‘Girl Eating an Apple’ By Godfried Schalcken 1675-1680 {{PD}}
Just a pair of tidbits for your weekend: the first is the Saturday Mercury-Venus conjunction in Taurus square Saturn in Aquarius. Beautiful thoughts and words, accompanied by a celebration of the senses, could be delightful, but also runs the risk of ignoring reality, especially those ‘Higher Mind’ issues that should be guiding us. Even if we ignore our own sensibilities and dive in head first to earthly pleasures, it’s likely the world will throw barriers in our path or otherwise frustrate us–so if you’re suddenly stopped short, it’s a hint that you may have gone too far, or too long, without a needed reality check.
By Sunday Merc-Venus has moved on, and now sextiles Pallas in Pisces. This may be the day we’ve been waiting for! Thoughts, relationships, assets, all support wise choice and use of our most well-honed skills, employed to make a ‘practical fantasy’ a reality. Nothing wrong with that, right?
Have a lovely weekend, stay safe and sound–the Full Moon report follows.
Despite a lot of angry rhetoric, I have the happy feeling that the 8th brings forward the smartest and most loving of feelings–mainly because, in the case of both aggressive communications and loving practicality, everyone’s focus will be on the ideal (with a sad few lost in their own delusions). That means that even under the shouting or harsh expressions, there’s a strong desire to see things become as we would ideally envision. Of course, that also means there are some who won’t recognize boundaries or the rights of others–simply because they lack that kind of awareness in the first place. Everybody’s tired; today may offer a largely unexpected chance to see our own empowerment blossom, to see positive forces win out, for once, if we’re able to see that communications are what they are because the people involved are where they are (mentally, emotionally, psychically speaking). (Mercury enters Aquarius and sq Mars, Venus enters Capricorn and nov Pallas, Uranus qnx Juno, Sun parallel Mercury and sxt Neptune).
Saturday the 9th sees two distinct ‘flows’ of energy, and each of us will likely choose (or maybe, fall into) one or the other. Both show us the power of our words and thoughts to manifest in the material world; one, though, will ‘put us in jail’ in some form, restricting our thoughts or expressions (or even holding us to some promise or discipline we’ve previously claimed), while the other conjures up our beliefs and assertions in real-world terms that show us the positive power of a mind disciplined and clear in intention.
Add to this two other possibilities: 1) that interaction with the social order, or expressing our beliefs or laying out ‘the facts’ will add to our personal authority and enhance our personal power, and 2) that we have a chance to balance opposing energies so that they are complementary to each other. This latter is due to a Venus trine to Mars that can not only see yin and yang in perfect harmony, but can also make taking considered action (the kind that keeps others in mind) pay off nicely. Warning: if you find yourself suffering under that ‘jailed’ sort of energy described above, you do run the risk of spending or aggressing in relationships in an attempt to break the energy impasse and soothe your own frustrations–better not to, though (Jupiter sesq and Sun qnx NN, and Jupiter nov Ceres, Mercury conj Saturn).
By the 10th we have an interesting opportunity: to focus on and honor those things we truly revere and are committed to. This is not only a good chance to see our values in action, it’s a good chance to see where we need to reinforce our values expression in the everyday (Sun trine Vesta). Other influences are minor, describing facets of what we find sacred and how we need to adjust to make these closer to our ideals, especially in the ambitions we pursue and our ability to ‘walk our talk’ (Juno semi-sq Zeus, Mercury semi-sq Neptune).
The Weekend Word Image is 30 pieces of silver. Of course, we know this as coming from the New Testament of the Bible, as the price Judas accepted for betraying Jesus; in current parlance it means much the same, referring to a benefit someone has received for betraying others, a community standard, or some cause it would otherwise make sense for them to support. It’s easy, especially right now, to point to the many betrayals going on publicly, and we’ve all got a short list of others who’ve done us wrong and left us with a permanent feeling of their treachery that will forever color our memory of the relationship.What I would ask each of us to do is to consider the possibility that there is some significant way in which we are betraying ourselves. This most likely comes in one of two ways: either by ignoring a genuine need we have, or it has occurred inadvertently, over time, as we compromise with others. With the first we are acting against our best interests, and we’re likely aware of this but not totally conscious of how much of a betrayal this is of our own needs and well-being. With the second we may have simply crossed a line without realizing it, in an attempt to cooperate with or respect others; in this case, we’ve come to the point of injuring ourselves and failing to fulfill our own needs out of a blurry line between ‘us’ and ‘them’, very possibly caused by us taking on too much responsibility for others’ needs or happiness. The first step is to become conscious of this condition, and the second is to ask, in what way am I benefiting, what is my ‘pay off’, for betraying myself?
