Tag Archives: Vesta

The Day of Conflicting Karma: Birthdays and Planet News

If Your Birthday is Oct. 23
The Day of Conflicting Karma | 2019-20 Scorpio Astrology Studio available for pre-order | All Other Signs

Whatever your aims in life, one thing that really helps is to surround yourself with people who not only support you, but also help you grow. You get to choose your friends, and likewise to choose where you give your time and energy. Just now, you need your social milieu to be a bullshit-free zone, as far as possible. Ideally, the company you keep will also challenge and stimulate you on a frequent basis. This will help you get your brain thinking, and give you an ongoing sense of being awake.

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

Scorpio season begins today, with the Sun’s ingress at 1:20 pm EDT (17:19:36 UTC). We’re entering that time of year when the realms of the living and of those who have passed on are said to be in closer contact — though I’ve heard a report from one especially sensitive, witchy friend that the effect may have started early this year. (Possibly in relation to Mercury slowing down in Scorpio prior to its Oct. 31 station retrograde?) Often there’s a deepening of mood that occurs during solar Scorpio; a willingness to consider topics that normally are unnerving, intimidating or outright taboo — sexuality and mortality topping the list.

The most immediate aspects the Sun makes from Scorpio are a reprisal of its sextile to Pholus (see yesterday’s post), though with a shift in tone and themes; and an opposition to Uranus in Taurus. Sun-Uranus won’t be exact for almost a week. But knowing Uranus and its high-voltage ways — combined with the fixity of Taurus and Scorpio — starting now you’ll want to be ready for anything. Which really means: be ready to practice how flexible and fluid you can be. Remember that Scorpio is also the sign of transformation, via flushing out what has stagnated and grown toxic.

Mercury’s opposition to Vesta in Taurus today suggests a conversation in which you physically and emotionally hold space for someone else’s process. You might also find yourself on the receiving end of this kind of service. The asteroid Pallas is involved, offering some insurance that the encounter can be detached in healthy ways. In other words, there appears to be less chance of jealousy, possessiveness or other codependent habits interfering with the potential for healing. Consciously invoking this as a priority should also help.
— 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 Judgment: Birthdays and Planet News

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If Your Birthday is Oct. 16
The Day of Judgment | 2019-20 Scorpio Astrology Studio now available for pre-order | Order the 2019-20 Libra Astrology Studio | All Other Signs

How you conceive of yourself and your capabilities is changing and becoming broader, if subtly. You’ve grown in several significant ways from a few years ago, and correspondingly you’re noticing your life gathering a new shape and purpose. You might not have the same aims or desires you used to, though you’re likely to find the path you are now on much more congenial. If you still have questions about your direction, this would be a good year to work through them.
— by Amy Elliott

Do you have your Sun, Moon or rising sign in Libra? If so, Eric has much to say about stabilizing your relationships in the chaos of the internet, getting some traction in your career, and most of all, how to frame your own reality. in the 2019-2020 Libra Astrology Studio, now available for instant access. Check out the video preview for the reading here.

Written in the Planets

Toward the middle of today in particular, you my notice an inclination to claim, safeguard or even add to whatever makes you feel secure and at ease. It could be something internal — such as your creativity, an ability to take things at your own pace, or a sense of physical strength and wellness. Or this might be something external — such as a central part of your home, your possessions and finances, or the people closest to you.

Wherever you locate this physical or emotional space, can you see a way to appreciate and tend it without letting possessiveness creep in? The art of devotion to the creative spark and metaphorical hearth that Vesta represents relies partly on an ability to share it without fear of losing it (or of losing yourself). The Taurus Moon brings some of our less conscious undercurrents into contact with Vesta today, and emphasizes both the emotional and material sides of what it signifies.

