Arduous Reality

I suppose we’ve all had the expertise of claiming some issues that we later want we might take again. Alternatively, they might have been issues that had wanted saying for a really very long time.

Mercury makes a conjunction to Pluto this week (Feb. 5, 2024, 4:57 am PST), simply forward of Venus’ conjunction with Pluto subsequent week. That can be a time of reckoning for a detailed relationship or two, and they’ll fall or keep upright on the idea of what we are saying now – and that’s Mercury’s division.

Mercury is ordinarily the king of understanding the way to say issues in a intelligent approach, to keep away from being nailed all the way down to a selected opinion or standpoint. However when Mercury connects with Pluto, there’s no room for small speak, pretense, or equivocation. We are saying precisely what we imply and let the chips fall the place they might.

We are able to inform ourselves that it’s higher to know the place we stand, and that telling the reality is all the time the very best coverage. And there are moments once we really feel exhilarated as onerous reality after onerous reality hits the pavement and shatters. But when we’re trustworthy – and in spite of everything, that’s what that is all about – the reality additionally hurts. And generally, it hurts as a lot to inform it because it does to listen to it.

The Carrot

The Lunar Nodes characterize the method of releasing outdated patterns and embracing new challenges. That is usually troublesome; it’s safer to stagnate in a poisonous however acquainted state of affairs fairly than attain out to an unfamiliar one, nevertheless probably constructive. However when a planet squares the nodal axis, it supplies an incentive – or a push – within the course of progress.

As Venus in Capricorn squares the Nodes this week (Feb. 6, 2024, 8:15 am PST), pleasure supplies the push, and within the type of a carrot fairly than a stick. The Aries North Node, on the Sabian image 18 Aries: An empty hammock, says we’d higher get off that snug swing and spring into motion, into the loving embrace of our goals.

Why would we hesitate to embrace this life-affirming, North Node world view? Once you’ve been upset and mistreated, hope and optimism can really feel like a sucker guess. However have religion. If we take steps, nevertheless tentative, towards the North Node, we’re rewarded with happiness. Methods to proceed? Venus is linked to sensual pleasures, so let your senses information you towards new and totally different meals, surroundings, sights, sounds, and smells. Smile at strangers in your morning stroll. Have lunch with a buddy. Let your senses bend you towards the invigorating pleasures of on a regular basis life.

Wake-Up Name

There are many methods to get up. Some contain jarring, blaring alarm clocks or earthquakes. Others contain a lovable pet who needs breakfast, or a snuggly, amorous companion who needs you.

I level this out as a result of Venus, the planet of cash and companions, is trine Uranus, planet of awakening and sudden occasions this week (Feb. 7, 2024, 1:25 pm PST), and that may sound slightly scary. However the side between them is a harmonious trine, which sounds extra like a kitten leaping on a mattress than an earthquake. You may even see nice developments in your private relationships, as you and your companion rediscover the spark that introduced you collectively. Or there could also be a monetary windfall (or, admittedly, an sudden setback), since Venus additionally guidelines cash. However in case you responded to the artistic wake-up name of Mars trine Uranus final month (Jan. 29), this must be the second when these actions start to bear fruit.

Bodyguard

Someday, a fish was swimming alongside fortunately in a brook when he spied the menacing shadow of a crow flying overhead. “Mr. Crow,” he referred to as out. “Please don’t eat me!” And the crow hovered decrease. The fish begins to panic: “Please, please, don’t eat me!” After they’d touring collectively for some hours, the fish referred to as up, “Okay, in case you’re going to eat me, at the least simply get it over with!” However the crow chuckled, and eventually replied, “By no means concern, my buddy. I’m right here to ensure nothing eats you. And due to you, I’ve seen extra of this stunning river than I ever had earlier than.”

As Mars in Capricorn sextiles Neptune (Feb. 7, 2024, 4:20 pm PST), mild souls are galvanized into organized and productive motion—or, failing that, are escorted by fearless Mars-in-Capricorn bodyguards alongside the banks of the river.

Even when Pisces isn’t notably well-represented in your start chart, everybody has a Neptune, with its mild goals and wild surmises. Alternatives abound this week to stroll with these goals, safeguard them, and assist them discover sensible expression. It’s a great week for many who want to make actual life extra magical, and magic a actuality. Simply maintain your counsel, ask questions, and say sure to gives of assist.

Push Again

The Aquarius New Moon (Feb. 9, 2024, 2:59 pm PST, 20º40’) is the very best one every year for visualizing your future. It builds on the Sagittarius New Moon, when it occurred to us that we may very well be doing extra in our lives, then collected concepts about what we would need to attempt; after which the Capricorn New Moon, which motivated us to create a sensible plan for making a kind of concepts a actuality. And now, the Aquarius New Moon expands our imaginative and prescient and attain, off into tomorrow and past, and even to locations the place our affect can be felt even past our lifetime. Now that we’ve had a style of creativeness and ambition, what’s it that we are able to do to create an thrilling future – one which issues not for us, however in our small approach, for the world?

Aquarius is often blessed with perception in itself – or at the least, doesn’t let itself be stopped by anybody else’s doubts. However now that Pluto is on this signal, the Aquarius a part of your chart would possibly discover you feeling a little bit of pessimism that there really is an thrilling future on the market for you. The Sabian image for this New Moon is 21 Aquarius, A girl upset and disillusioned. Pluto in an indication typically begins with a sense like this; that issues are hopeless. Within the areas of life represented by the Aquarius home of your start chart, you’ll have seen slightly of this pessimism creeping in. Aquarius is normally in a position to transfer in a course with relative cheer and optimism in its function. However Pluto is the “what’s the purpose” planet, and we’ve got to make a concerted effort to deal with that signal’s highest potential and to push again when Pluto tries to push our hope down.

Change is inevitable, however typically inconvenient, which is why we are likely to put it off till one thing comes alongside and forces us to vary. This New Moon level is in a really shut sq. to the planet Uranus, the god of surprises and of radical redirection. It’s a separating side; the Solar’s sq. to Uranus was precise yesterday (Feb. 8, 2024, 2:46 am PST), the Moon’s simply a few hours earlier than New Moon. And this implies there’s been a shock to the system that we’ll spend this New Moon cycle assimilating, and a profound shift that may take even longer to come back to phrases with.

A Flag into an Eagle

Mercury squares Jupiter this week (Feb. 10, 2024, 5:25 am PST, 8º 23’ Aquarius and Taurus). Mercury is on Sabian image 9 Aquarius, A flag was an eagle. And Jupiter is on 9 Taurus, A Christmas tree adorned.

Within the U. S., the bald eagle is one among our treasured nationwide symbols. It’s most likely second solely to the flag. And this picture of a flag was an eagle makes me take into consideration the entire convictions that we maintain – not simply as a rustic or society however individually – which are interesting hypothetically, however typically fail when utilized to an actual individuals and our messy world.

Jupiter’s image, the Christmas tree adorned, glowing and galvanizing, is how we imagine the world is – or on the very least, how we hope it may be. However when Mercury and Jupiter come collectively in a sq., we’ve got to wrestle to let ourselves query what it’s that we’re sure that we all know, as a way to make room for what Jupiter believes is feasible.

Writing and pictures © 2017-24 by April Elliott Kent

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