Your Week 21-27 April 2017 + the New Moon in Taurus: A Trick of Perception

20 Thursday Apr 2017

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, forecast, Horoscope, New Moon, Sabian Symbols, The Daily Word Image

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NASA {{PD}}

Recently a reader asked if my descriptions each day are channeled, simply intuitive guesses as to what may come. I can answer definitively, No, they are based on a reading of the aspects perfecting that day that centers on how those aspects might interact. They are purely and completely based on astrology–though word images are drawn from inspirations, or factors that have repeated in quick succession around me. So now you know.

The 21st is a lively day; we may feel caught at a point of convergence, with cross-currents pulling us in every direction. The social sphere seems to want to drag us back into the worst of the past, while resource restrictions and friendship limits are readily apparent at every turn. It doesn’t help that our sense of vulnerability and our wounds seem directly plugged in to the power scenario; though we have clear guidelines in a firm sense of values and priorities, it may be difficult to gain strength from them when every little encounter, interaction, or exchange seems to question, undermine, or criticize our efforts and intentions.

Take a deep breath; it’s all a trick of the perceptions. With Mars moving into Gemini, and the Sun parallel Mercury and trine the North Node, one way or another, we may find we’re ‘living in our heads’. The hamster wheel of thought could plague us, or it could be more a case of being unable to move, caught in a loop of overthinking or merely pondering without connecting it to action. Mercury’s still retrograde, after all, so take this as a perfect time to consider, contemplate, reassess, and plan for the future, avoiding any pressure to act, react, or decide.

Today’s word image is a single planet. What struck me about this image is the fact that planets and other bodies are caught by gravity within a system–no planet floats alone through the galaxy. Their tethers are the various pulls exerted by other bodies in their system and the star around which all revolve. This may speak of our own personal sense of isolation or feeling solitary, and may remind us that it’s not the nature of things that we should go it alone. Look around, see who else is ‘in your orbit’, moving in a shared ‘system’, affected by the same pulls and larger influences as you.

On the 22nd we may feel an abrupt pull-back of energy, embodied in confusion of thought and empowerment hampered by a lack of connection to instinct. Again, make few or no demands on yourself at this time–save your strength for what’s to come.

Apparently there is a Bacon Hill Substation along the Northeast Railroad Corridor near Baltimore, Maryland. Library of Congress, {{PD}} within the US.

Today’s word image is a ridiculously odd phrase, ‘Railroad Bacon’. It appeared as a rebus, a set of pictures that create a word or phrase. I hesitated to use this but felt sure that someone else will see a specific meaning, or that for some individual, this will have a very particular application. My thought? Something about energy, movement, and fat and protein consumption. We ‘lose steam’ when we don’t have the proper fuel, and in some circles it’s fashionable to eschew fat (a concentrated source of energy, and the ‘lubricant’ precursor for nerves and synapses) and to limit protein (vital for muscle-building). Are you running low?

Today’s (the 23rd’s) T-square of Mars to the Nodal axis coincides with the Mars sesquiquadrate to Jupiter–but we all know there are no coincidences, right? We may act on what we’ve recently contemplated, and do so prematurely, or we could find ourselves springing into action almost before we can form the intention or thought to do so. And the motivations behind such impulsive moves? These have two main sources: restrictions felt to our power, authority, or reach, and the social sphere as we feel pressure to support a mutual agenda. Awareness that what we do now builds the future, as well as the understanding that choices forged in stress are likely to be weak or poorly thought through, must inform what and why we do what we do at this time.

Today’s word image is a squirrel water-skiing. We’ve all seen those pictures of little rodents wearing a tiny life vest, balancing on tiny water-skis, and holding tight to the most miniature of handles attached to a delicate ski rope. This is clearly not a natural behavior of vacationing squirrels–so maybe we should ask ourselves what it is we are ‘dressing up’ unnaturally, perhaps seeing it as more cooperative, amusing, or in sync with us than it really is?

On the 24th real-world circumstances challenge our stated values–the issue may be either a need to modify our ideas of what’s important, or it may be that we must live up to what we’ve been claiming as our standards and ideals. In either case, there are a few things we should know: do everything you can to keep actions and choices from being destructive; don’t let thoughts and thinking be co-opted by the past; and be willing to acknowledge what isn’t working within the values and priorities picture, adjusting so that values harmonize with what actually is (caution: this may require surprising restraint or a willing acceptance of boundaries).

Today’s word image is a suddenly-acquired taste for something you never liked before. Has this ever happened to you? Is it a sign of evolving appetites, changing standards, or does it suggest you never before tried (or were able to appreciate) this thing in just this way? Are you irritated over the dent this puts in your Self-image, or do you welcome the change in your definition of who you are?

The 25th we have a heck of a time seeing what’s healthy and what’s not, especially in terms of our actions and choices meant to empower us or to fulfill ambitions. Ideals, dreams, and the existing power structure may cloud issues, and this applies to all forms of ‘health’: mental, emotional, physical, spiritual. Assess with as much care as possible, and know this: only action, or making a choice, will break the impasse, though there are no guarantees on the results.

Pamela Coleman Smith – a 1909 card scanned by Holly Voley (http://home.comcast.net/~vilex/) for the public domain, and retrieved from http://www.sacred-texts.com/tarot {{PD-US}}

Today’s word image is the Fool card of the Tarot. Is the Fool the essence of innocence or obliviousness, in your view? If he steps over the edge of the cliff (as he’s shown in Rider-Waite based decks) do you imagine him plunging to his demise, or flying, or perhaps magically finding some stepping stone appearing beneath his feet? Are you annoyed by this kind of behavior, feeling it’s not fair that others must look out for this kind of person, or are you the one who expresses a kind of indifference to reality? Do you worry about the fate of the little dog? How does your reaction to this card of the Major Arcana describe you, and are these traits that you are proud of, or wish to change?

