Today is Monday, Jan. 9, 2017
Hebrew date is 11 Tevet 5777
Islamic date is 11 Rabi’-II 1438
Mayan Tzolk’in Day is 2 Ajaw
Mayan Long Count is 13.0.4.2.0
Julian Day is 2457762
Today’s Birthdays: Crinitus (1475-1507), Pope Gregory XV (1554-1623), Empress Meisho (1624-1696), Tiberius Hemsterhuis (1685-1766), Thomas Warton (1728-1790), Carrie Chapman Catt (1859-1947), Vladimir Steklov (1864-1926), Lascelles Abercrombie (1881-1938).
“To the wrongs that need resistance, To the right that needs assistance, To the future in the distance, Give yourselves.”
— Carrie Chapman Catt
Special Comment: Remembering What You Might Forget
Sunday morning, Mercury stationed direct in Sagittarius. It had been retrograde, mostly in Capricorn, since right before the winter solstice, starting on Dec. 19. When Mercury stations direct early in the year, it feels to me like a second beginning — this time a little more clear-headed, and less stressed out by the holidays.
This is a diagram of the Milky Way, which is a barred spiral galaxy. If you look carefully, you can see our Sun just above the Perseus Arm, along what’s called the Orion Spur. We’re about 25,000 light years from the core.
Mercury is in its stationary direct position in a conjunction to the Galactic Core. We live on an island in space containing about 300 billion stars. They are arranged in a spiral pattern, approximately like the illustration. We cannot see our own galaxy from this point of view because we cannot get nearly far enough away.
At the center of the spiral is a supermassive black hole and a number of other radio sources that constitute the Galactic Core. Mercury is now aligned with the core within about two degrees. Amplifying this signal is a centaur planet called Pholus, even closer to the core (where it will be hanging around all year).
Sagittarius, particularly in those late degrees, is a visionary sign. It points directly to our cosmic source. If there is such a thing as Shamballa, you will find it in the direction of Sagittarius. Anyone born under this sign who is unhappy or frustrated is living below their spiritual calling, rather than rising to it.
Mercury is the planet of ideas and messages. Aligning with the core for approximately a week, as it’s now doing, Mercury is getting its batteries charged on galactic energy. We need this: we need the big-picture, wide-angle view that Sagittarius and in particular the Galactic Core offer.
We need to remember that we have cosmic origins, even if we don’t remember what they are. We need to remember that the galaxy is the primary unit of organizing the universe as we know it, and that we live on board a glorious one. Remembering is what the Galactic Core is all about, because it’s specifically this kind of spiritual learning that we forget.
Here’s what our galaxy looks like from Earth. It’s oriented vertically, and this is the view inward, toward the tropical sign Sagittarius. We are about 25,000 light years from the core. Because we’re on the galactic plane, we’re looking through all manner of stardust and debris, which obstructs our view of the core. But it’s right there.
What you’re immersing yourself in can seem quite real at Burning Man or during your workshop at the Omega Institute. But then once you step off the playa or the campus, do you really take it with you?
Mercury will proceed into Capricorn, where it arrives on Jan. 12 (about three hours after the Cancer Full Moon, so they are one event). This day is likely to come with some fuss and fanfare: a Full Moon in the cardinal signs, and Mercury contacting the Aries Point via Capricorn.
This is the perfect opportunity to get caught in the fireworks and forget all that you learned, and lose contact with all that you so recently soaked your mind and spirit in.
Remember what you’re discovering now. Remember what means something to you today. Remember what these past three weeks have brought: what you’ve observed, the healing you’ve done, how your relationships and family constellation have evolved, and the healing process you’ve been through as 2016 drew to a close.
This week’s horoscope is based on the chart for Mercury direct. I’ve broken it down by Sun sign and rising sign so you can give these aspects some specific relevance in your own affairs.
Regarding the Book of Your Life annual: I am now halfway through the writing process. I am taking it slow this year. I really did not have a choice, and as it works out I’m devoting more time to each reading than ever. I’ll keep you posted about my progress. Thanks for your patience.
