Astronomy Picture of the Day – Saturn’s Hyperion in Natural Color

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.

2018 May 14

Saturn’s Hyperion in Natural Color 
Image Credit & LicenseNASA/JPL/SSIComposition: Gordan Ugarkovic

 

Explanation: What lies at the bottom of Hyperion‘s strange craters? To help find out, the robot Cassini spacecraft that once orbited Saturn swooped past the sponge-textured moon in 2005 and 2010 and took images of unprecedented detail. A six-image mosaic from the 2005 pass, featured here in natural color, shows a remarkable world strewn with strange craters and an odd sponge-like surface. At the bottom of most craters lies some type of unknown dark reddish material. This material appears similar to that covering part of another of Saturn’s moons, Iapetus, and might sink into the ice moon as it better absorbs warming sunlightHyperion is about 250 kilometers across, rotates chaotically, and has a density so low that it likely houses a vast system of caverns inside.

 

Earth Sky News for May 14th: Is there life in the multiverse?

Is there life in the multiverse?

New research shows that life might be common throughout the multiverse … if there is a multiverse

The word universe used to imply all that exists, but no longer. Today’s cosmologists – scientists who study the biggest of all possible big pictures – now consider the idea that our known universe might be just one of many unknown (and unknowable?) universes. They call this plethora of possible universes the multiverse. Now scientists in the U.K. and Australia have taken an interesting step toward probing the multiverse. Their work, which is based on computer simulations, suggests that life could potentially be common throughout the multiverse, if a multiverse exists. The findings are published May 14, 2018, in two related papers in the peer-reviewed journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

This research, and in fact the idea of a multiverse, stems from astrophysicists’ calculations regarding dark energy. That’s the mysterious force that appears to be accelerating the expansion of our universe.

In the 1980s, astronomers turned to multiverse theory to explain the “luckily small” amount of dark energy in our universe. According to cosmologist’s theories, this small amount of dark energy appeared to enable our universe to host life, while most universes in the multiverse couldn’t. In other words, current theories of the origin of the universe predict much more dark energy in our universe than is observed. But – according to most theories – larger amounts of dark energy would cause such a rapid expansion that it would dilute matter before any stars, planets or life could form.

How to explain this? The explanation could indeed be that, as Luke Barnes at Western Sydney University – lead author on one of the papers – explained in a statement, there could indeed be a multiverse in which life is extremely limited, and we in this universe might just happen to have:

… a lucky [lottery] ticket.

That is, we might just happen to live in a universe whose dark energy is small enough to enable the beautiful galaxies and stars we see to form, permitting life as we know it.

Or something else is happening. It’s the something else these researchers are exploring.

These researchers used computer simulations of the cosmos – produced under the EAGLE project – to learn that, in contrast to the results of earlier studies, adding dark energy to the universe – even up to a few hundred times the amount observed in our universe – would actually only have a modest impact upon star and planet formation. It would not, in other words, prevents stars and planets from forming.

If this is true, it opens up the possibility that life might be possible throughout a wider range of other universes (if they exist), the researchers said.

Jaime Salcido, a postgraduate student in Durham University’s Institute for Computational Cosmology, is lead author on the other newly published papers. He said:

For many physicists, the unexplained but seemingly special amount of dark energy in our universe is a frustrating puzzle.

Our simulations show that even if there was much more dark energy or even very little in the universe then it would only have a minimal effect on star and planet formation, raising the prospect that life could exist throughout the multiverse.

As always, there are issues and problems with this theory, which you can read about here. In fact, at one point in their statement, these cosmologists mentioned the possibility that the only explanation for their work in its entirety might be “new laws of nature.” You don’t see scientists in their studies call for new laws of nature very often. In fact, I can’t remember the last they did that. But this work appears in the journal Nature, which is one of the most established journals; the work must have undergone rigorous peer review. It’ll be interesting to see if this study sparks other studies of a similar nature, leading to a similar conclusion.

Read more about the new research from Durham University

By the way, one of the researchers here – Luke Barnes – is an excellent science explainer. In 2016, he wrote the script for the video below. While it doesn’t specifically mention the new research being discussed here, it does touch on the multiverse idea … and it’ll give you an idea of the sorts of things today’s astrophysicists and cosmologists think about.

Bottom line: New research shows that life might be common throughout the multiverse, if there is a multiverse.

