NIGHT SKY FOR JANUARY 2019

 

NIGHT SKY FOR JANUARY 2019

TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE JANUARY 20, 2019
By The Old Farmer’s Almanac

SKY WATCH JANUARY 2019

by Bob Berman, as featured in The 2019 Old Farmer’s Almanac

  • The year begins with a predawn string of pearls: Some 40 minutes before sunrise on January 1, the Moon, Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury hover from upper right to lower left, low in the eastern sky. Venus is now at its brightest of the year.
  • The alignment on the 2nd finds the Moon between Venus and Jupiter. On the 3rd, the Moon is to the left of Jupiter.
  • Through January, Venus sinks lower at first light but Jupiter is higher; their opposing motions cause them to meet from the 20th to the 26th. At nightfall all month, Mars in Pisces is due south at a bright magnitude 0.

GREAT AMERICAN TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE!

  • A total lunar eclipse on January 20, visible from the entire United States and Canada, begins at 10:34 p.m., with totality starting at 11:41 p.m. Unlike a solar eclipse, which follows a narrow path (and may not be visible to most people), a total eclipse of the Moon can often be observed from anywhere on Earth where it’s nighttime!
  • Lunar eclipses only happen during full Moons; this January 2019 total eclipse of the Moon will appear bigger and brighter than average making it a so-called Supermoon.
  • The Earth’s dark shadow will move over the bright disk of the Moon; our planet will block the Sun’s light while it is between the Sun and Moon, causing the Moon to turn an orangish-red hue. In popular culture, this has been nicknamed the “Blood Moon.”
  • So, I guess you’re going to hear it called a “Supermoon Blood Moon Total Lunar Eclipse”? Or, perhaps it will be nicknamed a “Super Blood Moon Eclipse”? No matter!  This will be the last total lunar eclipse until May 26, 2021 so take time to look up at this celestial phenomenon.

 

Your Lucky Ancient Symbol Card for for January 2 (N.H.) and January 3 (S.H.)

Your Lucky Ancient Symbol Card for for January 2

Futility

Sadly sometimes our desires lead us down paths which have no end and offer us no chance of achieving the results we want. If we persist we end up like Sisyphus: forever rolling a boulder uphill only to have it roll back downhill before we ever get to the top. Futility suggest the existence of just such a situation–we are chasing a prize that will never be ours. Futility indicates a need to rethink our ambitions and direct our energies towards a goal or goals that can be attained.

 

 

 

Your Lucky Ancient Symbol Card for for January 3

Chance

The Chance card denotes a period in which taking risks may produce positive results. This doesn’t mean head off to a casino with your life’s savings! What is suggested is that you should make gains by taking a well calculated risk. For the power of Chance to be fully realized it is essential that you pick your risk carefully, move forward with conviction, and above all else don’t get greedy!

Shuffling the Cards Again, Your Spiritual Influence for January 2 (N.H.) and January 3 (S.H.)

Your Spiritual Influence for January 2

Spiritual influences effecting your life

Five of Swords

Failure and defeat are possible. Injustice and cowardliness may appear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Spiritual Influence for January 3

Spiritual influences effecting your life

Eight of Pentacles Reversed

Possible failure. Vanity and underhandedness must be watched for. Skills may be misused.

Your Weekly Influences for January 2 for (N.H.) and (S.H.)

Your Weekly Influences

 

Tarot Influence

Ten of Swords Reversed

Evil will be defeated. Courage is needed to face challenges. Develop your spiritual self.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Water Reversed

Water reversed denotes secrets to which you are not privy. Approach all ventures with caution.

Your Daily Tarot Card for January 2 (N.H.) and January 3 (S.H.)

Your Daily Tarot Card for January 2

The Empress

Keywords: ideas, creative impulses, intellect!

Astrological Correspondence: Venus

The Empress signifies the queen of life, the ideal woman, the archetypal mother. She represents the matriarchal goddess, being part of nature, fertility, sexuality, and the generative forces. As the life-giving mother she is connected to the Earth and the natural rhythms, the appreciation of the senses. As a card of good fortune she signifies that if we are gentle and caring, as well as patient, we can bring anything to fruition; we have to be able to wait until the time is right for action so that we can reap the rewards; as a result, hard work pays off and relationships become satisfying. The Empress can, in negative situations, also depict vanity, undeveloped creativity, stagnation, and apathy.

 

 

Your Daily Tarot Card for January 3

The Magician

Keywords: work, new beginnings, activity, overwork!

Astrological Correspondence: Mercury

As the archetype of the masculine principle, the Magician represents someone who is able to achieve goals through his creative abilities and his skills in using the tools available to him. The Magician symbolizes the beginning of something new, when everything is possible. It can be a start of a new relationship, the birth of a new idea or creative project, or a financial strategy. The Magician is a confident person realizing his full potential by taking positive action and focusing his attention and energies on the task at hand. This includes employing magic. On the negative side, the Magician represents egotism, treachery, and overconfidence, thereby misleading others into making wrong choices.

How Magical Are You According to Your Sun Sign?

How Magical Are You According to Your Sun Sign?

 

Do you believe in real magic? And by magic we mean serendipity, messages, signs, odd happenings, mysterious manifestations, and getting what you want with the power of your mind. We’re all magical to some degree but how magical are you according to your sun sign?

Note:

  • Fire signs: Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius are really good at candle and sex magic.
  • Air signs: Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius are excellent at mind magic and communication.
  • Water signs: Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces have really well-developed intuitive/feeling skills.
  • Earth signs: Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn are very good at using the power of the earth.

Aries March 21 – April 19

Aries, your strongest abilities lie in your adventurousness and courage. Therefore, your magical abilities lie in these areas too. How many times do things work for you when they would not work out for anyone else? Your sheer willpower carries you through. Tip: when you really want something to manifest for you, think about it at that magical moment before orgasm. All that power will be focused on your desire. Have fun with that.

 

Taurus April 20 – May 20

Taurus, you are so connected to the earth that your power seeps up from the very ground. Earth magic is a powerful force. Draw upon it to create security, stability, and refuge. Love and money spells work well for you because you are already tuned into abundance and certainty. Tip: next time you are thinking of bringing something new into your life, imagine the energy pulsing up through your feet. Like a magnet it attracts exactly what you need.

Gemini May 21 – June 20

Gemini, your magical talent is in your ability to free up your mind. You are like an antenna, tuning into the wild network of thought and communication which surrounds us. You have a skill for picking out the important details, for anticipating what a person will say. This sensitivity can help you in all walks of life. Tip: This is a skill you can develop, don’t ignore it.

Cancer June 21 – July 22

Cancer, you are empathic and emotional. You know how someone feels instinctively. You can feel moods and tune into the atmosphere in a room. Therefore, you would be very good at tarot reading or other divinatory skill. Your ability to counsel someone through a difficult time is also part of your magical repertoire. Tip: Don’t underestimate your own abilities, you have magical skills that can help others.

Leo July 23 – August 22

Leo, your magical abilities lie in the realm of inspiration. You somehow always know what your next move is. It is as if you are guided by an invisible hand. Your personal charisma can be so magical that you always get your way. People always turn up when you need them. Tip: think about how you can use your magical abilities for good things. Giving leads to increased satisfaction.

Virgo August 23 – September 22

Virgo, you have a natural ability for healing. People calm down in your presence. You can call on that earth energy to give you all the strength you need to bring peace to any situation. You are the negotiator, the mediator, and the conciliator. Tip: if you haven’t already, explore the possibilities of becoming a professional healer. You will excel.

Libra September 23 – October 22

Libra, your magical skills lie in your ability to bring beauty, harmony, and balance. As an air sign, you are excellent at communication and you are able to see situations from both sides, including beyond the veil of life and death. You can even tune into messages from the past. Tip: Give yourself permission to listen to those soft, whispering voices.

Scorpio October 23 – November 21

Scorpio, you have a range of magical abilities. From knowing what other people’s true motives are, to communicating with the dead. The main downside is that you are drawn to the black arts as well as using your power for good. Tip: Stop, breathe, and think before you cast that curse. You are more powerful than you know.

Sagittarius November 22 – December 21

Sagittarius, your positive attitude brings what you want, even things you didn’t know you wanted. Your optimism means you are constantly pleased and surprised by these magical, spontaneous deliveries. Tip: If you set your mind to it, your manifestations could be even more deliberate and satisfying. Take time to learn how to manipulate energy.

Capricorn December 22 – January 19

Capricorn, abundance and manifesting your desire are your top skills. However, you have others. That strong pulsing earth energy means you are far more spiritual and magical than you ever thought. You just need to keep an open mind and be prepared to try new things. Tip: buy yourself a book on witchcraft and see what you can do.

 

Aquarius January 20 – February 18

Aquarius, you are probably among the most magical people on the planet. You have the ability to communicate with faery folk and entities hidden from the rest of us. You can see and hear beyond the normal realm. Aquarius, you can create anything you want when you focus your power. Tip: the magical world is your oyster, explore everything.

Pisces February 19 – March 20

Pisces, your abilities lie in the realm of imagination. If you can imagine it, you can create it. Like the other water signs you are also a healer, a visionary, and can empathize with any living soul. Tip: Your special skills are in your dreamworld. Study the language of dreams and develop the ability to lucid dream. A whole new universe of magical possibilities will open up for you.

 

 

–Lunar Cafe

The Daily Horoscopes for Thursday, January 3

The Daily Horoscopes for Thursday, January 3

 

Moon Alert

We have the “all clear” today to shop and do business. The Moon is in Sagittarius.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Sudden opportunities to travel somewhere might fall in your lap today. Plonk! However, if you have a planned itinerary for travel, it might suddenly be cancelled, changed or delayed. Aaggh! However, you might have an unexpected chance to learn something new through a course or a school. Bonus!

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Keep an eye on your banking matters and anything to do with inheritances and shared property because something unexpected could impact these areas. In fact, this is very likely. Therefore, don’t be waiting at the train station when your ship comes in!

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

A friend or a partner might say or do something that you least expect today. Right out of the blue! It could be a surprise suggestion. Or perhaps they will introduce you to someone who is unusual or different? Something will keep you on your toes.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Your work routine will be interrupted today by computer crashes, fire drills, power outages, weather conditions, staff shortages or goofy mistakes. Something unexpected will change things for you. Make sure your schedule is flexible so you can handle this.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

This is an accident-prone day for your kids so if you are a parent – be extra vigilant. Know where they are at all times and remove any potential hazards, especially related to electricity. Meanwhile, social occasions might be suddenly cancelled. Or perhaps you get an unexpected invitation?

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Your home routine will be interrupted today. Small appliances might break down or minor breakages could occur. Perhaps someone surprising knocks on your door? Could be anything. For starters, do get dressed. When you encounter the unexpected, look like you floss and wear deodorant. It helps.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

This is a mildly accident-prone day so pay attention to everything you say and do. Keep your eyes open. The good news is that you might have clever, genius -like ideas because you can think outside of the box today! Stay flexible and go with the flow today.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Keep an eye on your money and possessions because something unusual might occur today. You might find money; you might lose money. Protect what you own against damage, theft or loss. You might also spontaneously buy something you can’t resist!

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Today Mercury is in your sign dancing with wild Uranus. This makes you feel alive and mentally awake! Everything has an exciting quality to it. New ideas and new things will appeal. “Look! A bright, shiny object!” Make sure you have wiggle room to cope with the unexpected.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

You feel restless today. You have that feeling you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop. And indeed, you are. Don’t hold your breath because it is invariably ugly and in the wrong size – we both know this. But with three planets in your sign right now – do you care? Not really.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

You might meet someone younger who is a bit bizarre or unusual. This person might intrigue you and yet, they might also trigger new ideas within you. You might consider doing something new and different or perhaps changing your goals?

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

A discussion with a parent or boss today will surprise you or catch you off guard. This same kind of exchange might occur with a police person – be aware of this. Do not assume you know how your day will unfold because today holds some surprises!

If Your Birthday Is Today

Actor Mel Gibson (1956) shares your birthday today. You are restless and impulsive but you are also dogged, hard-working and you never quit. This is the perfect year to explore meditation, yoga or any discipline that will help you to get a better understanding of who you are. This is also a year of teaching and learning. What you learn this year will be crucial for your success next year.

 

–Georigia Nichols

Took a Nap, Sorry, Your Daily Horoscopes for Wednesday, January 2nd (N.H.)

Your Daily Horoscopes for Wednesday, January 2nd

 

Moon Alert

We have the “all clear” today to shop and do business. The Moon is in Sagittarius.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Today you have a strong urge “to get away from all this.” You feel restless because you are seeking something. Travel would be an excellent choice. Even a mental journey through study, books or films will be rewarding. It’s a good day to meet new friends from foreign countries and other cultures.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Today your emotional experiences are more intense than usual. You might feel possessive about a piece of property or something that is familiar and important to you. You might want something that belongs to someone else. “My precious!”

