Mark Gertler – ‘Merry-Go-Round’ 1915 {{PD}}

We seek to express ourselves, to make others aware of (and so honor) our status or position, at least in part out of hurt; and in expressing ourselves, we cause hurt, which comes back to us, and we’re off to the races. Round and round the need that springs from hurt causes hurt for ourselves and others, and we do it again and again, caught in a loop that can only be broken when we stop insisting that others respect us, and show it by doing what we want them to. It’s not the Self-expression that’s the problem, it’s the way we believe others should react to it. Keep this in mind today. Messages are firmly rooted in reality, and we may (unreasonably) expect them to mesh smoothly with what we think we and others are creating by our way of thinking and reasoning. Not only will they not mesh, we will be given a clear indication of where our thinking has gotten off track. Use it for the informative input it can be, rather than reacting from that old loop of insisting the world see us in a particular way–that will only hold us back (Chiron parallel Juno, Mercury trine Saturn and square the Nodal axis)

Today’s word image is a wound that changes form but won’t heal. Whether physical, emotional, or psychic, a wound that persists raises a few questions: have you tried to help it heal, or have you ignored it, waiting for it to go away? Did the initial injury arise from something you did, or was it something outside your control? Do you relate differently to the injury in its original form as compared to its current form? And what does the wound allow you to do (or perhaps, to avoid facing) that you might otherwise have to acknowledge or go forward with? Now, what in your own life needs the scrutiny supplied by these questions?

Today’s outlook may seem a little harsh, but if it strikes you that way, it may be because it’s truly necessary at this time to take an unflinching look at the facts of things as they are right now. Take heart–it not only won’t last long (it breaks tomorrow, in fact!) but is the only way we can make headway right–so if you find yourself flailing, feeling like you can’t get things going, the reality picture and its unvarnished state are where you’ll find the answers–as long as you don’t take a personal stance that is powered by hurt, and goes round and round. Have a lovely day!

By Master of Palazzo Venezia Madonna (Active 1340 – About 1360) {{PD}} – Creator (Italian)Details of artist on Google Art Project – lwFgCRz6ScozSw at Google Cultural Institute https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22738581

Each of three conjoined combos perfecting today has a distinct personality; if we can get all three influences to mesh in some kind of harmonious co-existence, we might see massive acceleration toward successful accomplishment of goals. They’re like three boosters attached to a rocket; each is powerful on its own, but the only way to attain balance and stay on course (that is, move straight ahead) is to burn all at once, and to a similar intensity.

We have Pluto conjoined Black Moon Lilith, which may resemble a horde of gravediggers hitting a cemetery at midnight: not only will every buried or secret thing be fair game, but what’s dug up will be used, in some way, to gain, consolidate, or re-generate power. There is also the possibility that those matters we’ve ignored or denied up to now will be destroyed–and that means an option we previously enjoyed will now be removed, like it or not.

Then there’s Venus conjoined Pallas (and novile the North Node, for good measure). The simplest formula is ‘Beauty equals Wisdom’, but it’s likely to be a little more complex than that. Maybe we find that keeping our eye on finances leads to smart choices, or that being practical is profitable, or that attention to relationships is the wisest thing to do–what is positive for the health of the interaction may be the very best course, supporting our own interests, as well. This meeting occurs in Gemini, making it something you can think or talk about, and so winkle out its particular meaning for you.

And then there’s the Sun, cozied up to Sedna. This illuminates the instincts, those things we ‘know but don’t know’, and our ‘blind spot’ material. In other words, it gives us the opportunity to see or connect with a great many things that we normally ignore, that we shy away from being 100% consciously aware of.

Now we synchronize things: we dig them up, look directly at them, and consciously recognize their worth, especially the value inherent in them that we may have been missing, and we apply the wisest (or most practical, either measure will do) approach we know. Hint: you can be too practical, in trying to implement this–go a little wild, for best results (Pallas contra-parallel Hygeia) That’s all there is to it!

Today’s word image is a dream one: a red-headed girl stands by the 2nd story window. She’s upset that she’s not getting more attention. She jumps (but more like floats) out the window. I feel responsible, and rush out to see if she’s okay. She fell on something that cushioned the fall, and seems not seriously hurt–but as I go to help her, she shrinks and shrinks and becomes a small red spider–I think I should put her in something to protect her, until she decides (this is the idea in the dream) to become a girl again, but she becomes so small I can’t see her anymore.

