Marianne Stokes – ‘The Queen and the Page’ 1895 {{PD}}

The AstroEssence: Whether we are aware of it or not, we may revere those in power, those who have or even exert authority, and we may value any power expression we can muster, too. From those too invested in seeing themselves as harmless, as victims, or as manifesting only positivity in the world, we may see passive-aggression, the undermining of others, or righteous attack, all delivered without any idea of the irony caused by the disparity between their Self-image and their actions; with those inclined to Self-assertion anyway, going overboard may happen without much thought, making for a harsher impact than intended. For everyone else, standing middle-of-the-road aggression-wise, we may see equal possibilities for getting caught up in the hoopla, or for simple retreat, when what’re known colloquially as Anglo-Saxon terms (or punches!) start to fly. Reverence for our highest values, rather than for the power to implement them, is vital, and putting relationships and financial well-being (though both are under pressure) above the need to make a statement will go a long way toward thwarting unconscious expressions and avoiding the influence to thinking of repressed or denied issues (Vesta trine Black Moon Lilith, Venus sxt Pluto and contra-parallel Ceres, Mercury sxt Pallas and nov Black Moon Lilith)

‘Strawberry’ Photo by Theo Crazzolara CC BY 4.0 2016

Today’s word image is strawberries. I leave this image for completely personal interpretation. For me, strawberries are an allergen, something that makes me prickle and itch, and thoroughly miserable–which makes me think there’s something front-and-center in my life that is causing the same irritation, and I’ve not yet made the connection.

For those born with the Sun at 0 Aquarius: Emotional conflicts, dilemmas, and upsets may get the lion’s share of your attention this year, Aquarius; it may be a continual state of feeling crisis, despite you more than likely feeling you are the only unemotional, rationally reasoning Being in your world! That means you may be prone to project your emotional reactions onto others, attributing upsets to them rather than to your need to deal with what you feel. Do your best to understand and accept your own feelings, as they may cause difficulties in relationships or financial situations from which you can’t recover. On the up side, this Solar year brings you surprising opportunities, and you’ll be able to make effective critical assessment of your activities and so know whether they’re actually taking you in the direction you want to go. Good luck, and Happy Birthday!

For those born with the Sun at 1 Aquarius: This Solar year, through to your next birthday, you may spend a lot of time clearing out what no longer serves your aims; even when you think you’re doing something else, you will be vetting the landscape for what must go, change, or transform into a thing more useful to you. It’s all good to be so focused on what needs to change, but you’ll need to be careful not to forget relationships or your own financial needs along the way; the zealous way you pursue reform this year may hamper, rather than enhance, reaching goals, unless you keep the need for both Love and assets in mind. Good luck, Aquarius, and Happy Birthday!

Karl Wilhelm Diefenbach before 1913 {{PD}}

The AstroEssence: Disruptions are subtle, and disruptors appear to carry the sanction of the social sphere or seem to have ‘the facts’ behind them–but on all sides, what we’re really seeing is a creative interpretation of the reality picture, one that encourages a sense of righteousness and so seems to convey the right to push back against what we don’t like. We’d be a lot better served by vetting the group stance against the facts in evidence (and possibly in keeping what we find to ourselves), by incorporating ‘what is’ into the dream (and so accepting and working with the reality picture), by avoiding indulgence that can deteriorate health, while showing a hearty respect for information and for those willing to take action–and if we don’t agree, we need to get up, get out, and do the same (Jupiter contra-parallel Uranus, Mars sq Saturn and Mercury parallel Saturn, Venus sq Hygeia, Sun enters Aquarius and nov Neptune)

Luigi Bazzani {{PD}}

Today’s word image is a family of ancient Rome, gathered in the peristylium (inner open courtyard) of their domus, as they prepare to leave for good. This image has some particular implications beyond the situation of a family leaving their home. As Roman culture began to lose cohesiveness (and the empire its grip on lands near and far) there came a point when the old style of house was abandoned altogether; the style, when revived later, became the template for the religious cloister. The word image doesn’t delve into why the family is leaving, and that suggests that our focus should be on the scene itself. We may be called upon to abandon something familiar, something with ‘ancient’ roots, that seemed safe, that we thought of as ‘home’, and that this leave taking is part of our spiritual evolution (as symbolized by the use of this style going from personal abode to cloister)–and this idea of evolution is valid no matter what the surface reason for moving on.

For those born with the Sun at 29 Capricorn: There’s something coming this Solar year, through to your next birthday, that will shape how you present yourself, as well as how you think of yourself, in the future. Whether this is a single event or a pressure or circumstance of longer duration, it will require you to modify the current personality, Self-image, way of meeting the world, and in doing so will alter the life course. Could I be any more vague? No–and the only further hint to what’s coming lies in something (or many things) that reflect an Aquarian nature (individuals, groups, modern methods, higher reasoning and the intellect, a capacity for understanding, high tech, philosophy, the radical or revolutionary, accidents and the unexpected or surprising). Just remember, it’s not what happens that’s important, it’s how you choose to respond–that keeps most of the control in your hands. Good luck, Cappy, and Happy Birthday!