Note that this is against the backdrop of the Libra Sun opposite Eris in Aries (exact tomorrow). Sun-Eris appears to describe a situation where one person is stirring the pot — perhaps in manipulative or covert ways — and another person is doing their best to please everyone and find the point of balance. If you find yourself in the Libra Sun position, staying in contact with that inner sense of ease and grounding just mentioned should help your internal equilibrium, even if things seem out of whack externally. If you’re in the Eris position, can you own up to whatever insecurities are getting triggered? When you can articulate that in a more constructive way, you allow others to meet you more cooperatively. It’s a win-win.
— by Amanda Painter

The Day of Glaring Truth: Birthdays and Planet News

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If Your Birthday is Sept. 30
The Day of Glaring Truth | Pre-order pre-order the 2019-20 Libra Astrology Studio | All Other Signs

You are something of a natural in terms of mental exploration, and presently you may be experiencing more curiosity than usual. Yet there is only so much you can grasp from theoretical knowledge. If you want to understand how something operates, interact with it on a practical level, as far as is safe. Along the way, there may be an opening for you to bring your inventive abilities into play: that is, to fix a problem you see, or improve on a working model. This is likely to be useful all round.
— by Amy Elliott

Do you have your Sun, Moon or rising sign in Libra? If so, your sign is directly aligned with the single most significant astrological event beginning 2020. Eric will walk you through the most effective ways to approach your year in the 2019-2020 Libra Astrology Studio, now available for pre-order.

Written in the Planets

If you’ve been wanting to ‘go deep’ in some way, especially with another person, this could be a good day for it. For one thing, the Moon enters Scorpio this morning at 5:42 am EDT (9:41:37 UTC). That automatically signals a potentially immersive or compelling emotional tone, and describes an affinity for getting under the surface. With the Scorpio Moon briefly opposing Uranus in Taurus, this could translate into emotional responses to the unexpected that are a little more intense than usual.

Venus in Libra is exactly square the centaur planet Chariklo in Capricorn, and squares Pluto exactly tomorrow. On one level, this describes a need to seek emotionally or sexually heightened interactions. On another level, this may suggest that it’s time to acknowledge changes in a relationship. Can you hold space for your own mix of emotions and needs, and for those of the other person? Both are real, and both are valid. You may be able to avoid sliding into co-dependent behavior by using tools like active listening (paraphrasing what is said to be sure you’ve understood clearly) and “I” statements. Discerning true needs from strong desires and idealized expectations is also key.

Assistance with that process is described by a trine between Mars in Virgo and Vesta in Taurus. This looks like support for a less personal, truly service-oriented way of approaching some matter of desire, sex, healing or teaching. If you’re finding it easy to connect the details of a situation with some hands-on mental or physical effort and a sense of emotionally grounded purpose, this aspect may be what you’re tapping into.
— by Amanda Painter

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 Managers: Birthdays and Planet News

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If Your Birthday is Sept. 20
The Day of the Managers | Order 2019-20 Virgo Astrology Studio | You can also pre-order the 2019-20 Libra Astrology Studio | All Other Signs

Who do you want to be? Who could you become? These questions are a fundamental basis for our highest aspirations. Any goal that involves bringing you closer to your full potential is a positive thing to strive for. Making this the cornerstone of your ambitions would probably help you immensely. If you decide you want something, perhaps consider your reasons, and where all that leads you in terms of self-development. You might benefit from taking a somewhat broader view.
— 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

What does it really mean to be of service? There are numerous ways to think of it, but try this idea on for size: allowing the ‘big truths’ of life and the universe (think love, compassion, the unity of everything, what goes around comes around) to spur you into action, but making those actions specific, local, tangible, physical. That is, you might not be able to dust everyone on the planet with universal love. But you can infuse the details of your interactions with the people you know with that spirit.

You can cultivate the core flame of your life force and creativity to be central to your everyday work — no matter how mundane, ‘non-spiritual’, intellectual or detailed it is. Today the Virgo Sun makes an exact square to the Galactic Core in Sagittarius; this is the action aspect. In this case, it could describe feeling a little overwhelmed by the scale of what’s either inspiring you or putting on the pressure. The Sun is also exactly trine the asteroid Vesta in Taurus. This is where the idea of service gets some earthy, visceral support.

