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Author Archives: juliedemboski

15 August 2018 Crystal Clear

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By Saqibbali – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=69544296

It’s a day that feels like we’ll be called to compromise, adjust, modify, or where circumstances presented will be just a tad uncomfortable–and yet, what we need to remember, is that these scenarios 1) are direct reflections of our own thinking, and 2) allow us to clarify and make ‘statements’ (by our actions and choices) about what our highest values and priorities really are. Changes made now may not be very smart, or very practical, but they do say something about our desires, what we’re building, where we’re headed. We make it crystal clear to what and to whom we’re truly dedicated, and others do the same–so we see their priorities, their genuine feelings, as well. Be prepared–there may be a shock or two delivered, as we realize our own actual commitments, and/ or get a big reveal on what those around us really honor–in any case, we ‘get the message’, and it alters things, somehow (Sun trine Vesta and parallel Mercury, Pluto qnx Pallas, Juno qnx Zeus)

By Christopher Michel – A weddell seal. Sweetly made by @melaquino to celebrate my upcoming trip to Antarctica!, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24808848

Today’s word image is a sea lion with human eyes. There is some Leo-themed subject (or Leo person you know) that needs to be re-considered in a humanistic light–that is, re-assessed using both a more objective and more understanding emotion-friendly) lens.

I’ve gotten a large number of service requests lately (thank you!) where I’ve notified the individuals of acceptance but have not been paid, or where I’ve received a request, answered, and am holding a spot but have not been notified as to whether the individual wants the report or not. If you’ve been given a ‘pay by’ date, this does not apply to you. Please, if either of the other scenarios is the case for you, get in touch–I can’t hold spaces indefinitely!

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14 August 2018 Bad Habits

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Wojciech Kossak 1912 {{PD}}

With a little effort (for we may resist, telling ourselves that putting aside pre-conceptions is risky, even unhealthy), today we can avoid the usual reactive pitfalls of relationships, those wounds we harbor and then speak or act from without thinking. We can, at least for a time, put reactive bad habits aside. Instead we’ve got a chance to divorce interaction from our sense of hurt or distress, and so see the relationship for what it really is. This also means the way we choose to act will be entirely under our conscious control–so be ready to embrace responsibility more completely than ever before. (Venus contra-parallel Chiron, Sun sesq Hygeia)

Would you describe the prevailing atmosphere as post-eclipse ennui, or is it more of an existential dread thing? Asking for a friend. I’m joking, but as they say, within every joke is at least a kernel of truth–or why else would we laugh? It’s that jolt of recognizing reality and its absurdities that creates the impact. I think recently, and today, the 13th, in particular, we’re really feeling that Fist of God, with base of Juno square Pallas, apex Saturn. That brings all the tension between our empowerment needs (which include the need to feel like we’re having an impact, like what we say and do really matters) and what’s wise, smart, or practical, to the surface–and what do we get when we resolve that tension? Reality, with a big ‘R’! So, current unrest is all about seeing the state of our own effectiveness (and especially the respect we do or don’t receive), and what is the wise way to address it (as opposed to a way completely dictated by emotion, or the reactive nature–which method is bound to be labeled ‘disaster’). Keep a cool head, show others the respect and consideration you would like to be shown, and know that right now dealing well with our environment and our relationships is entirely up to us–it’s a ‘choice to see’–requiring us to observe, register, respond to, and deal with what is, indisputably, right there before us–and so shape and create Reality as consciously as we possibly can. This config dissolves by the 16th, so won’t last too much longer.

Refreshments are here, here, and here, and have a wonderful day!

Uncertainty

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This is a slightly edited re-print from the a June 2013 issue of ECLIPSE.

‘Flower Myth’ (Blumenmythos) 1918, watercolor on pastel foundation on fabric and newsprint mounted on board, By Paul Klee {{PD}}

When considering our own personal trajectory in life, when trying to measure that thing we call ‘progress’, we might think of the way theoretical physicist Werner Heisenberg put it: he stated that the more sure we are of where a particle/ object/ person is, the less certain we can be of that particle/ object/ or person’s velocity (speed of movement). When we are very sure of our position, it may actually feel that time has slowed or stopped; we know where we are, and it seems like things will never change. On the other hand, if our life is in tumult, it may feel as if we are hurtling into the unknown; things change far too quickly, and we are hard pressed to adjust.

Undoubtedly, what we want is to feel we are growing and evolving, and it’s true we can’t get to our destination without first knowing from where we’re starting; but, we can be too focused on pinpointing our position, on constantly measuring where we are, looking for the most minute signs of progress, and so essentially, using our energy to stand still–and it logically follows that the more we concentrate on dissecting our current status, the less energy we have available to move ourselves and our goals forward. We must cultivate an awareness in balance, a knowing of where we stand at the same time we are putting our core energy into manifesting our expressions in the world in intended forms.

