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Tag Archives: Mercury retrograde

9 August 2018 Get Smart–Or Pay the Price

08 Wednesday Aug 2018

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, forecast, Mercury retrograde, The Daily Word Image

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Félix Vallotton, 1893 ‘La Valse’ (The Waltz) {{PD}}

Thinking is smart, even if it lags a bit behind the curve (the “Oh yeah, now I see it!” effect), and we have to make a concerted effort not to fall prey to delusion, fantasy, or deception–so question yourself and your assumptions, question others, question things that don’t seem right, are too good to be true, or that feed a dream you’d previously felt blocked from–you still are. Connecting to reality is tough but necessary in order to move in the right direction, to make things pay. What benefits us? Be willing to modify our individuality so that it doesn’t grate on relationships, curb spending on the unique (which could later in brighter light turn out to be merely freakish), and refuse to dwell on what didn’t go well, or what hurts–that kind of attention will only burn our wounds into our psyche, and we really should just let them go, yes? (Venus qnx Uranus and sq Saturn, Merc conj Pallas and qnx Neptune, Sun sesq Chiron)

Somebody searched “Buying a House During Mercury Retrograde”. I may be uniquely qualified to address this, in part because I’m an astrologer, and partly because I’ve actually done this. It was decades ago, and inadvertent; I wasn’t really thinking about Mercury’s status when we signed–after moving continents and always living in a place someone else owned, I only wanted a place to rest that was mine. We went through escrow, and it was only as they scheduled the closing that I realized we would be signing in the middle of a retrograde–but really didn’t feel I had the authority to stop it (now I wouldn’t hesitate–that’s the juice you get from age and experience!) The reason we’re advised not to make agreements or sign contracts at this time is that there’s inevitably something we don’t know or can’t see. In our case, this resulted in sellers who wanted to close, but didn’t want to get out! They asked to remain for an extra month, offering no compensation–and we said no, and that didn’t sit well. They still drug their feet; their RV and trailers were parked in front of the house when we arrived with our things, but we were in, and they were out, for five years–until we sold. It wasn’t easy–new construction at low prices were going in nearby, and our first realtor was a dud–and nothing moved until we changed realtors and waited for another Merc retrograde–during which we got three competing offers, unusual for that time and place. It was as if we needed to wait for the same sort of energy to get rid of the place that had allowed us to acquire it. Yes, there were some hidden surprises in the sale–that’s inevitable, with the planet so prominent–but buying during a retro seems to come with its own set of difficulties, maybe not what you’d get when you buy during direction, but not insurmountable, all the same. I would advise waiting, though–making an offer or signing now would likely be jumping the gun–almost certainly, you’ll find out something after Merc goes direct that at the least would’ve changed your offer, or even prevented it entirely.

Arnold Böcklin – ‘Summer Day’ 1880 {{PD}}

Today’s daily word image is ‘hydrotherapy’. What does this word conjure for you? Indulge in, or maybe just think about, what this brings to mind, and what it means to you.

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25 July 2018 The Fire In Us

24 Tuesday Jul 2018

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, forecast, Mercury retrograde

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Georges de La Tour – ‘Newly-born Infant’ c1640 {{PD}}

The big news today is that Mercury moves into apparent retrograde motion at 10:03 PM PDT at 23 Leo 27. With a Fire retrograde, we re-consider what we’re doing–or rather, we re-consider what we think about what we’re doing. It may involve no action at all, other than mental exercises to decide if we like the stance we’re taking toward our own choices and moves, or not. The danger is in reviewing our thinking and then rushing out to change what we’re doing, before Mercury’s direction; that’s a particular temptation with a Fire sign, as our natural response to any altered idea is to do something about it. The problem with that is found in the way the retro period, and usually a bit thereafter, continues to see us reassess, and so further alter, our thinking, meaning we could precipitate change well before we’ve actually reached our final conclusion. The current station prolongs a Fire trine for Merc to Vesta, suggesting that much of what kicks off our retro pondering sessions involves commitments, highest values, and what we honor or find sacred, particularly the intimate partner or the home situation.

