Category Archives: Weekly Astrology

The Week Ahead 1-6 May 2020 Good Ideas and Bad Moves

30 Thursday Apr 2020

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‘The Artist’s Niece, Kathleen – Portrait of a Musician’ By Grace Joel 1920 {{PD}}

Just a few notes on general trends, on the way to the Saturn, Venus, and Jupiter retrogrades later in the month:

The days spark innovative ideas on health and ‘new’ and inventive approaches to things (Uranus novile Hygeia and Vesta, Mercury parallel Uranus and nov NN–which is good news for those researchers looking at Covid-19) but not necessarily a great time to change reality based on them (Saturn sesquiquadrate Hygeia, Chiron opp Juno, Mercury contraparallel Mars). That is, opening up will take us into negative territory; our hubris will be our downfall, if we insist (Mars semi-sq Chiron and sesq Juno, Merc contra-parallel Ceres, Uranus qnx Juno).

What we need to devote ourselves to, especially on the day of the Superior Conjunction of the Sun and Mercury, the 4th, is a determination to think before we leap, to do the smart or practical thing, and to fully accept what is revealed about obstacles in our way. We can see our own hurt clearly, and that affords us options as to how to go forward; ignoring our hurt only keeps us stuck. Don’t succumb to the temptation to use wounds as weapons (that will end up being as if you pointed a loaded gun at your own face!), and don’t allow yourself to use them as ways to explain your less successful or flattering choices–we’ve got to own ‘it’ to improve ‘it’ (aspects include Mercury and conj Sun sesq SN, nov Chiron, and qnx Juno).

Ambitions get a big boost, and exercising creativity and looking at events through a spiritual lens can be highly beneficial, as long as you’re willing to address issues, particularly in finances and relationships, rather than bury them, or pretend not to know the problem (Venus sq Neptune and trine Zeus).

Have a great one!

29 June-5 July The State of Things

28 Thursday Jun 2018

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‘A Veil’ c.1890 by Louis Welden Hawkins {{PD}}

It’s all about what and how we think during this period, with a brief respite on the 1st to get down and dirty with our feelings, especially about emotions embedded in the real-world scenarios around our relationships, financial situations, and our ability to express aesthetics and values true to us. This is helped along by Juno’s entry into Taurus, pushing us in the direction of empowerment through the senses (so through the material world) and through what we can hold in our hand, what reaches us through the tactile and what we can materially interact with. The focus goes to the physical world, but with Venus as apex to a Fist of God with base of Saturn and Hygeia, we may find all our attention on the disparity between what’s healthy in our interactions or investments and what the real world demands. The state of things looms large, and we may sort matters according to what benefits us, what profit is earned, what is reaped–and as long as we judge things according to our own wants and values (rather than according to others) then this can be a period of fine-tuning and ‘getting right’ with the material world and our inner Venus as it’s reflected by outer circumstances.

We could draw a curve with these Mercury aspects, from confusion, deception, or inspiration, to tough revelations that heal, to enhancement of the reality picture by making health, including attending to what’s so far been ignored, the measure for all things. We may be prone to rebelliousness in our thinking when confronted with what we don’t like, and we may create chaos as a mask for a sense of inadequacy or a fear of appearing weak. The mind can play tricks on us, in its own way, but awareness that our thoughts and consequent actions are building our future is vital to keeping it real, keeping it under control, and keeping it positive.

The outcome to all this, if handled with that eye on the future, should be healthy perceptions that find the best outlets for individual uniqueness and creativity. We stand in our own, earned authority, and express ourselves–and isn’t that what we’re here for?

The 4th, hurt is the song–and as always, our response to it makes the difference between learning and growing and creating, and moping and feeling sorry for ourselves.

Hint for what’s coming: plan ahead for the 5th, when Uranus conjoins Juno, Venus trines Vesta, and the Sun trines Jupiter. These are massively positive aspects for gain we can take advantage of, if we follow a couple of pre-cautions: do all the planning, arranging, and acting before this date, and don’t expect to be able to think on your feet or handle things on the fly, in the moment–that can lead to unfortunate actions and poor choices–instead, plan the outcomes of things for this day. Doing so can multiply the already good potentials and make for an outstanding result.

You may want to check back during the period for Daily Word images, which I’ll add as the inspiration hits. Have a great week, everyone!

‘Bear Family’ By Niko Pirosmani 1916 {{PD}}

Word image for the 29th-30th: two bears face each other across a treat-laden picnic table. It has a cartoon-esque quality, doesn’t it? But what was your first thought when you read that sentence? Did you supply hostility between the two, as if they were going to argue over the picnic spread? Or did you see it as two like individuals, a pair, sharing a summer repast? And does the fact that they are bears, rather than people, say something to you? I assert that this is a bit of a Rorschach for each of us, so take what comes to mind as a kind of statement reflecting your own attitude, particularly toward others in your company, and toward sharing, at this time.

1280px-Winslow_Homer_-_The_Blue_Boat_-_Google_Art_Project

Winslow Homer ‘The Blue Boat’ 1891 {{PD}}

Word image for the 2-3: Pairs of inexperienced paddlers in two canoes try to cross a waterway while holding on, each to the other boat. This suggests the individuals are possibly venturing out into something before they’re ready, and taking measures that make them feel more confident but that actually may contribute to a spill. Where are you ‘testing the waters’, what are you ignoring that you should be doing, and what are you doing that might in reality cause an upset?

Candy-Cane-ClassicWord image for the 4th: a bright red and white striped candy cane. Seems out of season, right? It’s almost like we don’t even notice that kind of candy when it’s not Christmas. What sweet thing are you ignoring because the timing seems off? What joyful thing needs to be noticed and appreciated now, rather than waiting for its customary time and place?

See the new page on Placidus vs. Whole Sign—

Word image for the 5th: two people choose to spend a quiet day together, instead of going to a party. There’s no ‘right’ answer here; this simply suggests we should choose carefully how we spend our time, and with whom.

Your Week 30 June-6 July 2017 O! The Contradictions!

29 Thursday Jun 2017

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‘A Hamadryad’ (1895) John William Waterhouse {{PD}}

Choices Without Rewards seem to be all that’s offered on the 30th; but is that really so? No matter what we do, clearly it won’t serve our desires or help fulfill ambitions, and relationships, values, and financial needs all seem to create conflict with our desired life direction. Are things truly that bleak? No no, and no. Here’s the thing: we’re thinking in unhealthy ways, processing events and alternatives in their most confining and least appealing forms; we’re telling ourselves there are ‘issues’ or impasses, rather than acknowledging that we just don’t want to, prefer not to, or that we are pretending circumstances are other than they are. The way around is right there, but you have to get real and be willing not only to accept the responsibility for making change but for its potential consequences, as well. If not, sit back and let the day go by–no harm, no foul.

