June Phases and Signs Overview

June is the time for planting!

June is about to be “… bustin’ out all over …” and it’s time for full-speed-ahead gardening. The only caution now is don’t plant when the ground is wet or you will continue to pay a high price across the summer as the soil clamps down around the little plants as it dries.

For those of you gardening according to the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac — and if you are reading this I must assume you are or you’re at least curious — here’s the information for the month of June. And, as always, don’t hesitate to be in touch if you have questions.

The moon

June begins (just barely) and ends with the moon in the light phase with the light moon ruling until 12:19 p.m. EDT June 2 and then returning to force with the new moon at 10:05 a.m. June 16. Between those dates, June 3-15, the dark moon is in force.

 “General Tips” for dark- and light-moon activities are below and if you are planting in flats, seedbeds, the garden — anywhere — it’s above-ground producers in the light moon and below-ground producers when the dark phase is in.

The signs

Remember: Again, check to see if the moon is in the light or dark phase (information above) before proceeding with planting, or other activities, indoors or out.

June begins – and ends — with the so-so signs in force, so here we go.

So-so days: These aren’t particularly fertile nor destructive, just so-so: Sagittarius (the thighs), June 1-2, 28-30; Capricorn (the knees), June 3-5; and Aquarius (the legs), June 6-7. We are “blessed” with 10 days this month by the three so-so signs, Sagittarius, Capricorn and Aquarius.

Fertile signs: The most fertile signs in the zodiac rule these days: Pisces (the feet), June 8-9; Taurus (the neck), June 12-13; Cancer (the breast), June 16-18; and Scorpio (the secrets), June 26-27. There are nine days this month ruled by the fertile signs — Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus and Cancer.

We have a nice mix this month of very fertile signs in both the dark and light phases of the moon. June 8-9, 12-13 occur when the dark moon is in force for planting below-ground producers while the afternoon of June 16, all of the and all of June 17-18, 26-27 are in force when the light moon rules for planting above-ground producers.

Killing signs: No planting, transplanting, or dealing with things you want to thrive should occur on these days. Reserve them for cultivating, cleaning out fencerows — anything but planting: Aries (the head), June 10-11 and Leo (the heart), June 19-20. Thankfully there are just four killing days this month ruled by either Aries or Leo – the absolute minimum.

Flowering days: These are “bloom days” and well suited for planting flowers. Virgo (the bowels), June 21-23 and Libra (the reins), June 24-25. There are five flowering days this month.

Gemini days: Gemini rules the arms and is in force June 14-15. Unfortunately, the dark moon rules both of these days but at least half of the ideal equation is in force with the sign in Gemini, the bean sign.

General tips

Again, here are a few general tips for activities other than planting:

>If you have gravel to pour on a drive or roadway, do that when the light moon rules. The same applies for stones on a garden path: Place them when the moon is in the light phase so they don’t sink.

I field a lot of questions about the proper time to pour gravel. And I hear lot of “testimonies” from those who followed the moon phases on that one. I will try to share more of those on my blog in the upcoming weeks.

>If you’re setting fence posts, do that in the light of the moon so the posts don’t sink.

>If you’re putting on a new shingle roof, do that when the moon’s in the dark phase so that the shingles stick down and don’t curl up on the ends.

>If you have changes to make, we have 7.5 days this month – half of June 2 then all of June 3-9. During this time the moon will be in the dark phase and the signs going out of the body past anything that functions – Sagittarius through Pisces/legs through feet.

Each month now for the next several there will be fewer days that fit the formula perfectly so the “perfect window” will be smaller.

These days are good for weaning babies or small animals, scheduling elective surgery – not emergency surgery since that usually can’t be “scheduled,” stopping smoking, starting a diet or exercise program. Consider what it is you want to do and if it involves making a change then this is the best stretch for it.

As an example: In April a man contacted me who wanted to stop using smokeless tobacco. It so happened that the day he asked was a perfect day to “make changes.” He laid down the can of dip he was working on and, as he reported just a few days ago, hasn’t touched it since!

Folks, when you ask why and how this works, I can’t answer that in any sort of scientific manner. All I know is it does certainly helps and definitely can’t hurt when you have decided to make the change.