Overall, other indicators suggest we’re inclined toward what’s smart or practical, rather than what gives us power–that’s a nice change, for once–but we may overvalue being progressive, part of the group, or modern, and so undervalue individuality, unique expression, or the oddball or unusual. Freedom may become more important for some than any obligation or promise. Those not handling current energies well will display erratic behavior, unreliability, and unpredictability–note this, as it’s important to know who cracks under pressure, who holds up–we see that now.

Please check here for info on all the eclipses, including the approaching Lunar one

 

Your Weekend 22-25 March 2018 In Mercury’s Wake

22 Thursday Mar 2018

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, Mercury retrograde, The Daily Word Image

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‘Breaking Waves’ By William Trost Richards 1897 {{PD}}

With Merc turning around today, the 22nd, in apparent retrograde (shortly after 5 PM Pacific Daylight Time), we may find ourselves disoriented, just a bit, and in the coming few days we meet some challenging aspects that may feel tougher than they actually are, due to Mercury’s withdrawal of mental continuity and reasoning support. The squares of Venus to Pluto on the 23rd, and the Sun to Mars on the 24th, might engender more confusion initially than anything else; is it you or me, we might be asking, who’s angry, feeling cheated or cheated on, ready to burn it down or fight it out, or is that just a kind of hangover we’ll be suffering from the loss of mental focus and acuity? If we stop and look at each situation carefully, what we’ll see is that we’re reacting to a whole set of suppositions and maybes based on our own extrapolations and fears–the reality picture won’t support these, so a step back and a deep breath is in order.

Mercury feels a lot more dynamic than this picture suggests, doesn’t he? ‘Mercury’ By Peter Paul Rubens c1637 {{PD}}

There’s also a sesquiquadrate of Chiron to the North Node point on the 25th that may make us much more reactive than we should be, hyper-sensitive to the way our wounds may alter or even hobble our desired life direction. So where do we put our energy, where is it all going right? For the 22nd, it’s steady on, allowing instincts to speak and actions to be guided by optimism (Pallas conj Sedna, Mars nov Jupiter). On the 23rd, thinking is still steeped in wisdom, even though ideas may be disjointed or processing sluggish (Merc nov Pallas) and effective actions arise from past choices (Mars nov SN). Too, our values are intact, unsullied by ambition or rank desire (Venus contra-parallel Zeus), making appetites something of a guide, in spite of the potential pitfalls of Venus-Pluto. This plays on through the 24th, as Venus parallels Sedna, continuing the harmony between wants and instincts (with the shadow side being that those same wants may lead us directly into our ‘blind spot’). That’s the day when we may have difficulty seeing what’s motivating our choices and actions (Sun sq Mars)–so something to keep in mind, even as we might benefit from going with the flow. By the 25th we get a big boost to Self-esteem and expression (Sun trine Ceres); personal authority opens doors and empowers in both inner and outer ways. We stumble into luck (Venus qnx Jupiter) and find that restraints and rules really are for our benefit (Saturn sxt Hygeia), which only shows once more why holding back during Merc retro can be effective for any number of reasons.

Have a great weekend, and set your sights on Monday; it’s one of those days: visualize what you want, and with caution, you just might get it!

And here’s a weekend word image: A printed sign in a field, announcing a development to come, and someone has written across it, ‘Nothing is Real’.

