Hesperides were guardians of the tree that produced golden apples, a gift to earth from Hera. Frederic Leighton, 1892 {{PD}}

The 26th: . . . how the powerful have affected us. Though initially we may ponder how authorities and those who hold power have helped and hindered us, including how much they’ve wounded us and limited our options, but we progress fairly quickly to considering how uniquely we’ve responded to these pressures, and how they have shaped who we are today. This is a highly positive experience that involves, consciously or not, cataloguing our attributes, talents, and the resiliency of the spirit–and has the benefit of showing us precisely how to shape our efforts and power expressions so that they both pay off handsomely and take us in the direction we want to go (NN nov Zeus, Venus nov Juno, Merc trine Uranus and Ceres, and sq Chiron, Sun parallel Hygeia)

Today’s word image is a snake. Look for it to draw your attention to sychronicities, to deja vu experiences, to moments when it’s vital you be alert to what’s happening at that time. It doesn’t necessarily signify danger, but rather an opportunity for ‘knowing’.

For those born with the Sun at 5 Sagittarius: Is it that you’re solidly grounded in your values and priorities, and so ready to take on a new and enhanced status, or that you need to get your footing with how you feel about what really matters, so that you can determine just what status you’re really seeking? Only you know which is your current state; be prepared for your most striking characteristic this year, through to your next birthday, no matter which state you’re in, to be a mainly intellectual stance, one of spontaneity, unreliability, forward-thinking, but possibly having difficulty connecting with others. This year is likely, probably below a conscious level, to rearrange everything in your life. Good luck, Sagittarius, and Happy Birthday!

The 27th: . . . ourselves and what we need. We have a firm grasp on our values and a clear idea of what needs to change or be eliminated, even as we indulge in our most erratic or original behaviors. We need to gain from our ambitions; this is a need arising from an even deeper need to know that our choices have been wise and/ or practical. This may cause some distress as we wrestle with ourselves and our environments, trying to answer our own questions. We should adjust what we find to fit what we know to be smart–and we may be wise to make peace with ‘the group’, as well (Venus sq Zeus, Merc sxt Pallas, the Sun sesq Uranus, trine Vesta, and nov Pluto)

By Rainer Z … – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=463491

Today’s word image is toast. Wow! Something’s done for, colloquially speaking. Make sure you see what needs to end, what’s truly finished, so that you can get out in front of it, or at least gain a little distance from the conflagration.

For those born with the Sun at 6 Sagittarius: You are currently adjusting your ideas and expression of your own power–and it’s not easy. The inclination is to be both much more solitary, and much more headstrong, than you really need to, to get your point across. Just remember, you’re not an island, even when you achieve your optimum level of autonomy, so make an effort to connect with others, especially in those times when it seems your feelings are hidden from everyone, even yourself. Good luck, Sagittarius, and Happy Birthday!

The 28th: . . . aligning our efforts with reality. We recognize that at least some of those impulses we classify as ‘instincts’ are instead conditioned responses that are, at the very least, unhealthy. Our focus today is on respecting reality, and making our own efforts work with, rather than against, what is. We’re more than willing to sacrifice what must be eliminated, and change what needs change, in the hope of getting a grip on our own power within the life situation–and it works, as long as we keep a steady eye on our desired destination (Hygeia opp Sedna, Chiron sesq Vesta, Sun parallel Saturn and Pluto, and sesq Ceres, this latter aspect forming a Fist of God when we fill in with the NN)

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
‘Geisha Drinking from Sake Kettle at 2:00 a.m.’ Now THAT’S overdoing it. {{PD}}

Today’s word image is a glass of warm saké. Relax. All is as it should be–and if you feel you can point to exactly what’s wrong, that could be a sign of unbridled hubris, assessing your judgment as superior to the wisdom of the Universe. Not doing so is the definition of ‘humility’.

For those born with the Sun at 7 Sagittarius: You are fully empowered to do as you please, this year through to your next birthday, but one thing you need to understand is that this doesn’t obligate others to go along with what you want. You must draw a fine line between fully enjoying your status and alienating others with your demands. It’s especially important that you tread with care at this time as your feelings will not be apparent to yourself or others, and that means you could end up regretting a choice or two once you regain contact with your emotional sensibilities. Matters of the House in the natal chart that holds Cancer could be the source of revelations. Good luck, Sagittarius, and Happy Birthday!

