Planners

On the primary day of this yr, I swore I’d make no resolutions past attempting to be a kinder and higher model of myself.

I lied.

Nicely, that’s not precisely true; I used to be honest, really. However previous habits die arduous, and I didn’t follow that no-resolution decision. I quickly returned, like a swallow to Capistrano, to my calendars and planners and markers, sketching out an formidable schedule designed to extend my market share of the planet.

Half a yr later, these calendars and their uncared for objectives look a bit light, have curled up a bit round their yellowing edges. They’re somewhat bit embarrassing, like previous pictures taken once you had been very younger and harmless and hadn’t fairly stuffed out but.

Six months in the past, Capricorn’s season inspired a recent dedication to changing into your finest, most profitable self. The Capricorn New Moon (Dec. 23, 2022) was sq. Jupiter in Aries; that was a New Moon that pretty bristled with ambition and enthusiasm for brand new challenges.

At midyear, the Capricorn Full Moon (July 3, 2023, 4:39 am PDT) is the mirror picture of that New Moon, the response to its name. Half a yr away from that New Moon season, we see the form that these ambitions have taken. Had been our eyes greater than our stomachs? Are we in over our heads – or on the high of the mountain?

The slower tempo and reflective spirit of the Solar’s Most cancers season affords the time and perspective to redefine and refine our Capricorn New Yr Resolutions. There’s area to look at the intense optimism of all these New Yr calendars and planners and consider our progress to this point. Better of all, we’ve nonetheless acquired time to vary our methods—and for that matter, our resolutions.

Go Forward

On the tail finish of your third day of trip, you sit in companionable silence along with your sweetie, sipping wine on the seaside as you watch the Solar go down. After just a few days away from the every day grind of appointments, deadlines, and electronic mail, your shoulders are free and relaxed, and your thoughts feels unwound and delightfully empty. “I may get used to this,” you inform your companion.

After which, straight away, a superb perception springs, absolutely shaped, into your thoughts. You acknowledge it instantly because the lacking piece of a very vexing work puzzle you’ve been attempting to unravel for months. The completely satisfied, languid, empty-headed you of some minutes in the past has been remodeled, changed with a model that’s charged up, absolutely awake, and desperate to get to your laptop computer.

You look over at your associate, able to make your apologies. However the one who is aware of you higher than anybody else has already acknowledged the change in your posture and the gleam in your eye. Earlier than you possibly can open your mouth, your pricey companion simply smiles and says, “Go forward.” You knock again the previous few drops of Sauvignon Blanc and hightail it again to the resort room, able to observe your inspiration till daybreak.

When Mercury makes a sextile facet to Uranus (July 6, 2023, 9:54 pm PDT), inspiration – like lightning – can strike with out warning. However it received’t stick round indefinitely, ready so that you can seize it in a bottle. You’ll must leap up and run to it, arms extensive open and full velocity forward. Fortunately, Mercury plunges into mellower waters in only a few days and you may resume your enjoyable trip then. However for now, by all means – go forward!

Songs by the Sea

Within the early Seventies heyday of Southern California’s unintended desert lake, the Salton Sea, my household spent many completely satisfied summer time days and moonlit nights tenting there. Every night, we’d collect round a hearth pit to eat freshly-caught Corvina for dinner and recount the occasions of the day. Tales had been instructed, jokes had been made, and remembrances had been shared. Finally, somebody would pull out a guitar, and voices united in numerous levels of tunefulness round previous people tunes and John Denver songs. Typically, new pals drifted over from close by camps and joined in.

What’s it a few moonlit seaside on a summer time night time, gathered round a campfire, that loosens our tongues, softens our hearts, and opens our imaginations? The sister you fought with earlier within the day sits behind you and braids your hair. The cousin who beat you mercilessly at playing cards simply an hour in the past is singing concord with you. The mother and father you overheard bickering this morning are laughing collectively. Complete strangers really feel like previous pals.

When Mercury, planet of communication, trines ethereal Neptune (July 9, 2023, 4:57 pm PDT), our inside radio antennas are tuned in to the frequency of sweetness, enjoyable, and music. Petty grievances evaporate. A benign spirit of fellowship prevails. And we share songs and laughter, and inform tales that, whereas they will not be completely factual, are – on the coronary heart stage, at the least – completely true.

Writing and pictures © 2017-23 by April Elliott Kent

For extra on this week’s planetary information, hearken to my podcast!

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