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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.

2016 January 4

Earthset from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
Image Credit: NASA/GSFC/Arizona State U./Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

 

Explanation: On the Moon, the Earth never rises — or sets. If you were to sit on the surface of the Moon, you would see the Earth just hang in the sky. This is because the Moon always keeps the same side toward the Earth. Curiously, the featured image does picture the Earth setting over a lunar edge. This was possible because the image was taken from a spacecraft orbiting the Moon – specifically the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). In fact, LRO orbits the Moon so fast that, from the spacecraft, the Earth appears to set anew about every two hours. The featured image captured one such Earthset about three months ago. By contrast, from the surface of the Earth, the Moon sets about once a day — with the primary cause being the rotation of the Earth. LRO was launched in 2009 and, while creating a detailed three dimensional map of the Moon’s surface, is also surveying the Moon for water and possible good landing spots for future astronauts.

Latest sunrises at mid-northern latitudes in early January

 

So you like to sleep late but don’t want to miss the sunrise or the morning planets? (Scroll down to see the chart of the morning planets.) This time of year should be your favorite. Sleep on – if you live in the Northern Hemisphere. The latest sunrises of 2016 – for mid-latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere – are happening around now. For example, sunrise time in the central U.S. – say, around Wichita, Kansas – for the next several days will be around 7:45 in the morning. Meanwhile, if you live in the Southern Hemisphere, your latest sunsets are happening around now, assuming you’re at mid-southern latitudes.

Many sky watchers notice this phenomenon, which is part of an unvarying sequence each year. For us at mid-northern latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere, the sequence is: earliest sunset in early December, shortest day at the solstice around December 21, latest sunrise in early January. At middle latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere, the sequence is: earliest sunrise in early December, longest day at the December solstice, latest sunset in early January. This natural order is part of what we can expect, every year, from nature.

The December solstice always brings the shortest day to the Northern Hemisphere and the longest day to the Southern Hemisphere. But, clearly, the latest sunrise doesn’t coincide with the day of least daylight, and the latest sunset doesn’t happen on the day of greatest daylight. Why not?

The main reason is that the Earth’s rotational axis is tilted 23.5^o out of vertical to the plane of our orbit around the sun. A secondary reason is that the Earth’s orbit isn’t a perfect circle. Due to our eccentric orbit (that’s an orbit shaped like a squashed circle, with the sun slightly off its center), Earth travels fastest in January and slowest in July. Clock time gets a bit out of sync with sun time – by about the tune of 1/2 minute per day for several weeks around the December solstice.

Because solar noon (midday) comes later by the clock today than on the solstice, so do the times of sunrise and sunset. The table below helps to explain:

For Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Date	Sunrise	Solar Noon (Midday)	Sunset	Daylight Hours
December 7	7:09 a.m.	11:52 a.m.	4:35 p.m.	9 hours 27 minutes
December 21	7:19 a.m.	11:59 a.m.	4:39 p.m.	9 hours 20 minutes
January 5	7:23 a.m.	12:06 p.m.	4:49 p.m.	9 hours 27 minutes

The exact date for the latest sunrise or latest sunset varies by latitude. At present, mid-temperate latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere have their latest sunrises, while the Southern Hemisphere’s mid-temperate latitudes are watching their latest sunsets. At latitudes closer to the equator, the latest sunrise or latest sunset has yet to come. Closer to the Arctic and Antarctic Circles, the latest sunrise and latest sunset have already come and gone.

But in either the Northern or Southern Hemisphere, the sequence is always the same:

1) earliest sunset, winter solstice, latest sunrise
2) earliest sunrise, summer solstice, latest sunset

Bottom line: Notice the time of sunrise and sunset at this time of year. If you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, your latest sunrises are happening around now at mid-northern latitudes. If you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, mid-latitudes are watching the year’s latest sunsets. Enjoy them!

 

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Karmic Lessons, Anyone?

The numbers missing from your name hold special clues…

Hans Decoz on the topics of blogs, numerology

 

Karmic Lessons in Numerology point to your weaknesses that need to be dealt with in this lifetime. They are found by analyzing your full name at birth and finding which numbers are missing.