Is it ever appropriate to be, with all respect to Heisenberg, very very certain of our position, and so very uncertain of our movement or progress? Yes, the Dark Night of the Soul is one such time, as is any hard Pluto transit, or any transit of Neptune, to the personals of the chart or to the Ascendant (Sun, Moon, Merc, Venus, Mars, the asteroids, and sometimes Jupiter, depending mostly on what he rules natally); Saturn hard to the Sun may also call for such intense Self-assessment, and Uranus transits can bring the need up suddenly, with the advent of an accident or shock, or the sudden ‘modernization’ of our world, and the transiting Moon touching our Pluto or Ascendant ruler or Sun can bring such moments, though briefly (with Secondary Progressions to or from the Moon providing an extended experience like this). There are points when we would be wise to turn all our attention inward, to assessing our place and our relationship to our world; the trick is knowing when this is appropriate, and when it is simply Self-indulgent.

Tropical Gardening, 1923 watercolor and oil transfer drawing on paper, By Paul Klee {{PD}}

If astrology tells us anything, it’s that we are meant to live within cycles, exploiting energies at the correct time in order to receive the most benefit; this is one of those times. With Mercury currently retrograde, we are gifted with the ability to process feeling and intuition more easily than when the Trickster is direct. It’s a time to get the mind out of the way, to listen to the Soul and answer its need for beauty, relationship sustenance, and to fine tune one’s association with what one values, including one’s products that carry value for others, and in doing so, we’ll find out a great deal concerning what, and who, we care about.

See the forecast for the 13th here–

13 August 2018 Reality Sandwich

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We’ll have plenty of bread for our reality sandwich. Frans van Leemputten 1891 {{PD}}

We may be force-fed a portion of reality today, but it doesn’t really have to be unpleasant, if we can go with the idea that in order to be empowered in our actions, in order to make smart moves toward goal achievement, we need to see reality, warts and all, as clearly as possible. 99% of current upsets and problems stem from avoidance of or denial of What Is–cure that with a little love, a little talent utilization, a little investment of what you treasure, and a whole lot of respect for what’s healthy, especially in relationships or financial situations (Pallas sxt Zeus, Saturn sesq Juno, Venus opp Hygeia)

And in case you’re feeling peckish–

12 August 2018 Figure It Out

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Porträt der Tochter (Daughter’s Portrait) ‘Lotte’ by Carlos Schwabe {{PD}}
Carlos Schwabe

If you want to do the hard work and get rewarded for it, Sunday’s your day. You probably won’t have to break a sweat, it’s much more about using our powers of observation and thinking logically. We have the perfect set-up for seeing what’s not smart or practical in the reality picture and then changing it (with some god-like savvy and effectiveness) by drawing on talents and valuable lessons we’ve brought forward from the past. A few of us will run off the rails, convinced of something that’s not true, believing it only because they insist on ignoring or denying important facts–but that’s not you, right? Today may show you in some remarkable ways just how much influence and control you have, especially over your own life–you’d do well to step up and accept your power (Pluto trine Ceres, Neptune semi-sq Black Moon Lilith, Saturn sesq Pallas, Mars moves back into Capricorn, Venus trines the South Node).

Solar Eclipse In Leo 11 August 2018 Resolution

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‘Kibara’ By Goyō Hashiguchi 1912 {{PD}}

The Partial Solar eclipse in Leo falls at 18 degrees, 41 minutes on August 11th at 2:57 AM PDT. This event is conjoined Pallas—ah! ‘new wisdom’ is the result of the past two events—with the aspects offering a subtle picture of what it is we’ve gained. A new start in Leo is about ourselves and our identity, and those facets of the individuality that allow us to ‘shine’; the aspects made by the eclipse describe the nature of our attributes, the ways in which we can make our uniqueness known. What begins at this time also has an air of the practical about it, or a sense of skills possessed—but no matter what, a situation that allows us to be our Best Self.

The eclipse-Pallas sextiles Zeus and catches Ceres at the midpoint, even as it semi-squares Venus. This suggests that it’s in the act of reaching for ambition or desire fulfillment that we both gain authority and power and learn what needs to change in relationships or finances in order to make ‘it’ happen. Should we count this as base to a Finger of God, with a loose Neptune apex? Maybe, if we consider that what we likely need to do to fine-tune the ambition picture is rid ourselves of delusions, or utilize our creativity—that’s what can make the whole thing work together.