 

 

New Moon in Pisces March 2018 A Goldilocks Moon

14 Wednesday Mar 2018

Posted by in astrology, forecast, Horoscope, Jupiter retrograde, Mercury retrograde, New Moon, Retrogrades + Directions, Sabian Symbols

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Jessie Willcox Smith – ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ 1915 Illustration for a soap company {{PD}}

The New Moon occurs at 6:11 AM Pacific Daylight time at 26 Pisces 53. Both bodies (Sun, Moon) are applying conjoined Chiron, sextile Sedna and catching Uranus at the rough midpoint, square Vesta, and widely square Mars, the latter two together in Sagittarius, with Mars at the stressful 29 degree mark. The New Moon is also headed toward a sesquiquadrate with the North Node, and is in wide separating trine to Jupiter, which suggests what was recently promised by Jupiter is now in the rear-view mirror, not exactly gone, but at least temporarily losing relevance and certainly making connecting with that Jupiterian potential impossible right now (and we might ask ourselves, what ‘new’ do we need to learn, related to that Jupiter possibility, that will make actually obtaining what we want possible? Look to matters of the House where the New Moon and retro Jupiter fall in the natal chart. The NM Mars could make us feel as if we must act on it–but the time’s not right, yet)–the sesquiquadrate to the North Node only adds to this, making the road ahead appear particularly bumpy from our current vantage point.

Forming so close to Chiron suggests the New Moon brings potentials for hurt or healing–but which? We get a clue in the sextile to Sedna, which finds Uranus at the midpoint; this promises that something prompted either by the instincts or the ‘blind spot’ (that is, that we stumble into, rather than deliberately choose) will bring something unexpected or shocking, will garner the input of the group, or will foster understanding, not just intellectually, but emotionally, even intuitively. We must also consider that the knowledge, opportunity, or belief ‘withdrawal’ suggested by Jupiter may be the source of the wounding or healing. Whatever it is, it challenges our commitments, our priorities, or our highest values, with responsibility one way or another falling back on us and our own (possibly) poor decisions or potentially arising from aggression or conflicts sparked by others. This New Moon gives us the opportunity to reckon with our own and others’ ego urges and assertiveness, and to do so via our capacity for creative thinking, or through applying ideals to the imagination (Pisces); like Goldilocks, we’ll need to ask: Are we too aggressive and Self-involved, or are we giving our own needs too little attention or regard, or are we just right? The NM lays the emotional groundwork to successfully deal with this question, and when Mercury retrogrades in Aries on the 22nd, it will be prime time for reviewing and changing our actions (retro in Fire), particularly the way we act out or express the ego and action urges (Aries); we’ll have this New Moon to thank for a least a portion of our insights.

With Mars at its current position (29 Sagittarius) we may feel we’ll have to act in order to learn, but that would be premature–wait for Merc’s turnaround, as more will then be revealed–at this New Moon point, it’s all about feeling, intuiting, and communing, to discover our precise relationship to the Universe–modifications come later. One thing we may have to face at this time is that there is no difference between our woundedness and our ability to heal–and that in response to that awareness, action need not and often should not automatically be our answer to what’s revealed. Hints as to what follows are found here–

Utagawa Hiroshige – ‘Cuckoo Flying Under a Full Moon’ 19th century {{PD}}

The Sabian symbol for the New Moon in Pisces is, ‘The Harvest Moon Illumines A Clear Autumnal Sky’. This suggests opposites, through the imagery of a Full Moon, and autumn rather than the spring that’s soon to come (at least here in the Northern Hemisphere–for those in the Southern Hemisphere, the message may be simple: in the beginning is the end, and it is now). This could imply for Northerners that New Moon events play out through the summer and come to some sort of peak in the fall, or that what is born with the New Moon has the seeds of its completion, its ending, built in. That suggests not only that if we look carefully we will see the outcome to events already implied in their beginnings, promising a ‘harvest’ proportional to our efforts now, but that what happens now may also bring endings–that is, that the New Moon beginning has arisen from the completion of other cycles, that it’s time for other efforts to naturally terminate, conclude, or die. The imagery may also suggest we note Virgo at this point, in any or all of its guises within the personal life. That means subjects, qualities, and even people we associate with the sign may hold one or more keys to the meaning of events. Earth sits in Virgo, and that means those symbols will be literal, or at least tangible; check also the subjects of the House in the natal chart that holds Virgo for clues as to what may inform the New Moon event. ‘Discernment’ may be a key concept–also ‘criticism’, ‘accountability’, ‘results’. The ‘Circle of Life’ may be extraordinarily apparent right now–embrace this as a natural part of things, and appreciate what you have, in the present.

