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The Sun enters Gemini III The Executioner’s Sword on 10 June 2026, at 5:14 pm EDT. Austin Coppock provided this name, but T. Susan Chang called this decan Famous Last Words, referencing the image of the stabbed corpse on the ground in the Ten of Swords in Tarot.

The mythic figure associated with this season in the calendar of Cosmas of Jerusalem was Praxidike, which isn’t so much a name as a title, meaning something like “enforcer of justice.” Whose title was it? Among others, and chiefly, it belonged to Persephone goddess of spring and queen of the underworld. It’s a bit of the flavor of Hamlet’s remark in the Shakespeare play, “Treat every man as he deserves, and who shall escape whipping?” Death is the resulting end of every mortal, and none shall escape her judgment in the end.

However, at Samothrace and Lemnos, and then later at Thebes in Boeotia on the Greek mainland, and much later in Roman territories, the arrival of the third decan of Gemini may have been the marker for the fourth-most-important Mystery rites of the Hellenistic era. The rites of the Kabeiroi, which the Roman antiquarian Varro described as “the gods erroneously assumed to be Castor and Pollux,” were honored in the ten days before the Summer Solstice with rites of such a secretive nature that we know almost nothing about them, except that during the first rank of the initiation, the Myesis, the initiates were shown and instructed on certain sacred symbols, and vested with a crimson sash and an iron ring. In the second, the Epopteia, there was an elaborate and specific confession of sins followed by a ritual purification and forgiveness from the gods. Unlike with the Mysteries of Eleusis where the Lesser Mysteries of February were followed 18 months later by the Greater Mysteries, one could undergo both the Myesis and Epopteia on the same day, but few did. Among the initiates, though, were Philip a prince of Macedon and a young woman from nearby Epirus — whom Philip fell madly in love with, allegedly on sight. Her name was Olympias, and they were married within a year. The woman was Olympias, and their son has become known to the world as Alexander the Great.

The Kabeiroi, whose name maybe means “the Great Gods”, appear to have altered both appearance and meaning over the course of centuries. Both the archaeological and historical record is poorly equipped with names or solidified mythology on which to draw. The earliest representations of them show a mother-goddess accompanied by a lion, rather like later Greek representations of the wife of Kronos or Saturn, Rhea. This figure is also familiar to those who know Cybele’s representations from much earlier in Aegean and Anatolian archaeology, or the goddess figurines from Çatalhöyük. Yet later this becomes a goddess and two gods, and later still the goddess and two sets of twins (one male, one female), and later still just two sets of male twins described as the sons and grandsons of Hephaestus and worthy of worship by artisans. The Mysteries appear to have been the same throughout, though, arguing strongly for a variable outer appearance while the inner rituals of the sanctuary remained constant — much like the outward expression of religion may be constantly in motion, but the internal experience of light, peace and connection to divinity is often the same for the mystics in many traditions.

The ruler of Gemini, of course, is Mercury, but this decan is administered by Sun itself. The Herald may rule over the powers of intellect and communication, but in matters of life and death and judgment it is the Sun or monarch that exercises final pardon or final right of execution in the mythic celestial kingdom. The executioner’s block, and the pardon pen, lie stored here in Gemini III The Executioner’s Sword, and many could be found wanting and yet gain a final reprieve. The third decan of Gemini is associated with the Ten of Swords, showing a dead man backstabbed many times. The stormy skies overhead are clearing in the distance. It may be that this represents the epopteia of the Mysteries of the Kabeiroi, indeed — only the administration of harsh justice, whether of forgiveness or execution, promises clear skies ahead.

The dodeks of Gemini III are Aquarius of Gemini, Pisces of Gemini, Aries of Gemini, and Taurus of Gemini.