The eclipse is also apex to a loose Fist of God with base of Saturn and Chiron, and quincunxes Pluto. As apex, the eclipse promises that resolution of conflicts between the reality picture or reasonable restraints applied to our effort, and our own skill set or wounded nature (the latter possibly referring to unreasonable restraints that need removal), offers a ‘New You’, a  fresh expression of identity or purpose, and that this is also an expression of our own wisdom and gifts (Pallas). The contact to Pluto simply tells us adjustment is needed, whether we want to gather power, make a change, eliminate, or transform.

There’s also an Earth Grand Trine that hooks into the eclipse by degree: Ceres (semi-sextile), Pluto (quincunx), and Juno (square). This implies the eclipse may be a spark of sorts, putting into motion material matters that, one and all, are concerned with power and power expression. No matter what else is in play at this time, this Grand Trine reminds us that there are some very real material stakes here, and that even the most innocent of moves holds an ultimate goal of gaining or solidifying the ability to make the individual Will felt and impactful.

If we really want to get loose with things, we can also see that the T-square formed by Juno’s hard angle to the axis  becomes a Grand Cross if we pull Jupiter into the equation. This may remind us that individual development doesn’t happen in a vacuum; others to whom we reach out, look for reactions and interactions, and to get a measure of our own empowerment are part of the picture, and must be taken into account, especially when we think about how beliefs, knowledge, and the capacity to reach out and to accept what we consider ‘foreign’ all shape not just our potentials for success, but our view of our own adequacy, as well.

The Sabian symbol for this New Moon eclipse in Leo is, ‘A Houseboat Party’. That promises a celebration, once we’ve dealt with anything that’s not working on our path forward to Self-expression—but we should also note the party of the image is afloat—that is, hovering on the surface of the water, the symbol of feeling. That tells us that beneath the joy engendered by successful realization of our gifts, skills, and most unique qualities lies a body of emotion, one that it’s entirely possible to sink into, even to lose our joy to. That implies that after this sequence of eclipses we might have a whole new set of emotions to explore—and maybe entirely new feelings related to how we see ourselves (Leo).

10 August 2018 Hidden Forces

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Károly Ferenczy ‘Gardeners’ (1891) {{PD}}

‘Hidden Forces’–that’s sounds ominous, right? Like there’s something out there that may overwhelm us, push past any defenses, change our course–but what we’re really talking about are matters that exert an influence in our lives through the unconscious. We’re vulnerable in so many ways: through the deep, secret fear that we are stupid or foolish, through the power of the social sphere to make us feel inadequate or wrong for being who we are, or through the way, if we inspect the real world that surrounds us without our usual lenses, we see that we’ve fallen short in so many ways. These forces haunt us, and even when we take a step back and use our good sense, spotting these as the worst case scenario, mostly baseless fears that they are, it’s hard to convince ourselves that these are negative interpretations of reality, not reality itself. But here’s what we need to ground ourselves, this time around: we find strength in our wounds–the scar tissue of experience allows us to know exactly what to avoid to prevent injury–so we’re much safer than we might think; originality, uniqueness, and inventiveness are our greatest assets right now, along with resiliency and embrace of our own personal authority–we are arbiters of our own fates, much more than we may normally admit to ourselves–now’s the time to accept our own power and strength; Nature, in some form, is doing us a favor right now–take note; and focus on ambitions, goals, or what you desire–the ‘quiet’ available during Dark of the Moon may allow extraordinary concentration of energy and attention, which lays the groundwork for progress (Chiron semi-sq Juno and sesq Pallas, Mars conj Black Moon Lilith, Mercury sq Jupiter and parallel Uranus and Ceres, Sun sxt Zeus, sesq Saturn and contra-parallel Jupiter).

9 August 2018 Get Smart–Or Pay the Price

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Félix Vallotton, 1893 ‘La Valse’ (The Waltz) {{PD}}

Thinking is smart, even if it lags a bit behind the curve (the “Oh yeah, now I see it!” effect), and we have to make a concerted effort not to fall prey to delusion, fantasy, or deception–so question yourself and your assumptions, question others, question things that don’t seem right, are too good to be true, or that feed a dream you’d previously felt blocked from–you still are. Connecting to reality is tough but necessary in order to move in the right direction, to make things pay. What benefits us? Be willing to modify our individuality so that it doesn’t grate on relationships, curb spending on the unique (which could later in brighter light turn out to be merely freakish), and refuse to dwell on what didn’t go well, or what hurts–that kind of attention will only burn our wounds into our psyche, and we really should just let them go, yes? (Venus qnx Uranus and sq Saturn, Merc conj Pallas and qnx Neptune, Sun sesq Chiron)