 

 

Willful Words, Willful Wants: Mercury and Venus in Aries

11 Sunday Mar 2018

Posted by in Aspect Delineation, astrology, Media, Mercury retrograde

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Oh, the lives of the gods! Jean-Honoré Fragonard ‘The Fountain of Love’ c1785 {{PD}}

Looking ahead a bit, there are two days coming up I wanted to discuss; I would describe them as ‘potent’, and so important to be aware of, if only for the potentials they might bring, and the assists they might offer. This first is March 18th: Mercury will still be direct in Aries, but moving very slowly, with less than a single degree to travel before turnaround. It’s also still within orb of a conjunction to Venus, and both are conjoined that day by the transiting Moon, just coming off the New Moon conjunction to the Sun in Pisces. We also see Merc and Venus (and briefly, the Moon) making semi-sextile to Neptune, a square to Black Moon Lilith, and a trine to the North Node point. What strikes me about this is not just the unusual length of time Mercury and Venus have been together (this happens, once in a while, so isn’t that extraordinary), but that they are at this point together in aspect to two energy ‘points’ and the most nebulous influence we find in the chart. That suggests, very generally, that we won’t have a handle on what Mercury and Venus together in Aries means to us. Willful words and willful wants, the ‘I Am’ controls communications and relationships–and if we consider how uncomfortable Venus is in Aries, almost making for a ‘Me vs. My relationship’ scenario–then we can see any number of ways that we may express out of irritation or discomfort or the need to be heard that could greatly affect our connections and even our income. Add to this that what has been ignored or denied or that enrages is causing friction (Black Moon Lilith by square), and we see how easily this will impact life direction (NN by trine)–and yet it may take some time before we’re completely aware of the way what happens in this window changes our relationships, and our personal trajectory. The 18th does offer a glimpse of what has been impacted, through the emotions or the intuition, but that glimpse is withdrawn almost as quickly as it appears–so pay attention when it comes.

Also notable on that day is the Sun-Earth axis at 28 degrees across Pisces-Virgo, with the Sun closely conjoined Chiron. This suggests the obscuring of our wounds, in spite of the attention we may give them–and leads us into the second day of interest, the 19th. The Sun-Earth axis will have moved into the ‘stress’ degree of 29, and the Moon will make final contact to Uranus in Aries and then move into Void status at around 11:30 AM Pacific time. This promises a period of distress, accompanied by a feeling of ineffectiveness should we try to address our upset–and we may not know what to do until the 22nd-23rd, when the Sun-Earth perfects a T-square to Mars, and we finally see where the problem is (or perhaps, what about our actions has caused the problems we face)–strange, considering this is the day when Mercury finally goes retrograde, perhaps withdrawing the ego’s mental barriers that kept us from understanding, allowing us to review, ‘What should I do?’ (Merc retro in Fire). With Mars having entered Capricorn on the 17th, we’ll likely be oriented toward practical, real-world, modest solutions, ones that will take care of problems once and for all, and this period shows us, if we’re willing to see, just how we’ve contributed to issues, and just what we can do to fix them.

And if you haven’t seen it, I recommend Darren Aronovsky’s ‘Mother!’, a story of the eternal cycle helmed by a Zeusian-Plutonic figure and Ceres-Gaia, with man’s religious follies and god-worship and the destructive consequences of these. It suggests an endless interaction between Nature and her tranquility and fecundity, on one side, and man’s insatiable need for god, and god’s insatiable need to be worshiped, and the destructiveness of these needs, on the other. Approach it all as symbolic, with an acceptance of the characters as fluid in terms of identity and labels, and you’ll have fun picking out their roles from myth, religion, and the Collective psyche.

