Anonymous pair, Artist Unknown, c1900 {{PD}}

Pallas enters Taurus, bringing wisdom down-to-earth and making the practical and the skilled valued, and the Sun enters Aquarius, emphasizing an intellectual approach, or a modern one, that encourages discovery and understanding. With that as the general tone, we may see reality right in line with it (Saturn parallel Pallas) even as our attention goes to what isn’t smart or practical, as if it’s the Universe’s ‘problem children’ that get all our energy (Sun sq Pallas). That means we may be distracted (Merc sxt Neptune), which can result in actions and choices that do not align with instincts (Mars opp Sedna) or that can bring almost magically fortuitous outcomes (Venus nov Neptune), the stuff of our ideals or fantasies. What makes the difference between headstrong acting-out and reward manifestation? A strong sense of what we value, and a willingness to think about and invest in what we honor (Merc nov and Venus sxt Vesta).

‘Bridal Procession on the Hardangerfjord’ By Adolph Tidemand – EwGseaUks6vhrQ at Google Cultural Institute, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29835502

Today’s word image is: attending a wedding. What’s getting together right under your nose? Are you supporting something by your mere presence that you otherwise don’t think is a good idea? Does official recognition of this pairing change the way you feel about it, or about each of the participants?

Donate, Read, and have a great day!

Little cushion, a love token made by a sailor, England, about 1900. Musée du Coeur (collection of Mr and Mrs Boyadjian ), MRAH, Jubilee Park, Brussels. Photo By Vassil CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0)

It seems we’ve seen and accepted that values and priorities are integral to good health (Vesta parallel Hygeia), and we’ve taken steps to heal ourselves (Mars trine Chiron), but we may still resist what we know deep inside to be true, as wonky thinking asserts itself in half-hearted follow-through (Mercury semi-sq Mars, sesq Sedna). Accept that modifications need to happen, if you’re going to make the most of recent positive developments; nothing goes forward without your acknowledgment that further change is necessary, not optional, and that the things you long for can’t occur until significant shifts take place.

Today’s word image is the color red. Use it as a sign of synchronicities and a notice that you should be paying careful attention at that moment.

Carl Larsson ‘Summer Morning’ 1908 {{PD}}

Our health–mental, emotional, spiritual, and especially physical–shapes our world and viewpoint today. The state of health appears to dictate our ability to respond in an empowered way, to act–with the greater the degree of erraticism or unpredictability implying a sense of less power–and somehow a rejection of wisdom in favor of Love or Money suggests we are taking a ‘higher mind’ approach to things that removes us from our actual emotional reaction. We can get a little lost inside our own heads, so that finding a static point about which we are entirely certain in our assessment and feeling can become the difference between wasted time and progress (Saturn nov Juno and Hygeia, which are conj, Mars qnx Uranus, Venus squares Pallas and enters Aquarius, Sun semi-sq Neptune)

Amadeo de Souza Cardoso ‘The Leap of the Rabbit’ 1910 {{PD}}

Today’s word image is that interval where the Universe is pushing you to leap, but you don’t yet see anything to leap to. Vague, I know, but also a moment we can all identify with. Though this is typically the most nerve-wracking point in any venture, we should make a conscious effort to relax into the uncertainty–relaxing makes it that much easier to hear exactly what the Universe is ‘saying’.

See the New Moon in Capricorn here–

Thomas Pollack Anshutz ‘The Ironworkers’ Noontime’ 1879 {{PD}}

In Capricorn, Merc the Messenger, the Shapeshifter, he of the fleet and varying (Mercurial!) meets Saturn the Taskmaster, symbol of all that is ‘Real’, the god of denial, oppression, discipline, and accomplishment, and everything, communications, thoughts, writings, messages spoken and unspoken, realities symbolic and literal, give us a running assessment of our world, our reality, and our effectiveness at interacting with and affecting it. It’s as if the Universe holds up a three (or four)-dimensional mirror to each of us, offering precise, detailed, and un-sugar-coated feedback on who and where we are, right now. Listen. Ponder. Respond Appropriately. Give yourself credit for all that’s going right. Consider that at this time, you are able to suppress the nagging, running commentary of the mind, and so to allow reality, with this meeting in an Earth sign, to bring things (and especially the meaning of things) ‘home’ to you with the impact of a falling anvil! Hard (and inadvisable) to ignore.

http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10775655

Today’s word image is a chameleon. Symbolic of the Mercurial nature of today’s aspect, this image draws our attention to the changeability of matters. Don’t be surprised if, when you look away from something, then look back, it appears much different than it did at first glance.

George Inness ‘Home at Montclair’ 1892 {{PD}}

It’s a very serious day today, in the sense that we are solidly aligned with reality, with what matters to us, and with the thoughts that empower and guide us to effective action. We may balk at tackling power issues directly, or at looking unflinchingly into the darkness, and yet we’ll still process, be aware of, and so successfully deal with heavy matters in highly positive ways. We might call it a day when the unconscious takes the wheel, and that’s a good thing. Only two things can push us off course: if we are worried about expressing our power or being in charge (and so struggle with others for dominion), or if we’re worried about how things may pan out in future (wanting guarantees and assurances), then we may be tempted in the direction of tortuous reasoning trying to justify our choices–which will inevitably turn things in a bad direction. Relax into circumstances, let go of the obsessive or over-controlling approach that can spell downfall, and trust that you are a source of highly effective guidance and inspiration today, as long as you keep anxiety out of the equation (Venus parallel Saturn, Sun parallel Pluto, Mercury nov Mars, Juno, and Hygeia, Mercury sesq NN and Ceres)

By Kippelboy – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19143963

Today’s word image is peeling away old wallpaper, to find a magnificent hand-drawn scene beneath. What needs to be removed, to let the creation, the beauty, shine through? Careful and deliberate efforts that reveal the inspired, the artisanal, or the unique might be required today.

And have a great Thursday!

Aurora Borealis in Estonia, Photo By Kristian Pikner Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International

The only shift today is Mercury fleeing Sagittarius and entering Capricorn; as quickly as the Messenger flies, we’re used to every few weeks making the adjustment. In this instance, we may find ourselves narrowing our horizons, moving our attention from the Big Picture to the concrete and material. What occupied our thoughts as theories, wishes, or ‘What Ifs’ cries out to be given physical form or seen realized in real life. Make a conscious effort to bring to reality something recently only thought of; even the smallest effort at materialization will help the energy flow in productive directions, unimpeded by any gap between mental and material.

Henri Rousseau – ‘Jungle with Lion’ 1903 {{PD}}

Today’s word image is cutting a path forward through thick undergrowth with a machete. Sometimes it’s necessary to forge ahead, to apply sheer Will power to going forward on ‘the Path’; too often we hesitate, scared silly we’re going to make a ‘wrong choice’. The reality is we can’t make a ‘wrong’ choice, as we’re making it! It comes from who we are; does that mean it’s the perfect choice? Maybe, maybe not, but at the very least, by making the choice we are being both Self-determining and learning whether that option really does or does not work for us. Be bold, but wield your power with care, and some finesse–a machete cavalierly handled can cut what it’s not meant to– so know you have more power than you may believe or be aware of, and proceed from there.