Dates to Watch

The June 9, Conjunction of the Benefics warrants some special attention, as it triggers what I call the Days of Cedar and Rose, a 56-day series of gratitude and thanksgiving for the ways that the celestial influences show up in our lives. It takes roughly 56 days for Venus and Jupiter to pass through the aversion/inconjunction that follows a conjunction, and reach the sextile, and during these days it’s appropriate to practice acts of leadership, generosity, inspiration, creativity and love for others, while these two planets are less able to those those things for us themselves.

Other dates…

• June 9 — Mercury square Saturn — The day of the conjunction itself will be aided by this transit, which elevates mental abilities and provides considerable focus and concentration for completing important tasks.
• June 11 through the end of October 2026 — Neptune sextile Pluto — This transit, of old visions and daydreams facing their poison, indicates the end of some eras of your life and the arrival of new ones. Old beliefs are likely to pass away, new beliefs are not likely firm enough to arise yet. The transit is long enough that you’re not likely to face any moments of impossible choice or hardship, but it’s also important not to fight the changes that are going to arrive whether you will them or no. Things change — and this is a season when things change dramatically.
• June 13 — Moon conjunct Uranus — this monthly transit encourages foolhardiness and risk-taking. Throwing caution and patience to the winds, you may break with norms or routines in ways that are surprising to others. Holding yourself up to your usual standards is unlikely, but try to stay within appropriate risk-management boundaries.
• June 13, 6:47 am EDT — Venus enters Leo — Venus entering the Lion’s sign is a bit like the sort of woman who dramatically slams the front door, shouting “honey I’m home, let’s get take-out!” She pours herself a glass of wine, and performatively removes her bra in the living room without bothering to take off her work clothes. In Cancer she’s the senior triplicity ruler and has been managing her colleague Jupiter for weeks; now she’s on vacation and can curl up on a beach with a nice smutty book and work on her tan for a while. You can expect her to exert herself a little bit from June 24 to July 1, but either she’ll choose to be the star of the show or not show up at all.
• June 15 — Venus sextile Uranus — That combination of Venus in Leo with Uranus in Gemini will make Uranus far more agile and energetic than usual, disrupting daily routines for the second half of the month. Seek stimulating conversations with new acquaintances, dare to hold impromptu gatherings, and accept an unstructured day. Work and romance begun under this combination is unlikely to endure, but still provide deep insights for the future.
• June 16 — Venus trine Neptune — If Venus sextile Uranus brings energy, then the trine with Neptune brings fantasy and daydream, as well as the mental frameworks necessary to imagine real possibilities for the future… but delusions and confusions can easily arise. DOn’t expect the emergence of deep love at this time — you’re more likely to meet a spring fling than a forever-love in these middle days of June.
• June 17 — Venus opposes Pluto — hidden or occulted obstacles and tedious conflicts may arise between you and a romantic or business partner over relatively minor issues — but indiscretions have a tendency to arise from this kind of mischief in the presence of the Uranian and Neptunian aspects, which continue even as this one adds to the drama. Stay in steady communication with loved ones.
• June 18 — Mercury sextile Mars — You’re likely to turn intellectual projects into your personal babies today, and if it’s difficult to claim credit or ownership for them, you’re likely either to sabotage them or fail to complete them.
• June 19, 5:23 pm EDT — Asteroid Chiron enters Taurus — The “wounded healer” passes from the intellectual and passion-driven realm of Aries to the workaday world of Taurus. No matter how much you thought your wounds, and the ills of the world as well, could be solved by sitting there meditating or thinking about them… please remember that after the Working, comes the work. It’s time to get up from the meditation cushion and do something about the things that bring you illness and ill ease.

House Delineations

The First House of self and self-presentation is Scorpio, ruled by opposing and detrimented Mars. The other Triplicity rulers are trine (Venus) and inconjunct (Moon). Keep your secret self under wraps this week and be cautious about revealing too much of yourself to others. Be ambitious, honorable and hands-on about finishing projects for spouse, significant other, or business partner. Keep lines of communication open.