Your Weekend 9-10 December 2017 The Truth of Things

08 Friday Dec 2017

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, forecast, Horoscope, The Daily Word Image

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‘The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed in the Sun’ c1807 William Blake {{PD}}

While all our attention is on Mars entering Scorpio on the 9th, we may find things take on a Plutonian tone, and we’d be forgiven for thinking this shift is why–but it’s not. Mars moving into Scorpio is a bit like this, debuting as a kind of Willfulness uncaring of waste or destruction, acting to make a point, to dig down, or even to get revenge–but what occurs, whether actions and choices bring results arrived at accidentally or deliberately, is that the Truth of things is revealed. Not a bad result at all for a transit that may feel very bull-in-a-china-shop–and of course, as Mars continues through the sign, it aspects individual factors in the natal chart, tailoring the experience to each of us uniquely.

On the 9th that Plutonian feeling is much more likely attributable to another set of contacts, and these promise truths arise out of unwise or impractical financial matters or relationship interactions (Venus parallel Pluto and sesq Pallas). The darker corners of our personal intimacies are lit up, and we may have the opportunity to see, and change, those less-than-smart facets of relationships or in our approach to money, earning, or asset management. We may even want to ‘go to war’ over Venusian life areas, but we need to know that urge would be prompted by our own darkness as it seeks an external target–so a crusade is definitely not a good idea at this time–and in its milder form brings to mind the old saying about how when you point at someone, four of your fingers are actually pointing back at you.

What’s most central to things, though, is the state of retrograde Mercury: parallel both Saturn and the Sun, trine Pallas, and quincunx Sedna. The mind, though not functioning as it normally does, is attuned to the reality picture and aware of what’s wise, smart, or practical–temporarily it’s only instincts and a more active mental stance that are on the fritz. That means that if we take in what is in a kind of passive mode, not reacting or insisting on taking action, we can enjoy a relatively crisp, objective, and accurate glimpse at the current picture. These ‘bright spots’ in the midst of Merc retros are always a welcome departure, and should be appreciated for the wealth of info they can make available–all we must do is be completely receptive, and our ‘Power Position’ or the positives of negotiation will be apparent (Sun trine Ceres).

 

‘Couple, Kids and Confusion’ By Shafiahmedrizvi 2011 CC BY-SA 4.0

By the 10th we may have learned something that confuses, alters, or otherwise makes unclear that relationship or asset picture (Venus square Neptune), or that inspires us through the difficulty it presents. We know what’s healthy–it’s obvious (Sun nov Hygeia) and the mind is quick and clever, in spite of its current direction (Mercury trine Uranus), but there is one caution: unprocessed or unresolved wounds may exert their influence on our thinking. Just sayin’.

{{PD}}

The weekend’s word image is this: after a conversation with someone, you have a dream that provides information you must pass on to the individual. For me this took the form of a discussion with someone about their frazzled, tired state and their back pain. In the dream I saw this person gazing into one of those convex mirrors you see on the street that allow drivers to see traffic coming from a blind corner; in this case, the mirror was on a drive-thru lane of a Starbucks! Then I was shown a chair that had a hard, upper back piece that would tilt a bit when leaned against, and my thought in the dream was, ‘Those are never comfortable–they don’t fit the back correctly, so you can’t even use them as a backrest.’ My interpretation? She’s ‘driving’ herself too hard, taking in too much caffeine in order to keep the energy level high, and the back pain is being exacerbated by either a literal ‘bad chair’, or is symbolic, springing from a sense that she lacks adequate support.

Have a great weekend! Read, donate, comment, or leave me a review at Goodreads–all are appreciated!

