Fitz Henry Lane – ‘Brace’s Rock’ 1864 {{PD}}

Friday’s New Moon is here–

The AstroEssence for the 1st: Inspiration, a wider world view, and the promise of reward for creative expression, all combine to cause problems! Who’d uh thunk, right? But it’s our creative urge, our love of imagining, that can go awry, either inspiring the desire to pull away from established values and commitments, or leading us in the wrong direction by presenting illusion or deception as truth. Willingly facing what we’ve hidden or ignored, talking about hurt both inflicted and received, and understanding the benefits of sticking to realities (for if we are unclear about where we are, how do we get to where we want to go?) all help us deal with current influences successfully (Neptune sesq Vesta, Jupiter contra-parallel Chiron and nov Black Moon Lilith, Venus trine Neptune, Mercury opp Chiron)

By Maureen Shaw, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14135127

Today’s word image is found in multiples, in things that are spherical. Not round; our image is three-dimensional, and that’s an important point, as dimensionality suggests depth to the meaning of the image. A sphere contains space, and if we consider this a kind of model of our world–what does your sphere contain? Each of us lives in a series of energy ‘bubbles’: our physical and etheric bodies, our intimate associations and pastimes, our wider purview, and our ‘reach’ out into the wider world. Are you satisfied with what your sphere contains? Overwhelmed? Feel it’s empty? Watch for actual spheres to clue you in via symbolism to messages about your own personal spheres, their state and meaning.

For those born with the Sun at 9 Libra: You may spend this coming year, through to your next birthday, weighing and adjusting your creative impetus so that you can afford it, benefit from it, and so that it doesn’t harm relationships. It’s a tippy balancing act that you are almost inevitably sure to feel will never find equilibrium–but that is exactly what you will one day wake up with, just under one year from now–and that will free you to apply your creativity with confidence and all the support you really need. Good luck, Libra, and Happy Birthday!

‘Still Life With Candy’ By Circle of Georg Flegel – 17th century {{PD}}

The AstroEssence for the 2nd: Brace yourself: our own actions and choices may inadvertently undermine our aims, surprises in both our own thinking and in communications from others are abundant, we’ll be acutely aware of the flaws in what we’re creating, hurt and healing are handed out like candy, and our only real power seems to center in the ability to dig up the past and all our complaints about it. Try as we might, the day will more or less end up a jumble; best not to fret (little that happens today will have any lasting impact), so taking everything with a grain of salt and a wait-and-see attitude is the preferred coping method (Chiron nov Ceres, Pluto sxt Black Moon Lilith, Mars semi-sq Juno, Mercury qnx Uranus, Sun qnx Neptune and contra-parallel Mercury)

By Peter Forster – originally posted to Flickr as Clock, Uhr, Orologio, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10196199

Today’s word image is a clock. Aside from the obvious ‘time is passing’ shtick of which we all must be aware, we might consider the linearity of our perceptions of time–is everything happening at once? I tend to think so–or perhaps the way the concept of ‘the arrow of time’ explains our linear perceptions even as it supports a microscopic lack of linear flow: This seems a fairly good explanation, from Wikipedia: “Physical processes at the Microscopic level are believed to be either entirely or mostly time-symmetric: if the direction of time were to reverse, the theoretical statements that describe them would remain true. Yet at the macroscopic level it often appears that this is not the case: there is an obvious direction (or flow) of time.” Confused enough yet? As a symbol of time, I think the point of this image is twofold: awareness that we can only move in one direction, time-wise, so we’d better approach things with that in mind, and if there is a particular personal meaning to clocks and their use for you, you should consider that. Knowing that our perception of time is linear, but that it might not in the larger scheme play out that way at all, should broaden our understanding, even as it fosters respect for those elements of time (decay, aging) we can’t control.

For those born with the Sun at 10 Libra: What’s hidden, ignored, denied, or that makes you angry may act as the secret engine behind your choices, movements, and commitments this coming year. Though everyone else needn’t know this, it’s important you stay aware of that smoldering anger and righteousness–otherwise it could take over and end up alienating those you love and care for–and certainly, that will set you back a long way in attaining your goals. You have the creative chops and the resources to implement ideals and dreams–so staying awake to what propels you is the only thing to remember. Good luck, Libra, and Happy Birthday!

