on the morning of the 21st, the first day of summer. Venus rushes from Aries to Taurus on the evening of the 5th. Mars and Pluto continue their journey through Sagittarius. Jupiter and Saturn stroll through Gemini. Uranus and Neptune float through Aquarius.

Gemini (May 21—June 21) Yes, your ruling planet, Mercury, goes retrograde in its own sign this month. So, you can expect a real sojourn back to your past–lots of exploration into who you were and where you came from. And for this to coincide with your birthday, you are really thinking about your future and where you are headed. This is to be one of the most introspective times that you have had in quite a while. Relationships that don’t have real meaning to you will be weeded out of your garden. You definitely want a change of scenery and routine. This will apply to all areas of your life.

Cancer (June 22—July 22) This month you are resting up for that big birthday celebration that starts for you on the 21st. You are more sensitive than usual this month and people’s words can really cut you deep. Even your hard candy shell won’t protect you. Of course, you may want to rid your life of people who are not nice. You should be preparing for an extra busy last half of the year–this is a fabulous time to get your work and health routines in place. Your body is more sensitive now and you can pay more attention. Watch your relationships with your coworkers. They are going to be a bit touchy.

Leo (July 23—Aug. 22) Old friends will be contacting you this month. This is a time to renew some contacts with people whom you have not seen in quite a while. As well, you will be reevaluating your memberships in your groups and organizations. If they aren’t serving you and your needs, you will bring many of those associations to an end. Your charisma at work seems stronger than usual; this is a good time for self-promotion or product promotion. This could even be a time for office romances. Be careful. Others will notice and you will be talked about. Now, wait a minute. Is that bad for a Leo?

Virgo (Aug. 23—Sept. 22) Mercury is retrograding through your career sector this month. The questions you will examine are: Do you like what you are doing? Are you getting enough recognition and security? Are you moving forward on your career path? If you work for a major corporation, the company may be going through some sort of shakedown. You are not on the way out, but you do have a choice to stay or go. Most of this is driven by issues about your family and home security. It would be advisable to focus some of your organizational skills on this area of your life.

Libra (Sept. 23—Oct. 23) You are more open and easy-going this month. You do notice the stress that other people are going through, but you don’t seem to be as affected by it. You may end up in some sort of counseling role since others will think that you have your act together. This is not a good time to travel unless it is to a place you have been before or for work purposes. You may want to consider going back to school for the fall. You are really wanting to change some of your work patterns and habits. Wait till the first of July before you make any significant career or life decisions.

Scorpio (Oct. 24—Nov. 21) This is not a month that you are going to want to be alone. You are really wanting a partner to spend your time with. And you are longing for someone with whom you can share concerns and have deep conversations about life. If you are in a partnership, you are more open and ready to talk about intimate considerations than usual, even if your partner is the one who initiates the conversation. If you are not involved with someone, you will contact someone from your past whom you trust to share these parts of yourself with. Watch your spending habits this month. You can be very impulsive in this area.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22—Dec. 21) Retrograding Mercury, Saturn, Jupiter, and the Sun are all visiting your relationship sector this month. In plain English, Oh My Goddess, you are going to be busy. If there are troubles with your relationships, they will erupt to the surface. If all is well, you are ready for an adventure to the Bahamas. And if you are not involved, Katy, bar the door! Work and career will be real low on your "to do" list. Even the things you should, would, could be doing aren’t enough to take you from this time of adventure. Routines are boring now. Enjoy this time because July will be busy and you won’t have a lot of time for play.

Capricorn (Dec. 22—Jan. 19) Time to reorganize that work or office space with Mercury retrograding. You are going to get rid of those piles of stuff around your desk or work space. You are going to feel so productive at the end of each day this month; everything has a place and everything will be in its place. Your mom will be so proud of you! You will have no patience with coworkers who are not using their time productively. You will be only too happy to put them on the right path. Take some time for exercise and eating well. Your body is very sensitive and may seem to overrespond to the normal stress in your life.

Aquarius (Jan. 20— Feb. 18) Your inner child is lonely this month. She wants you to take some time to go out and play and do the fun things you used to do when your life was not fenced in by life’s routines, habits, and personal expectations. So, your key word for this month is FUN. If what you are doing doesn’t promote this idea of "having fun," throw yourself down on the floor, kick and scream, and have a tantrum. This will work for the first 20 days of this month. After that, you will have to come up with some other plan. Your real children may come back for a visit. This is a time when you are separating from them as children and a time when they are supposed to be stepping into adulthood.

Pisces (Feb. 19—March 20) Going back to visit the old home place this month, you will dig up all sorts of psychological relics. If your therapist has an 800 number, you may want to take that with you everywhere you go. You are going to get that house that you live in orderly. Now that could be the building you call home, your physical body, your soul, or your emotional sunken treasure chest. You are not sure of your future direction. You are not sure what makes you want to get up and face the day. But whatever that "is," it has to come from you and not from your family environment that has driven you up until now. Your anger will be coming to the surface and you may isolate yourself to protect others from it. Go ahead and share it. Let us love you as you are.

Aries (March 21—April 19) You had better have your communications skills on this month; what you say had better be what you mean. People will actually be listening to you and, if you slip, they are going to be there to point out where you Miss Spoke. And watch your driving patterns. Road rage could come to visit midmonth. Your activities need to have a purpose and a plan. You will not want to waste your time or your energy. This can be a great month to change old bad habits. At the end of the month, you shift your focus to your home and family. You will need your newly organized patterns then that you have been working on.

Taurus (April 20—May 20) Focusing on your finances for this month, you are going to try to account for every cent you have spent. This is where Mercury is visiting you. So if you were planning on getting all your past fiduciary history in order, what a great month you are going to have! Don’t be surprised if you want to put yourself on a budget. Your friends may think you are really being frugal this month. Relationships seem to be better. You are letting people know what you want and that sure helps them to know. Work needs to be interesting or you will be looking elsewhere for your mental stimulation.

Lilly Roddy is a Houston-based astrologer. She can be reached at lillycath@aol.com or www.cybersim.com/hermes or http://communities.msn.com/LillysAstrologicalPad. To see her forecast for all 2001, check out www.outsmart magazine.com/issue/i01-01/lookingforward.html#lib.