Day: August 4, 2016

A Little Humor for Your Day – “How to Live a Long Life”

How to Live a Long Life

A passer-by noticed an old lady sitting on her front step: “I couldn’t help noticing how happy you look! What is your secret for such a long, happy life?”

“I smoke 4 packs of cigarettes a day”, she said. “Before I go to bed, I smoke a nice big joint. Apart from that, I drink a whole bottle of Jack Daniels every week, and eat only junk food. On weekends I pop a huge number of pills and do no exercise at all.”

“This is absolutely amazing at your age!”, says the passer-by. “How old are you?”

“Twenty four.”

 

To view more great humor, visit Turok’s Cabana

Astronomy Picture of the Day – Sunflower Galaxy Wide Field

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 August 4

M63: Sunflower Galaxy Wide Field
Image Credit & Copyright: Data – Deep Sky West, Processing – John Vermette

 

Explanation: The Sunflower Galaxy blooms near the center of this wide field telescopic view. The scene spans about 2 degrees or 4 full moons on the sky toward the loyal constellation Canes Venatici. More formally known as Messier 63, the majestic island universe is nearly 100,000 light-years across, about the size of our own Milky Way Galaxy. Surrounding its bright yellowish core, sweeping spiral arms are streaked with cosmic dust lanes and dotted with star forming regions. A dominant member of a known galaxy group, M63 has faint, extended features that could be the the remains of dwarf satellite galaxies, evidence that large galaxies grow by accreting small ones. M63 shines across the electromagnetic spectrum and is thought to have undergone bursts of intense star formation.

Earth Sky News for August 4th: Moon and Mercury after sunset

Moon and Mercury after sunset August 4

By  

Tonight – August 4, 2016 – we give you fair warning. It won’t be easy to catch the thin waxing crescent moon pairing up with the planet Mercury in the western twilight some 45 to 60 minutes after sunset on August 4. Bring along binoculars, if you have them, and find an unobstructed horizon in the direction of sunset. Better yet, stand atop a hill or balcony, which will enable you to see that much farther over your western horizon.

Our chart above shows the sky scene as viewed from mid-northern latitudes in North America. From mid-northern latitudes in Europe and Asia, the planets will be similarly positioned in the western sky, yet the moon will be offset in the direction of Venus.

From the Southern Hemisphere, as anywhere worldwide, look in your western sky after sunset for the moon and planets. But, from the northern tropics and the Southern Hemisphere, be mindful that the line-up from top to bottom – Jupiter, Mercury and Venus – will be closer to perpendicular to the horizon, as illustrated in the chart below.

From around the world after sunset, the moon and Mercury, the solar system’s innermost planet, shine in between the sky’s brightest and second-brightest planets: Venus and Jupiter, respectively.

Venus, the second planet outward from the sun, lurks beneath the moon and Mercury, on the sky’s dome.

Meanwhile, Jupiter, the fifth planet outward, sits above the moon and Mercury.

Although Venus is the lowest planet in the sky, and is the first planet to set after sunset, this world ranks as the third-brightest celestial body, after the sun and moon. With binoculars or the unaided eye, you may be able to spot Venus as early as 30 minutes or less after sunset. Click here to find out when Venus sets in your sky. If you spot the moon before you see anything else after sunset, remember that the lit side of the moon points in the general direction of Venus. Binoculars could come in handy for sighting Venus, Mercury and a zoomed-in view of earthshine on the moon.

If you miss the moon, Venus, Mercury and Jupiter after sunset on August 4, you can still use the moon to help you find these worlds over the next several days. As dusk deepens into darkness tomorrow – on August 5 – look for the moon to have moved in the direction of Jupiter.

Assuming you have clear skies, it’ll be possible to catch all five naked-eye planets by nightfall. In their order going outward from the sun, these five planets are Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.

It’ll be considerably easier to spot Mars and Saturn, because they’ll be out until midnight at mid-northern latitudes and well past midnight at more southerly latitudes. At mid-northern latitudes, as darkness falls, look southward to spot Mars and Saturn near Antares, the brightest star in the constellation Scorpius the Scorpion. From the Southern Hemisphere, look high overhead as darkness falls for Mars and Saturn.

Bottom line: On August 4, 2016, at dusk and nightfall, use the moon to locate Mercury in the western sky, and go on from there to spot all five bright planets.

 

Author

 

BRUCE MCCLURE

Bruce McClure has served as lead writer for EarthSky’s popular Tonight pages since 2004. He’s a sundial aficionado, whose love for the heavens has taken him to Lake Titicaca in Bolivia and sailing in the North Atlantic, where he earned his celestial navigation certificate through the School of Ocean Sailing and Navigation. He also writes and hosts public astronomy programs and planetarium programs in and around his home in upstate New York.