Have a great weekend!

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec ‘Carmen Gaudin Red-Headed Woman in a White Blouse’ 1885 {{PD}}

The AstroEssence: Empowerment, the true ability to affect one’s environment and one’s options, comes today from two things: accessing what worked or brought balance in the past, and a willingness to dive into what we’ve been ignoring or denying, in order to confront what’s dark, or what would change us, if it could. The thing is, though it’s both admirable and tempting to go head-long at issues, it might not be the wisest thing to do. Somehow using our current position to attack things we actually do need to address will cause us to both gain and lose in unanticipated ways. As long as we’re clear on that, we can go forward, forewarned that drawing on the past, and on power accumulated there, brings a mixed bag of results. Ideas are our friends–they are brewing for the Inferior Conjunction tomorrow, where they will plant a seed or two–but action based on these thoughts, which may take defiant or anti-establishment lines, is to be avoided, at least for now (Juno conj Black Moon Lilith and trine the SN, Pallas contra-parallel Juno and trine Hygeia, Mars sesq Ceres, Venus parallel Juno, square Pluto, and contra-parallel Pallas)

Today’s word image is the color white. What does that color mean to you? Purity, blankness, cold, sterility, freshness, options or choice (as in an unwritten-on piece of paper or an untouched canvas), or do you see it with an artistic eye, representing all colors? What comes to mind tells you what’s ‘coloring’ your current viewpoint ‘lens’.

For those born with the Sun at 19 Virgo: it’s a time for action–is there really any question about that?–but hesitation may arise from perceptions that implementing what you want, your Will, or taking that leadership position will seriously sidetrack current life direction, the very momentum of which you’ve worked so hard to create. What’s a Virgo to do? Think on it, sleep on it, mull it, whatever ‘it’ is that you want to do–by the time you again feel confident and ready to move forward, half of what you’re now considering will have resolved on its own, and the other half will be ripe for your touch. It’s all a matter of choice–making the right one could take a little time. Good luck, Virgo, and Happy Birthday!

Enjoy your Sunday!

Watanabe Seitei 1916 {{PD}}

The AstroEssence for the 3rd: We may find ourselves in the midst of multiple tug-of-wars (or is it tugs-of-war?), with our own sensibilities seemingly coming down on BOTH sides of the conflict. Ambitions echo the past, dreams lead our efforts toward empowering ourselves, and relationships seem to present the most vexing challenges, as we reject the social sphere, those in authority, and our peers! What’s left? Our inspirations are real; hold tight to these and let them guide you. Know that what draws our attention contains the needed wisdom or shows us the ‘smart move’; and accept that choices and actions are going to feel as if they violate our standards, though inspection later should reassure us that they did no such thing (SN parallel Zeus, Neptune trine Juno, Mars qnx Vesta, Venus contra-parallel Jupiter, Chiron, and Ceres, and qnx Ceres, Sun parallel Pallas and sxt Black Moon Lilith)

Today’s word image is a crow. Crows, we’ve recently discovered, are very very smart birds. They recognize individual humans, and will even share knowledge of what kind of human that is (source of food, mean to birds, etc). In what non-verbal way have you received knowledge lately from the group, and what knowledge was it? Were you conscious of it, or did you just soak it in? How did you use that knowledge, and if you’re just becoming conscious of it now, how will you use it in future?

For those born with the Sun at 11 Virgo: pure and inspired creativity, especially that which is drawn from past experiences, is yours this year, as long as you do one thing: confront every issue you have avoided, denied, or that has enraged you. You can’t keep your upsets to yourself any longer, nor can you expect to create success if you continue to refuse to deal with issues. It’s that simple, and that complicated, all at once. Good luck, Virgo, and Happy Birthday!

For those born with the Sun at 12 Virgo: I can offer you only three things, but if you use/ understand them, you will have all you need to make your year a success. 1) who you are shapes your fate, nothing, and no one, else; 2) relating to others emotionally will build the bridges you need; and, 3) don’t hesitate to look into the abyss, to deal with what you’d rather not, and to express your rage/ outrage when it is warranted. Good luck, Virgo, and Happy Birthday!