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Today the Moon is opposite your sign, which draws your attention to your most personal relationships. This is why loved ones and partners will be more important to you than usual; and if you have conflict with someone, you will be more emotional! Guard against knee-jerk reactions. Stay chill.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

It will make you happy to do something to get better organized today. Anything. You might also find that you have to put your own emotional considerations second to the needs or wants of someone else today. (You can do this.)

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

Today the Moon is in a fellow Fire sign, which is good news for you. Nice fit! In romance, you will experience greater emotional depth. (Be still me beating heart.) Relations with female friends will improve. Because your nurturing instincts are aroused, you will feel protective to others. You need to be free to be yourself!

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

This is a good day to cocoon at home or be by yourself in a private place because you need refuge and comfort from the demands of your busy world. Memories of your childhood might bubble to the surface of your mind. “I won’t put my tongue on my sled again.”

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Today you trust your heart over your brain. This is why you will have a gut level of communication with others. This is also why you want to talk about something real and not superficial details about the weather or idle chitchat.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

It’s easy to emotionally identify with something that you own today, which is why you won’t give it away or lend it to anyone. In discussions with someone, you might have to defend yourself about something perhaps your opinions or tastes. (Like what’s with that?)

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Today the Moon is in your sign, which increases your need to belong to friends and loved ones. You want to feel there are special people in your world. However, you might also be more demanding than usual. (It happens.)

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Today you are tempted to withdraw and keep to yourself because it feels more comfortable. Relations with others, especially females, might be challenging. Plus, you don’t feel much like socializing. (We all have days like this.) No biggie.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Your emotional contact with others is important to you today. You might feel protective to a friend or you might attract someone who needs this support. Because your focus is so strongly on friendships today, you might even be jealous if a friend pays more attention to someone else.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

Your private and personal life seem to be on public display for some reason today. Let’s hope the posse isn’t after you. Avoid public arguments in elevators! A discussion with a boss will be important; however, do not blur the lines between personal and professional.

If Your Birthday Is Today

Actress Kate Bosworth (1983) shares your birthday today. You enjoy group activities and are cooperative and competitive. You are hard-working and you have a strong sense of justice. Service to others is your theme this year. Focus on your personal responsibilities to family as well as yourself. Take care of yourself so you are a strong resource. Nurture relationships you value. Explore the arts, enroll in a class.

 

–Georigia Nichols

 

Your Love Horoscopes for the Week of January 1

Your Love Horoscopes for the Week of January 1

Sarah Bartlett, Astrologer

From The Astrology Room

In astrological terms, the year doesn’t begin on the 1st January, but of course this date is ingrained in our Western psyche. So much so, in fact, that we cannot but join in the celebrations, reminisce, regret or rejoice for what has been, and then get jolly and plan a new year of promises and resolutions about this and that.

Yet, as the sun begins to lighten our days little by little (in the northern hemisphere) this naturally is a turning point in nature too, a time when not all is dormant, but is part of an never-ending cycle.  As the poet, Shelley wrote, ‘O wind, if winter comes, can spring be far behind?’ So enjoy planning love’s future, for it won’t be long before it will become your present.

 

ARIES

As the new year comes and goes, you begin to find a way to enjoy yourself without relying on anyone else. If attached, you have new plans, adventurous joint projects and a chance to build a grand future together, so take advantage of innovative ideas that come to you throughout this week.

 

 

TAURUS

The worst thing for you is to feel tied up in emotional knots. But this week, you’re thinking straight and feeling good, so if you’re more excited about saving money than listening you to partner’s crazy ideas, well, why not?  It doesn’t mean you adore money more than you adore your partner, but it does mean it’s time to respect your independent spirit too.

 

 

GEMINI

If single, you may be thinking, ‘well, I’m attracting a load of contenders, but why are they always the wrong types that I find so disappointing or just unavailable?’ Yet, as the planets start to change for the better in your chart, the ‘wrong type’ will begin to change to the ‘right type’, and the desire to get on with life and love will be far more enticing.

 

 

CANCER

Although most of your friends believe that love is about settling down, you’re wondering how to do in a way that will also maintain your autonomy. So are you really going to conform to the expectations of others, or follow your true desires? Make a decision based on what you truly want, not what others want you to be.

 

 

LEO

This week, you feel like love personified and someone is certainly getting heated under the collar about you. But, there’s something stopping you from getting close, and that’s the fear of committing yourself too soon. Radiating charisma, you can now truly realise those love goals.

 

 

VIRGO

Sometimes we feel ‘at one’ with the universe. This usually happens when we fall in love and that’s when everything else becomes meaningless.  If single, you may experience those moments again this week, and if attached, it’s timely to rekindle your passion. You will be at one, not only with another, but with yourself and life too.

 

 

LIBRA

Commit yourself to a current quest so that you can really engage with love. This week, the romantic soul within is calling you on to adventure forth and navigate the chilly waters of feeling, and head for warmer shores. Don’t rock your love boat. Jump in, take the helm, and honour your quest.

 

 

SCORPIO

You want to escape, to where, you’re not sure. But it does feel as if you need to get out and do something new and exciting. This week, lovers or partners are at last ready to join you on a new mission for the new year. The change you seek is on its way, and the freedom you need is exciting everyone.

 

 

SAGITTARIUS

A few weeks ago, you might remember, the change of planetary energy was supposed to augur the bright, enchanting new you that everyone would love and desire? Well, funnily enough through all the melodrama, it will now begin to work its magic. Get ready to show how loveable and loving you are.

 

 

CAPRICORN

At this time of year, birthday or not, you’re also very realistic and organised about what you want to happen next year. In fact, this is one of those weeks when things begin to fall into place, and any love issues seem less fraught, fragile or frivolous. Whether you’re in the party spirit or saying humbug, you know that something beautiful is going to manifest, but it’s up to you to work on it.

 

 

AQUARIUS

Think of the present as an adventure. Embrace adventure. Let adventure love you back, and you can continue through the coming weeks with a smile on your face. Enjoy the unexpected rather than retreat from it or try to control it. You never know what might happen on the way to love’s open door.

 

 

PISCES

Over these festive celebrations, sad, good or joyful memories have been hard to shake off, but don’t feel you have to run away from feeling anything. Yet with the new year comes new contacts, a fresh perspective on yourself, and a glimpse of a creative love relationship just round the corner. All this will inspire you to be determined to enjoy the coming months ahead. So your catchphrase this new year has to be,  ‘vive la difference.’

To book a private tarot or astrology telephone consultation with Sarah, wherever you are in the world, click here.
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Your Monthly Horoscopes for January 2019

Your Monthly Horoscopes for January 2019

Claire Petulengro, Astrologer

From The Astrology Room

 

ARIES (March 21st-April 20th)

You know Aries, we fall forward to succeed. Remember this. I know the events from the end of last year are still playing heavily on your mind. However, you’re about to discover what good can come from tearing off that metaphorical plaster which was the emotional scar you have been carrying around. You’ve waited long enough and this year is all about you discovering the best version of you. January is also the perfect time for you rams to give up any bad habits you’ve failed to quit before.

 

TAURUS (April 21st-May 21st)

If you work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen, right? There was a time when you could have believed this, but the last year’s events have seen you having to grow a thicker skin. Luckily for you, the stars are about to reward you for your efforts by bringing come uppance to those who did you wrong. Keep your ears open as you’ll be hearing why you were right to move on from those who only ever brought stress into your life. Family prove demanding between the 12th and 18th for reasons you’ll discover are actually worth giving into.

 

GEMINI (May 22nd-June 21st)

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind, don’t matter and those who matter, don’t mind. Don’t forget what sign you are Gemini. Work instead on bringing those determined and focused traits to the fore. Finishing what others can’t is your talent and you’re about to turn an awkward situation into a lucky one. The home comes under the spotlight from the 12th when you may find yourself having to sign detailed documents.

 

CANCER (June 22nd-July 23rd)

Being nice to those you do business with this month can make all the difference as to whether you end January in the red or the black. For too long now you have been allowing someone else to dictate what you think and how you feel and it’s time for you to take back control. An ex is on your mind for all the wrong reasons and it would be to your advantage to sit down and deal with it. Why? So you can move on, as there’s a reason you have been able to live without them, isn’t there?

 

LEO (July 24th-August 23rd)

Put yourself forward this month Leo. Oh, I know you’re still licking your wounds from all that occurred over the last six weeks but, if you open your eyes and take those blinkers off, then you’ll see that you’re still here and life is still being lived. Use this very reflective month to think about what you really want from your long term future. I think you’ll find the goalposts have moved. New faces you mix with from the 19th onwards help you see what new things are possible for your future.

 

VIRGO (August 24th-September 23rd)

Why are you worrying so much what other people think of you? Surely it would be far cleverer to make up your own mind about what you want from the future. For the last two years Virgo, you have been trying to merge with the crowds rather than standing out independently. Luckily for you, that phase is about to come to an end. Get ready to feel the thirst for success again and don’t be afraid to go out on a limb.

 

LIBRA (September 24th-October 23rd)

If the decision you made was wrong, then make it right! I see from your stars that a reflective mood has left you open to emotional manipulation. Remember who you are, where you are going, and what you want from your life. You begin this new year meeting with like minded people who can help you beat the competition. Short cuts will be available to you which have previously not been a possibility.

 

SCORPIO (October 24th-November 22nd)

Business matters come to the fore, as does the need to get your house of finances in order. Be careful of telling others’ secrets this month. What you think to be public knowledge could well have only been news which a handful of people were privy to. You spend much of the next few weeks building up the trust which others will put into you. So, think before you act and try not to repeat information you have not heard first hand. 

 

SAGITTARIUS (November 23rd-December 21st)

It must feel as if there are not enough hours in the day. Why don’t you try asking for help though Sagittarius? Or are you still being affected by that stubborn streak which took root just before Christmas. News on family matters may make you feel as if you need to make changes to your own life but, if you all work as a team, then your life can actually become a more manageable place to be. Help works both ways in January.

 

CAPRICORN (December 22nd-January 20th)

Live boldly, push yourself and don’t settle Capricorn. You should have learnt by now that it’s only by being true to who you are, that your close ones will give you complete acceptance. The way that you do your job is likely to be changing. Don’t be opposed to change, but be open to it instead. It’s the key to you making your new responsibilities ones you’ll enjoy. Careful with money after the 23rd when you’re going to be asked to pay out for something you didn’t expect.

 

AQUARIUS (January 21st-February 19th)

It has not been easy for you to be honest about what you want lately. However, this month you have no choice, as what you want can’t stay around waiting for answers after the 17th. Do what needs to be done and be bold about your emotions. If you are willing to speak from the heart before the 10th then the impossible can become possible. Don’t get involved in game playing at work midmonth. You and I know you are better than that.

 

PISCES (February 20th-March 20th)

Accept the challenges, so you can enjoy the victory! Last year was a lot of hard work and not a lot of fun. This year that has to change and it’s only if you can make a conscious effort to balance your personal and professional life that this will happen. When you put your mind to something Pisces, then anything is possible. Use the determined mind your sign possesses to take steps towards your dreams. The stars are behind you. Watch out for a so called friend trying to use your money for their own. Ring now to hear how this month tells you who your real allies are!

 

To book a private tarot, horoscope or clairvoyant reading with Claire over the telephone, click here.
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Welcome to 2019! Cosmic Weather Horoscopes for 2019

Welcome to 2019!

by Jane Lyle, Astrologer

From The Astrology Room

 

Welcome to 2019! We’re still crossing the bridge, still very much in transition. 2019’s astrology brings us some beautiful spiritual and creative possibilities too. Focusing on these can help us negotiate what lies ahead. It promises to be a transformational year in many ways, with powerful Pluto, Lord of the Underworld, asking us to clear out what’s negative and reform what’s outlived its purpose. This can be exhilarating, but scary too. Eventually, Pluto offers us treasures and energy. So when the going gets tough, remember there’s a bright light at the end of the tunnel and keep moving towards it. It’s not the light of an approaching train…..

 

A Thought I Like for 2019:

“The little space within the heart is as great as the vast universe.

The heavens and the earth are there, and the sun and the moon and the stars. Fire and lightening and winds are there, and all that now is and all that is not.”

― Swami Prabhavananda, The Upanishads: Breath from the Eternal

 

The big cosmic patterns in 2019’s astrology involve optimistic Jupiter, dreamy Neptune, and practical Saturn and Pluto. The zodiac signs involved are Sagittarius, Pisces, and Capricorn – so planets in these signs in your chart are highlighted this coming year.

 

If you have planets or points in your own personal birth chart at around 14 – 18 degrees of any sign, this year’s astrology patterns energise your chart.