Article originally published on EarthSky

Mars in Sagittarius

 

 

 

 

 

Mars in Sagittarius

Warrior Mars creates excitement with the adventurous Archer

By Tarot.com Staff

Videos, Sagittarius, Mars, Astrology

Action planet Mars moves into adventurous Sagittarius on August 2, 2016, and this fiery combination should bring plenty of excitement into our lives over the next few weeks. Mars is a very active and assertive planet, and is very comfortable in the risk-taking sign of Sagittarius. This planet and this sign are complimentary to one another, as they share an impulsive nature and an eagerness to rush ahead into uncharted territory.

When Mars is in Sagittarius, he’s the bad boy who pushes boundaries; the rebel looking for a cause. Which means we’ll be able to harness this fiery, fearless energy to make things happen. But it’s also possible we’ll have so much reckless energy now that we take things too far, or act so impulsively that we make mistakes.

Religious zeal, philosophical fighting, legal battles and overseas wars are expressions of this combination. Our best approach to this heated transit is to cool it with logic and a moment’s pause before doing anything rash.

 

Part of the Daily Insight Group

©Tarot.com 2016. All rights reserved.

The Wisdom of Buddha

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 Charm for August 4th is Abracadabra

Your Daily Charm for Today

Today’s Meaning:
The most powerful of all talisman indicating you or someone close to you will recover from an infection.

General Description:
One of the most famous of all talismans, and used as a magical formula by the Gnostics in Rome for invoking the aid of beneficent spirits against disease, misfortune and death. Sammonieus, the celebrated Gnostic physician; instructed that the letters of this magical triangle which he used for curing agues and fevers, were to be written on paper, folded into the shape of a cross, worn for nine days suspended from the neck, and, before sunrise, cast behind the patient into a stream running eastward. It was also a most popular charm in the middle ages. During the Great Plague, 1665, great numbers of these amulets were worn as supposed safeguards against infection.

Your Ancient Symbol Card for Aug. 4th is The Storm (Oh, brother!)

Your Ancient Symbol Card for Today

The Storm



The Storm represents the trouble and discord that creep into our lives from time to time. The storm is represented by a tornado whirling its way across a fertile plain. Tornados are powerful but relatively small, short lived storms, which means that while the turmoil they indicate may be strong it will at least pass quickly. Like the tornado, The Storm is a force outside yourself and beyond your control. During a stormy period you may lose ground. However, knowing one is upon you can certainly help you keep your losses to a minimum, or even turn what might be a disaster into a windfall.

As a daily card, The Storm denotes a time when you should be prepared to face some large challenges in your life. You may find yourself losing more than you gain for awhile. The key to weathering the storm is preparation. You know its coming, so be ready for it and there is a possibility that you can transform a tumultuous event into something good.

Your Daily Witches Rune for August 4th is The Scythe


Your Daily Witches Rune

The Scythe

Sudden changes and endings. Making a final decision. Completing something. Walking away from something or someone. Danger.

Additional information about Today’s Witches Rune, The Scythe….

The Scythe

This symbol is very familiar to most of people, often associated with harvest and death. In the runes, it is no different. The Scythe is related to endings, sudden separations, final decisions, important changes and danger.

The appearance of this symbol show that there’s something in you life you need to bring to end now, before it snowballs into something worse. Usually, the decision that the Scythe forces you to make is one you’d rather escape from… it’s a painful and difficult choice. Even though you know (or feel) it’s for the best, you’ll mourn the fact that it has to happen.

Also, the Scythe is connected to sudden, swift changes that force you to alter completely your plans, strategies and sometimes the very way you see the world. The situation is no longer what it was, your modus operandi no longer works here. Your ideas no longer correspond to the reality. The information you have is no longer accurate, or useful. You need to strain those adaptation muscles and find a way to keep standing while the rug is pulled from under your feet.

Although this rune can represent physical danger, such as accidents or surgeries, many time it refers to sense of foreboding. Something just isn’t right… the fear of loss looms large. Trust these feeling and proceed with caution. This rune can also relate to actual death and all related to it: burials, graveyards, inheritances, heirlooms, legacies and things connected to your ancestry.

In relationship readings, the Scythe suggest caution too. It can represent sudden and irresistible attractions, the kind that inspire people to do crazy things. . Obviously, this rune also represent separations, divorce and conflicts, always leaving a sour aftertaste. The strong passion can quickly transform into strong resentment. In its most positive note, this rune can symbolize relationship that completely transform the people involved.

Your Daily Influences for August 4th

Your Daily Influences for Today

 

Tarot Influence:

Six of Coins

Material gain, charity and justice are at the forefront. That which is earned will be given.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Astrological Influence

Gemini

While Gemini always has its duality to keep under control, it does manage to bring both humor and intelligence into any situation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Element Influence

Fire Reversed

Fire reversed denotes calamity that may be on a catastrophic level. Prepare to deal with changes you do not want.

