The June sky and the art of looking
Sometimes the best astrology is simply to step outside at night and look up.
June is a strange month for someone who loves the night sky. The nights are the shortest of the whole year; darkness arrives late and reluctantly. And yet, right now, just before the solstice, the sky has something gentle about it — warm air, the smell of summer, and stars you have to wait a little while for.
What can be seen
When I go out with my telescope after dusk, I look first for the bright points: the planets that, at this time of year, can shine calmly and steadily. Then, once my eyes adjust to the dark, it appears — the Milky Way, a pale band cutting across the sky. You will not see it from the city; you have to drive out to where it is truly dark and quiet.
The art of looking
In truth, the telescope matters less here than the simple decision to look. Looking at the sky is an exercise in attention and in humility. It reminds us how small and how young everything is that we worry about from day to day. You need neither astrology nor astronomy for it — it is enough to step outside, tilt your head back, and for a moment do nothing else.
It is my favourite part of every month. The June sky promises nothing and foretells nothing. It simply is — vast, quiet, older than all our questions. And sometimes that is enough to send me home a little calmer.