Author: lynette_starfire

I am a Solitary Practitioner. For those of you who don't know, that means I am 100% witch. I have no Path that I follow but I do lean toward Celtic rather heavily. I have interests in other Paths. Since I am a Solitary, I pull what I need from other traditions and weave it so it suits my needs. I also have other interests beside witchcraft. I like to ride horses in the cool Spring mornings and late in the Summer evenings. I love to go for nature hikes, I love animals (all shapes and forms). I like making as much of my food as possible. I am not really into anything store bought. I am a pure Naturalist.

Your Crowley Thoth Tarot Card for June 4 is The Devil

Your Crowley Thoth Tarot Card for Today

The Devil



The Devil is the more perplexing cards one can draw in a reading. He represents all that most find undesirable, distasteful. He embodies the seven deadly sins (Lust, Gluttony, Avarice, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, Pride). The Devil is evil personified. However, it is unlikely his presence in your cards means you are most suited to be a child of Satan. Think of the saying “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” The more plausible explanation is that you are actually quite moral, and feel a deep duty to oppose the dark forces The Devil embodies. This in no way implies you should establish your own inquisition, but simply that you are acutely aware of the destructive influences in our world and have the strength to resist them.

Your Weekly Influences for June 4

Your Weekly Influences for June 4

 

Tarot Influence

Six of Cups Reversed

Preoccupation with the past. Over dependence on outdated ideas and morals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Astrological Influence

Capricorn Reversed

Capricorn reversed signifies impracticality and a lack of ambition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Element Influence

Earth

Earth is the card of everyday life. Earth makes riches of all kinds available to those who are in tune with her.

This Week’s Tarot Card Reading: The Emperor

This Week’s Tarot Card Reading: The Emperor

Your weekly Tarot card advice for June 4-10, 2018

 

By Coleman Stevenson

Tarot Cards, Tarot

 

This week The Emperor gives you a jolt of confidence. This is great — you need it! We 4can’t have you sliding back into a place of doubt when there is so much to be done with this month’s gift of a renewed sense of purpose. So how might this Emperor energy manifest for you this week? Well, most obviously, knowing what you want gives you so much more conviction and drive to act. When you have vision and feel more in control of your circumstances, little bumps in the road are easier to dismiss along the way because you can see past them to the bigger picture.

Just remember that with this kind of authority comes responsibility. When you are in charge, be careful about how you treat other people. Yes, they are a part of your story, in a way, but they are all living their own missions, too. A good leader doesn’t rule over others. A good leader negotiates, collaborates, practices compassion, and finds solutions that fit everyone’s needs. This can apply in both career and personal settings. Use your newfound power to inspire and encourage others to be their best selves, then use that collective energy to propel you forward into manifesting your visions.

 

 

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

Your Tarot Card of the Day for June 4 is The Fool

Tarot Card of the Day

The Fool

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Pamela Coleman-Smith’s artful rendition of The Fool in the Rider-Waite Tarot deck is often used to represent Tarot in general. Early classical versions of The Fool card, however, portray quite a different character — a person driven by base needs and urges, who has fallen into a state of poverty and deprivation.

In some earlier instances, The Fool is made out to be a carnival entertainer or a huckster. In others, he is portrayed as decrepit and vulnerable — as the cumulative result of his delusions and failures. Not until the 20th century do you see the popular Rider-Waite image of The Fool arise — that of an innocent soul before its fall into matter, untainted by contact with society and all its ills.

Modern decks usually borrow from the Rider-Waite imagery. Most Fool cards copy the bucolic mountainside scene, the butterfly, and the potential misplaced step that will send The Fool tumbling into the unknown. Don’t forget, though, that the earlier versions of this card represented already-fallen humanity, over-identified with the material plane of existence, and beginning a pilgrimage toward self-knowledge and, eventually, wisdom. The Fool reminds us to recognize the path of personal development within ourselves — and the stage upon that path where we find ourselves — in order to energize our movement toward deeper self-realization.

