Category Archives: Retrogrades

Notes on Uranus Retrograde, August 2021

24 Tuesday Aug 2021

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Lightning cloud to cloud (aka).jpg
This image shows a cloud to cloud lightning in a very stormy and rainy night in Zwickau, Germany. Photo By André Karwath aka Aka Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5

Just a few things to take note of during this retro period. Technically Uranus gained retro status on the 19th, but it remained stationary until the 23rd. I like to look at the point a body retrogrades for the picture it presents in relation to other bodies, making a kind of birth chart for the retrograde itself. This can give us the general tone of the period, a snapshot of what to expect, though I have to emphasize, particularly with the slower moving bodies, that the point of retrograde just isn’t, well, as pointed as it is with a quicker moving body. That’s because a slower planet stations for some time both before and after status change, making the retro a window, rather than, once again, a point.

Uranus stationing and reversing always suggests shifts in the Zeitgeist, and in personal momentum, and in each case the individual experiences this in one of two ways: when Uranus is direct, one flows along with the greater ‘group’, accessing inventive and innovative energies relatively easily, with accidents swiftly righted and surprises usually the kind we look back on and say, ‘I knew it!’; then Uranus retros, and things take a somewhat negative turn, with Uranian energies overwhelming or shocking and relationship with ‘the group’ suffering static in the ‘who’s responsible for what’ category. Generally speaking, the individual oriented to this Uranus pattern finds Uranus-related circumstances during the direct phase to be, even if surprising, understandable, with those during the retro period seemingly more random or confusing.

The second type of individual experiences Uranus like this: the direct phase is the one that delivers the electric shock, the trouble with groups and one’s place in them, one seemingly being more methodical and less inventive as this specific energy seems to suffer a short circuit, with accidents feeling arbitrary, things sometimes prompting the question, ‘Why me?’ Then the retro comes along and this kind of individual is suddenly finding much less resistance to the inventive and innovative energies, with sudden events turning out fortuitously and the serendipitous signaling the individual flow within the larger Uranian energies. In this case, the retro gets the Uranian energy out of its own way, allowing the current (and therefore the capacity for understanding) to flow.

This time, Uranus retrograded at 14 Taurus 47, with Mercury soon to perfect a trine and Vesta soon to perfect a quincunx, followed by perfection of a trine from Mars. Everything within this picture is in Earth, except for Vesta in Air (Libra). This made me think that the material world will correspond precisely to the unseen, like a shadow made solid. Thoughts and communications will be shaped into our surroundings and events in surprising or unexpected ways–so be very conscious, during this retro period, with what you’re really thinking and expressing, and take communications from others with this same sort of ‘this is shaping reality’ awareness.

What we experience may challenge, or at least make uncomfortable, our attitudes or practices around those things we feel are sacrosanct–and likely what occurs will show us how we need to modify our values in theory so that they match our values in practice, and vice versa, align our real-world behaviors with the ideals we claim and identify with. And from these things, an awareness of the impact of thought on the material, and the need to modify and align ourselves with those things we genuinely find sacred, we will find the perfect (and perfectly applicable) actions and choices to move us forward.

Also, be aware of how on the 25th the Moon will pass over Chiron in Aries and then Venus will oppose it from Libra. That’s a recipe for emotional wounds to spill out into the open, for relationships awash in the full brunt of feeling, and for the cost of our own wounds to become apparent. Just take care, and be kind, especially with yourself.

26 June 2021 Underwater

26 Saturday Jun 2021

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‘Weeki Wachee Springs, Florida‘ 1947

Toni Frissell {{PD}}

In the past week we’ve had Jupiter and Neptune both station retrograde, and my attention is drawn to two things: that both are not only in Pisces, but are ancient and modern rulers of Pisces, and that Vesta will first oppose Neptune, then will be joined by Mercury as it squares both, creating a T-square (in place by July 6th). With the first point, the abundance of liquid energy in the form of Piscean creativity and idealism is inspiring (and we add Pallas, wisdom, in Pisces, and the Sun in Watery Cancer, bringing both smarts and focus/ attention to the mix). The retro status changes, though, may take us underwater, submerging the conscious mind in the emotional element, bringing forward the liminal, the half-remembered, the things about which we end up asking ourselves, ‘Was it real, or did I just imagine it?’