For example, I was born Johannes Albertus Decoz. When you replace the letters of my full name with their numerical values you get the following string: 16815551 13259231 45368. For a complete rundown of all the numbers in your chart and when they’ll impact you most, get your own Numerology Personality Report!

In order to find the Karmic Lessons, we don’t need to add or do any other kind of math, all we need to do is find which number or numbers are missing. In my name’s numbers, the number 1 appears five times, the 2 appears twice, the 3 appears three times, the number 4 shows up once, the 5 comes up five times, the 6 appears twice, the 7 appears no times at all, the number 8 is there twice and the number 9 comes up once.

Twenty-one letters in my name and the only number missing is the 7. This makes the number 7 my Karmic Lesson. You can find your own Karmic Lessons by transforming your full name at birth into numbers, and then looking for which numbers are not represented.

Here are the letters of the alphabet and their numerical values:

 

 

 

 

 

The average number of Karmic Lessons is two, but four or even five is not that uncommon, and neither is it unusual to have no Karmic Lessons at all — which doesn’t let you off the hook, but more about that later.

True or False

Before I talk about the effect Karmic Lessons have on your life, let me point out a few things, including some misconceptions:

Misconception #1: Life is easier without Karmic Lessons
If it were that simple, I would suggest every parent just make sure your kid has every number represented in his or her full name and he or she will be just fine.

Misconception #2: The less Karmic Lessons, the older your soul
I don’t know why this would matter one way or another. (Why do we want to be younger when it comes to our physical bodies, and older when it comes to our souls? And if souls have a specified age, who gives birth to them? Does that mean your soul can die? Do some souls grow and learn faster than others? I can have a blast with this nonsense, so keep an eye out for the subject of souls and timing in some future blog.)

Misconception #3: Karmic Lessons are bad!
Not true. In fact, Karmic Lessons can be a great asset.

Here are some facts about Karmic Lessons that are true:

Fact #1: Karmic Lessons help to give direction to your life (this will become clear later).

Fact #2: While Karmic Lessons point to something “lacking,” they actually “add” to your life (the concepts of things lacking or adding to your life is extremely relative).

Tools of the trade

I often use the following analogy when I try to explain the function of Karmic Lessons. Let’s say that there are nine different kinds of tools: Woodworking tools, metalworking tools, tools to work on electronics, tools for sewing and knitting, tools for gardening, welding tools, and so forth.

Obviously, if you would be in a situation where every one of these tool groups is present, you should be able to tackle any project. On the other hand if you would have access to only eight kinds of tools, missing for example, all the woodworking tools, you can still do a lot, but you would have big problems when asked to build something out of wood. Karmic Lessons are somewhat similar.

In my case, the number 7 is missing. The 7 is a scholarly, studious, spiritual number and I have to admit, I had a powerful dislike toward school. But it isn’t that simple, because there are other aspects to be considered.

Let’s say you have eight sets of tools but you lack all woodworking tools. First of all, if you don’t have any talent when it comes to building things out of wood, you don’t really need them, do you? Or, if you are talented but you are drawn to working with metal, lacking woodworking tools isn’t any big problem.

It gets really interesting when you have a great talent and a matching desire to work with wood, but not a single woodworking tool in your workshop. This is where my name is a good example. I don’t have a 7 in my name and therefore I have a 7 Karmic Lesson. However, I have a 7 Life Path (the most important number in the chart) and a 7 Personality (also very significant). Now what happens?

Imagine yourself as someone who loves to work in wood and is very talented in that field, but doesn’t have the necessary tools. What you do is you go out and get yourself some tools. Whatever it takes, you are going to get the tools you need to express your talent and follow your desire.

Going above and beyond

The same is the case with Karmic Lessons. This is why I mentioned earlier that Karmic Lessons can help give your life direction. Not only does it function like a vacuum, something that needs to be filled, and thereby inspires you to try to fill it, giving direction to your life, it also multiplies your potential in the application of your talents. Because if you have a talent and a desire and the tools, you will probably do just fine. But if you have a talent and a desire, and then have to go out and put forth significant effort to get the necessary tools, I promise you, you will push your talent and your ambition to the absolute limits, and become more accomplished than you would have ever become if the tools had been within easy reach.

