Tallinn bay during December storm from Merivälja. Tallinn, Estonia.
A striking photo by Aleksandr Abrosimov CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The AstroEssence for the 3rd: We may be misguided about the intentions or actual actions of those in charge–and we clash, or we show our upset, feeling we’re not allowed to be our most creative Self. That’s really just a distraction, though, and only those who are busy avoiding knowing what they can do to improve their own situation stall there. Everyone else sees the opportunity promised by solid effort, and the gains to be made by accessing instinct and being willing to look at our own weaknesses, and then do something about them (Neptune sq Juno, Jupiter nov NN, Mars sxt Saturn, Venus trine Sedna)

Crows Fly by Red Sky at Sunset Portfolio/Series: from the Series Hana Kurabe. Artist: Shibata Zeshin {{PD}}

Today’s word image is a crow. I’ve seen and heard this bird referred to an unusual number of times in the past 24 hours–and that usually means it’s something to pay attention to. The striking thing is that most of the references were negative, referring to them as pests–but to me they’re something of a totem, a creature much more intelligent (there’s video here, crow vs. kindergartner here, and a little something on their love life here) than we’ve realized before, even able to communicate with one another, to recognize different humans, and to use tools. As a symbol the crow suggests there’s something or someone operating in our sphere that we’re underestimating–and so perhaps not respecting, or giving the regard, we should.

For those born with the Sun at 12 Sagittarius: It may seem that relationships or funds you thought were in the bag are now slipping away–but were they ever really in your grasp? This Solar year, through to your next birthday, you’re going to see what made you think you had it, what made it slip away, and you’ll more than likely be given a second chance. Make the most of it by 1) putting actual, physical (or at least materially tangible) hard work into it, and 2) by not allowing the emotions (which will probably feel like they’re at a crisis point through much of the year) to be subsumed by the intellect. Follow that prescription, and you should reach your next birthday in a much better position to get what you want–you might even by then already have it. Good luck, Sagittarius, and Happy Birthday!

The Hut in Trouville, Low Tide (1881) By Claude Monet {{PD}}

The AstroEssence for the 4th: This may be a day when we and others are inclined to go right for what we desire, and yet there’s this undercurrent, a sense that we’ve forgotten something, or that there’s something we just don’t see, that’s going to catch up with us. If we’re willing to accept we may have made a poor decision or two, or hurt someone in the past, then we will (for lack of a better word) attract a much more positive outcome to our efforts. Maybe it’s the power of genuine humility, or maybe it’s that in removing the kinds of barriers that denial erects, we allow a lot more good stuff in, too (Chiron sesq Vesta, Neptune parallel SN, Mars trine Zeus, Venus nov SN, Mercury nov Black Moon Lilith)

The Crystal Ball (1902) by John William Waterhouse {{PD}}

Today’s word image is a crystal ball. In the figurative sense, we’re always hoping someone has one and can tell us what’s coming. Don’t worry about what’s coming–and in particular, don’t worry about what others are saying is coming. Soothsayer or not, nobody really knows what tomorrow brings.

For those born with the Sun at 13 Sagittarius: You’ll be attaining emotional equilibrium soon–and after some time of being off-balance, that will feel really good. This coming Solar year, through to your next birthday, you really want to want to use that balanced state to get done all that you Want To Do, but don’t get ahead of yourself–first you need to clear our what doesn’t belong. Then you’ll be able to go full steam ahead. Good luck, Sagittarius, and Happy Birthday!

The AstroEssence for the 5th: The outlook? Love and/ or Money appears or makes its presence known, in real-world terms. That might be very very good (Venus nov Saturn)

CC BY 4.0

Today’s word image is a cat sleeping curled on a window ledge. What can we learn from a cat, besides independence, good Self-esteem, and grace? A cat never makes itself stay awake. Get all the rest you need, and don’t feel bad for doing it.

For those born with the Sun at 14 Sagittarius: You’re closing in on finishing, accomplishing, or otherwise laying the foundations for something you’ve worked at for a long time–so what seems to be the problem? Your own ambitions may be the sticking point; you may be insisting on having things just so–and that suggests you’re not trusting the Universe quite as much as you might need to, to get the best results. Relax, and know that you’re on the way to having that hard work recognized–just got to loosen up a bit, first. Good luck, Sagittarius, and Happy Birthday!