 

Special Sun Sign birthdays for 2019 are:

 

Aries:  3rd April – 8th April

 

Taurus: 4th May – 9th May

 

And if you’re an April Taurus, born between 20th – 27th April – exciting, eccentric Uranus is heading your way. This could be an outstanding year of reinvention for you!

 

Gemini: 4th June – 9th June

 

Cancer: 5th July – 11th July

 

Leo: 6th August – 11th August

 

Virgo: 6th September – 11th September

 

Libra: 6th October – 12th October

 

Scorpio: 5th November – 11th November

 

Sagittarius: 5th December – 11th December

 

All Sagittarians have a year with huge potential. Jupiter, your energy source, is in Sagittarius. Your sense of adventure thrives, just be cautious with your cash.

 

Capricorn: 3rd January – 11th January

 

Aquarius: 2nd February – 8th February

 

Pisces: 2nd March – 8th March

 

January 2019 shows us much of the flavour of the year ahead. Two of the big cosmic patterns for the year begin this month, repeating exactly in June, September and November this year. These themes are ongoing – with creative, spiritual dreams and adventures at their heart. Yet there’s a great deal of work to do to make things solid, and some seductive pitfalls to avoid along the way.

 

Faith, Hope and Charity: Jupiter in Sagittarius square Neptune in Pisces 2019

 

Jupiter in Sagittarius squares up to Neptune in Pisces this year. Both planets are in spiritual, philosophical signs, and in the signs they rule. Each planet will express itself strongly this year. You’ll likely be extra aware of this if you have your Sun, or other planets, in Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius or Pisces.

 

Jupiter and Neptune are fluid, flexible, and dreamy in 2019. So there are big, beautiful dreams buoying us up. These expanded feelings favour travel, exploration, charity, imagination and vision. Helping others, and exploring our own imaginations, spirituality and intuition bring many of us fulfilment this year. It could be an important year for the major world religions, for migration issues, and for sport too.

 

The downside of Jupiter and Neptune is inflation – from gaining weight, to hosting delusional ideas about ourselves and the world around us. We’re looking at gorgeous, pearly bubbles with no substance, and more than a few huge scandals.

 

Specifically, we must be very wary of:

 

*Smooth-talking snake oil salesmen

 

*Greedy gurus

 

*Get rich quick schemes and gambling

 

*Our personal boundaries – its easier than usual to let the wrong one in, whether in love, business, or friendship. What’s right will eventually become clear, so please do take your time.

 

*Announcing things on social media without thinking it through – Jupiter and Neptune have few filters or fact checkers on board.

 

Jupiter squares Neptune exactly on these dates:

 

13th January 2019 at 14 degrees

16th June 2019 at 18 degrees

21st September at 17 degrees

 

However, the themes of this glamorous pair will ebb and flow until the autumn.

 

Rock and Soul – Saturn in Capricorn sextile Neptune in Pisces, 2019

 

Our big dreams can remain just that, and never materialise. But Saturn, strong in its home sign of practical Capricorn, is here to help us manifest our ideas and visions by making a productive aspect to foggy old Neptune. Each aspect follows that expansive Jupiter and Neptune party almost straight away, encouraging many of us to not only keep it real, but to take patient steps towards tangible outcomes.

 

Saturn is known for restraint and boundaries, and can act to limit wild excess. Making a dream real can be quite a struggle, but Saturn builds to last. What we create may not be quite as amazing as what we can imagine, yet with Saturn there we can be sure it will be a solid piece of work, or a lasting relationship.

 

This year Jupiter, Neptune, and Saturn are all expressing their essence from the signs they rule. So I think they should be able to work together to produce something truly worthwhile in the end. Optimism, fairy dust, and hardworking patience – what else could we need?!

 

Here’s a story to illustrate what I mean about this astrological theme:

 

‘When I came to Dungeness….I had no thought of building a garden. It looked impossible: shingle with no soil supported a sparse vegetation. Outside the front door a bed had been built – a rockery of broken bricks and concrete: it fitted in well. One day, walking on the beach at low tide, I noticed a magnificent flint. I brought it back and pulled out one of the bricks. Soon I had replaced all the rubble with flints. They were hard to find, but after a storm a few more would appear. The bed looked great, like dragon’s teeth – white and grey. My journey to the sea each morning had purpose.’

 

– Derek Jarman ‘Derek Jarman’s Garden’ (1995)

 

Derek Jarman (31st January,1942) was a film director, set designer, artist, gardener, author and gay rights activist.

 

Born with Sun in innovative Aquarius, Jarman had Saturn in gardener’s Taurus aligned with eccentric Uranus also in Taurus – where Uranus is now. Their practical magic combined with Neptune in meticulous Virgo. Virgo is opposite seawater Pisces, where Neptune now rules supreme.

 

You can see how the painstaking creation of a beautiful, unconventional garden in a bleak, stony coastal setting echoes these planetary patterns. These patterns, in turn, echo some of 2019’s Saturn, Neptune and Jupiter possibilities.

 

Derek Jarman died of AIDS in 1994. ‘Derek Jarman’s Garden’ was the last book he wrote.

 

Saturn in Capricorn sextiles Neptune in Pisces exactly on these dates:

 

31st January 2019 at 14 degrees

18th June 2019 at 18 degrees

9th November 2019 at 16 degrees

 

If you have planets or points around these degrees of any sign in your own personal horoscope, your chart is energised by 2019’s Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune story.

 

Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf ?

 

Some deeply serious astrological themes are building up throughout 2019.

 

Saturn in Capricorn joins Pluto in Capricorn in January 2020, but these heavyweight planets draw close to one another all year. As they do, the circumstances and actions they represent will become more and more obvious. This is an important cycle for the world around us, and for our development and security of every kind here on Earth – including privacy, financial security, and vital resources.

 

In our personal lives, Saturn and Pluto can symbolise power and powerful people in our worlds – our parents, bosses, the forces of law and order, and our own sense of security and safety.

 

Above all, this pair flag up the deep need for a change in our collective habits, and perhaps even some of our laws. Pluto can be the great regenerator, and one result of this astrological era will be new ways to care for our environment. We may have to endure some very dramatic weather, or other shocks to the global system to push us forwards. But sticking to what’s old and refuses to change will not work. A tipping point has arrived. Saturn the Time Lord often ends things, Pluto will eventually demolish what’s not working and aim to recycle what’s useless.

 

However, if we can work with them, we can reorganise and rethink the structures we often take for granted. When we fail to co-operate at such times, we get turmoil. We do have a clear choice, and I’m certainly not forecasting the end of the world. We have a powerful opportunity to rebuild in new ways in the next few years, so lets take it.

 

The astrology:

 

Saturn conjunct Pluto in Capricorn is exact for the first time on 12th January 2020, at 22 degrees Capricorn.

 

However, we’ll feel its approach throughout 2019.

During December 2019 Saturn travels from 18 degrees Capricorn to 21 degrees. Pluto begins December at 21 Capricorn, reaching 22 degrees by 20th December.

 

Moon Diary Overview: The Eclipses of 2019

 

Eclipses are, basically, supercharged new and full Moons. They occur when the Sun, Moon, and Earth line up – with the Earth between the Sun and Moon at a lunar eclipse (full Moon), and Moon between the Earth and Sun at a solar eclipse (new Moon). Often, this intense cosmic energy seems to be reflected in our weather, with an eclipse bringing storms or other natural upheavals.

 

Each time, something is obscured or eclipsed. And this is part of the meaning of an eclipse – something is hidden in ourselves or our lives, information may not be fully revealed or understood until later on.

 

When an eclipse lines up with a planet in your horoscope, or the horoscope of a nation, company, or other organisation, it acts like a wild card. Its effects can linger for months, or even kick in some weeks beforehand. The planets it has touched remain sensitive, they have a message for us. Energy flows, either as a dynamic beginning or as some kind of release or paying back of debts on many levels.

 

This year’s eclipses (apart from one) are all in Cancer the Crab or Capricorn the Sea Goat. They highlight security, money, family issues, ancestry, government, and ambition. And while none of them may connect with your own chart, their effects in various locations on Earth can affect all our lives in ways great and small.

 

6th January: New Moon and Solar Eclipse at 15 Capricorn

 

A deep and earthy solar eclipse in dynamic Capricorn opens 2019. It’s focused on money, banking, power and – eventually – the transformation and release of old patterns and karma.  Anything fixed or rigid (rules, boundaries, foundations, rocks, bones….) will need to be assessed – is it useful or appropriate any more? Are the foundations strong enough?

 

This solar eclipse sits between brooding Pluto and serious Saturn. Are there blockages? Are there secret schemes, power ploys, or hidden motives?  This eclipse says that we will all have to be very practical, responsible, and realistic about resources, cash, and the earth itself. Big corporate organisations have enormous power in our world. Can they learn to use it wisely? We can always hope…..

 

It’s vital we pay close attention to what crops up now in our own lives, and out there in the big, bad world. It’s a stark message from those ultimate grown-ups, Saturn and Pluto. They draw ever closer to each other this year, until they align exactly in January 2020.

 

There’s not much wiggle room. What flexibility there is may come from a deep understanding of the connectedness of all things, for the eclipse aligns with a mystical, musical fixed star, Vega, in the constellation Lyra, the Lyre. Neptune’s presence, aspecting both Sun and Moon, offers spiritual possibilities on the one hand, misty delusions and scandals on the other. We must stay awake.

 

This eclipse is an important one for Russia, and many countries that were once part of the former Soviet Union.

 

The eclipse has a message about government, finances, and leadership for the UK, and the EU with their Capricorn Suns.

 

The USA with its 4th July Sun exactly opposite this eclipse in Cancer, the Crab will also have much to consider this January. Serious business is afoot, but some information will remain hidden for a while yet.

 

This is a South Node eclipse, with a karmic message and a need for release, giving back, and caution. Something in our news or in our lives is ‘eclipsed’ at this time. Making big decisions or judgments is best delayed for a week or two – wait until things settle, or new facts emerge.

 

The astrology: The Sun and Moon at 15 Capricorn are conjunct Saturn at 12 Capricorn, and Pluto at 20 Capricorn. Sun and Moon are sextile Neptune at 14 Pisces.

 

Mars in Cancer switches this eclipse on again between 7th – 10th June. Events and themes related to the eclipse emerge strongly again at that time.

 

 

21st January: Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse at 0 Leo

 

This is a North Node eclipse, stirring up plenty of energy and scattering surprises around us, with a challenging aspect to Uranus (28 Aries) heralding what’s unusual, unexpected or even disruptive. Look out for new inventions and original ideas too.

 

And it’s the final eclipse in Leo for a while. We’ve had a series of them, all generally highlighting leadership, royalty, family, celebrities, creativity and children. There could be big news about those subjects in the days around this eclipse as certain situations come to a head.

 

This lunar eclipse highlights news and events in many locations now and over the next six months. These include the UK; Russia; Greece; Spain; France; Israel and North Korea.

 

It’s worth watching, too, when Mars in Leo vitalises this eclipse again on 1st – 2nd July. There’s another eclipse to think about then as well – expect a bit of a shake up around these dates. It’s a hotspot.

 

 

2nd July: New Moon and Solar Eclipse at 10 Cancer

 

This solar eclipse in security loving Cancer is one of a challenging eclipse family called Saros 127. This eclipse family repeats every eighteen years. It can herald difficult financial conditions or unstable markets. Some previous eclipses in this series coincided with these notable financial events:

 

1857: The Panic of 1857 – Crash – USA, Europe

1893: The Panic of 1893 – Crash and depression – USA, Australia, UK

1929: Wall Street Crash

2001: 9/11 and financial crash, notably in Argentina

 

This eclipse opposes the Capricorn Sun in the charts for the EU, UK, and numerous other locations where the natal national chart is set for 1st January. Security and finances are in the news more than usual now.

 

The Sun and Moon align with the Cancer Sun in Italy’s 2nd July, 1871 chart, and are close to the USA’s Cancer Sun on its 4th July founding horoscope. Watch out for turning point news from both locations this summer.

 

There are, of course, many other locations where this eclipse, and 2019’s Saturn “reality bites” effect, will be felt around the world.

 

This is a North Node eclipse – we can expect a lot of discussion, energy, and important world news this summer. This pivotal eclipse marks beginnings that may be hard to see straight away.

 

 

16th July: Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse at 24 Capricorn conjunct Pluto

 

This is a South Node eclipse, highlighting destiny and release. With powerful Pluto there, this eclipse brings deep feelings and subconscious forces to the surface. This eclipse could herald news of secret corruption, espionage, or yet more information about banking and finance. The desire to clear and clean our world, homes, or thoughts will be strong, even intense.