Yours truly is a case in point. I am not here to pat myself on the back, but I can tell you that, as someone born in an environment of cynical, educated, and highly intelligent parents, siblings, and friends — all of whom were more or less lacking any and all connection to the spiritual side of life — I started off the same way, but relatively quickly turned into the complete opposite.

The talent to explore the spiritual world was there and the desire to do so even more, since I was very young. I have now spent well over forty years pushing the boundaries, including an hourly regimen of meditation (no discipline required if you happen to enjoy it more than pretty much anything else) and a habit of looking at everything in my life against a backdrop of what it means or teaches me from a spiritual perspective. This is my life. I live and breathe for one purpose only and that is to get closer to the part of me I call my “life.” Which has nothing to do with my allotted time span, other than that it allows for my body to be alive during that time. (I hope this is truly confusing so that you may sit back and consider this statement carefully.)

But let’s go back to the subject of Karmic Lessons. If I did not have the spiritual drive (my 7 Life Path) and the spiritual aptitude (my 7 Personality) to fill the vacuum of my 7 Karmic Lesson, I can assure you that I would not have been remotely as happy and content as I am. By the same token, if I did not have this need to fill the vacuum of my 7 Karmic lesson, which caused a great spiritual hunger I have felt since I was a little kid, my 7 Life Path and 7 Personality would have expressed themselves probably more in the area of scholarly studies and other intellectual pursuits, as opposed to the kind spiritual search that has pretty much been the story of my life.

Ask me if I am grateful for my 7 Karmic Lesson and I will tell you that I can’t begin to express my appreciation for having had the “misfortune” of being born without the 7 in my name. Nothing has brought me greater rewards, greater satisfaction, greater happiness. And I am not kidding here.

Go ahead, look at your own name and tell me what you think. Do your Karmic Lessons make any sense? I hope I will hear from many of you that what was missing on your list of assets actually helped make you what you are today.

Funny that in life, a missing asset can be much more valuable than all those that are present combined — a contradiction if I ever saw one!

 

Tarot.com is a Daily Insight Group Site

The Words of Confucius

Old age, believe me, is a good and pleasant thing. It is true you are gently shouldered off the stage, but then you are given such a comfortable front stall as spectator.

Your Daily Influences
January 4, 2016

 

Eight of Cups Reversed
Interest in the material world and success emerges or returns. Happiness and love are possible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ingwaz
Ingwaz signifies completion, success and fertility. Your present ambitions are about to be met. You are fecund in both mind and body.

 

 

 

Capricornus the Goat
This aspect of your life will be strongly influenced by a person who is practical, prudent, ambitious, disciplined, patient, careful, humorous and reserved. They could be someone you know in the medical field–a nurse or doctor perhaps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 Past, Present, Future Reading

The three dominoes in this reading represent your past, present and future situations.

That Which is Behind You

Four/Six

Remember that you will reap what you sow. Do not allow yourself to become greedy or totally absorbed in yourself. To do so will leave you isolated and unhappy.

 

 

Your Current Place

Three/Six

Allow your feelings and passions to steer you toward the proper path for you. Do not allow your emotions to take a back seat to your intellect. Explore your deepest feelings about every aspect of your life and act to ease any negative feelings you have.

 

 

That Which is before You

One/One

Now is the time for you to pursue new ventures. If you share your goals and ambitions with a partner, your partnership is extremely potent at the moment. Regardless of how wild some opportunities may seem, at least explore there potential before passing on them.

Your Daily Domino
January 4, 2016 

Four/Five
Now is a time for you to act on the basis of clear thought and analysis. Weigh all your choices before making any decisions. Seek solutions to your problems through logic and not emotion. To act on impulse may be very harmful to your future.

