Goals & Daily Life

“I see that I’ve become a really bad correspondent. It’s not that I don’t think of you.
You come into my thoughts often. But when you do it appears to me that I owe you a particularly grand letter. And so you end in the “warehouse of good intentions”:
“Can’t do it now.” “Then put it on hold.” This is one’s strategy for coping with old age,
and with death–because one can’t die with so many obligations in storage.
Our clever species, so fertile and resourceful in denying its weaknesses.”
― Saul Bellow

 

The week begins with the Sun in Virgo and the Moon void of course in Libra until it enters Scorpio late Monday evening. Monday is a (parenthesis) before the week officially begins and an opportunity to sharpen our tools for the work that lays ahead of us. A necessary period of inner refinement, adjusting our compass and vision as we find ourselves oscillating between our instinctual-desire-nature and our rational-pragmatic-intellect.

Constructive actions in tandem with inspired insights permeates this week. There is a lot of juicy momentum and it could even feel as if things are moving waaaay too fast for you to catch a break. Productivity is high on the list right now, and as a result procrastination hangs like a shadow over our game plan.

The soul craves synthesis while the mind dissects every aspects of existence.

The Moon will travel in Scorpio until late Wednesday night/early Thursday morning when it enters Sagittarius. The Moon in Sagittarius all day Thursday (Jupiter’s day) applies to a conjunction with Jupiter. The First Quarter Moon happens at 13º Sagittarius this month when it squares the Sun at 13º Virgo.

The First Quarter Moon is a time of action or crisis when the plans that were laid at the New Moon in Virgo on the 30th of August are being challenged or are starting to gain traction. This First Quarter Moon brings attention to our big idea or vision and the execution of this particular vision or idea. We have to trust that we will get there but we also have to put in the efforts required to get there.

Perspective gets lost when we spend too much time on the details (Virgo). However it can also be hard to execute a big idea if we don’t delineate a practical way to get there (Sagittarius). You could feel overwhelmed by the amount of preparation necessary for the execution of your idea/goal, losing perspective on where you were going it in the first place. Or it could be that you are so taken by your big project that you totally brush over the details and neglect some important steps in the process.

The Moon in Sagittarius will be next to Jupiter at the time of the First Quarter Moon on Friday September 7th – giving us a huge boost of confidence and faith that ”everything will turn alright”. We KNOW what we have to do, but it doesn’t mean we have the discipline to do it. It’s one thing to know, it’s another thing entirely to repeat the process day after day to install a new routine, a new program that will lead us to a new helpful habit. There is a conflict between knowing and executing, between an idea and the implementation of that idea into a tangible process. Time and patience is required as nothing is born overnight and it’s a good idea to keep that in mind as you navigate Virgo season and find yourself going over everything that remains to be done. Be patient and be happy for the process, because every step of the process is what eventually leads you to the desired result.

The Moon enters Capricorn Saturday morning, and here we are again, back at the working bench, at the drawing table with our plans and our to-do lists, and the burden of all that remains to be done. Time is slipping away so fast, and there are still too many details to deal with. We are not quite as healthy, productive, efficient, and successful as we could be, and it could all be too obvious next weekend. The Moon travels in Capricorn next Saturday and Sunday, convincing us that there are vegetables to harvest and preserve, fire wood to split, renovations to do, and all kinds of work left to be done. Not the most relaxing weekend but a productive one I hope.

Most planets traveling in the Earth element (Taurus – Virgo – Capricorn)  means it’s a great time to get stuff done, but terrible for anxiety around status, work, income, discipline, and habits. Don’t compare yourself too much. You are exactly where you are suppose to be; trust your process.

“You have to believe. Otherwise, it will never happen.”
― Neil Gaiman

WEEK OF AUGUST 26, 2019

JON KOKO – KARESANSUI

 

Out of perfection nothing can be made.
Every process involves breaking something up.
Joseph Campbell

And just like that, Virgo season is here, and this is definitely one of the most grounding time of the year when we can see the results and the reasons of the past. Not only do we have a stellium in Virgo (stellium: 4 or more planets in the same sign), the New Moon on Friday August 30th is positively supported by Uranus in Taurus. It is a time of traction and implementation for what is being birthed in your life. The new structures that are emerging on the horizon are starting to make sense and you can begin to see the tangible manifestations of your long held visions, the birth of a new awareness, a new reality.