The 26th we receive a mandate in concert with the New Moon: put your attention on healing (Sun novile Chiron). With the New Moon falling in Taurus, the suggestion may be to approach the need to heal via material comforts or those things that provide security. The New Moon is almost on its own, making only a quincunx to Black Moon Lilith, and a loose semi-square with a Venus under crisis at 29 degrees of Pisces. The implication is that what’s born here requires adjustment to (and perhaps acknowledgment of) what we’ve been ignoring or denying, or perhaps that we admit what enrages us is more about us and our (possibly ignored or buried) emotions than about the topic. This also implies that a crisis state with relationships, finances, or values (and specifically with our ideals and illusions surrounding these) finds an answer via a new ‘shape’ or form to the way we see those connections, dependencies, or how we are assessing their worth. In seeking to heal we tackle some issue previously set aside, with the NM energy offering a potential path, like as not produced by a problem or crisis in a Venus-ruled area.

‘The Water of Life Discourse between Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the Well’ by Angelika Kauffmann 18th century {{PD}}

The Sabian for the New Moon is, ‘The Woman Of Samaria At The Ancestral Well’. The symbol doesn’t mention Jesus, but the woman of Samaria at the well is inextricably linked with him. There are a variety of interpretations of the story, but what strikes me about this as a symbol is the way, as we would say around my house, Jesus insisted upon himself–that is, explained who he was, the spiritual meaning of his request for water, and so on. Despite the cultural and religion-based explanations for why the conversation went as it did and what it meant, I still found the ‘saying, not doing’ aspect of the story the most jarring. A Being of that status engaging in a round-about argument with a woman from a tribe mutually hostile to his own, and his big ‘wow’ is telling her she has had 5 husbands, and so should believe him? I’m a believer in living as an example of what you believe, of persuading by doing, showing, rather than just saying, or taking a stance that is essentially, ‘Believe what I say, no matter the lack of supporting evidence.’ Jesus was asking this woman to take his word for it, that he was indeed the Messiah, on the strength of a party trick. Though faith is, by definition, belief in what hasn’t been seen or proven, we must make the leap to conclude that she was moved spiritually, in a way the story doesn’t really define or even mention. The application of this to the New Moon in Taurus? Believe what you can hold in your hand, in material securities and comfort, in Love, in the assets you have right now, in those things that offer tactile reassurance of your place, your support, your well-being, and make these truly your own by being willing to deal with what’s been denied, until now, by dealing with what is–and then have faith from there, in what moves you, not simply from what someone claims or has told you. It’s the only way to find your footing in such an unsure world.

On the 27th we have a single aspect perfecting, a sesquiquadrate between Mars and Pluto, and this is likely to dominate the landscape. We’ll see the Will, the Ego, the impulsive action urge of ourselves or others explode on the scene, as the individual seeks to take control, to lead, to destroy, or to transform what’s before them. Patience, caution, and a little objectivity employed may mean we miss an opportunity or two, but also don’t bring the house crashing down around us.

Today’s word image is the line between good and evil. Is this an individually-determined thing, subject to one’s own moral assessment, or would you say there are absolutes involved? Do you believe these two exist as actual forces in the Universe, independent of human judgment, or do you think they’re man-made concepts, reliant on cultural justifications to determine what is good, and what is evil?

Have a lovely week, and please consider a small donation or book purchase in support of the blog, if you’re so inclined 🙂

Your Week 14-20 April 2017 A Taste of What’s Holding You Back

12 Wednesday Apr 2017

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, forecast, Horoscope, Inferior Conjunction, Pluto, Retrogrades + Directions, Sun/Mercury Inferior Conjunction, The Daily Word Image, Venus

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‘Merchant’s Wife at Tea’ By Boris Kustodiev 1917 {{PD}}

Friday the 14th we see a perfect blending of ego and action urge with instincts, making for highly successful actions and choices as long as we go totally on those programmed and in-built inclinations. Problems arise from too much conscious attention to values and priorities; this is a time when we quite literally do best to think as little as possible, and to follow the spontaneous instinctive spark we carry within–otherwise, we tie ourselves in knots trying to make material and everyday circumstances meet a ‘purity standard’ that belongs better as an ideal.

Today’s word image is the actor John Wayne. Even when I was a child, he was considered a symbol of American values–but when we inspect those values now, we see their flaws: the embrace of Manifest Destiny, which inherently carries the idea of White superiority; the romanticization of the Western way of life, including its misogynist bent, its assumption of ‘Christian’ values as right and superior, and its lack of regard for both the best interests of animals/ the land, and the rights of other cultures, especially indigenous ones; the idea of rugged individualism, a pernicious code echoing the ‘each man for himself’, ‘survival of the fittest’ ideal which celebrates Self-reliance to an absurd degree, as well as justifying unfettered greed and exploitation, and as fuel for sanctimonious refusal to help others; the romance with guns, which continues today. It may be too much to say we should look at our own ‘John Wayne attitudes’, some way in which we are unquestioningly sure we are carrying the banner of right, or making assumptions about privilege due–it may be enough to look around for and make note of where these ugly Western assumptions may still permeate our thinking, our beliefs about ourselves, our country, or our way of life.

Venus goes direct on the 15th, at 26 Pisces 54; this sends it back toward a re-perfection of that square with Saturn. We get a last taste of barriers, restrictions, obstacles, or required discipline–or we see the cost of those restrictions, or the cost of not having applied them, or what we’ve lost by following (or not following) ‘the rules’, especially as it pertains to relationships. This may present a last, bitter pill, or could show us the difficulty associated with getting what we desire, and though tough, could be the point of delivery–it’s all dependent on previous experience with this square, and the individual impact through the natal chart, especially the unique relationship of each person to the Saturn concepts (which generally dictate whether the retro period represents a ‘taking away’ or an ‘opening the way’).

There’s also a perfection of a Juno sesquiquadrate to the North Node, which on the surface might not seem like much–but when we combine it with the Venus-Saturn effect, with Venus finally leaving her retro phase, we may find, especially if we are female, that empowerment options and circumstances that should help us build our desired future will not be easily exercised. We may find that the patriarchy, the establishment, authorities, elders, or rule-enforcers put obstacles in our way, or try to suppress or stop us. Gaining empowerment is possible, as long as we are willing to work around or be flexible, in terms of those demands or restrictions being made on us.

Today’s word image is a hand-tooled leather bridle. As lovely as the workmanship on one can be, a bridle is essentially an instrument of control, one that works because of the pain it causes (via the metal bit to the sensitive mouth of a horse or other animal). Is there some external control, applied by someone else, that you’re allowing, out of fear of pain if you don’t? What freedom have you allowed to be ‘bridled’, willingly or not? Have you been indoctrinated with the idea that certain behaviors aren’t allowed, that it would be uncivilized (or unladylike, or unmanly) to indulge in them? What’s allowing someone else to ride you–that is, keep on top of you or your performance, in some way–and so control you?