 

 

 

 

 

Your Crowley Thoth Tarot Card for Aug. 4th is The Hierophant

Your Crowley Thoth Tarot Card for Today

The Hierophant



The Hierophant represents the protector of a culture’s heritage and traditions. His purpose is to defend and teach the established ways and beliefs a group embraces. He is inherently conventional and a true believer in the power of the group. He loves the structure of the group and its values. It is the task of The Hierophant to bring new members into the group—to prepare the uninitiated to take their rightful place in his culture. In this sense he is very much like a teacher or a priest. He also acts as the repository of his group’s history. The Hierophant is certainly not one to buck proper authority. However, he is staunch and worthy defender of the tried and true. He represents the positive aspects of tradition and conformity.

Tarot Cards of the Zodiac

 

 

 

 

 

Tarot Cards of the Zodiac

Discover which Tarot card is connected to each zodiac sign

By Sally Philips, Zodiac, Tarot, Astrology

Aries’ Tarot Card: The Emperor

Your Tarot card is The Emperor, the guy who will always be there when you need him. This card represents your sign’s loyalty and ability to stick by your friends through thick and thin. Like the royal figure on your card, you use your authority and analytical powers to help others and to achieve your goals.

Each zodiac sign is linked to one of the Tarot cards in the Major Arcana. Most of these powerful cards have images of archetypal figures that represent the essence of a type of person.

Taurus’ Tarot Card: The Hierophant

Your card, The Hierophant, represents learning from knowledgeable teachers who can help you search for higher truths by exploring tried and true traditions. Sifting through the superficial, these learned souls can lead you to the heart of matters where profound insights reveal important life lessons.

Gemini’s Tarot Card: The Lovers

Every Gemini is blessed with a dual nature represented by your Tarot card, The Lovers. Turning points for you often involve making a moral choice between taking the high or low road. This card encourages you to weigh your options carefully and follow the path dictated by your personal integrity.

Cancer’s Tarot Card: The Chariot

You stand proud and strong as you guide The Chariot on your card, steering a steady course and rising above life’s conflicts. Even though Cancers seek security, you also love the freedom of the open road where you can use your highly-developed intuition to win the race.

Leo’s Tarot Card: Strength

The Strength card represents your physical strength — like that of the mighty Lion on your card — as well as your emotional, mental and spiritual prowess. Like the Lion, you are blessed with plenty of courage, which helps you overcome problems and obstacles.

Virgo’s Tarot Card: The Hermit

Like The Hermit, you often need to slow down and go within to focus on your purpose in life. The image on this card — an old man — represents a person who is weary of the outer world. When he retreats to explore the mysteries of his inner life, he becomes open and innocent like a child.

Libra’s Tarot Card: Justice

Justice holds the scales, asking you to weigh your desires against your needs. In order to reach a fair outcome, you must put your feelings and emotions aside. When you reach the light at the end of the tunnel of indecision, you will be able to serve the greater good.

Scorpio’s Tarot Card: Death

Like your Tarot card, Death, you welcome transformation. You often shed your skin like a snake, seeking to release your spirit and be reborn. Because you are able to detach yourself from the ties that bind others, it’s easy for you to change your identity, making you the mysterious person everyone wants to figure out.

Sagittarius’ Tarot Card: Temperance

Like your card, Temperance, you are a gifted mediator, able to find common ground by balancing out judgments with genuine understanding and awareness. Like a steadily-meandering stream, you work your way through whatever difficulties get in the way.

Capricorn’s Tarot Card: The Devil

The Devil card encourages you to face your shadow-self in order to gather the knowledge necessary for spiritual transformation. It advises you to reflect on any negativity that has made you doubt yourself, swap it for confidence and hold fast to your highest vision of who you are.

Aquarius’ Tarot Card: The Star

Your card, The Star, focuses on your optimism. When you wish on the stars, you really believe you can achieve your heart’s desires. Your job in this world is to convince others they can too, thereby helping to lead them home in a spiritual sense.

Pisces’ Tarot Card: The Moon

Like your Tarot card, The Moon, you are a creature of ever-changing moods. You do best when you attune to nature’s cycles and use them to refresh your intuitive powers. The Moon rules emotions, which are your strong suit, especially when you use your compassionate nature to help others.

 

Part of the Daily Insight Group

©Tarot.com 2016. All rights reserved.

Your Daily Tarot Card for August 4th is The Empress

Your Personal Daily Tarot Card

The Empress



The Empress is “The Earth Mother” of the Tarot. She embodies all that is nurturing, clean and wholesome. Her powers resonate from her drive to create and care for life on a grand scale. She is in tune with Nature’s rhythm and realizes that life’s most pleasurable moments often stem from the simplest things. She is not afraid to enjoy herself–to let loose—to the point of being lavish. Abundance and luxury are important to her. The Empress is completely comfortable with her femininity and her sexuality. She is sensual, earthy, generous, and likes the good life. Still, her driving force is a need to create and nurture, and fulfilling this need overrides everything else.