Lawrence Koe – ‘Idyll’ c1910 {{PD}}

The AstroEssence: We find unique and effective ways of gaining, ways that directly fulfill ambitions and desires, that may use relationships, talents, or assets in order to accomplish our goals, and that pay off one way or another–and it all goes down smoothly, almost effortlessly, as if ‘luck’ is with us, or these positive developments are ‘meant to be’ in a big picture sense–and maybe they are. There’s beauty in acknowledging our desires, and sharing our goals with others–they just might want to help you attain them. Take care in interactions, though, as lust can get away from us–the choices are to shape it consciously or be driven by it unconsciously–and unthinking advances or expressions of want could be the order of the day (Perfecting today: Venus nov Zeus)

U.S. National Archives c1942 {{PD}}

Today’s word image is teeth! We all have very particular associations with teeth, whether we think of our own, those of animals (sharks!), or the many sayings involving them: ‘take a bite out of’ or ‘bit off more than one can chew’, ‘the gnashing of teeth’, ‘tooth and nail’, or stories like how George Washington had wooden teeth, how people used to tie a string from a rotten tooth to a door knob and then slam it to remove, or the biosociological concept of baring teeth to frighten others (yet the human smile is supposed to mean the opposite), etc. The interesting thing is that when we think of teeth as symbols we see that most of our references to them refer to two concepts: either consumption, or tension/ aggression. Then there are dreams about teeth, with Edgar Cayce describing teeth as our thoughts and words, with dreams of loose or lost teeth as signaling regret for what we’ve said. Look at the first few ideas that pop into your mind when you think of teeth, and what these may say about both your viewpoint and what you may choose to ‘sink your teeth into’.

By Yug – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5106985

For those born with the Sun at 19 Leo: the early part of your year, counting through to your next birthday, may be spent in unusual moves meant to deal with feelings that seem hurtful and out-of-control. If you can hold back from overreacting (that is, realize that emotional responses are exaggerated in your mind), you may find that living with the feelings can open up some original creative approaches to both problems and Self-expression, ones that can open up your world and take what you create and what you do to a new level. Good luck, Leo, and Happy Birthday!

‘Musicienne du silence’ Arthur Hacker c1900 {{PD}}

The AstroEssence: The ladies have it, if by ‘it’ you mean an ability to cooperate, share power, and combine complementary talents and status in order to go much farther together than any individual could alone–and by ‘ladies’, we really mean the part within all of us that is receptive, and so open to cooperation, a sharing of power, and a willingness to exercise abilities and prerogatives to aid others as much as themselves. There is also an almost magical ability to access the instincts and that primal ‘knowing’ we carry within by staying clear on, and true to, our highest values, when acting or interacting. We profit, in one form or another, by empowering ourselves and others–and that empowerment comes through a partnership mentality that is tuned to the instincts and the values–miss any component, and results are likely to be unproductive, if not outright divisive (Vesta nov Sedna, Venus sxt Juno)

Today’s word image is a violin. It’s here I note that an individual response to an image overrides any definition I might offer. My thoughts: violins are ‘prodigy’ instruments, often taken up before the individual can actually make a choice, requiring discipline, dedication, and control of an extraordinary degree, and their sound is like liquid emotion, often used to heighten feeling in a movie or during a musical experience. Personally, it reminds me of how I didn’t get one of my daughters the lessons she requested (at about nine years old) and I’ve been sorry about not giving her that opportunity ever since–so for me, this is a symbol of regret.

For those born today: 17 Leo, described in yesterday’s post, lasts until after 10 PM of the 9th, Pacific time; in order to once again ‘line up’ day and degree the best way possible, you read yesterday’s post if your Sun is at 17–or you wait for tomorrow’s, if your Sun is 18 Leo. In any case, Happy Birthday, Leo!

