Category Archives: The Daily Word Image

Just a Little AstroEssence 22 December 2017 Take Your Time

21 Thursday Dec 2017

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Gardner Symons ‘The First Snowfall’ c1920 {{PD}}

Mercury stations direct in Sagittarius (at 13 degrees, even!). The turnaround points are typically tense; we want to act, as we sense things are changing. We may even sense that our way of processing events is changing, precipitating an urge to act or come to conclusions while we are still ‘ourselves’. There may be a wee panic; am I losing my mind, are people keeping things from me, are my beliefs failing me, what don’t I know? (those last two particularly appropriate for Mercury in Sagittarius) This time Merc changes apparent direction without making any super-close aspects, and since it moves relatively slowly after direction, we require a very close shave to call them significant. We’ll likely feel the shift in matters of the House holding Sag–something will become clearer, or will be apparent–and in the matters of the Houses Mercury rules. Best to give things a day or two before going forward. That tension that can make us want to hurry can cause as much of a warp to perceptions as can the actual retro period, so allow a little time to pass, before going forward.

Today we also see Pluto sextile Vesta, suggesting that highest values, what we honor, what we find sacred may undergo change, possibly from what we learn on the Merc direction, and Jupiter semi-squares Saturn, implying some discord between beliefs and reality, or the social sphere and restrictions (or again, the reality of things), or between what we know and what we see in front of us. This, too, may contribute to the changes to what we value, as we parse the facts and the real-world situation.

Yesterday was the Solstice, the day in the Northern Hemisphere when daylight is shortest, while in the Southern Hemisphere it marks the longest stretch of daylight–so, important everywhere, not astrologically, but symbolically; in winter it suggests a renewal of hope. We’ve seen the ‘darkest day’, and now the light will steadily increase, and as light-sensitive Beings we respond to that positively. We instinctively feel we are safer in the light–and ‘staying in the light’ does, in so many ways, keep us from harm.

Today’s word image is sunlight on the pines, on a very cold day. Take a moment, visualize this (or whatever scenario in nature you find peaceful). Can you smell the cedar, hear the bird song, feel the sun on your skin? Make sure to allow yourself and others time for such pauses in the coming weeks–we’ll all feel better for it.

John Constable {{PD}}

Remember that cloud of healing energy that we formed during the Eclipse years, specifically as an energy ‘bank’ on which those who needed it could draw? Just a reminder that it’s still there, available if you need it–and open for deposits, if you’d like.

Just a Little AstroEssence 21 December 2017 What Have We Become?

20 Wednesday Dec 2017

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Today the Sun enters Capricorn, parallels Venus, conjoins Saturn, and falls at the midpoint of the South Node and Jupiter (and so sesquiquadrates the North Node). This collection of contacts tells us who we are, specifically what we have created in the real world, in terms of both our personal character and our accomplishments, an appropriate assessment and review as we stand on the cusp of the Mercury direction. This happens naturally; the mind goes toward measuring quality and status, particularly in concrete, quantifiable terms. The influences on this process involve our values and our internal wisdom and practicality (Venus trine Pallas), which work together to create an accurate portrait of what we have become. Believe your own Self-assessment; you’re on solid ground with it, as long as you don’t succumb to rationalization or a denial of instincts (Venus qnx Sedna).

Today’s word image is a hot air balloon floating over a prairie at dawn. Does this signal adventure to you, ‘rising above’, ‘getting a bird’s eye view’, freedom, or is it frightening, something that could suddenly go out from under you and plunge you to earth? Is it transportation, romantic, impractical, or just fun? Or does it suggest something (an idea, a personality) inflated on ‘hot air’, that can’t travel on bombast forever? For some reason I’m seeing this symbol as something to be interpreted personally, as if only the individual associations have valid meaning–so it’s your call completely.

Just a Little AstroEssence 20 December 2017 A Sparkly Kick

19 Tuesday Dec 2017

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The 20th, like so many other days recently, holds a special, sparkly-magic kick, if we can only get out of our own way to use and enjoy it! The viewpoint offered by our creative imagination and/ or our ideals opens up myriad possibilities to exercise our prerogatives and make a significant impact on our own lives–the limits hinge on our ability to imagine ourselves in power (Neptune nov Juno)–and we gain, earn, or benefit through optimism, reaching out through publication, teaching, or broadcasting functions, or through the largesse of the social sphere (Venus nov Jupiter). The hitch, that stumbling block we may be tempted to place at our own feet, concerns the wound scenario, particularly within relationships or financial situations (Venus sq Chiron). To combat the urge to Self-sabotage, we must fully and without reservation embrace our most unique qualities, the things that make us so precisely who we are (Venus trine Uranus). Do that, and we can count on surprises and revelations that bring reward.

