June

To: Astro List
From: Shady Acres
Subject: June Astro Fishing News

"I'm going down to Haskell
Got a woman back in Abilene"
performed by Lyle Lovett from his 1998 Album, "Step Inside This House" -- lyrics by Michael Martin Murphey and Boomer Castleman

"Deep in every angler's soul is a secret confidence in his own special prowess that impels him to keep fishing in the face of common sense, basic science, financial ruin, and even natural disasters." (Double Whammy by Carl Hiassen. NY: Time Warner Books, 1987. p. 295)

Monthly Overview: The Summer Solstice is happening this month. In astrological terms, that means that the sun is moving from the tropical zodiac sign of Gemini on into Cancer. In any terms, that should mean a degree of levity is encouraged. I've been to Haskell, and I had a girl a Abilene, years ago. Now that Mars is no longer retrograde, perhaps all of us can enjoy a bit of a summer holiday. We all need a break now.

Aries: It's going to feel like a terribly short month. In fact, your temper is going to feel rather put upon. It's not like you haven't had your share of irritations as of late, in fact, your recent memory is the one thing I wish I could do something about. It would help us both. Aries is typically a really "up front" kind of a sign. Mars doesn't really get up to speed with this whole backward and forward thing just yet, so you can expect a few of the little details still require your attention right now. It's a month to get some plans in order. And on the closing days of the month, as the moon gets fuller, you're going to find that there is a sweet little bit of respite due to the fact that Jupiter is moving along at a good clip -- in fact, he's going to overshoot the end of Aries and bounce right on into Taurus. The end of the month holds some sort of comic ending to it. At least, I hope it's a comedy. You've already had your share of sad country ballads this year. Time for a good jig.

Taurus: The solstice is like a high water mark, a place where you can see where the flood waters finally turned back. It's the beginning of the astrological summer. Of course, if you're in Texas, it's been summer for a spell now. And if you're in other parts of the world, I would suggest that this is like summer, even if it's not really summer-like yet. I'm promising a bright spot this month. There's some welcome relief going along all month long. There is a recurrent theme that looks like it's from the stream of love, and it looks like this little stream might overflow its banks. There's a chance that an old love could turn into a raging torrent of love. It's like an arroyo, out in West Texas. One minute, it's as dry as a bone, sun bleached and all. Then, a freak summer storm, and that little canyon fills up fast. Same thing could happen to you, and it looks like it's an old flame come back to fire up your BBQ grill.

Gemini: There is a veritable plethora of Gemini's who are all celebrating birthdays in the first weeks of June. I just hope I get to go to the parties. A Gemini party is a lot of fun, but it can be a little wearing on the body. It's hard to keep up with the frenetic energy that is coming off the Gemini this month. In fact, there's been great correction, like a market correction, in the sky. It lends itself to making things in the Gemini corner very nice. Despite all the nice things I predict for Gemini, there is one or two individual Gemini's, apart from the rest, who are going to have an old friend come and visit. This might not be the happiest of events -- but this only applies to a certain few. The rest of you have nothing to worry about. Nothing at all. No need for worry whatsoever. No problem. Nothing. None.

Cancer: There's just the oddest little astrological set up going on this month, and it involves Miss Venus. She's going to do right by you this month. Of course, Venus doesn't come along without a few little warnings. Don't put too much stock in what you've got happening right now. It's good but not that good. I always try to avoid confusing that personal warm glow that Venus imparts with real, truly, deeply emotionally satisfying feelings. It's a problem. It's like a small fish that puts up a really good fight. You feel like you've hooked a shark, you feel like you're about to reel in a trophy sized critter. You feel like you've made the catch of the century, pulling your boat all over the place. You wind up with a fish that's the size of something that a might look best on rice, wrapped with a little bit of seaweed. Be careful about what you ask for. I hate cliches, but, "It's not the size of the dog but the size of the fight in the dog." (Attributed to Bubba).