The Second House of money and possessions is Sagittarius, ruled by inconjunct Jupiter. The other Fire triplicity rulers are opposed (Sun), or trine (Saturn). Financial matters are still concerned more with duty and obligation than with fun; you’re focused more on living into daily routine than making long-term plans with your finances. Think, not about death, but about disability or your own disposability — and then make better financial plans.

The Third House of extended family and intimate friends is Capricorn, ruled by squaring Saturn. The Earth triplicity rulers are opposed (Venus), trine (Mars) or square (Moon). The Lunar Apogee is present. Attending to local matters involves putting aside some errand-based time each day. Work on your garden, watch the moon, break a rule or two by eating those strawberries before anyone else in the house knows there are berries.

The Fourth House of home, household, and parents is Aquarius, ruled by sextile but exiled Saturn. Pluto is present. The Air triplicity rulers are inconjunct (Jupiter, Mercury) or sextile (Saturn). Poisonous issues arise in trying to do the work before the work — the lawnmower has bad gas left over from last winter, the shed has wasps nests that need to be cleared. every task seems to involve doing two or three pre-tasks first, and all of them invite criticisms. Keep the insights to yourself as you learn what must be done; report successes to housemates.

The Fifth House of pleasures and pastimes is Pisces, ruled by trining and exalted Jupiter. The Water triplicity rulers are trine (Venus), sextile (Mars) or inconjunct (Moon). The North Node is present. Carousing and carrying on is likely to occur, but there’s added benefit if you’re far from home or at least on a journey together. Playful spanky may lead to additional hanky-panky if you take care you do the deed with/to the right person; but unwelcome advances may force retreats in the face of lawful countermeasures.

The Sixth House of daily routines, pets, and injuries is Aries, ruled by inconjunct and detrimented Mars. Saturn is present but exiled, as are Neptune and the Moon. The other fire triplicity rulers are square (Jupiter) or sextile (Sun). Vast amounts of intellectual energy are needed to manage and understand the daily tasks, but everything seems to be washed out: lawn care plans face rain delays, imaginative new projects miss their deadlines, big ideas can’t get in front of the boss — and worst of all, the finance department wasn’t consulted about this business travel. Focus on what must be done, and look to the unexpected opportunity rather than the official schedule to do them.

The Seventh House of spouse, peer partners, and rivals is Taurus, ruled by sextile Venus. The other Earth triplicity rulers are present (Mars) or inconjunct (Moon). Every relationship matter feels important and in the realm of now – now – now but there’s both an immediate intimacy and a long-range emotional trial to be faced in these moment-to-moment actions. Dramatic changes aren’t coming hard and strong, exactly… but long-term goals in your married life may face a reset.

The Eighth House of obligation, duty and legacy is Gemini, ruled by inconjunct Mercury. The other Air triplicity rulers are inconjunct (Mercury, Jupiter) and sextile but exiled (Saturn). Uranus and the Sun are present. Sudden changes to your debts and legacies may occur, but it’s important to make steady progress toward any promised completions, even of the odium of your job or career.

The Ninth House of higher learning and long-distance travel is Cancer, ruled by the squaring Moon. The Water triplicity rulers are present (Venus), sextile (Mars) or square (Moon). Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury are present. Travel is mind-expanding and you’re likely to go and return swiftly. However, destinations are prosaic or ordinary in comparison to intentions. Efforts to carry out highly imaginative and visionary research may not go as planned.

The Tenth House of career and professional reputation is Leo, ruled by the sextile Sun. The Fire triplicity rulers are inconjunct (Jupiter), sextile (Sun) or trine (Saturn). Professional matters require organizing and drawing together the right personnel and resources. If you’ve never done this before, expect leadership to go off the rails almost immediately. Be alert to how your daily routines affect your professional successes.

