‘Hallucinations’ By Odilon Redon CC0

The 5th we may experience a series of reveals, things suspected or glimpsed, confirmed, things feared or hoped for suddenly there before us, with big ‘C’ Change, especially in perceptions, inevitable. Shifts in perception almost certainly bring a questioning of our values or commitments, but it’s healthy to willingly refresh the viewpoint–anything else risks a loss of originality in expression, or of value related to output or relationships, so that we fall behind socially as well as in our own evolution and growth if we try to freeze things in place.

The most important energies all revolve around Pluto. We see Mercury parallel the Underworld god upon entering Sagittarius, and we see Pluto himself, on his slow grind around the zodiac, conjoin asteroid Hygeia. What we think changes by expanding; our world and its possibilities get much bigger, or show more potentials, than we anticipated possible. Repeat the mantra, ‘Change is good’, even if on the surface it’s disconcerting or frightening–on the 6th we get a solid preview of what’s coming, so any mystery or sense that things are out of control doesn’t last long. The Gemini Moon quincunxes Pluto-Hygeia morning of the 6th Pacific time, offering a peek at the kinds of feelings these changes might stir.

‘Bad Girls’ By Felipe Gabaldón 2009 Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic

The word image for these two days is a person who exhibits no obvious identification with either sex. Gender fluidity is all the rage these days, and it’s about time–why should anyone have to confine themselves to a single label, or to label themselves at all? This image suggests we should let our attitudes gain more movement and less constriction, allowing us to remove a label we’ve always chafed at wearing.

Part of the series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, no. 094, part 3: Autumn By Hiroshige {{PD}}

We’re back living in our own heads again, this time focused on ambitions, identity and personal power/ effectiveness, as well as relationships and the unspoken assumptions and illusions that permeate them. That seems like a lot of material, until we realize that it’s actually laser-focused through the lens of Self. In particular, we are consumed with what we may know but not consciously acknowledge about those closest to us; we need to be aware that our take on the situation will be refracted through our own ambitions and desires, and so be inextricably linked with conditions we want fulfilled specifically because we are so plagued by the needs such fulfillment is meant to serve. That means that we shouldn’t draw any grand conclusions about our relationships or about others today–aim instead for illumination of Self, and to understand what our ambitions and wants actually say about us.

Today’s word image is a photo album, almost completely filled. It’s the season for closing out certain activities, relationships, pastimes, practices, and this is so whether we are actively moving toward these endings or not. Mourn or break it off and be free, but in either case, remind yourself that this is part of a larger pattern, a ‘putting to bed’ of the past, and that it’s making room for the New.

See the report on the recent Full Moon here—

H. A. Brendekilde – De første Anemoner (1889) {{PD}}

The next five days are all of a piece; it seems better to show the flow of energy from one to the next than to chunk them up separately, and possibly miss their interconnectedness. We’ll start with the 26th and the Sun conjoined Jupiter. People become rapturous about this once-per-year event, but that’s a mistaken attitude, in my view, one that springs from the idea that more is better. Our attention is drawn to whatever the Sun highlights; the sign gives the tone, contacts describe directions that seem active, that call to us, that take up our time and energy. In this case we have a Sun in Scorpio, calling us to dig deep, to look for the Truth, to clean out, purge, discover, re-make, and resurrect–and then that focused Sun meets the planet of largesse, expansion, knowledge, hubris, farsightedness, opportunity, what’s foreign to us, and philosophy. This combination can reveal secrets, force us to face facts we may have been deliberately or unconsciously overlooking, can introduce knowledge that changes everything or destroys current potentials, can bring forward a ‘White Knight’ or ‘Daddy’ who we may see as representing potential rescue, and can make us look to the horizon for something new, better, for something that makes our world or our fortunes bigger, greater, more than–but there is something shadowy beneath the surface, and we might have to reach into a dark space to retrieve what we feel has been promised.

Whatever we’re focusing our attention on, whatever Scorpionic parts of our world have us in thrall, these will be the places that jump into stark relief, and that offer one kind or another of ‘more’. Jupiter receives the spotlight of the Sun and we have the chance to expand our world–but do we want to? It comes in the form of offers, opportunities, and knowledge or ‘foreign’ (unusual) connections acquired, and those possibilities may or may not be a good direction for us to go. They could act as a shiny distraction from our goals–or could bring an optimism that is beyond anything we would otherwise feel, and so urge us to do the unwise, in part because this will feel ‘once in a lifetime’—though it’s likely not.

The natal House where the Sun and Jupiter are currently transiting could present opportunity, or could be the arena in which we regard potentials with too much optimism, which again would cause us to venture where in more level-headed times we might hesitate. What this combo stirs can threaten stability and smart use of energy, but it could also give us the push we need to overcome fears–and that’s positive. We also might see activity in a combination of the matters of the two Houses in the natal chart these bodies rule.

Keywords for Sun-Jupiter: Soul expansion, Opportunity to Live Your Purpose, Living Your Beliefs, Believing in Your Purpose, Getting Your Essence Out Into the World, Fearless Expression   Beware of: Exaggerating the importance of your role, Becoming your own god, Overdoing in the name of Progress

The word image for the 26th is a class reunion. This is an image of people who once spent most every day together, learning, brought together again and much different after their time in the world. Do you see this situation as fun, a chance to re-live old friendships and renew ties, or do you see it as negative, a forced return to a life long past and not missed? Your reaction to this image mirrors your relationship to the past–and if this is an image of dread for you, it may be time to make peace with what was–whatever pains you is gone, it can’t hurt you now. And if you see it as fun, you might want to ask yourself how far you’ve really come–you might be surprised by what you realize.

So, we enter the period a little punch-drunk from the heady opportunities we’ve glimpsed with Sun-Jupiter. By the 27th we may be thinking of making sweeping changes, especially in relationships or finances. Are we still on a high from the optimistic Sun-Jupiter? It’s something to ask ourselves.

Today’s word image is an Artist, who shows her work for the first time. No matter how old we get, there are still new things to discover about ourselves, new talents and abilities that show our artistry. Be brave enough to show some of that ability to others, if not today, then maybe this week, month, or year.

The 28th we shift gears, focusing on re-vamping thought processes to include all those matters we are prone to ignore. A realistic viewpoint is typically an asset, but in this case, we may become too pessimistic, go too far–and that would be, if not unwise, then certainly impractical. Sometimes a little positivity makes the world a lot easier to take.

Today’s word image is two birds, squabbling over a full bird feeder. There’s plenty for everyone; check yourself, and relax–enjoy what you already have.

On the 29th thoughts and ideas compel some ‘difficult’ actions and choices–difficult in that they may be clumsy, premature, or lacking in solid conception and follow-through. Though this urge to action may cause discord or discomfort in the moment, if it’s propelled by ambitions or desires, it may end up paying off–so if you can stand the temporary upset or embarrassment, making that impulsive move could be worthwhile.

By the 30th a kind of wonderful assimilation of energies has taken place. Making ‘mistakes’ in the previous few days has led to the ability to face what we have been avoiding, to challenge things and people that make us angry, and has given us a fresh idea of our own empowerment. This is a point when we may consider whether we are happy with our current life trajectory–you’re in a good place now to examine potential paths.

Do you notice the thread through these days? We’ll be living in our heads, processing everything actively through our point-of-view (rather than unconsciously), and each day will highlight not just our thinking, but the thinking, messages, and communications from others. We get to the end of the period considerably enlightened in important ways–and ready to act on what we know.

Thank you, and have a great one! I’m likely to reappear with one or more daily images, as they occur to me.