Here is the Ask the Astrologers Astrology Forecast for the week of Aug 16 – Aug 22, 2015:
We start the week with the Sun conjuncting Venus and Chiron in semi-sextile to Uranus on Sunday. Both of these transits are separating, meaning that they are moving away from one another.
Two of Batons
When you look in the mirror what do you see?
Self love is high on the agenda for you this month and you will take the good with the bad and plain ugly.
Today’s Moon / Neptune opposition can act to diffuse the barriers between your conscious and subconscious mind and open you up to more creative and inspirational thinking. But it can also have you seeing things that others cannot see or seeing them in completely different ways.
If you have something that you really need to look at properly without putting rose coloured glasses on to assess the facts, you will get down to the nitty gritty of deciphering that situation without sentimentality clouding your judgement.
If this is about you and how you are seeing yourself, your life and what you are doing with it then you will see that the past can carry you towards the future along with all the knowledge you have accumulated along the way.
Don’t be too harsh on yourself. There’s no use looking for flaws where they do not exist and it is far better to embrace your “whole” self… flaws and all… fall in love with what you find and take it from there.
Others may find you a bit self reflective but it is a time that you need for yourself to go inside and pull out from the depths of your thoughts what you need to carry you forward.
The Lovers
Today’s Sun / Venus conjunction can put you in the mood for love. Whether you’re single, dating, married, separated, divorced or widowed, chances are good you’re going to be thinking about relationships.
The Lover’s card is about “love.” But it’s not always an easy or definitive love. Sometimes there are feelings of ambivalence or uncertainty, and sometimes there are choices to be made that can complicate things even more.
The figures in this card are lost in world of their own. They hold each other in a loving embrace, oblivious to the world around them. This version of the card — from the beautiful Jaen Tarot — emphasizes love and affection.
But life — and love — is not always so simple. This card can also indicate uncertainty in relationship or a decision that needs to be made. You may be wondering where you stand or whether someone you care about feels the same.
You may also be ready to fall head over heels in love and wondering when someone new is coming in.
If you’re in love today and happy with your choices, remember to celebrate that love with the object of your affection. And if you’re not — if you’re out there like so many of the rest of us still looking: don’t give up.
The Lovers card — and this one in particular — can serve as a reminder that there’s someone out there for all of us, and that what is most important is having a great big old open heart that you’re ready, willing and able to share with another.
Ace of Wands
Today’s New Moon in Leo is closely conjunct Venus, the planet associated with love, harmony, beauty and femininity.
And what better card to describe this energy than one that brings together the joyous rapture of the Leo archetype with the lively spirit of a flaming fire goddess?
The Ace of Wands — this version from Roxi Sim’s gorgeous Pearls of Wisdom Tarot — is all about manifesting your dreams and desires. It’s about taking your life in your own hands and following your bliss.
The woman in this card has emerged from a volcano that’s erupted in the distance and has forged her own path. She rises from the flames in victory, her wand held high overhead.
This is the energy you want to keep in mind as you work on manifesting your goals. It is that raw, pure, unharnessed energy that is the Ace of Wands as it changes energetically from spark (idea) to flame (intention) to contact (manifestation). It’s about increased confidence, drive and enthusiasm. Ardor. Vitality. Passion. Creativity. Power. Potential.
The Ace of Wands invites you to ask yourself what you really want to do that you can put your whole heart and soul into. It invites you to offer your intentions up to the Universe with every reason to believe you will be rewarded for doing so. With this in mind, it’s time to push all negativity aside and replace it with optimism and inspiration. If you’re truly serious about manifesting your desires, there is no time like the present to do it
Seven of Chalices
Today’s Mercury / Neptune opposition may see fighting the urge to escape into a fog of romantic reverie.
You may find yourself walking around in a haze; lost in thought or daydreaming about a different reality.
The Seven of Chalices is a card of temptations, often fueled by irrational thoughts or fantasies. There can be too many options available, which makes it hard to decide. But it can also be a case of wishful thinking or foolish day-dreaming that can interfere with actual progress.
You may feel like torn by competing interests and pulled in different directions — either away from the things you really want to do, or towards the kind of mindless diversions that cause you lose sight of your priorities.
The woman in this card — from the Tarot Lenormand — is seated on a fluffy cloud with her arm around a colorful peacock and a scepter in her other hand. She’s dressed as a Queen and she very well may be, or perhaps this is just part of her fantasy.