The process of the T forming starts with the opposition, with the suggestion that a critical view of the highest values and commitments (Vesta in Virgo) comes up against illusion, delusion, or the need to violate something we’ve ’til now held as sacred, in order to create or reach an ideal; then Mercury comes along to square them both from Gemini, implying a message, information, or our own thought processes make clear the difficulties arising from or caused by the working out of the opposition tension.

The thing with a T-square is the tension; you have to break it, to unbalance it, or you’ll end up with a fulcrum that see-saws between alternatives and resolves nothing. In this case, you’ll have to choose: stick with old established values, standards, and things you find sacred, or pursue the inspired dream or creative goal. The Mercurial information dump may aggravate things, even mislead you, but in the end the choice comes down to the Vesta end of the see-saw (values, what you currently honor) or the Neptunian end (dreams, creative goals), and keep this in mind: when a new desire or life direction seems to conflict with long-time values and commitments, the thing to do isn’t to automatically reject the desire as unsuitable out of hand; instead it should inspire an examination of the values and what you honor, in order to determine if your values are actually current and in accord with your genuine feelings. Even standards may go stale over time–and yet if you find them still viable, still appropriate for you, then you’ll know that the creative urge was more of a whim or a pipe dream, a distraction or a wrong turn, and can let it go, making room for other inspirations more in line with who you are at core.

Good Day To . . . 15 August 2020 A Disappointment

14 Friday Aug 2020

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Let’s not be as dramatic as whoever named this place. Cape Disappointment, Photo By Adbar – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27188708

The 15th Is A Good Day To . . . to pause, because circumstances today may suggest a pull back from, disintegration of, or dismissal of some kind of understanding, such that we may not be able to press our case in its absence. This is definitely disappointing, and likely relates to matters of the House Uranus rules in your natal chart (subjects of the House holding Aquarius), the matters of the House it’s currently transiting, or a matter that we might classify as ‘purely Uranian’, such as our own or others’ Higher Mind perceptions and capacity for understanding, riots or other chaotic events, or an electrical storm, for example, prompted by Uranus turning retrograde. We see a chance for greater integration crumble or dissipate in some way, and we can’t help but feel let down. The key here, though, is to realize that the issue and/ or ours or others’ perceptions of it, need more time to ‘stew’. They’re not fully formed, not ready for manifestation in their most appropriate form–and we must be patient, knowing that the point for moving forward on this will arrive–it’s just not today, and probably not for awhile. Remind yourself that the Universe has your best interests at core, that timing is something it understands far better than we can–and so know that this disappointment is telling you that what you were anticipating isn’t meant for now, at least not as it would occur in the present.

Deep breath, and turn your attention to some sort of change you see needed right now–and then go to it.

A Good Day To . . . is based on the aspects perfecting on each day, Pacific time.

11-13 May 2020 Hazardous to Your Health

10 Sunday May 2020

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‘Rokeby Venus’ By Diego Velázquez 1644 {{PD}}

Now we stand in the shadow cast over our reality by Saturn’s retrograde on the 10th, and we likely feel the need to reassess our approach and our standing according to the new conditions we see around us. Are you a ‘suddenly halted’ Saturn responder, or an ‘obstacles removed’ kind of Saturn person? The answer to that will tell you whether this period is a ‘go forward with all those stalled projects’ time, or a ‘take a Zen approach and accept stalls as delays meant to turn your attention elsewhere’ time.

The 11th sees some serious questions around power and values answered, specifically as they are addressed through ambitions, desires, and the array of personal responsibilities each of us has. Though we may feel disempowered, may feel that thoughts don’t match actions, we need to know that off-the-cuff choices and efforts will make more issues than they address–so avoid the spontaneous, if possible. Look in the dark corners for the information that is vital to making good choices (and of course, we didn’t know that before–that’s why we put it in a dark corner!)–and then go forward on the 12th, in all areas except purely creative ones. New impulses and ideas need to be noted, but not yet instituted–and it’s clear why when we consider that the 12th also has Venus turnaround in apparent retrograde.