On the 16th we surf an unusually smooth and pleasant minor ‘wave’ of harmonies and sychronicities. Values aid the operation of instincts, actions and choices utilize our most unique skills, and cooperation, especially cooperation between complementary elements (anima and animus, man-woman, assertive and receptive, yin and yang) flows with little effort. It all comes naturally, with the result being that we find the energy and spark to handle what we’ve been ignoring or denying, and in doing so find our personal empowerment options strengthened and elevated.

By Paolo Monti – Available in the BEIC digital library and uploaded in partnership with BEIC Foundation.The image comes from the Fondo Paolo Monti, owned by BEIC and located in the Civico Archivio Fotografico of Milan.This work is free and may be used by anyone for any purpose.

Today’s word image is a single blue balloon, floating up and away from a crowd. That is one of the saddest sights, I think, because it means some child lost their hold; that precious, fleeting pleasure of balloon ownership is, for some probably distraught young one, no more. I find the temporary nature of a balloon part of its appeal; like a flower, you know it doesn’t have a long life–and the fact that they float and fly has always made them special, too. What short-lived pleasure in your life has recently expired? Did you ever think it might simply be practice for enjoying in the moment, and letting go?

By the 17th the real world, as it is right now, is in our faces–and if we handle issues willingly, openly, we find opportunities plentiful and our ability to act unhindered. The issues revolve around deception (by others or our own of ourselves), reality as it is, rather than as we’d like it to be, and how healthy our choices are, at this time; if we can be straight with ourselves over these matters, we will find our personal effectiveness goes beyond anything we’ve been imagining, and that opportunity and support from the social sphere are attracted without any special effort on our part.

Today’s word image is a spider that dangles from a single thread of spider silk above the head of an unsuspecting individual. If you’re afraid of spiders, this might give you the heebie-jeebies–and nobody, frightened of arachnids or not, wants a creepy-crawly in their hair. This may alert us to something undesirable that is ‘hanging over our heads’–and yet we don’t know it, or are not conscious that it poses such a ‘threat’. Maybe the solution is to ‘look up’–or maybe just look around carefully, to be more aware of our surroundings at all times. 

On the 18th we once again see personal power aided by our ability to allow our instincts to call the shots; too, thinking is in line with, and attention is on, the future, allowing us to consciously guide things in the direction we’d like to go. So what’s not working? Wounds around relationships and finances may derail the entire day, unless we are able to set resentments and fears aside and simply listen to the internal pulse of call and intuitive response, without letting negative thoughts intrude.

Today’s word image is an empty closet. You’ve got nothing to hide, right? Or is this a reminder that you’ve got plenty of room, some place clean and ready to hold your things?

On the 19th what we have previously ignored now gets our full attention–and in providing that, we gain in wisdom, practicality, and our ability to affect circumstances. The world is our oyster–and we are poised to start a fresh ‘pearl’, via the Inferior Conjunction of the Sun and Mercury–which is precise about 11:01 PM Pacific time, and occurs just after the Sun’s entry into Taurus. This suggests that the seed planted here may be a physical one, the start of something materially significant, the beginning of a project, idea, or condition that has a material impact, or one involving the senses or sense-perceptions. Just a few hours later, on the 20th, Pluto retrogrades at 19 Capricorn 23, and soon thereafter we see Merc shift back into Aries. This subtly alters our retro period thinking; we change from considering material matters, comfort, and consequences to the potentials behind action and Self-responsibility. We start to consider that we are the ones who can do something about ‘it’. As a backdrop to this, Pluto’s change in apparent direction may simply emphasize the darkness, or the destructive tendencies, inherent in the forces of evolution, transformation, and change. Pluto’s retrograde gives us new appreciation for how close we may be standing to the precipice, and how much more carefully we might want to move–or giving us the urge to either back away to safety, or to jump.

By Dwayne Albert – Originally from en.wikipedia; description page was here., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2974795

Today’s word image is a pair of sleeping dogs. Do we ‘let them lie’, as in the saying, or are they not performing as they should, barking when trouble approaches? Either there’s a topic not to be touched at present, or an early warning system is down.

Full Moon in Libra April 2017 Together

06 Thursday Apr 2017

Posted by in astrology, forecast, Full Moon, Horoscope, Lunar Aspects, Sabian Symbols

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‘Argenteuil’ Édouard Manet 1874 {{PD}}

The Full Moon occurs at 11:07 PM PDT of the 10th, at 21 Libra 32, with the Sabian, ‘A Child Giving Birds A Drink At A Fountain’. I start with this image, rather than adding it at the end of the analysis, because of the integral part cooperation plays within the image itself; there would be no picture here, if the child didn’t operate the fountain for the birds, and no birds would come near if they couldn’t trust the child enough to overcome their natural fear in order to get a drink. Even inter-species, that is a Libra image through and through, and marks an important point that we sometimes overlook when discussing Libra: without the Other (no matter what form that other takes), we would have no Libra at all–it can’t exist without complementary parts, without multiple facets, entities, or involved parties willingly coming together and working in concert. A Full Moon falling in this sign suggests an end or culmination, one which either brings together entities in a spirit of Libran cooperation, or that ends such cooperation, setting partners previously working together free, on their own.

With that in mind we look at the aspects made by the Full Moon, keeping our orb relatively close (no more than 3 degrees for major aspects, though we’ll immediately make an exception to this, and 2 or less for more minor contacts). We start with that exception, a chain reaction conjunction of the Full Moon with Zeus and Jupiter (with Jupiter 3 deg 43 min from exact–it’s the asteroid Zeus in between that helps extend the orb and link the event with the planet). Here we see that the FM brings to a head desire or ambition, and knowledge or the role within the public sphere–that is, we either achieve, gain the desired goal or other, find out what we need to, and/ or find that desire or goal comes to an end (or it’s finished or halted for us, courtesy of Saturn, with the Full Moon graciously delivering the news!)