For me this brought to mind the phrase (which I never use) ‘red-headed step child’. This has a general meaning of Otherness, of something not favored, of suspicious origins, something that doesn’t quite belong, and yet claims some time, energy, or attention through relationship. I also have a highly positive relationship to spiders, seeing them as my allies 🙂 So, the meaning for me goes in a very particular direction, and I understand; for you, what does the dream scenario suggest? Consider it as a scene you witnessed–or break it down to its symbol components: red-haired girl, window, red spider–what would it mean to you, then? Opportunity (the window) that you may not feel you have the energy for (red hair) or are not mature enough (or have enough skills–‘girl’ status, rather than ‘woman’) to take advantage of, with ‘taking the leap’ transforming that energy or status to something adaptable, skilled–but in a completely unanticipated form. Or does it suggest some sort of red-related synchronicity?

Get hooked on this podcast–I am!

‘Chaffinch Nest and May Blossom’ By William Henry Hunt 1845 {{PD}}

I’ll be away from the computer for a few days. All comments and requests for service will be answered when I return, and all orders from the Press will be filled at that time as well. I’ve scheduled some posts for the coming days, and have decided for the most part to focus on just one thing happening that day, that just so happens to be the one I think will be the most prominent, startling, or exciting. Have a lovely weekend!

We either engage in magical thinking today, or we access our most creative and fertile ideas (Mercury nov Neptune), but it’s done with where we truly want to go in mind; the only caveats are that we may be alienated from our own most deeply-felt desires (feeling they’re too messy or that passion shouldn’t figure in?), and that all our attention may be on what we’d rather not get! And of course, like a magnet, this draws what enrages us, or what we’d like to deny or ignore, directly to us (Mercury contra-parallel Zeus, Sun parallel NN and trine Black Moon Lilith). Go forward, but don’t deny your highest values, just ’cause you may think that might expedite the matter (Sun sesq and contra-parallel Vesta).

‘The Captive Robin’ By John Anster Fitzgerald c1864 {{PD}} The bird is on the right, wearing a vine necklace studded with berries.

Today’s word image is two robins, competing for worms after the rain. As yesterday, the idea of two, but today there’s a competitive edge over resources. Do you feel like there’s not enough? Or is there some relationship where you are close (‘birds of a feather’) but see each other as ‘success rivals’? Listen, there’s plenty of worms for everyone, and a focus on competing, even when that competition is a ‘friendly’ one, narrows your vision and keeps you thinking on too small a scale. Look up, look around, and see what else is out there.

‘Vertumnus and Pomona‘ By David Teniers the Elder 1637 {{PD}}

The ideal-focused among us (or I should say, those of us who believe perfection is possible), and those who are susceptible to Self-doubt, may think we must modify our own innate authority and power in order to receive Love–but if it’s really Love, it doesn’t ask us to change, does it? That’s what makes the current Venus sextile to Pluto and sesquiquadrate to Ceres so confusing: Love beckons and says, ‘Let’s transform this!’ and we hear an unspoken, ‘to a higher level’, but we are ignoring all the danger inherent in looking too closely at Love, too sharply into the abyss, and simultaneously find ourselves aware that this love-thing is making us very uncomfortable with our personal authority and power, as if our agency is costing us Love–but as we know, real Love doesn’t require us to curb our power or expression. So what is happening? We’re focused on making ‘it’ happen, on ambition fulfillment (Mars sextile Zeus) and we’re already struggling with trusting ourselves and our instincts–we are perhaps too conscious of our potential for falling into a ‘blind spot’ (Juno contra-parallel Sedna)–and then along comes that seductive Venus and the compelling nature of the darkness, the mystery and compulsion of sex, the heady energy of Power, and it’s promised as some material or tangible thing (Pluto in Capricorn)–and we may feel that our life direction is unwise or impractical, that in making our choices, we’re missing something (Pallas square the Nodes), and this uncertainty weighs on us. So what it’s really all about is confidence in who we are, in our ability to make choices, to handle what comes at us–so today becomes a Rorschach test of how surely we believe we can handle anything we meet. Hint: if you find yourself facing a lot of Self-doubt today, you need to ask why you don’t trust yourself to ‘have your back’, as it were.

Today’s word image is a sign along the road that reads, ‘Half Way’–but how can we know we’re ‘half way’ unless we know both where we started and where we’re going? Maybe this is a reminder not to think we know more about our own Path than we actually do.

Juno’s bird, sometimes associated with envy. Pieter Boel ‘Study of Three Peacocks’ c1670 {{PD}}

We see a lot of internal harmony, strength, inventiveness, originality, and spontaneity–unless we’re being affected by jealousy, envy, or greed. Find out what, if anything, might be stopping up the flow of creative positivity, and once it’s gone–full speed ahead! (Mercury nov Uranus, Venus quincunx and Juno parallel Zeus)

Today’s word image is two birds on the ground, one in flight. What has recently ‘taken off’? Are you distracted by what didn’t ‘take off’? Can you keep up, or is this an instance of something ‘flying the coop’, and so out of your hands? Are you noticing sets of three? With the latter, this image might be less about achieving lift-off of one kind or another, and more about the synchronicities that noticing threes will prompt attention to.