This retro occurs every 18 months and institutes a short (approx. 6 week) period when we may see any or all of these effects: we re-visit an issue or Venusian-themed subject that was active 8 years ago, the last time Venus retrograded at roughly this point in the natal scenario. Things may pick up as if no time has passed, or we may see the same material re-emerge in different form. There’s a potential for quite abruptly seeing relationships, financial, and aesthetic matters in different terms; perceptions in these areas are temporarily distorted, making us more inclined to be adventurous, to stray from our normal preferences–and sometimes to make life changing choices. Our tastes don’t run in their usual channels. With any permanent change in those areas you consider making during the retro, put off the actual step until after Venus goes direct. The difference in choices should look something like this: henna tattoos–Yes! Real ink–No! Dating someone you might’ve typically turned down–Yes! Getting married spontaneously–No!

And this is all shaped by where in the natal chart this Venus retro occurs for you. Re-visited subjects will be found connected to the House where the retro falls (and possibly will involve Venusian matters or matters Venus rules or is otherwise involved with via chart rulerships), and they’ll carry the tone of the sign in which the retro occurs, in this case Gemini. That could mean the mind takes center stage, overruling aesthetic judgments and giving you lots of reasons why what the heart yearns toward isn’t the logical (or tidy, or justifiable) choice. Venus retrograde withdraws our innate taste standards, preferences, and ‘what we love’ and respond to, replacing it in this instance with what our minds, or the arguments of others, tell us we should love.

Interesting to note that on the 12th, unlike through the rest of Venus’ turnaround, the mind will be sharp, reality-oriented, and unusually smart, stable, and reliable. If you’re going to listen to the mind alone during the Venus retro, this is the day to do so–after that, remind yourself that nothing is done by thought alone, and thoughts without heart don’t tell the whole story.

On the 13th we may not understand how truly destructive or deluded our choices are, especially those around matters of health. What feels like deep thinking is really hyper-pessimistic. Let it go, for now, and stay with what you already know and practice.

Have a great week!

 

A Good Day To . . . 25 April 2020 + A Little on Ceres

24 Friday Apr 2020

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‘Ceres Enthroned’ By Michele Pannonio c1450-60 {{PD}}

A Little on Ceres

Here’s a question: Does Ceres (Mother Nature) in Pisces (related to fluid-borne illness, hard to diagnose symptoms, returning to the Collective, miasmas, and unreality, just to name a few correspondences) necessarily represent Covid-19? Many have stated that the recent Saturn-Pluto conjunction kicked it off, and that this represents Covid. Just as with the astrology of a human being, many factors can apply to the overall picture. I do think Ceres’ move into Pisces while trine the North Node is significant. That contact to the Nodes, just as they are poised to move from Cancer into late Gemini (because remember, the Nodes shift and shift but overall move backward through the zodiac) suggests the direction of energy will move from caring to a kind of communicating where networking and connections are integral to the sharing of information. The NN in Cancer brought forward so many moving and Selfless acts of kindness with the onset of these trying times; the change to Gemini, we might reasonably anticipate, will usher in connecting and networking prompted by stress (as the first place the Nodes go is to that under pressure 29th degree). So, perhaps soon we can look forward to some true cooperative efforts, a genuine pooling of information that can take us forward, and benefit everyone. And it’s notable that Pallas is at 29 degrees of Capricorn right now, implying a last ditch effort to avoid being practical or failing to call whole-heartedly on those with appropriate skills to address changes to structures, institutions, ‘the rules’, and reality itself. We certainly see this every day in the US at the Corona virus briefings, where it’s much more a PR stunt (“If we can persuade them everything’s okay, then it’s okay!”) and the President’s time for Self-promotion, than it is about mobilizing efforts to fight the virus. Don’t worry–the Nodal move into Gemini/ Sagittarius should bring more attention to actual information, to the facts, and to a pooling of resources so that more or less we all get on the same page.