 

 

 

Earth Sky

Your Ancient Symbol Card for May 14th is Love

Your Ancient Symbol Card for Today

Love



Love indicates that love is either present in our life or a distinct possibility. Be open to all possibilities, remembering that true love is given freely, without condition, and does not have to be earned. This is the kind of love we want to welcome into our life and to give to others. Be open to new ideas, and beware of judging against someone in an unloving manner. When Love appears, return to the place where you can love yourself and then seek out the same love from others.

As a daily card, Love suggests that for those who are currently in a relationship the opportunity to deepen the bond is present. For those who are single, Love implies that the prospect for them to begin a romantic relationship is very strong at this time.

Your Crowley Thoth Tarot Card for May 14th is Art

Your Crowley Thoth Tarot Card for Today

Art

Art denotes balance and harmony. The forces behind Art are those that keep us from succumbing to temptation or over-indulgence; steer us away from developing unhealthy addictions or behaviors. The Art driven Spirit avoids extremes, spreads harmony and brings opposing sides together. They find a happy, healthy median between what they want and what they need. Art provides an environment in which most will thrive, and a haven where the injured may heal, reenergize. Through Art success and contentment are found by practicing self-restraint, and using balance to create your own “shelter from the storm.”

 

Your Influences for the Week of May 14th

Your Weekly Influences for May 14th

 

Tarot Influence

The Page of Swords

Youth if not in age then in spirit. Adept at diplomacy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Astrological Influence

Scorpio

With Scorpio come victory through a forceful inner drive. Scorpio also denotes a high level of sensuality

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Element Influence

Earth Reversed

Earth reversed denotes a lack of positive connection with the life spirit–a lost soul. If you are not careful you may miss much of what life has to offer you.

Your Weekly Tarot Card for May 14-20 is Page of Wands

Weekly Tarot Card for May 14-20

Page of Wands

 

This Page of Wands strides on stilts across the ice, willing to take whatever risks are necessary to explore new territory and experiences. The character is undaunted by obstacles, proceeding with a spirit of adventure and curiosity, comfortable with a certain amount of risk if it is in service of manifesting new ideas. This fits very naturally with last week’s Magician card energy for learning and growth, which is still coursing through us. Now that we have found the right tools to use, we only need to find paths to action. Inspiration can be wasted when it stays in the mind, leading us to the realm of fantasy rather than manifestation.

Exercise for this week: Balanced, bold action

Use your tools/strengths in the following realms, discovered in last week’s exercise with the Magician card, to actively and fearlessly move down the path toward completion. Start with your mental tool (Sword) and move your inspiration out into the other suits’ realms (spirit, emotions, physicality):

How will you use your Sword now?
How will you use your Wand now?
How will you use your Cup now?
How will you use your Pentacle now?

 

Tarot.com is Part of the Daily Insight Group ©2018

Tarot Card of the Day for May 14th is Three of Cups

Tarot Card of the Day

 

Three of Cups


The Three of this suit is often entitled Consent, or simply Yes. This card resonates with a spirit of agreement, mutual support, encouragement and teamwork.

Often pictured as three women celebrating their connectedness in a dance with lifted cups, it could also be called “sisterhood,” a real mutual admiration society. It points to all the benefits of harmonious relationship.

Tarot.com is Part of the Daily Insight Group ©2018

If You Were Born Today, May 14

 

If You Were Born Today, May 14

Creative to an extreme, you are also highly intelligent and possess strong business savvy. Many of your ideas are very marketable. Somewhat unconventional in thought, you quickly become bored with routine thinking. However, that is on a mental level. You can have a few stubborn habits yourself, and when your mind is made up, it can be difficult to steer you off course. Famous people born today: George Lucas, David Byrne, Dante, Cate Blanchett.

Your Birthday Year Forecast:

The Moon is in its Balsamic phase in your Solar Return chart, marking this year the end of an important cycle, or stage of growth, in your life. You might take more downtime than usual, and this is natural, even good for you. This is a year when you are likely closing important projects or “chapters” in your life. This is an important year for reorienting yourself – discovering what you want, and identifying what you need to do in order to move forward more positively.

With Mercury conjunct Uranus in your Return chart, though, there are bound to be some surprises in store. Your thinking is more clever and original this year, and there may be unexpected opportunities for travel (or at least “armchair” travel), as well as new and perhaps unusual friendships. You are able to come up with original solutions to existing problems and brand new ideas more readily this year. Unusual, sudden, or eye-opening connections to younger people are likely to figure. This is a good year for projects involving technology or New Age topics. You may find more opportunities to attend meetings and other organized group activities, to communicate online, and to take part in activities involving computers, scientific projects, or metaphysics. Your intuition is strong, and insights seem to come from “out of the blue”. Original, creative ideas are easy to come by this year.