Two things this particular idea of service does not encompass are criticism and sacrificing the core of who you are. In other words, it’s one thing to see what needs to be fixed or helped and then put your energy toward that goal; it’s another thing entirely simply to point at what’s wrong and complain (or to beat yourself up for not doing more). Similarly, putting yourself in service to a goal higher than self-satisfaction may entail a sacrifice of some time, entertainment or effort put toward other activities and tasks. That’s not the same as denying your own basic needs, your most cherished dreams, or the right to live a life that feels balanced (however you define that). And it’s definitely not about guilt or shame.

Even if you can’t enact what calls to you today, try to take some notes. Aspects to the Galactic Core can sometimes describe a rather fleeting sense of the bigger message, and having a reminder could be handy down the road. Jupiter and Neptune making their exact square tomorrow might be amplifying the sense of scale or the more nebulous qualities of what your antennae are tuning in to — making concrete documentation and steps that much more useful.
— by Amanda Painter

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The Day of the Supportive Partner: Birthdays and Planet News

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If Your Birthday is Aug. 26
The Day of the Supportive Partner | The 2019-20 Virgo Astrology Studio can now be pre-ordered | All Other Signs

What do you think of when you imagine your ideal social group? It’s true that you have certain goals in mind, and would most likely benefit from support among your peers. Without forming a comic-style superhero troupe, is there anything you feel you specifically need from your friendships? If so, this could be found by venturing into some unfamiliar places, where you’re likely to find new people. Alternatively, perhaps the qualities you seek are actually within yourself.
— 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

Your ability to see through issues and beneath surfaces appears to get a boost today, as the asteroid Pallas enters Scorpio. If there’s something you need to get to the root of — especially about yourself, given other current aspects — you could get some real traction with it if you make the effort. When it comes to workplace dynamics, think in terms of strategy and understanding the psychology of any puzzling situations.

Venus and Uranus in contact with each other describe seeking stimulation through love and friendships — or even just looking for after-work entertainment that’s different from what you usually go for. If the unexpected or unconventional arrives in your immediate environment (or is suggested to you by a partner), it might be worth exploring.

On a related note, Mercury in Leo and Vesta in Taurus are in a square to each other today. Are you just talking about sex, or are you truly making — and honoring — the time and space deserved for such a core part of being human? It might be time to put your body where your mouth is, so to speak (or where someone else’s mouth is, though you can adapt that idea for solo action just as well). In fact, since we’re really talking about the inner creative spark, the sense of tension in this square could relate to artistic desires, too. Ideas are great, but sometimes action not only speaks louder than words, it also gets more done.
— 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.

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Read more here.

The Day of Explosive Power: Birthdays and Planet News

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If Your Birthday is Aug. 17
The Day of Explosive Power | The 2019-20 Virgo Astrology Studio can now be pre-ordered | 2019-20 Leo Astrology Studio is available for instant access | All Other Signs

You seem to be on the verge of completing a project or moving forward into the next phase of one, and at least part of the outcome may be uncertain, or subject to apparent chance. In some sense, however, this is true of all major decisions and actions we take; the future is unpredictable, and helping to create it takes courage. Focus on what you do know, the factors you can control for, and the strides you’ve already made. You are more than likely thoroughly prepared for whatever comes next.
— 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

The Pisces Moon moves through the ongoing square between Jupiter in Sagittarius and Neptune in Pisces today. This may lend an extra-dreamy, wistful or imaginative tone to visions for the future that might already be based more in fantasy than in reality. That’s not necessarily a bad thing; you may find your intuition is heightened, or that you’re able to feel your way toward a more nuanced or creative understanding of how you could move forward.