Leo: Venus is going to spend part of the early summer in your sign. This is good news, more or less. Sure, it's good news. You might back track and read the warnings about Venus and what she's going to do to Cancer, first. I mean, she starts out there to begin with. This little trip that Venus lays on you isn't all bad. It's got a few rather unexpected twists and turn; however, these are inclined to side track you into a different area of life. Or a the same destination, just a different road. It's like the route to some of my favorite places in West Texas. You can take the Interstate, but that's a really boring trip. Or you can jump onto the more direct two lane highways. The hazards are there, spooky little towns where the only thing that's organized is a particular church. But the coffee is good, and the little road side markers are a lot more interesting than the big rest areas on the interstate. So if you're willing to accept some of the diversions as a good thing, then this might turn into an interesting month. Personally, I've always had good luck "behind the Pine Curtain" in East Texas, and that's a strange destination for any one. Consider it a plan.

Virgo: I'm beginning to wonder about these astrological prognostications and all that. According to the text book, things are supposed to be a version of "good" different right now. Sure, and according to the same text books, life is supposed to be treating you well, especially this summer. However, judging from the mail bag, I take it that this is not exactly the case. The problem is still the recalcitrant Mars and his orchestrated maneuvers in the dark. He has turned around, and he has picked up the tempo, but the music is still a slow country tune, something that borders on sounding like a blues number more than the peppy little tune that the book suggests. What to do about it? Nothing. Since the Universe is not picking up the tempo fast enough, I suggest you resign yourself to a slow and methodical form of improvement. I realize it's summer here in Texas, but there's no reason to let the dog days of summer get you blue, at least, not yet. Adjust your pace a little, adapt to the slower, more relaxed timing right now, and keep your ears open for that change coming because the pace will pick up before the end of the month.

Libra: When the going got tough for one of Shakespeare's characters, that person would invoke Mars. Of course, the same guy who was screaming for help from Mars should have been working with someone like Jove instead because a higher authority would have been more beneficial. Same applies to you this month. Mars is slowly picking up the pieces which fell apart last month. Regrettably, he's not doing it fast enough. Don't panic, and don't get all worked up. Mars is in his "methodical" phase right, moving with a slow and deliberate timing, gradually letting all the parts fall back together. This is like listening to the old fashioned kind of country music, not the new fangled stuff, not that "hot" country music. It might be me, but the country and western craze is over, or so I hope. And the same applies to you this month. The Mars craze is over. Now it's time to reassemble the pieces of you life. There's a little lift coming in from distant corners of the solar system to help you put all this back together. Just be careful, and don't try to move with a Martian like speed.

Scorpio: There are a few other verses in the song I started out with this month, and the rest of lyrics are a little more important. The reason the lyrics to a particular country song are important is that the lesson is about being some place that you just don't really want to be at. That's the problem with this month. Mars is no longer retrograde, and that's a bit of good news. The problem is that Mars is over in Libra, still. And he's going to stay there for the duration of this month. Mars is a good planet for Scorpio. In fact, Mars will be very nice to you. In a bit. Not yet. Patience is a the keyword for this month. "Hey, Fishing Guide Dude [FGD], get with the horoscopes!" No need to yell at me, just pretend like Mars is still retrograde. I will suggest that a few things which fell apart under the pejorative influence of this eldritch planet situation will begin to fall back together this month. The problem being that this won't happen fast enough for your tastes. If I could reach up and twist the stars any faster, believe me, for the Scorpio folks alone, I would.

Sagittarius: Ever feel like everything is falling apart? Ever wonder "why"? Of course, here in Austin, I don't much wonder why. Usually, I just look at the chart and go, "Huh?" Sure, the truck still needs to be worked on. Sure, the fishing tackle is still in disarray, and the back-up boat motor is scattered all over the patio. Sure, all of this is true. But you're feeling a little stymied and a little lackadaisical at the beginning of the month. As the solstice gets closer, though, you start thinking about proper ways to celebrate the summer, and suddenly, some of the minor irritations begin to fall away. If you're careful and cognizant, watchful and wary, you might just discover that missing part for the boat motor. In fact, just because you thought a head gasket for the spare motor was never going to be found, if you look in the right places, ask the right question, you will be amazed at what turns up. You will probably find that one part you need, and you will probably find it at the original, 1971 price. Minor miracles are possible.