The wish you whispered half consciously under your breath while sleeping is surrounding you. The faint light that guided you through the storm is now your illumination. There is a clarity about the events in your life and a reason for everything. Nothing is perfect but you might be able to accept that all the imperfect decisions has led you exactly where you are.

Witness your powers of manifestation for better or for worst.

Pixelated wood sculptures by Hsu Tung Han

Until the new moon in Virgo on Friday, we stand in the liminal darkness of the waning Moon, the dark of the Moon. Slowdown your pace, reflect, contemplate, clean, cleanse, purge, stretch, create space for the wisdom to enter, collect the strength from the Earth, lay low.

Monday: Moon in Cancer
Tuesday: Moon in Cancer – Moon enters Leo at 21:23 NDT
Wednesday: Moon in Leo
Thursday: Moon in Leo – Moon enters Virgo at 21:27 NDT
Friday: New Moon in Virgo 8:07am NDT
Saturday: Moon in Virgo – Moon enters Libra at 20:37 NDT
Sunday: Moon in Libra

The New Moon in Virgo takes place on Friday August 30th at 8:07am NDT/6:37am EDT. The New Moon signals the beginning of the work, a time of creation and implementation, of ”to-do” lists, of tangibility and manifestation, a time of taking advantage of the resources available to you, utilizing your space and body properly and efficiently. All the small actions that leads to the whole, it’s happening now. Your breath, the way you chew your food, your digestion, your posture. The superfluous will seem extra superfluous while you find a purpose for everything. Each little things in their place, there is a place for everything, and no space wasted.

The New Moon is linked to the revolutionary ways in which you approach the ordinary. Set your intentions, but don’t set them to high as to be discouraged. Plant your intentions in the realm of the possible, the tangible, the practical, something that will yield a satisfactory result down the road, every step counts, every action has meaning.

Wood sculpture by Yoshitoshi Kanemaki

“Your thoughts, become your words;
your words, become actions;
your actions, become habits;
your habits, become your character;
your character,  becomes your destiny.”

WEEK OF AUGUST 19, 2019

He, who every morning plans the transactions of the day, and follows that plan,
carries a thread that will guide him through a labyrinth of the most busy life.
Victor Hugo

The week begins with the Moon in Aires. The Moon enters Taurus Wednesday at 00:38 EDT and will travel though Taurus until Friday morning when the Moon enters Gemini at 10:34am. The last quarter Moon happens at 0º Gemini, officially initiating the mutable Earth season with the Sun having just entered Virgo. The Moon travels through Gemini until late Sunday afternoon when it enters Cancer at 17:05 EDT.

This week, with 3 planets moving from Leo to Virgo we are getting a good glimpse of what the next month has in store for us. Mars left the sign of Leo for Virgo early Sunday morning and Venus follows suit on August 21st, leaving the brazen fires of Leo for the humbling pastures of Virgo. On August 23rd, the Sun leaves its domicile of Leo to enter Virgo, officiating the Mutable Earth season. However, with Mercury (ruling planet of Virgo) still in Leo, we are holding onto the golden rays and royal ways, and not entirely dedicated to the practical applications of our vision until Mercury enters Virgo on August 29th.

Mars →Virgo: August 18 – 1:17am EDT
Venus →Virgo: August 21 – 5:06am EDT
Sun →Virgo: August 23 – 6:01am EDT

THE PROCESS
With the Sun’s ingress into the Earth sign of Virgo, we begin the process of sorting out what needs tending. Virgo season brings our attention and focus on the many task that lays ahead of us, illuminating what needs to be organized, smoothed, resolved and eliminated for us to find proper footing. With the heavy influence of the Earth element in the next few weeks, our attention will be on the practical and tangible ways in which we can establish order in our daily lives and in our bodies. Simplifying, streamlining, and putting back the tools in their proper place, becoming aware of all the little ways in which we are not yet fully efficient, proficient and perfect. Anxiety is a shadow that looms large over Virgoan-type people, for there is always ways in which one can improve themselves, and this process is never done. Quality resides in the critical eye for better or for worst. Perfection is not a burden for the artisan, but a guiding principle informing his repetitive actions which over time becomes the perfect object. Practice makes perfect as they say.