The Full Moon also opposes Uranus and the Sun (natch), quincunxes a close conjunction of Mars-Ceres, and forms the arm of a T-square with Vesta and Pluto opposed each other. The opposition to Uranus suggests that either surprise or understanding will accompany FM events, or that ‘the group’ may be stimulus to what occurs. The quincunxes are the tightest aspects, and suggest that we may need to adjust our ideas surrounding using our own personal power or authority to institute our Will; that just won’t go smoothly, and may require care in our choices and actions. The T-square implies that some stand-off between the powers that be/ the desire for change and what we honor and prioritize will find a resolution (or at least come to open conflict) with the Full Moon–but most likely we are offered a cooperative solution, a way to both exercise power/ make change and still honor what we find sacred, through some sort of interactive solution, one that brings in someone or something else, and in this way shows us precisely what we can hand off to a partner or support system (see the quincunx, above), and from which cooperative stance all parties can benefit.

Your Week 7-13 April 2017 Taking Measure

06 Thursday Apr 2017

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, forecast, Horoscope, Mercury retrograde, The Daily Word Image

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‘The Lacemaker’ Joost van Geel c1650 {{PD}}

Here we are, poised at the threshold of Mercury’s turnaround, and that almost guarantees an exaggerated tension. The worst thing is that we are likely to mistake the source of our upset; the natural tendency is to look around, to try to find the source of the irritation, pinning it on something in our lives we feel isn’t going right. In this instance, though, the source is in the very air itself–or, to be more accurate, it’s amplified through material mechanisms, through the senses and the very environment itself (Merc in Taurus), so that we feel it (and maybe literally feel it, suffering from food or environment related sensitivities, in the process), maybe we’re even encased in it, so that looking outside for a logical source of tension doesn’t help, and may actually mislead us into thinking if we just handle the job or conflict or relationship or situation correctly, we can banish the upset. We can’t–and that should be a freeing thought, to know that the tension is not personal, is not aimed at you or coming from something in your life you could modify to banish it, that it just is.

On the 7th matters of role, identity, and life direction are vetted through the ambitions and goals as they stand now. A few things we need to know: our ambitions are exaggerated at this time, so that we either aim too high in the moment or see ourselves as vastly inadequate to what we want–and neither is useful, as they send our energies into less- or un-productive directions; we are (probably unconsciously) taking a stance that is contradictory to the prevailing social one, similar to that of an adolescent to authority figures, and we’re perhaps convincing ourselves that this shows our ability to think independently–but anything we adopt in reaction to the social order runs the risk of destroying our ability to respond creatively, as we’ll think we’re being unique when we’re being anything but; and, we aren’t nearly as reliable, consistent, or grounded in real-world mechanics as we believe we are. What’s going on now skews our Self-image so that it may be difficult to act in a way where we can reliably anticipate the outcome. Be willing to adjust your responses as you go along, to cooperate with the group and not hold back on what you can offer–and don’t argue with the facts, even as you must be open to applying faith in going after your goals.

Today’s word image is the number 47. Watch for it, note when it appears, use it as a marker of synchronicities and an indicator of going in the ‘right’ direction.

The 8th sees us find some difficult obstacles littering the path, and some hard truths revealed in relationships or finances. The immediate impulse is to change what we see, but we are prone to be too extreme in our editing. We refuse to succumb to illusion–but that also cuts us off from imaginative thinking. Face the unpleasant in relationships or finances squarely, and let instincts speak; it’s your best chance of wresting real-world effectiveness into a modest yet manageable form, and so creating solid choices on which to base the near-future.

Today’s word image is a mouse in the corner munching a crumbly. Have you been too modest in some area, settling for crumbs? Claim a larger stake–you are worthy of it.

On the 9th we see Mercury retrograde, at 4 Taurus 50, so that we see the period start out making us re-think our material options and choices, asking ourselves, ‘What do I think of what I have?’ but rather quickly devolving into ‘What do I do about it?’ as Merc moves back into Aries. The first aspect Merc makes in backward motion is a semi-sextile to Pallas, hinting that we are concerned, more than anything else, with what’s wise, with figuring that out, during this retro period, which lasts until 3 May.

Today’s word image is a skunk sitting in half a coconut. I know! Weird! Are there two things in your world that just don’t go together? Does one of them stink, and does that one seem to be using the other one for cover? Is someone ‘serving up’ (perhaps in some exotic form) something that appears to be black and white, but which may actually be a stinker? Inspect this fragrant duo, particularly for the way they may be presented together, but don’t actually mesh at all.

For the 10th we see action meet the authority to act, supported by a revelation or two revealed with the Merc retrograde, probably an idea resurrected or that suddenly again seems viable (we may have Saturn’s recent direction change to thank for that). We are competent and ready–so are there any issues? Yes–there’s a need to keep our eyes open for what may have been hidden from us, denied, or ignored–that’s really the only thing that may trip us up at this time.

Alfred de Bréanski c1900 ((PD))

Today’s word image is a rolling river, where big rocks below the surface create tiny, crashing falls. What along the way seems to be flowing smoothly, but instead provides small obstacles, little falls that disorient or slow? Does this suggest the need to step out of the river, for a time, or does it imply we’re not seeing/ anticipating small obstacles, which allows them to have an outsized impact?

On the 11th we need to brace for the unusual, the freak, the surprising, the shocking, the revelatory, the higher understanding, delivered by something that conflicts with our highest standards or that interferes with our priorities. We may feel temporarily disempowered–but that’s the key, we’re only off-balance temporarily.

‘Blomstereng nordpå’ Harald Sohlberg {{PD}}

Today’s word image is a field of daisies. I don’t know about you, but I think it might be soothing to just sit there for awhile.

The 12th offers a sudden or surprising opportunity to make a dream, ideal, or creative venture a reality. Well that’s spectacularly, extraordinarily nice.

Your word image today is your dream–literal or figurative–and what it says about you, right now.

For the 13th we may feel hidden currents, a kind of energy rip-tide undermining our sense of personal authority, personal power, or effectiveness of reach–and yet our standards and priorities are intact, and can be acted upon. Values guide our choices, and our moves, and as long as they do, all is well, if we can avoid being drawn into the darkness by matters we’d rather ignore–to ignore them right now is actually the thing to do. Be prepared to learn new and possibly unusual things about yourself, or about how others see you, and perhaps to revise the identity because of them.

Photo by Petr Kratochvil, released into the public domain. Thanks, Petr!