Exchanging ideas, intellectual pursuits, and learning are all exciting at this time. You’re expressing yourself clearly and you’re in a great position to instruct others. There is a pronounced ability to order your thoughts and ideas and to recognize patterns, putting you in an excellent place to work on designs. You might thoroughly enjoy making plans, lists, and connections this year.

It is easier than ever to express your individuality in a manner that is true to you this year. This can be a year when bursts of restlessness, rebellion, and impatience figure prominently, however. You have a tendency to take risks and to act on sudden impulses without considering consequences. You assert your will and individuality powerfully, and you are ready to fight for freedom. There may be changes in work schedules, or life’s circumstances could challenge you in such a way that you need to change your goals or actions. This can also be a time when you tend to resist others and challenge them if they are trying to hold you back. Arguments and confrontations are likely. If you aren’t too rash or impulsive, you might be able to free yourself from restrictive circumstances. You could also have more courage than usual to do things that break the routine, and confrontations engaged in this year could clear the air and help you to move forward.

Idealistic and humanitarian goals or impulses surface this year. Making connections with others from different backgrounds may figure strongly. Widening your mind through unusual or different experiences can be part of the picture. You more easily make personal sacrifices for what you believe to be the better good this year.

You are determined in the year ahead, and when you’re focused, you can move mountains in important areas of your life. It’s a powerful year for making lifestyle changes but you may do battle with variable energy levels and wasting time on anger. Watch also for acting out of impatience or trying to cut corners frequently, which can put unnecessary pressure on you. Your love or social life can be eventful, largely due to some restlessness. This can be a wonderful time for learning and connecting with people who inspire you.

2018 is a Number Three year for you. Ruled by Jupiter. This is a year of sociability. It is a friendly time when you find it natural and easy to enjoy life and other people. The focus is on personal freedom, reaching out to others, making new friends, and exploration. You are more enthusiastic and ready for adventure than you are in other years. It’s likely to be a rather lighthearted year when opportunities for “play” time are greater than usual. It’s also a favorable year for expressing your creativity. Advice – reach out and connect but avoid scattering your energies.

2019 will be 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 pay special attention to 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. Positive new relationships are often not formed in a Four personal year. However, it can be a wonderful year for building, development, and laying a solid foundation for future successes. Advice – get yourself organized, work to build your resources, keep busy.

 

Cafe Astrology

Your Weekly Karmic Forecast: May 13 – 19, 2018

Weekly Forecast: May 13 – 19, 2018

The Karmic Tools Weekly Forecast covers the current planetary transits which affect people in different ways and to various degrees of intensity. Take notice when it is a Personal planet (Sun / Moon / Mercury / Venus / Mars) interacting with a Social (Jupiter/Saturn) or Collective planet (Uranus / Neptune/Pluto). And pay extremely close attention when it is a Social planet interacting with a Collective planet because that means something *big* is brewing that will move large groups of people along their evolutionary paths. Tuning in to the energy and rhythm of the planets can serve as a useful *guide* as you move along your Individual Path. It also helps to understand your place within the context of the larger Social & Collective Story. Below, you will find out how these energies tend to manifest, as well as guidance and direction.

*NOTE*  There are some days when there are NO CONTACTS (besides the Moon), please note that there are no missing entries, we just list the actual Activations of each week + the day they happen. 

Weekly Forecast: May 13 – 19, 2018

5/13 ~ Mercury (your thinking) ~conjunct~ Uranus (the Awakener):

It is said that this energy depends on your “normal mental speed” which is not the same as intelligence. If you are naturally quick mentally, then you will be downloading more than usual during this initiation. Uranus acts as a Lightning Rod that strikes and briefly illuminates an area of your life, in this case, Aries, a new, clean slate for one and all. Ah-ha moments will lead to more freedom and independence, but only to the degree that you can maintain them yourself. If you are in like-hearted circles, the conversations could be really stimulating, unlocking perceptions across the board. If you are not naturally quick mentally, then this will be helpful for you as you are more likely to experience awakenings and connections to your own intuition that help strengthen it within. The Shadow side to this energy is being over-sensitive and jumping to conclusions. Test & Ground your insights before hardwiring them into your Being in any way. Over-taxed nervous system is widely available for all, so try to connect with Mother Earth often. Whatever gets zapped (loosened) can thus be moved to the compost pile. Whatever gets illuminated (becomes conscious) is to be further investigated for merit, but valuable nonetheless. Keep records of ah-ha moments as you won’t be able to immediately act on all of them at the same time and, those you cannot (at this time) often turn into nuggets of gold in your future.