 

This eclipse could be meaningful between now and December for Saudi Arabia; Australia; Nigeria and Lebanon.

 

26th December: New Moon and Solar Eclipse at 4 Capricorn

 

This Boxing Day eclipse promises to be very fortunate for some of us. Sometimes what goes around comes around in a good way – and a renewed sense of freedom and freshness may be one of fate’s gifts to us all. A different, innovative approach to finances can be one of the changes highlighted by this eclipse.

 

This is a South Node eclipse, conjunct Jupiter in Capricorn, trine Uranus in Taurus.

 

It’s lively energies are active now, and in the coming months, in the national horoscopes for Greece; Brazil; Germany; Indonesia and Tibet.

 

Your Daily Cosmic Calendar for January 2 (N.H.) and January 3 (S.H.)

COSMIC CALENDAR

A burst of optimism may accompany the arrival of the moon in Sagittarius (1:00 a.m.) after the lunar orb’s fairly long void zone on January 1. Focusing attention on reaching long-range goals is a major theme of the moon’s monthly transit through the ninth sign of the zodiac. Rekindle your enthusiasm for a favorite sport and exercise routines as the moon trines Mars in fire signs (2:43 a.m.).

With the annual sun-Saturn conjunction in the rearview mirror, take advantage of a more satisfying, 30-degree solar rapport with good-fortune benefactor Jupiter (12:50 p.m.). Literary and educational pursuits are emphasized throughout the day. Look forward to tuning into an array of golden opportunities during the first lunar rendezvous with Jupiter in 2019, occurring at 12:24 a.m. on Thursday.

[Note to readers: All times are calculated as Pacific Standard Time. Be sure to adjust all times according to your own local time so the alignments noted above will be exact for your location.]

Copyright 2018 Mark Lerner & Great Bear Enterprises, Ltd. 

Astrology.com

 

COSMIC CALENDAR

As indicated in yesterday’s calendar entry, providential energies abound as the moon and Jupiter unite in ebullient Sagittarius (12:24 a.m.). Stop worrying about things you cannot control. Mercury becomes a potent planetary player by making a square to Chiron (2:43 p.m.), followed by a trine to Uranus (9:14 p.m.). Tweaking the Mercury-Chiron link away from creating unnecessary mistakes and into the direction of enjoying a healing treatment you know will be soothing.

While the Mercury-Uranus liaison suggests that breakthroughs in higher consciousness are within your grasp, romance may experience the big chill as Venus interacts with Saturn via a dicey, 45-degree contact (11:00 p.m.).

[Note to readers: All times are calculated as Pacific Standard Time. Be sure to adjust all times according to your own local time so the alignments noted above will be exact for your location.]

Copyright 2017 Mark Lerner & Great Bear Enterprises, Ltd.

Astrology.com

 

Year of Beginnings, – January 2019 Energy Update

Year of Beginnings, – January 2019 Energy Update

This is a transcript of the Lee’s spoken January Energy Update video.

Year of Beginnings, Visioning and Manifesting, “The One Relationship” Upgrade

2019 – YEAR OF BEGINNINGS

2019 is going to be a Year of Beginnings.

2012-2019, was a 7 year cycle of clearing energetically.

2019-2026 is going to be a cycle of elevation – a brand new beginning, bringing with it a lot of momentum and forward movement.

What will this look like on the ground? With the intensity of the energetics that have been going on the past few years, many of you have been coming to the end of the road in lives that you have either been struggling to maintain, or trying to make work but found that things just aren’t working or sticking. For those of you in that group, this is going to be a really good year to shift things forward. The pain or discomfort of where you have been will propel you forward to create change powerfully and purposely.

And for those of you who are already feeling clear or elevated and excited about the future, this cycle will bring the very revolution and evolution that you are wanting to see. You are primed and ready to help create and usher those changes in, and the growing support and evidence of that awakening is going to be far more apparent to us in this next seven years.

Over the last seven years (and heightened since 2012), we have seen the straps coming off on the old. The world has been undergoing a very slow, uncomfortable death of old systems, old ways of being, and this hasn’t been easy for any of us to go through. If you are a highly sensitive or empathic person and you are picking up on the energy, the ripple effect in the world may have made it feel like you have taken a beating in recent years. However, now is the time for empaths, sensitives and healers to figure out their path here, and find their way of strength.

If any of you are reading this and feeling that this is your story, and you are just an observer in the world but don’t feel part of it, remember you aren’t here to just be an observer. None of us are – we are here to perform and create as much as we are here to observe and show up in our lives and honor our path.

This kind of depressed or repressed state can happen if we don’t look at the bigger picture of our lives, and if we only focus on chaos or fear or panic going on in the outer world. In this mode only, we tend to become disempowered, lose our faith, lose our passion and our energy; the very things that the world and your life needs more of now than ever before.

So if this is you, 2019 is going to be a great year if you are willing to change things up and move forward. Ask yourself:

  • What do I need?
  • What do I want?
  • What do I need next to feel some connection and passion in my life?
VISIONING AND MANIFESTING

One of the great things about this month of January, is it’s a perfect month to think about intentions. Now, of course, we as a collective group share this tradition in January of making New Year’s resolutions.

This year, can you make those from an expansive place of possibility? For example, some people will make their new year’s resolutions based on what they don’t like about themselves, don’t like about their life, what they are mad at about or what they didn’t get. And of course this isn’t a strong foundation to intend from. New year’s resolutions, when made through fear and judgement, lose manifestational power because of the intent they are made from. They are built on shaky, wounded ground.

The reason we are mad or sad about things is that we are here to understand WHY we are mad about those things, so we can heal and move beyond. When we understand that this is the process of the soul’s journey as a human, rather than those things or events themselves, we can quickly move from frustration and resistance into creative manifestation from a healed and strong place. So if defeatist energy, victimhood or negative thoughts come up for you when you create your intentions (which is in and of itself, a healing process), that’s great to notice and take a moment to ask yourself some questions, such as:

  • What am I mad or sad about?
  • How far back does this go?
  • How can I help myself move and change this?

The other energy we may meet in January if we don’t get conscious, will be a surfacing of the oldest and heaviest blocks we have to moving forward.

So if you are sick of your money situation, a certain relationship, or if there’s a certain thing that you need to say or do, be aware that it might get chronic before it gets better in the early couple of weeks of January.

This is because the January energy is rising everything to the surface so that you can clear the way to look ahead. See January as a month of final clearing, forward visioning and the internal.

From February, the world is going to become a lot more vocal externally and the outer world, the action side of our world, is going to rise again.

So January is a quieter month to focus on what you want to manifest and how you can create. Those of you who really take time to listen, slow down, take space in January – you are going to see the best effects.

Those of you that are trying to keep up with the bus, keep up with other people’s agendas while feeling exhausted or pulled around, it’s going to get worse for you if you don’t start to take a moment to just slow down. Because you really need to take charge of your capacity, your limits and create a new blueprint for your future if I’m describing your reality. A future that includes you.

7 YEAR CYCLE

January 2019 is a time to get really clear – not just about the year ahead – but about the seven years to come. It would be powerful to write yourself a seven year plan; the things that you would like to experience, the things that you would like to bring into your life, the things that you would like to create and what you would like to see shift in the world.

These moments where we play with our future in this way, are ways to open back up to our soul. The outcome of this kind of dreaming and visioning is less important than the fact we are taking time to do it, to listen and to connect.

“THE ONE RELATIONSHIP” – RELATIONSHIP UPGRADES

Which leads me to the other key aspect of this next seven year cycle, and that is the elevation of our relationships.

Relationships have had a strong focus in recent years – a lot of people have been clearing ancestral connections, attachments, wounds with and through each other. Many have very quickly formed friendships, partnerships, business relationships in order to do this, and so many of those have sometimes quickly blown up or changed fast in the past 2-3 years. This is part of the clearing cycle around relationships, so lessons and learnings have been moving faster than before.

So as the next seven years are in an elevation cycle, many of you are going to experience what I would call “the one relationship” more. It’s when we start to no longer feel a difference between the connection we have after a two minute conversation with a stranger that we’ve never met, and one we have with a person in our life that we’ve known for maybe 10 years.

It’s not that you don’t value the 10 year history that you have with someone, because that is its own thing with its own specific value. But in terms of the ability to connect with somebody, it’s actually all the same.

We are all human hearts, human souls, human minds, human bodies, and even if we don’t fully know each other’s stories (because we haven’t shared yet or developed that intimacy), we can be compassionate and connected to one another at an all new level when we start to adopt this way of being. So the one relationship, feeling that everything is one relationship, is birthing now and will be stronger than ever in the coming 7 years. Many of you are already experiencing this, but it’s on the increase for all of you. And for those of you who don’t experience what I’m describing often, that’s going to be something that will be more at the forefront than ever before in your next few years, so enjoy it!

Alongside that, it can mean that you trusting to speak your truth at the right moment is going to go on to an all time high in January, February, March – these first few months of the year. It can mean you making subtle or dramatic changes to certain relationships is going to come to the forefront. And your relationship with yourself is paramount too, in terms of your honesty with yourself around things you wish to change. The good news is this energy of truth-telling will have a lot of grace behind it in 2019, so for most, it will become a more normal and rewarding experience than ever before.

INTENSITY IS UNIVERSAL AND TRUE

The feeling of intensity that we have gone through the last few years is universal and it is true. So, if you are somebody who is feeling knocked by the ripple effects of change around you, make sure you carve out time for yourself from now on, otherwise it can be overwhelming. If you are somebody who feels you have been dragged under the wave, really get creational in the next couple of months and give yourself time to plan a very different future for yourself. Bring in new activities and a new way of dealing with your time and your choices.

Ask yourself:

  • What do I need?
  • How do I stay balanced?
  • Am I looking after myself?

We never know how many days we have left on Earth. It’s always a stark reminder to me whenever I have death close to me that it’s very easy for us in our minds to put certain things off in life.

Don’t put yourself off this year – trust that whatever it is that you are trying to drive toward in yourself, for your life, will actually also be for everyone else, because that’s often the excuse that sensitives and healers will make, “Well, I don’t know if this is really serving anybody else.”

Well, do it, try it and then see.

Because the dream energy that we have in our hearts is actually a dream for the whole planet, and is the healing key we all need at this time. When we activate our personal dreams, we become more connected to life. And that connection energy is then rocket fuel to others, as it ripples out from you, to everybody else.

I wish you a wonderful new 2019, take care of yourselves, and remember, we are all in this together.

Big Love

Lee x

Yearly Astro-Forecast For 2019

Yearly Astro-Forecast For 2019

As we step from one year into another, it seems wise to take at least a few moments to ponder the paths we’ve walked, the path we’re walking and the paths spanning out into the distance. It’s easy to look back at the ‘bigger picture’ of the year, to those experiences that have shaped and flavoured everything else, as it’s usually only a small – and often incongruent – selection of experiences that come together to define the essence of our lives. We have one or two pivotal moments that create a defining and overarching theme. It’s therefore clear to see why we then forget so much, as the flavours of our experiences weave and twist around our consciousness until they become ingrained and entrenched in our DNA.

2018 was certainly full of many different experiences that we could say were ‘life changing’ and we can look back to see just how much we’ve shifted over the last twelve months. Of course, this is always the case as we are always changing, evolving and growing, but there is more of an intensity to this process now, as though time has speeded up and we’ve slowed down in order to feel the full force of each and every moment. Whilst this brings us great wisdom, it’s also exhausting. As in previous years, there have been times when it’s felt as though the very fabric of our beings has been torn apart in order to be re-shaped and re-defined into something fresh and new.

Although we are still walking on the same planet and gazing at the same stars, there is a palpable shift as everything seems somehow altered. It’s as though our senses have grown more intense and we can hear every thought, word and sound which is overwhelming and delightful at the same time. We’re more awake than ever before, and whilst this can make it hard to gain moments of pause to breathe deeply, there are more opportunities to connect to life in a more enriching way.

2019 looks set to be a year of continued shift, but a year where we find new ways to surf those waves of change with more passion and confidence than ever before. Life is a constantly moving force, and we are always shifting and evolving, but this is something to celebrate as we find new opportunities to share our gifts. It’s time to grab hold of life and to realise that every day is for living and for making the most of being alive. This may sound a little glib, but it’s true, it’s just that we often prefer to sit on the fence, erring on the side of caution, preferring not to embrace a life that makes our hearts sing, but one that is, on balance, the most sensible. So, it’s time to ask yourself if you’re truly happy. Is your soul all warm and fuzzy when you wake up in the morning because you are honouring your true essence and living the best life you can live?