Adélaïde Labille-Guiard {{PD}}

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Hesperides were guardians of the tree that produced golden apples, a gift to earth from Hera. Frederic Leighton, 1892 {{PD}}

The 26th: . . . how the powerful have affected us. Though initially we may ponder how authorities and those who hold power have helped and hindered us, including how much they’ve wounded us and limited our options, but we progress fairly quickly to considering how uniquely we’ve responded to these pressures, and how they have shaped who we are today. This is a highly positive experience that involves, consciously or not, cataloguing our attributes, talents, and the resiliency of the spirit–and has the benefit of showing us precisely how to shape our efforts and power expressions so that they both pay off handsomely and take us in the direction we want to go (NN nov Zeus, Venus nov Juno, Merc trine Uranus and Ceres, and sq Chiron, Sun parallel Hygeia)

Today’s word image is a snake. Look for it to draw your attention to sychronicities, to deja vu experiences, to moments when it’s vital you be alert to what’s happening at that time. It doesn’t necessarily signify danger, but rather an opportunity for ‘knowing’.

For those born with the Sun at 5 Sagittarius: Is it that you’re solidly grounded in your values and priorities, and so ready to take on a new and enhanced status, or that you need to get your footing with how you feel about what really matters, so that you can determine just what status you’re really seeking? Only you know which is your current state; be prepared for your most striking characteristic this year, through to your next birthday, no matter which state you’re in, to be a mainly intellectual stance, one of spontaneity, unreliability, forward-thinking, but possibly having difficulty connecting with others. This year is likely, probably below a conscious level, to rearrange everything in your life. Good luck, Sagittarius, and Happy Birthday!

The 27th: . . . ourselves and what we need. We have a firm grasp on our values and a clear idea of what needs to change or be eliminated, even as we indulge in our most erratic or original behaviors. We need to gain from our ambitions; this is a need arising from an even deeper need to know that our choices have been wise and/ or practical. This may cause some distress as we wrestle with ourselves and our environments, trying to answer our own questions. We should adjust what we find to fit what we know to be smart–and we may be wise to make peace with ‘the group’, as well (Venus sq Zeus, Merc sxt Pallas, the Sun sesq Uranus, trine Vesta, and nov Pluto)

By Rainer Z … – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=463491

Today’s word image is toast. Wow! Something’s done for, colloquially speaking. Make sure you see what needs to end, what’s truly finished, so that you can get out in front of it, or at least gain a little distance from the conflagration.

For those born with the Sun at 6 Sagittarius: You are currently adjusting your ideas and expression of your own power–and it’s not easy. The inclination is to be both much more solitary, and much more headstrong, than you really need to, to get your point across. Just remember, you’re not an island, even when you achieve your optimum level of autonomy, so make an effort to connect with others, especially in those times when it seems your feelings are hidden from everyone, even yourself. Good luck, Sagittarius, and Happy Birthday!

The 28th: . . . aligning our efforts with reality. We recognize that at least some of those impulses we classify as ‘instincts’ are instead conditioned responses that are, at the very least, unhealthy. Our focus today is on respecting reality, and making our own efforts work with, rather than against, what is. We’re more than willing to sacrifice what must be eliminated, and change what needs change, in the hope of getting a grip on our own power within the life situation–and it works, as long as we keep a steady eye on our desired destination (Hygeia opp Sedna, Chiron sesq Vesta, Sun parallel Saturn and Pluto, and sesq Ceres, this latter aspect forming a Fist of God when we fill in with the NN)

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
‘Geisha Drinking from Sake Kettle at 2:00 a.m.’ Now THAT’S overdoing it. {{PD}}

Today’s word image is a glass of warm saké. Relax. All is as it should be–and if you feel you can point to exactly what’s wrong, that could be a sign of unbridled hubris, assessing your judgment as superior to the wisdom of the Universe. Not doing so is the definition of ‘humility’.

For those born with the Sun at 7 Sagittarius: You are fully empowered to do as you please, this year through to your next birthday, but one thing you need to understand is that this doesn’t obligate others to go along with what you want. You must draw a fine line between fully enjoying your status and alienating others with your demands. It’s especially important that you tread with care at this time as your feelings will not be apparent to yourself or others, and that means you could end up regretting a choice or two once you regain contact with your emotional sensibilities. Matters of the House in the natal chart that holds Cancer could be the source of revelations. Good luck, Sagittarius, and Happy Birthday!