Yes, Saturn-Pluto certainly paints a picture of a destructive plague decimating the current social order, deconstructing the status quo, promising to forever change what is–but I think Ceres tells it from a slightly different perspective, that of the state of the planet. Earth is sick, in effect, and that just so happens to affect some of the species that live on her. In this sense, Ceres is the state of health of the planet, the eco-system that expresses viability, analogous to an individual’s state of health, while the Earth corresponds to an individual’s body. Ceres in Pisces, then, suggests we may not be able to know or contain this state of Being, that control may never happen–which means accommodation must instead. Ceres as symbol of our relationship to Earth has moved from a condition of intellectualizing our interaction, and understanding but not doing anything about the relationship itself (Aquarius). That is, we went along, analyzing what was happening, but treating it as effects of the modern, something to study, but not to act on or react to as there seemed to be so little urgency, until suddenly, there is. With current events, Earth and humankind are trying to achieve a better balance, something to supersede the increasingly uneasy living arrangement we’ve had up until now. Together we can make it work.

The 25th is a Good Day To . . .  expect rewards and benefits to suddenly appear from within some fairly difficult circumstances or because of some hard-to-accept restrictions, barriers, or boundaries. Accepting limitations offers us something positive, Love or Money or satisfaction or praise (Venus is currently in Gemini), and that should take the sting out of the negative things we hear and the negative social situation that surrounds us.

Too, Pluto retrogrades today, possibly withdrawing the feeling that we can change things at all. Despair or fear would be a normal reaction–but one you need to realize is based in a temporary condition. This too shall pass is one of the wisest things we can remember at this time.

A Good Day To . . . is based on the aspects perfecting on each day, Pacific time.

A Good Day To . . . 8-10 April 2020

08 Wednesday Apr 2020

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‘Triad Brilliant, Passaic River Hills’ By Oscar Bluemner 1932 {{PD}}

The 8th is a Good Day To . . . play around with the (sometimes brilliant) ideas the Full Moon has prompted, and in particular, if you can apply smart action to the current situation, you can enjoy a certain amount of healing and/ or will find where and how you can utilize a ‘gift’ that’s specific to you and your experience.

By the 9th we find we are in the groove, with instincts flowing freely and guiding our efforts and the focus of our attention, and yet, there are some cautions: overdoing or going overboard endangers the careful balance behind the health picture; ambitions either meet resistance (externally) or you find yourself battling within, insisting on a certain course of action when the Universe is trying hard to show you just how the ambition picture in its current form, if realized, will short-change you; and take note of dissonances as you go about your day, as these will show you exactly where and how what you’re considering or attempting violates your highest values. It will likely feel as if there’s no reason not to take that step or do that thing, but that jangly inner warning lets you know that there’s danger ahead if you proceed. So, it’s a day of optimism and progress that requires your attention to and willingness to modify choices so that you don’t hit an unanticipated brick wall down the road.

On the 10th, you remember those changes you were asked to make? Did you make them? Because if you did, action and choice will easily align with values, and so propel efforts forward. The one thing you shouldn’t look for right now is a boost in personal power, or a reward/ pay off–neither is ripe yet, so collecting those fruits now will just give you a tummy ache later (sorry for the fruit metaphor). Expect what happens today to re-orient thinking along more Self-responsible, and more action-centered lines, and be kind to yourself: life is a process, and you’re already at your destination: you have a body, don’t you? So relax, it’s all on track.

And you may want to note that Pluto will retrograde on the 25th. Though normally the apparent turnaround of a heavy like Pluto is felt more as a ‘background shift’, in this case we should take note of the House it’s transiting and the House it rules. We may experience a bit of an earthquake, as this reveals some deterioration or destruction we were unaware of (or at least, we were unaware of the extent of). No need to fear it, just prep now for the change that will, inevitably, come.

A Good Day To . . . is based on the aspects perfecting on each day, Pacific time.