Today’s word image is a present not yet delivered to the recipient. Is there something of value, something that conveys love and caring, that you have possession of that needs to be given to another? Too often we wait for ‘the right time’ to say something meaningful–when that time is really now.

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Your Week 31 March-6 April 2017 Divided Loyalties

30 Thursday Mar 2017

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, forecast, Horoscope, Saturn Retrograde, The Daily Word Image

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No. 61 (Rust and Blue), 1953 Mark Rothko Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles Via Wikimedia Commons

Today, the 31st, it becomes a contest between our ambitions and goals and our need for power and exercise of the Will via the assistance, approval, and acceptance of others. We’ll try to find a balance that allows the most Self-expression and assertion while still keeping rewarding situations and relationships intact, and which side prevails (exerts more influence) depends on which you value more, cooperation or getting your way. The biggest issue may be, with Merc entering Taurus, that thoughts become overly cautious, plodding, or too materially-oriented, and this may especially frustrate those heavy in Air, or those Water types who find themselves awash in emotion, and stuck there.

Today’s word image is this: the concept, word, or essence of ‘indivisible’. When you hear that word, what comes to mind? Is there something in your life, with which you are involved, that you cherish (or disdain), where there’s no daylight between you and that thing or person–and how do you feel about that inseparability? Do others sometimes confuse your essence with this other? Do you feel overwhelmed, vulnerable, or held back by this association? Or does this union somehow elevate you?

On the 1st the social order requires we adjust our need for personal authority so that there’s no conflict with what society demands from us–and that’s not something most of us will do willingly. Two things to navigate by: the past offers some subtly brilliant means and methods of dealing with the requests and requirements of others–use them–and listening to your inner voice of what’s wise and what’s practical will bring rewards and positives in excess of what we imagine, or even think possible.

Today’s word image is a pair of squabbling black birds. I can’t seem to get this picture out of my head. It suggests to me two alike entities in conflict, not recognizing their own likeness–and so not seeing the list of mutual interests they share, or the ways working together would benefit them–and so leads me to today’s Venus retro conjunction with Pallas, and in particular to Earth’s placement in Libra (not to mention Zeus and Jupiter together in Libra, emphasizing how ambitions get a boost, too), and all of it suggesting we find both wisdom and material benefits by calling up Venusian appreciation and cooperation.

On the 2nd we must accept changes to or the evolution of the power structure, to include the ways this impacts our own reach, territory, and prerogatives. Stick with your values and yet roll with the punches, looking for the ways these can be turned to your advantage. This calls for, as a previous President used to say, “strategery”, but with Venus entering Pisces at this point, we’ll know the worth of our dreams, delusions, relationships, and spiritual goals, so we can accurately assess shifts to life direction.

Sergey Vinogradov ‘Igraet’, 1914 {{PD}}

Today’s word image is a piano. What’s your ‘musical instrument’, reading ‘musical’ to mean Self-expression?

For the 3rd it’s all about communication, specifically about resolving issues, persistent memories, or thought patterns from the past, in order to build a way forward. Once again, power is the centerpiece of what we ponder, consider, talk about, or argue over; just be aware that today each thought, communication, and exchange represents a step into the future.

Today’s word image is a frog on a lily pad. That image presents an entity in its ‘right environment’. Are you in your ‘right environment’?

The 4th entangles us in matters that test the true extent of our empowerment, the validity (for us) of our stated goals and ambitions, and denies us reward from expected or socially-sanctioned circles, only to offer it if we can follow our instincts in a healthy way. Action requires adjustment–nothing short of that will do.

Today’s word image is a silk rosette. That’s something that’s purely, indisputably decorative, with no useful function. How do you feel about things that are meant only to convey beauty? Your attitude toward the strictly decorative can reveal hiccups and blockages in your ability to receive pleasure, to enjoy the senses and Nature, and can interfere with the accuracy of perceptions by imposing judgments on others (for instance, judging negatively those who take time to adorn themselves, if you’re a get-up-and-go kind of person).

NASA {{PD}}

Two major astro ‘events’ fall on the 5th: Saturn stations retrograde late in the 27th degree of Sagittarius, and Mars perfects a neat trine to Pluto, both of which are direct. Here’s an edited something I wrote some time ago about what to expect from a Saturn shift in direction: “There are typically two kinds of response to a Saturn retrograde: one may feature the famous change to what we thought was solid and sure, basically a replacement of what was sure with what’s uncertain, or we may be freed-up from restrictions or containment–it can be a time of realizing that our reality is not bound in quite the way we thought it was. So, we can see either of these basic approaches (or both, as some people experience one internally, one externally). Will those ambitions and desires you’ve been working to solidify happen, or dissolve once and for all into dust? Will externals deny us, will support be withdrawn, will the rules suddenly become meaningless, will roadblocks fall, leaving the way open? Each of us must face whether we really are ready to get what we want, whether we are willing to work with or around restrictions and obstacles, and how seriously we wish to employ hard work, Self-discipline, and restraint, in order to achieve. Those matters are, really, the issues of the retrograde period.”

The first aspect Saturn makes in retro status will actually be one the Old Man receives, a square from retro Venus in Pisces, on the 8th. That suggests to me that what is removed (or conversely, what restriction is put in place) with the initial retro results (days later) in a difficult situation involving relationships, finances, and/ or matters of the Houses in the personal chart ruled by Venus. Add to this the Mars trine to Pluto, and we have a coinciding urge to act to change, transform, or destroy, probably concerning whatever it is that the retro first presented. That means, if the Saturn turnaround brought restriction, we’ll have the desire to do something to remove the obstacle, while if the Saturn retro lifted whatever had previously held us back (or manifested the results of our hard work), we’ll feel we have the power and effectiveness to move forward and implement our Will. In either case, it’s a brief period (approximately 5th-8th) when we’ll have the energy and focus to create change, overcome obstacles, or find another channel for our energies.

By User:Bye – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=901690

Today’s word image is a ticket from a long-ago event. Are you sentimental, keeping reminders of experiences, do you take photos, or do you rely solely on memory? If you tend to accumulate keepsakes, when you come across them, do they still have the power to evoke the event? If they don’t, it’s time to clean house.