What exciting things does next year hold? This guy thought he knew what was ahead. ‘Leaving the Paris Opera in the Year 2000’ By Albert Robida {{PD}}
New Year’s Eve is just about my favorite point in the year. The idea that time itself has a ‘new beginning’, that we get a fresh start in the midst of life, one that comes without upheaval, trauma, or stepping off a figurative cliff, one that comes on a regular basis, that condones us re-thinking ourselves and our practices so that we can re-make ourselves for the better, makes me happy. We can easily be too hard on ourselves if we make resolutions that for whatever reasons we won’t keep, and it’s common to feel a sense of let down and even like a failure once we leave the party and go back to the demands of the every day. In that vein, I’d like to suggest that we embrace a sense of renewal that isn’t accompanied by a compulsion to judge. It starts with accepting ourselves as we are in the moment, taking in that fresh, open, ‘new year’ energy without treating ourselves as if we’re a building (or Soul) in need of a remodel. Are we all flawed? Of course–the problem comes with the expectation that we have the potential to eliminate every un-perfect thing about ourselves. Let me just remind everyone: there are no perfect people–so don’t hold yourself in the unkind light of unreasonable expectation–instead focus on the things about yourself that you like, focus on what you want to be as a human Being, and go from there.
As noted in my previous post, New Year’s Eve is a day for caution, particularly when we note Venus conjoined the South Node, square Vesta, and parallel Pluto; that’s like a recipe for bad decision-making, based on seeing the past as ‘better’ than now, on feeling that living your highest values only creates conflict and makes things difficult, and perhaps seeing Love as destructive, or that Love and desire lead us to destruction–or will it be that Love already feels eliminated, or that it’s transformed to something dark we never anticipated. Maybe it’s just that we’ll be keenly aware of the dimensionality of Love, that it has many faces, of the way we have trouble recognizing genuine lovingness if we have lived too-attuned to cruelty or indifference, mistaking those for love, instead. And then there are the potential worries about money that so many will face in the New Year; it’s devastating to think that loved ones may suffer for lack of personal resources, which is especially hard to take when we consider how much money goes to bombs, to vanity, is wasted on the useless and the foolish.
Take care, as the old year turns to the new. It’s definitely a time for celebration, not least because of the horrendous events delivered by 2020. New Year’s Day itself shows two opposite sets of influences, so it may read positively for some, negatively for others, or may present a mixed bag that could confuse or make us throw up our hands and declare there’s no way to know what’s up!
We may see true profitability and genuine, concrete expressions of Love and caring that take real-world forms, that manifest in ways we can hold in our hands, and these may be delivered in unexpected and brilliant ways (Venus novile Saturn). We also see creative thinking in good form, and if we allow ideals to guide our reasoning, we could end up making effective changes to life direction (Mercury sextile Neptune and quincunx the North Node).
But, if we hedge our bets by refusing to be truly Self-responsible, if we blame our own most unreliable or erratic impulses or insist it’s the fault of ‘the group’, then we end up making poor choices and unwise decisions just because we’re trying to avoid certain realizations or certain burdens we need to face (Mercury semi-square Juno, Venus sesquiquadrate Uranus, Pallas square Black Moon Lilith).
By Saturday the 2nd of January we’ll be facing a whole new set of positives and a few new challenges. Creative energy and highest ideals can inform choices so that we do the wise thing, the practical thing (Neptune novile Pallas, Mercury trine Vesta), building confidence and leading to innovative decisions and inventive answers to problems, and this helps us on the social scene, in absorbing and using effectively ‘the facts’, in gaining ‘more’ of those positives, and facilitates moving toward our goals (Venus sextile Zeus and novile Jupiter, Sun sextile Ceres).
