Because the vast majority of us are not only aware of the way gratitude plays an important mental, emotional, and spiritual role in our lives, we practice it daily, some see no need to set aside a day to give what amounts to ritual thanks, to God, the Universe, or simply to each other for the sustenance we share. My feeling, though, is that it’s important that we express our thankfulness for all we have (no matter how little that is) in a ritualized way; ritual allows us to bring a sense of the sacred (Vesta) to what is essential daily practice ( both the consumption of food and our conscious expression of gratitude). In the US (as in most other places that set aside a special occasion to show thankfulness) there are traditions that have grown up around the ritual–and make no mistake, our Thanksgiving here is a modern thing, a celebration of the way two disparate worlds began to co-operate (the indigenous inhabitants and those who saw it as an empty land, free for the taking) not, as some would contend, a celebration of one viewpoint or race triumphing over another. That would be the opposite of gratitude, for when one component of the equation is not considered, no one truly profits. With the Moon in Cancer for this Thanksgiving, we can make the day a ritual of caring; a Grand Trine around 4:30 PM PST involving Vesta, the Moon, and Uranus, all in Water, says that the individual can become emotionally balanced within the group by honoring those things we know to be sacred, and whatever we consider ‘home,’ as well as those with whom we are most intimate. A great deal of healing can be accomplished through kindness, today–don’t underestimate the power of the Cancerian vibe.

And now to the practical advice on how to handle the day. The day’s dynamic is encapsulated in the T-square of Juno opp Jupiter/ Uranus, both square Pallas/ Mars/ Mercury. Pallas is included in a version of the ‘T’ (as each energy must be considered separately within the equation) that does not include Uranus, and vice versa, suggesting that wisdom and rebelliousness/ originality will not be able to co-exist in the same action and thought dynamic. The signs involved are Virgo, Pisces, and Sagittarius; mutability brings a fluidity to the days activities that may be surprising. The general atmosphere may be one of a tension focused on the individual and the role in the group–all energy going toward what we’re putting out, how we’re interacting, and with a particular personal attention to how well we’re being accepted on the social scene. Considering that many among us will be spending an unusual amount of time with family, this influence may set the stage for a re-evaluation of the individual within the family dynamic, the reassessment being provided by Juno’s sense of personal empowerment v. the exaggerated need for the uniqueness of the individual to be incorporated into the group (Uranus)–and all offset by the tensions provided by egos, communications, and the inner wisdom. It’s a chance to re-learn how to interact with those important to us in ways that enhance our own (and likely their) feelings of autonomy, relevance, and strength as individuals–and very good influence, if we can avoid overreaction, rebellion, or any of the other hair-trigger responses that still live in us from childhood.

For more see the Private Pages at right under ‘Pages’; get your password here http://dogandsunflower.wordpress.com/the-latest-new-fall-2010-eclipse/ or see my new book on Juno http://dogandsunflower.wordpress.com Thanks! And Happy Thanksgiving!

If you’d like to know when there are new posts on this blog, you can sign up for an email notice, in the upper right corner of this page, or you can get updates through Networked blogs on Facebook, or by following Julie Demboski’s Astrology at Facebook http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Julie-Demboskis-Astrology/153913831291450