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

The Wave

Meaning: This rune symbolizes your friends and family and their influence upon you. Its meaning is usually derived from the other stones closest to it. This rune is also associated with travel. A journey abroad is indicated especially if the Sun rune is nearby, but a journey for someone close to you if the Moon stone is closest. If it is near to the Rings it foretells a holiday or long distance relationship.

Unlocking Secrets with Tarot

The Tarot guides you toward truth

By Tarot.com Staff

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Get A Jump On Tomorrow….

Your Daily Horoscopes for Wednesday, August 24th

by Rick Levine

If Today is Your Birthday: August 23

Your mind is sharp and you love to talk! You may grow into this quality–beginning life as a quiet child and, over the years, you discover your voice. An interesting conversationalist, you are appreciated for both your sense of humor and sense of fun. Your creativity is strong, although you are often more of an “idea person”. You believe in your dreams, and you are more than willing to put effort into materializing them. In love, you easily attract others to you, but you can experience your share of ups and downs in your relationships. Part of the reason for this is a strong idealistic streak. You are generous and warm-hearted with your lovers, and you are willing to bend over backwards for them. However, your expectations in love may be high. Famous people born today: Barbara Eden, Gene Kelly, River Phoenix, Shelley Long, Kobe Bryant, Ray Park, Scott Kaan, Rick Springfield.

Your Birthday Year Forecast:

With the Sun and Moon in harmony in your Solar Return chart, the year ahead should be satisfying and balanced overall. You are in comfortable demand and personally popular, and you are able to achieve a decent balance between work and play; personal and professional life. For the most part, you are on top of your game this year, and positive connections with others can be made fairly easily. With the ability to handle your emotions successfully, there is less stress on both your mind and body. Your self-confidence and positive attitude will reward you!

Your ability to express yourself and to solve problems is enhanced. You may have opportunities to travel this year, and matters related to publishing, teaching, and writing should go especially well. You may find that you have the right information at the right time this year. You could also have big ideas and plans. Work, especially in communications, goes well. You are able to visualize in broader terms and see the “big picture” now. Your optimism can help you to attract positive circumstances into your life. You are especially enthusiastic about your ideas, and expressing yourself comes easily. Public relations and negotiations tend to run especially smoothly. This is a time for making long-range plans, seeing the big picture, and thinking about what is really important to you in the long run.

There can be significant involvement in publishing, television, or other areas where sharing ideas with large groups is a theme.

Pleasing circumstances surrounding your love life, finances, and creative pursuits are in store this year. You are generous, and others return the favor. You might receive financial backing or special gifts in the period ahead. You seek a little more from your love life and you are likely to receive it. Some of you could fall in love this year, or existing relationships are enhanced. Adventure-seeking is a theme.

This could be a year when you fall in love, and this could be with a person, an activity, or a cause! Meeting someone who transforms your life, and more specifically your values and attitude towards love, is possible. Strong existing relationships are likely to grow and transform in rewarding ways, as you are more open than usual to intensity and passion. Your finances could also improve dramatically this year, generally due to your increased ability to strategize and cut out frivolous expenses.

With Mars conjunct Saturn in your Solar Return chart, you are more determined and hard-working than usual. This is an excellent time to get organized and to stick with projects through to the end. When you face obstacles to your goals, which is a likely scenario this year, you are likely to just keep on pushing. Progress may be slow, but it’s steady and solid. What you accomplish now will benefit you for years to come. You may be called to task for a responsibility that you’ve avoided in the past.

You are likely to attract growth-oriented relationships into your life. Your powers of negotiation are very strong.

Cooperation is a theme in your life this year. This can be a strong period for new interests, learning, and communications. You are better able to come to a good balance in attitude this year, and many life departments can benefit. You are more patient and willing to use strategy in your financial and romantic life. You’re in an exceptionally strong position for taking advantage of new opportunities while keeping your feet on the ground.

2016 is a Number Four year for you. Ruled by Uranus. This is a year of work and development. It’s “nose to the grindstone” time. It’s a time to deal with practical matters, and it’s not a time to be lazy or especially gregarious. Sometimes, it can be a year that feels hard, monotonous and routine, and/or lonely. Advice – get yourself organized, work to build your resources, keep busy.

2017 will be a Number Five year for you. Ruled by Mercury. This is a year of exploration and freedom. It’s a time when exploration and reaching out to others brings opportunities. It’s a good time to advertise and sell. Surprises are in store, and the routine is broken. This is a year when exciting relationships can be formed, or, if you are already in a partnership, new life is breathed into the relationship. Advice – explore, look for adventure, keep your eyes open for opportunities, mingle.