On the 6th we may find our sense of what’s wise or practical trying to find equilibrium with what’s needed to move forward into the future. The reality is, the future happens whether we take those steps we’ve planned or not, and in every case, we really have little control over the outcome of our plans, so make sure you do what you feel is wise, because that way, you’ll know you’ve done your best.

Today’s word image is not words, but this:

By Michael Jastremski – legacy.openphoto.net, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=218157

Have a wonderful week!

New Moon in Aries 27 March 2017 Choosing the ‘I Am’

22 Wednesday Mar 2017

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Who needs New Moon-light, when you’ve got such splooshy stars? Edvard Munch – ‘Starry Night’ (1922–24) {{PD}}

The New Moon occurs at 7:57 PM PDT at 7 Aries 37 of the 27th, and makes only a few contacts: a very wide (for a New Moon) conjunction to retrograde Venus, which is in fast retreat; a wide trine to Black Moon Lilith; a square to Hygeia; and we should note, though it’s technically unrelated to the NM, that Pallas is at 29 Pisces, suggesting a state of crisis, and likely one that involves delusions, spiritual matters, or one’s place in the Collective in a ‘all the Universe vs. me’ scenario, all this mattering as it applies to what’s smart, what’s wise, what’s practical.

A New Moon in Aries asks, ‘What will you do?’ or ‘What will you be?’; that is, ‘Who are you?’, bringing up issues of role, identity, and personal initiative. In this instance, the NM may give us the feeling that if we don’t act, or choose, we may lose Love or Money. We’re given aid by the way we have access, one way or another, to matters that have been hidden, denied, or ignored by ourselves or others; suddenly having the New Moon impetus to deal with what’s been avoided or put aside may reveal resources we didn’t know we had, may shape the landscape or offer justice, especially within one-to-one relationships, and may offer choices or the opportunity to act that restores balance, perhaps unexpectedly.

But what happens when that Universe balancing chance to right a wrong or attend to the ignored is influenced by an anxious sense of inner knowing, one that feels something must be done? Our health, mental, emotional, spiritual, physical, suffers, probably because our attention is on the opportunity and spurred by our own anxiety, our wish to ‘be smart’ about the whole thing. Perhaps the Sabian can add something illuminating.

Portrait of Abigael Bromfield Rogers (1753-1791), step-niece of the artist. John Singleton Copley 1783 {{PD}}

‘A Large Woman’s Hat With Streamers Blown By An East Wind’. Hmm. A hat is a statement, one that covers our ‘thoughts’ and signals who we are, maybe even telling others of our role, function, or status. We could dissect the heck out of this, offering all kinds of minute meanings for each element, but I think that might defeat the point: the New Moon in Aries might be much like choosing a hat. In essence, we are donning an identity with the New Moon in Aries, asserting who we are–it’s no more complicated than that.

Your Week 24-30 March 2017 Future-Oriented

22 Wednesday Mar 2017

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‘Surfer Girl’ by William Fulton Soare, oil on canvas, c. 1935 {{PD}}

I’m completely unavailable the 23rd-28th, so all comments, questions, purchases, and requests will be processed when I return to the keyboard. Have a wonderful week! jd

On the 24th our wounds, mental, psychic, emotional, spiritual, get in the way of hearing our own instincts, social feedback, ‘the facts’, as they speak; we resist input, the standards set by our own values, and the way our Self-image has been impugned by realities that have until now remained hidden, denied, or that have enraged us with their seeming inaccuracy. All this upset is most likely to come out through imbalances of power within relationships or that involve money; these trigger a sense of defensiveness or inferiority, and we’re off to the races. The antidote? Accepting that you’re not perfect–and that just because someone reflects back to you something you don’t like or that you disagree with, doesn’t mean either of you is right.

We’re in the Dark of the Moon at this point; expect more inner activity than outer–or, maybe I should say, expect inner realities to be more real than outer ones–and allow those lulls, moments of deep contemplation, and reveries to organize your thoughts and feelings for you. Sleep late or go to bed early, rest and rejuvenate–dream, ponder, or embrace silence–it’s time.

‘Still Life with Nautilus Cup’ Willem Claesz. Heda 1640 {{PD}}

Today’s word image is apple pie. Do you have a personal association with this? I do, as I don’t like apples much, and am not fond of pie; as a child this dessert always seemed like a small punishment, rather than a treat, especially because we were rarely allowed to decline (something about hurting the cook’s feelings)–so when I think of apple pie, I think of something mildly unpleasant, that I may be forced to ‘enjoy’. Obviously, few people have this particular thought around an apple pie; only you know what it means for you.

The 25th The Sun conjoins Venus while the latter appears in a retrograde state; we may get a good, clear look at lacks in the areas of Money or Love (or matters ruled by Venus in the natal chart), especially as they apply to the matters of the natal House in which the apparent meeting occurs–but we should note that at the same time, the Sun will be contra-parallel Pallas, while Venus is parallel Mercury and both are contra-parallel Juno, Venus is trine Black Moon Lilith, and Merc noviles Neptune. These contacts suggest that what we pay attention to, that is, the message we receive from all around us, may be distorted somehow, unwise or impractical to the extent that it disempowers, should we follow through on what we see or learn while in our current state of mind, and that’s key: the value of this particular set of contacts lies in the worth of what we uncover, what was previously disguised or kept hidden from ourselves; it’s what’s discovered that’s of worth, not our taking action upon it. Once we’ve processed the material, and are able to look past the impulse toward poor judgment and refuse to fix our gaze on what’s missing, we can recognize that what’s been revealed (whether we had to work for that info or realization, or it was delivered to us) is about the most useful thing we could’ve been given at this time, particularly in terms of making successful plans we can act on in future.

Today’s word image is a bluebird. Most associations, no matter from what culture they come, link a bluebird with happiness, specifically optimism about tomorrow, or an ideal situation to reach for, especially something that seems unattainable. Look for that note of optimism, that promise of something better, that harbinger right in front of you–it’s there to let you know everything will be all right.

What surprises, shocks, stirs the intellect, educates, or offers a radically forward-thinking vision today, the 26th, is future-oriented–our reaction and/ or the revelation delivered is a startling glimpse at what’s ahead for us, especially in terms of ‘reward’–but be aware that what has been shaped by our own choices and appears now is a direct result of rejecting certain elements of the past–that’s at least as important to know going forward as is what’s coming.