Saturn is in contact with Neptune as well, after all — though drawing on its discipline and structuring capabilities will require conscious choice and action on your part. Depending on your personal tendencies and circumstances, that could be too much a stretch today, but that’s okay. There will be time to harness Saturn when the Moon’s in a more action-oriented sign, and chances are you’ll feel the shift.

For now, keep tabs on unexpected ideas and insights (preferably by documenting them), and don’t be surprised if you and those you’re with change your minds randomly. If that impacts pre-set commitments and promises, you may need to renegotiate them. Doing so is only fair, though guilt need not play a role. Clear boundaries make for healthy relationships (and can also be renegotiated), and should actually help the ongoing good vibes of the Leo Sun and Venus find the space they need to flourish and warm all. Particularly artsy or playful pursuits could feel good today.
— 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.

The Day of Royal Command: Birthdays and Planet News

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If Your Birthday is Aug. 15
The Day of Royal Command | 2019-20 Leo Astrology Studio is available for instant access | All Other Signs

This is likely to be a pivotal moment for you, highlighted by an influential Full Moon on your birthday. You’ll probably find yourself with fresh motivation to focus on matters you might previously have begun to let slide, or able to clear certain hindrances that may have seemed immovable in the past. The choice of where and how to devote your energy is yours alone; you’ll therefore want to be sure you can voluntarily honor any commitment you make, through all weathers.
— by Amy Elliott

Written in the Planets

Mercury leaves its post-retrograde shadow phase this morning, freeing up thought patterns and communication just in time for today’s Full Moon in Aquarius. The Aquarius Moon opposes the Leo Sun and Venus at 8:29 am EDT (12:29:08 UTC), which means it will be separating and the energy beginning to dissipate during the day. Yet even as the Moon moves along, the Sun and Venus will still be closely aligned — offering warm, heartfelt social vibes for a few days.

That said, if you’re in a funk or not feeling as social as everyone around you seems to be, there are elements in the Full Moon chart suggesting that a ‘fake it till you make it’ approach could be worth trying. Sometimes we feel limited in how expressive we can be with others, or in who exactly we’re able to connect with. And while that can speak to concrete circumstances, often it’s just a matter of perception (and specifically, self-perception) that’s based more on past or internal emotional habits than on the present moment’s opportunities.

Showing up bodily in a specific physical space where others are gathered may help you to find the leverage needed to rise above perceived limitations (or to hold space for others to do so), and let a little friendliness shine out. Yet you can offer this to yourself, as well, by setting aside some time and space to do something kind, creative or playful for yourself. Whether solo or with others, these options are a form of love — ones that cost little to give, yet are priceless to receive.
— by Amanda Painter

Aquarius Full Moon (and Friends)

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By Amanda Painter

Mercury leaves its post-retrograde shadow phase this morning, freeing up thought patterns and communication just in time for today’s Full Moon in Aquarius. The Aquarius Moon opposes the Leo Sun and Venus at 8:29 am EDT (12:29:08 UTC), which means the aspect will be separating and the energy beginning to dissipate during the day.

A sunflower demonstrates the Golden Ratio; photo by Amanda Painter

That could translate into any seemingly stuck situations starting to resolve — though this appears to be a Full Moon with less of a conflict/tension signature compared to many other Full Moons.

This one looks more social, with the energy peak having come Wednesday night. Yet even as the Moon moves along from this opposition, the Sun and Venus will still be closely aligned — offering warm, heartfelt social vibes for a few days. Mercury finally treading new ground in Leo describes lively and possibly even dramatic communication of ideas — the bigger the audience, the better.

That said, if you’re in a funk or not feeling as social as everyone around you seems to be, there are elements in the Full Moon chart suggesting that a ‘fake it till you make it’ approach could be worth trying. That would be the asteroids Achilles (false confidence or false lack of confidence) and Icarus (a desire to escape restrictions, exuberance of youth; also potentially reckless actions) conjunct the Moon in Aquarius.

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