Catch the recent Full Moon in Libra here–

Odds & Ends: Mars Retro, Sacred Fires, & The Neptune Shuffle

12 Tuesday Jun 2018

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Attributes of Kubera ‘Lord of the Horses’ Detail of the offering cake from the Attributes of Kubera ‘Lord of the Horses’ in a Tibetan “rgyan tshogs” banner. http://catalogue.wellcomelibrary.org/record=b1465547 Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

Neptune retrogrades on the 18th, and as a molasses-slow mover, apparent motion for this big fella around changes of direction is almost standing still; it’s as if we’re observing something in another dimension, where we appear speeded-up while we see elements there as barely inching along. That implies a certain subtlety to the effect, the notorious fogginess turned up to 11. With it reversing short of perfecting a trine to Pallas, and on its way to completing a trine to Jupiter (in effect, participating in a Grand Water Trine with these two), what we may expect is an opportunity for emotional balance that slips away, something that almost achieved wisdom or practicality, that slips into exaggeration, deception, opportunism, or gives way to beliefs, which may or may not support a healthy feeling scenario. The suggestion is that at least part of the retro period will be spent trying to retrieve that nearly-reached state of emotional equilibrium–so see emo ups and downs as part of a larger balancing process, rather than as isolated experiences.

Fire Grand Trine forms roughly on the 18th of June and burns through about the 28th, with Ceres, Vesta, and Juno all late in Fire signs. This presses us to find action equilibrium, that is, expressions of our authority, personal power and reach (of which negotiations are one facet), our status (especially those roles that concern our relationships to others, and how that confers the ability to make the Will felt), and expressions of what we honor or find sacred. It’s a matter of seeking out, probably repeatedly, things that make us feel we’re imprinting our values on others and the environment. This can be exceptionally fulfilling if we succeed. The configuration offers us an unusually large window for Self-realization and the creation of satisfying circumstances, one where our actions and ideals can blend almost seamlessly, and where inspiration lights a fire under action that is right in line with what we care about most.

Mars retrogrades on the 26th in Aquarius–goes direct again on 28 August. This happens every 2.5 years and for most of us will describe a period of looking inward, or at least hesitating where earlier we would’ve charged ahead. We may be thrown back on ourselves when we try to act and fail, or we may have introspection forced on us if we hope to go forward. We examine our own (and often everyone else’s) intentions, and we look closely at the result actions bring–good, bad, or neutral. Review of our choices occurs, and motivations should be faced, if we want our own actions to be effective in the future–this is no time to dodge Self-responsibility. ‘Pulled Punches’ may be a theme, as may ‘Sexual Frustration’, ‘Thwarted Will’, and sudden losses of drive, initiative, aggression, or appetite. Ego may take over, in a panic at the disorienting feeling of drifting, or the ‘I Am’ may shrink to nothing, gaining awareness of the Cosmos as a whole and forgetting the individual needs.

A great deal of your response will depend upon your current and natal relationship with Martian energy, especially your confidence level, your sense of personal authority (the kind that grants you permission to apply your Will to the environment), the vulnerability of your ego, and your usual ability to get your Martian needs met: to be taken seriously, to receive gratification from your world, and to act as you wish. The measure of successful Mars expression will vary wildly from person to person, so the experience of retro energy may also vary significantly, and there’s always the individual who has Mars retro in the natal chart. This person may feel a little more ‘at home’ suddenly, as the world is somehow a bit more in tune with them than usual. Mars retro natally can make for a misfit or a renegade, a pirate or a pioneer, and the retro cycle may offer them some relief from their usual outsider role.

The House in the natal chart ruled by Mars may also see action, likely a pull-back from something that was going forward with no hitch–and you may see the same thing in matters of the House Mars is currently transiting and turning around in. The question becomes, ‘Is there a precipice there that this withdrawal of energy allowed you to avoid, or are you being intimidated or over cautious?’ If we’re in tune with ourselves, Mars retro can offer us information we might’ve overlooked when Mars was direct; we could avoid conflict, ego-blunders, precipitous acts, and impulsivity driven by primal demands, as either our own engine sputters or the world makes us back down, our confidence shaken by externals or the withdrawal of ‘muscle’, in one form or another.

Receptive Mars is not a term we normally employ, but which we might consider trying to manifest in some form during this period. Conflict with our own Martian urges can create real dissonance and delay or otherwise confuse our efforts, if we’re typically more straightforward. With this Mars retrograde the turnaround occurs on the same day that Earth conjoins and Sun opposes Saturn, with Hygeia forming a Cardinal T-square that suggests until we find optimum channels for the shifted energy we may suffer headaches, clumsiness, eye strain, palpitations, and unusual bone and muscle weakness–so especially at the point of retrograde, take care to avoid unnecessary stress and strain, or those injuries you find yourself suffering when Mars energy can’t find a way out may pop up and sideline you unexpectedly, making it even tougher to sort out forward momentum in a retro atmosphere.