Some will respond that ‘back in the real world, following dreams is only for the few, not the many’ and ‘dreams don’t pay the bills’ but is that really true? Who decides who gets to follow their dreams? Is it the dream that doesn’t pay the bill or the belief? Our thoughts shape our reality and whilst we still have responsibilities (including bills), if we limit our existence because of restrictive beliefs, this only serves to limit us even further. Whilst life doesn’t carry any guarantees, nothing in life is certain, not even the status quo we often fight so hard to maintain.

Life trips us up, beliefs create brick walls and the challenges we face can crush our spirits, but we’re all still here. We may feel a bit battered and bruised, but we are wiser, stronger and brighter than ever. It’s important to honour our courage and to realise that we are not driftwood that’s been passively carried through the stormy seas of recent years, but we are vibrant, conscious beings. Whilst we are inevitably carried along by the currents of life, we have access to sails, a rudder and an anchor! We are beginning to savour our deeper connection to listen to each sound, to allow each smell to delicately dance around our nostrils and to feel more interconnected to everyone and everything.

Many of the challenges we’ve faced both individually and collectively have led many into isolation, into feeling increasingly disconnected and alone. Cracks have appeared and we’ve been unable to hide behind the veneer of ‘normal’ as the concept of normalcy has crashed and burned. It’s only when we’ve reached out that we’ve realised we are not alone but walking alongside a great many others experiencing similar shifts and rips in time. The discord between those who want to awaken and those that don’t seems greater now and this is hard to reconcile, but the more willing we are to open up our hearts and souls to living in more interconnected ways, the further this will reach out into the world. We may feel powerless to change the bigger picture, but if we can focus on finding peace within our own hearts and souls then we can collectively begin to create ripples of change. This takes courage but we’re ready now…

I wish you a bright, happy, healthy and joyful year ahead.

With love,

Sarah-Jane

Aries

As the fires begin to burn more brightly within your heart and soul, there is a sense you are reaching a significant crossroads in your life. In many ways, this crossroad feels like a natural pause point on your journey, as it’s an opportunity to think about what’s really important to you. You have travelled far and wide on many different levels in your life and you have found ways to breathe even when situations have taken your breath away. You’ve allowed your true essence some freedom not to be stifled by the needs, wants and demands of others, as being a free spirit matters to you as you need room to manoeuvre in life; feeling hemmed in suppresses your creativity and can leave you feeling disconnected and discombobulated. When you let your inner fire sprite dance freely, you feel awakened and alive, courageous and vibrant. Yes, you have faced challenges and heartache, and you have had more than your fair share of mountains to climb, yet here you are, still shining brightly and brimming with possibility.

2019 looks set to be a year for you to make some important decisions as to which way you head when you reach the aforementioned crossroads. It’s not as simple as left, right or straight ahead, as you may choose to go backwards or even off road. This is time for you to let your phenomenal intuition lead the way and to guide you towards pastures new. The more you can connect to the passion and fires within your heart and soul, the more your intuition will light up and illuminate the way. This is a year for you to trust in yourself, believe in yourself and to love yourself wholeheartedly…

Taurus

You have spent a great deal of time working on yourself, trying to understand why you are the way you are and why you do the things that you do. You’ve reached moments of awareness where all of the many questions you carry within you fall away into insignificance as you find a sense of peace. There are also moments when the questions intensify, and you feel as though you cannot move forward until you have the answers. Whilst you have come to realise that many of these questions don’t have answers, you have found ways of accepting this gracefully and willingly. Of course, there are times when you rage at the moon, wanting an answer, but these times are beginning to ebb away as you seem stronger and more resilient now. This strength has emanated into every area of your life and your willingness to lean gracefully into acceptance has, in many ways, set you free as you are no longer willing to place your life on hold until you have answered all of the many unanswered questions still buzzing around your consciousness. This doesn’t mean you have given up, but it’s a sign that you are finding a deeper sense of harmony and balance living in each and every incongruent and frequently incomprehensible moment.

In short, you are living in a more enriched way, allowing yourself to breathe more deeply, and opening up to living the life you were born to live. Whilst you may not, as yet, know the full details of the life you were born to live, it’s important to acknowledge that you’re living it already. In essence, 2019 is your year to grab life with both hands and to let your gifts shine brightly…

Gemini

You have spent a great deal of time pondering the concept of happiness and finding your own ways of cultivating it in your life. As a result, you have travelled on some long, twisting roads and you have confronted the pain and dark corners within your heart and soul, moving beneath your smiling façade in order to access the ‘real you’. Beneath the surface you could feel the tingling of your soul gently tugging at your consciousness as you intuitively knew that the life you were living wasn’t the life that felt in-tune with your soul. It’s not that you were unhappy, just out of kilter and slightly out of alignment, and this created a restlessness deep within. You’ve always wanted to live wholeheartedly, and you’ve always strived to live the best life possible, but you’ve reached a stage of your life now where it’s important for you to begin to understand why you do the things you do.

So, knowing what truly makes you happy is a good place to begin. Is being your true self the path to happiness? Is it helping others? Is it finding peace? Only you can answer these questions, but you are nearing a time of great shift in your life as you let your inner light shine more brightly, so finding clarity is important. What does happiness really mean, is it love or compassion, or a warm fuzzy feeling within? How do you know if you’re happy? Is happiness the result of the eradication of unhappiness? Whilst many believe the latter to be true, you’ve reached a powerful point of realisation as you know that happiness needs to be cultivated in its own right and you are ready now to let it flourish and blossom…

Cancer

You always seem to so busy with things to do, people to see and places to go! You often feel like you’re on fast forward as you work so hard to keep the wheels on the great big bus of your life spinning around. In truth, you’re not really sure where the bus is heading, but it’s moving forwards which feels like a positive. You’ve spent so long ensuring the bus keeps moving that you haven’t looked at a map in years or, more importantly, checked if the destination is still somewhere your heart desires. It’s easy to get caught up on the treadmill of life, keeping on keeping on, and working hard to be the best version of you that you can be, yet there is an undercurrent of dissatisfaction, a sense that maybe there is more to life than the constant cycle of things to do, people to see and places to go.

Are these more distraction than necessity? Do you find it easier to be busy rather than to sit in quiet contemplation? If so, why? Is it easier to stay busy and not acknowledge your heart’s desire, rather than taking a chance and turning to face it? Is maintaining the status quo the easiest option even if it means sacrificing a bit of yourself in the process? These are questions only you can choose to ask of yourself over the year ahead, but you seem ready now to dive deeply within in order to gain a clearer sense as to which path you truly want to walk. Change is in the air throughout 2019 and there is an air of excitement connected to new beginnings, so maybe it’s finally time to park up the bus for an overdue service and to finally reassess your true priorities…

Leo

Your pioneering and adventurous spirit looks set to shape and define 2019 in ways you never dreamed possible! For a long time now, you’ve been sitting on the fence, waiting for the right time to step from where you are to where you want to be. You have been in a kind of stasis mode, not feeling able to leap towards pastures new as the climate hasn’t felt quite right to act. Although you are intuitive and very astute, there is a sense that you have been waiting for a sense of certainty that you’ve reached the right time to create a wave of change. As a result, you have spent quite a long time on the fence, wanting to leap over, but not feeling the signs were clear enough for you to take a chance. This is understandable, after all, you have spent so long trying to create the optimum environment for you to give yourself the best possible chance for success so why would you want to potentially jeopardise things by moving too soon?

Yet, sitting on the fence has left you in stasis, making it hard to move forward as inertia is a tremendous force to push against. However, you have learned a great deal along the way as you have discovered lots about what you don’t want and unearthed so much deep wisdom within your heart and soul. You have reached a point in your evolution of great shift, and your adventurous spirit is now chomping at the bit to leap off the fence and ‘take a chance’ on whatever happens next. In short, you seem ready to let the passion surge upwards from your soul and to lead the way from where you are to where you are meant to be…

Virgo

2019 looks set to be a year of liberation with a sprinkling of magic along the way! You’ve spent a long time creating a vision of what you truly want in life, and although it’s still not crystal clear, you have a good idea as to what you want and what you don’t. You have pulled down the internal barriers in order to make peace with the stormy waters within your soul as you’ve realised that in order for you to feel centred and in balance, you need to learn how to surf those waters rather than eradicate them. In short, you have reached a point of inner acceptance, where you now accept the turbulence within is an important part of you as it’s the force that drives your passion and creativity. Whilst you spent a long time trying to calm the waters and even remove them, you’ve realised that they are as much a part of you as anything else, and, as a result, now you are learning to love them, you are discovering new levels of amazing in your life. This may sound a little glib, but it’s hard to find another word to describe the evolution that’s going on within your heart and soul. Perhaps a revolution would be a better choice of word!

It’s as though you’ve set yourself free and the world seems full of possibility once again. Where you once felt challenge, you now see opportunity, and your soul is illuminated and glowing brightly. You’ve waited patiently for a very long time for such a moment to appear and now it’s upon you, try to make the most of it! There is no instruction book to follow, this is your time to let your soul take you by the hand and gently guide you forwards. Let the magic begin…

Libra

As you continue to contemplate life’s big questions – Who? Why? Where? When? What? – there’s a sense that you are beginning to find some firmer ground after a long period of uncertainty. As you breathe a big sigh of relief, it’s important to realise that this firmer ground isn’t a little island in the middle of a swirling maelstrom of thoughts, it’s actually a little surf board that’s riding with the maelstrom! Intellectually, this really doesn’t seem overly reassuring, but on a deeper level, intuitively you know you are exactly where you need to be as surfing your very own maelstrom is the best possible place, as being right in the thick of it is where you truly thrive. Your mind will always be busy, and you will never stop asking questions as this is a fundamental part of your DNA. At the same time, you will always have a twisting, swirling, heaving mass of thoughts within you as you are a natural born thinker and you function at a million miles an hour.

Although this maelstrom may appear to others to be chaotic and fragmented, you know this is far from the case as everything is itemised and categorised in a similar way to the world’s greatest libraries. Yet, like these great libraries, there is also a great deal of quiet and space at the same time. Few ever really ‘get’ you as you simply don’t exist on the same level as most, this isn’t egotistical, it’s just fact. This isn’t a ‘higher’ or ‘better’ level, just different. For many years you have tried to fit in and be like everyone else, but you’ve now realised the importance of being you. 2019 looks set to be your year for free expression and to love yourself exactly as you are…

Scorpio

As you find yourself, once again, skidding and sliding from one year into the next, you have started to see a pattern emerging as this seems to be the case every year! Your life has been on fast forward for such a long time that it’s hard to notice as it feels like normal speed for you now. You have been hurtling forwards with such haste that your transformation has been at breakneck speed and, although you are a very different person to the one who skidded into 2018, there have barely been any quiet moments to take stock and reconcile the journey you have been on. Of course, with you being you, it’s unlikely that you’d want it any other way as you like to keep moving in life as it’s your way of feeling fully alive and interconnected; you are a free spirit at heart. Yet, there are moments when a bit of breathing space would allow you to think about the path you’ve walked (well, sprinted!) and the path you’re walking.

It’s not only paths you’re walking though, as you have excavators to carve out new avenues and highways, as well as the odd bulldozer for good measure. You’re not known for doing things subtly! However, this isn’t a criticism, and it’s not to suggest that you’re like a bull in a china shop, as everything you do comes from your intuitive prowess and you need the heavy equipment to break through layers of inertia that have encircled you in your life for years. 2019 looks set to be a year of powerful change for you as you begin to realise just how talented you really are; it’s your self-belief that will ultimately shape and define the path of your life for years to come…

Sagittarius

What do you truly want? What makes your heart sing and your soul feel joyful? You’ve often contemplated the answers to these questions as you’ve spent long periods in your life thinking about your gifts and your purpose in life, wanting to live in the best possible way. Yet, whilst you’ve undoubtedly contemplated these questions, if someone were to ask you on the spot to declare what you truly want and what makes your heart sing, there is likely to be a rather long pregnant pause, and your hesitation would be a sign that you are perhaps less clear on the matter than you thought. Or, are you? Maybe it’s not down to you being unsure of what you want, but more the notion of declaring your intent that worries you as that would be a public pledge of purpose which would make it harder for you to meander through life, gathering up possibilities and ideas as you go.

So, perhaps this is more about avoiding commitment, trying not to set things out in stone and instead keeping things as fluid as possible? This is an understandable strategy to adopt as it means you can avoid becoming trapped by decisions that you may outgrow or outrun. At the same time, the notion of declaring your intent can feel like a tether which your free-spirited nature repels. Yet, this suggests a life ‘on the run’, of never really hanging around long enough to get stuck in and test your mettle. Once again, there is nothing wrong in such a strategy, but you seem restless and it’s important that you begin to understand the reasons for this. 2019 is a year to contemplate what you truly want and to have the self-belief and the courage to go get it…

Capricorn

2019 looks set to be a year of clarifying your true priorities and beginning to let go of some of the clutter that has built up in your life. You are always busy with things to do, people to see, places to go and ideas to contemplate; whilst you get a great deal done, there is a sense that you often feel out of kilter with your life as you are in the thick of things most of the time and unable to see the wood for the trees. Of course, you have thrived on such a strategy for a long time, but you have reached a stage where you want a deeper sense of fulfilment in your life. In many ways, you feel unsure how to go about this because you always have such a long ‘to do’ list but, over the course of this year, it’s time to sort the wheat from the chaff when it comes to what’s really important to you, what’s necessary and what’s not.