Don’t just sit there, read something!

‘The Elements’ JEH Macdonald {{PD}}

The AstroEssence: When I talk about a beautiful genius, I don’t mean an individual or even an individual choice or thought, I mean an attitude, a viewpoint, a lens through which we observe most sharply the way beauty, love, talent, or assets sustains our rightful place, and vice versa, how our position and power may nurture the beauty all around us, especially that found in relationships. It’s the meshing of power, place, and beauty that focuses intentions and actions and takes them to a higher, inspired level. To fit this lens to our personal perspective, we’ll have to make adjustments to how we’re thinking and seeing, particularly to subtle but influential programming we have mistaken for instinct (Juno qnx Sedna, Venus nov Ceres)

Here’s a fellow. {{PD}}

Today’s word image is: men in kilts! How could I have gone most of my life with only a handful of these sightings, then in the space of a single day, seen three, each in a completely different place (so it wasn’t some kind of clan gathering or club of guys who like skirts!) Certainly being pant-less has been practiced in many forms for millennia, but I think right now, kilts are a thing. Look around you for something rare that you’re suddenly seeing a lot, and consider what it says about undercurrents (or under-things!) and trends in your world.

For those born with the Sun at 28 Capricorn: This year you’re faced with a difficult task: to define once and for all what your highest values really encompass, and what holding those values might require you to do. It’s imperative that you are honest with yourself; it’s also imperative that once you have nailed down your value-concepts, you take steps to make them a centerpiece in your life. Will this cause much disruption? It depends on what your values truly turn our to be. Be fearless, in assessing what matters, and in then changing your life to express this. Good luck, Cappy, and Happy Birthday!

Joseph DeCamp ‘The Blue Cup’ 1908 {{PD}}

The AstroEssence: We undermine our own choices and actions because of our awareness of the judgment the social order may pass on us; both eyes on the target, rather than one on our goal, one on social feedback, is definitely in order. To do this we’ll need to embrace (or alternately, completely get rid of) our real-world values expressions and commitments–it’s a point when we see where our energy is really going–and by eliminating that which doesn’t reflect our highest standards, we protect and support what really matters, simply by making our energy more available to it. Loving relationships can show us what’s smart; so can money matters, oddly enough. And perhaps most important, we need to know that everything communicated at this point foreshadows our future; believe the messages both in and behind words, thoughts, and other energy exchanges, as they tell us what others (and we ourselves) will be doing, responding to, and thinking in the days and months to come (Mars qnx Jupiter, Venus parallel Pallas, Mercury trine NN, Sun opp Vesta)

Eggs of the British warblers. {{PD}}

Today’s word image is a round of robins; on a winter morning they hop across the grass. This symbol may be noteworthy for a couple of reasons: robins are notorious for their singularity; they don’t really flock, so when there are many in one place, it’s considered unusual. They are also known for ‘listening’ for their food, rather than looking for it; they hear worms churning below ground but close to the surface when weather has been wet but the sun has returned. This image suggests 1) we may find ourselves resistant to getting together with others–but it turns out we all have a common aim, and 2) we’re going to have to listen, in all its forms, if we want a good result from our seeking–seeing and even intuiting isn’t going to be enough.

For those born with the Sun at 27 Capricorn: You’ve worked hard to right wrongs, attend to what’s been ignored, and to clean out the closets in general–so what, now? Your previous efforts have shown you that the most important thing you can do to stay on track with goals and to improve life is to find out and commit to clearly those things, people, causes that reflect your highest and most heartfelt values–so that’s what you must do this coming Solar year, through to your next birthday. You’re ready, and most important of all, taking action at this time, and making choices, brings all kinds of healing, and so peace–and that’s good to hear, isn’t it? Good luck, Cappy, and Happy Birthday!

‘Miranda — The Tempest’ 1916 John William Waterhouse {{PD}}

The AstroEssence: Today we find ourselves fighting Nature (or the nature of the thing with which we’re dealing), and we have to ask, Why? For some it will be the need to support the illusion of originality or independence (if these people would only remember to ask themselves, is there anything ever that’s truly new, or truly without ties? No–and that means they needn’t be so hard on themselves), for others a fear of committing resources (fear of not having ‘enough’), and for still others it’s an unthinking expression of the wound (‘I act out and lash out, because I don’t want to recognize my hurt’). Being as conscious as possible of our own and others ‘blind spots’, especially those areas we want to ignore, deny exist, or that enrage us, trusting ourselves to be strong enough to respond adequately to anything, and vowing to resist our own inclination to push back with authorities, will go a long way toward smoothing out ups and downs, and will help take us forward, rather than sideways or back (Uranus semi-sq Pallas, Mars conj Chiron and contra-parallel Ceres, Venus sesq Vesta, Sun sxt Black Moon Lilith)

This is called ‘The Love Letter’, but could apply to today’s word image, if we think of it as someone trying to get you to stop loving yourself. Ferdinand Georg Waldmueller – ‘Der Liebesbrief’ 1848 {{PD}}

Today’s word image is hate mail. Whether it comes in a pretty perfumed envelope in snail mail or through email, Twitter, over a loudspeaker, or wrapped nicely in a passive-aggressive remark, it’s all the same: an advertisement for the nastiness that lives inside the speaker. Remember to whom that ick belongs, next time someone tries to gift you with it.