Your Ancient Symbol Card for Today

The Tree

The Tree symbolizes spiritual health and growth. The healthy tree is rooted in a rich, nurturing medium, has a strong trunk from which leaf laden branches fan out to capture the sun’s energy. The Tree represents a healthy spirit entrenched in experience and strengthened by wisdom. It is a spirit that is happy with itself, but continues reaching to become even wiser, more complete, happier, stronger. While The Tree represents a strong and independent spirit, it is also a life-force that owes much of its strength and growth to being surrounded by other healthy spirits.

As a daily card, The Tree denotes a time when your spiritual self is especially powerful and open for further growth. Now is a time for you to seek out streams of wisdom and knowledge that you can not only draw from but contribute to as well. Don’t disregard sources that seem improbable, as they often produce the most profound revelations and spiritual expansion.

Today’s Witches Rune

Woman

Meaning: The first meaning of this rune is quite obvious: it represents women. Any woman that is important in the question, whether you know her or not, will be represented by this rune. Mother, sister, aunt, grandma, a female boss, friend, lover or even enemy… all can be symbolized by the appearance of this rune.

In a more general sense, this rune is related to traditional female abilities and characteristics, such as giving birth, nurturing, comforting and healing. When this rune appears, you can count on the sympathy of others towards you or your situation. In its most negative aspects, the Woman rune can show over-protectiveness, a patronizing attitude or co-dependency. It often strives to maintain the status quo, refusing to change even if the situation is bad.

The Woman rune is connected to nurturing – nurturing a relationship, a person or a project. Like the Moon rune, it can be related to finding a safe place to rest and heal, but while the Moon implies a solitary retreat, the Woman often shows that you need to go back to the people you trust, the people you feel safe with.

Healing is another strong aspect of this symbol, as well as teaching. You can be both the patient/student or the healer/teacher when this rune appears. This rune is also connected to creativity, but in a way that is different from the Romance rune. While the latter is about the conception of a project – the initial stages of creation – the Woman is about the birth of this project. When your creation is brought out into the world, fully manifested.

In relationship readings, this rune isn’t bad, but rather weak. While it can indicate subtle ties between people, these are usually so, so subtle that the partners can easily drift away from each other. It can show that one of the partners sees the other as someone who needs to be protected and healed, rather than an equal. Usually, the romance is a bit stagnated when this rune appears, or very close to becoming a friendship.

 

 

Source:

Your Spiritual Journey Australia

Your Crowley Thoth Tarot Card for Today

The Lovers

The Lovers indicates both the most powerful of unions and the most of challenging conflicts humans must face. On one side The Lover’s embodies love and union on a cosmic scale—a love so strong, so inherently good that it actually makes the lovers better, more than they really are. All of the elements are there for the perfect union. The Lovers represent all powerful unions in general, and the elements that create/sustain them. The problem The Lovers face is temptation and the decision to act morally or abandon their ethics to take advantage of other opportunities that would be defined as transgressions.

Casting the Stones, Your Past, Present & Future Reading for Today

 

The Past
Berkano

Berkano is the Rune of birth and rebirth. This may symbolize a time when you are capable of great personal growth. Love may be in the air as well.

 

 

The Present
Ehwaz

Ehwaz represents movement. You may be closing in on reaching your current goals. Your life may be changing for the better. Harmony with others should come easy for you at this time.

 

 

The Future
Fehu

Fehu is the Rune of prosperity, good luck and unbridled creative energies. Being associated with Frey, this Rune is also a powerful omen of fertility. Fehu is one of the three Mother Stones and should never be taken lightly.

Your Rune For Today
Dagaz

Dagaz represents the fresh light of a new day. You are close to making a breakthrough. You have the will to change whatever you deem necessary. You may see the world with absolute clarity at this time.

Additional information about Today’s Rune

ðagaz : day

Phonetic equivalent: d (pronounced as ‘th’, as in ‘this’)

DIVINATORY MEANINGS:

happiness, success, activity, a fulfilling lifestyle, satisfaction

MAGICAL USES:

to bring a positive outcome

ASSOCIATED MYTHS & DEITIES:

Sunna, Baldr, Nerthus, Yggdrasil

ANALYSIS:

This rune effectively marks the end of the third aett, leaving only oþila to complete the cycle. As in the previous two aetts, ðagaz concludes the third with light and hope. However, while wunjo represented earthly glories and the sun, heavenly power, the day brings these two realms together, bringing the more abstract light and power of sowulo ‘down to earth’ and applying it to our everyday lives.The shape of the rune itself denotes this kind of interconnection. It is reminiscent of gebo, with its balance of masculine, feminine and the four elements, but ðagaz makes further connections to the celestial and the realm of nature.