John Singer Sargent – ‘The Birthday Party’ 1886 {{PD}}

Today’s word image is a reflection of that Venus-Uranus trine and the Venus novile to Jupiter: a household prepares for a birthday party. What’s a birthday party but a celebration of an individual’s uniqueness? The world just wouldn’t be the same without the contributions of each and every one of us; be aware of that today, as the idea that individual Beingness itself is worthy (and so worth celebrating) may be a good thing to remember. The reward that comes from recognizing each unique contribution may surprise you.

Just a Little AstroEssence 19 December 2017 Saturn Into Capricorn

18 Monday Dec 2017

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Saturn in Capricorn will give us the determination and iron constitution necessary to climb that mountain. Plate from ‘The Fables of Aesop’, “The Wolf and the Goat” 1909 By Edward Julius Detmold {{PD}}

With no other aspects perfecting or changes happening today, all the focus is on Saturn and the sign of Capricorn–even the Moon is there! So here’s a re-look at my previously published post, with the good news that the tension suffered (starting around the 10th) while Saturn lingered at 29 Sagittarius will dissipate. The sense of a ‘fresh start’ is bound to be evident–make the most of it!

19 December 2017 8:49 PM Pacific time, though that precise measure isn’t really necessary–Saturn moves slowly enough that its changes can sneak up on us–but when it changes signs, we do feel it, as the world seems to change ‘flavor’ around us. Saturn is the planet of reality, of the material world and all the accomplishments and barriers, both literal and figurative, within it. That’s why we are likely aware of the sign change right away; even if we aren’t conscious of astrology, we may be conscious of a shift, something like when you turn a kaleidoscope just a quarter turn. Things are rearranged, the light behind them may seem different, but they’re (usually) not unrecognizable (that’s more likely when transiting Saturn contacts transiting Uranus or Pluto, giving the kaleidoscope a full turn or two, or even shaking it upside down, and that shake-up may happen personally when transiting Uranus or Pluto contacts natal Saturn).

See? Capricorn energies can be your friend. ‘Heidi and a Goat’ By Jessie Willcox Smith 1921 {{PD}}

What we see as Saturn enters Capricorn is a perfect blend of effort and time, with the new sign shaping these into real-world results. We see what we have created over a long period, one that required Self-discipline and a persistent application of energy–or, we see circumstances resulting from a lack of application and discipline. We reap results of sustained and serious endeavors, or the long-term neglect of what we should’ve attended to; we see how our use of time affects us. If we thought things would take care of themselves, this may be the point when we find out they have not.

We can’t really talk about Saturn entering Capricorn without discussing Pluto’s journey through the sign. Pluto plowed through and continues to disrupt, destroying, wreaking havoc to what was secure, solid, established, bringing the possibilities of freedom from old constraints, transformation of institutions and barriers, and also ushering in a long-term falling away of obstructions to our perception of Truth and Reality. That doesn’t mean everyone sees the real world for what it is; it’s still an individual choice where we must be willing to see things as they are—otherwise we can observe certain contingents who seem to be so completely oblivious to reality and ‘the facts’ that it defies logic. This is the Pluto effect: a stripping away of barriers that either shows you the real deal (if you accept that your world is changing) or that prompts a complete turning away from real world circumstances (if you don’t), substituting a Plutonian-centered non reality that promises nothing is changing, and that in fact you will be restored to some previous (unrealistic) level of all-powerful beingness. And now Saturn enters the sign, carrying a bucket of high-grade cement, ready to apply agents of constraint and form to all that Pluto has disrupted.

What we will see is this: that Saturn entering its own sign may result in Saturn cutting off, ending, or constraining transformations created by Pluto in Capricorn, whether those transformations are complete or not. Saturn may require those changes slow down, or it may insist on them taking solid form, or creating a new system within which to work, or it could deny their potential all together–but in any case it begins to solidify what had previously been fluid–or I should say, molten, as Pluto melted down without regard for status or standing. We add time to change, and we get a New Reality–and at the entry of Saturn into Capricorn, we get a glimpse of where things are headed, a peek at what’s beginning to emerge from the shadows.

