Astrologically, This Week’s Summer Solstice Will Feel Like Cosmic Vacation Mode

The week ahead is packed with planetary movement that will make you feel as if the entire cosmos is circling vacation mode. While you may be feeling ready to take things on at work or in your personal life, your boss or partner or friends may be checking stuff off their list as they prepare for a holiday break. Learn to love this cosmic exchange, and you too can ease your mind into vacation mode.

Sunday, June 20, marks the summer solstice of 2021, and Monday, June 21, marks the first day of Cancer season, which will feel like a warm reunion hug from your coworker, whether you’re able to commune in person or not. The sentiment comes from feeling open to a much-awaited reprieve from the mental energy the past month has required. After pushing against deadlines and hitting walls with rough transits and retrogrades galore, we can finally throw our books in the air and embrace the summer solstice of 2021 without a care in the world. Life is good, and—cosmically speaking at least—we can take an exhale.

Life is good, and—cosmically speaking at least—we can take an exhale.

On Tuesday, June 22, Mercury will finally station direct, but he still needs a second to catch up on all those emails, just like coming back to the office after a hiatus. Known as the “shade” period, Mercury will retrace the steps he made back at the end of May. To maximize this time, think back to what you were finishing up before he left the office, so to speak. Anything that was happening for you will pop back up, just like that email you left “unread.” While it may take everything in you not to take it upon yourself to catch Mercury up, try as best as you can to simply sit back and give him the space to do so in his own time.

As Mercury settles back into his routine, two other planets will go OOO this week: Jupiter and Neptune, both in Pisces. Jupiter will retrograde from June 20 to October 18 and will illuminate growth from the past six months. During this transit, we’ll have the opportunity to track growth, much like may be the case for a school semester. Use this time to pat yourself on the back, or send yourself to summer school to hammer your goals home before he returns direct. And Neptune will retrograde from June 25 to December 1, 2021. Considering this planet is so much farther from Earth than Jupiter, we won’t feel his effects quite as strongly as we do with other personal planets retrograding, but this planetary transit can still slip you out of reality. Recognize that while you’re engaging in some serious escapism.

And to close out a hectic pre-holiday week, the full moon in Capricorn illuminates on Thursday, June 24. The first moon after eclipse season will feel like yet another warm hug from the universe, as it will feel much more familiar to us. The Cancerian/Capricorn axis reminds us of the maternal/paternal influence, and in this instance, the sun in Cancer opposes the moon in Capricorn. The moon rules Cancer, so this influence can feel a bit like embodying the opposite of ourselves. You may be encouraged to see things from the other side, which can be a little disorienting. But, the insight gained from this exercise will be beneficial when it comes to showing up as you’d like others to see you.

Alex Caiola is an Astrologer and Psychic intuitive Coach based in New York City. She founded the mystical wellness platform High Priestess of Brooklyn with the mission of helping people achieve Modern Enlightenment. She uses a unique blend of Astrology and Tarot to deliver practical, pop-culture referenced guidance for her community. She regularly contributes Astrological content for brands and co-hosts the podcast Priestesses Prescribe.

Oh hi! You look like someone who loves free workouts, discounts for cult-fave wellness brands, and exclusive Well+Good content. Sign up for Well+, our online community of wellness insiders, and unlock your rewards instantly.