Negatives? They live in undermined trust of ourselves, in fear that there are dark and divisive things hidden in what we care about or in relationships, and in a refusal to look at what we ‘know but don’t know’, or to accept that we have blind spots, and need others to help us point out and deal with these (Mars contraparallel Juno, Venus sesquiquadrate Black Moon Lilith, Sun sesquiquadrate Sedna). Do you notice a theme? In short, bad things happen when we refuse to look at the whole picture; shying away from reality puts us at a disadvantage–so don’t.
A switch flips for Sunday the 3rd. The magic of Self-responsibility, of that New Year’s work of accepting ourselves, pays off. Healing is possible and actions are inspired; we see the worth of doing what’s wise or practical, and we understand the value in being ourselves (as the old joke goes, be yourself, because everyone else is taken!) The only pitfall may be too much attention to ambitions and goals–if we attend to our own well-being, our careers, accomplishments, and efforts will naturally flow out from there, so no extra attention required (Chiron trine Juno, Jupiter semi-square and Mars novile Neptune, Venus semi-square Pallas, Mercury square Zeus, Sun parallel Venus and quincunx Hygeia).
Monday the 4th there’s only one thing to do: Speak, Think, Communicate the Truth, with a capital ‘T’. That means that what we deal in intellectually must be real, factual, and without ulterior motive for its communication. Words can be power, and can destroy, more completely than usual, so honor yourself and others with a commitment to a positive honesty (Mercury conjoined Pluto).
‘Hyacinth’ By Paul Fordyce Maitland 1883 {{PD}}
Your Weekend Word Image: Hyacinth. I heard this word, which I’d not heard in years, 4 times in less than twelve hours in 4 different contexts. That was enough to draw my attention. So, I went looking for the myth of Hyacinth–do you know it? Hyacinthus was an athletic Spartan youth with whom the god Apollo fell in love. They were throwing a discus (Apollo declared he wanted to “scatter the clouds”) and Hyacinthus, trying to catch the discus, was hit in the head and killed. Apollo used his skills as a healer, but to no avail, and from the blood of his fallen boyfriend Apollo made a flower grow. Though there’s some dispute over what kind of flower this was (as it probably wasn’t what we call a hyacinth today), that’s the legend in a nutshell. So, what does that episode say to me? Well, that depends on if you’re Apollo (the god figure) or the eager youth who is, in terms of both capability and safety, playing way outside his league. Of course mortals break when the gods play with them–so maybe this is a small warning, to know who your playmates really are, and what they’re really capable of.
For the 26th I want to talk about a loose Earth Grand Trine; it’s been in the neighborhood, but overshadowed by other factors, and will likely exert an emotional impact or offer intuitive guidance as the Taurus Moon glides into orb–and that will last for a good chunk of the day. This is made up of Pluto-Jupiter-Saturn (I said it was loose!) trining Vesta in Virgo and Sedna, and for a time the Moon, in Taurus. It suggests our first big feeling revelations related to the meeting of Jupiter-Saturn and how that new, higher mind understanding tells us what structures and strictures we can safely eliminate (or that we must eliminate, for our own well-being). This is all in service to two things: commitments, home in all its guises, and those things we find sacred in this life (Vesta, in Virgo prime to be assessed, trimmed, and our commitment renewed), and those matters, especially material ones, that we are continually striving to become aware of in their entirety, to make conscious what we ‘know but don’t know’, and to remedy ‘blind spots’ and so enlarge both our concept of who we are and our knowledge of our place in the world (Sedna in Taurus). The Moon temporarily inserted into this means we can feel what we need to address, what we need to be aware of, and can process how we genuinely feel about both our roles in life and the changes this awareness requires. This information won’t necessarily be easy to accept, but the steely maturity and ability to face what’s required that comes from that Pluto-Jupiter-Saturn trio, balanced by ‘the facts’ (Jupiter) and the clear understanding of what really matters (Sedna and Vesta), makes this the perfect time to make change, to birth a New You that knows, accepts, and validates where you came from while bringing a wider and more advanced understanding of who you are now into being.