As Saturn enters Capricorn we look at what aspects it makes immediately; this offers some idea of the initial impact of the sign change. Saturn will semi-square the South Node and Jupiter, which means Saturn is caught at the midpoint of the two; our first view of Saturn’s effects may involve the past and the public sector, or our beliefs and how they mesh with ‘the facts’, or we could see how work or effort made previously may offer opportunity in the present. Saturn will also sesquiquadrate the North Node (of course–in aspect to one Node is to be in aspect to both) and the Sun catches up to conjoin Saturn quickly, suggesting we see the situation when it is still new, raw, fresh–and we see the difficulties of where it will lead. And, the transiting Moon is also in Capricorn when Saturn enters, passing over Pluto. This suggests that what we see may give us a scare, may make us want to ‘reform’ from what we see or intuit, or may show us how we really feel about changes that have happened–and so what we are likely to want to establish, as Saturn makes his way through the sign.

Today’s word image is a dream where you were directly provided with ‘the answers’–that you can’t remember upon awakening! Be reassured–those keys are in your mind somewhere–and will come to you at the right time.

Read more of my work here, or search for your favorite topic here at the blog. And here’s a little something discussing tensions associated with the 29th degree, as well as a few other topics–and have a great rest-of-the-year!

Just a Little AstroEssence 18 December 2017 Improving on Realism

17 Sunday Dec 2017

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All that Sag and New Moon energy makes us ready to tackle problems and make things better. ‘Riddaren Rider’ 1914 By John Bauer {{PD}}

Under the light of a waxing Moon, we inspect our values, our relationships, our assets, and ourselves for the health and ‘rightness’ of things. It’s a day where we assess, and maybe tackle inconsistencies, in what we care about–and where we find clever ways to make things better, to help them flourish. We come to understand: it’s all good (Venus nov Hygeia).

Today’s word image is Paul Bunyan and Babe, his Blue Ox. Do you know these characters? You can read up on it here in a fairly comprehensive view of the origins and iterations of this folk figure. This image suggests to me someone or something big, out-sized even, hard-working, good-hearted, an extraordinary, larger-than-life entity that carries mythic status. Are you dealing with someone or something like this right now? Do you feel overwhelmed? Does a myth-like quality surrounding someone or something make it especially difficult to deal with, or to get others to see in a realistic light? In spite of its positive nature, do you feel that the mythic size of this offers no place for you to express as it takes up all the figurative oxygen in the room, or perhaps you feel bowled over by the sheer magnitude of it, and so one way or another find yourself ‘left in the dust’? Don’t let your feelings fester, and know that you’re not a ‘bad guy’ just for wanting to make an impact, have a say, feel relevant, and see things (or have others see things) in a realistic light.

See what to expect from the New Moon of the 17th here–and read up on tomorrow’s entry of Saturn into home port Capricorn here–thanks!

Your Pre-New Moon Weekend 16-17 December 2017 Finding Peace

15 Friday Dec 2017

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‘Feeding the Doves’ By George Dunlop Leslie {{PD}}

The Dark of the Moon leading up to the New Moon in Sagittarius will be gently fraught with energies that may make us feel a little anxious or aggressive, but that channeled successfully will actually lead to profit, originality, and successfully bringing forward lessons learned in the past and applying them to construct the future (Venus sxt Zeus and semi-sq Mars, Mercury sxt SN/ trine NN, Sun trine Uranus-Pallas) Relationships support ambitions, even if we may find it a tad hard to get others to take action in the way we envision, and despite Merc’s retro status, we see what’s smart, what’s practical, and what is uniquely suited to the current situation. All this is available if we take a cool, intellectual or innovative approach to matters (Juno enters Aquarius), and if we take the Merc retro precaution of being fully aware that there are facets of our decisions and information of which we don’t yet have knowledge.

By the 17th we’ll have found the ‘right’ creative channels and our own most profitable and authoritative role, and our actions and choices are likely fortuitous, despite being a wee bit haunted by doubts or the fear that we’re missing some vital clue. We end up finding that priorities and values are challenged to prove their relevance and veracity; as long as we’re clear on our ideals, we’ll have a solid ability to assess the direction in which our actions and choices are taking us.

Hint: The key to dealing with Mercury retrograde this time around may be in compartmentalizing ‘thought areas’, tackling them in narrow, one-at-a-time fashion that doesn’t demand we mentally process everything at once, just one small specific matter before us–and of course, use our feeling nature, as much or more than we use our minds, to suss out the landscape.

