Today’s I Ching Hexagram for August 25 is 57: Gentle Penetration

57: Gentle Penetration

Hexagram 57
 
General Meaning: The general situation here points to subtle penetration. Reeds bend softly in the wind, symbolizing flexibility and endurance, symbolizing quiet, relaxed effectiveness in action. A gentle influence is at work, but just as the wind is ceaseless in its efforts, so too small forces can persist to produce lasting results.

Gentle penetration bodes well for new relationships of all kinds. Just as a summer breeze slowly penetrates the woods to cool the forest, the brilliant ideas of gifted leaders or the sincere feelings of warm-hearted lovers slowly penetrate the minds and hearts of others. In personal relationships, a gentle beginning is often linked to a long-lasting union.

When employing a force that is weak but persistent, careful aim is necessary, for only when a small force continually moves in the same direction can it have much effect. In human affairs, this kind of influence comes more through strength of character than by direct confrontation or seduction. It’s important to have, and stick to, clearly defined goals. Maintaining a strong vision and following a steady course of least resistance often brings good fortune.

Your Daily Number for August 25: 7

You may have a tendency to make things more complicated than they need to be today. Nagging self-doubt may also be a problem. Before it gets out of hand, take a break and spend some quiet time by yourself.

Fast Facts

About the Number 7

Theme: Quiet, Insightful, Analytical, Mystical, Intuitive
Astro Association: Cancer
Tarot Association: Chariot

Today’s Runes for Thursday, August 25 is Wunjo

Today’s Runes

Ice Runes are most commonly used for questions about struggle, conflict, and achievement. Wunjo is the rune of Joy. Since joy is least frequently a solitary emotion, this rune often represents mutual or communal bliss. Wunjo is also seen as a rune of the gods and a rune of perfection, carrying with it the elation that blazes from the creation of a perfect work – perhaps this is the true joy of the gods, that they can create perfection. That aside, this rune does not focus on the struggle for perfection or on our inevitable imperfections, but rather on a job well done and the satisfaction that comes from it.

Today’s Tarot Card for August 25 is The Sun

The Sun

This Tarot Deck: Gummy Bear Tarot

General Meaning: What has traditionally been known as the Sun card is about the self — who you are and how you cultivate your personality and character. The earth revolves around the sun to make up one year of a person’s life, a fact we celebrate on our birthday.

The Sun card could also be titled “Back to Eden.” The Sun’s radiance is where one’s original nature or unconditioned Being can be encountered in health and safety. The limitations of time and space are stripped away; the soul is refreshed and temporarily protected from the chaos outside the garden walls.

Under the light of the Sun, Life reclaims its primordial goodness, truth and beauty. If one person is shown on this card, it is usually signifying a human incarnation of the Divine. When two humans are shown, the image is portraying a resolution of the tension between opposites at all levels. It’s as if this card is saying “You can do no wrong — it’s all to the good!”

Your Daily Horoscopes for Thursday, August 25

Frustrations abound when assertive Mars runs into a dynamic square with restrictive Saturn. Although we are excited about pushing ahead, reaching our goals may be a lot tougher than we expect as we run into one obstacle after another. Thankfully, persistence pays off when a powerful Venus-Pluto trine facilitates deeper emotional connections. No longer are we confined by someone else’s judgments; we are emotionally engaged and playing for keeps.

 

Aries Horoscope
Aries Horoscope (Mar 21 – Apr 19)

You intuitively believe that it’s a good idea to follow your feelings today, even if you don’t know where they are taking you. You may be uncomfortable with the idea of giving up some of your freedom, yet this seems to be a small price to pay for establishing a magical connection with a powerful person. Remember that narrowing your options to get something in return can actually feel good in the long run.

Taurus Horoscope
Taurus Horoscope (Apr 20 – May 20)

Being emotionally fulfilled isn’t only about feeling good today; it’s also about being aligned with a higher purpose. Luckily, it’s easier to accomplish your goals now that your head and your heart are in tune with each other. You know what to do to attract wealth and to express love, so don’t let self-doubt limit your options. Dream as big as you can and be ready to grab the brass ring when you get the chance.