Courtesy of Cafe Astrology

Your Daily Horoscopes for Tuesday, August 23rd

Aries

Shortcuts taken early today can cost you more time later on, dear Aries. As the day moves forward, however, you’re certainly more inclined to deal with problem areas head-on. Mars is moving to an alignment with Saturn, and this influence has been pending for some time. Now, you’re facing an important reality and putting a responsibility behind you. This is a time for getting over a major hump in your life. Do your best to focus on a game plan or strategy rather than dwelling on the frustration of the moment’s obstacles. You’re putting your life into better order now, and this will ultimately be a relief. Work hard today, if possible, as much as you’d prefer to pursue your interests in a freeform manner. Tune out the distractions and put in the effort so that you can put difficult situations behind you.

Taurus

There may be a reality to face or hurdle to clear this week, dear Taurus, as Mars moves towards its alignment with Saturn. This can be a time for pushing yourself harder than usual to make money and to get some work done, possibly to make up for past procrastination! Do aim to focus your energies on problems that can be solved with a step-by-step approach. Traditional methods are likely to work best. Drama in your personal life is possible, but avoid getting caught up in a tug of war when your energy could be better utilized elsewhere. Work on sorting things out, debugging plans, tending to details, and reviewing recent life issues with maturity and realism. You may not feel like putting in the work in a relationship right now, but consider doing it for the long-term benefits.

Gemini

This is a strong time for putting real effort into a major practical pursuit, dear Gemini. However, it may not be entirely enjoyable. It’s important to focus on the end goal rather than the frustration of the tasks at hand. Putting extra effort into a relationship can be in focus for many of you. Others may seem to be blocking you or adding hurdles to your path. Responsibilities to others can feel weighty. The reality of a relationship or person in your life can hit hard. Be patient, mature, and responsible now for best results – these are traits that will be rewarded with Saturn a strong influence on your chart. If a relationship withstands pressure, this can be a time for coming up with a new and improved plan to go forward.

Cancer

You are increasingly more practical in your mindset today, dear Cancer. In fact, this can be a powerful time for solving problems, getting work done, and getting over emotional hurdles. You could be working particularly hard at improving your living or working conditions. Look for signs of what you need to eliminate in order to move forward in the best possible way. Putting in extra effort, following the rules, and facing realities are all important now and will lead to good things, even if you’d rather be doing something else! Facing up to facts with work and health matters can be in focus now, and this allows you to make solid, realistic plans of action.

Leo

While there may be some hurdles to clear now, dear Leo, it can be easier to meet goals with a stronger sense of purpose motivating you. In your romantic or creative life, there may be a reality that you need to face.
Some level of seriousness is present, or necessary, in your interactions. Use self-discipline now. Concern yourself less with whether you’ve made the right choices in the past and more on your current path. New and perhaps uncomfortable information about a friend or lover, or complicated logistics of a relationship or creative project, could emerge now. Take the time to digest things rather than reacting too quickly. This is a time for drawing up solid plans and taking things one step at a time based on new, more realistic information.

Virgo

Mars meeting with Saturn in your sector of heart, home, and family today and tomorrow can play out in a number of ways, dear Virgo. Serious energy may surround household matters now, or there can be hard work involved with getting a problem area handled, perhaps due to some neglect of this area in the past. Those close to you can be very touchy and sensitive now, and may be acting from a place of fear or jealous feelings. You may need to face a reality surrounding debts, shared finances, or a housing issue. On the other hand, while there can be some heavy hours put in, you may be actively working on improving your living conditions or home life now, and this can point to long-term benefits. Focus should be on strengthening and rebuilding.

Libra

Tension with others is possible now, dear Libra, but it can also be highly motivating to make improvements. You have added power for actualizing your dreams, but you are faced with the need to take responsibility for past mistakes, follow the rules, and put in hard work. News can arrive that prompts you to get serious about a matter, or conversations occur about serious issues. You are likely to recognize that there are plenty of details that need attention. Approach problems one at a time and step by step, even if you’d rather skip through things more quickly. Computers, phones, and vehicles may need repair now. Difficulties getting your ideas across can lead to better or improved channels for communication. Aim to liberate yourself from unrealistic dreams by facing facts.

Scorpio

With Mars and Saturn meeting up in your resources sector, dear Scorpio, it’s a strong time for facing financial realities and for examining what you’re capable of doing to overcome obstacles. Consider that your life will improve as you see reality and stop living in fear of what might or might not happen. Activities that enhance your feeling of being on top of things and in charge of your life can be in focus now. Hard work may be involved. Following the rules makes the most sense for the time being. You might need to concentrate in order to handle a financial matter. It’s about taking more control over your money and decreasing debt. As well, you may be recognizing that you can do just fine on your own. Aim to expect more, but not too much, from yourself now.

