June illustrated almanac

strawberries and shape-shifting

This is an illustrated digital almanac of the internal emotional climate, as influenced by the external natural and astronomical events. I wanted to capture visually the shared experience of how it feels to be alive as a tiny human, enveloped in the greater cyclical movement of this planet, throughout one calendar year. Welcome to June!

• The origin of the name

  First thing’s first. June is apparently named after Juno, the ancient Roman goddess of childbirth and marriage. Why does it feel like each month is named after some fertility related Roman goddess? I can’t really complain because I do find it beautiful.

• Strawberry full moon

  June’s full moon is called Strawberry moon. At this point of the year, the moon is very low and appears bigger than usually (this is called Moon illusion). In some places up north (like Iceland), the full moon won’t even show up on the horizon! When the moon ascends so little, its light rays must pass through the densest layer of the atmosphere, which gives them a reddish hue. It sounds logical, but I don’t think that is what gives her the name strawberry moon. I think it’s just the berry season :).

• Solstice

  Solstice is the day with the most hours of daylight in that hemisphere. In June, it's summer solstice in the Northern hemisphere, while in the southern hemisphere it's winter solstice and the beginning of winter. It’s the tipping point, so if you are in the Northern Hemisphere like I am, the days are already getting shorter!

• Midsummer

  Midsummer Day or St. John the Baptist’s Feast Day is on the 24th of June. Traditionally, this was the midpoint of the growing season, halfway between planting and harvesting. It is celebrated in many cultures on the night of June 23, as Midsummer Eve, especially in Scandinavia since length of the day is so prominent up north.

• Gemini season

  June is mainly Gemini season. The sun transits this sign between May 21 to June 21. Gemini is a mutable sing, representing transition from the Taurus spring to Cancer summer. Gemini archetype has a curious, swift, shape-shifting personality like their ruling planet Mercury, the fastest planet in our solar system. Famous for its chatty nature, language talents and love of ideas, it’s sometimes described as the pollinator of the zodiac, shifting from person to person, and from one idea to another, to weave together endless new connections.

• The Myth of Castor and Pollux

  Gemini is represented by the twins, Castor and Pollux in Greek mythology Castor and Pollux in the Greek myth are sons of Zeus and Leda. According to one version, Leda got seduced / raped by Zeus disguised as a swan on the same night she shared a bed with her husband. As a result she hatched two eggs, giving birth to 4 kids, amongst them Castor and Pollux. Castor was the mortal twin brother, and Pollux was immortal. They loved each other greatly and were inseparable. They fought many battles together until the mortal Castor was fatally wounded. Pollux decided to share his immortality with his brother so that they could always be together. They are the two stars forming the Gemini constellation.