THE MATERIAL
This year, we have a tight alignment of planets in the sign of Virgo which does not happen every year. This should greatly intensify the influence of the sign on our daily lives. Virgo is one of the three Earth signs considered in astrology to be primarily focused on the tangible and the practical necessities of material reality, the other two being Taurus and Capricorn.

Since we already have Uranus transiting in Taurus and Saturn/Pluto/South Node in Capricorn, the ingress of Mars, Venus and the Sun into the sign of Virgo this week will saturate the skies with planets in Earth signs. During the next few weeks, our attention will turn towards our material reality and how to improve it. We could find ourselves busy creating order out of the chaotic and disparate parts of our lives in order to improve it and be more productive. Productivity will be high on the priority list and you could find yourself overwhelmed with the work load while juggling all of your responsibilities. Procrastination will create more anxiety and I have seen many Virgo-type characters driving themselves mad with anxiety and stress while procrastinating. Don’t shy away from the work you have to do as this will surely release some of the inner tension.

This week, the transition of three planets from Leo to Virgo will be quite obvious as we find ourselves moving from the Fixed Fire season to the Mutable Earth season. In the Northern Hemisphere, Virgo season announces the end of Summer and the transition towards Fall. The preparation required for the return of the cold and the waning of the light prompts us to organize ourselves, and it is a time of movement and busy-ness. The structures in our lives will be vitalized and it’s a great time to organize your space and make it more functional. In the next couple of weeks, the emphasis is on our physical reality and tending to the smaller details of our existence like our body and our environment. However, the possibility of scattering ourselves through too many projects/avenues or being overly critical and preoccupied with perfection is a tendency to watch for during the next few weeks. It’s a good idea to temper the critical voice within you, and use this time to get ahead.

The Zodiac 1925 Ernest Procter 1886-1935

“If death meant just leaving the stage long enough to change costume and come back as a new character… Would you slow down? Or speed up?”
–Chuck Palahniuk

FORECAST FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 8 to AUGUST 14

SOBRIETY, DISCRIMINATION & EXPECTATIONS

Who are the happiest people on earth? A craftsman or artist whistling over a job well done. A little child building sand castles. A mother, after a busy day, bathing her baby. A doctor who has finished a difficult and dangerous operation, and saved a human life. Happiness lies in a constructive job well done. Get your happiness out of your work or you will never know what happiness is. -Elbert Hubbard

        ☿

There are a few different ways in which the astrology will reveal itself to us this week. The mind will turn its focus to the practicalities and logistics of our lives. Attention to the necessities and demands of our obligations and the need to face responsibilities head-on will have a sobering effect. This thorough assessment of what we are doing with our time and where we want to invest our efforts is an essential process and doesn’t have to be daunting. There could also be a need to purge and simplify what has become cluttered whether it’s the body, the mind, a physical space or a project. Keep it simple at the risk of loosing your footing.

The hard and the soft collide while we juggle the many projects and never-ending to-do-list. We might be dreaming of a wireless-free space where we can regroup our thoughts, but the buzzing might actually be coming from the multitude of ideas and voices generated within our own mind. This is not a totally negative influence and much can be accomplished if we tame these monkeys into performing their designated routines.

The temptation will be to multi-task but simplifying and finding a structured way to divide our time could help productivity. This is a great week to get things done but there might also be a tendency to saturate the mind. Filtering the essential from the trivial and staying away from fear, guilt and worry will be half the battle. Resist the urge to backtrack into unsuitable scenarios and keep moving forward.