Dare I classify the 26th as a nearly ideal day, rife with the chance for serious gain and the ‘right’ kind of change? Well, I will, as, besides that gangling Grand Trine above, we see Venus novile Pluto and trine Hygeia, making for a super-healthy and profitable (in all senses) dynamic. This flows on in to the 27th, where we find direct access to our most original and inventive personal nature, along with a clear and accessible way to manifest that in the life (Mercury sxt Ceres, Sun trine Uranus). For best results, guard against the temptation of erraticism and rebellion for rebellion’s sake, and concentrate on the more-than-adequate personal power you have at your fingertips right now.
The 28th may bring us up short, make us feel that the past few bucolic days were just a mirage. They were not–they were more like what we can enjoy every day if we’ll only believe we can–the issues generally boiling down to this: if we can face what we may have been resisting, ignoring, or denying, if we can bring ourselves to think about these matters rationally, and if we can be aware of the way these things may be (probably negatively) impacting our Self-concept/ identity/ idea of our purpose, we can make the most of influences by recognizing where and how we are cheating ourselves–and we’ll see how this hurts our confidence, and makes us think we’re inadequate to meet issues that we are really more than ready to deal with (aspect standouts are Uranus sq Pallas, Merc sesq Sedna, Sun trine Black Moon Lilith).
Cherry Blossoms in the Evening, by Matsubayashi Keigetsu, Kabuki-za, Tokyo, Japan 1951 {{PD}}
If you’re an astrology aficionado, you’ve likely been focused for some time on the potentials of this current (as Jupiter and Saturn started out within orb of each other in Capricorn early December-ish, with Saturn going into Aquarius first) and future connection (perfecting at 8:14 AM of the 21st at 00 Aquarius 28 as Jupiter catches up). There’s a lot of material out there, so I won’t try to be definitive; I’ll just offer a few observations. One thing we should note right away is that this is an aspect happening now, and that means it’s happening to everyone–and that makes where it falls in the individual natal chart of prime importance, in terms of sorting out the meaning for each one of us.
What effect we can expect in the natal House where this conjunction occurs? We might want to look at Jupiter in Capricorn as previous beliefs about rules, or maybe freedom provided by structure or an intact system, the scaffolding beneath the social order, or beliefs in institutions, authorities, or elders, and Saturn in Capricorn as the hammer coming down, suggesting areas where we have become completely hemmed in, if possible even more so than ever before, and these applying to one or more subjects of the natal House(s) holding Capricorn. With Saturn’s move into Aquarius, we take a Higher Mind perspective: I see why this is as it is, I understand the human need for boundaries, for understanding the nature of things–and I see where I should (and can most effectively) rebel, and gain true independence. We can flag which barriers need to come down, which authorities to support, and with Jupiter’s Aquarius debut, we start sorting our place in the social order, asking ourselves, to which groups do I genuinely belong, and where should I strike out on my own?
There are so many possible permutations of this, so many potential manifestations, but we can sum up at least one related idea as ‘More Or Less’. We may see a marked expansion of one thing even as we see a diminishing of another. These may be complementary (happening in tandem–more water in the glass means less air) or they may not relate to each other at all (a glass of air, and a glass of water, and ne’er the twain shall meet), or loss and gain, the modernizing of beliefs and life structures (to include those institutions and others we support and regard as holding authority), beliefs coming up against reality (and vice versa), more rules, greater restrictions, real-world opportunities that could lead to positions of authority, an elevation in status, or that might age us in place!
Also consider the way the conjunction could unite matters of the two Houses ruled by these planets. It’ll be a pairing with the Saturn-ruled House following the Jupiter-ruled one, meaning that the larger idea of the consequences of learning from and dealing with matters of one House lead to development of our attitudes toward matters of the following one. For instance, if you have Sagittarius on the 1st and so Capricorn on the 2nd, you may see how your personal efforts to expand, reach out to the world, go adventurin’, to teach or learn, or the famous, bachelor-esque, ‘can’t pin me down’ attitude has brought about some sort of Capricornian development affecting personal assets, earning capabilities, talent expression, or the way you feel about and see yourself. Maybe one’s cavalier attitude in dating the boss’ daughter has made her father consider you unsuited for promotion–or maybe your sunny optimism has created reward, a chance at talent expression, or a promotion you might not have otherwise been offered.