The Seven of Chalices compels you to escape from what may seem like a dull or ordinary existence, into a world of daydreams and fantasy. It may not be productive or practical but it can get you out of a funk.
There are elements of seduction inherent in this card. Being seduced by something intangible or just out of reach, or being lured in by a fantasy that falls short in the harsh light of day. What you long for looks so appealing while what you have appears so drab. But it’s just an illusion and even if it weren’t — even if it were perfectly attainable — it’s not going to come about by sitting around daydreaming.
While you may think that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, chances are good that when you got there you’d want nothing more than to return back home. The message behind this card is to aim for reachable goals and to participate in attaining them rather than allowing yourself to fall into the trap of wishful thinking.
The Empress
Today is going to be more about getting in touch with your feminine side — your loving, nurturing and caring side — than it will be about getting down to “business.”
The Empress card — this version from the beautiful Wild Green Chagallian Tarot — is associated with beauty, creativity and love.
She represents the aspects of ourselves that evoke the principles of feminine strength and power. As the counterpart to the Emperor card, this archetype is all about the yin or feminine aspects of parental authority and protection, regardless of gender.
Where the Emperor focuses on wisdom, stability and responsibility, the Empress relates more to nurturing, comfort, support and emotional security. It is the “Earth Mother” archetype personified.
This card represents fertility and abundance. Surrounding yourself with all things living and growing. Being in touch with the earth and your sexuality, as well as your ability to create and foster life.
The Empress is a mother, as depicted in this card. But that doesn’t always translate literally. It can refer to mothering impulses, such as tending to the needs of others.
She’s surrounded by flowers and herbs in this card, and if you look closely you can see that even her headdress and gown are “alive” with plant-life and forest greenery. This is the essence of the Empress card.
You do want to make sure you’re not neglecting your own needs while you’re busy taking care of others. You want to tend to your own gardens and nourish your own soul. But as you can see in the imagery in this card, what you give out will come back to you in ways that reverberate endlessly.
Rebirth
As Jupiter moves into Virgo today — for the first time in 11 years — you’ll have the opportunity to look back over the strides you’ve made and the challenges you’ve faced, as you begin a brand new cycle.
The young child in this card stands at the doorway between past and present. He still has an opportunity to look back behind him and clear up any unfinished business. But he has that same opportunity to venture forward and face a brand new world.
This card — called Rebirth in the Druid Craft Tarot — is this deck’s version of the Judgment card. It relates to the endless human journey that we sometimes refer to as “karma.” We reap and sew with each thought, action, and decision.
The Rebirth card calls for self-evaluation and awareness, a need to develop enough spiritual altitude to look objectively at your mistakes and short-comings as well as your triumphs and victories.
It is a powerful reminder that in order to put the past behind us we must not only let go of prior judgments but heal the wounds that have been holding us back. It’s a card of both atonement and forgiveness. Of unconditional love, understanding and acceptance — for both ourselves and for those who’ve hurt us or let us down.
This card represents a summation of all that has come before, and an awareness that each step taken — from here on out — leaves an indelible imprint on our future. It represents a calling — a spiritual call to action, where the past meets the present and beckons you toward the future.
Three of Tides
This is a good day for socializing and interacting with others. As the day starts out, the Moon is in Gemini and sextiling Jupiter and Venus in Leo. There’s emphasis on creativity and camaraderie.
Later when the Moon moves into Cancer and sextiles Mercury in Virgo, the energy shifts toward talking about feelings and emotions.
You can see this in the card with the ponies playing along the shoreline and then gingerly stepping into the tide.
The Three of Tides — the beautiful Japaridze Tarot’s version of the Three of Cups — is about connecting with friends and interacting with others.
The emphasis is on joining together with like-minded people, whether this is a planned gathering or an impromptu meeting of the minds. It’s a happy, joyful energy that can manifest as a party or celebration, or it could be as simple as a girls’ (or boys’) night out.
Either way it’s a time of merriment and gaiety. Hanging out with friends and expressing feelings of affection and good-will. There’s no room for fretting about work, and none of this sitting around ironing out political or ideological differences.
In terms of romance the Three of Tidess can refer to reconnecting with an old flame or reuniting with an ex. It can also manifest as a natural progression from an interest to a mutual attraction to taking things to the next level).