Like inguz, it symbolizes harmony with one’s environment. but again takes it a step further, implying a harmonious relationship with the spiritual environment as well. It is a bringing together of all six cardinal points – the four compass directions, the celestial realm above us where the Gods are thought to dwell; and that which is below – all the spirits of the earth and of nature. All of these things are balanced and integrated through ðagaz and brought into our daily lives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get A Jump on Tomorrow…

Your Horoscopes for Tuesday, January 5th

 

Aries

Mercury turns retrograde today, dear Aries, and will be retrograde until the 25th. Now and until the 8th, some review of old friendships or connections may be in order. From the 8-25 is good for editing or reworking business plans and projects. This morning has the potential of being both tense and confusing. Try not to act or overreact to what you hear or perceive now. Chances run high that you’re not seeing things especially clearly, and neither are other people you’re dealing with. Later today, an annual Sun-Pluto alignment suggests rather serious focus on your achievements and ambitions. There can be frustration about the image you are currently projecting, which prompts you to want to take more control of your reputation or professional image. This is a time for making important resolutions regarding changes that help you to feel you’re acknowledging your deepest ambitions and goals.

Taurus

Mercury turns retrograde this morning, dear Taurus, just when it’s being challenged by Mars. This morning can be hectic and possibly confusing as well, particularly regarding money and love matters. Mercury’s retrograde affects you mostly in terms of career and responsibilities until the 8th, and then from the 8-25, in terms of general outlook, travel, publishing, and education. This can be a time for looking back, fixing errors, editing, and possible slowdowns or delays. This morning, watch for lending out money or for confusing intimate situations. Know your boundaries and enforce them. Later today, a Sun-Pluto alignment occurs, and this annual event reminds you of your deeper ambitions, and possibly shines some light on your fears as well, largely regarding the road ahead, long-term plans, skills, knowledge, and faith in your future. Your stronger need to reinvent yourself through new ideas, knowledge, and life experience comes to the fore. There can be tension and fear experienced in this respect, but also a growing determination to live a more powerful, engaging life and to honor your commitments and beliefs.

Gemini

Mercury is challenged by Mars this morning, dear Gemini, increasing the possibility of errors due to impatience. Compounding this is Mercury’s station at about the same time, as Mercury turns retrograde. Try to avoid speaking and acting hastily now, as there is a real chance that what we’re seeing now is incomplete or misleading. Mercury’s retrograde itself will last until 25th, and influences your general outlook, belief system, faith and optimism, travel, publishing, and education until the 8th, after which it’s affecting your sector of shared finances and intimate relationships. There could be some delays or slowdowns with any of these things, but this can also be a good time for reviewing, reworking, and renewing old projects that are still viable. This morning, watch for self-deceptions in relationships, and avoid banking on iffy situations. Later today, the Sun’s annual conjunction to Pluto occurs, illuminating some of your deeper desires and fears. Questions of trust may be brought to the surface. Self-honesty is especially important now.

Cancer

Mercury turns retrograde this morning, dear Cancer, and will remain retrograde until January 25th. Until the 8th, this retrograde affects you largely in the areas of intimate relationships and shared finances or debts; then, from the 8-25, your close partnerships and negotiations are strongly influenced. With retrograde Mercury, attention can be turned to the past, old problems and projects that were left unfinished, and there can be a new look at old issues. There can also be some delays, distancing, and timeouts experienced in a relationship for some of you. While the cycle itself is helpful, the shift itself can be disorienting even on regular days. The morning’s Mercury-Mars and Venus-Neptune challenges can lead to cloudy thinking, but can also aggravate ego issues – many of us will really feel we are right, and perhaps communicate too quickly. Aim to observe rather than act impulsively now. Later today, the Sun aligns with Pluto in your partnership sector. Through someone else, you may be seeing sides of your own nature that may not be especially flattering, but if you are brave and honest with yourself, you’re likely to learn a lot about yourself, your ambitions, your fears, and your desires now. Make a plan to be more self-aware and to iron out complicated problems in your closest relationships.