Embrace the Real, or Fail to Heal: For the 19th, we’re offered a crisp, clear view of reality–will we take it in? We see precisely where we are able to exercise our power and prerogatives in the real world (Saturn sxt Juno), and are offered a chance to not only adjust our thinking accordingly, aided by fine-tuned instincts, but find we’re at a point where past efforts coalesce into perceptible results (Superior Conjunction of the Sun and Mercury, Mercury qnx Sedna). There’s only one issue, really, but it’s a major one: we may also become aware of how much we gain by keeping alive our wounds (Venus trine Chiron). Love can heal, but for some of us, it will be a struggle to let go of something we’ve seen pay off so handsomely.
The Devil Made Me Do It: Our challenge for the 20th is to sort fact from fancy, as what’s at stake is much more important than we realize in the moment. We may be tempted to violate our highest values, do what’s unhealthy, spill secrets, harm relationships (this either because we can’t keep what we know to ourselves or because of our own desire to be disruptive), all possibly driven by a deeply held belief that we’re being held back or held down. That’s not true; if we go with unfettered fantasy today, we cause our own downfall (Neptune opp Vesta, Venus qnx Black Moon Lilith and Uranus, and parallel Saturn, Mercury sesq Hygeia).
Be Optimistic: The 21st sees both the Saturn-Jupiter conjunction and the Solstice, the longest night of the year in the Northern hemisphere, the shortest in the Southern. Personal effects may be momentarily overshadowed by larger matters, societal or even global ones–and that’s okay, though in all arenas there will be intimations, at the very least, of shifts in power (Pluto semi-sq Ceres). We’ll have plenty of time going forward to consider the conjunction’s effects; right now enjoy that tinge of optimism in the air (Venus parallel Jupiter). Until then, stay safe, and enjoy this point of extremes in our yearly trip around the Sun!
Real life is inconvenient, isn’t it? And why oh why, Friday the 11th, are your influences so difficult to balance, so irritating, and why are we so annoyed by others? We think we’re sassy (Mars trine SN, Sun conj and parallel SN, the latter something that happens during eclipse season) when we may really be lashing out based on old hurts; we’re hyper-sensitive, too, going out of our way to protect all those raw spots we’d rather not acknowledge (Vesta parallel Black Moon Lilith) and that’s not smart (Vesta sesq Pallas) as it puts our reactive responses (and our vulnerabilities) on display. How to handle this? Talk it out, communicate, even if our thoughts aren’t especially coherent or if our feelings about things are messy (Mercury trine Hygeia). Problems come when we think our empowerment rests on following our instincts–but today those instincts are either inaccessible or distorted by unrecognized feeling (Juno opp Sedna)–so talk, write, send ‘the message’, concentrate on expressing–that will alleviate tension, probably keep us from getting into it with others, and may reveal ourselves to ourselves, in ways that at other times may be hard to come by.
Something to keep in mind as we approach the Solar eclipse: we’re in Dark of the Moon territory, which means the Lunar impetus behind much of what we do is missing–and that can impart its own sense of drifting, unreality, and ungroundedness to proceedings. Not a time to start anything new, and also not a time to try to pin down our own or others’ feelings. Be kind, be (carefully) receptive, and note what floats in and out of both your own consciousness and your world, as this can give helpful hints to what’s bubbling up from the unconscious or currently hidden from view.
The 12th can be met by following two guidelines (or maybe we should call them warnings): 1) don’t communicate anything that conflicts with your genuine deepest values–it’s not smart, and may get you into circumstances or commitments you will be unwilling or unable to continue (Mercury sq Vesta and semi-sq Pallas); and 2) every single thing before us today, every single item highlighted, spotlighted, or illuminated for us will reflect something we need to attend to, recognize, deal with, or accept (Sun sesq Black Moon Lilith). Don’t look away, and don’t betray your own standards–thus endeth today’s admonitions.