Ansel Adams The Tetons and the Snake River (1942) The U>S> National Archives {{PD}}

The AstroEssence: the reality picture (and subsequently, our attention) is focused on matters of ‘health’ (in all its forms) and the way these influence realization of our goals, or shape our ambitions and desires. In accepting and then working with the way things are, we not only find a way forward, we see precisely where our strengths and our ability to influence lies–and we use it, embracing our own authority (no matter how circumscribed or tenuous) and thereby gaining, profiting, or furthering relationships (Perfecting today: Saturn sxt Hygeia, Venus trine Ceres, Mercury conjoined the NN, Sun sxt Zeus)

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service {{PD}}

Today’s word image is a small float plane lands on a smooth lake. The thing that always strikes me about this kind of transportation is how specific it is–you can’t change your mind mid-flight and toot on over to an airport! In what way are you being very particular about moving forward, so much so that you may be limiting your potentials? Sometimes we must be very specific, because we already know exactly what it takes to ‘arrive’ at a highly specialized destination, but we may become overly specific in how we move forward without having a very specific goal in mind, and so could curtail possibilities and delay progress.

By Jean-Pierre Dalbéra from Paris, France – Décor du portail de la maison de J.M. Olbrich (Mathildenhöhe, Darmstadt), CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24665915

For those born with the Sun at 17 Leo: (Please check your natal chart to know whether you should read yesterday’s forecast, today’s, or tomorrow’s, according to the degree of your Sun) You may have realized some important or significant ambition or goal of late, and you may be wondering, now what? You may have an almost immediate emotional crisis to deal with (possibly involving aesthetic matters or the partner), and after that you’re called upon to act and/ or to choose–and this may occur in life areas where the choices conflict with your intentions. Take your time, sort it out, and don’t act reflexively or in anger–that definitely won’t get you where you want to go. Good luck, Leo, and Happy Birthday!

I’m considering offering reports on the upcoming September eclipses (no, the one in mid-August is not an eclipse, but a near miss) in two versions, one a succinct report that concentrates on the meaning for you (no astro-details), the other including the astro-details as they contact your natal chart, and this is very important: these reports only address the impact of the eclipse–the report does not exhaustively cover everything happening in your chart, it focuses on the set of events as they interact with your chart. The emphasis will be on you, and how these might impact you, and you need to be aware, this may or may not address current issues you think are important–often an eclipse set lets you know where things are really happening, or where they’re ‘warming up’, as well as what areas may undergo drastic change, a ‘wipeout’, rather than answering matters that grab your attention currently–though of course, sometimes they do. The briefer report that offers the meaning and life areas impacted for you, based on the eclipse’s contact to your natal chart, will be $35 and run 1-2 single-spaced PDF pages, while the more detailed will run 2-3+ single-spaced pages at $50. Both are delivered by email as soon as possible. I’ll let you know right here if I decide to go forward–and those who’ve already contacted me and asked about this will be first in line, if I decide to offer them. Thanks to all who’ve inquired!

William Michael Harnett {{PD}}

The AstroEssence: Venus enters Virgo, and we may start to see ‘virgin territory’ as a desirable place to explore, transform, or critique. We go where we’ve never been before in relationships or financially, or we are willing to be accountable publicly for some change in our values–it’s as if we’re saying, ‘Yes, that’s who I am, not what you expected, right? I’m not afraid to go there”. This is good, if it’s freeing you to express genuine feeling, not so good if it’s an aberration fostered by a too-prickly relationship with Virgoan characteristics, right now (check natal Merc for what it might be receiving by transit–a tense aspect or two almost certainly promises you’ll go out on a limb, then try to saw it off).

The mind may almost compulsively dig into areas where matters are denied or ignored, or where deep change is happening but those involved are pretending everything is just fine. This will cause friction, especially in relationships or financially, but if handled consciously (with deliberate discernment, rather than a critical approach), may excavate areas painful or too long ignored, allowing healing to begin. Warning: thinking easily drifts into the fantastical and unreal; stay connected to the facts–and don’t mistake your or another’s thoughts for facts–for best results (Perfecting today: Venus sesq Pluto, Merc sxt Black Moon Lilith and contra-parallel Neptune)

Today’s word image is a picture of a stranger, found in a box of old family photos. Whose ‘surprise photo’ are you most likely to find emerging from the past? Who within the family is this person connected to, and why? And does this illuminate anything about this family member for you?

Vincent van Gogh ‘Olive Trees’ 1888 {{PD}}

For those born with the Sun at 14 Leo: If you’re willing to let go of outmoded or irrelevant energy drains, and acquiesce to re-making those areas that need ‘power reform’, you can mid-way through your year, through to your next birthday, find like-minded others and develop an aesthetic both of which will support realizing your goals and ambitions. Good luck, Leo, and Happy Birthday!