Today’s word image is a driver who believes others always follow the rules of the road. I once had someone assure me in head-on traffic: “See that double yellow line there? Nothing can cross over that.” Yes, it was mansplaining, but beyond that, it was daft; paint provides literally no barrier at all–and as long as we don’t meet someone on the road with a death wish, we’ll likely all do our best to travel without incident–but that doesn’t mean we pretend there’s some magic at work, protecting us or our vehicle from mayhem or accident. Accepting that things won’t always go as we expect is required for successful navigation; is there some capacity in which you are exercising a kind of magical thinking, refusing to acknowledge that you must be more consciously vigilant, or cautious than you wish to be, after all?

The 1st arrives and we’re, well, out-of-sorts. Buried Instincts and things we know-but-don’t-know push up into relationship and financial matters and cause all kinds of bruising. Nagging too is the sense that we’re not executing our goals perfectly (let’s be real, who does?), and we’re haunted by a ghost or two from the past who insist on rattling their chains. How to handle it all? Strength at this time is found in mental toughness, in a clear and confident assessment of our own personal autonomy and ability. Owning one’s sense of authority within our ‘territory’ is a must. Those who bring forward a sense of their own Self-worth in answer to issues do best; those who pretend they lack agency place themselves at the mercy of those who would commandeer their power and use it as their own.

‘Cloud Shadows’ (1889) Winslow Homer {{PD}}

Today’s word image is an enormous shadow that passes over, with nothing above to cast it. Mysterious, right? Even a little unsettling. The issue isn’t that the shadow exists–we see it–but that we may spend an inordinate amount of time trying to locate the source. Think symbolically: trying to pinpoint what is forming the shadow may in the end help us eliminate it, but what we really need to do in the moment is accept that this shape of darkness just is–and then make choices that will provide some light, or take us out from under its breadth and scope.

On the 2nd our highest priorities and values literally and figuratively make up our reality; we see the results of our choices, our actions, and our investments–and we may feel a sense of power as we survey our achievements and their effects, or we may fight the impulse to burn it all to the ground–it all depends on how flexible we are in thinking about those concrete results. If we don’t mind admitting that we could improve our efforts, that maybe what we think we value is not what we actually value as revealed by our surroundings and outcomes, and if we Forgive Ourselves for not being all-powerful or all-knowing, then we are likely to gain a deep understanding of our inner workings and intentions that will probably make us a lot less concerned with worldly power, and a lot more proud of who we are.

Aspect to watch out for: Mars opposed Pluto across Cancer-Capricorn=could turn into a contest between the angrily passive-aggressive and the hateful won’t budge–or maybe the offended side that’s hosting a pity-party and the stern denier/ crusher of dreams. In any case, a situation where tempers and an insistent Willfulness may be disguised as sadness, vulnerability, ‘the rules’, the voice of authority, ‘it’s for your own good’, ‘do it for Mom’, or the warning to restrict yourself or risk ‘death’ of one kind or another. There’s a lot of rage covered over with what appears to be pretty innocuous stuff. No, there’s nothing dramatic about that at all.

If you want to harness the energy, be willing to choose or act based on what you care about, based on taking an empathetic view of the world, and by asking what nurtures the world, what harms it. Avoiding destructive impulses, especially when these are sanctioned by authorities, is half the battle; acting in positive and supportive forms is the other.

Today’s word image is a speeding red fire engine. Sometimes they’re fluorescent green, but the goal is the same: to be not just heard but seen and so avoided by bystanders, allowing the crew to get where they need to be as quickly as possible. Are you the fire engine, needing others to see, hear, and get out of your way? If so, ask yourself if your goal is that much more urgent or important than anyone else’s–and if your answer is yes, then I wish you good luck in separating those conjoined twins or negotiating world peace–but if not then you may want to consider how your rush or blaring siren or push forward may be creating a less-than-positive reaction in others. Or are you a bystander, in danger of being flattened if you don’t get out of the way of a Self-important someone in a hurry? And if you do see others speeding by you, does that suggest you aren’t motivated enough to make a difference yourself? Or do you lack a sense of urgency that may be needed if you’re to have a significant impact (‘put out the fire’ or ‘save lives’ in some form)? Finding a balance between pushing forward on our personal agenda and having respect and regard for others may be the theme today.

On the 3rd we’re just Too Open To Hurt from the social arena or from society’s attitudes or policies; it springs from our own imperfect processing of and understanding of the past and how it influenced our thinking. Trust instincts and skills, and be willing to look at how many assumptions, rather than facts, may lie beneath our beliefs. Seeing the gap between what really is and what we think is, should prompt us to drop some of our less successful filters. Too, we may see deja vu-like echoes of May 21st, when the Sun and Mercury met in Superior Conjunction, and so deal with things we thought were already concluded (this last reflecting Sun parallel Mercury).

‘Alice in Wonderland’, John Tenniel, Illustrator 1865 {{PD}}

Today’s word image is a skull and crossbones–pirates or poison? If it’s pirates, you may need to be on the lookout for someone attempting to ‘raid’ your assets, while if it’s poison, this may be a warning you’re taking in something highly detrimental to your system.

The 4th we may become aware of the ways some of our values are based not on ideals, but on anger, injustices suffered, or our own insistence on ignoring certain realities–and that makes those Not True Values But Reactions. What we hold dear should be an expression of our ‘Best Self’, not created in a knee-jerk response to something we don’t find admirable; this sullies the ideal with negatives that almost guarantee our experiences of it will be full of conflict or disillusion. It’s time to be honest about those instances where our beliefs have been driven by fantasy or what’s unreal or out-of-touch; look for the thought sparked by choice, the ‘happy accident’, or the sudden realization fueled by the unexpected, to deliver insight and answers, right on time.

Venus enters Gemini=don’t live in your head or rationalize when it comes to relationships or finances, and look to the House matters where Venus now transits in the personal chart to see where you can gain through communicating, sharing info, or coming clean.

Today’s word image: a spaceship lands on an unexplored planet. What truly alien thing have you been brave enough to venture into, lately? Give yourself credit, just for the doing.

For the 5th, only Shakespeare will do (from Romeo and Juliet): “Why then, O brawling love! O loving hate! O any thing, of nothing first create! O Heavy Lightness, serious vanity, Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms, Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health, Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is! This love feel I, that feel no love in this.”

Oh, and also the Sun squares Jupiter and trines Neptune, making for intense creativity, as long as we don’t get pulled into a social brawl, waylaid by the facts, or find ourselves contradicting our own beliefs (see the quote above for the contradictory possibilities).

Today’s word image is a suggestion: a sunrise meditation.

Today, the 6th, is all chillingly-cool shadows on the hottest summer days (or sterile-bright glaring sun on snow, depending on your hemisphere), affronts and outrages that are both unjust and illogical, and exhibitions of strength that result in unhealthy developments. What do we have going for us? Somehow we are still pinging our Radar On The Future, and by keeping to our highest values and commitments, we create uniquely intelligent ways to proceed.