Gemini Horoscope
Gemini Horoscope (May 21 – Jun 20)

It’s difficult for you to slow down enough to sink into your emotions, especially if you’re afraid of what you might discover. Once you let the distractions fade away, you could be pulled into the dark recesses of your imagination where a clever turn of phrase isn’t sufficient to bring you back into the light. If, however, you have the courage to be patient, negativity will dissipate and you will return with treasures from your journey within.

Cancer Horoscope
Cancer Horoscope (June 21 – Jul 22)

You are relieved that you get to handle the intensity of someone else’s fears today because you have already wrestled with your own inner demons. It’s not that you have all the answers; it’s just that you are now willing to witness the process for others without feeling threatened yourself. Don’t underestimate the commitment that is required; this is intense emotional work and your compassion will be greatly appreciated.

Leo Horoscope
Leo Horoscope (Jul 23 – Aug 22)

It’s not easy to find an uplifting story in the midst of the gloom today, but your persistent search can uncover important realizations that change your day for the better. You are learning about maintaining your own emotional health now, yet your lesson may be an unexpected one. You haven’t chosen an easy journey, but investigating beneath the surface can change your perspective and give you a whole new point of view.

Virgo Horoscope
Virgo Horoscope (Aug 23 – Sep 22)

Your emotions are a source of power now and even the most challenging obstacle in your path won’t slow you down very much today. Of course, you want to concentrate your efforts on whatever issues arise, but at least you’ll do so with a positive and practical attitude. Luckily, this isn’t about being in denial; in fact, it’s your critical thinking that enables you to see through the camouflage and effectively cut to the chase.

Libra Horoscope
Libra Horoscope (Sep 23 – Oct 22)

As hard as you try to avoid it, you are still pulled into a complex emotional drama today that raises an old familiar issue. Fortunately, there’s nothing threatening in the present circumstances, yet they still remind you of a previous power struggle when you weren’t as much in control of your feelings. Don’t look back, or your fears can prompt you to limit your current options. Instead, consider the possibilities; anything you put your mind to now has the potential of becoming real.

Scorpio Horoscope
Scorpio Horoscope (Oct 23 – Nov 21)

Your power comes from your magical ability to undergo a surprising metamorphosis today. You are like the legendary phoenix that arises from the ashes as Pluto harmonizes with magnetic Venus. Others might be afraid of such dynamic change, but you instinctively know that it’s futile to resist these evolutionary waves. Being flexible enough to go with the emotional flow now is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Sagittarius Horoscope
Sagittarius Horoscope (Nov 22 – Dec 21)

Although you can disagree about the truth of a story, it’s pointless today to do battle over a simple difference of opinion. However, explaining your beliefs enables you to separate them from the hard facts. Making this distinction is quite helpful now, and lessens your chance of getting into an argument over a topic where there can never be a clear winner.

Capricorn Horoscope
Capricorn Horoscope (Dec 22 – Jan 19)

You won’t likely be sweet-talked into capitulation today, yet you could perform some gentle persuasion yourself. You might try sheer stubbornness as a strategy now, but it’s only because you feel like you have too much to lose. Don’t waste energy trying to protect yourself; instead go out and do something creative in order to mix up the energy. Others will appreciate you making the first move.

Aquarius Horoscope
Aquarius Horoscope (Jan 20 – Feb 18)

Anything you choose to keep to yourself now will carry even more weight than what you reveal. But this is not a permission slip to tell everything to everybody; there are many things that are best left unsaid. Just think through your motives for sharing and then select the best time to talk. If you have a purpose for expressing what’s in your heart, then your current communication will ideally bring an important feeling out into the open.