There will always be some aspects of your life that you do more out of duty than desire, but there are also a great many other things you do that have built up from a difficulty in saying ‘No!’. You don’t like to upset the apple cart, but you seem rather fed up with polishing apples and are now ready to explore the delights of some new fruit. This doesn’t mean you are necessarily ready to up-end the apple cart and watch the apples tumble to the floor, rather you are ready to look beyond the cart to the wider world once again in order to regain your perspective and focus. It’s important to acknowledge the fact that you matter: your needs, your wishes and your dreams…

Aquarius

The way in which you live your life has often been something you’ve pondered and explored; you’ve gazed into your depths and stepped beyond the realms of the everyday in order to gain a true sense of purpose. There have been great swathes of your life where you’ve focused on your inner world, trying to understand why things are the way they are, and you’ve not been afraid to face the mirror of your soul in order to acknowledge your quirks, idiosyncrasies and imperfections. It’s not that you have many, but you’ve realised the importance of acknowledging every aspect of your being in order to know yourself better. You’ve spent a lot of time trying to be everything to everyone, often forgetting about yourself in the process, and whilst you have still managed to thrive, there is a sense that there have been times when you have felt this sacrifice very deeply.

Of course, you’re a generous, compassionate and giving soul, so being everything to everyone is important to you, but 2019 looks set to be a year for some self-acknowledgement; a year to reclaim your sense of self and to explore pastures new when it comes to your gifts and your creativity. You are a vibrant and colourful individual, and your gifts are many, and although you have admirably parked these for the sake of others, it’s time now for you to realise that your gifts matter. They matter not only to you and to your sense of well-being, but to a great many others as well, as your gifts reach out far and wide. This isn’t about adding pressure to you, it’s trying to inspire you to regain your passion and to channel this in new and innovative ways. You are a star player in life and it’s time to twinkle brightly once again…

Pisces

As you continue to explore the passion residing deep within the core of your being, there is a sense you are beginning to realise just how brightly and vibrantly your inner light shines. You have spent a great deal of your life trying to be the central cog inspiring others to flourish and thrive. You are a naturally giving person, but you often shift into a state of ‘over giving’. This may sound illogical, after all, how can anyone over give, but you’ve mastered the art over the years. Giving is a part of your genetic make-up, but you often take it to new heights by giving every last drop of yourself to others. Of course, you want to see others blossom, but there also seems to be a deeper motive for this, a sense that if you have too much energy left on your hands, you will have to gaze deeply within in order to acknowledge those aspects of yourself that you’ve been ignoring or neglecting for some time now. These neglected aspects are your dreams which you may feel are luxuries rather than necessities, but this would be inaccurate as it’s your dreams that set your heart on fire and make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. So, dismiss them at your peril, as they are the fuel for the fires of your soul.

It’s your dreams that inspire you to be such a compassionate and passionate human being, and 2019 looks set to be a year for you to step beyond the humdrum of your everyday life to realise just how much you ‘over give’ and to start re-addressing this imbalance in order to start honouring and loving yourself so much more. You are a beautiful soul, and this is your life so live it, and live it well…

Inspiration for the Week – Opportunity for Celebration

Inspiration for the Week – Opportunity for Celebration

This message from Archangel Gabriel inspires us to remember a more graceful way to live in this changing world.

The Gabriel Message Card for this Week

All situations are opportunities for the Divine Light to shine through you as times of celebration, not fear.

Often when I come into a situation that is unknown or unfamiliar, I notice that my first impulse is to feel fearful. This does seem to be a fairly common response to the unknown aspects of life. It takes consciously slowing down on my part, taking that deep breath and remembering what my intention is. I may even ask for protection or remind myself that It is Safe to be in the Unknown.

When I offer prayers for Divine Light to flow through me and any situation or relationship I am involved with, it sets the energy I want in my world. Fields of Living Light are malleable and can be used to change any fearful or difficult circumstance that comes up. Because the Light of God contains both Divine Intelligence and Love, the frequency shift is immediate. Creative Solutions may even start to manifest right in front of me. That is definitely an opportunity for celebration.

Harmony is one of my go-to intentions. I want to be in harmony with myself, with others, and in harmony with my soul in any situation — whatever it is. I want to remember to come back to my original intention and let the situation reflect that energy. When I do this, it is amazing to watch things start to unfold in a brighter way. I become much more at ease with myself, and attuned to my most Divine Nature. Another cause for celebration. In fact, it seems that all of Heaven rejoices when I come back into Alignment with my Divine Self and in Harmony with what is occurring in my life.

The Angelic Dimensions are very aware of what is transpiring in our lives. They are uniquely available for us to call on during this time of new beginnings and evolution. The blessings of the Archangels soothe and inspire us as we navigate these new dimensions of consciousness. Knowing there are Angels watching out for me and assisting my life helps me to stay out of the fear realms that stop me in my tracks. It is easy to go into fear. Fearfulness is all around us in the consciousness of humanity. It takes courage to move out of that mindset. It is a bold step to remember that I have another option besides fear.

When I consciously create new qualities for life within and around me, I am using the Fields of Living Light that are now available in this dimensional time of higher frequencies. It becomes divine alchemy that transforms my life and the way the world responds to me. Alignment from Heaven to Earth is the prayerful process that Archangel Gabriel inspired 25 years ago. As our world has evolved, it has become the most resourceful, and even magical, way to bring new levels of Love, Freedom and Harmony into my life.

There is an exquisitely mystical feeling within as we work with the Archangels who are surrounding us in Light. This Divine Truth transcends any fear and creates a brilliant opportunity for celebration whenever we allow it to be.

Divine Presence,

Thank you for helping me to slow down and open to the support I have available in every area of my life. I ask to be in Harmony with the situation I find myself in at this time. May I allow the Divine Light to shine through so I can receive the assistance that is available.

I ask for Benevolent Outcomes and Creative Solutions for times when things look so dark and feel so uncomfortable in their unknown state. Let me rise above the fear that tries to surface at these times. I am inviting the Angels to show me the way. Flood my heart with Divine Love and allow the presence of the Angelic Dimensions to lift my consciousness so I can truly remember that I am not alone, no matter what it looks like in my life.

Whenever fear occurs, I want to remember that there is an opportunity in each situation that is calling me to expand into new and exalted perceptions. I truly want to learn to celebrate and focus on hidden opportunity when challenges arise. Help me to remember to set my intentions for more Love, Clarity and Harmony every day. I now allow myself to receive this assistance and know that my Higher Self is bringing forth my soul’s gifts so I can become more resourceful, open and trusting at all times.

Especially may I remember to celebrate the fact that Love exists within and through all situations and will never leave me. Thank you God, and so it is.

The Gabriel Messages Book #47

All situations are opportunities for the Divine Light to shine through you as times of celebration, not fear.

Dear One,

Your life is divinely guided and directed at every moment. Calling on the Angels for assistance gives you a direct link to your greater good and aids the wisdom of the universe to flow through you. When you dwell in fear or doubt, this constricts your perception and does not allow the natural out-flowing of good to come through you into your world.

Whatever situation is occurring in your life, allow the Divine Light to show you the possibility for benevolent outcomes. Ask for Creative Solutions for the highest good for all concerned. This will open the door for the Angelic forces to begin their work. Receiving the assistance of the Angels is truly a cause for celebration. Celebrate the fact that you are not alone. Celebrate the fact that all you do is now divinely guided, because you asked.

You can believe you have to do it all by yourself if you choose. However, with even the smallest intention to receive help, with the slightest hope that good can come of the situations in your life, and the willingness to release the fear that entraps you, Divine Light will flow to you in abundance. This will bring inspiration and guidance for your next steps, and will allow you to actually do that which will be in your highest good. You are the one who takes the steps, no one can do this for you. But when you walk, you will be held in the arms of the Angels of Light. We are asking you to walk in Trust and Faith.

We are also asking you to be clear about your intentions for your life. These intentions have the power to create your world as they become living fields of Divine Light. When you know which qualities you want to have, ask for them directly. Do you want more love in your life? Or peace in your heart? Or financial abundance so you can live with more freedom? Ask for these qualities and give yourself the time to breathe them into your being. Breathe them in and walk in the trust that you will be supported for your highest good. Then take the steps you are inspired to take, knowing you are being guided every step of the way. Have faith in the Divine Light that will never leave you. It can only grow stronger every time you imagine that you are surrounded by it.

Your imagination carries the key to your future. Imagine only that which you want to fulfill your life. Give no energy to fearful thoughts. Love is the only truth. You are being blessed now with the light of the Angels, the holy messengers of God’s love.

Call on your guardian Angel often and never doubt this presence in your life. Know that whatever situation you are experiencing can be transformed by the power of Divine Light. Receive this light and celebrate.

Remember your message from Archangel Gabriel today:

All situations are opportunities for the Divine Light to shine through you as times of celebration, not fear.

 

Spirit Message of the Day – Remember Your Happily Ever After

Spirit Message of the Day – Remember Your Happily Ever After

Once Upon a Time…
“we took a journey that led us through a forest of self-discovery. It was here where we encountered the wolves, monsters, fairies, and all those things that helped to define who we are and where we were going. And now we have finally arrived.”

SYMBOLS AND MEANING
“We can see the castle on the horizon. It shines like a beacon and heralds the end of a long journey well traveled. Through the tangle of the roots and trees, the calmness of the reflecting waters welcomes the traveler to a more placid place, where light and dark integrate and synthesize into greater awareness. The castle represents the anima of knowledge. Access to these offerings of wisdom is the ultimum reward. There are all manner of spirits hidden within the elements, ready to assist us through our path to maturation. They represent collected wisdom and can only be discerned if our hearts and minds are open to receiving their messages.”

“The flying birds symbolize the spirit. They are launching themselves from the safety of their nests and into the multifaceted splendor of the golden castle. They represent transcendence and the ability to balance mind and spirit. The serene water is the unconscious fully mirroring consciousness, representing the balance between the physical body and our spiritual essence. The outside of the castle represents the physical place of conscious thoughts, while the interior supports the unconscious, collective unconscious, and spiritual matters.”

The wild woods in the foreground contrast the softness of the clouds and are a reconciliation of opposites. The branches represent the earthly plane and physical reality of our being against infinite, ever-changing layers of the world beyond. Together they compose the wholeness of the universe. By traveling through dark forests and encountering creatures and spirits, we have the opportunity to expand ourselves in ways we did not necessarily think possible. We have been provided lessons through innumerable situations that feed into our psyches and help us become more attentive to our conscious thought processes. Through it all we have learned to follow our intuition and to listen to a deeper part of ourselves that has finally brought us to happily ever after. We can only attain ‘wholeness’ once the shadow, omni present in our journeys, has been confronted and integrated into the psyche.

YOUR MESSAGE
“We have arrived at happily ever after. We have full integrated the many and often complicated elements of our being and have eyes wide open to the illuminative power of wholeness. We embrace the multivalent layers of our inner life and can now appreciate the treasures that lie within.”

Today’s message is from The Fairy Tale Tarot by Lisa Hunt.

REMEMBER YOUR BLISS
If for only a moment – imagine right now- this is your happily ever after. You have everything you’ve always wanted. How does it feel? Where are you? What are you doing? Whom are you with? What are you thinking? Sit quietly for a minute. Remember these thoughts and knowlingly carry this feeling with you tomorrow. Watch what you’ve just imagined come to life right before your eyes. 
Transcend. Align your will with your desire. Remember your bliss and find your happily ever after…again.

Published on SpiritBlogger’s Blog

About the Roman God Janus

Janus

The Roman God

In ancient Roman religion and mythology, Janus is the god of beginnings and transitions, thence also of gates, doors, doorways, endings and time. He is usually a two-faced god since he looks to the future and the past. The Romans dedicated the month of January to Janus. His most apparent remnant in modern culture is his namesake, the month of January.

Though he was usually depicted with two faces looking in opposite directions (Janus Geminus (twin Janus) or Bifrons), in some places he was Janus Quadrifrons (the four-faced). The Romans associated Janus with the Etruscan deity Ani.

Janus was frequently used to symbolize change and transitions such as the progression of past to future, of one condition to another, of one vision to another, and of one universe to another. Hence, Janus was worshipped at the beginnings of the harvest and planting times, as well as marriages, births and other beginnings. He was representative of the middle ground between barbarity and civilization, rural country and urban cities, and youth and adulthood.