Eugène von Guérard. ‘Lake Wakatipu with Mount Earnslaw, Middle Island, New Zealand’ 1877 – 1879 {{PD}}

The 19th, Saturday’s AstroEssence: Dreams of Love or Money can come true, but the effect will be monumental if they do: they will create massive, serious, permanent change to the reality picture, and they will in some important way spring from or re-create the past (or, possibly, something done in the past will now present the bill). We act in accord with our essence, our Soul’s intents, and that may disabuse us of some of our illusions about ourselves, even as it gives power to our choices; the distance between what’s healthy and what’s smart illustrates that discrepancy between Self-image and reality–and no matter how it feels, it’s always for the good to see things a little more clearly–and thanks to the direction of Neptune, we are likely to get that clarity, along with a dose of inspiration or creative energy freed up from its previous static position (Saturn parallel Pluto, Venus sxt Neptune and SN, Sun parallel Mars, Pallas sq Hygeia, Neptune stations direct at 9 Pisces 14)

Pharmacists’s set with pill tubes in the Hash, Marijuana & Hemp Museum, Amsterdam. Photo by Lord Toran CC0

Today’s word image is a pill. Though taking a pill has an undeniable effect on our biology, we invest pills with an almost magical ability to ‘fix’ what’s wrong; we seek an easy way when we say, ‘Isn’t there a pill for that?’ and we talk about individuals having to ‘take their medicine’ when forced to accept what’s needed in some area or way. There’s no magic pill, but there is something to be gained if we’re willing to accept, take in, absorb, or allow to work some offered solution or way of being in our lives right now. Though this won’t always be the answer, it is right now–it’s a matter of timing.

If you’re born with the Sun at 27 Scorpio, please see yesterday’s forecast; for those born with the Sun at 28 Scorpio: You’re headed toward an important empowerment scenario, one that could shape your fate, but you’re not there yet; first you have to get your priorities straight, invest in relationships, and, late in the coming Solar year, right before your next birthday, deal with emotional upsets that have been roiling beneath the surface. You’ll get a lot of assistance from elements of the past: friends and lovers, creative endeavors, memories from which you learned so much. You’ll likely find that power comes from one of two sources: it’s offered by the group, or appears in surprising or unexpected forms. Good luck, Scorpio, and Happy Birthday!

Paul Ranson. Apple Tree with Red Fruit, (c.1902) {{PD}}

The 20th, Sunday’s AstroEssence: We see how healthy (or not) the power positions that surround us really are, how well others are handling their responsibilities or wielding their authority, and we adjust our own situation so that it at least feels better, more productive, so that it seems more within our purview is truly under our control. We’ll be able to ‘smell’ what’s not right in relationships or financial scenarios, and if we’ll allow it, our instincts will tell us how to manage things. The spotlight is on ambitions and desires; you’ll see quite clearly exactly what others want–just remember, others can see that with you, too (Ceres qnx Hygeia, Venus sesq Sedna, Sun nov Zeus)

‘Pelican and ducks in a mountain landscape’ Adriaen Coorte 17th century {{PD}}

Today’s word image is a pelican. This bird is known for its ability to scoop fish right out of the ocean with its deep, pendulous beak. Do you think the pelican knows he’s different than most birds? Probably not. The symbol speaks of ‘being equipped to do what we need’–no more, no less–and that should reassure you, that you actually have what you need right now, it’s just up to you to use it.

For those born with the Sun at 29 Scorpio: Big change is on the horizon for you, and it won’t be easy–I’ll bet you already know what it is, or at least have an inkling–and at the same time you’ll be faced with expansion, into the Arts, by gaining or losing a partner or mate, or through cooperation with others, that widens your world and gives you a crack at new forms of expression. The past offers inspiration, or possibly confuses you, making you either a victim, or the recipient of some real opportunities, your choice. Good luck, Scorpio, and Happy Birthday!

Looking for a good aggregator site? Try My Astrology, which offers an array of blog previews and links, and a daily Lunar contact schedule with interpretations.

Have a wonderful weekend!

The ancient Greeks believed the newly dead were offered pears at the gates of the Afterlife, to ease their homesickness. Have a pear this weekend; you might need the soothing influence. ‘Pears and Oranges in a Bowl’ – William Glackens 1915 {{PD}}

22 October: The Rewards of Change

The AstroEssence: Inspiration or the spiritual beliefs illustrate a healthy environment or approach for us, yet our thoughts are mired in yesterday’s empowerment methods, and our actions are prompted by what we don’t acknowledge. The result of this mish-mash, strangely enough, is valuable change, though whether it comes through relationships or financial circumstances, or results in change to them, is an individual matter, probably determined by how successfully we’ve been able to listen to and follow those instinctual prompts that we would really rather turn away from. If we’ve listened and adapted, what occurs is much more under our control and likely much more positive, but if we’ve avoided following that internal voice the change is likely delivered by externals, over which we have little influence (Neptune trine Hygeia, Mars sxt Black Moon Lilith, Venus nov Pluto, Mercury sesq South Node, parallel Juno, qnx Sedna, Sun enters Scorpio)

Today’s word image is a set of car keys. You have the keys–now drive forward!