On the 13th our own beliefs or philosophies may be stronger than ‘the facts’, which we will almost certainly misunderstand (Mercury sq Neptune and nov Jupiter); this can be good, if faith is called for, but disastrous if we embrace fiction at the expense of reality. Overall, we may be resistant to the real-world situation in relationships and/ or finances, out of a mistaken idea that this is the way to preserve our power and influence (Venus opp Sedna and parallel Ceres), and we have a complicated relationship to ourselves, as well, being knocked off balance by our own erraticism or originality (Sun sesq Uranus) or by the unexpected or by accident, even as we see the options for ambition fulfillment in the upset, and can pinpoint what’s really smart, if we’re open to admitting or acknowledging it (Sun sxt Zeus and nov Pallas). So, it’s a mixed bag where we’re required to walk a tightrope of sorts; results depend on how quickly we can respond to the winds of change, as well as how invested we are in seeing things a particular way, versus in the most objective one.
If you didn’t like the last post, you’re really not going to like this one, as I ask, When will all the Self-congratulation end? Don’t get me wrong; I’m all for enjoying our triumphs and accomplishments, and there are plenty of people who have trouble recognizing when they have accomplished, when they have created, who fail to see that they have made a difference, and they need to celebrate and be celebrated. No, what I’m talking about is the perpetual Self-talk that honors a desired image, rather than a genuine status achieved.
This is most difficult to sort out when the lauded state is ostensibly framed as a spiritual one; that kind of boast is a ‘humble brag’ with a dual purpose: convince others of our own spiritual purity and elevation, and convince ourselves. I’m speaking of things like confusing spiritual routine and practice (daily meditation, particular kinds of yoga, pilgrimages, sessions with a life coach, spiritual advisor, and yes, astrologer, to name just a few possibilities) with spiritual revelation or enlightenment. One is meant to bring about the other, yes, but it doesn’t guarantee it. Spiritual practice is like eating–it’s meant to sate a temporary hunger, it’s not intended to fill you up for a lifetime. That is, revelation or enlightenments, big or small, can come at any time, in pursuit of or avoidance of any thing–intoning ‘om’ doesn’t prove you’ve earned (and so can claim) a state of enlightenment, any more than eating one proves you’ve earned a hamburger–the two concepts aren’t necessarily causal, aren’t even necessarily connected.
At this point you might be asking, where’s the astrology in all this? Well, we have a duo of aspects for the 4th that, when combined, may exert this kind of pull on the ego, the kind that drives us to let others know just how enlightened (or powerful, or knowing) we are: Mars novile Sedna, and the Sun novile Pluto. The novile is an aspect of brilliance, a flash of momentary genius sparked by the contact of the two bodies. Like two bits of flint, nothing special occurs when they’re on their own, but dash them against the right ‘steel’, and you can start a fire.
In this case, the applying body acts as the crucible to hold the spark–and that means there’s a good chance that the ego, the Will, the role we want to play (with the Sun suggesting idealization at a Soul level), won’t allow the spark to ignite at a deeper level; chances are about even that we’ll see the inner knowing, ‘what we know but don’t (consciously) know’, the instinct or, less frequently, the information that lies in our ‘blind spot’ (Sedna), inform a desire for Power (Pluto), in whatever form that appeals to us–and the siren song of spiritual power can be irresistible, for some.
So, be aware of this potential in yourself, and aware of the potentiality in the world around you. The other influences perfecting right now may make us particularly vulnerable to ego exertions or the need to patch over our vulnerability. The South Node sesquiquadrates Black Moon Lilith, while Mercury quincunxes that calculated spot and squares Ceres–all speak of discomfort with matters we’d rather not deal with, especially a sense of being a victim of the past, or of those who held (or still hold) power over us.
But, there are mitigating influences to be found in Mercury’s parallel to Saturn and trine to Chiron. If we can focus our mind on what’s healed and needs healing (and so how to achieve that healing), and ground this in real-world steps, plans, and decisions that aid these, we don’t have to confront the less savory aspects head-on; we can instead focus on our own and others’ genuine well-being, which isn’t as flashy as a turn around the dance floor with the ego, but is a lot more useful and dare I say, ultimately both honest and soothing.
By the 5th we open the gates to the imagination and to creative energy via relationships and/ or spurred by financial questions, and for some, through a recognized need to live values (Venus trine Neptune). We can find an ideal Love, an ideal Expression, or an ideal financial situation–at least, that’s what it looks like right now–and there’s the potential to gain from taking a spiritual approach to those things we value; that is, vetting material or relationship choices through the lens of what we see as ‘the perfect attitude’.