 

 

 

Your Weekend 2-3 December 2017 Lunar Domination

01 Friday Dec 2017

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, forecast, Horoscope, Mercury retrograde, Sabian Symbols

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Albert Aublet – ‘Selene’ 1879 {{PD}}

The Full Moon in Gemini falls on the 3rd at 7:47 AM Pacific time at 11 Gemini 40, and in spite of a host of other aspects forming this weekend, dominates the atmosphere, at least in part because of its to-the-degree connections to Neptune (to which the axis forms a T-square) and Jupiter (quincunx the FM event). Too, Mars and Juno-Hygeia form the base for a Fist of God with the Full Moon as apex, and Uranus-Pallas, close together in Aries, form a semi-square to the FM, and it all happens roughly 9 hours after Mercury’s apparent motion shifts to retrograde–and that’s all, but damn, isn’t that enough?

These contacts promise that what culminates, ends, presents itself completely formed, or resolves will challenge us on a creative, spiritual, or idealistic level, presenting us with a scenario that forces us to act in a way that defines one or more Neptunian areas (including those areas ruled by Neptune in the personal natal chart)–and that shows us the way our beliefs need to be modified, and/ or the facts accommodated (Jupiter quincunx).

The Fist smacks us with an issue centered in conflict between a healthy sense of personal authority and aggression or egocentricity, our own or others’. Our natural reaction is to fight an incursion on our autonomy (or what we believe is our autonomy, if we are in full-ego mode), in this instance with the resolution offered by the circumstances of the Full Moon, and as with the rest of the activity, the focus is likely to be mental (Gemini), as we process the meaning and implications of what’s occurring. However, the status of Mercury, newly retro, suggests that even if we seem to see the whole picture, understand the facts or issues, or know the lay of the land, we can’t possibly–it’s almost guaranteed we’ll be making choices blind (relatively speaking), and under stress (Merc retro at 29 degrees).

The semi-square may be the most prominent bit initially, as it suggests sudden actions taken at an individual level that are either very wise, or very stupid, precipitating all the other Full Moon effects (though Mars opposed Uranus on the 1st, then opposed Pallas, contra-parallel Uranus, and and quincunx Sedna on the 2nd, followed by a sesquiquadrate to Neptune on the 3rd, scream of a possible series of bad choices, or possibly out-of-control or hyper-spontaneous or deluded ones, that lead to that precipitating move).

Anita Rée ‘Head of a Girl’ {{PD}}

The Sabian for the Full Moon is, ‘A Negro Girl Fights For Her Independence In The City’. Set aside the antiquated language, and we have the image of someone who, in Western society (‘The City’), might have to fight much harder than others do to gain her autonomy, or even to get adequate consideration. Again, we have the ‘language’ of the Fist, and the need to guard our own healthy sense of personal authority. This suggests that the Full Moon result will create the need for struggle, and possibly also the personal need to declare one’s independence from something or someone that has exerted undue influence, held an advantage, that has ‘kept one down’ for far too long, or that is now trying to impose their Will (echoing the Fist and the Mars activity leading up to the Full Moon).

Nandina and Rooster from the Colorful Realm of Living Beings by Itō Jakuchū, c. 1761-65 (Edo Period) {{PD}}

The Sabian for the Sun, which originates the light that makes the appearance of the Full Moon from our stance on Earth possible, is, ‘A Flag Turns Into An Eagle; The Eagle Into A Chanticleer Saluting The Dawn’. To my mind this suggests that at least some of the Full Moon circumstance/ what draws our attention at this time is related to the political situation in the US. We see a sense of country morphing into a rather aggressive symbol, that then morphs into a crowing rooster–a step down for the eagle! The eagle maintains a certain dignity–seeking prey is part of what it does, so no one should be surprised that it indulges in predatory behavior perfectly reflective of its nature. A rooster, however, makes a lot of noise, crowing about something (‘The Dawn’) that will occur whether he announces it or not–so in a way, almost as if he’s taking credit for it. Sound familiar? If you live somewhere else, your conclusions may vary 🙂

Mercury retrogrades very late in the evening Pacific time of the 2nd, at 29 tense degrees of Sagittarius, possibly causing us to question what we know, or to explode over what we find out! What we need to be aware of is that, whatever happens, it’s something we need to know. Once Mercury picks up retro speed it will run right into Saturn–and that hints that what we learn with the retrograde will help us deal with some obstacle, or some facet of the reality picture–so we’ll end up being glad, even though initially the revelation may be stressful.