Giles Corey of the Salem Farms” (1868), John Whetton Ehninger {{PD}}

Today’s word image is a dip back into the past, where history gets re-written: a 17th century witch trial, where reason suddenly prevails and everyone goes home. It’s not always easy to admit that your cow just wandered away, rather than being transported to the next town by Goody Lowell, and it’s an inability to say, ‘Yeah, maybe that was my fault because I didn’t shut the pen’ that sends us looking to blame others who’ve irritated us in some way. Consider the modern equivalent, and vow that you will not allow small irks to escalate into life-changing accusations. The keyword here is, ‘Rational’.

Have a wonderful week!

 

Your Week 2-8 June 2017 Super-Positive Spin

01 Thursday Jun 2017

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, Fist of God, forecast, Horoscope, Mars, The Daily Word Image, Weekly Astrology

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‘At the Moulin Rouge, The Dance’ Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec 1889 {{PD}}

On the 2nd, Power Deceptions come into play. It’s not that we are unable to grasp which way (or to whom) the actual power is flowing, it’s that we are being presented with something by those holding the power that deliberately obscures the facts. Chew on that for a second; how does it feel to know that the Truth is being so purposefully withheld, and is done so with impunity? That’s what those in power do when they are unwilling to share. We’ll be mad, agitated, and probably lash out, because dah-um, it hurts, and hurts in a way that cuts us right down into our core, hitting a primal wound that triggers a sense of shame at our own vulnerability. At least in part, this is about learning that the hard edges of the reality picture can’t harm what’s most important: ‘what is’ just can’t put a dent in what we revere, in our highest values, or in what we find sacred, unless we hand our own power over to that external. That’s good news, showing that our Beingness, what’s important (and so what’s eternal) within us, is unaffected by those slings and arrows of misfortune. That should reassure us that the real problem lies outside of us and outside our reach, after all.

Message in a bottle, By Peer Kyle – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36953569

Today’s word image is receiving contacts from strangers. Suddenly there seems to be a flood of individuals reaching out to people they don’t know; I’m getting them, clients and readers are reporting getting them, and not the kind that are to be expected from the line of work or the social presence–and these are not banking scams or info seeking. They seem to be ‘fishing’ in the old-fashioned sense: looking around for someone to engage with, the equivalent of approaching a stranger at a cocktail party for chit-chat. What they all have in common is this: they are the shallowest of contacts, and don’t promise any real interaction–so why should we respond? We should respond only if we don’t value our own time, if we are looking for meaningless interactions, if we are avoiding life at all costs. It’s the Universe asking us to show discretion, to value ourselves, and to think enough of others not to waste their time, either.

The 3rd brings Opportunity and Optimism painted in broad, shiny strokes, via sudden relationships, a choice of financial paths, an asset windfall, loves lost and found, past group affiliations that build new affiliations for tomorrow, and a promise that any power you have will be treated as sacred. Sounds wonderful, and for the most part, will be. Issues are generated by us, and arise from those matters we’ve ignored or been in denial about, and now must deal with to successfully take advantage of the sudden opening, the revelatory information, the innovative plan, or the original idea.

Today’s word image is a garbage scow moving over pristine waters. Is it time to ‘take out the garbage’ in a big way? The thing with the massive transporting of garbage is, we see it as ‘disappeared’, but it’s really just been taken to where we can’t see it–so isn’t really gone at all. Maybe it’s burned, or buried, but there’s usually a lot that doesn’t get obliterated. What ‘housecleaning’ have you done lately, literal or figurative, that may not have been entirely successful–that is, where’s the garbage been moved to, and does it need further handling, processing, or a final and complete destruction?

By Jot Powers – Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=934530

Mars enters Cancer on the 4th and we may all feel like we’re Running Through Marshmallow Fluff. Suddenly ‘straight talk’ just isn’t as welcome as it was in Gemini, and the only ‘acceptable’ attitudes are caring ones–anything else invites censure or reprimand. Others may see us as overly aggressive, most especially when we’re minding our own business and seeing to what we want and need. ‘Selfish’ may get thrown around a lot, but so may labels that apply to those who take action because they care, who step up to leadership positions expressly to nurture, rescue, or comfort others, and who emphasize that individual responsibility is really the only genuine responsibility that exists. Remember during Mars’ sojourn here that Cancer is a Water sign; that can make assertive energies more volatile as they’re so easily paired with emotions, but it can also mean that if you can touch an aggressor through the feeling nature you can diffuse the human bomb.

The mind and the instincts are melded today, but this includes the ‘blind spot’ material, making for a touchy mental stew where it may be nigh on impossible to trace thoughts and conclusions along some logical or totally obvious course. The reality picture presents us with the need for adjustment, and if we can trust the instincts and are reasonably sure we’re not hiding anything from ourselves, then things can turn out just this side of inspired. Those sitting on a pile of denial or anger will only manage to fool themselves; everyone else will find the imagination stimulated and a creative viewpoint readily accessible.

Today’s word image is a bed in the middle of the forest. Is yours a fairy tale image, a hippie dream, a swirl of leaves where an animal or small human lay, or actual furniture, incongruous among the trees? There’s something about the image of a bed in the forest that says accessing the unconscious, possibly through dreams, a relaxed fugue state, or a meditative one. Examine today’s dreams, the ones you have asleep, and the ones you ponder awake, with an eye to what they might say about what your unconscious mind is building into your future real world.

The 5th we feel strong, sure in our identity and our purpose–so what is all this mental static? It’s caused by the way we’re Connected to Inner Power, but fail to connect to the reality picture as it currently exists. The mind is being short-circuited by a Fist of God, base of Hygeia square Jupiter, apex Mercury, that’s acting as a lightning rod for the dissonance between What Is and the internal landscape. What’s healthy for us is at odds with the social sphere and perhaps with the facts, and this is what creates interference between impulses and forming cogent thoughts. The urge may be to give the life direction a good going-over, but that misses what we might gain if, just for today, we’ll leave behind the rational and go with the fanciful and creative.

Expecting animals to behave like people is generally frowned upon, now days. {{PD}}

Today’s word image is a seal balancing a ball on its nose. Generally, we don’t see making animals do tricks as a good thing, anymore. In what way are you subject to someone else, who has ‘trained’ you to do something useless, frivolous, or simply to show they have power over you? And what will you do, now that you’re clear on how ‘unnatural’ it all is?

On the 6th we see Mercury move into Gemini and Venus into Taurus. Thinking takes on a crisp edge–a relief after yesterday–and relationships and finances take a bottom line, is everybody satisfied approach. We have an Optimistic, Forward-Looking Attitude that may be a tad impulsive to be productive, though the true measure of our effectiveness is found in whether we are able to reconcile our need for empowerment with both our highest values and what’s truly healthy. Not an easy equation to work out, but one that will be exceptionally beneficial if we can.