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

If You Were Born Today, June 4

Happy Birthday 4

If You Were Born Today, June 4

You are ambitious with a good head on your shoulders, particularly for business. You know what to do to get the job done. You are hard working and very conscientious, no matter what job you do, but especially so when inspired. At times you can drive yourself too hard. When irritated, you can be a little bossy or arrogant, but overall, you are quite companionable and friendly. Famous people born today: Angelina Jolie, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Parker Stevenson, Bruce Dern.

Your Birthday Year Forecast:

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

Neptune ends its transiting square to your Sun in December, but until then, there will continue to be times when you combat low energy and motivation levels. It’s important to be selective when it comes to projects or answering demands. A noncommittal attitude in your personal life could leave people in your life feeling frustrated with you as you attempt to find yourself. Your self-image is being re-worked, and you are becoming more sensitive to a greater, perhaps more spiritual, sense of purpose. From December forward, considerably more clarity is in your life.

This can be an exceptionally busy year on a mental level. At times, you may feel like the pace of your life is running ahead of you. You can be especially productive, however, in all types of communications–writing, speaking, learning, teaching, and so forth. Your reputation may be enhanced through word of mouth. Making new contacts through learning and mental pursuits figures strongly as well.

Certain relationships grow and expand this year or there can be the growth of a money-making pursuit or a satisfying hobby. Pleasing circumstances surrounding your love life, finances, and creative pursuits are in store this year. You are more generous, and others return the favor. You might receive financial backing or special gifts in the period ahead. You seek a little more from your love life and you are likely to receive it. Some of you could fall in love this year, or existing relationships are enhanced. Adventure-seeking is a theme. Benefits come through paying attention to your dreams and intuitions, as well as through creativity.

However, intensity characterizes your personal relationships and romantic attachments. Passions, feelings of jealousy, and possessiveness can run high, and these emotions are in direct proportion to fear of losing someone. You are likely to have to deal with these emotions in yourself, but you may also need to handle the jealousies and possessiveness of a partner. Relationships may be complicated or you seem drawn to complicated relationships. The need for deeper intimacy is present, but fear of this closeness may be just as strong. Something tiny can trigger all sorts of buried emotions, and this can be very revealing! Instead, there may be some tension over your personal finances, and/or need to make a large payment that necessitates changes in your spending habits. Finances may be complicated or there are power struggles with money this year.

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

You are inclined to put your ideas into action than usual, and you have good energy with you for debate or energetic mental work. Your mind is clear and active this year, and it can be a great time to cut down on wasteful activities. You can convey your ideas powerfully. You are quick to take the initiative. Travel may be in the picture and significant now.

You’re in an excellent position for personal interests, education, and projects, as you are more committed to these things than usual. It’s a relationship-focused year and your social life can transform in wonderful and perhaps magical ways, although some relationships can be complicated. You’re motivated regarding your personal interests and projects, and life can be very busy this year. Even so, until December, energy levels are up and down until you get in touch with what inspires you.

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

2019 will be a Number Four year for you. Ruled by Uranus. This is a year of work and development. It’s “nose to the grindstone” time. It’s a time to pay special attention to practical matters, and it’s not a time to be lazy or especially gregarious. Sometimes, it can be a year that feels hard, monotonous and routine, and/or lonely. Positive new relationships are often not formed in a Four personal year. However, it can be a wonderful year for building, development, and laying a solid foundation for future successes. Advice – get yourself organized, work to build your resources, keep busy.

 

Your Weekly Karma Forecast: June 3 – 9, 2018

Weekly Forecast: June 3 – 9, 2018

Kelly M. Beard
a message from Kelly M. Beard

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

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

Weekly Forecast:  June 3 – June 9, 2018

6/5 ~ Mercury (communication & self-expression) ~conjunct~ Sun (core essential Self):

This energy will compel you to express yourself on many levels. Communication will be a focus, just make sure it is reciprocated. You will have access to some powerful energy that can (and probably will) make quite an impression on others (if you need to). This is a good time to travel if possible too. However, if not physically, then mentally and certainly within your own area, you will take in more information per square inch than usual. Pay attention! You may even gain the much-deserved recognition from others that you have worked so hard for.