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MAJOR  ASTROLOGICAL ASPECTS FOR THIS WEEK

Mercury in Virgo conjoins the North Node of the Moon on August 8th which will amplify Mercury’s qualities for better or for worst. Since Mercury is considered strong in the sign of Virgo this remains a great time to carry out projects connected to writing, editing or any work that requires focus and analysis. Some new information, ideas or methods could come to light and help you move forward. If not well utilised, this period could be marked by anxiety exaggerated expectations and or disenchantment.

The First Quarter Moon on August 10th is in the sign of Scorpio fuelling the will and prompting us into action.  Since both the Sun and the Moon will be in Fixed signs, there could be a tendency for obstinacy and inflexibility.

Saturn goes direct in the early hours of August 13 while in a square from Venus in Virgo. The next few weeks could be characterised by the cementing of relationships and alliances or it could bring the sobering realisations of unsuitable situations or partnerships and their ensuing difficult disintegration.We will start to see the result of our efforts and the dissolution of some cherished misconceptions. Although this retrograde has been a challenging process the changes will bring growth that will require considerable readjustments in the next few months.

READ YOUR HOROSCOPE FOR THE WEEK RIGHT HERE ☞ ☞ ☞

SUBSCRIBE TO THE 9th HOUSE ASTROLOGY  MAILING LIST  ☞ ☞ ☞ 

 

 

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The Peak of Sweetness

Just before the first hint of her fall                                  
A brief moment of glory
Sitting on her golden throne
Her eyes rest on the bounty

There are many secrets hidden in the heart
that only time can expose
The maiden is fair and fertile
for a season only

After the decline of the light
A sacrifice of flesh
What is concealed will be revealed
when pride turns to humility

The ripen fruit must fall
at the peak of sweetness
To process and preserve
the memory of summer’s caress

 

WORDS

The Moon is in Gemini again today ruled by Mercury in Libra.

Words hold the tremendous power to create or destroy. You can use words to build bridges between you and others. Or you can use words to break an agreement. Words are one of the most powerful tool we have. By defining something with a word, we give it contours and ultimately, it takes on a life of its own. A tongue has no bones but it is strong enough to break a heart.

From The Four Agreements:

”Be Impeccable with your Word: Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the Word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your Word in the direction of truth and love.”

Self-Worth, Values & Venus in Virgo

Today, Mercury in Libra goes direct. It can mean many things but there is certainly a forward motion and perhaps incoming messages. Projects, thoughts, communiques that were halted are now revitalised and infused with new momentum. We have been working backstage and we are now ready to bring forth some ideas/projects/dialogues.

Because the retrograde happened in Libra, the revision or internal dialogues of the last few weeks were coloured by the Libran themes. Partnerships, fairness and equality, beauty and maybe even establishing a better rapport with what we value and need within our relationships and re-evaluating our existing love patterns.

Christina’s world by Andrew Wyeth, 1948

Venus also happened to change sign yesterday after having spent all of summer in fiery Leo. Venus in Leo is warm, exuberant and loud. When the Goddess Aphrodite finds herself in a fire sign, her expression is quite dramatic. This summer was branded with the hot iron of our egoic needs. Venus spent a considerable amount of the summer going backward and so re-evaluating what our needs are, has been an ongoing process.

Venus is now in the sign of Virgo and in mutual reception with Mercury bringing much humility to the stage we have set for ourselves. The Goddess of Love doesn’t have the best seat in the earth sign of Virgo. Which brings her to kneel humbly in front of Love.

With Venus in Virgo until November 8, we might find ourselves looking for order while tolerating disorder. Virgo can be overly concerned with diligent mindfulness and there is an emphasis (and maybe some worries) on getting things right. *Watch for feelings of self-worth and worries around love and not feeling lovable.

Venus in Virgo will help artists and artisan humbly work away at their masterpiece. But she might also focus on the imperfection as she detects the smallest of flaws. No details are ignored and we get pleasure out of scratching off one more item on our to-do list, and there is a LOT to do!

So lets keep in mind that perfection is closely related to our acceptance of imperfection. And that our flaws (or the flaws of others) are an opportunity to get better but more importantly they are what makes the landscape of our soul so rich.

There is a New Moon in Libra on the 12th of October and I am hoping to write more about it in the next few days.

Peace