Today’s word image is a rainbow in an unexpected place. We’ll catch one, when light hits a piece of crystal just right, or mist catches the sunlight, or even when a thin sheen of oil slicks the surface of a puddle. Look into the unexpected, the unplanned, the spontaneous for the fleeting beauty it can offer, and watch for those ‘signs’ that say to you everything is going well–because it really is.

Rainbow and sulfur dioxide emissions, Halemaumau vent, By Brocken Inaglory – Own work, GFDL, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3909872

For the 7th we end up shooting ourselves in the foot if we aren’t willing to Adjust our need for empowerment as it relates to our natural talents and tendencies–but if we are, we can allow values to work with what we’ve ignored or denied, and thereby solve or diffuse issues; adjustment also allows us to incorporate the ambitions and desires into the identity with great success. This day should leave us in a much better position than it found us, assuming our power needs are modified as noted, though we should expect (and accept) that thinking at this time won’t actually be clear on how we can best empower ourselves–relax, that comes later–right now the need is to adjust the Self–any conclusions about empowerment can’t be safely drawn until later.

Today’s word image is a place: Mexico, and specifically Cancun (or another ‘C’ city). Look for references to this (the phrase ‘South of the border’ or ‘going South’, for instance, which can mean escaping, hiding out), or use your own associations with the city or the country.

The 8th offers some highly positive and constructive influences, with only a single tricky dynamic. First, the good news: highest values put a Super-Positive Spin on expression, attracting opportunity and spinning facts into ideal shapes. Wisdom guides creativity, and in relationships and/ or finances we take unusual or innovative steps that can bring (or at least lay the foundation for) serious reward. The only thing to watch for is the working of our own minds; in spite of our skills and smarts, we may succumb to the allure of desire, which in this instance carries some inherently destructive components (Fist, Zeus-Pluto, apex Merc). We may be tempted to choose gratification in one area, and in the process fail to acknowledge that we’re ruining everything else. C’est la vie.

‘Lady in a Red Hat’ 1924 By János Thorma {{PD}}

Today’s word image is something red, that will really stand out. Mark the moment.

Enjoy a book! And have a great week!

 

 

Your Week 26 May-1 June 2017 A Thousand Suns

25 Thursday May 2017

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‘Sunset’ 1917 Arkady Rylov {{PD}}

On the 26th, Love is Wise. It’s the answer for everything. Oh, and ignore the darkness, your fear of change, and the Powers-That-Be; just for today, they can’t touch you.

And you’re welcome. (That’s my answer to you thanking me for not posting an MC Hammer video).

Instead we’ve got Today’s word image:a Tarot card that is totally blank. No such thing exists, right? So we’re left with symbolism. This says to me that if we’re looking for signs and indicators of what’s coming, we may not be given any, not because the Universe carries any malice toward us, but because some things aren’t meant to be known.

The 27th things get complicated. We’re trying to go at it in a straightforward manner, being spontaneous, open, healthy, nothing to hide, thinking, applying ideas, and making progress–but what’s been only in our peripheral vision and (perhaps unbeknownst to us) enraged us comes forward and completely messes with our ability to be autonomous, to exercise our prerogatives and abilities, and to expand our reach and effectiveness. If we turn to the social order for help, we get lots of hemming and hawing, and those with real power for some reason just don’t want to be associated with us! What’s a just-want-to-get-it-done innocent to do? Cop to whatever you’ve been denying or not giving your attention to–that’s what’s causing this mess.

Unsigned. Japanese, 19th century {{PD}}

Today’s word image is a goldfish with a tiny shark fin strapped to its back. Be fierce today, even if that’s not your nature. Not aggressive or hostile, but confident; burn with the intensity of a thousand suns–or the equivalent.

The 28th we want More and it’s just not good for us. We try to act in spite of obvious barriers and restrictions, mostly because we just don’t want to let go of a fantasy or ideal. I could be harsh and say, ‘Grow Up,’ or we could each say it to ourselves, but either way, that’s the essence of today: a need to formulate a positive but much more realistic (and so, more workable) picture of our world and how we fit in it.

‘Washing Fairies’ Hamburg-St. Pauli, Photo By Oxfordian Kissuth – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11258295

Today’s word image is us, rolling up our sleeves, to give the dingiest part of the house a scrubbing. Inevitably there’s always some corner, some neglected area, where grime collects. It’s one of those days where we can take this literally, and shine up a portion of our abode, or figuratively, which requires cleaning out a corner of the psyche where we know there’s an issue, that up until now we’ve chosen to overlook.

On the 29th Ideas spark ingenious action and choices–go with it. Nevertheless, what rewards us does not reflect our ambitions, our desires, or our dreams–so maybe the second message here is, Don’t look to what you usually want, pine over, long for, or moon about for a payoff, emotional or most especially material. Relationships may offer Love unconnected to our roles, obligations, agreements, or familiarity levels; we can’t buy that kind of caring, it springs from some much purer well than the average interaction, so savor it, today.

Today’s word image is weather finally warm enough for seeds to sprout. Is there a milieu or environment you’ve been waiting for a long time to see ‘heat up’? Get ready, as the wait’s over.

The 30th actions, choices, and communications are spontaneous, inspired, imaginative, innovative, and so successful, in large part because we follow our highest values and priorities. Ambitions and goals may suffer only in their need for adjustment, to fit what we revere. We’ll see very clearly what we ourselves honor, and what others find sacred or make a priority; remember this for the future, as it always helps to know what we and others truly care about–and it can explain just about everything.

‘Harmonie du Soir’ Michel Simonidy 1904 {{PD}}

Today’s word image is suddenly beginning to listen to a kind of music you’ve never really liked before. Our tastes change; that’s why we need to keep looking around at the world, as there’s always something to try, something we’ve passed up before that’s become interesting, a thing overlooked to sample. If you haven’t lately, give something new a try.

What’s working in our favor on the 31st? A whole lot. We are confident, and because of that opportunities come to us; we act from lessons learned in the past, which have been distilled to wisdom, and we apply this to our life direction, with an eye on the future; we think it, or voice it, and connected change happens–so be especially careful with your thoughts and words. Attention is fixed on ideals, and reality doesn’t interfere. What’s not working so well? Confidence in something doesn’t mean it will happen–we can only hold confidence in ourselves–and erratic or extreme actions or responses are rooted in ignored or denied material, so that the less we have buried, the more reliable and coherent our choices.

Today’s word image is a painting centuries old where one of the figures looks just like someone you know. There’s a timelessness to individuals, with physical types recurring over and over through the years. Think of whoever of your acquaintances you imagined when you read the first sentence–consider this may be a prompt asking you to recognize something eternal in this person, to acknowledge some ancient continuity you’ve never noticed before.

June 1st offers the feeling of a ‘new start’–or would, if pesky reality didn’t keep getting in the way. We are reminded of what’s not working in our world, according to our own highest values, and we are aligned with and conscious of this most perfect sense of what we honor and who we are; listen to that inner perception, as that allows us to follow our instincts to gain in Love or Money, and to perform in harmony with the world as it is, obstacles and all.

