The 10th brings a very particular kind of stress: the tension that comes with dissonance between the Will and the current life direction, between doing (and so feeling effective in your choices) and listening to instincts and the more subtle currents of feeling and what you ‘know but don’t know’. We might phrase this conflict another way: it’s the difference between wanting to do and so gain instant gratification, and sitting back, listening, and then taking a less flashy path. One results in immediate returns, while the other brings gain down the road, but with the latter, the benefits may be far greater, more far reaching, and could facilitate a long-held life goal. So which will it be, a payoff right now, or one down the road? Your choice. Neither option is inherently ‘better’; it all depends on whether you are living totally in the moment (in which case there won’t be any positive ripple effect into tomorrow–all the positives come today–you need to know that), or whether you are choosing and acting with an eye to what you’re building for the future (Ceres sq the Nodes, Mars sq Sedna-Juno conj, Chiron contra-parallel Juno, Mercury sxt Black Moon Lilith and semi-sq Venus)

On the 11th Ceres enters Scorpio–Nature reveals her mysteries, shares her secrets, or delivers certain Truths–and we are face-to-face with the reality of the Power situation and our place within it. The question becomes: do we dare trust ourselves, our instincts, our knowing, and so proceed according to our deepest nature, or do we trust external power situations and holders to support our cause? Again, neither of these answers is inherently superior, it all depends on what we need right now–and today, how we feel about (and how much we truly trust) ourselves. Hint: be honest with yourself. If you tend to let yourself down, failing to follow through on crucial efforts, your best bet is to be open to the aid you can receive from authority figures, as using these influences to their maximum potential requires a lot of energy and a willingness to have faith in and commit to one’s own original ideas–so do what’s best for you (Juno conj Sedna, Uranus opp Ceres, Sun sxt Pluto)

This weekend’s word image is a tiny treasure chest. There’s something small but full of ‘gems’, rewards, or ‘booty’ waiting for you to unearth, discover, or dig up this weekend. Go get it!