‘Lilac Bush’ Vincent van Gogh 1889 {{PD}}

Originality, uniqueness, spontaneity, innovation, even revolution, all draw on highest values to propel expression today, and so become emblematic of who we are at core. To truly benefit from this particularly individual rocket fuel, we must be willing to adjust to the real world, and especially to those matters that may have been ignored or denied by ourselves or others. That is, we can express ourselves without restraint all day, but if we want to create something rooted in that expression, we must get a handle on things as they actually are. The biggest tip of all for today may be this: find your connection to, or place within, Nature; that’s the alternative way to express the core, but without the friction of barriers, boundaries, rules, or the requirement of Self-discipline. Somehow, Nature gives us license to be ourselves in a way the ‘civilized’ world just can’t.

Today’s word image is a billionaire in voluntary seclusion. What incredibly valuable thing, quality, characteristic, or talent do you have that you have, consciously or unconsciously, hidden away? It may be time to consider wheeling it out.

All answers to the natal body apex at 20 Taurus are found under the August 14 post in the comments section. Have a great weekend-eve!

DISCLAIMER: This is not me writing the books! Carl Larsson ‘Model writing postcards’ 1906 {{PD}}

Eclipse season book special: get any two of my books for only $15! PayPal me directly at juliedemboski@hotmail.com and specify in the order or in a separate email which two you’d like and to what address they should be sent. Allow up to 12 hours after payment for delivery of your PDFs. This offer is not good if the books are ordered through Dog & Sunflower Press; offer expires midnight Pacific time of the 21st. Thanks!

“La Femme en blanc” René Schützenberger 1894 {{PD}}

The focus is on egos, tempers, actions taken and choices made–and all of it happening under the umbrella of a Mercury retrograde in Virgo. We won’t have to wait for Merc’s direction, though, to find out the impact of what we do; we will see immediate results in terms of our empowerment and status. Do as you will, but remember that Mars is currently in Leo, which may bring a touch too much Self-regard to our choices, and believe what you see as empowerment waxes or wanes–that’s the true measure of your actions, of their effectiveness and reach.

By Bengt Nyman from Vaxholm, Sweden – IMG_3781, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49547955

Today’s word image is: two old friends meet by chance on the street, converse in mutual admiration, and part knowing they will never meet again. I think this image is about being able to live in the moment, to fully enjoy sharing time with someone else without the requirement that the connection continue, in order to be judged important or worthy. Value the time we have with one another, and make no demands for more–we’re on this journey alone, after all.

I know it’s a tense, tough week for many of us; keep with it, it will break with the Solar eclipse, if not in some minor way sooner.

Chinese sculpture dating from 960 A.D. Photo by James Tourtellotte {{PD}}

We get results today–not necessarily the ones we’re waiting for, but those directly related to our personal efforts and assertiveness, to our identity and purpose, to our relationships or earning situation and what we’ve done therein. We may find that in the process of collecting what’s due we have to break a few eggs, so to speak, destroy to create; we may risk the health of ourselves or some system (such as the one that allows us to earn a living or support ourselves), or we may have to mount the equivalent of a military campaign in order to get what’s coming to us–and of course, that carries the dual-sided connotation of bringing to us what we actually deserve, no matter what we may believe that is. Misplaced aggression is an issue, but if you keep that in mind, encounters where you may be tempted to meet like with like will suddenly be seen for what they are: the individual in struggle with the Universe, not with you. We’re all trying to nail down ideas of who we are; accept that the concept of identity is more fluid than solid, and you’ll make progress without having to wage war.

‘Head of a Warrior’ Leonardo da Vinci c1504 {{PD}}

Today’s word image is: attending a theatrical play that mirrors societal-scale real life events. There’s no question that Art reflects life; what does the Art you surround yourself with (if nothing else, think of it as the atmosphere, your surroundings) or that you make say about yours?

As of AM Pacific time of the 15th, I have responded to everyone from whom I received a natal scenario involving approx. 20 Taurus (see the post for the 14th), though not to every comment, as some people submitted multiples or additional info. If you submitted a natal scenario specific to the info offered and didn’t get a reply (I answered everything in some form), it’s because I didn’t get your comment! You can try again, in the comments section for the 14th–but please, list the natal point that sits 19-21 Taurus, the House it rules, and avoid shoehorning in additional questions about other elements of your chart or the transiting scenario.

‘Dancers in the Rotunda at the Paris Opera’ by Edgar Degas 1894 {{PD}}

What’s the great thing about today? We can achieve a balance among ‘sacred thought’, what we value, and what’s wise and practical. What’s not-so-great about today? We may see our own thoughts and ideas as something to be honored, rather than something to be examined or tested, we may make everything about what it will cost (in terms of Love or Money), and we may avoid what we know to be wise or practical however we can, mistaking that for creativity. If we find that balance point, our feeling nature can drive successful efforts in the material world; if we can’t, we may head toward a minor incidence of crash-and-burn, only because we won’t have the good sense to apply real critical scrutiny to our plans.

Today’s word image is: a supplicant kneels before a false god. This brings up a couple of questions: how do we tell true from false, as that presupposes there is such a way of measuring? If one believes in something, doesn’t that in some sense lend it power and import, regardless of its actual status? A supplicant is by their very nature asking for something. We all want something from those things that we bow to, whether that is in surrender to a superior force (not to be hurt), a belief that this thing can deliver what we want (please can I have?), or cooperation with a larger entity because it offers a condition of being we value (for instance, when most of us follow the laws because we want everyone to, which makes the streets relatively safe). What is it you may be supplicant to, or kneeling before, which is undeserving of such regard? How easily we can misinterpret things, and begin to worship what we don’t understand, or what is more rightly junk.

Have a wonderful Thursday, and support your favorite astrologers through donations, using services, get Juno stuff here, and purchase books--Thanks!

Ivan Fedorovich Choultsé, ‘Sailing boat at sunset on the gulf of Finland’ 1915 {{PD}}

We are ambitious today, our eyes on what we’d like to have in our world, and we’re looking at the ways and means of getting that, at what needs to change–and yet, the suggestion is that we should balance values against what’s smart, if we want to gain. It seems it requires a critical eye, an understanding of worth, and a smidge of caring, in order to make ‘it’ happen. Feelings may be confused, and intuition may be unsteady–is that intuitive insight or fear or wishful thinking?–so that those who rely on such prompts may find themselves all-at-sea. The need for caution stems from the way thinking is pulling away, at least for now, from a firm grasp both on what’s wise, and what’s worthy; we’re moving toward creative means of earning and engaging in relationships, and inspiration/ the creative urge may take us away from our priorities and those values we honor–our job today is to prevent a loss of anchor by keeping what matters most firmly in mind.

Today’s word image is an exercise: think about what’s going on in your life right now, the core issues, events, state of relationships, then note the first ‘named’ thing you see–a book title, a move title, what’s written on the side of a bus, what it is doesn’t matter, only what it says. I was thinking deeply about some issues I’ve been dealing with over the past few weeks, wondering why things seem so tough, only to look up and see a book, Karl Ove Knausgaard’s ‘My Struggle’! I laughed, and realized I was being a tad dramatic in my assessment of things. What’s the Universe’s message to you?

By Падун В.М. – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=59357812

Have a great day!