Pisces Horoscope
Pisces Horoscope (Feb 19 – Mar 20)

The sharpness of your practical analysis prompts you to make an important decision about your feelings today. But ironically, you might feel like you’re temporarily lost in the desert in search of an oasis. Although you exhibit strength of purpose in your current choices, a lack of commitment could be problematic. Deciding with your head is not as long-lasting as following your heart.

the daily humorscopes for thursday, august 25

the daily humorscope

Thursday, August 25, 2011

 
Aries (March 21 – April 19)
Don’t do that. Your face could get stuck that way. Oh, I’m sorry. I hadn’t realised it already did…
Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
After years of study in higher mathematics, and a fiendishly complicated topological proof, you will finally be able to prove that half a loaf is exactly 7.412 times better than no bread.
Gemini (May 21 – June 20)
After spending days learning to simultaneously pat your head and rub your tummy, you will move on today to patting your head and rubbing someone else’s tummy.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
Today you will discover a way to have your cake and eat it too! Unfortunately, everyone else will think that’s really disgusting.
Leo (July 23 – August 22)
Good time to invest in flowers and a card. Sometimes no occasion is the best occasion. Just like sometimes no disfiguring disease is the best disfiguring disease, I guess.
Virgo (August 23 – September 22)
Someone will turn a cold shoulder to you, and your feelings will be hurt. You’ll get even by turning a tepid elbow to them, later. Just don’t let it escalate to the blazing ankles stage, is all.
Libra (September 23 – October 22)
It was a simple mistake, which anyone could have made. What’s more, now you know better. I think, though, that the expression is too widespread for you to actually get it changed to “never look a gift horse in either end”.
Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)
It is a joyous time to vacuum. Yes, you’ll have more fun than you can stand, pushing that new vac around. So what, if other people don’t understand? Unfortunately, an evil Asian gentleman named “Fu” will kidnap your beloved vacuum cleaner, a few years from now, and you will be faced with an ethical dilemma. Enjoy life while you still can, is my advice.
Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)
You will spend the day attempting to rest, but whenever you fall asleep you’ll return to the same nightmare of being transformed into a chihuahua, and will wake, screaming (in a very high-pitched, whiny, and annoying sort of way).
Capricorn (December 22 – January 20)
Excellent day to do something new with bean curd.
Aquarius (January 21 – February 18)
Soon you will start work on a mystery novel, “The Curse Of The Mummy’s Nose”, told from the point of view of your cat, Erik.
Pisces (February 19 – March 20)
Ian McHarg once said, “Man is a blind, witless, anthropocentric clod who inflicts lesions upon the earth.” You will come up with a brilliant rebuttal to this, soon. You will say: “So?”

Astronomy Picture of the Day for August 25

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2011 August 25

Portrait of NGC 281
Image Credit & Copyright: J-P Metsävainio (Astro Anarchy)

Explanation: Look through the cosmic cloud cataloged as NGC 281 and it’s almost easy to miss stars of open cluster IC 1590. But, formed within the nebula, that cluster’s young, massive stars ultimately power the pervasive nebular glow. The eye-catching shapes looming in this portrait of NGC 281 are sculpted columns and dense dust globules seen in silhouette, eroded by intense, energetic winds and radiation from the hot cluster stars. If they survive long enough, the dusty structures could also be sites of future star formation. Playfully called the Pacman Nebula because of its overall shape, NGC 281 is about 10,000 light-years away in the constellation Cassiopeia. This composite image was made through narrow-band filters, but combines emission from the nebula’s hydrogen, sulfur, and oxygen atoms in a visible spectrum palette. It spans over 80 light-years at the estimated distance of NGC 281.

Lady A’s Spell of the Day for 8/24 – A Simple Warding

A WARDING

Ingredients:

None

The following is an easy warding ritual for your home or just one room.

You must admit that there are those who would use magic in unwise ways.

A simple way I’ve found of dealing with such attempts is to ward a room you work in, or your home.
It is similar to casting a circle except that it is as permanent as you want it to be.
Be sure that you won’t be disturbed while casting the ward or you will have to start over.
Nothing is required to do this but you may use any props necessary to make you more comfortable.