URANUS ENTERS TAURUS

5/15 ~

MARS   SQ   URAN

5/16 ~ Mars (action) ~square~ Uranus (freedom):

This is the “Rebel” energy – what’s your “cause”? If you are clear about your own authentic Truth & Purpose, then this energy is refreshing and uplifting. You acknowledge that change is necessary (and inevitable) and you co-create with this energy to transform your current life. This is a rebirth energy too and being “reborn” is never easy. Worth it – but not easy. However, if you are NOT clear about who you are and what you’re capable of, this energy shines a light on that aspect of your life which you instinctively already know needs an overhaul but for whatever reason you are still holding on to the old habits/patterns. Unwilling or unable to embrace change at this time, you only increase the feeling of being restricted by external energies. Your life is a direct reflection of what’s going on inside you. How’s it lookin’? Check your ego, recommit to your Truth and remember that change is GOOD! And if you don’t go voluntarily (read: consciously), then you’ll get dragged to the new level, kicking and screaming and you’ll be so exhausted when you get there that you may miss the beauty in evolving to the next level. (This IS what you’ve been working toward, correct?) Remember, conscious, effective action creates freedom.

MERC   TRI   SAT

5/18 ~ Mercury (your thinking) ~trine~ Saturn (structure & organization):

This energy is good for deep thinking. You are sharp and your standards are high because you are in ‘strategy mode’. This is a more solitary energy though, so communications with others may be hampered a bit because it is time for you to hold your own, at some new level. It’s time to focus on the details that hold the big dream together, all the little things that make the grand vision work. Some respect that attention to detail while others may consider it nit-picky but it is what the energy supports at this time so don’t worry if others don’t understand at this time. By the same token, you may also feel a little overwhelmed by the many “little things” that cannot be denied or delayed and thus a sense of urgency to get it all done. Beware of a tendency toward pessimism, depression or overwhelm. Try to stay focused on all the blessings that you do have and all that you have accomplished instead of what’s still on the list of things to do (in life). This energy is not intended to make you feel bad about all the things left yet to do, but encourage you to begin the necessary steps for manifesting your dreams. This energy just makes you focus on the practical side of manifesting. Clear the debris, and begin to lay a new, clean, solid foundation beneath your goals. Saturn gets you present to the necessary steps and Mercury helps you think clearly.

VEN   SEXT   URAN

5/19 ~ Venus (relationships, love & money) ~sextile~ Uranus (clarity & inspiration):

This energy, thanks to Uranus, activates a certain spark of electricity in the air. New relationships will have an unusual aspect to them and old ones can break-to-realign in a positive, even fun way with this energy. No monotonous routine, humdrum people or boring collaborations with this one. Use it to access your unique genius and deep well of creativity and then share if you can, with other like-hearted Souls. Take advantage of this energy to tap into areas you may not have realized were available to you before. Keep it light and upbeat; socialize and enjoy the experience of different people or new activities. Keep in mind, however, any relationships begun this week may not be based on qualities needed for long term survival. It is more a time to enjoy the people and experiences that pass through at this time and accept this gift!

The Vibe Report for May 2018

The Vibe Report for May 2018

Greetings

A lot of people have been talking about “The Event” that is supposedly coming. Indeed there is big change in the air, but the feeling I get about “the Event” (it’s always capitalized!) is that it’s like waiting for “the Aliens” to come and rescue us, or waiting for the great Solar Flare to enlighten us. We are alive right now – we are multidimensional – we are powerful beyond our current knowing – and we are going through a deep process of embodying our deepest Soul essence, which is why we’ve been clearing, releasing and filling for so many years. This waiting for an event to save us or shift us is not in integrity with us Human beings living in our power! If we need or want change in our lives it is up to us to create it. We need to walk our talk like never before. Treat one another with kindness and compassion,and especially stop judging and criticizing ourselves and others!

I tuned in and asked my Soul family – Arcuturians and the Vastness of Being – for some guidance on this issue of expectation of a Big Event – now lined up for summer of 2018 during the eclipse cycle in July and August. Here is what they have to say (I include a few of my own comments in italics). Take what resonates and leave the rest behind.

The Vastness of Being

You have been going through a “slow” unfoldment of the shift, which reached a turning point in the beginning of 2013. The frequency has been accelerating of late, like an energetic tsunami, dismantling structures in people’s lives, which can be seen in the global picture and in the local picture.