Word image for the weekend is: a dove, caught in a chimney. The global symbol of peace enters a conduit intended to release smoke and toxic gasses and then can’t find its way out. Sounds like the experience of the current Collective spirit! On a personal level, this suggests that our sense of cooperation, our willingness to live in harmony with others, our inner intentionality of causing no harm has taken a wrong turn, and is in danger of being extinguished. We can put it another way: our feelings of hope may be floundering, slowly poisoned by a loss of freedom, autonomy, and a chokingly toxic atmosphere. All is not lost; it will take careful, gentle, persistent efforts, but our sense of hope can be returned to its natural, free state–so don’t give up on those things that ‘keep hope alive’.

Or, is there a scenario in play right now where you feel someone is ‘shoving peace down your throat’, demanding a passive, play-nice interaction, despite your actual feelings. If so, time, with great care, to extricate yourself from constraints and express how you feel.

See the New Moon of the 17th here–and have a wonderful weekend!

Just a Little AstroEssence 15 December 2017 Simple

14 Thursday Dec 2017

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By Paul René Reinicke – Own work by User:ReneReinicke, 2010-09-24, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18163667

It’s all upbeat today–unless we fall prey to the single negative, which, if we do, effectively wipes out all that good mojo! First the many, many positives. We act and choose with an awareness of those matters too long neglected or denied, and we are rewarded for that, on a personal level and through our status and reach on the social scene. Thoughts, though couched in the vaguely unsound terms of the retrograde period, are loving, beneficial, optimistic–and that works its own kind of magic, attracting reward, positive attention, and enhancing our standing and authority–all good, right? The facts work in our favor, opportunities offer a fast lane to accomplishment, and belief systems are out in the open and so easy to understand and work with. That down side? It’s within us, within our potential to be victims of our own wounds. If we allow a sense of injury to dominate our thinking and our interactions, we lose. It’s that simple (Mars sxt Black Moon Lilith, Mercury conjoined Venus and both trine Ceres, Sun nov Jupiter and sq Chiron).

Today’s word image is: a man works near an open, live wire. Is there something in your environment that you’ve been ‘working around’, assuming (or hoping) it won’t hurt you? Or is this someone, a ‘live wire’ who could sweep you up in their hi-jinks, or simply in their enthusiasm–and would you want that to happen? Would it be joyful or a distraction? This is a call to inspect the environment, for what it could mean, should you bump up against that ‘energy conduit’, and to remind you that your safety isn’t guaranteed, no matter how familiar the atmosphere.

Beware of those free downloads purporting to offer my work that are really malware, and of that psychic who claims to have studied with me (I do not endorse her), and if you’re looking for a little AstroEssence on Saturn entering Capricorn, it’s here–thanks, and have a great day!

Just a Little AstroEssence 14 December 2017 Future Love

13 Wednesday Dec 2017

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Mars tourism poster commissioned by SpaceX CC0

Love, relationships, and rewards pave the way toward the future (Venus trine NN)–but how? Today we find real-world manifestations of positives we’ve created that flow from the past to the present (Venus parallel Saturn and sxt SN); in other words, we are reaping the results of Love given out, in the form of Love received, of money, or of advantage in some way beneficial to us. Look around–results may not fit your immediate idea of ‘reward’, but may be more subtle, or more along the lines of gratitude you may feel for where you are right now, and if you feel a deficit of some kind, consider passing a little of that Love to someone else, to show both yourself and the Universe that you aren’t really without, after all.

Retrograde Mercury has been, and continues to be, inordinately busy, contacting once again energies for the most part just recently aspected. This time its a novile to Juno and a semi-square to Mars. This may make for restless, somewhat aggressive thoughts, but out of the turbulence comes clever approaches to power that are very effective at delivering to you ways that allow personal abilities and efforts to impact areas of concern. Just don’t demand instant clarity when ideas are formulating–instead sit back, and let them emerge from the tussle on their own.

‘Cordobesas’ 1922 By Julio Romero de Torres {{PD}}

Today’s word image is: a small pitcher of fresh cream sits on the morning table. I grew up in a world of powdered creamers, so to me this is a minor luxury, and I appreciate it even though I take my coffee black. This image suggests we’ll enjoy the ‘cream’, the best of something. Be aware of those small, wonderful facets of your world today–you’ll get a lot more delight out of them than usual.

Again, I’d like to warn you off ‘free downloads’ of my books–they seem to be proliferating, and are almost certainly opportunities to acquire malware. There’s also a psychic claiming to have studied with me, among many others, but I don’t recognize the name (though it’s possible we had contact under another name) and I’ve found no record of any interaction between us–so if you’re ever shopping for a psychic, I do not endorse her, just so you know. Correction: apparently we are connected on LinkedIn, a site I pay very little attention to and through which I’m connected to many people I don’t actually know.