The only other thing I’d like to mention is the Jupiter trine to Neptune on the 2nd. This could be an island of ideal opportunity, creative expansion or outreach, or expanded expression or sense of spirituality, that comes forward in the midst of mild mental chaos, or it could act to exaggerate delusions or misperceptions that will fuel those Martian choices, actions, and so results, that come with the Full Moon.

And here’s a post on Merc retrograde you might find worthy of review—

Have a wonderful weekend!

Your Weekend 12-13 August 2017 Rearranged

11 Friday Aug 2017

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, forecast, Grand Trine, Horoscope, Lunar Aspects, Mercury retrograde, Retrogrades, The Daily Word Image

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Photo by Lewis Carroll ‘Smith Sisters, Summer 1859’ {{PD}}

Remember that trine between the Sun and Black Moon Lilith we talked about yesterday? For a few hours on the 12th it becomes a Fire Grand Trine as the Moon moves into the last decan of Aries (later AM Pacific)–and this happens just after the Moon forms a T-square by opposition to Jupiter and square to Pluto. The energy is big, sweeping, serious, though it doesn’t feel heavy, except in the way we see (or perhaps I should say ‘perceive’, as not everything will be on the surface or immediately identifiable) it shuffling the chess pieces on our board. We get to the end of the day with things considerably different, arranged in a way we didn’t anticipate, as at least some of what happens involves having to attend to (and so acknowledge feelings about) those things we’d rather ignore or deny. Know that there’s liberation to be found in dealing with things, and be aware that, particularly right now, we must be willing to allow others the autonomy to make their own decisions, no matter what we believe.

Mercury also begins apparent retrograde in Virgo, needing to backtrack only 7 minutes to perfect a trine to Pallas. This suggests that at least part of the meaning of this retro period will involve critical discernment (Virgo) of what’s wise, what’s practical, what skills are needed (Pallas). This sets the tone for the entire period; make sure that what you review and re-do brings answers that address those Pallas questions.

Today’s word image is a bowling ball floating on the water. Impossible, right? We may encounter something just as unlikely today–but in this case, accept what you see, but verify how it’s done, even though that takes the ‘magic’ out of it, as you’ll be much better off knowing the ‘why and how’ behind it.

Anticipation may be the theme on the 13th. We see the Sun trining a retrograde Saturn, Vesta and Neptune moving toward opposition, Mars heading toward a quincunx to Pluto and sextiles to Zeus and Jupiter, and there are a coupe of close semi-sextiles that link energies through a mild tension: Mars-Venus, and Chiron-Uranus, which we can read as, ‘man-woman/ animus/ anima’ and ‘sudden hurt or healing, wounding accident, spontaneous display of unique skills’. We may spend the day in a state akin to waiting, but not knowing just what we’re waiting for. The Moon in Taurus counsels us to relax and enjoy creature comforts–that’ll be my goal, and should be yours, too.

Today’s word image is: a sea serpent pokes his head up out of a choppy lake. Hmmm. Again with an image that may or may not be a reality. And again, accept that you saw it, but don’t accept anyone else’s definition of what it actually is.