And in case you missed it, here’s the New Moon of the 13th.

Your Weekend 12-13 August 2017 Rearranged

11 Friday Aug 2017

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Photo by Lewis Carroll ‘Smith Sisters, Summer 1859’ {{PD}}

Remember that trine between the Sun and Black Moon Lilith we talked about yesterday? For a few hours on the 12th it becomes a Fire Grand Trine as the Moon moves into the last decan of Aries (later AM Pacific)–and this happens just after the Moon forms a T-square by opposition to Jupiter and square to Pluto. The energy is big, sweeping, serious, though it doesn’t feel heavy, except in the way we see (or perhaps I should say ‘perceive’, as not everything will be on the surface or immediately identifiable) it shuffling the chess pieces on our board. We get to the end of the day with things considerably different, arranged in a way we didn’t anticipate, as at least some of what happens involves having to attend to (and so acknowledge feelings about) those things we’d rather ignore or deny. Know that there’s liberation to be found in dealing with things, and be aware that, particularly right now, we must be willing to allow others the autonomy to make their own decisions, no matter what we believe.

Mercury also begins apparent retrograde in Virgo, needing to backtrack only 7 minutes to perfect a trine to Pallas. This suggests that at least part of the meaning of this retro period will involve critical discernment (Virgo) of what’s wise, what’s practical, what skills are needed (Pallas). This sets the tone for the entire period; make sure that what you review and re-do brings answers that address those Pallas questions.

Today’s word image is a bowling ball floating on the water. Impossible, right? We may encounter something just as unlikely today–but in this case, accept what you see, but verify how it’s done, even though that takes the ‘magic’ out of it, as you’ll be much better off knowing the ‘why and how’ behind it.

Anticipation may be the theme on the 13th. We see the Sun trining a retrograde Saturn, Vesta and Neptune moving toward opposition, Mars heading toward a quincunx to Pluto and sextiles to Zeus and Jupiter, and there are a coupe of close semi-sextiles that link energies through a mild tension: Mars-Venus, and Chiron-Uranus, which we can read as, ‘man-woman/ animus/ anima’ and ‘sudden hurt or healing, wounding accident, spontaneous display of unique skills’. We may spend the day in a state akin to waiting, but not knowing just what we’re waiting for. The Moon in Taurus counsels us to relax and enjoy creature comforts–that’ll be my goal, and should be yours, too.

Today’s word image is: a sea serpent pokes his head up out of a choppy lake. Hmmm. Again with an image that may or may not be a reality. And again, accept that you saw it, but don’t accept anyone else’s definition of what it actually is.

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Just a Little AstroEssence 5 August 2017 Dream Big

04 Friday Aug 2017

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The Lantern Bearers, 1908 Maxfield Parrish {{PD}}

Today, the 5th, we find ourselves mulling big dreams, huge ambitions, massive desires, and plotting how to get ‘there’ from ‘here’–and we have an excellent chance of doing so, just as long as we can accept ‘the facts’, and avoid exaggerating our own abilities and so overestimating our chances at success. The issue is that we may resist ‘What Is’ to an astonishing degree; previous injuries to the psyche and the identity may be the source and may cause us to distrust our own thoughts and beliefs. Know this: those Big Dreams are meant to inspire, to spur creative action, and to prompt us to consider opportunities that will present in the near future. Mercury will retrograde in Virgo in a week; use the next seven days to dream and imagine, and the retro period to review with a critical and discerning eye. That way you’ll be ready to act in just about a month, post-eclipses.

The Joyous Festival
Gaston La Touche

Today’s word image is fireworks that land in a dry field and spark a small fire. Fireworks are a thing of celebration–or they can be what’s caused by someone wanting to stir things up and create chaos. It almost doesn’t matter what spirit fuels them with this image, though, because the result is that susceptible material burns. A haphazard display, a lack of care with this volatile form of energy, can ignite what’s prone to go up in smoke in the first place. This scenario may caution us; if we are the one lighting it up, we need to take care over the consequences, over who or what might ‘get burned’, and if we’re around this kind of display, we need to be cognizant of the potential damage, and perhaps to protect ourselves from the perpetrator.

