‘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!

Read — Donate to your favorite blogs, artists, artisans, writers — and enjoy your weekend tremendously!

“Kids order sno-balls, the New Orleans, Louisiana, version of what others call sno-cone flavored ices” Photo by Carol M. Highsmith via the Library of Congress–no known restrictions

The AstroEssence for Saturday may involve a peculiar sort of instinctive, reflexive action and thought that may bring erraticism to new heights and conflict to relationships–and though we know what we do flies in the face of our internal wisdom, we find ambitions and desires intrude and inspire acting out against the current situation. We act, do, and think in spite of ourselves–and it’s this internal distance, this awareness, that allows us to prevent disaster by focusing on our highest values and those things we know we want to protect and preserve. Measure everything you want to do against your standards and priorities–if it passes muster, go ahead (Perfecting today: T-sq Venus opp Pallas both sq Mars, Venus semi-sq Zeus, Mercury parallel Sedna, sq Saturn, and sesq Uranus, Sun nov Vesta)

Today’s word image is a sno-cone. For me this brings to mind a childhood treat, something eaten in only the hottest weather. Is there something you enjoy that you deny yourself, demanding conditions be ‘just so’ before you can have or do it?

For those born with the Sun at 15 Leo: (Please note: the Sun enters this degree evening of the 6th Pacific time; that means if your birthday is today on the calendar, you may actually want to check your chart so you know whether to read the year ahead for today, tomorrow, or yesterday.) Your world (or should I say your ‘reality picture’?) is changing in major ways, like it or not, and it’s up to you to take advantage of those ways in which you can have your say and affect the outcome. This may require that you are willing to go over old territory, things you already thought were settled, and re-hash matters, especially those concerning power and things that have been kept secret. It won’t be easy, but courage will help you shape things largely as you really want them to be. Good luck, Leo, and Happy Birthday!

The baby, and the bathwater. Photo by Eva Rinaldi Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

For Sunday we may discover that the key to getting what we want, fulfilling ambitions and reaching goals, may be to find a way to work with complementary energies or entities. These are things, people, organizations that inherently conflict, and yet may provide two necessary parts in our quest for fulfillment. Some tips: reject what’s deceptive, and you may end up rejecting what’s creative or spiritually perceptive–it’s baby with the bathwater if you do, so just don’t take any Neptunian element as being entirely obvious or reliable; keep thinking and communications on ‘the high road’; and look for the wisdom and practicality that may be offered through relationships or by watching ‘the bottom line’ (Zeus at the midpoint of Venus sq Mars, Venus parallel Pallas, Merc contra-parallel Zeus, Hygeia, and the SN, and opp Neptune, Sun qnx Pluto)

Looks like the tree is heaving coconuts at those people, rather than them just falling. Photo by Wmpearl Sign found in Honolulu {{PD}}

Today’s word image is a coconut. To me growing up these were exotic, something that spoke of an entire other way of life, of unimagined experience, and handling them was a whole other thing again: they almost felt like some strange cross between animal and plant (I think it’s the hair 🙂 ). Look for something you have in your life now that you approach with that much wonder, so different than the every day, and explore it further–and if you don’t have something like that, go look for it!

For those born with the Sun at 16 Leo: (Please note: the Sun enters this degree evening of the 7th Pacific time; that means if your birthday is today on the calendar, you may actually want to check your chart so you know whether to read the year ahead for today, tomorrow, or yesterday.) For now, change and tough times are behind you; this year ahead, through to your next birthday, is filled with efforts toward ambition realization, especially through the experience of emotional partnership, and with consideration for others and some aesthetic ‘good sense’, you can go far. Good luck, Leo, and Happy Birthday!

Thank you, and enjoy your weekend!

Paul Gauguin – Te arii vahine (The Queen of Beauty or The Noble Queen) 1897 {{PD}}

The AstroEssence: The mind is in excellent working order, aligned with our highest values and with all loving relationships–with the latter suggesting discord reveals where love is lacking–and the issue may be that though thoughts run along noble lines, they lack connection to what’s practical, what’s been ignored or denied, and most importantly, what’s truly smart. We could follow our ideals into a logistical abyss, unless we are careful to draw lines from A to B–and then follow them.

We also see action and choice that by its very nature heals, and though this is prompted by emotion and intuition, we can thank our mental faculties for coordinating our efforts along the most effective lines.

Note that the Sun square to Uranus and contra-parallel Pluto will in essence shine a spotlight on those Uranus-Pluto issues that have been plaguing us for some time. Look for sudden events or abrupt episodes of ‘enlightenment’ that are distinctly Plutonian in undertone. The Sun may blind us, at first, to our best response, but a little reflection on past struggles of this nature will reveal what we should do (Mercury and Venus conjoin to qnx Pallas, nov Vesta, sq Black Moon Lilith, with Merc also parallel Vesta, the Sun, Mars, and Chiron form a Water Grand Trine, with the Sun also sq Uranus and contra-parallel Pluto)

Today’s word image is a cockatiel. When I think of these birds I think of how smart they are, and how much they like to interact, but also how high-strung; they can develop nervous habits in captivity like pulling out their own feathers–which brings us to the question of, Should we be keeping these animals in cages at all? As a symbol this may speak to some part of ourselves that may be hyper-reactive in social situations, that may fret when we would do better to be free in our actions. Look for some way in which you may repress yourself, creating (unnecessary) tension and stress as a result.

‘Cercavila menuda de la Festa Major d’Igualada 2013. Nan infantil – Sol’ Photo by Jordiferrer CC BY-SA 3.0

For those born with the Sun at 24 Cancer: you may have an emotion-driven Solar year ahead, through to your next birthday, when you will be empowered to heal long-standing hurts. Doing so may bring resistance from the group; it’s inevitable that as you change, the dynamic will change. Embrace what’s most unique about yourself, and know that honoring your need to explore, to learn, and to share what you discover will help you create the future you really want, with or without group approval. Happy Birthday, Cancer!