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Just a Little AstroEssence 5 August 2017 Dream Big

04 Friday Aug 2017

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, forecast, Horoscope, Retrogrades, The Daily Word Image

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The Lantern Bearers, 1908 Maxfield Parrish {{PD}}

Today, the 5th, we find ourselves mulling big dreams, huge ambitions, massive desires, and plotting how to get ‘there’ from ‘here’–and we have an excellent chance of doing so, just as long as we can accept ‘the facts’, and avoid exaggerating our own abilities and so overestimating our chances at success. The issue is that we may resist ‘What Is’ to an astonishing degree; previous injuries to the psyche and the identity may be the source and may cause us to distrust our own thoughts and beliefs. Know this: those Big Dreams are meant to inspire, to spur creative action, and to prompt us to consider opportunities that will present in the near future. Mercury will retrograde in Virgo in a week; use the next seven days to dream and imagine, and the retro period to review with a critical and discerning eye. That way you’ll be ready to act in just about a month, post-eclipses.

The Joyous Festival
Gaston La Touche

Today’s word image is fireworks that land in a dry field and spark a small fire. Fireworks are a thing of celebration–or they can be what’s caused by someone wanting to stir things up and create chaos. It almost doesn’t matter what spirit fuels them with this image, though, because the result is that susceptible material burns. A haphazard display, a lack of care with this volatile form of energy, can ignite what’s prone to go up in smoke in the first place. This scenario may caution us; if we are the one lighting it up, we need to take care over the consequences, over who or what might ‘get burned’, and if we’re around this kind of display, we need to be cognizant of the potential damage, and perhaps to protect ourselves from the perpetrator.

Ready for the first eclipse? Read about it here—

19 December 2016 Necessary Incubation

18 Sunday Dec 2016

Posted by in astrology, Born Today, current events in the sky, forecast, Horoscope, Mercury retrograde, The Daily Word Image

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'Hatchlings' By Victor Stabin - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18404598

‘Hatchlings’ By Victor Stabin – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18404598

The AstroEssence: Do our choices and actions become more unsure, confused, as Mars enters Pisces? Maybe, but they may also reflect our highest inspirations, and we are more likely to actively pursue and defend our dreams and goals. The thing is, though, Mercury turns retrograde in semi-square to Mars, so that our thinking becomes fuzzy, or we become unsure of our own reasoning–and so pre-disposes us to the less productive side of Mars, at least initially. Don’t worry–that can mean indulging in daydreams, a marathon of reading or watching movies, indulging in escape of one kind or another, or some other period of necessary incubation, in preparation for taking action, choosing a direction, or asserting one’s choice. As long as we honor those methods, expressions, and modes that support our health, and keep our values supporting the highest good for ourselves and others in mind, we are unlikely to misstep at this point. Special note for the situation of US electors as they vote today: there may be some surprising changes of mind, as the need to mobilize ideals comes forward (I make no guesses as to whom and in what direction these changes of mind may occur!) The biggest surprise for me would be if everyone votes as they’ve already declared they will (Mercury retrograde, Vesta trine Hygeia, Mars enters Pisces, Merc semi-sq Mars)

There's a sharp dresser for you. And the 'do! Pietro Benvenuti - 'Apollo, Winner of the Serpent Python', 1813 {{PD}}

There’s a sharp dresser for you. And the ‘do! Pietro Benvenuti – ‘Apollo, Winner of the Serpent Python’, 1813 {{PD}}

Today’s word image is a python. Is there something in your world that’s slowly squeezing the life out of you, that you really need to rid yourself of? You may have mixed feelings about letting this thing go, especially if it’s something (or someone!) you love–but your job is to take care of you, and now is the time.

For those born with the Sun at 28 Sagittarius: You have wisdom and practicality on your side–and now it feels like you’re stepping off, into the abyss. For you this may indeed be uncharted territory, but unless you’re landing on another planet this Solar year, through to your next birthday, you will certainly find someone who’s gone before you. Listen to what they have to say, even, or maybe especially, if they are someone who’s nothing like you. Good luck, Sagittarius, and Happy Birthday!

Have a thrilling but safe, luminous start to your week! Follow Julie Demboski’s Astrology on Facebook, get my books here, and review them at GoodReads. Thank you!