Eugène von Guérard. ‘Lake Wakatipu with Mount Earnslaw, Middle Island, New Zealand’ 1877 – 1879 {{PD}}

The 19th, Saturday’s AstroEssence: Dreams of Love or Money can come true, but the effect will be monumental if they do: they will create massive, serious, permanent change to the reality picture, and they will in some important way spring from or re-create the past (or, possibly, something done in the past will now present the bill). We act in accord with our essence, our Soul’s intents, and that may disabuse us of some of our illusions about ourselves, even as it gives power to our choices; the distance between what’s healthy and what’s smart illustrates that discrepancy between Self-image and reality–and no matter how it feels, it’s always for the good to see things a little more clearly–and thanks to the direction of Neptune, we are likely to get that clarity, along with a dose of inspiration or creative energy freed up from its previous static position (Saturn parallel Pluto, Venus sxt Neptune and SN, Sun parallel Mars, Pallas sq Hygeia, Neptune stations direct at 9 Pisces 14)

Pharmacists’s set with pill tubes in the Hash, Marijuana & Hemp Museum, Amsterdam. Photo by Lord Toran CC0

Today’s word image is a pill. Though taking a pill has an undeniable effect on our biology, we invest pills with an almost magical ability to ‘fix’ what’s wrong; we seek an easy way when we say, ‘Isn’t there a pill for that?’ and we talk about individuals having to ‘take their medicine’ when forced to accept what’s needed in some area or way. There’s no magic pill, but there is something to be gained if we’re willing to accept, take in, absorb, or allow to work some offered solution or way of being in our lives right now. Though this won’t always be the answer, it is right now–it’s a matter of timing.

If you’re born with the Sun at 27 Scorpio, please see yesterday’s forecast; for those born with the Sun at 28 Scorpio: You’re headed toward an important empowerment scenario, one that could shape your fate, but you’re not there yet; first you have to get your priorities straight, invest in relationships, and, late in the coming Solar year, right before your next birthday, deal with emotional upsets that have been roiling beneath the surface. You’ll get a lot of assistance from elements of the past: friends and lovers, creative endeavors, memories from which you learned so much. You’ll likely find that power comes from one of two sources: it’s offered by the group, or appears in surprising or unexpected forms. Good luck, Scorpio, and Happy Birthday!

Paul Ranson. Apple Tree with Red Fruit, (c.1902) {{PD}}

The 20th, Sunday’s AstroEssence: We see how healthy (or not) the power positions that surround us really are, how well others are handling their responsibilities or wielding their authority, and we adjust our own situation so that it at least feels better, more productive, so that it seems more within our purview is truly under our control. We’ll be able to ‘smell’ what’s not right in relationships or financial scenarios, and if we’ll allow it, our instincts will tell us how to manage things. The spotlight is on ambitions and desires; you’ll see quite clearly exactly what others want–just remember, others can see that with you, too (Ceres qnx Hygeia, Venus sesq Sedna, Sun nov Zeus)

‘Pelican and ducks in a mountain landscape’ Adriaen Coorte 17th century {{PD}}

Today’s word image is a pelican. This bird is known for its ability to scoop fish right out of the ocean with its deep, pendulous beak. Do you think the pelican knows he’s different than most birds? Probably not. The symbol speaks of ‘being equipped to do what we need’–no more, no less–and that should reassure you, that you actually have what you need right now, it’s just up to you to use it.

For those born with the Sun at 29 Scorpio: Big change is on the horizon for you, and it won’t be easy–I’ll bet you already know what it is, or at least have an inkling–and at the same time you’ll be faced with expansion, into the Arts, by gaining or losing a partner or mate, or through cooperation with others, that widens your world and gives you a crack at new forms of expression. The past offers inspiration, or possibly confuses you, making you either a victim, or the recipient of some real opportunities, your choice. Good luck, Scorpio, and Happy Birthday!

Looking for a good aggregator site? Try My Astrology, which offers an array of blog previews and links, and a daily Lunar contact schedule with interpretations.

Have a wonderful weekend!