The Eleventh House of friends, associates, and allies is Virgo, ruled by sextile Mercury. The Earth triplicity rulers are sextile (Venus), trine (Mars) or inconjunct (Moon). The South Node is present, as is the Lot of Fortune. Analysis of friends and associates may reveal troubling patterns in your networks of communication and alliance. You’re free to choose and choose again in how you make your connections, but you have new learning to do in these environments, and it won’t always be enjoyable.

The Twelfth House of both obstacles and opportunities is Libra, ruled by squaring Venus. The Air triplicity rulers are square (Jupiter, Mercury) and opposed (Saturn). Long term plans are troubled by expansive learning excursions and the complexities of balancing out entertainment and educational goals against the hard realities of daily life when there seems to be a wet blanket over everything. Consult with your important and closest peers for a sense of how to immediately improve your long-term plans.

Horoscopes by Rising Sign

Decan I of any sign (usually covering the 21st of the month to the first of the following month) is free to all visitors; Decan II is only available to Patreon and Ko-Fi.com subscribers; and Decan III is available to Patreon, Ko-Fi, and MailChimp subscribers.

I recommend reading your Sun sign, Moon sign, and Rising sign for best results. I write them with rising sign in mind, but several people have told me they find that they do better with all three.

Scorpio: It will be easier to react to current issues than to initiate activity; insinuate to your friends to include you in things, and then go with their flow rather than trying to start your own. Set a learning goal or make a mini-vacation plan. Figure out ways to flip the script at your job so you go from working with your hands to working with your brain, or vice-versa. Expect that your daily indecisions are making it harder for others to work with you — express your vision clearly, and then hold to it firmly rather than waffling.

Sagittarius: You may be more focused on expenses than income at the moment, but some attention needs to be paid to your revenue stream, as well as to the sources of delight which that revenue is supposed to pay for. Hardship and suffering seems to weigh heavily on your days, and learning to lighten up, both on yourself and on your partner, are ways to rebalance the scales. House and home should be a place where you try to stir up joy, but there’s jobs to do with and for your spouse that may take precedence.

Capricorn: Play hooky from local affairs, but recognize that you and your housemates may be on the hook for quotidian expectations that are not easily delayed or transferred. A spouse or significant other has expansive travel plans or educational endeavors coming up that are worth deeper conversations. A booty call may be called off by harsh words or ill intentions. Approach officials with gentle humility to get your plans approved.

Aquarius: house, home, and parentage may feel a little more costly or expensive this week; criticize them all you like, but you’re still embedded in that system, and what you do or say is indeed part of the problem. Parts of your career that may require more secrecy than usual; the public parts of your relationship that are normally fun may feel more performative and obligatory than usual. Be wary of the ways that the ideals of your extended network are more for show than practical management. Learn new skills daily for encouraging your subordinates into a functional team.

Pisces: Fun, of all the possible kinds, is likely to show up in the next ten days, but at least some of the things you’re looking for, you’ll have to ask for. Some of the delights may be more costly than you can afford, and you may not have time to squeeze in all the various forms of entertainment on offer. Be prepared to ask for, and get, a rain-check. But it’s worth identifying what you’re willing to bring in trade for the delicacies that others place on offer: what do you bring to the table? How can you sweeten the deal not just for today, but for the long haul? Be thinking about how you can keep the party going.

Aries: Daily schedules are filled with both aspirations and delays. Your boss makes you work on long-term plans that are unfortunately in conflict with long-arranged holidays for you and your household. Expect a seething harshness when you discuss this with a spouse or significant other, but there’s still a choice to be made — only you can decide if it’s right to break the rules of your employment or not, but know that delaying the communication til later will suck more in the long run: choose and speak swiftly (and put your thumb on the ‘family vacation’ side, friend; time is the only resource you can only spend once.)

