Tag Archives: Ceres

The Day of the Borderline: Birthdays and Planet News

If Your Birthday is Nov. 8
The Day of the Borderline | 2019-20 Scorpio Astrology Studio available for pre-order | All Other Signs

You’re in a position of greater stability than you might realize, with support systems available to help you make considerable headway this year. Tap your wealth of emotional and intellectual resources to maximum advantage, to plow through work and get your world in order. Demands on your time may accelerate, but don’t sacrifice self-care; healthy routines are important. Emotional healing also emerges as a theme, possibly involving old abuse patterns and karma related to responsibility. Healing is ultimately and always an inside job, but guidance from trusted counselors can play a pivotal role.
— by Victoria Emory

Do you ever feel like your Scorpio Sun, rising sign or Moon gets a bad rap from astrologers? Eric Francis understands the potential held in your depths — and can walk you through how the planet Uranus in your relationship zone might be stirring things up. Pre-order your 2019-20 Scorpio Astrology Studio reading (offered now at its lowest price!) to move past the stereotypes, and meet your life at full strength.

Written in the Planets

How are you doing with things like errands and purchases, following through on certain trains of thought, or connecting with people via clear, straightforward communication? Mercury’s continuing retrograde through Scorpio could be slowing things down — for example, by requiring more than one attempt to get something simple accomplished. Can you see what caused you to stumble or detour the first time around, and learn from that experience?

Think of Mercury retrograde in Scorpio as being like scuba diving deep under the surface of the sea. It’s harder to see far ahead; there’s an extra sense of pressure; actions tend to result in exaggerated reactions, so it helps to go slowly and stay relaxed; communication is trickier and the stakes are higher, so it’s essential to be very clear and direct with your buddies. And when something goes wrong, the simple ability to stop, breathe, and think can be an actual lifesaver. Most dry land hiccups associated with Mercury retrograde are not life-and-death situations, but the same principles definitely apply.

In less soggy news, the asteroid Pallas enters Sagittarius this morning. This shifts its tone from one of an ‘asexual’ approach to sexual politics to something more like big-picture planning, the long-game (spiritually as well as politically), and perhaps a strangely rational form of optimism. Notice whether those around you start speaking about their ideals in a slightly different way. Other activity late in Sagittarius suggests some cosmic-level nourishment of your joie de vivre and what turns you on. Sometimes to give is also to receive.
— by Amanda Painter


In 2020 we have not one but two conjunctions that mark the turn of a generation, and of an era in history. On Jan. 12, Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn form their once per 33-year conjunction. Then on Dec. 21. 2020, Jupiter and Saturn, both now in Aquarius, form a conjunction in the first degree of that sign. Read more here…

The Mysterious Case of Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio

By Amanda Painter

Mercury stations retrograde in Scorpio today at 11:41 am EDT (15:41:20 UTC). It will station direct on Nov. 20. As strongly as Mercury is associated with tricks, especially during its retrograde phases, it does in fact bestow treats as well — though it can require actively seeking that perspective, often in the form of recognizing the lessons hidden in the mischief and frustration.

Mysterious figure at the 2016 Sacred and Profane festival, Peaks Island, Maine; photo by Amanda Painter.

Mystery figures at the 2016 Sacred and Profane festival, Peaks Island, Maine; photo by Amanda Painter.

I guess you could say that the blessings of Mercury sometimes arrive in disguise, wearing an inconvenient costume.

You know, like that one friend who dresses up as a ‘concept’ that nobody gets, and then is bummed about having to explain it all night. (I’ve totally been guilty of that.)

Yet once you grasp the concept, you kind of have to applaud the cleverness behind it. Is Mercury too clever for its own good?

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The Day of Sensational Detail: Birthdays and Planet News

If Your Birthday is Oct. 24
The Day of Sensational Detail | 2019-20 Scorpio Astrology Studio available for pre-order | All Other Signs

You’re likely to be in especially close contact with your imaginative gifts this year. That could prove an excellent opportunity in particular for shifting certain beliefs or habits if they’ve become somewhat fixed. Most of us have something like this, onto which we might cling because it shields a part of our identity, or feels safe. Yet an open mind tends eventually to prove more liberating and helpful. A little experimentation should be enough to produce interesting results.
— by Amy Elliott

Do you ever feel like your Scorpio Sun, rising sign or Moon gets a bad rap from astrologers? Eric Francis understands the potential held in your depths — and can walk you through how the planet Uranus in your relationship zone might be stirring things up. Pre-order your 2019-20 Scorpio Astrology Studio reading (offered now at its lowest price!) to move past the stereotypes, and meet your life at full strength.