Please tune in Tuesday for my one-year anniversary tribute to David Bowie, and my telling of an event last week where I got to experience existence from a female viewpoint, for one very interesting hour.
Catch you then.
w/love
Moon Phase: Moon is in Waxing Gibbous phase and enters Full phase on Jan. 12 at 3:34 am PST / 6:34 am EST (11:33:54 UTC).
Next New Moon is in Aquarius on Jan. 27-28 at 4:07 pm PST / 7:07 pm EST (00:06:58 UTC).
Corresponding Full Moon in Leo is on Feb. 10-11 at 4:33 pm PST / 7:33 pm EST (00:32:49 UTC).
Moon Sign: Moon is in Gemini and enters Cancer on Jan. 10 at 2:48 pm PST / 5:48 pm EST (22:48:36 UTC).
Sun Degree: 20-21 Capricorn.
Planetary Stations and Sign Changes
Psyche stations retrograde at 12:13 am PST / 3:13 am EST (08:12:54 UTC).
Eris stations direct at 8:48 am PST / 11:48 am EST (16:48:38 UTC).
Interesting Selected Aspects | Data by Serennu
— Juno sextile Jupiter at 2:18 am PST / 5:18 am EST (10:18:24 UTC).
— Vesta square Pelion at 3:23 am PST / 6:23 am EST (11:23:10 UTC).
— Sun opposite Cyllarus at 7:55 am PST / 10:55 am EST (15:54:48 UTC).
— Mercury square Salacia at 10:36 am PST / 1:36 pm EST (18:36:02 UTC).
— Neptune square Altjira at 11:29 am PST / 2:29 pm EST (19:29:23 UTC).
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If Your Birthday is Jan. 9
(The Day of Ambition) | Capricorn Birthday Reading | All Other Signs
You have plenty of love to offer, and you will feel better for doing so. That is to say, you don’t need as much as you think, so don’t fall for being needy. Reach into yourself and express the most basic humanity, in every exchange, with every person. Imagine each person you meet is your twin soul, whom you’ve encountered for a reason, whether you know it or not. Practice sincerity in all that you do, and hearts, minds and doors will open for you.
Written in the Planets
See Special Comment above.
Pre-order the 2017 Planet Waves Annual, The Book of Your Life, to lock in our special early pricing. Read more here or go straight to the purchase page.
Retreats, ashrams, Burning Man, Omega…even Shamballa. I have participated in most of them, studied with the teachers and leaders of them, and taught/facilitated this kind of work for 20 years now.
These are all helpful experiences. However, they are just that…experiences. How you bring what you are seeking from these into your daily life, day to day to day, that is the real work. And that includes your “work” as a citizen…speaking up and speaking out about what is occurring in the world around you. Speaking up and speaking out…with your voice.
The vibration of your spoken words has actual physical power in the world. The absence of the power of the spoken word due to the excess of technology is a huge factor in what we see occurring in our lives and in our country. The dysfunction we see at a national level is a very accurate reflection of the dysfunction of our lives; our families, our relationships, our work, our sexuality, our relationship to media, marketing, money and technology.
The opportunity, your opportunity is here, now, staring you right in the face. And, blessedly, as Eric has highlighted, the astrology has got your back. All there is to do…is choose.
Kelly Grace Smith
Kelly Grace Smith — thank you for linking Eric’s message with the vibrational power of using one’s physical voice. That’s a good reminder — and ties in nicely with the idea that email petitions only do so much, whereas getting in the habit of calling local offices for elected officials and having real-time conversations with the person on the other end of the phone can make better contact. Though there are certainly many other applications — such as the power of a kind voice on the other end of the phone when one is not feeling well; or the simple beauty of a fully verbalized “hello” to a stranger.
Beautifully written, Kelly Grace Smith, you’ve sounded the clarion to us all.
Consider it printed, and thumb tacked to the wall in front of my desk.
Thank you all…
Yes Thank You too
Very well written and gracefully articulated with punch n style Grace.
lm