For those born with the Sun at 26 Capricorn: You’re beyond the reach of authorities this Solar year in some very important way; the only thing that can trip you up is your own propensity to ignore, deny, or become righteous over what you’d rather not see. What offers you this Super Power? A firm grounding in what’s important in your life, and a sureness about what you want to dedicate your energy to and for. Bonus hint: your mate needs to be your best friend–don’t put them, consciously or not, into the enemy camp. Good luck, Cappy, and Happy Birthday!

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Jūlijs Feders – ‘The Gauja Valley’ 1890 {{PD}}

The AstroEssence: Guess what? Adjustments are required, and if we don’t get out ahead of them and make them willingly, the elements involved will be taken out of our hands and changes will occur anyway–and then we’re screwed, not because anything bad happens, necessarily, but because shiny objects will overwhelm rationality and drag us straight back to the more destructive modes of the past. Payoffs and rewards come from anticipating what might come out of the blue (contrary as that sounds), as this keeps us alert, in the moment, and flexible (Mars qnx Zeus, Venus nov Uranus, Sun parallel Mercury and Pluto, and nov SN)

Today’s word image is a car sporting a bumper sticker that reads, ‘Empathy’, that runs someone over. Watch for the yawning irony gap between what’s stated and its distance from reality–too, be aware that moving forward doesn’t have to leave a series of bodies in its wake.

For those born with the Sun at 23 Capricorn: This coming Solar year, through to your next birthday, you may spend exploring the various ways in which you interact with and can benefit from authorities and power, with the express idea of learning how you can gain power yourself. Don’t be too literal in your interpretation of what constitutes power and its expression; even if you believe you aren’t interested in it, you must acknowledge that to steer your own life course requires accepting your own power, and then being responsible for it. You may also struggle with Nature, this year, in the form of health matters or natural events–but the good news is you’ll reach your next birthday the better for it. Good luck, Cappy, and Happy Birthday!

Please see the previous post for the Full Moon forecast–

‘On the Heights’ – Charles Courtney Curran c1909 {{PD}}

The AstroEssence: Everything smart tells us to retreat to the past, to give up on our ambitions–but how smart can that feedback really be? This is one of those times when all we have to do is keep a fix on our dreams, on the ideal, on healing, and it will be ours–so why the negative, give-it-up tone from our surroundings? There is a certain, contrary pressure that seems to build that manifests right before a big leap forward, or in the time just prior to achieving our dreams; most people succumb to this, believing they’re getting a clear signal that things aren’t working–the rest hold on, and get what they set out to attain. Now that begs the question, how do we tell the difference between a legitimate discouragement meant for our good, and this kind of false assessment? It’s all in understanding one’s own development phase: if you have reached a point where ideas and efforts have been tested and refined, and you receive negative, give-up-now feedback, you are actually at the point of breakthrough. At any other point in development, this would be something to listen to and respect, but at a culmination, a near-end point, it’s not. It’s not necessarily easy to tell the two situations apart, but one thing that seems consistent with the ‘ignore it’ scenario is that you will hear from others, often those who are not successful at all in real terms, that you should give up–and if you look closely at them, you’ll realize they want company in the ‘should’ve, could’ve’ world they occupy–or if the social order is telling you your idea is daft, consider how much they benefit from separating you from your instincts and your connection to the Universe–and it’s the same with many whose feedback is discouraging. As always, assess with care and honesty–and then do what makes sense, in the context of your situation, and their response (Pallas conj SN and sesq Zeus, Jupiter contra-parallel Sedna, Venus parallel Neptune and semi-sq Ceres, Mercury qnx Vesta, Sun sxt Chiron and axis T-square Jupiter)

‘Still Life with Samovar and Chinese Teacup’ Max Schödl 1869 {{PD}}

Today’s word image is, once again, the dregs in a teacup, this time making a smile that also looks like a quarter Moon. My sense was this is a waxing quarter, placing it at 4 February. It may simply be: watch for something positive or good, something that makes you smile, to come forward at this point.

For those born with the Sun at 21 Capricorn: Wounds will heal, and gifts develop, if you’ll only think of yourself for a change; the social order, and authorities empowered through your efforts, may both fight against this, but the reality is that this coming Solar year, through to your next birthday, needs to be a time when you concentrate on You–and that may mean having the courage, wherewithal, and Self-discipline to go it alone. Bonus: be very cautious in communications–don’t believe everything you hear, and don’t tip your own hand. Good luck, Cappy, and Happy Birthday!