Sagittarius

Mars and Saturn align in your sign, dear Sagittarius, and this can serve as a reminder to take better care of yourself, follow the rules, be thorough, and take matters step by step so that you get things right. You may need to get serious about a personal matter. You might feel as if you are left to your own resources, but should also discover that you can hold your own. Try to tune out drama as much as possible and focus on the practical. Be conservative in your approach for best results now. Get to a state where you have a strong sense of what you can and cannot do. Bringing more realism into the picture is the key to feeling empowered now. Aim for self-discipline and consider the long-term benefits of a slow and steady approach.

Capricorn

With Mars and Saturn coming into alignment in the sign just behind yours, dear Capricorn, you may face owning up to an issue that you swept under the carpet or otherwise neglected or overlooked in the past. You might need to make a personal sacrifice in order to help out someone else. You might feel overlooked or overruled now, but you can also build quite a bit of strength from either realization, as it can motivate you to make significant changes. The need to be patient can emerge today and tomorrow. In fact, this is a time that favors long-term plans and strategies rather than giving in to the sensations of the moment. Focus on building strength and devising long-term strategies for reaching real goals, as you see these more clearly now.

Aquarius

Considering your limits is important now as Mars and Saturn meet, dear Aquarius. This aspect can come as a potent reminder of a rule or responsibility, or possibly an obligation to a group or friend. You may need to face the fact that one of your dreams or an ideal needs some refinement due to practical considerations. Some of you may need to get tough with a friend, or to face a sobering reality about a friendship. Avoid wasting time navigating the tricky waters of power dynamics, and instead, adopt a step-by-step approach to solving a practical problem. The need to be mature can emerge now, and is your very best bet for facing difficulties or obstacles right now.

Pisces

Watch for pushing yourself too hard now, dear Pisces, but do put in some real effort now with Mars and Saturn joining at the top of your solar chart, dear Pisces. A conservative, step by step, law-abiding approach in business is necessary now. You may need to lay down the law if you’re in a position of authority. The practical side of your endeavors is what you’re taking particular interest in, and you can come up with some very workable long-term strategies. The key is to be patient and focus on the goal. It might be necessary to make some personal sacrifices in order to get over a hurdle. Eliminating waste in your professional life can be especially helpful now, and you may need to face the reality or viability of a project/goal to know your next step.

The Balance of the Signs & the Elements for August 23rd

TAURUS STRONG
Stable and enduring, strong values, unyielding, earthy, acquisitive, strong desires. Can be stuck, stubborn, overly possessive, self-indulgent.
VIRGO STRONG
Meticulous, discriminating, pure, practical, health conscious, hard working. Can be hyper-critical, petty and perfectionistic.
SAGITTARIUS STRONG
Inspiring, broad vision, enthusiastic, goal seeking, truthful, adventurous. Can be reckless, unrestrained, tactless.

BALANCE OF ELEMENTS

EARTH STRONG
We are especially in touch with the physical world. We consider what we’ve learned and experienced in the past in order to make the most of the present. We can be cautious, practical, and possibly unimaginative. We are deliberate and can pace ourselves well. We need hands-on experience and are not impressed with theory as much as we are with results. Routines are tolerable and comforting.
AIR WEAK
We may have a difficult time being objective or detached. We may not be especially communicative.
WATER WEAK
There may be some insensitivity or lack of empathy now. We may be out of touch with what we’re feeling or with our emotional needs. We may be tougher than usual now, and more inclined to follow mental or practical considerations than we are to listen to our intuition.

BALANCE OF MODES

CARDINAL WEAK
This is not a time that we tend to naturally initiate actions. We may be stronger at following up than starting anew. Survival mechanisms may be weaker now.
MUTABLE STRONG
We are flexible, adaptable, willing, open to change, and possibly flighty or nervous.

Astrology of Today – August 23, 2016

• The Moon is in Taurus all day (until Wednesday, August 24th, at 7:39 PM).
• The Moon is waning and in its Waning Gibbous phase.
• A Full Moon occurred on the 18th, and a Last Quarter Moon will occur tomorrow.
• Mercury is in its pre-retrograde shadow (Mercury will be retrograde from August 30-September 22).
• The Sun spends its first full day in Virgo (the Sun transits Virgo August 22-September 22).

11th August 2015 – 9th September 2016: Jupiter in Virgo

a message from Sarah Varcas

To view more of Sarah’s insight, please visit her website, Awakenings, Intuitive Astrology for Heart and Soul

The Web of Life

After the buoyant confidence of Jupiter in Leo since July 2014, its arrival in Virgo heralds a time of quiet activity which will build firm foundations for the future. Jupiter in Virgo resonates deeply with Mother Earth, reminding us her future is integral to our own. We simply cannot separate the two. During its stay in Virgo, Jupiter connects with the Moon’s North Node at a powerful Blue Moon in June 2016. Between now and then we have a precious opportunity to realign with the needs of our beautiful planet, just as she has met ours for millennia.