Theology and Functions

While the fundamental nature of Janus is debated, in most modern scholars’ view the set of the god’s functions may be seen as being organized around a simple principle: that of presiding over all beginnings and transitions, whether abstract or concrete, sacred or profane. Interpretations concerning the god’s fundamental nature either limit it to this general function or emphasize a concrete or particular aspect of it (identifying him with light the sun, the moon, time, movement, the year, doorways, bridges etc.) or see in the god a sort of cosmological principle, i. e. interpret him as a uranic deity.

Almost all these modern interpretations were originally formulated by the ancients.

The function of ‘god of beginnings’ has been clearly expressed in numerous ancient sources, among them most notably perhaps Cicero, Ovid and Varro. As a god of motion he looks after passages, causes actions to start and presides over all beginnings, and since movement and change are bivalent, he has a double nature, symbolized in his two headed image.

He has under his tutelage the stepping in and out of the door of homes, the ianua, which took its name from him, and not viceversa. Similarly his tutelage extends to the covered passages named iani and foremost to the gates of the city, including the cultic gate called the Argiletum, named Ianus Geminus or Porta Ianualis from which he protects Rome against the Sabines. He is also present at the Sororium Tigillum, where he guards the terminus of the ways into Rome from Latium. He has an altar, later a temple near the Porta Carmentalis, where the road leading to Veii ended, as well as being present on the Janiculum, a gateway from Rome out to Etruria.

The connexion of the notions of beginning (principium), movement, transition (eundo), and thence time has been clearly expressed by Cicero. In general, Janus is at the origin of time as the guardian of the gates of Heaven: Jupiter himself moves forth and back because of Janus’s working.

In one of his temples, probably that of Forum Holitorium, the hands of his statue were positioned to signify the number 355 (the number of days in a year), later 365, symbolically expressing his mastership over time. He presides over the concrete and abstract beginnings of the world, such as religion and the gods themselves, he too holds the access to Heaven and other gods: this is the reason why men must invoke him first, regardless of the god they want to pray or placate. He is the initiator of human life, of new historical ages, and financial enterprises: according to myth he was the first to mint coins and the as, first coin of the libral series, bears his effigy on one face.

Janus frequently symbolized change and transitions such as the progress of future to past, from one condition to another, from one vision to another, and young people’s growth to adulthood. He was represented time, because he could see into the past with one face and into the future with the other. Hence, Janus was worshipped at the beginnings of the harvest and planting times, as well as at marriages, deaths and other beginnings. He represented the middle ground between barbarism and civilization, rural and urban, youth and adulthood. Having jurisdiction over beginnings Janus had an intrinsic association with omens and auspices.

Leonhard Schmitz suggests that he was likely the most important god in the Roman archaic pantheon. He was often invoked together with Iuppiter (Jupiter).

According to Macrobius citing Nigidius Figulus and Cicero, Janus and Jana (Diana) are a pair of divinities, worshipped as Apollo or the sun and moon, whence Janus received sacrifices before all the others, because through him is apparent the way of access to the desired deity.

A similar solar interpretation has been offered by A. Audin who interprets the god as the issue of a long process of development, starting with the Sumeric cultures, from the two solar pillars located on the eastern side of temples, each of them marking the direction of the rising sun at the dates of the two solstices: the southeastern corresponding to the Winter and the northeastern to the Summer solstice.

These two pillars would be at the origin of the theology of the divine twins, one of whom is mortal (related to the NE pillar, as confining with the region where the sun does not shine) and the other is immortal (related to the SE pillar and the region where the sun always shines). Later these iconographic models evolved in the Middle East and Egypt into a single column representing two torsos and finally a single body with two heads looking at opposite directions.


Temples

 

Numa built the Ianus geminus (also Janus Bifrons, Janus Quirinus or Portae Belli), a passage ritually opened at times of war, and shut again when Roman arms rested. It formed a walled enclosure with gates at each end, situated between the old Roman Forum and that of Julius Caesar, which had been consecrated by Numa Pompilius himself. About the exact location and aspect of the temple there has been much debate among scholars.

In wartime the gates of the Janus were opened, and in its interior sacrifices and vaticinia were held, to forecast the outcome of military deeds. The doors were closed only during peacetime, an extremely rare event. The function of the Ianus Geminus was supposed to be a sort of good omen: in time of peace it was said to close the wars within or to keep peace inside; in times of war it was said to be open to allow the return of the people on duty.

A temple of Janus is said to have been consecrated by the consul Gaius Duilius in 260 BCE after the Battle of Mylae in the Forum Holitorium. It contained a statue of the god with the right hand showing the number 300 and the left the number 65, i. e. the length in days of the solar year, and twelve altars, one for each month.

The four-sided structure known as the Arch of Janus in the Forum Transitorium dates from the 1st century CE: according to common opinion it was built by the Emperor Domitian. However American scholars L. Ross Taylor and L. Adams Holland on the grounds of a passage of Statius maintain that it was an earlier structure (tradition has it the Ianus Quadrifrons was brought to Rome from Falerii) and that Domitian only surrounded it with his new forum. In fact the building of the Forum Transitorium was completed and inaugurated by Nerva in 96 CE.


Rites

The rites concerning Janus were numerous. Owing to the versatile and far reaching character of the basic function of the god, marking beginnings and transitions, his presence was ubiquitous and fragmented. Apart from the rites solemnizing the beginning of the new year and of every month, there were the special times of year which marked the beginning and the closing of the military season, in March and October respectively.

These included the rite of the arma movere on March 1 and that of the arma condere at the end of the month performed by the Salii, and the Tigillum Sororium on October 1. Janus Quirinus was closely associated with the anniversaries of the dedications of the temples of Mars on June 1 (a date that corresponded with the festival of Carna, a deity associated with Janus: see below) and of that of Quirinus on June 29 (which was the last day of the month in the pre-Julian calendar). These important rites are discussed in detail below.

Any rite or religious act whatever first required the invocation of Janus, with a corresponding invocation to Vesta at the end (Janus primus and Vesta extrema). Instances are to be found in the Carmen Saliare, the formula of the devotio, the lutration of the fields and the sacrifice of the porca praecidanea, the Acta of the Arval Brethren.

Although Janus had no flamen, he was closely associated with the rex sacrorum who performed his sacrifices and took part in most of his rites: the rex was the first in the ordo sacerdotum hierarchy of priests.The flamen of Portunus performed the ritual greasing of the spear of the god Quirinus on August 17, day of the Portunalia, on the same date that the temple of Janus in the Forum Holitorium had been consecrated (by consul Caius Duilius in 260 BC). Portunus seems to be a god closely related to Janus, if with a specifically restricted area of competence, in that he presides over doorways and harbours and shares with Janus his two symbols, the key and the stick.


Beginning of the Year

The Winter solstice was thought to occur on December 25. January 1 was new year day: the day was consecrated to Janus since it was the first of the new year and of the month (kalends) of Janus: the feria had an augural character as Romans believed the beginning of anything was an omen for the whole. Thus on that day it was customary to exchange cheerful words of good wishes.

For the same reason everybody devoted a short time to his usual business, exchanged dates, figs and honey as a token of well wishing and made gifts of coins called strenae. Cakes made of spelt (far) and salt were offered to the god and burnt on the altar. Ovid states that in most ancient times there were no animal sacrifices and gods were propitiated with offerings of spelt and pure salt. This libum was named ianual and it was probably correspondent to the summanal offered the day before the Summer solstice to god Summanus, which however was sweet being made with flour, honey and milk.

Shortly afterwards, on January 9, on the feria of the Agonium of January the rex sacrorum offered the sacrifice of a ram to Janus.


Space

Janus was also involved in spatial transitions, presiding over home doors, city gates and boundaries. Numerous toponyms of places located at the boundary between the territory of two communities, especially Etrurians and Latins or Umbrians, are named after the god. The most notable instance is the Ianiculum which marked the access to Etruria from Rome. Since borders often coincided with rivers and the border of Rome (and other Italics) with Etruria was the Tiber, it has been argued that its crossing had a religious connotation; it would have involved a set of rigorous apotropaic practices and a devotional attitude. Janus would have originally regulated particularly the crossing of this sacred river through the pons sublicius.

Janus was the protector of doors, gates and roadways in general, as is shown by his two symbols, the key and the staff. The key too was a sign that the traveller had come to a harbor or ford in peace in order to exchange his goods. The rite of the bride’s oiling the posts of the door of her new home with wolf fat at her arrival, though not mentioning Janus explicitly, is a rite of passage related to the ianua.


Myths

In discussing myths about Janus one should be careful in distinguishing those who are ancient and originally Latin and others which were later attributed to him by Greek mythographers. In the Fasti Ovid relates only the myths that associate Janus to Saturn, whom he welcomed as a guest and with whom eventually shared his kingdom in reward of his teaching the art of agriculture, and to the nymph Crane Grane or Carna, whom Janus raped and made the goddess of hinges as Cardea, while in the Metamorphoses he records his fathering with Venilia the nymph Canens, loved by Picus.

The myth of Crane has been studied by M. Renard and G. Dumezil. The first scholar sees in it a sort of parallel with the theology underlying the rite of the Tigillum Sororium. Crane is a nymph of the sacred wood of Helernus, located at the issue of the Tiber, whose festival of February 1 corresponded with that of Juno Sospita: Crane might be seen as a minor imago of the goddess.

Her habit of deceiving her male pursuers by hiding in crags in the soil reveals her association not only with vegetation but also with rocks, caverns, and underpassages. Her nature looks to be also associated with vegetation and nurture: G. Dumezil has proved that Helernus was a god of vegetation, vegetative lushiousness and orchards, particularly associated with vetch. As Ovid writes in his Fasti, June 1 was the festival day of Carna, besides being the kalendary festival of the month of Juno and the festival of Juno Moneta. Ovid seems to purposefully conflate and identify Carna with Cardea in the aetiologic myth related above.

Consequently the association of both Janus and god Helernus with Carna-Crane is highlighted in this myth: it was customary on that day eating vetch and lard, which were supposed to strengthen the body. Cardea had also magic powers for protecting doorways (by touching thresholds and posts with wet hawthorn twigs) and newborn children by the aggression of the striges (in the myth the young Proca). M. Renard sees the association of Janus with Crane as reminiscent of widespread rites of lustration and fertility performed through the ritual walking under low crags or holes in the soil or natural hollows in trees, which in turn are reflected in the lustrative rite of the Tigillum Sororium.

Macrobius relates Janus was supposed to have shared a kingdom with Camese in Latium, on a place then named Camesene. He states that Hyginus recorded the tale on the authority of a Protarchus of Tralles. In Macrobius Camese is a male: after Camese’s death Janus reigned alone. However Greek authors make of Camese Janus’s sister and spouse: Atheneus citing a certain Drakon of Corcyra writes that Janus fathered with his sister Camese a son named Aithex and a daughter named Olistene. Servius Danielis states Tiber (i. e. Tiberinus) was their son.

Arnobius writes that Fontus was the son of Janus and Juturna. The name itself proves that this is a secondary form of Fons modelled on Janus, denouncing the late character of this myth: it was probably conceived because of the proximity of the festivals of Juturna (January 11) and the Agonium of Janus (January 9) as well as for the presence of an altar of Fons near the Janiculum and the closeness of the notions of spring and of beginning.

Plutarch writes that according to some Janus was a Greek from Perrhebia.

When Romulus and his men kidnapped the Sabine women, Janus caused a volcanic hot spring to erupt, resulting in the would-be attackers being buried alive in the deathly hot, brutal water and ash mixture of the rushing hot volcanic springs that killed, burned, or disfigured many of Tatius’s men. This spring is called Lautolae by Varro.

Later on, however, the Sabines and Romans agreed on creating a new community together. In honor of this, the doors of a walled roofless structure called ‘The Janus’ (not a temple) were kept open during war after a symbolic contingent of soldiers had marched through it. The doors were closed in ceremony when peace was concluded.


Origin, Legends and History

In accord with his fundamental character of being the Beginner Janus was considered by Romans the first king of Latium, sometimes along with Camese. He would have received hospitably god Saturn, who, expelled from Heaven by Jupiter, arrived on a ship to the Janiculum. Janus would have also effected the miracle of turning the waters of the spring at the foot of the Viminal from cold to scorching hot in order to fend off the assault of the Sabines of king Titus Tatius, come to avenge the kidnapping of their daughters by the Romans.

His temple named Janus Geminus had to stand open in times of war. It was said to have been built by king Numa Pompilius, who kept it always shut during his reign as there were no wars. After him it was closed very few times, one after the end of the first Punic War, three times under Augustus and once by Nero. It is recorded that emperor Gordianus III opened the Janus Geminus.