These are definitely not those ‘so comfortable you think you’re barefoot’ shoes. By Carel Paris – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=37023331

Today’s word image is a pair of shoes that feel like you’re not wearing shoes at all. I think these suggest the kind of imperceptible support we get from the Universe. We can’t always feel it, but it’s there.

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Your Week 5-12 May 2018 Energy Ouroboros

04 Thursday May 2017

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William Blake – ‘The Temptation and Fall of Eve’ (Illustration to Milton’s “Paradise Lost”) {{PD}}

On the 5th we see opportunity–and we also see that there’s no straight line from here to there that allows us to take advantage of it. We may bristle at the way it seems the social sphere requires us to accommodate something or someone; to us, it feels like we’re being asked to sully our ideals. Be ready to adjust, compromise, work it out, bend. Seeing flexibility or the need to modify our approach as a degrading option is to take ourselves too seriously, to be navel-gazing instead of looking out there, at all the possibilities open to us. It neither hurts us to take in new info nor hurts our goals to take others or their needs into account, so look around–there are more opportunities available than you believe there are, and today they’ll show.

They’re here. Photo By Alex Proimos from Sydney, Australia – Beef Portrait, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25650958

Today’s word image is one of those big heavy balls they used to have in gym class that was called a ‘medicine ball’. I had to google them, it’s been so long since I’ve heard the term, as I wasn’t sure they still existed! They’re used for strength training, rehabilitation, and core conditioning–so what does that suggest as our image? It may be about creating a strong core Self by exercising core values. We can name our values and state what we honor ’till the cows come home, but unless we live those values, our proclamations will ring hollow (particularly to those who are living theirs) and our actions (and so our results) won’t match our intentions.

The 6th we may be feeling impulsive, erratic, hair-trigger, and there are two sources for this: our thwarted Will, and the influence of those matters we are ignoring, in denial about, or are enraged by. ‘Passion’ is key, but in the context of a pot boiling over, rather than life energy pouring toward what we love. We may believe our touchiness and overreaction arise from derailed Self-expression, but there’s an easy test to tell passion from Self-righteousness: do you become indignant at the thought that you might not get your way? That will tell you if you’ve wrapped your energy in an ego-blanket of Self-justification–in which case, take a step back and re-think your aim. If we are being honest with ourselves and others we will likely have a fine day, our actions effective, manifesting our ideas with little fuss, with the best of them supported by some original, innovative thinking by ourselves and those who offer aid.

Today’s word image is a hobby-horse. Some will visualize that as a stationary horse on rockers, while others will see a stuffed horse head on a stick; both can be ‘ridden’ by the right size individual. A hobby or rocking horse is a way for a child to pretend they are mounted on a large, dangerous animal, riding into an imaginary adventure. Where in life might you be ‘faking it’, pretending to have a dangerous or animal-like thing (an inner quality or an outer situation) ‘under control’, when that control is imaginary, and you are, in relation to this one matter, inexperienced or immature, essentially still a child?

For the 7th we see two interesting power dynamics in play: we see those whose power and reach are essentially based on status or a position held struggling with those whose power comes, in one form or another, naturally. What one side has worked and fought to attain may feel threatened by one who swans in holding similar assets, abilities, authority, or talents. How this plays out will be dependent largely on which of the two has a greater need to feel superior–so there’s that.

The second power dynamic will create scenarios where those already holding large amounts of power and influence will brilliantly use to their own benefit matters others are ignoring, denying, or are angry about. This has something to do with facts, belief, and knowledge, and it’s almost certain that those who possess more valid or accurate knowledge will do much better at resisting or otherwise ignoring the manipulative call of the power elite.

Libra, church of Saint-Austremoine,France. Photo by Jastrow {{PD}}

To remain aware is the best we can hope for under these conditions. Today under a waxing Libra Moon headed toward Full expression in Scorpio, we shouldn’t be surprised that many will feel an emotional need to cooperate, to partner, and with current Moon ruler Venus in Aries, we might each think we’re acting and choosing independently, exercising our own Will rather than that of a power broker. Just do your best–nobody expects perfection of you.

Today’s word image is a red paper kite in the shape of a flying crane. This prompts consideration of mimicry, how the kite was created in the guise of a bird but not with the expectation of fooling someone into thinking it actually was a bird–so what is the point of a human-created thing taking the form of a natural one? It might be a way to honor it, to show admiration (or is it envy?) for something humans lack (the ability to fly), or it could be an attempt to bring the beauty and grace of Nature into human creations, essentially co-opting Mother Nature’s choices as our own. Is there something in your life that you have consciously (or maybe not so) fashioned in the form of something (or someone) else, because you admired that natural ability or beauty? It’s time to review whether that thing or way of being truly suits you.

Immagine del manoscritto Zoroaster Clavis Artis, MS. Verginelli-Rota, Biblioteca dell’Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Roma, vol. 2, p. 18 {{PD}}

On the 8th we are seeking empowerment and we get it–but getting what we want entails then modifying our goals or pursuit of what we desire, in order to keep the empowered stance we’ve attained and use it to pursue our goals and wants. It’s an ouroboros where everything is dependent on everything else. If you think too much about the mechanism you’ll distract yourself and lose your balance; instead just cruise in there, eye on the prize, and be ready to negotiate at every step along the way.

Today’s word image is a deep burn received while preparing a fancy dinner. Does this suggest the chef was signalling complete commitment, a willingness to immolate the Self (psychically speaking) to serve others? Or does this suggest resentment at the chore,’feeling burned’ over having to serve others? Or does an injury while doing something very specific speak of a ‘heart’ not in the task?

On the 9th we see the Nodes shift into the Aquarius (South) and Leo (North) axis. I like to think of the Nodes as indicating flow, suggesting energy origins (with the South, in this case, showing intellectual, innovative, or avant garde sources) and the direction of development with the North (Leo, implying evolution toward the heart-centered identity, the generous, the best within the individual). These are background currents that give us a general idea of the Collective emotional thrust at any one time.

The day itself may find us impulsively violating every rule of well-being, good sense, and Nature we can find–and yet, what we create, whether this is constructive or destructive, is a solid and undeniable expression of who we are. Keep that in mind as you choose, act, think, do.

Design for a flying machine, Codex Atlanticus f.844r is a drawing by Leonardo da Vinci Photo courtesy http://www.lucnix.be {{PD}}

Today’s word image is a flying car. Much as we may theorize and fantasize about having these in the future, they aren’t here yet. What anticipated future thing are you dumping emotional energy and attention into that doesn’t exist, and where could that energy be better spent?

