‘Stromschnelle’ – Gerhard Rießbeck – Germany (with the permission of the artist reproduced and uploaded by Hannes Grobe) CC BY-SA 2.0

The AstroEssence: Rage or destructive attitudes are in danger of eroding our internal wisdom, even as (or perhaps because) we turn away from that anger or from matters that need attention; somehow ignoring or denying the problem appears to be the solution–and that’s where we go wrong. We need to think about it, and then clear it out, one way or another. Relationships could be mine fields unless we maintain a respectful approach to the other, no matter how things appear. Transform communication through critical thinking and a willingness to let go of rules, parameters, and structures–avoiding falling into old, ingrained patterns in how we think, speak, and listen will make the difference–and know that being open to change will have a further benefit of offering personal empowerment and could elevate status (Pluto semi-square Juno, Venus contra-parallel Black Moon Lilith and sxt Vesta, Mercury trine Pluto)

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Today’s word image is an astronaut. How perfect for an astrology blog, that we see ourselves as ‘star voyagers’ spinning through space, pinned to the Earth, looking out at the Cosmos! What does an astronaut mean to you? Does the symbol point your attention toward some recent horoscope event or learning occasion centered on astrology/ astronomy? Was this job ever an aspiration for you? Do you see astronauts as modern versions of explorers, as people who take extreme, calculated risks, or has the length of time we’ve been going to and returning from space made the entire venture seem old hat, and not very thrilling at all? Do you see space travel as a waste of money, an inevitable result of man’s ever-expanding push outward, or as an outdated dream? The astronaut is merely the most visible human component in a much larger effort, like an actor in a movie–it takes many more people to put the whole thing together than we ever see–and, mistakenly, we tend to assign far more credit or blame to that visible person than they actually deserve. Are you seeing someone as having a greater role in something than they really do, and holding them responsible, when they’re just the ‘front man’? Or are you the astronaut, ready to enter a harsh environment in the name of exploring the unknown?

By Steve Collis from Melbourne, Australia – Asamkirche, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24305905

For those born with the Sun at 18 Leo: you’re gathering steam for some truly unique and original Self-expression, but you’re not there yet; you have some emotional digging to do, some secret-discovering and some changes to make, before you’ll be ready to shine. Though the emotional element of things may seem unimportant (and so you may be tempted to ignore or skip dealing with feelings), they are actually the heart and soul of what you will create, and so must be attended to before you can make that unique statement of who you are. Good luck, Leo, and Happy Birthday!