It is a noteworthy curiosity that the opening of the Janus was perhaps the last act connected to the ancient religion in Rome: Procopius writes that in 536 CE, during the Gothic War, while general Belisarius was under siege in Rome, at night somebody opened the Janus Geminus stealthily, which had long stayed closed since 390, year on which Theodosius I’s edict banned the ancient cults. Janus was faithful to his liminal role also in the marking of this last act.

The uniqueness of Janus in Latium has suggested to L. Adams Holland and J. GagŽ the hypothesis of a cult brought from far away by sailors and strictly linked to the amphibious life of the primitive communities living on the banks of the Tiber. In the myth of Janus the ship of Saturn as well as the myth of Carmenta and Evander are remininscent of an ancient Preroman sailing life. The elements that connect Janus to sailing are summarized here below as presented in the work of Gage.

1. The boat of Janus and the beliefs of the primitive sailing techniques.

    • a) The proximity of Janus and Portunus and the functions of the flamen Portunalis.

The temple of Janus was dedicated by C. Duilius on August 17, day of the Portunalia. The key was the symbol of both gods and was also meant to signify that the boarding boat was a peaceful merchant boat.

The flamen Portunalis oiled the arms of Quirinus with an ointment kept in a peculiar container named persillum, term perhaps derived from Etruscan persie. A similar object seems to be represented in a fresco picture of the Calendar of Ostia on which young boys prepare to apply a resin contained in a basin to a boat standing on a cart, i.e. yet to be launched.

b) The Tigillum Sororium would be related to a cult of wood of the Horatii, as shown by the episodes of the pons sublicius defended by Horatius Cocles and of the posts of the main entrance of the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus, on which Marcus Horatius Pulvillus lay his hand during the dedication rite. GagŽ thinks the magic power of the Tigillum Sororium should be due to the living and burgeoning nature of wood.

2. Falacer and flamen Falacer as related to a sacred tree useful in shipbuilding. This flamen would be related to Janus as the flamen Portunalis is because of the association of pater Falacer and shipping.

    • a) The name of divus pater Falacer[208] would be that of a Sabine god similar to Quirinus, i.e. a spear god from the town of Falacrinae.[209] The term is related to falarica, a javelin soaked in pitch, ending with a point of inflammable material. Falas in Etruscan means pole or tower. The name could be related to that of the faba graeca the Greek lotus, imported from Syria (Celtis australis). This tree would have been used among certain communities as the wild olive was to make rolls in order to haul ships upon. The name of the flamen would reflect an ancient name of this tree later corrupted into faba.

b) Religious quality of trees as the wild olive (analogous to that of corniolum and wild fig) to sailing communities: it does not rot in sea water, thence it was used in shipbuilding and the making of rolls for the hauling of ships overland.

3. Janus and the depiction of Boreas as Bifrons: climatological elements.

    • a) The calendar of Numa and the role of Janus. Contradictions of the ancient Roman calendar on the beginning of the new year: originally March was the first month and February the last one. January, the month of Janus, became the first afterwards and through several manipulations. The liminal character of Janus is though present in the association to the Saturnalia of December, reflecting the strict relationship between the two gods and the rather blurred distinction of their stories and symbols. The initial role of Janus in the political-religious operations of January: nuncupatio votorum spanning the year, imperial symbol of the boat in the rite of opening of the sailing season of the vota felicia. Janus and his myths allow for an ancient interpretation of the vota felicia different from the Isiadic one.

b) The idea of the Seasons in the ancient traditions of the Ionian Islands. The crossing of the Hyperborean myths. Cephalonia as a place at the cross of famous winds. Application of the theory of winds for the navigation in the Ionian Sea. The type Boreas Bifrons as probable model of the Roman Janus.

The observation has been made first by the Roscher Lexicon: “Ianus is he too, doubtlessly, a god of wind” and repeated in the RE Pauly-Wissowa s.v. Boreas by Rapp. P. Grimal has taken up this interpretation connecting it to a vase with red figures representing Boreas pursuing the nymph Oreithyia: Boreas is depicted as a two headed winged demon, the two faces with beards, one black and the other fair, perhaps symbolizing the double movement of the winds Boreas and Antiboreas. This proves the Greek of the V century BC did know the image of Janus. Gage feels compelled to mention here another parallel with Janus to be found in the figure of Argos with one hundred eyes and in his association with his murderer Hermes.

Among the winds studied by Greek sailors one can number Auster and Aquilon. Favonius on the other hand is not known to the Greek but is of particular relevance to the Roman as it started to blow exactly on the sixth day before the Idi of February: it was regarded as the bringer of the Springtime renewal of life. Few days later recurred the festival of Faunus, on the idi.

c) Solar, solsticial and cosmological elements. While there is no direct proof of an original solar meaning of Janus, this being the issue of learned speculations of the Roman erudits initiated into the mysteries and of emperors as Domitian, the derivation from a Syrian cosmogonic deity proposed by P. Grimal looks more acceptable. Gage though sees an ancient, preclassical Greek mythic substratum to which belong Deucalion and Pyrrha and the Hyperborean origins of the Delphic cult of Apollo as well as the Argonauts. The beliefs in the magic power of trees is reflected in the use of the olive wood, as for the rolls of the ship Argo: the myth of the Argonauts has links with Corcyra, remembered by Ampelius.

4. The sites of the cults of Janus at Rome and his associations in ancient Latium.

    • a) Argiletum. Varro gives either the myth of the killing of Argos as an etymology of the word Argi-letum (death of Argos), which is not reliable, or the place standing upon a soil of clay, argilla. However the names in -etum are usually referred to trees. The place so named stood at the foot of the Viminal, the hill of the reeds. It could also be referred to the white willow tree, used to make objects of trelliswork. The word could also be linked to the Argei the 27 or 30 dolls thrown into the Tiber in the rite of May 15. On them the more accepted opinion (at the time, 1979) is that they represented Greeks, Argei being their ancient designation by the Romans. The rite could be a substitution rite for human sacrifices or be original as such. The most supported opinion among the Ancient was that of a rite of substitution of human sacrifices to Saturn ascribed to Hercules. At any rate the rite must be associated to a local Preroman life linked to the Tiber, to a river religion in which the reeds harvested in the river itself or its banks had a peculiar value. Janus though is not present in this rite.

b) The Janiculum may have been inhabited by people who were not Latin but had close alliances with Rome.The right bank of the Tiber would constitute a typical, commodious landing place for boats and the cult of Janus would have been double as far as amphibious.

c) Janus’s cultic alliances and relations in Latium show a Prelatin character. Janus has no association in cult (calendar or prayer formulae) with any other entity. Even though he has the epithet of Pater he is no head of a divine family; however some testimonies lend him a companion, sometimes female and a son and/or a daughter. They belong to the family of the nymphs or genies of springs. Janus intervenes in the miracle of the hot spring during the battle between Romulus and Tatius: Juturna and the nymphs of the springs are clearly related to Janus as well as Venus, that in the Ovid’s Metamorphoses cooperates in the miracle and that may have been confused with Venilia, or perhaps the two were originally one. Janus has a direct link only to Venilia with whom he fathered Canens.

The magic role of the wild olive tree (oleaster) is prominent in the description of the duel between Aeneas and Turnus reflecting its religious significance and powers: it was sacred to sailors, also to those who had shipwrecked as a protecting guide to the shore. It was probably venerated by a Prelatin culture in association with Faunus. In the story of Venulus coming back from Apulia too we see the religious connotation of the wild olive: the king discovers one into which a local shepherd had been had been turned for failing to respect some nymphs he had come across in a nearby cavern, apparently Venilia, as she was the deity associated with the magic virtues of such tree. GagŽ finds it remarkable that the characters related to Janus are in the Aeneis on the side of the Rutuli. In the Aeneis Janus would be represented by Tiberinus. Olistene, the daughter of Janus with Camese, may reflect in her name that of the olive or oleaster, or of Oreithyia.Camese may be reflected in Carmenta: Evander’s mother is from Arcadia, comes to Latium as an exile migrant and has her two festivals in January: Camese’s name does not look Latin.

5. Sociological remarks

    • a) The vagueness of Janus’s association with the cults of primitive Latium and his indifference towards social composition of the Roman State suggest the inference that he was a god of an earlier amphibious merchant society in which the role of the guardian was indispensable.

b) Janus bifrons and the Penates. Even though the cult of Janus cannot be confused with that of the Penates, related with Dardanian migrants from Troy, the binary nature of the Penates and of Janus postulates a correspondent ethnic or social organisation. Here the model is thought to be provided by the cult of the Magni Dei or Cabeiri preserved at Samothrace and worshipped particularly among sailing merchants. The aetiological myth is noteworthy too: at the beginning one finds Dardanos and his brother Iasios appearing as auxiliary figures in a Phrygian cult to a Great Mother. In Italy there is a trace of a conflict between worshippers of the Argive Hera (Diomedes and the Diomedians of the south) and of the Penates. The cult of Janus looks to be related to social groups remained at the fringe of the Phrygian ones. They might or might not have been related to the cult of the Dioscuri.

c) The ianitrices in Roman law. The term is attested by Modestinus in the Digesta 38, 10, 4, 6 and glossed by Isidorus Origines 9, 7, 17. It denotes the spouses of the brothers of one’s husband: it is attested only in the imperial period and in the juridical language. It has a symmetric correspondent in levir brother of one’s husband. It is possible to suppose that the word ianitrix may at its origin have issued from the cult of Janus, which could have given special functions to women married to the two indivisible companions while later it got fixed to a special sense of relations. This topic bears on the matrimonial practices of early Roman society which show traces of a regimen different from the classic one, i. e. monogamic with exogamy.


Janus and Juno

The relationship between Janus and Juno is defined by the closeness of the notions of beginning and transition and the functions of conception and delivery, result of youth and vital force. The reader is referred to the above sections Cultual epithets and Tigillum Sororium of this article and the corresponding section of article Juno.


Janus and Quirinus

Quirinus is a god that incarnates the quirites, i.e. the Romans in their civil capacity of producers and fathers. He is surnamed Mars tranquillus peaceful Mars, Mars qui praeest paci Mars who presides on peace. His function of custos guardian is highlighted by the location of his temple inside the pomerium but not far from the gate of Porta Collina or Quirinalis, near the shrines of Sancus and Salus. As a protector of peace he is nevertheless armed, in the same way as the quirites are, as they are potentially milites soldiers: his staue represents him is holding a spear. For this reason Janus, god of gates, is concerned with his function of protector of the civil community. For the same reason the flamen Portunalis oiled the arms of Quirinus, implying that they were to be kept in good order and ready even though they were not to be used immediately. Dumezil and Schilling remark that as a god of the third function Quirinus is peaceful and represents the ideal of the pax romana i. e. a peace resting on victory.


Janus and Portunus

Portunus may be defined as a sort of duplication inside the scope of the powers and attributes of Janus. His original definition shows he was the god of gates and doors and of harbours. In fact it is debated whether his original function was only that of god of gates and the function of god of harbours was a later addition: Paul the Deacon writes: “… he is depicted holding a key in his hand and was thought to be the god of gates”. Varro would have stated that he was the god of harbours and patron of gates. His festival day named Portunalia fell on August 17, and he was venerated on that day in a temple ad pontem Aemilium and ad pontem Sublicium that had been dedicated on that date.[229] Portunus, unlike Janus, had his own flamen, named Portunalis. It is noteworthy that the temple of Janus in the Forum Holitorium had been consecrated on the day of the Portunalia and that the flamen Portunalis was in charge of oiling the arms of the statue of Quirinus.


Janus and Vesta

The relationship between Janus and Vesta touches on the question of the nature and function of the gods of beginning and ending in Indo-European religion. While Janus has the first place Vesta has the last, both in theology and in ritual (Ianus primus, Vesta extrema). The last place implies a direct connexion with the situation of the worshipper, in space and in time. Vesta is thence the goddess of the hearth of homes as well as of the city. Her inextinguishable fire is a means for men (as individuals and as a community) to keep in touch with the realm of gods. Thus there is a reciprocal link between the god of beginnings and unending motion, who bestows life to the beings of this world (Cerus Manus) as well as presiding over its end, and the goddess of the hearth of man, which symbolises through fire the presence of life. Vesta is a virgin goddess but at the same time she is considered the mother of Rome: she is thought to be indispensable to the existence and survival of the community.


Association with non-Roman gods

The god with two faces appeared repeatedly in Babylonian art. Reproductions of the image of such a god, named Usmu, on cylinders in Sumero-Accadic art. On plate XXI, c, Usmu is seen while introducing worshippers to a seated god. Janus-like heads of gods related to Hermes have been found in Greece, perhaps suggesting a compound god.

 

–Crystalinks