Written in the Planets

Have you learned anything in the last several months that relates to the ways you are able to nurture others — or be nourished in return — in an intellectual or spiritual role? What about the ways that expanding your horizons (whether through literal or metaphorical travel, or formal or informal education) can feed specific facets of your soul? These have seemed to be some of the themes of Ceres moving through Sagittarius since January of this year. The mentorship idea, in particular, may have had particular resonance in some way.

Ceres is now in a conjunction with Sagittarius-ruling Jupiter. This could signal a culmination of sorts regarding the Ceres-in-Sadge process, or some new level of expansion. As with all things Jupiter, it’s always worth being aware of taking things to an extravagant extreme — though it can be hard to judge such a thing when you’re in the midst of it. Possibly the more you’re moving in the direction of some kind of service and/or core priorities — or in support of more foundational growth — the more solid the results.

Just like eating junk food, there’s plenty in this world that counts more as entertainment and superficial distraction, no matter how it’s packaged as ‘spiritual’. Today’s Virgo Moon could assist you in making a more critical assessment of what you’re metaphorically consuming, as well as what you’re feeding to others’ spirits. In particular, the Moon’s face-off with Neptune might get slippery, but could also offer some valuable contrast between the fantasy version and the nuts-and-bolts details of a situation.
— by Amanda Painter


In 2020 we have not one but two conjunctions that mark the turn of a generation, and of an era in history. On Jan. 12, Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn form their once per 33-year conjunction. Then on Dec. 21. 2020, Jupiter and Saturn, both now in Aquarius, form a conjunction in the first degree of that sign. Read more here…

The Day of Mastery: Birthdays and Planet News

If Your Birthday is Sept. 15
The Day of Mastery | Order 2019-20 Virgo Astrology Studio | All Other Signs

As you were growing up, it’s highly likely your caregivers or family had some expectations on who you were to become, and how you should live your life. As an adult, you have a free choice on how far you will stick to that narrative, though depending on the pressure this isn’t always easy. This year, you have an opportunity to strike out on your individual path more decisively, regardless of anyone else’s preconceived ideas or wishes. Follow your desires, and don’t worry about going off-script.
— by Amy Elliott

If your Sun, Moon or rising sign is Virgo, you are heading into a most unusual solar year, set up to do the thing Virgo is designed for: integrate the elements of your being, find your direction and purpose, and act on it. Eric lays it all out in your 2019-2020 Virgo Astrology Studio, now available for instant access.

Written in the Planets

Mercury and Venus are now in the early degrees of Libra, beginning to renew emphasis on slow-moving planets early in the cardinal signs. (Though King Neptune’s fluidity is still diffusing everyone’s impressions.) Keep your antennae tuned for certain echoes of events and themes from a few months ago, and of familial material.

For example, today watch for the ways your emotional life and approach to relationships might be at odds with multi-generational family patterns. What roles have these issues played in your sense of identity? The Moon moving through early Aries in the wee hours of the morning may heighten less conscious feelings along these themes. Dreams, if you can remember them, could offer a layer of insight.

On a related note, Juno in Virgo, Ceres in Sagittarius and the centaur Nessus in Pisces are all in strong contact with each other. You may be noticing tension between specific relationship needs (including material around jealousy), your sense of nourishing others and what makes your own spirit feel fed, and old emotional patterns whose time is up (possibly around sexual or energetic boundaries). If you were to hold yourself to the highest standards of intellectual and psychic hygiene, what might that look like? Even if it seems like there are two or more ways you could go, chances are you can identify the option that leaves you feeling clear. If someone is pushing your buttons, that’s a good clue that your own reactions and expectations around the energy you’ve been giving them could use a closer look.


My readings offer a place of refuge, an opportunity to suspend self-judgment, and my careful reading of the charts. I offer you reasons to be motivated, and strategies for handling the strange complexity of society at this time. To this work, I bring all of what I have learned as a journalist, editor, astrologer, spiritual student and man of the world; and I offer it to you for an affordable price. Read more here.