This may not be immediately easily acted on, though (Venus qnx Mars, Sun semi-square Jupiterand Pallas, Mercury semi-square Zeus), and that’s a good thing, keeping us from over-committing or from an unwise investment. What we can do most effectively, and what we have scads of, is optimism, and possibly a myriad of opportunities to choose from and plan for (Mercury parallel Jupiter). Make efforts theoretical, at this point–‘best laid plans’ are best laid right now.
On the 6th we can draw a gem from the past that offers us a power boost in the present (Pallas nov SN, Sun parallel Pluto). This is available to us if we’re willing to do two things: be flexible in our uniqueness of expression (that is, can we accept an edit?) or our insistence on either being ‘in’ or ‘out’ with ‘the Group’, and willing to question our own values. Remember, it should never be threatening to simply examine what our highest standards really imply–if it is, then those values definitely need examination, as does whatever we’re ‘defending’ by avoiding examination (Mercury qnx Uranus and semi-sq Pluto, Sun sq Vesta).
By the 7th we’re not only feeling strong enough to take those edits suggested yesterday, we can face our own demons and with grace modify our relationships and asset usage to reflect our deepest values. Bonus: this offers healing to what had been a difficult situation (Ceres sextile Black Moon Lilith, Venus qnx NN and sesq Chiron).
It’s Friday the 13th and Mars stations direct! At long last, the Warrior resumes apparent forward motion. Direction happens without any direct contact to other bodies–and so may feel disconnected from surrounding events. That is, we may feel a ‘loosening up’ of energy and a resumption of forward motion, especially in matters of the House in the natal chart where Mars is currently transiting and in matters of the natal House Mars rules, but otherwise these may not connect to current happenings in our lives. At this point it may be a ‘So what? That doesn’t help!’ feeling, or one where the potentials for gaining momentum remain theoretical, for now.
And what does this mean, happening on Friday the 13th? Absolutely nothing! Our numbering of the days isn’t related to anything, other than the whole ‘365 in a year, and a leap day once every 4 years’, marking the actual movement of the planet around the Sun. Other than that, the numbering of days, as well as the naming of days of the week, are simply human constructs, and hold no meaning. The reality is, if you look for negative events, anticipating something because of an arbitrary negative designation, you will surely find them–but that in no way suggests that the designation is the cause of the negative event.
The 13th also promises rewards, if we play it right, and offers one pitfall. The pitfall first: rigidity in values expression and/ or in thinking can be misleading and cause unwise decisions (Mercury sesq Neptune, Vesta sesq Pallas). And the rewards? Those are obtained by valuing the future (acting with the idea that you’re building what’s to come–Venus trine NN), exercising creative agency (Neptune trine Juno), and by adding the unique voice and viewpoint in those areas where your commitment is solid (Uranus trine Vesta). Overall for today, take a positive attitude, one where you’re willing to invest in what really matters–and let everything else go.
On the 14th the rubber meets the road, as they say, and that promises that, if we remain focused on positive and productive change that centers on ambition fulfillment, we get very good results (Sun sxt Pluto and Jupiter, Venus conj Zeus). Those ambitions you’ve put genuine and legitimate work into will pay off–if you don’t get the expected benefit, you can be sure it’s because you only thought what you were doing was an adequate investment–let this be your warning that something in your thinking, assessment capability, or method must change (Mercury sesq NN).
Too, what has changed of late will be glaringly apparent–the Sun spotlights things so they can’t be missed (unless all our energy goes into not seeing)–so be invested in responding to this ‘new’ reality, rather than trying to cling to the past.
The 15th brings conflict in relationships or over finances (Venus sq Pluto and Jupiter). We may find transformed circumstances that call for our sensitive and responsive-to realities adjustment. Our choices are: face the need for changes, or set up a stand-off. Be aware of a couple of things: thinking is off right now, influenced by hurt and so alienated from our highest values–meaning judgment at this time is off, as well; and what’s smart will be highlighted, pointed out to us, or otherwise be prominent–so take the hint (Mercury qnx Chiron and contra-parallel Vesta, Sun sxt Pallas).