The 10th brings a Full Moon in Scorpio (Lunar report to follow), and emotion and feeling seem to permeate everything all day long. We may be wildly resistant to what the facts are telling us about our future; we resist what’s smart or practical for emotional reasons grounded in old wounds around love/ relationships or money. What we value in the moment is, somehow, unhealthy, and we know that–but it’s still almost impossible to get us to set aside the belief that we are getting valid information through our feelings–unless you can uncover those core wounds that are driving things and so eliminate them from the thought-equation. Strive to acknowledge we may be too steeped in our fears and hurts (but especially over a fear of what we may discover, of secrets, with a Scorpio Moon) to think clearly–leave decisions, choices, and the forming of impressions for another day.

The word image for the 10th will be the Sabian, explained in the Full Moon post.

We might want to brace ourselves on the 11th for the sheer volume of words we will hear that will contradict accompanying actions. Yes, one of those days. It seems the Full Moon will embolden some to just lie their pants off, while others will see the imagination soar in a more productive way–but in either case, there will be a marked disparity between what we’re hearing (good, sound, productive, sane words) and the simultaneous actions (deceptive or springing from delusion, based on fantasy or so vague they dissipate into nothingness, creative as all get-out). Best use? Channel effort into creative areas, rather than into anything where big deals or lots of details are involved, or where lives are at stake.

By ChinaTravelSavvy.Com – China Travel Guide, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10218039

Today’s word image is the color green. Does it bring to mind envy, money, spring and summer, new growth, old moldy food? A brackish lake or leprechauns? A nebula far away or the face of someone who ate a bad taco? Your personal associations are most important with this image.

Your Week 28 April-4 May 2017 Unfocus the Self

27 Thursday Apr 2017

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James Tissot – ‘The Gallery of HMS Calcutta (Portsmouth)’ {{PD}}

This week we may need to ‘unfocus the Self’, allow some distance (with some softening of lines) between our own interests and the rest of the world. Too much of what goes wrong does so because we push forward with the Will and ego, because the feeling is that we have a mandate, that so much excited (in the science meaning, as in agitated) energy within must signify that what we desire is correct in a Universal sense–and that is just not true. Perspective is important this week; so is keeping a strong sense of the real-world as it is, not as we think it is.

Friday the 28th the temptation is to charge forward, sure we are right. Impulsiveness feels sanctioned and may even be rewarded, and the mind is lightning-quick; we think we’re leading the pack, but Merc’s retro status combined with the parallel to and conjunction with Uranus says that we’re not able to decipher all those ideas and perceptions just yet. Like radio signals sent from some far away star and recorded by our brains, we can’t address those signals consciously yet–we know they exist but aren’t yet aware of what they mean–and that says that most action will be premature, carried out without a clear idea of the possible impact or potential consequences.

When it comes to empowering ourselves, we are confused, deluded, or inspired about what will work, if only because it appears we must compromise priorities and values to reach an ideal power state–but not only do we not have to make such a compromise, doing so won’t bring us what we think it will. We’d instead find that to bend our values will be to have given our mojo to the group, and they’ll (inevitably) wield it badly. Keep your own counsel, take notes on those brilliant ideas and sudden perceptions, and remain aware of those issues we’d all rather ignore or deny, as they figure in to the landscape whether or not we choose to acknowledge or address them.

What did you envision? By SpaceX – https://www.flickr.com/photos/spacexphotos/17071818163/, CC0

Today’s word image is a year: 1988. That’s roughly a full Saturn cycle ago. Can you see any threads running from then to now? How did the future look to you at that point? Did things go as you thought they would? How accurately did you see what was coming, and how have your beliefs and knowledge changed since then? And if you were born after that year, what particular knowledge or beliefs (Saturn in Sagittarius) do you hold that are shaping your future right now? This is about being conscious of what we’ve built, and what we’re building now.

The 29th, though we can draw wisdom from the past like water from a well, we can’t seem to apply it in finances or relationships. We want to shape these positively, to lay a rewarding or profitable groundwork for the future–with such intentions, why aren’t our efforts succeeding? 1. We’re thinking too much about power, and especially about imposing our Will–and that can come off to others as aggressive, preventing meaningful connection. 2. We’re spending too much energy in our own heads, failing to realize that knowing what we want to accomplish doesn’t get it done–we’re congratulating ourselves mentally before we’ve taken action. 3. We’re chafing at what our own instincts are telling us–and that likely means we’re rejecting internal signals in favor of keeping up a facade or fantasy. Let go of prejudices against reality (for that’s what it is, when we reject knowledge, or insist on putting it through a perceptual sieve) for best results in applying wisdom earned in the past to issues in play today.

Today’s word image is a lone, uniformed girl on a volleyball court, holding a volleyball, with no one else in sight. Is there some ‘court’ or life arena where you’re all ready for a ‘game’ or a challenge, but there’s no one else interested in playing? Such frustrations may point to being out-of-step with the current picture of ‘where the action is’, and may suggest we are trying to exert too much control over the game, trying to force others into an arena where we are more comfortable, and so assume we’d have an advantage. Consider that no matter how frightened or uncomfortable we are with the idea of stepping onto an active playing field, absolutely nothing will change if we don’t join in with others, playing the games that actually matter to them and to us.

Looking for an online Astrology class for beginners? Here’s one from Kelly that starts 1 May

On the 30th we may experience a bit of a crisis: we disconnect from reality, and then wonder why things don’t go well! The issue: fear meets our wounds, and we act out our pain via the Will. We try to flex our muscles, make things go our way, just to reassure ourselves that we’re potent, and maybe worthy. We may perceive it as the group or social order keeping us down, or rules or authorities imposing limits, but the reality is we wouldn’t feel that way if we weren’t looking for validation. First, we are not tickets, we are humans–no need for validation, we are worthy as we are, and that is true of any state in which we exist. Today, focus the Will and desires on materially-oriented goals and dreams; when we are forced to stop thinking about things in terms of the ego, and instead must process physical steps to accomplish, we go a long way toward eliminating all that could hold us back right now.

A funicular in Le Havre. Photo By Philippe Alès – Own work, GFDL, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9908206

Today’s word image is a funicular. These charming crosses between a trolley car and an elevator are uniquely suited to move people and small goods up and down steep hillsides. What is the ‘steep hillside’ you’re facing? Is there a tidy funicular (perhaps overlooked in favor of a more direct and laborious approach, in our figurative vernacular ‘cutting a road from the hillside’ or ‘using pack mules’, perhaps?) that if utilized instead would make climbing that hill a whole lot easier? What can pull you up in a way and with a speed that your effort alone just can’t?

May 1st (sometimes known as May Day) brings unqualified reward (Love, Money, or Other) from whatever we put our attention on. Choose carefully, and spend energy where you hope to profit, gain, and give and receive various forms, types, and shapes of love.

They look like they get what May Day’s all about. ‘Women dancing with veils at the May Day Pageant’ No place or year cited. No restrictions.

Today’s word image is a flock of crows flying east to their roosts for the night. Every evening around here we see a mass exodus as the crows fly a couple of miles to where they sleep. They seemed to just disappear. When I finally found out where they roost, it made sense: they chose a forested hill with no activity, completely out of sight but very close to the lake and all those sources of delicious trash, humans. What are you neglecting to allow down time? Something or someone may need to retreat periodically in a way that seems mysterious to you–let them, and know that their chosen circumstances allow them to regenerate in a way that seems safe to them.