Capricorn: There's a subtle flavor to this month. Not a strong flavor like a good chili, but a hint of something lurking on the back of your tongue. It's a decent flavor for the month, too, but this isn't a seasoning that I recommend for some of the game fish -- their strong flavor might drown out the little hint. So in order to really take advantage of this month, you've got to be willing to experience the delicate characteristic that's here. It's like a hint of Cilantro, but that's not quite it. Fresh basil? Neither of these are traditional items in good chili, but the delicate herbs can certainly add a degree of spice to the month. You just have to be willing to be a little more adventuresome than usual. Look beyond what is obvious. My chili uses an abundance of peppers. "If it ain't hot enough to hurt, it just ain't hot enough." While that makes for award winning chili, it doesn't do you any good this month because there's a certain nuance to the planets that you've got to be willing to feel. Being aware of the subtle influences this month, and being willing to look beyond the usual suspects might yield some exciting news for a good Capricorn. Yes, it's weird month. But it's a good weird.

Aquarius: There's a strange break in the astrological weather. There's a weird shift, a shift that's going to bring some good changes. Now, every Aquarius is supposed to willing to change [as long as you feel like it's of your own doing, that's the catch.] This strange little break is going to come as a one-two sucker punch. After the first hit, you're pretty sure there is no more, but along comes a second strike. It's a chance to fight back, too. Perhaps fight isn't the right word. It's time for you to go against "them." By now, you have a target pretty much in sight, too. A little stealth action this month will help, though. It's not a time to make a big deal out of a little bit of misdirection from someone else. If you ride out the sucker punch from the stars, I figure that you will come out on top of the fray, by the end of the month. In fact, you can pretend that this is actually a battle that you started, and if you wait long enough, you can finish it all up, in good order.

Pisces: There's a growing sense of anticipation this month, a feeling that something big is about to happen. It's like that feeling I get when I know, just instinctively KNOW, that the fish are biting. Of course, I'm referring to game fish, not game Pisces. I mean, a real Pisces would never bite me. She might nibble, but I don't think a Pisces would actually leave marks. However, there is still this feeling that you have this month -- sort of like a predominant theme playing at the back of your Pisces mind which suggests an important "something" is about to happen. I would suggest that this is the case. It is going to happen. It's right around the corner. Astrologically, it's the Sun moving into Cancer, the summer high point (it's summer in Texas so us Texans naturally assume it's summer all over the globe), the time when everything is as it should be. And then there's always this Martian influence which has tortured you some recently. It stops torturing you, unless, of course, you're into that sort thing. But I doubt it. Pisces are creatures of leisure, not pain, and this month holds some of that for you. The leisure, not the pain.

Feel free to forward this missive on to you friends, or enemies, we don't much care, but remember to include everything done to the signature to make sure the lawyer is happy.

The best astrology text I've ever found is back in print, "Astrologik," order it up from Mr. Antero Alli at: http://www.paratheatrical.com/pages/astro.html

AOL users only: free readings and much talk about astrology, bait and Austin cuisine on Wednesday nights, 9:00 PM CDT in the AstroNet Conference location. It's a weekly online chat sponsored by AOL's AstroNet.

1999
Jun. 5 & 6, El Paso, TX
Jun. 12 & 13, Austin - South
Jul. 24, Whole Life Books, 1006 S. Lamar
Aug. 7-8, El Paso, TX
Aug. 22, Whole Life Books, 1006 S. Lamar
Sep. 18, Whole Life Books, 1006 S. Lamar

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