Leo

Mercury turns retrograde this morning, dear Leo, and will continue to move in retrograde motion until the 25th. This will especially affect your partnerships and negotiations until the 8th, and then your work, health, and self-care efforts from the 8-25. There can be the need for review, going over recent work and decisions, editing, redoing, recycling, and revisiting in these areas of life. As the shift occurs today, other influences add to its disorienting energy. Avoid, as much as possible, hasty communications and actions, as they may be premature, based on information that is incomplete, or on wishful or fearful thinking. This is not an objective time. Later today, the Sun aligns with Pluto as it does once a year, and a light is shone on your deeper ambitions and fears, particularly regarding your work and health. You might solve a complex problem or reorganize something from top to bottom – perhaps even find a new way to approach an old health problem. Even so, some of you could become quite riled up and tense over problem areas in your life. Aim for self-honesty.

Virgo

Mercury turns retrograde this morning, dear Virgo, and will be retrograde until the 25th. This affects your own personal outlook, as well as specific areas: until the 8th, your work, health, and habits; from the 8-25, your romantic relationships, children, recreational pursuits, hobbies, and creative projects. This is a good time for taking a second look at any of these things, doing editing work, research, and review. You may be renewing old projects or putting the finishing touches on a project. An old date or friend may resurface for some of you. This morning, as the shift occurs, it can be quite challenging to see things clearly, yet you could feel provoked or up in arms about a situation. Watch for hasty actions and reactions, particularly verbal ones, but also quick moves and decisions. Later today, there can be a heightened awareness of your deeper fears and desires, particularly regarding a love relationship or a creative project. Whether it’s about recognition for your uniqueness or attention from a love interest, the desire can be hard to deny, as much as you’d like to believe otherwise. Face your feelings, embrace them, and then decide how you can better manage them going forward.

Libra

Mercury begins its retrograde today, dear Libra, lasting until the 25th. Until the 8th, areas most affected can be romance, children, creative projects, and the pursuit of pleasure. From the 8-25, your home and family life are under retrograde Mercury’s influence. There can be the need to review and edit plans already in place, or you could be going over the past in order to better understand the present. Delays and slowdowns are possible now, and these can be blessings in disguise, as they afford you the opportunity to improve and edit things before moving forward. There can be a second chance available now. This morning, however, it can be very easy to get completely worked up over something that may not truly matter in the long run. Try not to rush into making a statement or taking action. Some insecurities can be brought to the surface today. Chances are in fact high that the information circulating around you is false or incomplete, and it’s important that you don’t feed into others’ misconceptions of you. Later today, a Sun-Pluto alignment brings you into new awareness of deeply buried desires and resentments, and possibly fears, regarding family and home matters. The goal should be: don’t fixate, fix.

Scorpio

Mercury turns retrograde this morning, dear Scorpio, and will continue to move in retrograde until the 25th. Until the 8th, this retrograde largely affects your home and family life, and there may be the need to go over recent home-related projects or to put something on hold. Focus can be on past problems that now return for a second look. From the 8-25, Mercury retrograde backs up into your communications sector, and you could be dealing with editing work on old projects, delays or transportation and communication equipment improvements/breakdowns, and so forth. Take this chance to look at old problems in new ways and to improve plans, studies, and projects. This morning’s energies are chaotic and confusing. Watch for impatience, which can lead to frustrating situations. Others may seem to be withholding information or can be hard to pin down. Later today, the Sun aligns with Pluto, and while you should certainly watch that you don’t become too fixated on a particular line of thought, or too pushy with others for answers, it’s a good time to tap into your ambitions and desires. Come up with a plan to improve your studies and communications.

