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.

2015 December 30

The Fox Fur Nebula
Image Credit & Copyright: John Vermette

Explanation: This interstellar canine is formed of cosmic dust and gas interacting with the energetic light and winds from hot young stars. The shape, visual texture, and color, combine to give the region the popular name Fox Fur Nebula. The characteristic blue glow on the left is dust reflecting light from the bright star S Mon, the bright star just below the top edge of the featured image. Textured red and black areas are a combination of the cosmic dust and reddish emission from ionized hydrogen gas. S Mon is part of a young open cluster of stars, NGC 2264, located about 2,500 light years away toward the constellation of the Unicorn (Monoceros).

The Wisdom of Buddha

To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one’s family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one’s own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him.

Your Daily Influences
December 30th, 2015

Four of Wands
Work will be well done. Peace and harmony will be realized.

Isa
The Ice Rune, represents stagnation and a passionless existence. Your life’s course may seem blurry at the moment, but if you persevere you will move onto better days.

The Tusk
There is a good vibration surrounding this aspect. It feels better than it has in quite some time. Maintain your faith in your diety of choice and this good vibration will remain. Waiver from your faith and this good vibration will dissipate.

Your Daily Influences represent events and challenges the current day will present for you. They may represent opportunities you should be ready to seize. Or they may forewarn you of problems you may be able to avoid or lessen. Generally it is best to use them as tips to help you manage your day and nothing more.

Your Charm for Today

Today’s Meaning:
This is probably the most popular of charms. You will be protected in this aspect. No one will be able to harm you or your state of being.

General Description:
The Cross has always been a favorite device. It was used by the sun-worshipers as a symbol of the sun, and their warriors carried the Cross upon their shields. In olden days kings and nobles, when they could not write, used the sign of the Cross. That sign was used in breaking spells and for protection from evil spirits. In the East the Cross has been used as a talisman from time immortal. The Eastern Cross as illustrated was worn as a charm against sickness, accidents and witchcraft, also to attract good fortune. Sentences from the Koran were often inscribed upon the small pendents to make the charm still more potent.

Your Animal Spirit for Today
December 30, 2015

Coyote

Taking yourself too seriously? If you are, Coyote will throw a banana peel in your tracks just to see you take a silly spill. Coyote medicine is Trickster medicine—the practical joker, the chaos maker. If Coyote appeared in your reading today, be ready for a curveball thrown in your direction. Remember, though, Coyote uses the bizarre to help us learn lessons we just can’t seem to get any other way.

Your Ancient Symbol Card for Today

The Protector

The Protector represents the presence of a strong ally ready to assist you when your path is full of difficult challenges. The Protector is represented by the Archangel Michael: God’s warrior angel. Archangel Michael is in the writings of many religions including Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. While Michael is male, in the context of this Oracle, The Protector is not gender specific. Regardless of whether Your Protector is male or female they can have a powerful positive influence when you find yourself facing trying times.

As a daily card, The Protector denotes the immediate presence of a commanding ally working to put the balance of power in your favor. The protector is especially powerful at helping you get what you rightfully deserve and thwarting underhanded schemes aimed at keeping you down.

Daily Witches Rune for the Day

The Birds

Keywords: Unexpected news, change.

Meanings: The Birds Rune means some unexpected news that may alter your life completely, especially if this is the leading rune. Generally, the news will lead to a positive change but pay close attention to the nearest runes to determine its nature. It can also mean news of friends or family that you haven’t had contact with in quite a while. Letters and documents should be watched for as they may well bring happiness.

Casting The Stones, Your Past, Present & Future Reading

The Past
Ansuz

Ansuz represents mankind’s spiritual connection to God and the universe. It is often referred to as the “God Rune.” This Rune embodies reason, truth and justice. It denotes the coming of knowledge and true counsel from a higher authority.

The Present
Perthro

Mysteries will become known to you. You should be able to see your life’s path clearly at this time. Pethro is often thought of as “Gambler’s Rune.” You are in a lucky period right now. Chance is your ally. Take advantage of it.

The Future
Isa

The Ice Rune, represents stagnation and a passionless existence. Your life’s course may seem blurry at the moment, but if you persevere you will move onto better days.

Your Rune For Today
Tiwaz

Tiwaz is the Warrior Rune. It represents pure, masculine power and the ability to successfully fight to meet your goals. However, you must be careful that costs of attaining your goals overshadow their values.