Taurus: An argument with a spouse or significant peer is likely to arise quickly and dissipate just as fast, but some drama is likely to attend any money conversation you have. You can work through these issues carefully and cleanly, but sometimes it’s best to untangle it one step at a time and sometimes establish a cut-off and start fresh. Identify the method and go for it. Be generous to your inner circle and tell the whole story, but be cautious about who you gets served the freshest tea. Your long-term plans may feel blocked for the foreseeable future, but remember that you have a bucket list that may take a decade and a half to complete. Set your goals and move toward them.

Gemini: New responsibilities are coming your way, and the expectation is that you’ll put your shoulder to the work and get it done. But sometimes it’s better to be the one with the clipboard in hand, checking off the tasks, than the one working with one’s hands. You’ll have to do both in the next ten days, but the smart money is on finding a way to hold the clipboard by week’s end. Don’t spend too much time thinking about what you’ll be doing a year from now; focus on learning better ways to do the job right now and building the relationships with the crew that will put you in the driver’s seat in the long term.

Cancer: What do you need to learn over the next ten days? What do you need to learn in order to teach others? It’s partly about leading, partly about diplomatic endeavor, partly about your personal creativity, partly about touching each involved party with the right mix of slang and formal communication. You have the rationality to execute any plan you put your mind to, but it may require some revolutionary hands-on transmission of your ideas: don’t count on Zoom to get your point across. A colleague may argue with you or lash out unexpectedly — probably verbally, but keep appropriate distance just the same. Remember that institutions react poorly and slowly to change, and throw up obstacles to new vision. Identify the one with the power to make changes, and plan to approach them for permission to try rather than forgiveness for something they didn’t know was happening.

Leo: Career goals require bringing together the right resources and personnel rather than you doing everything yourself — and if this feels like an impossible task, remember that this is a matter of execution, and not simply drinking from the same well of overwork again and again. Put your hands on the labor, figure out if it’s best done by you or a delegate, and break some of your assumptions. You cannot do all of the work, but you need to learn enough of it to hand it off to others. Meanwhile, work on your long-range goals: is this beverage something that you want to be drinking over and over, or do you have better plans for yourself? Identify the skill set of the right business partner, and see if this is someone you already know, or if you’re going to have to find.

Virgo: Considering friendships and alliances is likely to get you into trouble this week, when the network of connections seems narrower and less self-sustaining. Yet hammering out agreements with that network is the key to your future success — and communicating, leading, and connecting with that network of allies and friends is the ‘side hustle’ that’s likely to upset the stagnation in your main business career path this week. Yes there will be the usual odiums of payroll and invoices, more bills taking money away than receipts bringing money in, but real success requires repeat business, and repeat business means networking. Go find yours, and do some favors worth reciprocating.

Libra: A balanced approach to your long-term plans should be on your mind this week. What do you still want to learn? Where do you want to go? What sights do you want to take in, and what foods? What postmark goes on your postcards? At the same time, consider what leadership roles are still open to you in your career path: what thrones do you want to take? What castles will you besiege? What crowns will you wear? Who will you raise up from the dust to be your right hand and best buddy? Sovereignty is a complex topic in the modern era, especially for the non-billionaire — but planning your future triumphs is a good way to identify your immediate ambitions and consequent responsibilities.

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If you want to read some of my astrologically-oriented poetry, the largest collection is called A Full Volume of Splendor and Starlight, available through my Etsy shop, and containing poems and hymns to the planets, constellations, decan deities, and Moon Mansion angels. While not astrological, Festae contains hymns to some of the older Roman gods and spirits from the calendar created by Numa Pompilius, the second ancient King of Rome.

I use iPhemeris for my charting software, and screenshot it to make charts. I want to thank the team that develops iPhemeris for the addition of Terms and Decans to their charts. I also use Hugh Tran‘s Physis typeface to craft logos for this blog, as well.

I use Christopher Warnock‘s The Mansions of the Moon as the basis of my Moon placement delineations, and Austin Coppock‘s 36 Faces for much of my planetary delineations. Neither gentleman endorses me.