‘Crows Fly by Red Sky at Sunset’ Portfolio/Series: from the Series Hana Kurabe Artist: Shibata Zeshin 19th century

2 May offers a somewhat uncomfortable reality check (it only hurts by as much as we are misaligned with real world circumstances), and brings about a reassessing of the values in terms of how much they support our need to shine. It’s a legitimate question, especially if we’ve valued things that act more as barriers to Soul expression than as conduits for it. It’s time we recognize that conducting ourselves according to random moral judgments or ideas of false modesty aren’t just outdated, they prevent authenticity–so here we have the chance to re-shape behaviors and commitments so they actually reflect what we honor in life, and what we find sacred.

Today’s word image is a blue dinner plate. That brings to mind the old ‘Blue Plate Special’. Whether you are aware of it or not, you’re ordering up something special, something unique, just for you, the answer to some appetite–look around, and become conscious of what it is you’re asking for.

By 3 May we are rarin’ to go with all those ideas we’ve amassed during the retrograde of Mercury, which is over today. The great thing is that through the mind we currently have a direct pathway to the instincts and to knowledge we carry deep inside–but while it’s still a tad too early to act in physical terms, it’s prime time to translate creative energies into real-world forms, so do something artistic, or that calls for as much flair as it does calculation.

Today’s word image is a man in a desert, burying a red box. Before you go all ‘Seven’ on me (“What’s in the box!!?”) imagine that it’s a gift, chosen by your Higher Self, just for you at this time in your life. Now, what’s in the box? And when will you feel ready to go dig it up?

The 4th of May sees us aim for healthy–and that might not manifest as you would expect. Some of us will need to express anger, to take action, or to act out, especially if we are faced with matters too long ignored, denied, or that have too long enraged us. The pot boileth over, and often with good reason. Some may suffer Self-recriminations over missteps in the past–please don’t, it’s all over, the only one left who needs to forgive you is you–and though thoughts and ideas may run in an overheated or too enthusiastic vein, they also help get us moving. Those not in need of speaking out are likely to take steps to better treatment of their own bodies or their psyches–but in every case, what’s done is done to push us in a healthier direction.

Not all fancy wear is for ladies. Young Chinese actor in very formal Chinese dress, ca.1920 Photographer: Pierce, C.C. (Charles C.) {{PD}}

Today’s word image is a formal gown, that the purchaser has never gotten to wear. What elevated role, event, task, or accomplishment have you been moving toward for so long, it seems you’ll never get to ‘be’ that? It’s not only never too late, you’ve been going in this direction all along–so how much longer before you ‘dress up’ in the desired identity, and step out?

Have a wonderful week, my friends! And to all the lovely people who have written to me this week, requested services, or otherwise sent kindness my way, thank you. Please know I’m moving as fast as I can and will answer, or change the availability on my Services page, as soon as possible.

Your Week 17-23 March 2017 Going Natural

16 Thursday Mar 2017

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‘Nelson Atkins Museum in Kansas City’ Photo by Carol M. Highsmith, who donated her life’s work of more than 100,000 gorgeous images to the US Library of Congress for royalty-free use. Thank you, Carol!

On the 17th the reality picture pushes us to act, but there’s something we need to know: what we’re referencing as a smart choice was indeed smart, in the past; now it’s disempowering. We can’t use our minds to try to sort this out–that means it falls to the intuition, the emotions, and/ or the feedback from others to guide us today.

Photo By Sicilian – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25619216

Today’s word image is a bowl of figs. Those are symbols of Juno; look at your empowerment situation, options for conveying your Will, your personal province: are you expressing your power in the way you choose, or have you fit your power into the situation–and if the latter, how can and should this arrangement change?

The 18th we have two things that need doing: acting to improve our health, and thinking about/ communicating within our relationships (or, for some, substitute for the latter ‘thinking about expenditures, earning, and debt’). Keep the focus on your own options, choices, and preferences, rather than getting distracted by externals, including the demands of others on our time and attention.

Today’s word image is a song. Take the title to heart.

By the 19th we may be feeling like we’ve run out of options; the facts are causing conflict with our priorities and values, what we’re hearing seems to be denying us our rights, and our own negative take on things is discouraging, to say the least. The answer? Go at power, exercising your Will, and seeing to your ‘territory’ obliquely; it’s only by sneaking up on something that we can make an impact without having to contend with resistance, subterfuge, or a ‘disappearing act’.

By H. Ambrose Kiehl – H. Ambrose Kiehl Photograph Collection, Laura and Miriam Kiehl, Seattle, 1899 {{PD}}

Today’s word image is a woman chopping wood. What is the zen phrase? ‘Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water, after enlightenment, chop wood, carry water’. What change did you expect that never materialized? And have you undervalued what has occurred out of disappointment? Consider that evolution brings its own benefits, and we may need to set aside expectations in order to appreciate them.

The 20th may find us visiting (or even wallowing in) the past, with our focus being all that we should have done differently. Look–we’ve already inspected what was, already been propelled along the time stream–so why not shift our thoughts in the direction of what we’ve attended to in the past that made us a success? Here’s where we access that useful kernel of truth that can help us in the present.

Bronze-age dolphin fresco at Knossos. {{PD}}

Today’s word image is a dolphin. If these highly intelligent mammals had legs and thumbs, they’d surely be in charge. What’s the equivalent in your world? What threats or promises does this thing or Being offer, and how do you feel about it?

On the 21st inspiration empowers, spiritual alignment lends authority to the exercise of prerogatives, and the creative finds expression–but somehow we aren’t considering the facts, and this exerts a cost on our health. That’s a vague formula, I know–but its most likely manifestation is in a kind of optimism that prompts a euphoric disregard for indulgences or excesses that take a toll on our well-being. We know we shouldn’t, but things are going so well . . . we are tempted to, anyway. With the Sun in Aries we are likely hyper-aware that we are Self-determining; listen to instincts, as they speak without the distraction of either hope or cost.

Today’s word image is a suitcase packed well ahead of the trip. What are you preparing for, that it’s not time for yet? Could the reserved resources be better used elsewhere, at this point? Are you projecting part of your energy into the future, making it unavailable in the present? Living with one foot in a reality that hasn’t arrived may feel like being prepared to some, but in reality it can’t help but distract from where we are now.

On the 22nd we look to make the future pay off–and in focusing on what we can gain, we may kill inspiration, imagination, and genuine goals and ambitions, substituting a ‘sure thing’ (though a less desirable thing to us) in Love or Money, instead. Access your instincts (again!)–it’s the only way to balance consideration of the future with your dreams.

By Eva Rahman Nishi – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32557857

Today’s word image is a topiary. This is a natural thing shaped unnaturally. What is being distorted in the name of beauty or to make it ‘presentable’, that you may want to let ‘go natural’, now?