Ready for the first eclipse? Read about it here—

Your Week 16-22 June 2017 Silence

15 Thursday Jun 2017

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, forecast, Horoscope, Neptune, Retrogrades, Sun/Mercury Superior Conjunction, The Daily Word Image

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Plas Newydd (Anglesey) – Terrace gardens grotto – Neptune as gargoyle By Wolfgang Sauber – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16274036

On the 16th Neptune stations retrograde at 14 Pisces 15, in close sextile to Juno in Capricorn, herself in apparent retro motion. This forms a loose Finger of God with asteroid Vesta in Leo–and if a personal body sits 12-16 Leo, you’ll see that natal energy as apex to an attempt at empowerment, one that either brings creativity to the fore, or is misguided, out of following your own delusions or misunderstandings. Juno prompts us to use our status, position, or connections to express our Will, and Neptune focuses that expression through our ideals, whether they are spiritual ones, imaginative ones, or off the mark, skewed by deception or delusion. For everyone, the Finger suggests that effort at exercising our prerogatives through creativity or misperception will result in pinpointing what we really care about, or discovery of what we’d like to dedicate our time and energy to; for those with a natal placement in that Leo range, this suggests you’ll see what matters in terms of the contacted energy, or possibly in terms of issues contained in the House it rules, if any. Vesta tells us what we honor in life; the Neptune station will make something about this clear, whether our efforts spring from a creative urge or a misguided one, though we may find we have no time, energy, or support to enact this particular ideal until Neptune is once again direct, in late November 2017.

Otherwise, we enjoy some very upbeat influences on the 16th, an unusually positive day when what we desire is actually good for us, when we have harmony between the mind and the Soul purpose (and so can choose, think, and act with little if any internal conflict), when we are optimistic about the future, and when we think along lines of ‘natural’ power and authority, and so make the most of our own abilities and influence. Reaching for something? Do it today, but be ready to listen if the internal systems tell you this isn’t your best course, after all–today’s excellent judgment may have you reassessing previous wants and goals.

By Scott Darbey from Canada – bluebells, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=42236316

Today’s word image is bluebells. Simplest symbolisms say flowers are a ‘natural’ cheering thing, bolstering spirits just by being, and blue can be seen as soothing, or in its meaning as sad or depressing. Is there something that should be pleasant and happy that’s actually depressing you or making you sad? Are you having a kind of contrary reaction to something? Is there something natural (something you should accept as part of life) to which you’re having an unwarranted reaction? Are you ‘blue’ in spite of the way things are ‘in bloom’ in your life? That last is a signal that it’s time to seek help, if only confiding in another trusted Being to help you gain perspective.

The 17th our viewpoint may be a bit skewed: we see all the benefits as coming from or being found in ‘the future’, and we tend to disregard the role or origins of some rewarding matters where they formed or were earned in the past. Too, we know what we want and how to get it, but we may be willing to do something unhealthy or negative to make it happen–please consider the merit of the means as much as you do the end.

By Iker Cortabarria from Palma, España – Dragó, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4263989

Today’s word image is a lizard, sunning itself on a rock. As pleasurable as sunning itself is, this behavior is actually necessary for a cold-blooded (as we describe them) creature. What thing that you enjoy, and possibly see as Self-indulgent, is really a very necessary part of your existence, one that you can’t do without? This asks us to reassess what we see as an indulgence, a luxury, and what is important to our overall health.

By the 18th we’re feeling both wise and ‘lucky’–and that’s a pretty accurate measure of ourselves in the moment. The only thing to watch for is thinking that rejects the reality picture. The only way to get ‘there’ from ‘here’ is to know exactly where you’re starting out–keep this in mind as you choose, act, and do.

Today’s word image is a clown. People seem to have very personal reactions to this Archetype–consider yours definitive for you, specifically as to what it might say about how you see ‘fun’.