After ensuring you won’t be disturbed, ground and center (use any form you wish, this is a very adaptable ritual). Cast your circle, using the walls as the four Quarters (again use whatever method you are most comfortable with). After the circle is cast you will do something similar to circle casting.
Invoke the Quarters again this time asking for protection of the area being warded against all negative influences from being able to ever enter the area involved.
As you invoke each Quarter visualize a wall of energy completely covering the wall involved sealed by a floor to ceiling pentacle. On the wall/s with a door visualize a smaller version of the energy wall and pentacle so that entering and leaving will not affect the integrity of the working.

After each wall, the floor, and the ceiling are sealed be sure to cleanse the area to ensure that no negativity was trapped inside the room (any method is acceptable).
When done thank the Quarters for their help and dismiss them.

Saint of the Day for August 24 is St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Elizabeth Bayley Seton was the first native born American to be canonized by the Catholic Church.

Born two years before the American Revolution, Elizabeth grew up in the “cream” of New York society. She was a prolific reader, and read everything from the Bible to contemporary novels.

In spite of her high society background, Elizabeth’s early life was quiet, simple, and often lonely. As she grew a little older, the Bible was to become her continual instruction, support and comfort; she would continue to love the Scriptures for the rest of her life.

In 1794, Elizabeth married the wealthy young William Seton, with whom she was deeply in love. The first years of their marriage were happy and prosperous. Elizabeth wrote in her diary at first autumn, “My own home at twenty-the world-that and heaven too-quite impossible.”

This time of Elizabeth’s life was to be a brief moment of earthly happiness before the many deaths and partings she was to suffer. Within four years, Will’s father died, leaving the young couple in charge of Will’s seven half brothers and sisters, as well as the family’s importing business. Now events began to move fast – and with devastating effect. Both Will’s business and his health failed. He was finally forced to file a petition of bankruptcy. In a final attempt to save Will’s health, the Setons sailed for Italy, where Will had business friends. Will died of tuberculosis while in Italy. Elizabeth’s one consolation was that Will had recently awakened to the things of God.

The many enforced separations from dear ones by death and distance, served to draw Elizabeth’s heart to God and eternity. The accepting and embracing of God’s will – “The Will,” as she called it – would be a keynote in her spiritual life.

Elizabeth’s deep concern for the spiritual welfare of her family and friends eventually led her into the Catholic Church.

In Italy, Elizabeth captivated everyone by her own kindness, patience, good sense, wit and courtesy. During this time Elizabeth became interested in the Catholic Faith, and over a period of months, her Italian friends guided her in Catholic instructions.

Elizabeth’s desire for the Bread of Life was to be a strong force leading her to the Catholic Church.

Having lost her mother at an early age, Elizabeth felt great comfort in the idea that the Blessed Virgin was truly her mother. She asked the Blessed Virgin to guide her to the True Faith. Elizabeth finally joined the Catholic Church in 1805.

At the suggestion of the president of St. Mary’s College in Baltimore, Maryland, Elizabeth started a school in that city. She and two other young women, who helped her in her work, began plans for a Sisterhood. They established the first free Catholic school in America. When the young community adopted their rule, they made provisions for Elizabeth to continue raising her children.

On March 25, 1809, Elizabeth Seton pronounced her vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, binding for one year. From that time she was called Mother Seton.

Although Mother Seton was now afflicted with tuberculosis, she continued to guide her children. The Rule of the Sisterhood was formally ratified in 1812. It was based upon the Rule St. Vincent de Paul had written for his Daughters of Charity in France. By 1818, in addition to their first school, the sisters had established two orphanages and another school. Today six groups of sisters trace their origins to Mother Seton’s initial foundation.

For the last three years of her life, Elizabeth felt that God was getting ready to call her, and this gave her joy. Mother Seton died in 1821 at the age of 46, only sixteen years after becoming a Catholic. She was canonized on September 14, 1975.