The 23rd things suddenly get complicated, dynamic, and we may be faced with unavoidable realities that force decisions; we may feel that the smart way (that is, the way we would’ve gone) is blocked, and the mind resists change and those things it would rather pretend don’t exist. What assists us? A willingness to adjust our course, valuing our own strength, prerogatives, and those roles where we hold authority, and an openness to the spontaneous, the sudden, and the original–these factors can turn what seems like a frustrating dead end into a clever, unique, and exciting plan for the future.

Today’s word image is a little Emily Dickinson:

Much madness is divinest sense/To a discerning eye;/Much sense the starkest madness./’T is the majority/In this, as all, prevails,/Assent, and you are sane;/Demur,–you’re straightaway dangerous,/And handled with a chain

Your Week 10-16 February 2017 Accept It

09 Thursday Feb 2017

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Robinet Testard, Allegory of Music or Erato in an illuminated manuscript of Echecs amoureux, ca 1496-1498 {{PD}}

Robinet Testard, Allegory of Music or Erato in an illuminated manuscript of Echecs amoureux (failed loves), c1496-1498 {{PD}}

I have only a couple of things I’d like to add to the eclipse picture for the 10th: Mother Nature backs instincts–trust them, they’re unlikely to be delusions or wishful thinking at this point, though be careful to vet them against the facts or the reality picture, to insure they aren’t simply distractions from the core (eclipse) issues; be aware it’s a false equivalency if someone tries to persuade you that prosperity is a direct reflection of smarts–it isn’t; and it may be tempting to distort values to fit current situations–don’t.

No word image for today–we’ve got enough pictures flying around in our minds as it is.

In the lee of the eclipse, on the 11th we see and live, or deny and suppress, what’s healthy–there’s no in-between–and since opportunities will abound, we need to be clear on what’s smart (and that means what’s healthy), in order to take advantage of them. Best source of wisdom? I hate to say it, but it may be authorities, custom, tradition, and father figures–but keep in mind, sometimes we can learn as much from examples of what we shouldn’t be as we can from what we should.

Today’s word image is a double-headed swan. What do we say about swans, besides that they’re beautiful? That they mate for life. The symbol may suggest such a committed melding, a ‘two fleshes that become one’ kind of relationship, and that relationship may be between individuals or an individual and some commitment. We tend to hold this up as the ideal of marriage in our society–but is it truly healthy to lose oneself in commitment to another? It can be–if we maintain a separate and Self-respecting sense of identity, interests, and values (the two heads)–that is, if we don’t subdue our own Beingness in favor of the partner’s–and if we are willing to walk away should the relationship become destructive to who we are.

For the 12th we may feel overwhelmed by seemingly inevitable and relentless change, destruction, transformation, resurrection, entropy, decay, and shifts to structures and forms we’ve always counted on. The vertigo is understandable, and may persuade us that our ambitions and goals may be harmed by changes we can’t stop–but that fear is simply an expression of the disconnect between our conscious minds and our instincts. A good place to jump-start the connection is with the transiting Moon and the subjects of the natal House the Moon’s currently passing through; it’s roughly at mid- to late Virgo, and just from its current sign we know that being accountable, that taking a detail or critically-oriented approach, one focused on results (the Harvest), will help us align the conscious mind with the unconscious perceptions–and so remove the tension that can grow when we perceive but don’t ‘know’.

Today’s word image is something green–whatever thing, of whatever shade, that grabs your attention. It’s a synchronous marker, a notice to pay attention now, a wake up call to something untested, untried, or unripe, a hint to watch what’s growing. If the green is a shade you wouldn’t find in nature, then consider what unnatural thing may have been masquerading as organic to your life.

The 13th brings a perceptible shift–it becomes apparent that what’s been hidden or ignored is fact-based, is seated in wide-ranging relationships, and missing this may have stymied opportunities–and we may feel rebellious from, or very much at odds with, our own wisdom, nature, and personal authority. We reject the very idea that we should’ve been paying attention. We may seek to avoid responsibility–we play the rebel, the righteous one, or the genius, and in the role see an escape from the mundane or the disciplined–but really, our instincts and impulses will lead us astray–only the concrete, the contained, the austere, and the serious will offer progress at this time.

Today’s word image is one customer ignored while another is attended promptly. That is an awful situation, whether you are the one ignored (and so feeling shamed and infuriated by the way you’re treated) or the one who receives help in the presence of the ignored one (and so feeling equal parts embarrassed, guilty, and angry) as even in the situation of noting to the clerk, when it applies, that the other person was first rarely prompts a change. This image may speak to our own assumptions about what we’re ‘owed’, as well as pointing out that sometimes we just have to deal with others’ prejudices and filters, no matter what our position. It also may suggest that feelings such as shame or guilt that are unrelated to our own actions are an inappropriate burden we’re not meant to carry; these have roots in unresolved internal matters, and have attached themselves to someone else’s choices, making us feel somehow responsible even though we aren’t.

On the 14th those who own their own empowerment both shape the future and ‘win’; but be aware that actions and choices have a tendency to arise from past experiences rather than a position of strength, and that you may be feeling certain social pressures that threaten wounds, and so must be adjusted for.

Gustav Klimt 1902 {{PD}}

Gustav Klimt 1902 {{PD}}

Today’s word image is a storm anticipated that never arrives. Are we looking for upset, drama, trouble? Being prepared for it is one thing, but arranging our lives around potential ‘bad weather’ is an entirely unnecessary other thing, one that bleeds energy from our efforts and taints our goals and expression of purpose.

For the 15th we see all forms of Nature (including human) support our expression of our most unique and individual skill sets, but we must go forward on mental and emotional energy alone, as creativity just isn’t available; the creative urge is stuck somewhere under the rules, the incorporated voices of authorities past and present, and in our own fears of being freakish or out-of-control. Any time you’re feeling queasy, just think about what really matters to you, and re-align efforts from there.

Today’s word image is a rocking chair. Take things as they come, accept the ebb and flow of energy, and relax with something soothing and meditative.

The 16th, in a somewhat round-about way, brings man-woman issues seated in who holds what power. Everyone has something to say about this: the social sphere, authorities, Mom, people who are angry, those who aren’t gaining what they’d hoped or meeting their goals, the empowered and the disempowered, literally everyone with a stake in the game–and that applies doubly to those who see themselves as above it all–they are more vulnerable than anyone to wrestling for power without realizing they are! It’s easy to be destructive or wish to wipe the slate clean, but think carefully before you do, because at this time the baby of progress goes right out with the clearing-the-decks-bathwater, scuttling any advantages we’ve so far acquired.

Today’s word image is time travel. Say what?! You’ll have a little taste of that today; it gives you the chance to decide whether you want to go back to that era, or not.

I’m a little late spreading the word, but you might want to check this out at the excellent ‘Neptune and the Oak’

This week in a song (at least, this is the way it might feel):