All That We Want

Venus makes the second in a collection of three squares to Jupiter this week (Aug. 22, 2023, 5:16 am PDT – the primary was on June 11, the final is on Sep. 16). Writing about that first sq., I recommended we look at whether or not we’re spending the priceless hours of our lives on issues that carry satisfaction and happiness. This second sq., which takes place whereas Venus is retrograde, has me fascinated about modifications in fortune.

Famously, lottery winners typically find yourself squandering their fortunes and profoundly sad of their relationships. What initially looks like the solutions to all their issues truly brings new ones: methods to use new wealth properly, and methods to distinguish those that care about you from those that need one thing from you.

However Venus retrograde can carry the options to issues like these, if we observe its prescription for introspection and evaluation of our true worth. Cash is so typically a stand-in for shallowness, and if we really feel assured about who we’re and may cowl our fundamental requirements, it’s a lot simpler to include Jupiter’s starvation for extra.

The Magic of Untidy Areas

Born with Mars in Virgo, I used to be a passionately tidy little lady. And but, a few of my happiest hours had been spent on the very untidy residence of some pricey relations. There was much less stress there, and extra space for creativeness.

Mars in Virgo symbolizes a ardour for order. However as it opposes Neptune this week (Aug. 22, 2023, 1:34 pm PDT), that keenness offers strategy to the magic and inspiration of untidy locations, the place the tyranny of orderliness offers strategy to restfulness.

The opposition is a facet that requires stability to make it work greatest, although, and on some days the stability appears off. Neptune is sort of a tidal wave that overwhelms our modest efforts to maintain issues tidy. There aren’t any brooms giant sufficient to brush up the messes that we face.

However Mars in Virgo reminds us that the best way by way of the fog and to place our lives so as is to interrupt issues into small, actionable steps, put them on a guidelines, and work our approach by way of them. When the longer term is blurry and the large image is discouraging, keep busy, and preserve your eyes on what you are able to do immediately.

Sacred Service

Just like the Roman virgins charged with tending the sacred flames of Vesta, Virgo’s job description consists of obligation, ritual, and devotion. Because the Solar enters this signal of sacred service (Aug. 23, 2023, 2:01 am PDT), it initiates a season of renewed dedication to no matter we worth most.

What’s our devotional providing to the world? It’s much less about something we do, particularly, and extra about the best way we do it. Virgo’s dominion consists of these quiet acts we carry out often to maintain issues going. Watering the crops. Washing the dishes. Caring for the animals. Doing the laundry.

If these look like small issues, think about a time you discovered your self in a spot that was soiled, decrepit, and cluttered, the place animals foraged for meals, soiled laundry and soiled dishes had been piled excessive, and every thing smelled dangerous.

Attempt to stay an orderly life in disorderly environment. See how properly you’ll eat if nobody tends the crops. Attempt to survive the approaching winter with out Vesta’s sacred flame.

Attempt to stay in a world with out Virgo, and also you’ll see that neglecting the small issues seems to be a really large factor certainly.

Naptime

Mercury turns retrograde this week (Aug. 23, 2023, 12:59 pm PDT, by way of Sep. 15). At the start of every calendar 12 months, I attempt to plot my main initiatives and obligations for the following twelve months. However I at all times appear to neglect to incorporate Mercury’s retrograde durations.

It’s not that we have to shut down and cease doing every thing whereas Mercury seems to be backward in his orbit. However overscheduling and shifting at a busy tempo will not be even near being the perfect use of Mercury’s retrograde occasions. Ideally, we’d schedule retreats throughout these three weeks, three or 4 occasions every year, the higher to do retrograde Mercury’s greatest work: reflection, retooling, recalibration.

Perhaps Mercury retrograde is greatest imagined as naptime. It’s when our brains thumb by way of all of the bits of data we’ve been cramming into them for the previous few months, categorize what’s helpful, and delete what isn’t. Let’s see if we will discover time to decelerate and let our brains do their work.

A Wider Lens

By the point I first flew in an airplane as an adolescent, I’d taken innumerable street journeys with my household and was used to that slower tempo of journey. For the primary time, I lined territory in two hours that might as soon as have taken two days of driving.

Unquestionably, there’s one thing good a couple of street journey. You achieve an intimacy with the terrain, which was fascinating within the Sixties and 70s, earlier than each metropolis and city in America regarded fairly related. You savored each inch of the journey. And I missed that by flying, however my vistas elevated dramatically.

Typically, making a much bigger life for ourselves requires that we let go of among the treasured minutia of every mile in order that we will cowl new floor, and extra of it. This First Quarter Moon (Aug. 24, 2023, 2:57 am PDT) positions the Solar in down-to-earth, eye-on-details Virgo towards the Moon in Sagittarius and its wider lens. Taking a leap of religion will be scary. However should you’ve paid consideration to element and deliberate fastidiously, now’s the time to belief that you just’re prepared to leap in a aircraft and fly into your future.

No False Strikes

As Mars in Virgo trines Pluto (Aug. 24, 2023, 5:23 pm PDT), a resolute, steadfast sense of objective is the perfect safety from Pluto’s fierce gaze. Stroll within the confidence that comes from having accomplished good, diligent work, and Pluto’s energy will assist and probably elevate you this week.

We frequently fall into the entice of framing Pluto within the worst doable phrases, however he represents the affect and energy that may be yours while you carry your most truthful, genuine self to the world. There isn’t numerous room for false strikes the place Pluto is worried – however then, Mars in Virgo isn’t false.

Price Preventing For

Think about – or you possibly can recall? – being a sunny, inventive, and uncomplicated baby who desires to share one thing with the world. Perhaps it’s a track, or a joke, or a dance step. You tug at mother or dad’s sleeve, determined for consideration, however they’re distracted, or crucial. If it occurs as soon as, you’ll normally bounce again. However should you’re routinely shut down by these you’re keen on, you’ll study to cover your true self.

The Solar opposes Saturn this week (Aug. 27, 2023, 1:28 am PDT), pitting sunny optimism towards criticism or censure. I could be a tough transit for launching one thing out of your coronary heart out into the world. In the event you do, and the world is unreceptive or unfavorable, you’ll need to determine whether or not this factor is value preventing for.

We don’t wish to let Saturn cease us in our tracks altogether, however he’s not essentially unsuitable for suggesting that refinement, self-discipline, or onerous work would make our inventive, loving efforts simpler. However there’s no query that the joyful, inventive spark is the true factor, and Saturn ought to solely be listened to if its message is constructive.

A Mars Restrained

What does a warrior do when he’s pressured to put on his morning swimsuit at breakfast and eat together with his pinkie protruding? He behaves charmingly, sparkles with wit, and when nobody is wanting he picks up his butter knife and rubs his fingertip throughout its blade, wishing it had been somewhat bit sharper.

Mars, the warrior planet, enters Libra, the signal of equity, peace, and pleasure this week (Aug. 27, 2023, 6:20 am PDT – by way of Oct. 11) for a virtually five-week keep. It final visited this genteel check in September 2021; this could possibly be a helpful time to revisit any initiatives that had been left uncompleted then, or conflicts left unresolved.

It’s undoubtedly time to clear the air and restore stability to your life, significantly in your relationships. Not simply romantic relationships, both, however all of your vital relationships —with mates, household, neighbors, and colleagues – want recalibration. Mars in Libra prefers to keep away from battle, however a Mars restrained can turn into an edgy Mars. Pressure and frustration construct as Mars transits right here, significantly because it approaches its sq. to Pluto (Oct. 8).

Writing and pictures © 2017-23 by April Elliott Kent

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