Many people are experiencing sudden change in their lives and many others are looking around them with feelings of disassociation, a dreamlike quality of floating within structures that feel like they are dissolving – maybe not actually dissolving in physical reality, but there is an aspect of dissolution taking place as one’s ability to stay attached to the way things have been begins to dissipate. (So it’s actually our attachment that is dissolving, giving us the feeling of walking through a dream at times.) This non-attachment will serve you well as you expand into the moment of now.

You find that you have difficulty projecting yourself into the future when making plans and you can’t remember what you did yesterday, let alone this morning. You are realizing your place of focus is in the moment of now – the present moment truly being the only “reality” there is. Of course you need to plan ahead a little bit, but you find that structures of daily life are loosening. Plans made will most likely be changed as all flows together organically. Even in the structure of corporate life, if you allow plans to shift, you will find an even better grouping of cooperative energies and an ability to accomplish tasks in a more fluid way with little effort. The difficulty may lie, when working with others, in other people’s inability to let go and allow the flow. But this is simply Humanity waking up, growing up, becoming sovereign co-creators. We all “awaken” in our own time and as we co-create and flow with the change, even the most resistant will begin to experience a feeling of release, like taking off a shoe that is too tight, when plans change, shift and realign.

As far as changes in the future, of course there will be change. It is part of a grand re-structuring of the way humanity lives on this planet. Sometimes it will be messy, but that also depends on people’s ability to let go and allow freedom and joy to enter in. Within the falling apart is a feeling of freedom.

Many people at this time are clearing out their homes, purging the accumulation of stuff and releasing the energetic clogging that comes with holding onto things from the past. The preparation for change and freedom is happening organically. All anyone needs do is listen to their hearts and make choices that feel expansive instead of restrictive. It is a paradox, living in service to others and practicing listening to our hearts and doing what feels best for us, but it all lines up in a harmonious blending of co-creation.People have been clearing their outer world and their inner world.

We will not attach a timeline to any change because it is not possible to do so. Just know that you have been preparing and continue to prepare by doing what feels right to you at any given time and as long as you can guide yourself into love, and grow the love within you, fear will dissipate along with the structures that no longer serve your highest good.

You (Humanity) are embodying your multidimensionality incrementally, embodying your unique Soul energy and Soul consciousness. This is changing your physical body as well as your outer physical world. As you cooperate and co-create with one another, you will thrive more and more. So ride the wild surf and love one another. Waiting for something to happen is not the path of empowerment. Living with integrity, in service to others, practicing compassion and embodying appreciation for all you experience opens your heart and your life.

With love,

Leilah and the Vastness of Being

Easing into May

Easing into May

May will hopefully be a gentler month than the crazy emotional dodgem car ride that was April.

Last month we had both Pluto and Saturn go retrograde, while Chiron changed signs moving into Aries after 7 years in Pisces. This trio created a feeling like someone continually pushing you under water while you’re simultaneously being squeezed by a vice. On top of this, we had Monday’s Full Moon in Scorpio. Since then then we’ve started to feel some relief and release as the intensity of all April’s movements starts to ease.

If you have any old wounds, old triggers, shadows yet to be fully owned, old issues around father/men/the masculine or stability/security, you may have experienced those flaring up strongly over the past few weeks.

Journal Prompt: Take some time to write about anything that keeps flaring up. Ask: What is this emotion/situation/health issue trying to teach me? Why do I keep pushing away xyz? What would it mean to allow/let in abc?

Globally and collectively we can feel the showreel is running out of tape. It’s like that last episode on Seinfeld where one of them say a joke and the others don’t laugh “We’ve done that one already.” Oh yeah.

The momentum that the old world was running on is done. From personal and family karmic cycles needing to get wrapped up and closed, to the exposure of global elite circles spilling out for all to see, it’s a time when the theatre ushers are escorting everyone out: “It’s time to go find yourselves a new movie.” Meanwhile the curtain has been pulled back by the cleanup crew revealing the truth behind the flashy show.

So here we are in this odd time of truth. Odd because it simultaneously brings up feelings of liberation, freedom, grief, depression, connection and isolation. So many people are going through changes that it can feel like we are all in our little bubbles, doing our best to get air when we can in between dunks. Your usual habit of being there for others may not be possible while you tend to yourself. Likewise your usual support circle may be tired out from their own current goings on.

We take it in turns to do what we can. Some of you may be full of energy creating new initiatives and projects- new systems and structures need to be in place as the old collapses around us. If you have energy to spare look around to see if there is someone who needs your help be it a phone call to check on a friend, a donation of food or clothing, or just listening to someone who needs to talk.

How are you feeling? ????❤️