X-Ray Flower Tub, when plugged in the flowers emit x-rays, c. 1920 – Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago) Photo by Daderot Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication

Today success depends on being both wise and totally ourselves–and the challenge may be not to use temper as a go-to when we find our uniqueness being undervalued or our priorities being dismissed. We (and everyone else) open our mouths and out comes a kind of x-ray of the unconscious. Stay awake; thinking and communications need to remain firmly grounded in our highest values. It’s the only way we’ll be able to navigate relationships and money, which will both require us to face matters ignored or denied, as well as our own anger–and we’re back to the caveat about indulging in temper. Put your energy behind and attention on the positive; for once this isn’t just a way to get through the day, it’s actually the most effective way to handle it (Uranus sxt Pallas, Mars sesq Uranus, Venus sesq Black Moon Lilith, Merc nov Vesta, qnx BML, sxt Sedna, Sun contra-parallel Chiron)

By Jos Zwarts -CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org

Today’s word image is a crow collecting beads and baubles and bringing them back to the nest. Small, dazzling things may stir a kind of acquisitiveness that is uncharacteristic of us (and these may be ideas, the promise of relationship or reward, or tantalizing experiences, as much as they may be actual things)–how we respond will determine whether we convert the impulse into something useful, or end up with a little bowl of sticks and grass full of shiny bits.

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By © Dietmar Rabich, rabich.de – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32016498

We’re optimistic about making things better, and opportunities abound–but we have to be clear that what we alter today must respect core values and commitments. Publicity aiming to change minds goes well today; so do showy and over-the-top power grabs. Listening to inner wisdom, rather than going directly for the immediate empowerment option, will be worth it, and actions not rooted in some principle or concept we honor will trigger problems and should be avoided (Jupiter trine Pluto, Mars qnx Vesta, Merc contra-parallel Pallas and parallel Juno)

Today’s word image is a fortune cookie with a nonsense message inside. Something wrapped up sweetly and pretending to offer wisdom (maybe even this blog!) is less than meaningless, distracting you from what you really need to know. Proceed accordingly.

George Frederic Watts 1886 {{PD}}

Today is a difficult day–why? Because what we want is definitely out-of-step with what we treasure–so much so that our thinking will conflict directly with reality, so determined are we to change things, to gain power, to gain control, to reach our goals. We are so desire-focused that we will deny instinct and everything we know deep within to be true–and that allows our own ‘blind spot’ issues to flourish, making us prone to all those flaws in logic that we aren’t aware we have but that others point to immediately. To top it off, some of us see man-woman problems, or animus-anima problems, or clashes between any fundamentally varied facets of our lives, and we may conclude the only way to handle this is by instinct, because our thinking is just too aligned with our desires to prove objective or reasonable in dealing with the matter–but that’s not exactly true.

The best course is probably acquiescence to the obvious and mutually-agreed upon (and it’s that second part, the agreement with others, that keeps us out of trouble), accompanied by a willingness to acknowledge that our ambitions and goals may need to be altered in some significant way, but that we’re not prepared to see what that might be just yet–and for current issues, to stay true to our highest values, protecting the current state of home and the mate relationship ahead of other, more momentary distractions (Mars semi-sq Zeus, Mercury parallel Zeus, contra-parallel Sedna, square Saturn, sxt Pluto, Venus square Mars, sxt Vesta, sesq Zeus, Sun sxt Sedna)

Today’s word image is high wind that knocks out electric power. Symbolic ‘high winds’ could be equated with bombast, or they could represent a powerful flow of emotion that takes a more mental form for expression–so words or thoughts fueled by feeling that have the effect of ‘knocking out’ our energy or our forward momentum. This comes from an imbalance of our receptivity in relation to the outward ‘push’ of our expression; when we are too receptive we may find the blowhards and emotional whirling dervishes of our world exhausting. See to your boundaries, and no energy loss occurs.

Have a wonderful start to your week!

‘St. Bride’ by John Duncan 1913 {{PD}}

Today’s a corker, full of unexplainable moments of grace, positive viewpoints and feedback about the past, and actions and choices (some of them angry, even explosive) that transform, for good or ill. We may be looking not just at results that flowed from the past, but at manifestations of our own willingness to face and deal with what’s unpleasant. Our degree of past openness to meeting challenges and the less desirable aspects of life will be directly commensurate with the kinds of issues, problems, aid, and blessings that come at us. Expect your biggest difficulties and your most ardent support to come from matters linked to causes and ideals, on the home front, and from the mate (Perfecting today: Mars semi-sq Pluto and nov Black Moon Lilith, Sun conjoined and parallel the South Node, and nov Vesta)

Today’s word image is a dove with only one wing. Something we were sure would soar has been grounded–forever. Though there is a certain sadness to something that can never be, we need to realize that dealing with the fate of this idea, issue, or relationship takes, more than anything else, acceptance of reality, and so a shift in point-of-view. We see things more realistically (from the ground, rather than the air) and so see much more clearly what is and is not possible in this case.

