Just a Little AstroEssence 18 January 2018 Half-Hearted

Tags

, , ,

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

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

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

Just a Little AstroEssence 17 January 2018 Health

Tags

, , ,

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

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

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

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

See the New Moon in Capricorn here–

Just a Little AstroEssence 16 January 2018 New Moon in Capricorn ‘Uncertainty Principle’

Tags

, , , , ,

Though this is considerably more moonlight than we get with a New Moon, this picture seems to capture the spirit of this NM well. ‘Dubrovnik bei Mondlicht’ (Dubrovnik by Moonlight) 1914 By Eduard Kasparides {{PD}}

We have a handful of interesting pair-ups, aside from the New Moon today. Ceres conjoins the North Node point, creating a conscious awareness of how our current power position is forming our future–and perhaps generating some confusion, fear, or delusion, or an insistence on idealism, because of it (Neptune parallel Zeus)–add to this Mercury conjoined Black Moon Lilith, for a touch of paranoid thinking or obsessive anger or worry, and you set the New Moon stage as one where we may be very concerned over what’s to come. Being anxious, even potentially acting or lashing out, almost becomes a given, as that energy must go somewhere, discharge somehow–and that’s how we make a little explosive casing for New Moon events.

The New Moon is 6:17 PM Pacific time at 26 Capricorn 54, conjoined an already separating Venus, but not close enough to be considered conjoined Pluto, over which Sun and Moon have both recently passed. This scenario suggests that the New Moon event is born as a reaction to recent trauma or change and the risk/ reward potentials it has presented. Now, we are thinking, we must stabilize things, figure out the ‘rules’ as they currently stand, set parameters, contain the matter, or choose a shape and structure for developments, trying to control them. What we may not see is that they have already been given a Capricornian shape, and that the New Moon is actually our reaction to that. Difficulty knowing this may be the function of the semi-square of the Moon to Neptune; we’ll almost certainly struggle, to see our own ideals clearly as we grope for a guideline, or just to make it through what will likely feel like an entirely arbitrary fog. Why are we having such a hard time? we may wonder; it’s Neptune, inciting its own kind of uncertainty principle (though the ‘real’ one is Heisenberg’s, that is an apt analogy for this effect, as well).

The New Moon falls at the rough midpoint of a Mars-Chiron trine, suggesting NM events have some origin in or connection to both our own choices/ actions and our wounded nature, perhaps even that the NM event is our effort at finding a balance between the two influences. The NM is also in rough square to both Uranus and Pallas, both in Aries; it may feel like the NM is our reaction to the unpredictability, erratic nature, and/ or wisdom (or lack of it) of others. Our Willful attempt (Cappy NM) to contain or put up barriers or arrest the Will of others (the Aries placements) finds expression in conflict (the square), but doesn’t require open warfare. The trine of the NM to Sedna says we either access instinct, and so respond adeptly to the ‘threat’, or we respond out of the depths of our own ‘blind spot’, setting other, new physical consequences (Sedna in Taurus) in motion.

Caspar David Friedrich ‘Wanderer above the Sea of Fog’ 1817 {{PD}}

The Sabian symbol for the New Moon is, ‘Pilgrims Climbing The Steep Steps Leading To A Mountain Shrine’. This suggests a building of effort, toward eventual attainment, that is very much in tune with Capricorn, as are both the symbol of the mountain and the humble pilgrim. No matter what shape New Moon events take, and no matter what they are in response to, we embody the sincerity of the pilgrim, who acknowledges there is something bigger, ‘more than’, ‘out there’, and that the only way to understand things in this uncertain world is to take steps, one at a time, that lead us to the sacred place (the shrine of the symbol). And that journey, whether we are conscious of the sacred nature of those steps or not, is life, isn’t it?

Hint for personal New Moon interpretation: Look for the configurations; there’s potential for two Fingers of God (base of NM-Chiron or base of NM-Mars, apex a natal body, also Grand Trine with NM and Sedna, third component a natal body). Remember, for a Finger the apex must be quincunx (150 degrees) from each base element, with an orb of no more than two degrees from both base elements. A Grand Trine can be a little looser–give it 3 degrees orb.

Just a Little AstroEssence 15 January 2018 Waking From the Dream

Tags

, , , ,

I’d want to wake from this dream, if only because it’s so crowded! The dreamer is in the left corner, in case you had trouble finding her. ‘The Reconciliation of Titania and Oberon’ 1846, By Joseph Noel Paton {{PD}}

We’re in Dark of the Moon right now, you know; that makes influences like a whisper not quite heard, permeating the unconscious, seeping into dreams, curling around our ankles like fog–nothing truly dramatic, just persistent and stealthy, felt rather than seen, noticed only in the most oblique ways. That’s unusually subtle for an aspect like Jupiter sextile Pluto, which exaggerates or informs or fact-checks circumstances of change, transformation, or destruction: are things really destroyed? Do we know whether the transformation took? Is the danger as big as it seems? We see the dark side of Love or Money, and our imaginations run away with us, likely in a negative direction (Venus parallel Pluto and semi-sq Neptune). But here’s the good thing: the practicality and wisdom of our own minds and reasoning power reasserts itself (Mercury parallel Pallas), pulling us back from the brink, cutting through the fog, waking us from the dream, and showing us what may have been lurking in our ‘blind spot’, making us that much more prepared to go forward successfully (Sun trine Sedna).