‘Fireworks, Vernon Bridge’ by Theodore Earl Butler {{PD}}

The 19th the fireworks are as much internal as external, so that it’s uncertain how much of this will show in surrounding circumstances, and how much will be firecrackers and flashbulbs going off in our heads. What we’ve got going for us: there’s wisdom in spontaneity, in the ‘new’ idea or impulse, in a willingness to invent or innovate, and diving in to test skills can bring surprisingly good results. The group may offer the smart choice, if we find ourselves wondering, and what the intellect supports as wise very likely is. Positives are seated in showing genuine confidence (as opposed to putting on a show) and relationship or financial connections can bolster personal empowerment and reach. Right now the mind has a knack for drawing on the past in productive ways–all of these things are good, and available to us.

What’s not so great? The ego, if it’s ascendant, will keep us away from every healthy option–it’s a matter of feeding negative emotions as a way of enslaving us to our own capricious nature. No one can ask anything of us, if we’re unreliable and unable to take care of ourselves, right? It’s easy to put our attention on hurts, at this point, and that can offer the ego the foothold it needs to run away with things. Too, we see a Finger of God, base of Jupiter-Black Moon Lilith, apex Venus in Taurus, that suggests both beliefs and what enrages us must adjust, if we are to receive the comfort and sustaining nurture of Love or Money.

Not an easy day, but a lively one, where following our best impulses is much more than worth it.

Today’s word image is a phrase I’ve heard multiple times within just a couple of days, from sources ranging from real life to media: “You’re so lucky you must have a golden horseshoe up your ass!” This is a thing? We’ll proceed on the assumption that it is. My first thought was, ‘That can’t be comfortable, so is this luck in spite of the situation being difficult?’ I think that sums it up. Find the spot in your own life where you’ve been very fortunate, despite the pain.

The 20th we may feel at odds with ourselves and the social scene–there’s no safe harbor for Self-expression without critique, the facts don’t support our empowerment, and the worst may be that it’s our own ‘wounded thinking’ that’s creating most of the mess. If we are willing to reconcile with some less-than-positive aspects of the past, we can move on to reap rewards from the creative, the innovative, and the use of skills–and we can do it as the Sun moves into Cancer, pulling our attention toward caring, nurturing, and finding a prominent place in our lives for our emotional reality to shine.

Today’s word image is an old song, ‘The Girl From Ipanema’. If you don’t know it from the radio, you probably know it from the Muzak in elevators and grocery stores. What quality makes a song seep so far into the Collective consciousness that one can’t go long without hearing it in some form? What ‘song’ have you been singing all these years that has now become part of your consciousness–and are you aware of what it says to and about you? Ask yourself, Is it time to change the track?

The 21st sees the Superior Conjunction of the Sun and Mercury (their meeting while Merc is in direct motion). This should bring us the results of something seeded at the Inferior Conjunction. It’s not always evident, and may be so subtle that it seems a matter of course–but it should answer some question, no matter how oblique, that has been up in the air, or bring some communication or thought to a close, offering a form of ‘silence’. To make this meeting possible, we see Merc join the Sun in Cancer; don’t be surprised if what concludes has a prominent element of feeling, or brings an emotional conclusion that will often present as relief.

On other fronts, we see some resistance to what we know instinctively, we see some Self-destructive tendencies that endanger what we really care about, and we may find the imagination running away with us and focused on what we are in denial of or ignoring. You do the math; this is about facing things, pure and simple.

From our yard 2017

Today’s word image is peonies. On a gardening site I saw someone write in, frantically asking how to get rid of the ants that were swarming her peony plants; I and several others wrote back, ‘Don’t! Peonies need ants to help them open!’ This is the danger of engaging with something we know nothing about: not so much that something bad will come to us from it, but that we can cause harm in our ignorance. Whatever this brings to mind, just make sure you really do know what you’re doing.

On the 22nd no new aspects form–both our outlook and our word image for the day will be a kind of Silence. Find it, deliberately make room for it, sit within it. It’s likely to reveal to us just how much noise we’d like to be rid of.

Sorry I’m a little late getting this out. Windows hijacked my computer with a massive update that then wouldn’t allow my astrology program to open–so it took me hours to straighten things out. Have a wonderful week!