By the 16th we have to face it: some facet of our financial stance or in our attitude in one or more relationships has to change; allow values to guide, in spite of the way they may point out how we’ve been at fault (Venus sq Pallas and semi-sq Vesta).
Post on the New Moon of the 14th to follow tomorrow.
‘A Woman Playing a Clavichord’ By Gerrit Dou c1650 {{PD}}
Merc and Saturn once again perfect their square on the 6th, forcing us all to feel the pinch in our own particular ways. Whatever constraints your mind has been struggling with, you can remedy things with a simple formula: honor a sense of your own responsibility gained through successful efforts of the past (Ceres conj South Node) and then be flexible in allowing healing for those matters you really care about (Chiron qnx Vesta). The tendency may be to insist on rigid expressions of the highest values and to be unyielding when it comes to those matters you’re dedicated to–but that wouldn’t be just Self-defeating, it would be downright wrong. Be open to learning from experience–it’s the only way to keep perceptions both responsive to reality and relevant to the situation. Too, it’s not a day to pursue ambition fulfillment directly–too many denied, ignored, or hidden matters, including our own anger, will pop up to interfere with realization (Zeus contra-parallel Black Moon Lilith).
By the 7th we should be concentrating on doing what’s healthy, especially in relationships and finances, and this may go against our natural inclinations, which could be driven by our own hidden agenda and so focus our efforts on trying to right what we perceive as a wrong (Venus sxt Hygeia and sesq Sedna, Pallas sq Zeus, Sun qnx Mars). Thoughts are too prone to seek ambition fulfillment and to ignore the wonkiness of our own reasoning (Merc parallel Zeus and contra-parallel BML)–wait it out, and go experiential, if possible (enjoy the senses, rather than trying to forward goals).
We balance ourselves and gain empowerment by concentrating on our own responsibilities and then fulfilling them on the 8th. Just as yesterday, don’t succumb to what presents as instinct but is really misperceived situations of right and wrong (Sun conj Juno, Merc qnx Sedna and parallel Juno).
Things become complicated (or more so!) on the 9th. We feel empowered and aware of our own personal authority via our idealism, but this kind of power is merely an illusion if we don’t also embrace personal responsibility (completely, not just selectively) and refuse to act out of hurt. It’s a difficult balancing act, but we do have a single metric that will help us measure our own effectiveness: if we find ourselves reacting to things in an oppositional way (that is, taking the opposite position regardless of our own best interests or what’s logical), then we’ll know that we’re avoiding our own need to assess situations for our own part in things–we’ll know we’re in some way shirking responsibility, and must parse that out before going forward. Some of us may do brilliantly by harnessing energies for creative ventures–if you can, this is the best way to go (Venus sesq Ceres, opp Mars, contra-parallel Chiron, Sun trine Neptune).
This weekend, the Sun is in the last degrees of Sagittarius and coming to conjunction with Pluto–look for tension when ‘reaching out’ to others–it’s just the way it is, and you may find yourself feeling touchy as well. Don’t take it personally; look to the spirit of the lovely Libra Moon and approach contacts with a stance of co-operation, fairness, and loving connection, and you may see problems disappear.
Other notable notes: work with Saturn quincunx Neptune, to fashion reality to fit your dreams; Venus sesquiquadrates the Earth and helps bring values, relationships, and earning situations ‘down to Earth’–that’s good, as it means we’ll easily see where and how to adjust things to our liking; Mars sextiles Neptune, marrying action to imagination and inspiration; Juno sextiles Uranus, empowering the uniqueness within each of us, and making interaction of the empowered individual with the group profitable for both; Vesta trine Pluto says it will be easy to do needed deep cleaning and regeneration on the home front, in the sex life, and in activities related to those causes to which we’re dedicated, and we won’t have any trouble seeing how to proceed here, either, as the Sun comes along to light the way.
We have some very helpful energies available to us right now, especially if we’re looking to create and to cleanse, so access these with the thought of enhancing your life, and remember that what inspires you, and what you aspire to, can be made manifest, though a cautionary point is in order: the subconscious, via Neptune, can be especially active right now, so if something comes forward that you believe you’d never have asked for–think again!
Julie Demboski's ASTROLOGY 