“Motor Manufacturing” by Clive Gardiner for the Empire Marketing Board c.1930 Courtesy of the National Archives UK {{No Restrictions}}

The AstroEssence: Our ambitions drive everything right now; we have innovative, unique, and inspiring thoughts about our desires, wants, and goals, and we see what’s impractical or unwise about the form our current aims take, and so can modify our intended direction and our efforts. Our quest to express our individuality pushes us forward, and we’re heartened both by seeing how and why things didn’t work in the past, and how we and our ambitions can fit into the social fabric now. Optimism is pervasive, but take care not to bite off more than you can handle (Pallas sesq Zeus, and Merc nov Zeus and parallel Uranus, Sun nov Jupiter and qnx the SN)

Juan Téllez Hellín – ‘Work’ 1903 {{PD}}

Today’s word image is unfinished knitting. What have we begun to knit together, pulling in different threads to make a coherent and cooperative whole, that we’ve lately put aside, neglected, or given up on? Whatever the project is, remind yourself of what you intended at the time, then look at things in the light of now–that’s the only way to know if it’s right to pick it up and finish, or to unravel things, and put the energy and materials to a better use.

For those born with the Sun at 13 Leo: Though most of the year goes smoothly, you are actually headed for great change; the question is, will this be forced upon you, or will you see the writing on the wall, and modify your course so that what you’re required to do fits into what you want, anyway? You prepare best by being flexible, and at the same time being as Self-responsible and Self-aware as possible; avoid being too critical of yourself or others, as this is especially likely at those points when emotions overcome you. Good luck, Leo, and Happy Birthday!

By mik Krakow – Collegium Maius UJ, fot. J. Nowostawska-Gyalókay, Małopolski Instytut Kultury 2015, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41337157

Please note that currently the Sun is reaching a new degree later and later in the day, Pacific time; it’s only by looking at your timed birth chart that you can be sure whether the degree listed for your birthday is correct for you, or whether you should read the day before or after.

Thank you, Readers!

Elizabeth Forbes – ‘Blackberry Gathering’ c1912 {{PD}}

The AstroEssence: What we love is actually good for us right now–can you imagine? It may seem like a trick, a deception, a sleight-of-mind, but we’ll only be mislead if we focus our attention too narrowly on ourselves and our interests; keep the world in mind, and our actions and choices can verge on transformative, that’s how effective our ‘reach’ into the real world can be. Make it pleasant, make it pretty, make it profitable, and we’ll all benefit. And we find, in exerting ourselves, that if we anticipated pain for taking charge and being responsible, we were wrong–empowering ourselves is not just hurt-free, but helps us shed any illusions we may have accepted as valid (Chiron contra-parallel Juno, Mars semi-sq Pluto, Venus nov Hygeia, Sun qnx Neptune)

Today’s word image is a forest, where every tree trunk is covered with butterflies. To me butterflies are symbols of potential, of what someone or something can become, and a forest speaks of an environment that acts as a sheltering place to gather, replenish, and breed, a proper ground for bringing something to fruition. This image may prompt us to look at how well our environment incubates our efforts; are they properly nourished, allowed to develop, recognized as valid once they are complete? If not, consider modifications that can help support even the most delicate and elusive of ideas, the inspired kind we must take seriously and pursue, before the moment passes. See one man’s efforts to support butterflies here, and a real-life forest such as our image describes here.

Remember, time is passing. By Juan R. Lascorz, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3653043

For those born with the Sun at 12 Leo: there is a ‘fresh’ feeling to your new Solar year, one that offers you the time, energy, and inclination to address old issues, see to lingering problems, and adjust current matters so that you are rid of what’s outdated and can effectively turn your attention on the future. You are entering a larger process of change that will take some time; getting right with the past is your first step forward. Good luck, Leo, and Happy Birthday!

Please note that currently the Sun is reaching a new degree later and later in the day, Pacific time; it’s only by looking at your timed birth chart that you can be sure whether the degree listed for your birthday is correct for you, or whether you should read the day before or after.

Read —  Donate  —  and enjoy your Wednesday!