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The Day of the Public Appearance: Birthdays and Planet News

If Your Birthday is Aug. 31
The Day of the Public Appearance | The 2019-20 Virgo Astrology Studio can now be pre-ordered | All Other Signs

Have patience with yourself when it comes to fulfilling your aims. You may be progressing faster than you realize, and to some extent at least this is a slow and steady kind of game. Gradually, you’re bringing to life a concept that is unique and meaningful, from within the fundamental depths of your being, and thus a part of you. Be careful not to underestimate its significance, and grant yourself whatever time, resources or permissions you feel are needed.
— by Amy Elliott

If your Sun, Moon or rising sign is Virgo, You are heading into a most unusual solar year, set up to do the thing Virgo is designed for: integrate the elements of your being, find your direction and purpose, and act on it. Eric will lay it all out in your 2019-2020 Virgo Astrology Studio.

Written in the Planets

This weekend ends with the Labor Day holiday in the U.S. But no matter what country you live in, you’ll likely find that getting down to business on a project and getting physically active — rather than lounging around idly — will feel better. The Sun is currently conjunct Mars in Virgo (exact Monday). In any sign, a Sun-Mars conjunction describes a need to occupy yourself with creative and constructive pursuits. In Virgo, however, the potential increases for un-channeled energy to manifest as irritability, or as mental restlessness and insecurity. So get busy.

Additionally, Mercury in Virgo is in aspect to Uranus in Taurus and Ceres in Sagittarius. This also describes stimulation and activity. Maybe try tackling a problem with a new solution; consciously step out of routines (including mental habits) and explore new interests and locations. If you find yourself becoming bored, whether with an activity or whoever’s in your company, seek out those with unusual opinions and new insights.

There will be a day to stick with the tried and true, but this might not be it. That said, there is a difference between adventurousness and recklessness. Sometimes that difference is a matter of the role your ego is playing in your urges and responses. Are you really in disagreement with someone, or do you just want them to recognize who you are and what you’re doing?
— by Amanda Painter


It is difficult to feel good these days; it’s challenging to focus on your growth and self-care, or even to relax. We are pulled out of ourselves constantly, and often distracted from our core purposes. IN THESE TIMES, the Planet Waves autumn reading, will help.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER

Read more here.

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The Day of Language: Birthdays and Planet News

If Your Birthday is Aug. 28
The Day of Language | The 2019-20 Virgo Astrology Studio can now be pre-ordered | All Other Signs

You could well cover a lot of ground in the months ahead with regard to your emotional healing. The main thing to bear in mind, perhaps, is that safeguarding your wellbeing and promoting your own happiness are not only reasonable but important practices. Stay in touch with your intuition, and pay attention to your dreams. Don’t fight down aspirations, or even flights of fancy; instead, follow them along the winding tracks of your mind and take note of the places where you land.
— by Amy Elliott

If your Sun, Moon or rising sign is Virgo, You are heading into a most unusual solar year, set up to do the thing Virgo is designed for: integrate the elements of your being, find your direction and purpose, and act on it. Eric will lay it all out in your 2019-2020 Virgo Astrology Studio.

Written in the Planets

You may want to figure something out all on your own, rather than accept instruction from another; or maybe the adventurous advice someone offers is at odds with a current plan or analysis you’ve been working on. These are just a couple ways today’s Virgo Sun square Ceres in Sagittarius could manifest. It’s also possible that the details you’re focused on aren’t quite squaring with the broader vision you’ve been using to feed your spirit.

Whatever the situation and however you choose to navigate it, bear in mind that there are times when we reject the nurturing we need simply because it does not match how we see ourselves. Maybe file it away, but consider revisiting later what’s offered to you today? Perspective can shift over time, and sometimes does so quickly under certain circumstances. This week’s Virgo-intensive sky might describe just such a situation, given its emphasis on focusing inwardly to incorporate various facets of yourself. With the Sun conjunct Mars and trine Uranus, there’s mental and physical energy you can draw upon for this process, even though the Moon is waning.
— by Amanda Painter


It is difficult to feel good these days; it’s challenging to focus on your growth and self-care, or even to relax. We are pulled out of ourselves constantly, and often distracted from our core purposes. IN THESE TIMES, the Planet Waves autumn reading, will help.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER

Read more here.