Additional Information About Today’s Rune, Tiwaz.

teiwaz: Tyr

ANALYSIS: Just as the second aett began with the cleansing destruction of hagalaz, so too does the third aett begin with a loss. However, hail is imposed by the Gods to force the sacrifice of those things that aren’t really vital to our development. Teiwaz, on the other hand, represents a voluntary sacrifice, made by someone who understands exactly what he or she is giving up and why. Tyr’s sacrifice of his hand to allow the binding of the Fenris Wolf was a noble one, and notable in a pantheon of deities not known for their sense of duty and ethical responsibility. He is believed to be one of the oldest of the Norse Gods – a Bronze-age rock carving was found in Scandinavia depicting a one-handed warrior – and his position may well have originally superseded Odin.
Tyr’s rune is also one of the oldest in the fuþark, having survived virtually unchanged from the earliest Bronze-age carvings. It represents all those qualities associated with the God: strength, heroism, duty and responsibility. But it also represents a deeper mystery – that of the wounded God. Like þurisaz, the pain of teiwaz focuses the attention and forces discipline. However, in this case the effect is more conscious and the wound carries a greater significance. Uruz has been confronted and bound, and the lessons of teiwaz and hagalaz have been learned. This is the path of the warrior.

Go! Stop! Go! That’s what the first half of 2016 might feel like. This year, between April 17 and June 26 Mars, the planet of action, energy, and motivation, will traverse in retrograde motion. You might feel like this is a giant cosmic headache — especially if you have big plans this year that you hope to move forward. The best advice is to take a chill pill and see Mars Retrograde for what it is: an opportunity to rest and repair your fuel source before you charge ahead to new territory.

When Mars initially turns retrograde, he’ll be in the fiery sign Sagittarius. All of a sudden, it might feel as if, no matter how hard you try to push your perspective onto others, it’s just not being heard. Or, it’s being heard but not followed. Ouch! That might sting. Saturn, the planet of lessons and restriction, will also be in Sagittarius all year long, so we’ve already got our hands full when it comes to karmic lessons about creating structure around our beliefs, ideology, and faith. Now, Mars has the nerve to come close enough to Saturn to make us think we’re finally going to get somewhere. But then, BAM, he stops in his tracks and starts backing away from Saturn. Suddenly, you might feel as if you aren’t so sure about those beliefs of yours anymore. Especially if they haven’t been getting you anywhere lately.

How to cope

The solution is to take this valuable period of time when Mars is retrograde in Sagittarius (until May 27) to internalize those beliefs and reassess what truly is most important for you to hold onto, while giving yourself permission to discard the rest. If you do the work now, then the testy squares between Saturn and Neptune on June 17 and September 10 will be much easier to address. Instead of feeling as if you’ve lost all of your faith, you might view this as an opportunity to “let go and let God.” Surrender to a higher power what you cannot control, and hold onto your belief that, even if certain structures around your life crumble, what’s meant to fall away simply represents a cleansing that must occur before your next phase of growth.

After May 27 and until June 29 Mars will retrograde through Scorpio. Then your inner strength will come up for review. What makes you hungry at the core of your being? Where does your will power and determination truly come from? After June 29, Mars will turn direct and you’ll have the potential to access a reservoir of power that you never even realized you had.

Mind and body

Despite what might seem like a road with a few bumps, there is plenty of goodness in store for 2016. On August 11, 2015 Jupiter moved into discerning Virgo, giving us an opportunity to hyper-focus on the details — especially as they relate to work and health matters. Major improvements in these areas of life are likely! Expect glorious support on March 16 and June 26 when Jupiter creates a perfect trine to potent Pluto. The power for you to transform these areas of your world cannot be underestimated!

Eclipses in 2016 will emphasize the mind/body connection. A Solar Eclipse in Pisces on March 8, a Solar Eclipse in Virgo on September 1, and Lunar Eclipse in Pisces on September 16 might help you see where your soul requires nourishment and purification. The Lunar Eclipse in relationship-oriented Libra on March 23 will call attention to a vital partnership matter.

Love grows

On September 9 Jupiter will move into Libra, where he’ll stay until late 2017. Now, we can anticipate showers of happiness in the partnership dimension of our lives. Relationships improve and have the capacity for incredible support. REAL compromise and collaboration are possible — in business and personal alliances. But Jupiter will square off with Pluto on November 24 and oppose Uranus on December 26, challenging us to give more than we take — without resentment! Rise to the occasion.

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