The Moon enters Leo Mid-afternoon PDT, on its way to conjoin the Sun and begin a new Moon cycle–but that new start isn’t just yet. And while it’s still in that tense final degree or three of Cancer, Luna moves from a square to Chiron to a semi-sextile to the Sun, setting off a mini crisis in identity or purpose. Just know not to take this too seriously; the upset brews in hurt (Chiron) aimed at the ego (Leo), so is seated more in susceptibility to manipulation by others than it is in reality.

Also of note: a semi-square between Uranus and Jupiter, suggesting the above crisis may be ‘fed’ by exaggeration, applied to a disparity between the way we see ourselves as individuals and the way others see us. This is likely related to our own idea of our uniqueness, of who we think we are (Uranus in Gemini); we assess ourselves in the light of how we believe (Jupiter) others see us: avant garde or freak? Innovative or chaotic? acting erratically or guided by Higher Mind? doing and being in the interests of ourselves alone, or in the interests of the group? Even the most together of us may feel a tremble in our confidence–but don’t let it get to you. Again, what others say or think about us not only isn’t under our control, it’s irrelevant to our existence. Does it close doors to us? Sometimes, but isn’t it most important to be ‘right’ with ourselves, to fit our own idea of who we want to be? Yes, yes it is.

Comments on assessing the meaning of retrograde Chiron, Ceres, etc.: in my view, this hasn’t been observed thoroughly enough over a long enough period to have clear meaning. The mere appearance of a body moving ‘backward’ isn’t necessarily significant, anyway, especially when we consider that movement is apparent motion, appearing so only because of our point of observation. I’m not big on investing retrogrades with lots of deep meaning, as I think that can be a distraction, a kind of justification for negative effects. News flash: those negative components are present no matter what, and they don’t particularly become more prominent just because it appears the body is moving backward from our spot, here. And that brings up another point: one of the things I’ve noticed is that some negatives associated with a body may be removed when the body appears retrograde–and that alone suggests that counting on retro status to explain certain things doesn’t, at least for me, really hold up.

The Daily Word Image is the satisfaction of a job well done. That sounds both nebulous and a little smug, until we think about it: when was the last time you felt that sense of happy completion, of making an impact that was genuinely positive, no matter how small the stage on which it occurred? It’s telling that so few of our efforts result in that sense of accomplishment, and maybe that should prompt two questions: do I want more of that kind of satisfaction in my life, and if so, how do I get it?

Please see previous posts for mentions of ongoing astro effects, and have a great day!

There’s attention on that cluster of Love and reward matters and opportunities (or, for a few, the striving prompted by overweening ambition) as the Moon conjoins both Jupiter and Venus (see the 18th for details) and we focus more and more on personal assets and relationships, and how to increase them. What sings today, if we’ll just still the cry of our own desires, is a Sun-Chiron Fire trine=this is the passion that ignites from our own singed egos (Sun in Leo) and the hurt we’ve experienced dished out by the egos or aggressions of others (Chiron in Aries); this is fuel, both to pursue those Venus-Jupiter possibilities and to lose our heads (Aries) and hearts (Leo) in righteous outrage over the wrongs done us–either is easy to do (the trine). There’s also, though, a Mars-Mercury sextile, Mars in Libra, Merc in Leo=the saving grace is found here, if we can just remember that others’ actions and aggressions (Mars) have everything to do with them, and nothing to do with us–we just happen to be an available screen on which to project. Centering thoughts on who we are and how we’d like to shine (Leo), minus any plans for vengeance, comeuppance, or celebration of our own wounds, is the way to go today, as anything else is so subject to distortion that we’d best let it lie, for now.

The Daily Word Image is a pair of headphones where the left side goes out. Are you too much of this world, distracted by the material and so missing the spiritual or unseen message? Or does it seem like spiritual communication has been cut off, and you’re missing the guidance or even the assurance that you’re not alone, no matter your circumstances? Or are you communicating, but just realizing you’re only getting half the story? Mercury’s direct now–don’t be afraid to go after what you need to know.

The Moon is in Cancer today, just over a day from entering the Dark period, and as time passes we may find the emotional life front-and-center. Luna will move to conjoin first Jupiter and then Venus over the coming day+, and our awareness grows around the ‘caring component’–that is, we’ll keenly observe what moves the social order and our own relationships. We’ll notice what they invest in, what they value, what they are willing to pay for, sacrifice, or support–and we’ll have our emotional reactions to this. We may think our responses arise out of approval or outrage, but they’ll actually have origins in our own ideas of what kind of opportunities they might bring for us personally. We’re hoping for Love and reward, of course, but if we’re too eager to gain (if we leap at the chance without looking at all the circumstances) we could suffer a loss that will deliver a bigger emotional impact than we might expect. It’s a day to keep our heads even as we scan the horizon for our chance to bring good things our way. With Jupiter involved in a Water Grand Trine with the Black Moon Lilith point and the North Node, being honest with ourselves and keeping one eye on the future are the ways to measure those potential opportunities, and assess them for what they really are, and what they really offer.

Please see yesterday’s post for other influences still in effect.

Today’s Daily Word Image is making a ‘clean sweep’. Is there some part of your life that needs a fresh start, one where you know a refresh is needed, where you can also be sure that you won’t be sweeping away anything still important or useful? We all have an area or three that we know holds only the outmoded or the useless, at least to us; what we need to ask, just before we take up that broom, is why we held on so long. There might be something in that answer to help us move forward in other ways, as well.

I think for a while I’m going to offer very short daily commentary on current astro conditions. That does mean no long New and Full Moon analyses to chew on–just a little once-a-day nectar to sip. Seems like time to change it up.

Three situations stand out to me today, and all of them have that sting of facing someone or something and catching a glimpse of ourselves in the encounter/ experience. Venus is just out of maximum range of Jupiter, so that’s not going to save us; instead, it removes emotion (Cancer) and the unspoken hope of reward and puts them where they belong, out in the open and at the forefront of our thinking (Moon in Gemini). Refusing to keep secrets from ourselves is the way to avoid conflict and any nasty surprises. The Sun Fire trine to Chiron over the coming few days says it’s easy to feel hurt, and easy to wound others through our actions–so the question becomes, how much responsibility do we bear for others’ responses?

Two oppositions describe the kinds of issues we may be faced with: Mercury in Leo opposed Pluto in Aquarius, the latter of which is trine Uranus in Gemini=ego based or Self-glorifying thinking will definitely draw out those who want to bring us down a peg or maybe even wipe us out–that’s where the shocks and surprises originate, especially as we may see our own insistence on flexing our muscles in those who oppose us–if you get that kind of reaction to Self-assertion, it might be time to check yourself for hidden motives and the taint of vanity. Honest and sincere motivations (those not focused on Self-promotion or the ‘humble brag’) can put you ahead of the crowd, lead to inspired and innovative ideas, and foster Higher Mind understanding. There’s also a loose Air Grand Trine (Mars, Pluto, Uranus) that features a still-barely-there opposition of Mars to Saturn-Neptune across the Libra-Aries axis. This suggests that power and innovation balances can be thrown off by actions and choices that don’t take into account the gap between reality and what we want it to be, and the gap between the possible and the delusional. Framing issues as ‘Us vs. Them’ doesn’t lead to answers, or harmony. Staying grounded in the real and its potentials to manifest the ideal should be a priority today, as that will help us avoid 99% of possible missteps.

Today’s word image is a bee. Are you busy as one, and if so, how does that make you feel? Like a Queen, calling the shots, like a worker plugging away and forever putting off fulfillment (or even simple enjoyment) into the future, or like a drone, desperate to take things off automatic?