Today’s word image is too much pepper. I know someone who cooks with what I consider too much ground black pepper–in fact, it’s pretty much the only spice she ever uses! Don’t get into a rut; variety really is the spice of life–season things in a new way, and watch the new ‘flavors’ as they come to the fore.

Your Weekend 14 January 2018 Harsh Surprise, Positive Benefit

Tags

, , , ,

‘The Frosty Morning’ 1894, By Nikolai Nikanorovich Dubovskoy

That’s what today boils down to: surprising circumstances, shocks, revelatory information, intellectual jolts, incursion of the modern, the new, or the group into the individual prerogative, but all of it results in highly positive benefits, generating healing or unique use of our skills (Sun sq Uranus and sxt Chiron). Vesta enters Sagittarius and noviles Zeus, opening our eyes and our horizons to the ways we can honor and innovate in achieving our goals, while Chiron noviles the South Node, drawing on the past for answers and ways of redressing ills. Our actions and choices are deft, clever (Mars novile Saturn) and we gain by following our instincts (Venus trine Sedna). The only negative may be that it’s so easy to believe messages we were given in the past that we may miss who and what we really are today (Mercury nov SN).

Drawing By John Singer Sargent CC0

Today’s word image is a lie told because the truth is unacceptable. Is that okay? No. Face what is; reality, no matter how painful, is always preferable to a fantasy–and it’s important to know, we can’t begin to make effective change until we know exactly where we stand.

Your Weekend 13 January 2018 Be the Current

Tags

, , , ,

‘La Dordogne’ By Frits Thaulow 1902 {{PD}}

Be aware that actions and choices may spring from outrage, acknowledged or not, or from a healthy sense of righteousness (Mars semi-sq Black Moon Lilith), and that the messages we send and receive will chafe against the usual social norms, our beliefs, or the facts as we see them (Mercury semi-sq Jupiter), and yet what actually grabs our attention are the shiny surprises, the unpredictability of relationships and rewards, and the unexpectedly contrary nature of our wants, all of which can just as easily inflict injury as they can heal it (Venus sq Uranus and sxt Chiron). ‘Head above water’ may be the goal for most of us as we struggle to decipher and handle what comes at us; a better aim might be ‘Swim with the current’, allowing influences to inform and illuminate what we see, think, and do, while keeping an eye out for rough water ahead–or, if you can rise to it, ‘Be the current’, sending your influence out in gentle but surprising ripples.

‘Tea Cup Ballet’ Artist : Olive Cotton (Australia, b.1911, d.2003) {{PD}} gelatin silver photograph, gift of the Artist Accession Number : 218.1980

Today’s word image is a hot cup of tea, gone cold. Do you drink it, or throw it out? Re-heat it, wait for someone else to clear it up, berate yourself for having abandoned it, are you angry at the waste, or do you fail to give it a second thought? Answer that, and then replace “hot cup of tea gone cold” with “relationships”. What do you think of your answer, now?

Just a Little AstroEssence 12 January 2018 Focus On: Mercury Conjoined Saturn

Tags

, , ,

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

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

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

Just a Little AstroEssence 11 January 2018 Serious

Tags

, , ,

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

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

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

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

And have a great Thursday!

Just a Little AstroEssence 10 January 2018 No Gap

Tags

, , ,

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

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

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

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

Just a Little AstroEssence 9 January 2018 Change Your Fate

Tags

, , , ,

1024px-Alphonse_Mucha_-_Fate

Alphonse Mucha ‘Fate’ 1919 {{PD}}

Today we see and feel a rare confluence of energies perfectly suited to offer life and even Soul-changing opportunities. Relationships, finances, or our own ego or Will may be the catalyst (Sun-Venus-Pluto conj, all sxt Mars), or events/ evolution within or without may prompt change. Thoughts support desires, and suss out the most effective way for us to pursue opportunity, which springs either from potentials seeded in the past or from our own previous choices and actions (Mercury nov Jupiter and parallel Venus, Jupiter parallel SN). The way we become aware of all these energies is likely through the conflict between our current ambitions and desires and our resources or relationships; somehow these don’t support our goals, and this sparks the whole merry chase for shaping our lives and ourselves more to our liking (Sun-Venus-Pluto sq Zeus).

Today both Venus and Pluto begin a new cyclic period in relation to the Sun. The initiation of a new cycle always suggests we need to be on the lookout for new forms and patterns related to these bodies. These can come in the internal form of seeing these influences in a new light, or in external developments that show us these are no longer what we once believed them to be. Awareness that our relationship to matters of assets, interactions, Love, values, change, and destructive inclinations may all more or less find new forms; it’s up to us to note the shifts, and accept a ‘new reality’ in regard to the spectrums Venus and Pluto cover.

By D J Shin – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23019400

Today’s word image is: while sitting in your car, considering taking certain life steps, you see another car approach that presents as identical, seemingly right down to the passengers! Encountering the doppelgänger is something that happens to all of us–the question is whether we recognize ourselves in that other when it occurs. So, something like when the Groundhog looks for his shadow, if you’ve seen your doppelgänger of late, consider it a signal that your Self-awareness is ‘on’ and so accurate, but if you haven’t, consider that the answers you’re seeking are likely being reflected back to you in some way, with a change of focus necessary to perceive them.

If you enjoy these Daily Forecasts, please consider a small donation, or even a recurring amount of one or two dollars a month–it’s all very much appreciated.  Many thanks to those who already donate or purchase books–you are this blog’s bedrock!

Julie Demboski's ASTROLOGY

Addressing the Individual Experience Within the Universal Truth

Skip to content ↓