Today’s word image is a skull and crossbones. Poison! Pirates! What’s telling you to stay away at all costs–and you’re probably ignoring the warning?

The 27th we’re going to feel energized–it’s probably contributed to by the New Moon energy–or it may just be that we’re offered inspiration or a crack at power or making our imprint on things, and we do it. The thing is, don’t expect the reality picture to cooperate; material circumstances throw up roadblocks, or the real world simply resists our efforts–and this is due either to what we don’t (yet) know, or have ignored or denied, creating a ‘block’ of our own making, or we are potentially deceived, mislead, or so angry we can’t operate effectively. If there was ever a day to start over, to abandon dead ends and missteps, today is it, with our new start going best in the area of the New Moon.

Today’s word image is a surfer riding a wave. This figure is poised, in control of the ride, relaxed atop that powerful natural flume, using the ocean’s energy (read: the Collective) to propel her forward. What ‘wave’ is offering you a big, natural boost of energy, a means of gaining ground that you control your own relationship to and with? That’s the thing to hop on now, if only because it offers a graceful and harmonious means of propulsion, one that makes you part of and yet arbiter of a personal movement, trend, or other form of expression.

The 28th may be the day of biggest import this week, if only because instincts will be disconnected from imagination and the creative urge, and this could imply we cook up some disasters, or maybe just make some boneheaded moves, before we even realize how disoriented we are. The aspects suggest our grounds for aesthetic judgment become just a little crass, rooted in material worth, the pleasing of others, trends of the moment, or in trying to bring something new forward that is measured solely by its status as an oddity–and none of those stances are particularly productive or rewarding, because of our failure to connect with our own true tastes. What works? A type of informed spontaneity probably flows best, as our choices and actions can be truly unique and inspired when we allow them to emerge spontaneously from previously curated understanding and past intellectual exploration: the informed mind sparks the creative.

“Photo: Graeme Main/MOD” OGL

Today’s word image is a hand of cards, a Royal Flush. In many games, that’s the best hand possible. In what way in your life were you dealt a Royal Flush, and how have you used it?

On the 29th we’re set to make things happen; we’re feeling ready and able, but flaws in our Being or our perceptions can get in the way. It’s one of those times when our effectiveness is a direct reflection of our health: are we doing it spurred by pure and positive Soul energies, or is some wound, especially one rooted in our own disapproval of ourselves, the driving force? Intention is the wellspring from which all comes; today we’re required to operate without ulterior or polluted motives, in order to succeed.

Today’s word image is a fisherman who spends all day at the pier but goes home without any fish. What are we ‘fishing for’ that’s just not gonna happen? Time to acknowledge that, and move on.

For the 30th all astro-eyes are likely on the perfection once again of the Jupiter-Pluto square. This has been a shake-down of massive proportion, simply by the way facts, beliefs, rage, revenge, the social order, and change all conflict to create an unusually tenacious instability. It’s a clash that demands unlearning; it also requires we expand our ideas of power, destruction, and regeneration, breaking them, sometimes forcefully, from the old mold and asking us to accept new definitions and new forms–and this, naturally, changes our idea of ‘the facts’ and what we know. This square marks another point in an evolution of knowledge. Accept the ‘new order’, because until you do, you won’t have any idea who to believe, and with whom to partner.

That previously mentioned disconnection from our own imaginative abilities (on the 28th) spills over into today, but now we’re offered a way to access the creative spark, peripheral as the method is: let it flow through the instinctual nature. Children, those who are ill or distracted, those with lots of Pisces, dreamers, drunks, and the feral all experience a thinner barrier between conscious reality and the impulsiveness and sensitivity of the unseen; listen to them, emulate them, and/ or study them, for hints as to how that access works.

Today’s word image is a flag. What kind of flag springs to mind? Consider that a tiny Rorschach test that speaks of your view or orientation, right now.

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

The March 2017 Full Moon in Virgo: Trusting the Self

11 Saturday Mar 2017

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Annie Louisa Swynnerton (née Robinson) – ‘The Sense of Sight’ 1894 {{PD}}

The Full Moon in Virgo falls on the 12th at 22 Virgo 13 at 7:54 AM PDT; it fills in a loose Earth Grand Trine with Sedna and Pluto, opposes Pallas and Chiron, quincunxes Uranus, and sextiles Vesta. The Grand Trine promises that whatever is fulfilled, concludes, ends, or reaches its apex with this Full Moon will bring a state of stability (meaning remain as it is, or as it coalesces at this point) through (get ready for the paradox!) acceptance of change and instinctive responses to it. I know! Seems contradictory to say that circumstances of transition and embrace of instincts (including instinctive understanding and knowledge) can bring about a sense of security, ease with circumstances, and a stable picture of and relationship to the environment/ material situation, but it does–and this endows us with a sense of surety, of ‘knowing’ deep within, that allows us to handle challenges related to practicality, what we would typically think of as wise or smart options, and allow us to navigate potential hurt. We may be faced with wounding circumstances or those who oppose us out of a sheer sense of superiority, who try to control us through our wounds, and we may be told we aren’t wise enough to make our own choices–and this would be oh-so-wrong. Being willing to follow our own lead is important; so is holding fast to what we honor and find sacred. We must make our choices, original or rebellious as they may be, in alignment with our values, with what we care about–and then we go forward from there.

Original caption: 1897-Lady lion tamer caged with lion. — Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS

The Sabian for the Full Moon is, ‘A Lion Tamer Displays His Skill And Character’. I associate this symbol strongly with the FM’s quincunx to Uranus in Aries; that is the closest major aspect the Full Moon makes. We as individuals are the Lion Tamer in our own lives; we control the whip (our Will) and chair (how we ‘furnish’ our lives), taking the lead (Aries), acting (Aries) in ways that spring from and also reveal our skills and character (Uranus). Awareness that we are the source of our own situation is vital; Self-responsibility and the roles we have taken on, willingly or not, must be (and likely will be) magnified within our own perceptions at this time, so that we can truly and completely understand and accept our part in our own creation–that is, our formulation of ourselves, and our world.

We may be overloaded on Pisces energy right now, looking for the concrete, the actionable, the thing we can hold in our hand; this Moon in Virgo delivers it to us, and your first hint that you’re dealing with the current Lunar energy may come through a criticism, a demand for accountability, a health or dietary matter, or enmeshment in the details of some issue. That’s your clue that, going forward, it’s all about You.