THINK ON THESE THINGS

THINK ON THESE THINGS
By Joyce Sequichie Hifler

Chief Standing Bear talked of his Lakota people. He said they loved to worship and the contact was immediate and personal and that blessings flowed over them like rain showered from the sky.

Can worship really produce such blessings? Indeed, yes. Indian people were born to believe and they have long proved that the “vanishing Americans so much high talk that came to nothing.

To the Indian, Spirit is not aloof, not a figment of the imagination but real life and real power. How sad that lukewarm attitudes silence those who do not want to be known as religious. It is not religion at all, but faith, Spirit, and something to rely on when life goes dry.

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Available online! ‘Cherokee Feast of Days’
By Joyce Sequichie Hifler.

Elder’s Meditation of the Day – August 24

Elder’s Meditation of the Day – August 24

“The mind’s eye changes the way we judge things.”

–Fools Crow, LAKOTA

“What you see is what you get.” Our head has inside it a movie projector that projects out from our foreheads and shines on a screen a picture of our true thoughts. This is our reality. We can only see what we project (our beliefs). If we believe someone is a jerk, every time we see them we reflect our beliefs about what we think about that person and that is all we can see. Even if someone tells us this person is a kind, loving, caring, intelligent individual, we wouldn’t be able to see it. If we change our belief about them, that person will change and so will our judgment about that person.

My Creator, let me realize the power of choice. Let me see the advantages of changing my beliefs. Today, if I am judging my brother, let me change my beliefs to acceptance. If my thoughts are of anger, let me change them to love. Let my eyes only see you in everything and every person.

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August 24 – Daily Feast

August 24 – Daily Feast

 

Nothing saves the day so much as a good word. And nothing has been misused as often. There is power in a word, whether we read it, speak it or hear it. And we command and are commanded by the word. We scatter, we call forth, and we comfort. Words are tools, weapons, both good and bad medicine – but very beautiful when used lovingly. The word, or ka ne tsv in Cherokee, is power to help heal, or make sick people sicker by negative talk around them. The word gives confidence when it builds rather than destroys. Relationships have been shattered beyond repair by a runaway mouth. Prosperity has been dissolved by talking lack. Until we listen to our own voices and how we talk, we would never guess how we use our words.

~ I am opening my heart to speak to you….open yours to receive my words. ~

COMO

“A Cherokee Feast of Days” by Joyce Sequichie Hifler

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Today’s I Ching Hexagram for August 24 is 48: The Well

48: The Well

Hexagram 48

General Meaning: Throughout various cultures and political systems of the world, the well has served as a universal symbol for that which sustains life and provides a constant, inexhaustible source of life-giving nourishment for mankind.

Like the well, human nature is the same around the world. The passage of time does not change its essential dimensions, nor take anything away. Still, just as a well can be deepened to produce clearer, cleaner water, so can we enrich our lives by delving deeply within — into our natural selves, or souls.

Beware of shallow thinking. Like a little learning, it can be dangerous. The image of the well suggests that along with depth comes clarity. Be patient, and penetrate both your problems and your own nature to the core. If you do not lower your bucket to the depths, you’re very likely to come up empty. When greater depth is desired, a lessening of speed is often required.

Your Daily Number for August 24: 5

Today could herald a change in career or responsibilities. You’re dynamic and ready for change. Unexpected events, such as travel, may be necessary. This is a social day. Be sure to guard against a lack of self-discipline.

Fast Facts

About the Number 5

Theme: Resourceful, Adventure, Speculation, Travel
Astro Association: Taurus
Tarot Association: Hierophant

Today’s Runes for Wednesday, August 24 is Hagalaz

Today’s Runes

Ice Runes are most commonly used for questions about struggle, conflict, and achievement. Hagalaz is the rune of hail. Hail is a destructive and elemental force, so one can expect this rune to represent the disruption of one’s life. In the harsh northern winter there is a halt to activity, and so delay or hindrance is frequently associated with this rune. The opposite of chaos is yet more chaos, as illustrated by the fact that this rune cannot be reversed.