We’re at that point (past it, really, at least in Pacific time) when the days don’t neatly align with the Sun in a single degree, so today we’ll list both:

For those born with the Sun at 29 Libra: Power issues, who owns what, who controls whom, and what and to whom you dedicate your life energy take front and center stage this year, through to your next birthday. Those are big subjects, and they’ll be the underpinning of the more mundane, daily events; remain aware of this, and make choices according to your highest values and most honored priorities, and you’ll lay the foundation for big change or a whole new role that arrives relatively soon. Good luck, Libra, and Happy Birthday!

For those born with the Sun at 00 Scorpio: This coming year, through to your next birthday, you may be focused on conflicts within those life areas where you want to make commitments (with a mate, in the home, or to causes and those ideas that shape the life direction); you may find yourself running up against problems and surprising contradictions within your own value set, and this takes an emotional toll (and possibly expresses through the matters of the House that holds Cancer). By the time you’ve made one more trip around the Sun, you’ll be feeling and seeing things much differently than you do now–allow the change; don’t waste your energy resisting. Good luck, and Happy Birthday, Scorpio!

23 October: What’s Stopping You?

The AstroEssence: Mark this day on your calendar; it’s likely to hold some large upset, conflict, awareness of disparity, angry confrontation, power-play, or some tattling-like communication that just won’t allow us to end the day as we started it. Big shifts can have their origins today; so can turning points. At a minimum, expect adjustments to the social role, the Self-image, the permission you grant yourself, and/ or the way in which you attempt to actualize the dream–and expect the priorities to change as a consequence (Jupiter qnx Neptune, Mars sq Zeus, Venus sesq Uranus, Merc opp Ceres and semi-sq Saturn, Sun sq Vesta)

Mikoláš Aleš 1881 {{PD}}

Today’s word image is a crow trying to carry a whole branch back to the nest. It’s too heavy, of course. What are you attempting that might be more than you can handle? Is it an appropriate goal in the first place? Consider what you might have to deal with if you succeed. If you truly find it a worthy goal, you might want to ask yourself why you haven’t yet asked for help.

For those born with the Sun at 01 Scorpio: You may spend the year re-shaping your life according to some recent changes to your values and commitments; you’re looking to build something solid, something lasting, and to remove certain barriers that perhaps you are seeing as movable for the first time. You have the focus and energy to do it–don’t let emotional issues or conflicts drain your zest and distract from your goals. Good luck, Scorpio, and Happy Birthday!

Franz von Stuck ‘The Guardian of Paradise’ 1889 {{PD}}

‘Tierpark Ostrittrum – Kampfbalken’ Photo by Marius Kallhardt from near Bremen, Germany Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

The AstroEssence: Are we butting heads with authorities, with Mom, with Mother Nature, or in negotiations over what’s sacred to us? And if we are, what does that say about our loyalties and priorities? What we honor is tested from without by forces that would compel us, and we need to parse out how important it really is for us to maintain our commitments. We have a chance to see whether our sacred investments are truly worthwhile–and whether those who challenge us are truly worth maintaining a relationship with. In fact, relationships and values offer inspiration and a spark of genius to us that aids in ambition fulfillment–it’s like interactions show us things in a new and creative way–and we should take action, but with great care, so we don’t Self-sabotage along the way (Vesta sq Ceres, Venus nov Zeus and semi-sq Mars)

{{PD}}

Today’s word image is an egg. We’ve had this symbol before–but this time it’s hard-boiled. I think this is about some potential that has hardened into some sort of perpetual beginning–it’s something we may need to realize is never going to become anything more than it is–so that perhaps we need to stop hoping it will hatch, and turn our attention to something that will.

For those born with the Sun at 24 Libra: Energy expression may be oddly split for you this coming year, Libra, with some going toward establishing yourself and getting what you want, and some going toward purely pleasurable pursuits and/ or the accumulation of goods. These aren’t necessarily incompatible goals, but it will be important that you find a way to meld your Will and your need to feel ‘in charge’ (at least of yourself) with a genuine desire for comfort and sensual gratification. If you don’t figure out how to combine them, you may spend a lot of time feeling frustrated and then zoning out. Use your creativity, and listen to your instincts and those things you know deep inside to be true, and you’ll do just fine. Good luck, and Happy Birthday!