Jupiter speaks now of the inherent creativity we often overlook. Many consider themselves uncreative when in fact they may simply lack ‘artistic talent’. In fact we are creative in every moment, giving life to thoughts and feelings, words and deeds. We may not have a specific objet d’art to show for it come nightfall, but each day we are artists working on the canvas of our lives. Jupiter in Virgo reminds us that every moment is a brushstroke, every decision moulds the clay of who we are. It knows how vital each one of these is. No longer seduced by size and stature as it was in Leo, it resonates with the tiny moments and apparently inconsequential actions that create the life we live today.

In the coming months the development of mindfulness will support us considerably. The more present we can be to the moment, not losing ourselves in fantasy or fear, the more we can shape the fruits of our creativity in alignment with the flow of conscious becoming. Jupiter in Virgo honours the power of gentleness, the healing potential of quietude, the blessings of knowing intimately the tiniest lives on this planet, the smallest parts of a whole. It knows that within the microcosm we find the macrocosm, within the mundane we find the divine and within our lives we have absolutely everything we need to awaken, right here, right now. It knows that the answers we seek may not be written boldly across the heavens but in the light of a distant star which has already met its fiery end before we perceive its light. Our destiny may not impress others and thrust us into the limelight, but be instead a quiet repose which knows that all things come to those who wait.

As human beings we are blessed with great potential and so much hope. As a race we have squandered such riches in pursuit of power – over life, other people, even over Mother Nature herself. Jupiter in Virgo turns our attention to how life begins, how we create from nothing and manifest form. It asks us to pay close attention to the elements we combine to create our desired life and the feedback we receive from nature herself as we do so. She speaks to us clearly if we will but listen, and her messages will be evermore important as Jupiter journeys through Virgo. In a busy world where there’s barely time to breathe, it’s vital we shift the focus from striving to collaboration, from control to alignment. As Jupiter now crosses the fixed star Regulus, whose shift into Virgo in 2011heralded another step forward in the birth of the Aquarian Age, we’re reminded that without Mother Earth we are nothing. It is she who should be the centre of our world, not ourselves, for in her we find everything we need and all that is vital to our physical and spiritual survival.

The time has come to honour our planetary mother every single day. For each step upon her to be placed with love, for each breath to be taken with gratitude. It is time to reflect on how our creations align with the ecosystem into which we have been born. What is the price of our becoming? Of fulfilling our hopes and dreams? How can we further peace on this planet, mutual respect and sustainability whilst fulfilling our own individual potential and weaving a meaningful life?

No matter who we are or what we dream, we carry the life of our descendants in our hearts, of future generations to be blessed with this beautiful planet as we have been. We hold in our hands the destiny of the birds and the bees, the seas and oceans, air and soil. Our every thought, word and deed act as nourishment or poison to the world around us. As we pursue our own fulfilment we can facilitate collective awakening or hinder its advance. It was never an ‘either/or’ but a ‘both/and’. Both you and me at peace in our own lives as Mother Nature flourishes around us.

There is much to be done now, plans to implement, dreams to realise, awakening to be embraced. Jupiter in Virgo bids us join hands with all of life to act in alignment with becoming, not in competition with it. If we meet barriers and obstacles along the way stop… look… listen….the cosmos is speaking, our Mother is offering guidance as to timing or temperament, the viability of our hopes and dreams. She is forever watching, waiting, blessing and supporting us. All she asks is that we do the same, honouring her as partner in the shaping and formation of our lives.

Sarah Varcas

Totally Useless & Random Facts for a Tuesday!

Here are some random facts for you . . .

1. All the alien drool in the movie “Aliens” is KY Jelly.

2. The original design for the Space Needle in Seattle looked like a big balloon floating up from the ground. Eventually it evolved into the final design, and the balloon became a flying saucer.

3. It’s illegal in Indiana to catch fish using dynamite, guns, a crossbow, or your bare hands.

4. It’s bad etiquette to eat a hot dog in more than five bites. At least according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council.

5. Judge Judy was a real judge in New York criminal and family court from 1982 to 1996 . . . and she had the same personality and style she does on TV. She got her show after “60 Minutes” did a feature on her in 1993.

Source

95.7 The Hog

August 23rd

Vocanalia

Vulcan was the ancient Roman God of fire and smithcraft. He had his own Flamen, the Flamen Vocanalis.
Very little is known about his festival and worship, but he did have a temple on the Campus Martius. Mythologically, Vulcan was the father of the fire-breathing monster Cacus, and his two consorts were Maia and Hora—also worshiped during his festival.