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The Day of the Unabashed Extrovert: Birthdays and Planet News

If Your Birthday is Aug. 25
The Day of the Unabashed Extrovert | The 2019-20 Virgo Astrology Studio can now be pre-ordered | All Other Signs

If you discover that you’re struggling a little with demands on your spare time, it may help you to take a firmer hand in organizing it. Make sure you have enough room to relax and to feed your soul, as well as enjoying your friendships and social engagements. Most people need some kind of balance between introverted and extraverted activities; look for the one that’s suitable for you, and also offers you an ongoing enrichment of heart and mind.
— by Amy Elliott

If your Sun, Moon or rising sign is Virgo, You are heading into a most unusual solar year, set up to do the thing Virgo is designed for: integrate the elements of your being, find your direction and purpose, and act on it. Eric will lay it all out in your 2019-2020 Virgo Astrology Studio.

Written in the Planets

What makes you feel nurtured? How do you feel when you are the one who must nurture yourself, rather than receiving that care from a partner or parental figure? If someone close to you desires you to feed, teach or care for them, how do you tend to respond? These and related questions could emerge today, described by Venus and Mars in Virgo square Ceres in Sagittarius.

Square aspects are about needing to take action, and it looks like that action could just as easily be the decision to allow yourself to receive as it could be the decision to ‘do’ for yourself. Maybe a little of both? You might also notice if you have a ‘philosophy’ of sorts about this issue that is currently at odds with your actual needs. Consider whether the models for nurturing and nourishing that you grew up with are working for you; it might be time to seek a new mentor or model for this facet of life. Being willing to analyze what’s really going on for you and then trying something new may relieve some tension, and also offer a new way forward — in your self-care, and in your relationships with others as well.
— by Amanda Painter


It is difficult to feel good these days; it’s challenging to focus on your growth and self-care, or even to relax. We are pulled out of ourselves constantly, and often distracted from our core purposes. IN THESE TIMES, the Planet Waves autumn reading, will help.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER

Read more here.

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The Day of Endurance: Birthdays and Planet News

If Your Birthday is Aug. 18
The Day of Endurance | The 2019-20 Virgo Astrology Studio can now be pre-ordered | 2019-20 Leo Astrology Studio is available for instant access | All Other Signs

Gradually you are coming to view yourself and the ideals you cherish most in a new light, and with Mars changing signs early on your birthday, this is likely to be an ideal period for bolstering your self-confidence. As part of this, be wary of any mindset that involves variations on shame, embarrassment or self-doubt. Try exchanging these emotions for “I want to…” and “I can…” and see how that feels for you. It would help you to start with the understanding that nothing, in fact, is forbidden.
— by Amy Elliott

Do you have a Leo Sun, rising sign or Moon? Your last couple years may have left you reeling trying to figure out which path forward is best. Hear Eric’s thoughts on expediting your post-eclipse process in your 2019-2020 Leo Astrology Studio reading.

Written in the Planets

Mars leaves Leo and enters Virgo today. This should offer some down-to-earth energy as you get focused on the workweek ahead or on household tasks. Mars in Virgo tends to be ingenious, practical and industrious, but also prone to over-focusing on details and non-essentials. Over the next three days Mars moves into a conjunction with a point called Transpluto in early Virgo, suggesting extra reason to guard against fussiness and narrowness of effort.

Mars will also be square Ceres in Sagittarius. That may describe all the nudge you need to balance your actions and mental energy, since it seems to describe the bigger picture of what feeds you spiritually — and what you can offer people that will nurture them, too. Mars in Virgo has an inclination to be very helpful toward others. Just ask those close to you whether they desire assistance in solving the puzzles of their lives; sometimes people just want a kind ear, or a hug, or a little warmly held space to sort themselves out.
— by Amanda Painter


It is difficult to feel good these days; it’s challenging to focus on your growth and self-care, or even to relax. We are pulled out of ourselves constantly, and often distracted from our core purposes. IN THESE TIMES, the Planet Waves autumn reading, will help.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER

Read more here.

In These Times graphic