June Magick

June is named for Roman goddess Juno, it is also the time of Gemini - the Twins (until 20th) and the path to Solstice, all 3 of these influences hold the energies of darkness and light and urge us to find solace in their integration, a theme that is very much in alignment with the energies of Winter Solstice as we deepen into the darkness of the shortest day and longest night and honour both the Crone energies and also the energies of Motherhood as the goddess prepares to rebirth the light of the Sun. This week we journey also with the waning Moon towards Dark in Gemini on Thursday here in the Southern Hemisphere.

Goddess Juno

Juno is Queen of the Roman Gods, wife and sister of Jupiter, sister also of Neptune, Pluto, Ceres and Vestia and daughter of Saturn and Ops. Her role is protectress of community and the State and she presides over time, feminine cycles, marriage and childbirth, her vital essence woven into the fabric of the everyday as well as the celestial realms.

As we move through cycles and transitions and all phases of womanhood we encounter so many aspects of darkness and light as we deepen and explore our internal and external worlds. Juno also understands the complexities of relationships with others, her own husband Jupiter was well known for his many infidelities and yet she retains her dignity and power which flows onward through her understanding support and protection of women.

She is the embodiment of feminine mysteries, women have been honouring her through puberty during matrimony, childbirth, lactation and also 7 days after the birth of their children, since ancient times. There are many epithets (titles) that reflect these roles:

Juno Sororia - initiation in puberty and where we get the word sorority from. Sororia meaning Sister.

Juno Matrona - guidance and protection during matrimony

Juno Lucina - protection during pregnancy and childbirth

Juno Fluonia - support for menopausal women (relates to holding back the flow).

She is also Moneta - sovereign warrior and protectress of money and Regina - Queen.

Juno also teaches us to embrace our own unique gifts rather then seeking to emulate others, through the parable of the Peacock upon whom she refuses to bestow beautiful song and instead instructs to appreciate his beauty and size and leave the song to the nightingale. Themes of jealousy, scarcity and resentment are relevant to all of us at times and where we acknowledge and meet them we are able to see where we are being offered an opportunity to grow, to honour the truth of who we are rather then stagnating in comparison.

The first of each month and the whole of June is sacred to Juno. You may wish to petition her to support you as you navigate any of these themes. Make offerings to her of coins, honey cakes, peacock - crow or goose feathers, sweet wine, iris or roses. She is also aligned to the Moon, you may wish to use the Dark and the New Moon this week to sit in your shadows and call her in to protect the process. Her title Juno Covella relates to the New Moon. For those on my newsletter subscriber list the last edition went out with correspondences for working with Juno, you can sign up on my Home Page here on the website.

Image: Juno and the Peacock by Jehanne 1913

Thursday 6th June we have the Dark Moon in Gemini as well as the Sun in Gemini offering us the opportunity to release and surrender to the exploration of our shadows and light and honour union and integration both within ourselves and within our lives. This also relates to our relationship with our own masculine and feminine energies.

Gemini Correspondences for your workings:

Planet: Mercury

House: 3rd - Communication

Element: Air

Direction: East

Day of the Week: Wednesday

Colour: Yellow, Gold, Grey and Light Blue

Plant: Acacia, Anise, Lavender, Lemongrass, Myrrh.

Symbols: Feathers, Wand, Incense, Smoke, Bells.

Animal Allies: Birds, Butterflies, Dragonflies. (Note: Juno is associated with Peacocks, Crows and Geese if you wish to bring her into this energy)

Deities: Castor and Pollux, Athena, Ma'at, Thoth. The Fae, Plant Devas.

Themes: Communication, Union, Integration.

Image: Ma'at by Enamorte

Goddess Ma'at is the goddess of and the embodiment of law, justice, universal order, the hearts truth. She is also a powerful ally through all transitions.

As we journey into June, we welcome the flow towards Solstice, Winter here in the South and Summer for our northern kin. Solstice means - Sun Stands Still and relates to the Sun reaching the most northerly or southerly position relative to the celestial equator. In the Southern Hemisphere we are preparing to honour Yule, the shortest day and longest night of the year and the depth of darkness as the warmth of the Sun resides in the Underworld awaiting rebirth. It is a time of honouring the darkness and also rekindling and stoking the light within in order to keep the flame burning through the colder darker months whilst we await the rebirthing strength and light of the Sun to return and bring new life. It is a time of surrender to trust and hope.

Winter Solstice (Yule) - Wheel Date: June 21

Exact 2024: June 21st , 6.51am

Photo of me and Rain by Tidal Creations

To me in my work personally this time of year is also the time of Hekate and Helios. Hekate in her role as Dark Mother, Protector and Wisdom Keeper, guides us through the Void, her Torches illuminating the Shadowy passages that unfold before us. Around her waist serpents wind, and in their coils - hold the Keys to the doors of Release, Healing and Rebirth. She walks the Halls of Hades with her hounds and awaits the Winter Queen Persephone to consume the Pomegranate Seeds that will eventually release the grip of Winter and return Spring to the Earth, so that she may shine the way for her journey back to the realms above.

Helios, the only other Deity to witness Persephone's "abduction", begins to stir from his dark slumber at this time and prepares to unfurl his Solar Rays and as Solstice passes, his golden light begins to slowly return to the lands.

"O Lord Helios and Sacred Fire

The Spear of Hekate of the Crossroads

Which She bears as She travels Olympus

And dwells in the triple ways of the holy land

She who is crowned with oak-leaves

And the coils of wild serpents."

Sophocles in the Root Cutters fragment

As Hekates Dark Cloak of Ebony Black slowly flows into the deep Saffron of Solar Return, so Helios regains his radiant light and together they empower Persephone's return at Winters end.

It is time now to honour our Shadow journey, to enter the Void - the Dark Space of Unlimited Potential and within it to heal the rejected parts of ourselves, to prepare to plant the seeds of radiant rebirth.

May Hekates Torches guide us forward, may we find within us the Keys to move unlock the doors before us and have the courage to step into the radiant light of Helios's return.

Many Blessings to you navigate the depths of Winters shadow and to our Northern Brothers and Sisters may the full power of Helios fuel your transition into Hekates embrace as you then journey to your darker months.

Winter Solstice In-Person Offering: If you are looking for a full day Yule immersion I am offering one in the Northern Rivers, near Murwillumbah on Sunday 23rd June. Join me for a day of ceremony, movement, journeying and magickal activities. I will be posting more about this offering on my social media platforms and also be putting up a blog post about this later this week. Current info and tickets here:

https://events.humanitix.com/winter-solstice-circle-qantuqg4

Blessings to you all for all the energies of June and beyond,

Juniper Rose.