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Le goûter sur l’herbe (1892) by Maurice Réalier-Dumas {{PD}}

The AstroEssence: This weekend the emphasis is on our own strength, and finding a balance of expression between the highly personal (instinct, idiosyncrasy, hurt, relationships) and the wider world (the social sphere, what’s wise, our ability to have an impact). Both sides of the equation must reach a state that allows optimum expansion of reach that still protects (that is, allows unique ‘statements’ by) the individual, and also guards the integrity of the core purpose, identity, and intents. The idea is to maximize our expression, while still remaining, in whatever way this applies, ‘safe’. Not a time to take risks, as our sense of what’s smart will conflict with our instincts, causing (quite naturally) confusion; but we can connect cleanly with opportunities for gain (especially in the House of the natal chart that holds the Venus-Jupiter conjunction in Virgo, and those Houses ruled by Venus), and we can gain a solid sense of who we are at our best (in our ‘ideal’ form), of our most valuable skills, as well as where our true power, territory, and influence lie. The ideas and way of thinking about ourselves that we set now will last (and so affect everything going forward) for some time to come–and so set us up for success (if we focus on our value and abilities) or disappointment (if we think too much about what we don’t have, or see ourselves as victims) (Saturday: Pallas sq Sedna, Chiron sesq Juno, Venus conj and parallel Jupiter, Sun trine Ceres/ Sunday: Hygeia conj Zeus, Neptune contra-p Pallas, Venus p Ceres and Chiron, conj Merc and nov Juno, Merc stations pre-retro on the 30th)

The word image for the weekend is an expensive Tartan picnic blanket, spread out on the summer grass. This is in essence a pleasant ‘stage’ upon which to have a picnic–but, in the image, there is no luncheon displayed, nor do we see picnic participants, at least not yet. Where in your life is the stage set for a celebration of the current ‘weather’, of what you have (a celebration of abundance), or of whom you’re with? Do you put off enjoying what is, waiting for things to be ‘perfect’? Or is it that you fail to see (and so enjoy) the small celebrations available every day, over the many little things we’re lucky enough to have and enjoy? Do you need to take time off, to relax, with no particular agenda or goals, for a while? Consider the phrase, ‘It’s no picnic’–and then resolve, in one form or another, to have one.

Kick off your shoes and enjoy life! Jean-Honoré Fragonard {{PD}}

For those born with the Sun at 5 Virgo: this year, through to your next birthday, is likely to be filled with contests of power and authority; not only will you spar and negotiate with those who hold power in your world, you’ll also begin accruing significant power through these interactions, in effect joining the ranks of the establishment and declaring dominion over your own special territory and ‘subjects’. You are, at this time, destined to establish yourself, especially in areas of Love and Money, and the approach you embrace at this time will set the tone for the entire year, and may reverberate for some time after that–so choose your ideas, words, and communications with special care. Expect to gain, to reap the reward (or at least, the result) of opportunities taken in the past, and know that what comes to you now is completely deserved. Good luck, Virgo, and Happy Birthday!

Cakes 1963 Pplachigo CC BY-SA 3.0

For those born with the Sun at 6 Virgo: focus is on empowerment (making your presence and Will felt), on status, and on partnership, and the kind and amount of cooperation you’re getting, and this extends through to your next birthday, Virgo. You may be measuring power situations and your own effectiveness with a very personal set of standards, and everything that happens, much more than usually, will feel like it’s happening in big bold life-size experiences that are only happening to you. Because of this, you may temporarily lose both perspective and a sense of compassion toward others–but this Self-focus is necessary in order to prepare you to enter a creative heyday, and realization of one or more ideals or dreams, in the near future. Good luck, Virgo, and Happy Birthday!