Somebody searched “Buying a House During Mercury Retrograde”. I may be uniquely qualified to address this, in part because I’m an astrologer, and partly because I’ve actually done this. It was decades ago, and inadvertent; I wasn’t really thinking about Mercury’s status when we signed–after moving continents and always living in a place someone else owned, I only wanted a place to rest that was mine. We went through escrow, and it was only as they scheduled the closing that I realized we would be signing in the middle of a retrograde–but really didn’t feel I had the authority to stop it (now I wouldn’t hesitate–that’s the juice you get from age and experience!) The reason we’re advised not to make agreements or sign contracts at this time is that there’s inevitably something we don’t know or can’t see. In our case, this resulted in sellers who wanted to close, but didn’t want to get out! They asked to remain for an extra month, offering no compensation–and we said no, and that didn’t sit well. They still drug their feet; their RV and trailers were parked in front of the house when we arrived with our things, but we were in, and they were out, for five years–until we sold. It wasn’t easy–new construction at low prices were going in nearby, and our first realtor was a dud–and nothing moved until we changed realtors and waited for another Merc retrograde–during which we got three competing offers, unusual for that time and place. It was as if we needed to wait for the same sort of energy to get rid of the place that had allowed us to acquire it. Yes, there were some hidden surprises in the sale–that’s inevitable, with the planet so prominent–but buying during a retro seems to come with its own set of difficulties, maybe not what you’d get when you buy during direction, but not insurmountable, all the same. I would advise waiting, though–making an offer or signing now would likely be jumping the gun–almost certainly, you’ll find out something after Merc goes direct that at the least would’ve changed your offer, or even prevented it entirely.

Arnold Böcklin – ‘Summer Day’ 1880 {{PD}}

Today’s daily word image is ‘hydrotherapy’. What does this word conjure for you? Indulge in, or maybe just think about, what this brings to mind, and what it means to you.

8 August 2018 Words Are Like a Box of Chocolates

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Pierre-Auguste Renoir – ‘La Tasse de Chocolat’ c1912 {{PD}}

Today communications of all kinds are like F. Gump’s famous box of chocolates–you never know what you’re going to get. Worse, you also don’t know what you might say! And that’s not even taking into account the unspoken messages, or those written so that we could take them this way, or that, or the ones conveyed by other means, a glance, an action, a choice, an emotional reaction one is unable to hide. A couple of things we can know for certain, in all this: if we react precipitously, we will be doing so out of misunderstanding or the illusion that we are being disempowered by what’s happening (Sun qnx Neptune and sq Juno, Mars semi-sq Neptune), and this starts something with bigger implications (retro Merc and the Sun meet, known as the Inferior Conjunction), to be ‘delivered’ as an ending or fait accompli in a couple of months (at the Superior Conjunction–that is, in direct motion–of Mercury and the Sun). What we need to understand is how we’re listening right now; our perceptions are dented by hurt, anticipating conflict, and relationships or financial matters quite specifically threaten our sense of wholeness and right (Venus contra-parallel Pallas and opp Chiron, Merc sq Juno, sesq Chiron, and semi-sq Venus)–how could any of us hope to make good choices, or even hear what’s coming at us clearly, with such influences? We can’t, so be kind to yourself and others, and realize that what you think you’re hearing/ the message you’re getting is distorted, somehow, and you need to let a little time go by before you respond.

7 August 2018 Yes, But

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Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida – ‘El Pescador’ The Fisherman 1903 {{PD}}

Uranus officially starts apparent backward motion with a semi-square to Neptune and a sesquiquadrate to Ceres, and try though it might, it will not be able to complete a square to Mars anytime soon, which is on its own retrograde and on an ever-widening march toward re-entering Capricorn. The Uranus turnaround may challenge both our fantasies and what we see as our rights; expect to shed an illusion or two, and to have to justify your prerogatives, as others won’t necessarily agree those are your territory–and that may be one of the illusions that falls.

Meanwhile, creative types should mine the past for inspiration and former sources of empowerment–it may be time to employ those same methods again. Cooperation is the word of the day, even though to get there may necessitate giving up a little of our power or denying some of the perqs of our status–but if it gets things moving, it might be worth it. In any case, effort definitely brings reward. It’s obvious today what the smart or practical thing is; now if we can only overcome all our ‘Yes, but . . .’ excuses as to why it shouldn’t be that way–(Neptune nov SN and sxt Juno, Venus sesq Juno and trine Mars, Sun conj Pallas)