William John Wainwright ‘Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins’ Apparently, the smart ones filled their lamps, while the foolish ones didn’t–so it’s about preparedness. {{PD}}

Venus enters Virgo, and what we see, one way or another, is a shift toward wanting to be right, correct, or proper, to be able to stand confidently against criticism or critique–and that can prompt inventory-taking, a discriminating state of mind, and Self-criticism, among other things. Ruler of Virgo, Mercury, is involved in the only other aspect perfecting today, a square to Jupiter–and that suggests that we brace ourselves against verbal (or another form) of attack for good reason! The social sphere, or perhaps the facts, offer some harsh or hard-to-hear material–and our response is to go to that place where we feel unassailably right. So, it’s a day that feels defensive; our best defense, though, might be to graciously accept the facts, rather than to nitpick or criticize in return, and if what’s offered is more reflective of the other’s beliefs, and not actually true–we still come out on top by holding our tongue.

Today’s word image is a potluck gathering where nobody brings any food. With this kind of invitation, individuals are left entirely on their own as to what to bring–and in this case, everyone relied on everyone else to provide. Is there some way you’re supposed to be ‘chipping in’ where you’re instead counting on others to supply what’s needed? Do you see such an occasion as a time when you can make very little effort (bring a small thing) but consume a whole lot? If so, that suggests a sense of pleasure derived from ‘getting more’ than you deserve–is that how you really mean to approach things? Is there some way in which you’re trying to get more out of something than you’re willing to provide? Or do you find such arrangements too haphazard to supply much satisfaction? This could simply be an image of people gathering, anticipating nurture of one kind or another, and not getting it.

OK! I’ll go one more day with this!–through 8 PM PDT of the 9th. And many thanks to all who so generously supported this effort–I appreciate it (and You) immensely!

‘Accent on Pink’ By Wassily Kandinsky 1925 {{PD}}

We see the hard edges of reality today, and perhaps run from them (Sun opp Saturn). Understandable, but not helpful. If we’ll only pause for a moment, and really look, we’ll see some genius ways we can benefit (Sun nov Venus). Relationships, situations that call on our values, finances, and/ or those things/ matters of the Houses ruled by Venus in the natal chart, are the gateways–but will we step through and reap the rewards, when we realize we’ll have to adjust our view of the past so that what we learned then is useful now (Sun qnx SN)? A test of stubbornness, no doubt, at least for some of us.

We may also see the gift of speaking from perceptive instincts, or from what we ‘know but don’t know’, and may act as channels for one another–so talk it out, whatever it is (Mercury sxt Sedna). On an individual level, be willing to adjust aesthetics to accommodate inspiration and the creative (Venus qnx Neptune)–again, stubbornness may torpedo perfectly good ideas–but this influence may also affect our communications, so don’t let illusion intrude in relationships or finances. And one final thing to be aware of: those exercising their power are making a concerted effort to ignore or deny certain hard realities–just don’t let that be you.

‘Abendstimmung am Meer’ By Max Jensen 1860 {{PD}}

Today’s word image is a ship, just sailing over the horizon. Have you been waiting for your ship to come in? Well, it’s not coming toward you, but sailing away–you may have misjudged the situation entirely, or maybe are just looking in the ‘wrong’ direction for aid–this is a reminder not to pin your hopes unreasonably on something that may never ‘arrive’, but to instead work with what’s in front of you, with the idea of creating ‘better/ more’. That’s the only way to get ‘there’ from ‘here’.

Have you seen the new page on Lilith energy?

In Greek mythology, Atlas is the god who supports the celestial sphere (the universe) on his shoulders. This little formation, at Little Finland, is about the size of a soccer ball. When I saw it I immediately thought about Atlas. It was shot in deep twilight. Statement and Photo By John Fowler from Placitas, NM, USA – Tiny Atlas, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24663532

Or maybe that should be power or wisdom, as it seems having and exercising falls to one or the other, but somehow not both; we either do the wise thing, or the thing that makes us felt in the Universe–there’s no in-between. Another version might be having to use sheer force vs. using skills–but you get my drift (Pluto opp Pallas). This feeling that we must choose one or the other arises from a couple of influences: our highest values don’t seem to support showing our personal authority, and they also seem at odds with our own instincts and inner knowledge. The disquiet keeps us off balance–and seems to insist we pick a form, power or wisdom, and go with it (and here we should note they’re not naturally mutually exclusive, it just seems like it, today–Vesta contra-parallel Ceres and qnx Sedna). Only one other influence perfects today, and it’s not really helping: Venus squares Jupiter, and may phrase things as ‘choose intimate relationships over the social sphere’ or ‘money over freedom’ or ‘sticking with values over taking an opportunity’ (that may smell like taking advantage). It’s a dilemma with no resolution, so go with what feels right, and remember, if you’re seeing the world as presenting only two mutually exclusive options, it’s an illusion–aim for a third.

Today’s word image isn’t words but a picture:

‘And a Prayer’ (Not sure if the name listed is the artist’s or his father’s)
Atom Hovhanesyan – Father’s statement: “My son’s work, who passed away” Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International

And this on squares, by the wonderful Sagittarian Mind