‘Four Loves I found, a Woman, a Child, a Horse and a Hound’
George Spencer Watson 1922 {{PD}}

The AstroEssence for the 20th: we may suffer an odd combination of influences that could easily steer us wrong: one concerns how thoughts are focused on what isn’t happening/ working in fulfillment of ambitions and wants; the other is a rejection of what we know to be wise, smart, practical, or that involves a refusal to use our already-learned skills, and this rejection/ refusal is seated in some aspect of our current identity or Self-image. Together the two tracks converge so that we may make some poor or mistaken choices out of frustration or a wish not to acknowledge who, exactly, we are. If hiding in a closet or some sunless hole isn’t possible (and who wants to do that, anyway?) our best bet may be conscious Self-acceptance (no matter how that may make us cringe over denied character traits or experience), along with a vow to let go of judgement, a tendency that comes far too easily with Mercury’s transit of Virgo (Merc semi-sq Black Moon Lilith, Sun opp Pallas)

All in white, she looks like she knows a thing or two. Alfredo Andersen – ‘Retrato de Guigui’ {{PD}}

Today’s word image is the color white (technically all color!) I realized this as, in asking myself what the word image is, I saw a series of white animals, birds, and objects, and then realized that at least the past two images had been white things, too (a stork and an egg), at least as they were envisioned. We may have personal associations with the color, or cultural ones; some see white as indicating purity, fidelity, or innocence, while some link it to death, or to sacrifice, or to sterility, coldness, or authority (as in the wearing of a white coat to signify status in a health setting, for instance)–and of course your own preferences and experiences will figure in to the meaning of white for you, whether it’s the ideas attached to the color, or whether it points out something that is that color and offers further meaning. At the very least, use it as a marker of synchronicity or of being ‘in the flow’ when you observe it.

For those born with the Sun at 28 Leo: you may spend a good part of your year, Leo, through to your next birthday adjusting to new emotional circumstances or truths–and these changes can’t help but affect who you are, causing a drawn out period of modification and accommodation that is especially personal. You have a good sense of what’s smart, what’s practical, right now, and should use it as you go forward, as little else will offer guidance, and you could feel lost if you don’t embrace and accept your current reality. Good luck, Leo, and Happy Birthday!

Pieter Bruegel the Elder – ‘The Tower of Babel’ 1563 {{PD}}

The AstroEssence for the 21st: It’s a terrible thing when our reasoning and our social role both fall into our blind spot, leaving neither our own minds nor our usual patterns and responsibilities as reliable guides. Relationships don’t help, either, as we’re in the midst of greater or lesser power struggles that permeate even the most benign exchanges. What we can do is use sensitivities not related to the mind (intuition, feeling, those 6th, 7th, and 8th senses! etc); these will bring invaluable info as long as we acknowledge our own power wants and those territories we wish to claim as our own–if we don’t admit what we want, the feeling nature will lead us astray. Compounding perceptual difficulties is the way facts just won’t speak of realities, at this time–be prepared for that (Mercury and Jupiter trine Sedna, though Merc and Jup don’t perfect their conjunction until the 22nd, Venus sesq Ceres)

Still Life with Fish by William Merritt Chase, c. 1910 {{PD}}

Today’s word image is a fish ready to be filleted. What does that bring to mind? Anticipation of a good dining experience? Revulsion at eating something with a face? The fish is a symbol of Christianity; to fillet it may be to ‘take the backbone’ out of a religious viewpoint. If you’re an astrologer you may think of Pisces, and wonder what it means if only one of the symbol pair is gutted. A fish was one of Vishnu’s incarnations, again suggesting a connection to divinity. We could go on and on, since the fish carries so much symbolism. This one, though, has been ‘fished for’, ‘caught’, and is now being ‘prepared’–is there anything like that in your life, that may need to be seen for what it really is?

For those born with the Sun at 29 Leo: though it may not seem like it, eventually emotions catch up with the rest of you, and internal harmony is restored; you’ll likely take action repeatedly until you feel balanced. You think big and use discernment; make sure it doesn’t devolve into petty criticism and over-concern with detail. The creative may become an outlet for feelings and perceptions ignored or denied–that can be very good, if you know how to shape and direct those energies, or very bad, if they end up deceiving you or others. Good luck, Leo, and Happy Birthday!

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