Have a great day!

 

Just a Little AstroEssence 13 December 2017 Health

12 Tuesday Dec 2017

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‘La Malade (The Patient): Hélène Chatenay’ 1892 Félix Vallotton {{PD}}

We’re thinking about all facets of our health, even if the topic seems to be otherwise; everything is being measured against what it does for or to us, and how good that is for us overall. The dangers are that this may become only an intellectual exercise, with needs seen but then not acted upon, and anywhere real world circumstances cause friction with the ideal, the needs of the current reality may prevail–which is not so good. Generally speaking, if you can conceive of how to ‘do it better’, then implement that idea–it’s your best course of action today, and just coincidentally, may advance ambitions (Hygeia enters Aquarius, Saturn semi-sq Vesta, Mercury nov Hygeia and sxt Zeus).

Dessin de valise By David Ring CC0

Today’s word image is: packing up in order to vacate a house. Since we’re talking astrology here, I of course think of the astrological Houses–and if you use the Whole Sign system as I do, that suggests we focus on a body about to change signs–so this could apply to Hygeia, which changes signs today, Juno, which moves into Aquarius on the 16th, or Saturn into Capricorn, on the 19th. Maybe this suggests an overall shift to an intellectual approach to coping, to one of understanding that may be for our own health, and/ or to a stronger orientation to making over reality into what we really want it to be, rather than seeing our ideals as ‘over there’ and the real world as ‘over here’. Integration of ideals, then, might be the order of the day, along with resolving to drive events in a desirable direction, rather than seeing ourselves as victims of circumstance.

Just a Little AstroEssence 12 December 2017 All In

11 Monday Dec 2017

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, Finger of God, forecast, Inferior Conjunction, The Daily Word Image

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John Singer Sargent ‘Fishing for Oysters at Cancale’ 1877 {{PD}}

The Inferior Conjunction of the Sun and Mercury occurs today, the 12th, in Sagittarius. This is a point of inception within the Mercury-Sun cycle, the time when moving in apparent retrograde the Messenger/ Trickster meets ‘the light of day’ in one form or another. The Sun illuminates our world, so that when the planet of communication appears to meet it from our vantage point here on Earth, we get a glimpse of what’s been hidden during the Merc retro period; we also see this realization, knowledge, or revelation spark the beginning of something related either to matters of the House where this meeting occurs in the natal chart, or to matters of the Houses Mercury rules in the natal chart (with the possibility that the House ruled by the Sun is also involved).

‘Les Demoiselles Schwartz’ Anders Zorn {{PD}}

Close aspects the Conjunction makes at the time of the event reveal something of what begins and/ or is discovered. In this instance there is only one, a nearly exact sextile formed by the Moon in Libra. This suggests the revelation or beginning is emotional, possibly arrived at intuitively, and involving a partner, someone you love, someone with whom you cooperate or negotiate, the Arts (your relationship to creativity), and the working out through communication of the emotional element or relationship between you. If you have a natal placement at 21 Taurus (2 degree orb either side of this point) it becomes a personal Finger of God, with the emotional discovery planting a seed within the relationship that will bring results related to the natal energy or matters of the House it rules with the Superior Conjunction of the Sun and Mercury when Merc is direct (occurring on 17 February 2018, in the 29th degree of Aquarius, telling us at the very least that it may bring crisis, a ‘do or die’ choice, or bring stress already extant to a head).

The other aspect perfecting today is a conjunction of Vesta and Jupiter in Scorpio. Truths revealed, secrets uncovered, or commitments vetted and then made known publicly show us how far our real-life priorities stray from our highest ideals or from what ‘the facts’ warrant–and it’s an examination likely spurred by the social sphere and its events. Commitments are assessed; are we all in? We may find ourselves doubling down, just to make a point. Or, we may take a distanced approach, in which case we criticize society, weighing events against what we ‘know’ and our own personal standards–but taking this tack doesn’t allow for personal revelation, if we only see the need for improvement ‘out there’, rather than seeing that what happens internally is vital to shaping what we see manifest externally.

Today’s word image is a child crying alone in the corner. Is there someone sad in your life, someone you don’t recognize may be isolating themselves because of that sadness? No one should feel this lonely; do something about it.

Thank you, and have a great day!