This week, June (and Gemini season) comes into full swing as the astrological intensity of 2020 continues. Weve already witnessed the game-changing power of this years transits with the historical alignment between Saturn, Jupiter, and Pluto in Capricorn that happened in mid-March at the onset of the COVID-19 breakout in the United States. Its safe to say that the cosmic backdrop to this year correlates with global transformation.

Now that we are officially in eclipse season, amid Venus retrograde, with Mercury in his retrograde shadow, too (Mercury stations retrograde on June 18), we see no signs of this intensity letting up. But intensity can also make way for positive change: With a massive social-justice movement afoot right now, we are collectively being called to make change and globally heal by understanding the connection between our values, our societal ethos, and our health.

As the wellness consultant and social worker, Minaa B., LMSW, stated so eloquently in a recent Instagram post, Healing is not just a good vibes only chant, its a social-justice issue. Healing goes beyond the inner work we do for ourselves; it extends to our community.

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bringing this back: I come across a lot of comments, emails and DMs from folks on what it means to do the work, and the reality is that doing the work is such a vague concept and it is much more complex than we like to admit. To do the work, requires self-healing, but healing is not just limited to you as an individual, it extends to the people around you, and it even extends to a macro-level when it comes to systems and institutions, who we vote for, how we exercise our rights and how we treat others. I hate talking about what it means to do the work sometimes because the reality is the work I need to do to heal will look completely different from other folks because none of us are equal no matter how hard we want act like we are. I am a black woman living in America. Just sit with that for a second and really ask yourself if you think my healing will look the same as white man or womans. The work I have to do to heal and the work you have to do to heal just isnt the same. Ive noticed that insta-therapy has created this idea that feeling through our emotions is how we get better. With no talk about how fighting injustice is a crucial role in helping us move from a role of surviving versus thriving. Healing is a social justice issue. It requires tackling issues from sexism to racism, all the way to redlining and health inequity. I encourage you to think broader when it comes to your healing because this is how we shift generations. Healing can happen for all of us, but it doesnt stop at us. When we thrive, our communities thrive. And community care should not be isolated from self-care. I wont tell you how to do the work. But I encourage you to look beyond yourself as you heal.

A post shared by Minaa B., LMSW (@minaa_b) on Jun 3, 2020 at 6:30am PDT

Lets break this down by beginning to understand what Venus recent conjunction with the sun means. Venus represents what we love and why we love it. Currently retrograde in Gemini, Venus aligned with the sun at 13 degrees on June 3 in the sign of the twins at 1:43 p.m., ET. When retrograde, Venus calls our attention to where we are and where we are not congruent with the ethics that guide our lives. Venus alignment with the sun last week allowed us to start a new cycle of growth as it relates to honoring our values.

How have your values made themselves more apparent in your life over the last few weeks? What have you learned? What do you need to shed or release to be more congruent with your values as they evolve? What truth do you need to own for yourself?

The interplay between astrological events and current events beckons introspection, action, and soul-driven choices.

While I was studying behavior change at Duke Integrative Medicine in pursuit of my health coach certification, I learned that having a clear connection with our values is fundamental to our health. And now, the interplay between astrological events and current events beckons introspection, action, and soul-driven choices. I see this current Venus retrograde cycle (through June 25) and the planets recent inferior conjunction with the sun in Gemini as calling us to realign with the truth emerging from within as we face the systemic challenges of the society in which we live.

With eclipse season shining a light on truths in the shadows, we can begin to understand that these truths are essential to living our healthiest lives as individuals and society.

Eclipse season kicked off at 15 degrees of Sagittarius (the sign of blunt truth) on June 5. This south node, lunar eclipse asked us to release old patterns and behaviors that no longer serve us, so we can let a new truth emerge. The lunar eclipse in Sagittarius asks us to get into touch with the philosophies that guide our lives and make space for the evolution of new viewpoints. Doing so serves both our individual and our collective freedom. Freedom is a quintessential aspect of lessons of Sagittarius.

With the moon now waning, its imperative to continue the cathartic work of grieving and integrating the new truths emerging from within during this eclipse season, with a solar eclipse happening on the summer solstice in Cancer, as well as a lunar eclipse on July 4/5 (depending on your time zone). Please do the work you need to take care of yourself, as eclipses can feel incredibly disruptive and disorienting, even more so if they occur at critical placements in your chart. So, take time and rest. Nourish yourself. Exercise. Drink plenty of water. Tend to your pleasure.

Remember, we are still in a pandemicyour immunity matters. In in the face of digesting and responding to difficult news, its essential to reconstitute yourself and bolster your resilience as often and as much as you can. Thankfully, the cosmic dance grants us a moment to regroup on Monday and Tuesday, so use it to your advantage. Spend time meditating, in prayer, reading up on anti-racist education, and unpacking privilege.

As the week goes on, well contend with the impact of the sun in Gemini squaring Neptune in Pisces. This mutable square may feel particularly intense. (The sun officially squares Neptune on Thursday, June 11 at 5:37 a.m., ET.) Even more so, since Mars conjoins Neptune, too. (The Mars/Neptune conjunction perfects on Saturday the 13th at 10:12 a.m., ET.) To help you through, a meditation practice canhelp you gain perspective, reduce stress, and bolster resilience.

Your health and the health of the collective, by proxy, will benefit from self-care practices right now. Remember, honoring your evolving values supports you to ride the waves of this volatile year, astrologically and otherwise, and make the impact in the world you are here to create.

Jennifer Racioppiis the creator of Lunar Logica philosophy that integrates the deep wisdom of both science and spirituality, and blends her expertise in astrology, positive psychology, and womens healthto coach high-achieving female entrepreneursto reach their next level of success.

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Eclipse season is underway, and its a welcome time to check in with personal values and grow - Well+Good