Thank you, and have a great Friday!

Csontváry Kosztka, Tivadar – Pilgrimage to the Cedars of Lebanon c1900 {{PD}}

What makes the get-together of Merc and Neptune so special is the novile of both to Uranus; what gets lit up, as if it’s shot into the air with fireworks, or hit by lightning? Are we drunk ourselves with inspiration or dreams, or do we drink in the lies or dreams of another, sacrificing our own thoughts to theirs? Do our group involvements or individual initiative support our creative ideas, or are we too rebellious, erratic in effort, or insistent on originality to respect and successfully manifest our inspirations? Communications come through a haze of distortion or spirituality or altered states of consciousness or deception; we are left to sort the truth from fancy and fake.

There are other influences on the 10th, too: hurt infests our awareness and our sanctuaries, and the social scene and reality picture is harsh, seemingly at odds with our needs and priorities. Those in charge take their allies for granted, and those too fond of ‘the rules’ may lose sight of what they find sacred, as they pursue conformity or restriction. Rather than seeking escape, or whining about it, or getting lost in the fog, we need to firmly embrace a healing stance; allow no other attitude, and you can make excellent progress, in surprising, unique, or unexpected ways, toward your dreams (Sun conjoins Chiron, Jupiter contra-parallel Juno, Vesta sesq Saturn and parallel Sedna and nov Chiron)

Today’s word image is a person who is deaf, not by affliction, but by choice. The sheer Will it takes to shut out the world is astounding; we can all fail to listen, at times–but it’s disrespectful to ourselves and others to have an ability and to consciously, consistently, and deliberately refuse to use it. Invariably, the person who fails to listen does so hoping to gain something–to ignore the inevitable, to avoid responsibility, to demand more attention as others are forced to repeat themselves. Do you want to play that game? I don’t.

See my books here, donate at right, and see services here–thank you, have a great Thursday!

Ralf Roletschek / fahrradmonteur.de https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Ralf_Roletschek Used under Free Art License/ Copyleft

The valley between eclipses is typically a tense time, one where we’re trying to sort out what’s happening, to get a sense especially for a longer-distance viewpoint, but intuitively we feel the difficulties being deprived of the usual illuminating light of Sun and Moon bring: no emotional clarity (other than what the eclipse impact reveals), too many shadows to discern details, both a too-close view and a too distorted one of House related matters where the eclipse falls. So, we meet the next two weeks in this state; we’ll just have to do our best.

It might help to just lay out the aspects perfecting today and readers can pick and choose; the aspect picture is inevitably a Smörgåsbord, it’s just that between the eclipses a disjointedness is more apparent–and the tendency to vibe more strongly with certain aspects and disown others will be more obvious than usual, too.

Juno parallel Black Moon Lilith=this aligns, in a very subtle way, our efforts at empowerment with all those matters we are ignoring, in denial about, or are enraged by. We experience the ultimate irony when we must embrace what we have been trying to avoid, just to make ourselves heard.

Saturn square Ceres=the reality picture conflicts with Nature. How can that be? When we have created a construct we accept as reality that has little relation to the natural world, there comes a point when collapse of the illusion is inevitable. Expect to see a small corner of your world revealed, shorn of its ‘civilized’ trappings and adornments.

Venus novile Pluto=there’s a spark of genius in the effects of destruction or a willingness to discard what’s no longer needed; beauty, profit, or a renewed relationship emerges, somehow.

Mercury sesquiquadrate Black Moon Lilith=the messages we receive may be very disagreeable, and what we communicate to others may be something they prefer to ignore–but the consequences of refusing to process information we get today will be someone’s rage, and someone’s shame–and we can’t predict where or with whom the upset will occur.

Today’s word image is wide open green skies. What fundamental to your world just underwent radical change? It’s not changing back, so accept, or at least learn to work with, your new reality.

And on the Pisces Solar Eclipse/ Neptune front, see what An Upturned Soul has to say–

See the full report for both the Solar and Lunar eclipses and enjoy your Wednesday!