Sagittarius

Mercury is retrograde from today until the 25th, dear Sagittarius. The shift itself occurs this morning, when other problematic astro events occur as well. As a result, the chances of tripping up run high now. It’s better to keep an open mind and avoid anger triggers. Speaking too soon about a matter is not advised now. Until the 8th, retrograde Mercury affects your communications systems. While you may not be able to rely on your usual ways of connecting and getting around, you can find new ways to improve your mobility. From the 8-25, retrograde Mercury affects your income and valuables, and a review of your financial situation is in order. You may find a lost item or discover a new resource altogether – on that you previously overlooked. Avoid pushing conversations in close relationships now. Venus in your sign is challenged by Neptune to top things off, and this can point to up and down feelings based on an inability to see things clearly, particularly relationships. Later today, a Sun-Pluto alignment can heighten your awareness of your deeper ambitions and fears regarding your earning power, money matters, and security. This is a good time to think up strategies to spend and save more effectively.

Capricorn

Mercury is retrograde from today until the 25th, dear Capricorn. This is a period of review and renewal on a mental level. While it occurs in your sector of finances and resources until January 8th, retrograde Mercury will back up into your sign and spend the rest of its retrograde cycle in Capricorn. This is a time for looking back and considering what you want to bring forward with you, and what should be left behind. Some delays and slowdowns are possible now, but they are likely to be blessings in disguise. This morning can be temperamental. It’s especially important to avoid impulsive purchases, decisions, and communications. What we’re perceiving now may not be accurate, or rather, it may be based on incomplete information. We may not be seeing relationships and the value of items clearly. Later today, the Sun aligns with Pluto in your sign. This shines a light on personal ambitions and fears, which can be slightly uncomfortable if you haven’t been in touch with them, but also wonderfully revealing. Acknowledge your deeper needs, wants, and desires, but then come up with a plan to achieve those that are healthy and empowering.

Aquarius

Mercury has just recently entered your sign, dear Aquarius, and today, it turns retrograde. By the 8th, it will back up into the sign just behind yours (Capricorn) and will spend the rest of its retrograde period, until the 25th, in Capricorn. This is a period for looking to past decisions and projects, especially those in your recent past, in a new way, perhaps reconsidering, giving something a second chance, or renewing and editing something important to you. The shift occurring this morning, however, can be a little problematic, as it occurs when Mercury is challenged and a Venus-Neptune square casts a veil over our perceptions as well. While you could feel pressured to make a decision or a statement, try to hold off doing so until you are in a more objective frame of mind. The Sun passes over Pluto in your privacy sector today, as it does once a year, reminding you of your more deeply buried feelings, fears, and ambitions. Those things that leave you feeling insecure or guilt-ridden need to go, but first, their source needs to be uncovered. You have a good chance today for learning about the attitudes that have been driving self-destructive behavior.

Pisces

Mercury turns retrograde today, dear Pisces, and will continue in its retrograde motion until the 25th. The shift this morning comes at a difficult time, astrologically, and there can be quite a bit of confusion. Avoid quick decisions and drawing hasty conclusions now. You may not be seeing the value of things clearly at this time. Objectivity can be difficult to achieve today. The retrograde period itself, however, presents you with the chance to go over old projects and ideas, seeing them in a new light. There may be some delays or slowdowns, and possibly some lack of clear communication with a friend during this cycle, but generally a chance to better understand your life, connections, and goals. Later today, the Sun aligns with Pluto in your friendships and ideals sector, shining a light on ambitions as well as fears in these areas. This can motivate you to make amends, make connections, or start anew. You are given a very honest glimpse into problem areas, and it’s up to you whether you use this energy to fixate or to fix.

If You Were Born Today, January 4

You are highly ambitious and responsible, working hard at what you do and rarely letting small setbacks steer you from your course. Goal-oriented, your biggest weakness is a tendency to take on far too much! You are responsible, a fabulous partner, direct and honest, and quite likable as well. You are a practical person who has much sound advice to give for those smart enough to ask you for it.

Famous people born today: Sir Isaac Newton, Louis Braille, Jane Wyman, Dyan Cannon, Michael Stipe.

Courtesy of Cafe Astrology