I chose this just because the material of her dress is rendered so beautifully--but they could be making an action plan, couldn't they? Borch c.1654 {{PD-Art}}
8 Dec 9:59 AM PST We lost internet here in this part of Seattle for several hours–so I’m way behind! Check back this afternoon for a new post–thanks!
3:49 PM PST on the 7th Mars enters Capricorn, and the action urge gets a whole lot more serious. With Chiron/ Neptune (Fixed Air) sesquiquadrate Saturn/ h. Zeus (Cardinal Air) we may be looking at actions that can be successfully adjusted to reality, ambition/ Will, ideals and skills–and this creates an excellent time to act in a way both inspired and practical. By 5:30 PM PST the transiting Cap Moon squares h. Zeus, making this an optimum moment to know and fulfill ambition or desire, if one is open to recognizing and working with reality (you would be surprised how many people aren’t); then by 6:30 PM on the 7th a square to Saturn and semi-sextile to the Sun show us where we stand materially. Would these aspects be better flipped, with awareness coming first? Absolutely, but with the Moon in Capricorn it really is about atuning to the reality of the situation in order to achieve what we want and make our actions effective–which means that Saturn aspect to Neptune/ Chiron (a sesquiquadrate) becomes a test of our connection to what is, as much as it is a call to manifest ideals and ambitions.
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Julie Demboski's ASTROLOGY 
That painting, the dress, as you say: amazing!
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This dress is the centerpiece of the painting – absolutely gorgeous. No wonder it draws all the attention. The color silver is associated with the Moon. Since I don’t know the painting I’m curious what the artist had in mind.
Hi V! It has a couple of names–one implies this is a parental talking-to–but the one that I thought really didn’t fit was a description that said this is set in a brothel! I just don’t think so, but apparently it isn’t really clear what the painter meant, if through time and translations we can come up with so many alternatives
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well it all depends on what your definition of “is” is
(hey I just spelled Isis !)
Well it seems to me Saturn is such a mystery-
a “mini-chiron”, maybe strong as pluto… yet many writers
throw up hands declaring Saturn very mysterious..
Keeping an eye on that one (and mercury too, whoa)
Hi william, I think the ‘mystery’ of Saturn is how some can manage to find it hard to understand, since it represents all that is literally in front of us; but then, that’s the warning of this period, that if we can’t see what’s in front of us, then we are, uh, doomed to trip over it!
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ah yes, the old hide in plain sight trick, sorry about that chief…
We’re all victims of C.H.A.O.S. now and then 🙂
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oh, I see, so the dress depicts the ‘color of money’? and what it can buy? silver coins held high value in those past times.
Hi Verena, I don’t see where you’re getting this, but it’s as good an interpretation as any 🙂
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Sorry Julie for the confusion. I got this from the idea that the setting is a brothel. It seems to me as though the other woman is sad or embarrassed as she looks down, while the man and the woman in the gorgeous dress are engaged in negotiations (about her most likely). But that’s my imagination and has nothing to do with your post – though on second thought one might call this a ‘serious action plan’. However, I enjoyed your post very much. As always, well thought out and nicely written. 🙂
Oh thank you, and no problem–I think that’s the power of the painting, and why there are so many ideas of what’s going on in there! We look and fill in the reasons behind the arrangement of the people, and what they seem to be!
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It’s more likely the old woman is the mother, older sister, or possibly just a ‘nurse’ or companion – at any rate, she’s a chaperone. I think the man is a suitor. The older woman – who is trying nto to intrude on the younger people’s dialogue – also serves as a reminder of time to come: youthful beauty will grow older (Saturn) and its dazzle will fade. I can’t quite make out what the dog is doing – he is no doubt the gentleman’s hunting dog, and his action in the shadows there is possibly symbolic of the man’s [hidden] intentions. Art of this period was always full of emblems and symbols – people were far more attuned to the language of symbolism in then.
The man is looking at something the young woman is holding – we can’t see what… is it a gift he has given her? Gerard ter Borch often employs such ambiguities to heighten the emotional play in his genre pieces. He specialised in interiors of the Dutch ‘haut borgeoisie’ or rich merchant class – this is very unlikely to be a brothel, it’s too sober and there is a book on the table! The artist is always called ‘ter Borch’, btw.
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Julie, yes, and mars eyes the obstacle ‘right in front’! beware if it’s you they want to displace as personal ambition huge, connection to something greater, (law of consequence) big to. so it’s possible to get along. however if it’s you who wish to displace them plan it carefully making sure capricorn has emotional support as they won’t see it coming. For some reason this placemet has tunnel vision, is too concintrated in effort, dreaming of spectacular outcome will miss the warning bell.
Absolutely! Thanks, Lucy!
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