Your Week 10-16 March 2017 Grasping the Ephemeral

09 Thursday Mar 2017

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There’s a certain amount of automatic mystery to a visitor who won’t remove their hat and veil. ‘A Friendly Call’ William Merritt Chase 1894 {{PD}}

The 10th we see a pile-up in Pisces that both sets the tone and defines the issues: Chiron, Mercury, and Pallas all meet in the 24th degree, with Pallas and Chiron joined by the Sun on the 14th, after Merc has moved on. This may play out as the offering of wisdom, the potential for healing, and illumination of the spirit-situation behind the material world, received through dreams, connection to the Collective (such as when we meditate), or in the discovery of illusions or pursuit of making Art. Merc moves on, and we see this Piscean cluster shift from thinking, mulling, reasoning, considering to, when the Sun arrives, the kind of illumination of What Is that occurs in a flash. Consciously use this influence to makes things right, heal what’s injured, and absorb wisdom–at this time, it’s in the water, so to speak. This lasts through the week.

Today’s word image is the idea of ‘small talk’. Though this can make surface encounters smoother and more pleasant than they otherwise might be, most of us aren’t too good at the kind of small talk that people cultivate in entertainment, politics, and other stressful arenas where contact is part of the job. In fact, most of us turn our noses up at light conversation, mistaking it as an indicator of shallowness when in reality it’s a skill, and a useful one in the way it allows us to interact and even open up in the briefest of encounters. It’s time to re-consider something you’ve previously judged to be frivolous or indicative of a sub-standard intellect–there’s more to it, and it’s more useful, than you previously believed.

On the 11th we can visualize precisely what we want, and our thoughts run in the direction of our best interests, and so qualify as unreservedly wise–and we see, too, that actions have direct value and, because of a need to connect with ‘the facts’, to adjust our position vis a vis the social order, and/ or because we must realign our expansion attempts, our attention goes to what it is we can do ourselves. An internal harmony is possible that allows us to proceed without social approval, and/ or allows us to adjust our own position so that social pressures or censures are lessened. The only down side to today is that, feeling as competent as we do, we may fail to heed our internal warning system, or our instincts, and so damage our cause.

Luminous yellow penguins, Prague 2010, Photo By Karelj – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9042601

Today’s word image is a penguin. I recently saw a cartoon where, in a vast sea of penguins, one goes up to another and, holding his flipper in midair, says, ‘I’m looking for my wife–have you seen her? About yeay high, black and white?’ What’s unique and special to us may be indistinguishable to others; keep that in mind today–it will help you avoid making assumptions in interaction.

The 12th we may receive some hard, hurtful reality checks–what we thought may not conform to What Is at all–but the good news is we see the problems with our reasoning, and we also see the best way to remedy things. The Full Moon in Virgo will follow in another post.

Today’s word image is a shopkeeper who resists selling his goods (we’re not talking about someone providing personal services, but an actual purveyor of physical items). I’ve seen this many times: someone who creates a place to sell things but doesn’t really want to let anything go–it’s more about creating a domain or kingdom and showing off what they possess. Awareness of what someone (including ourselves) wants to get out of a venture can be vital to dealing with others and circumstances successfully. This same scenario can apply to the way some people interact. What’s advertised ‘for sale’, in a sense, isn’t always what’s available–it’s the unacknowledged and unrecognized motives behind our choices that are actually on offer, every time.

For the 13th our motto, no matter who we are, might be ‘Lady Power!’ There’s strength in the feminine, in ‘being’ energies, in  the receptive. Also, Merc moves into Aries, bringing assertiveness in communications that can become aggression before we know it.

By User:LeonardoWeiss - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15876590

By User:LeonardoWeiss – Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15876590

Today’s word image is a muddy rainbow. If your ideals, your dreams, your inspirations have become muddled with shadows, doubts, and negative influences, you need to set them aside and formulate new ones. Don’t feel badly about starting from scratch–damage to our vision is meant to prompt reevaluation–the image of the muddy rainbow suggests we’ve put off that assessment for too long.

The 14th we battle our own inner resistance to being held fully responsible for our choices and our lives. Anything that’s not flowing smoothly today signals matters ignored or denied, and a fear that if we accept our own power, we’ll then have to ‘walk our talk’. Wisdom and healing can be ours; the price is full acceptance of ourselves as the origin of our life picture.

Today’s word image is a book shelf where books are arranged by color, not by subject or alphabetically. The argument for arranging things this way is that the area where the shelf stands is changed in character by the arrangement of books; that the gradation of color across the spectrum integrates the books themselves more fully into their surroundings, and perhaps creates a more psychically calming atmosphere. What shift that appears irrelevant or even illogical, if implemented, would create greater harmony in your world?

On the 15th the challenge may be to respond at an instinctual level while not succumbing to negative patterns or old hurts. It may be a matter of animal impulses vs. those things that feel out of our control (and have the nature of an insult or even assault, to us) and so are prone to prompt our least effective responses. Stay calm, and be flexible about the Path you’re on–inflexibility about perceived life direction is the very thing that may spark the unthinking animal answer to external inputs.

Today’s word image is numbers. Pay attention to the numbers you are surrounded by today–if you’re an accountant, this may be an impossible task, but for everyone else, note prominent numbers, especially if they spark another association or response. Remember, numbers represent things, and so can be symbols eliciting all kinds of associations, just like anything else.

For the 16th, if we’re willing to utilize our most unique skills, those things we are gifted at (no matter how modest the function) then we can do some truly brilliant things. Today, the mind isn’t reliable–it may be irritated by its own methods, which feel too wordy or over-thought–so that we must rely on instinct, internal wisdom, what’s practical, and what’s healthy, in judging what to do.

From a 13th century Bestiary {{PD}}

Today’s word image is a crane holding a stone. This is a common symbol in heraldry, and suggests ‘Vigilance’, since the story goes that one crane stands watch over the flock at night, holding a stone, which it will drop, waking itself, should it fall asleep. What do you need to be vigilant about? And what already has in place an ‘early warning system’ that should let you relax?

Have a wonderful week!

 

Julie Demboski's ASTROLOGY

Addressing the Individual Experience Within the Universal Truth

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