Ok!  I did the Summer Solstice (S.S.) chart as a solar chart using 0 degree house cusps.  The 1st house 0 degrees Cancer, the second house 0 degrees Leo, and so forth.  My focus was on us as a nation and what we can expect over the next 3 months.  I did a few comparisons with the USA, Gemini rising chart and factored in the above ‘Guest Stars’ ~ all major planetary events happening this week that will surely have an effect on this Summer Solstice.

Major Players, Act I
Sun on the Ascendant, fresh out of the 12th house, coming off an opposition to the Moon.
The Moon, the chart ruler, transitions over  the Descendant from Sagittarius to Capricorn, conjuncting Pluto on the Descent, also in opposition to the Sun!  ~ Powerful stuff!
Could this mean hidden things coming into the light and triggering an explosive response from our open enemies?  A culmination of past undoings blowing up in our face? OR a chance to right some wrongs in a radical and different way that involve our nation as a whole?
Venus conjuct the Sun, certainly softens the blow and gives us a diplomatic edge.  It provides a sense of optimism.  Combine this with the conjunction to the USA Venus/Jupiter conjunction, in sextile to S.S. Saturn in Virgo falling in the third house. We can derive some practical enthusiasm from listening to the Presidential hopefuls talk about creating us a brighter future.  The USA Venus, Jupiter, Sun, Mercury stellium in S.S. 1st, certainly gives us something to look forward to! 
USA Mercury, in opposition to S.S. Jupiter, and trine S.S. Uranus, heightens the expectation of this election.  Our country is craving some major and much needed change!  For the first time we have the possibility of a black or female President who can really make a difference at a crucial time.  The quincunx  of  USA Mercury to S.S. Neptune and semi-sextile S.S. Mars, reminds us that all cannot be fixed by waving a magic wand.
Which brings us to:

Major Players, Act II
Mars conjunct the South Node in the second, opposite Neptune conjunct the North Node in the eighth, tying in a conjunction with the USA Moon!  Does anything better describe our rising fuel costs and our dependency on foreign oil????????!!!!!!!!  How our need for speed and perhaps careless ways are costing us a fortune and have become our own   undoing?  Not only is this opposition tight, it falls exactly on the upcoming Lunar Eclipse degree, 24 Aquarius, on Aug. 16th!  Being as we are 2 months away, we’re a little bit out of the shadow period for it’s influence to affect us now.  However, come August we’ll see if we’ve made any progress with cleaning up our act.  It should definitely serve as a warning.  The USA North Node falls in the S.S. second and will be with in 3 degrees of the Solar Eclipse, Aug. 1st.   I give a larger window to Solar Eclipses which puts the USA North Node already in the shadow.  I believe this could have a positive affect of pushing us in the right direction.  It’s semi-sextile to S.S. Saturn in Virgo  is already evidenced in the abundance of commercials geared towards ‘going Green’.   We know astrology works.  Let’s try to use it to our benefit.

Major Players, Act III
Uranus stationing to go retrograde on June 26, in the ninth house, really describes how unpredictable, uncertain, unstable ~ you name your favorite “un” ~ we are over seas, particularly in regards to the war. 
Its sextile to S.S. Jupiter gives us another glimpse of optimism.  With Jupiter’s trine to USA Neptune, perhaps a little charm, combined with a little luck, can pull in some assistance from our allies?  However, Uranus opposition to the USA Neptune in the third,  brings us back to the reality that there is no easy solution or end in sight regardless of what  is being said.   This push pull dynamic between fantasy and cold, hard, uncertain reality will be playing out for some time.  USA Neptune quincunx S.S. Neptune says it’s going to continue to cost us big time ~ factor in the USA Moon conjunction again too.

The Final Act, featuring Mercury stationing direct,  brings us back to the 12th house.  Will secrets come to light?  Will what was hidden be revealed?  The current Mercury station semi-sexiles the S.S. Sun and will reach that degree, July 10th.  No more cover ups!
USA Mars falling in the 12th has the same connotation as the afore mentioned Mars/South Node conjunction.  Let’s not be our own worst enemy or stir up trouble where we don’t belong. 
USA Uranus is close enough to tickle Mercury, letting us know if we’re deceptive it can come back on us unexpectedly.  By the end of July it will square S.S. Saturn.  We don’t want to have to eat our words! 

The best way to handle the Mercury and Uranus stations, one direct and one about to go retrograde, is to just chill.  I wouldn’t start any major endeavors until after the JULY 4th weekend.  You’ll be safely out of the Mercury Retrograde shadow and comfortably situated between the New and Full Moon which is the best place to begin anything!
Take in the moment.
Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto are also retrograde which makes it a really great time for reflection and focus on faith and spirituality.  What part of your life needs reworking or major transformation?  Take the next 6 months to tie up loose ends and complete a final cycle.  By December 1st, all the planets are in forward motion making our segway into the New Year one of  optimistic new beginnings!
Kerry Fezza 2008