Whether you’re celebrating your own good fortune or raising your glass to toast another’s, the Three of Tides serves as a reminder that there’s always something to be grateful for, and always someone to share your gratitude with.
Here is the Ask the Astrologers Weekly Astrology Forecast for the week of Aug 9 – Aug 15, 2015:
Mars moves into Leo on Sunday, joining the Sun, Venus and Jupiter. This is a much more comfortable placement for Mars as its natural orientation toward action, assertion and drive is much more aligned with the Leo fire sign energy than the Cancer water sign energy, which is much more passive, emotional and indirect.
Knight of Wands
As Mars moves into Leo today, you may feel the urge to road like a lion — or bellow like a beast.
This is one of the more ferocious Knight of Wands cards out there. From the stunning Vikings Tarot, it’s clear that this Knight of Wands is not one to be trifled with.
In fact this Knight of Wands is the famed Norse giant Hrungnir and his golden-maned steed Gullfaxi. Hrungnir was said to have has a heart of stone (in addition to his stone shield and weapon, a sharpened whetstone). He thought he was invincible, but was ultimately taken down by his opponent Thor.
Traditionally the Knight of Wands is bold, dynamic and brave. He’s loaded in self-confidence and bravado. And like Hrungnir, he’s often depicted as forceful and aggressive.
If this is someone in your life, you will know him by his larger-than-life personality. You’ll know him by his act-first / think-later approach to life. And while he may not be off fighting battles, you’ll know that if he were, he’d come out on top.
He may he here to teach you the importance of embracing some of these qualities yourself. If so keep in mind the importance of making preparations and pacing yourself so you don’t run out of steam.
The Knight of Wands tends to run on adrenalin and has been known to lose interest in projects once they become routine. But overall he’s here to teach you how to challenge yourself to set your goals in motion. If you temper them with a enough discipline and perseverance, you just may see them come to fruition.
Three of Pentacles
You may feel like things are starting to come together for you today as you see your plans beginning to fall into place.
It’s a good day to put your head together with like-minded people and work on bringing a project to fruition. The Three of Pentacles is a “teamwork” card, among other things.
This card is about hitting your stride and seeing the early results of something you’ve been working hard on. Sometimes you need help to take it to the next level, even if that comes in the form of a critical eye.
The Three of Pentacles — like all Threes — refers to the initial stages of progress where you’ve taken an idea (the Ace), put it into production (the Two), and see it turning into something of value (the Three).
This version of the card — from Dana Driscoll’s gorgeous Tarot of Trees — depicts this energy beautifully in its stark simplicity. The three trees merge together in the center, their pentacles melding into one and supporting one another at the top.
The Three of Pentacles says that you’re making progress and should be feeling good about what you’ve accomplished so far. But there’s still work to be done, and you won’t be able to do it alone. It’s a good time to reach out to others and ask for help if you need it. It can’t hurt to offer it to those who’d benefit from your assistance too. You may need a little push to get past a hump, or you may need the discerning eye of someone you trust.
Eight of Coins
Mercury conjuncts Jupiter today, just before it moves into Virgo — and just before Jupiter does the same, for the first time in 11 years.
These transits are favorable for hard work, discipline and organization. This is beautifully referenced in the Eight of Coins — as seen here in the Dame Fortune’s Wheel Tarot version of the card.
The Eight of Coins is known as the “apprenticeship card.” It refers to developing craftsmanship and expertise; putting your all into a project and being satisfied with the results.
You take pride in your work — whether it’s something you’re in the process of learning or something you’ve done a thousand times before.
The Eight of Coins is all about dedicating yourself to perfection and craftsmanship. It relates to fully investing yourself in a skill or trade. It’s not about seeing what you do as drudgery, but being totally engaged in the process. In that respect it’s not “work; it’s a labor of love.
That doesn’t mean there’s no return on your investment. As you can see in this image the man is being paid for his work. But his focus is on his craft rather than the sack of money coming his way, which is as it should be.
The Eight of Coins can also refer to shifting gears — as in finding your calling at a point where you might have already considered yourself well on the road to success in some other profession.
Your challenge today is to embrace that aspect and apply it to your work. Whether that means improving upon something you’re already good at, or learning to master new skills. Like the figure in this card, it may be a stepping stone to something bigger and better down the road. But taking pride in your work and honing your skills now will see you one step closer to those goals.