June is upon us, which means we’re halfway through the year already. But some of 2022’s biggest astrological events are still to come and the lunar calendar is shaping up to look rather busy this month.

Not only have we just had the first supermoon of the year, but the summer solstice – also known as the longest day of the year with the biggest gift of sunlight – is hot on its heels.

On 21 June, Britain will enjoy a whopping 16 hours and 43 minutes of daylight – making it ideal weather for a late-night barbecue (and incredibly unlikely that we’ll get a good night’s sleep).

The supermoon that took place on 14 June is know as the strawberry moon, named after the beginning of strawberry picking season, and the first of three supermoons in 2022.

So where do the ideas of the summer solstice and the strawberry moon come from? And what do they mean for you? Here’s everything you need to know about June’s lunar calendar…

June’s full moon, also known as the rose moon or hot moon, reached its peak at 12.52pm on 14 June. A full moon occurs every 29.5 days, but a supermoon takes place less often. A supermoon occurs when the moon’s orbit is closest to Earth at the same time the moon is full.

Many of the names of full moons descend from Native Americans and the strawberry moon is no different, as it’s named after strawberry picking season, which only takes place for a short amount of time in most places. The name is also based on the colourful flowers that bloom in the summer.

The super moon was visible in the UK on 14 June 2022 at 12:52pm.

You might think of the summer solstice simply as a long, bright, sunny day but there’s actually a lot more to it. According to Pagans, the summer solstice – otherwise known as midsummer’s eve – is imbued with a special power. It is a time of growth, life and change.

More importantly for Pagans (who are deeply aware of the ongoing shifting of the seasons), it is also time to acknowledge that the sun will now begin to decline once more towards winter – and that balance will be restored to the world.

All in all, it’s a time of meaning and great significance for many, so it should come as no surprise to hear that it can affect our horoscopes, too.

Whether you believe in astrology or not, plenty of us know what our zodiac sign is – and many still take the time to read their horoscope each day. Indeed, while it’s difficult to say how many people believe in astrology (hundreds of polls, surveys and studies have failed to produce an even vaguely consistent answer), women are engaging with it more than ever before. Several major women’s websites now have daily and monthly horoscope columns; it’s no longer unfashionable to say you’re into astrology. 

And, quite frankly, there’s something quite soothing about the idea our futures are destined by the stars themselves. 

As Emily Reynolds previously told Stylist: “Adrift in our own lives, we don’t always know where we’re going, what we’re doing or even how we feel. Astrology provides a kind of stability: the idea that everything might be actually happening for a reason, no matter how mundane or depressing that reason might be.” 

With this in mind, we spoke to moonologist Yasmin Boland to find out what we can expect from the summer solstice.

“It doesn’t have an astrological meaning, per se,” says Boland. “It’s actually an astronomical phenomenon. However, it’s still potentially a very rich time to work on yourself and your life, using the solstice planets as your guide.

“Plus, many astrologers will use the solstice to cast a chart to make predictions about how the energies are likely to play out for you in the coming three months (when we will get the September solstice heralding the start of autumn in the north and the start of spring Down Under).”

Boland explains: “You can make big inroads towards personal and professional success by working the planets in general and the sun and moon every solstice.”

The monologist goes on to reveal that in order to do this effectively, there are three areas of our life that we should aim to work on, no matter what our star sign is.

These are:

1) Communication

“The sun (ego) and Mercury (communications) are together at the time that the solstice takes place on 21 June,” says Boland. “This suggests that better communication is going to be a theme in the world and also in our personal lives.

“If you want to live consciously and tap into the solstice energies, promise yourself over the coming three months that you will pay better attention to how well you’re communicating. That means when you’re talking or writing, largely, but also think about non-verbal communication signals you’re sending out (think crossed arms and eye rolls).”

If you need some help with this, we’ve got some tips on how to resolve conflicts without losing your temper, pen the perfect goodbye letter (now, before it’s too late), and how to stand up and make your voice heard.

We also have the one word that can defuse any argument, if you’re interested.

2) Love

“The June solstice chart has an awesome Venus/Pluto link on it,” shares Boland. “In theory, this can show us all the magic (Pluto) of the power of love (Venus). For more information, keep an eye on your horoscopes, but overall the message is that love can change everything. That means in your own life but also on a global scale.”

To put it more plainly, love comes in many forms, and the world could use a lot of it right now. Use this time to become a helper, an encouraging voice and a supportive friend. Above all else, be mindful of what you say, share and read about others – and remember that solidarity and friendship are crucial tools in these dark times.

3) Get spiritual

Neptune, the planet of dreams and illusions, is going retrograde (aka it will appear to be travelling backwards for the next four months), making now the time to turn inward and get in touch with your higher self.

In astrology, Neptune is known as the planet of imagination and creativity, which means the planet’s influence can sometimes make us feel like we’re living in a fantasy. This apparently makes the summer solstice the perfect time to do some inward searching and transition into a slower, dreamier mindset.

While the longest day comes once a year, Boland adds that it heralds yet another important event in our celestial calendars.

“[Around the] solstice we get the new moon, which is the time to send your wishes out to the universe,” she tells us.

“Remember, you have to believe it to achieve it!”

For more information, or discover which part of your personal birth chart is being triggered with your New Moon Info Sheet here.

You can follow Yasmin Boland on Twitter and Facebook, or check out her Moonology website for more astrological details.

Images: iStock/Getty/Kiran Ridley/Barcroft Images