6/5 ~ Venus (relationships & resources) ~oppose~ Pluto (purification & transformation):

Classic opposition: anything with Venus is usually softened, while anything with Pluto is always intensified, and the opposition automatically brings up the push-pull between these two. You are encouraged to tune into your own heart and then you can trust what is rising from your own depths. Also, any opposition gives you a look back at your starting point, so you have more clear vision than you may be giving your Self credit for. Either way, this energy intensifies experiences where your relationships & resources are concerned. If you have focused on love, to the exclusion of money, then your finances will probably come up at this time for a rebalancing of sorts. If you’ve been focused on money, to the exclusion of supportive relationships, then that may be your focus. The bottom line is your true values are up for a purification of sorts. What/Who is really, truly important to you? How do you spend your resources of time, energy & money? What/Who are your real priorities right now? Often, we operate completely unconsciously (Pluto), being driven by deeper forces than we can fully understand. And periodically, we must allow them to come up/out so we can distill or release them so they become compost rather than toxic. Since you may feel ‘compulsive’ in some way, you may as well use that energy to make a deeper commitment to getting to the root or source of any imbalance rather than let it take you away to feed some unidentifiable famine in your life. Often, this activation tends to make you uncontrollably drawn to someone you know is not good for you, which can only result in problems. This energy provokes manipulation, jealousy, guilt and other negative emotions that always come when you are trying to maintain something that wasn’t meant to be in the first place. Again, don’t try to force YOUR will, it can only lead to a broken heart in the end. If you are already in an intense relationship, beware of subconscious impulses, hidden resentments, unexpressed anger or frustration. Expressing it at this time can be helpful if you present your concerns in a constructive way, however, you will have to be personally strong and vigilant in monitoring your own emotions in order to do that. Ultimately, if change needs to happen in your relationship, this will be the catalyst. This energy is only “bad” if you are unwilling to get to the real root or source of the given conflict. Otherwise, it is like a storm that clears the air and makes everything grow better.

6/6 ~ Mercury (communication) ~square~ Neptune (dissolution):

This is a mixed blessing energy. On one hand, it’s good for spiritual study and giving your dreams a little energy (if your schedule permits). On the other hand, it makes for major miscommunications between people. Try to think before speaking, because if it’s possible to misunderstand or not ‘get it’ altogether, it will happen this week. Be careful not to let “longing” for your dreams to come true, distort your judgment and mislead you into believing the illusion. With this energy, some people will deliberately deceive and others have to be careful not to be misled. Stick to the facts or stay quiet, for now. You may even be inclined to withhold information to avoid a confrontation – don’t do it. Communicate with your Self and God today, otherwise plan to be very clear in explaining yourself to others (humans) so there are no misunderstandings.

6/7 ~ Sun (core essential Self) ~square~ Neptune (illusions & delusions):

This activation can cause self-doubt, self-delusion and an overall confusion that seems to be sourced within or self-directed. It’s only temporary, this is just the Universe’s way of slowing you down so you can see where your goals may have been unrealistic or based on flights of fancy. If your energy is low and you’re feeling challenged to see the bright side of things, it is better to just time-out, rest & replenish (if possible) and most of all, do not initiate any grand plans as you are not really seeing things as they truly are at this time. Luckily, this is a pretty short-lived activation.

 

 

Copyright © 2000-2018 * Kelly M Beard * http://karmictools.wordpress.com * All Rights Reserved * Permission granted to copy & redistribute Kelly’s Forecasts & Updates on the condition that it’s distributed freely, content remains intact & includes contact/link back to post.

Your Cosmic Weather Horoscope – June 2018

Your Cosmic Weather Horoscope – June 2018

Cosmic Weather: June 2018

by Jane Lyle.

Website: The Astrology Room

 

Hello Summer! It’s June, we move towards the magical turning point of the Solstice, and the Sun’s astrology journey encourages us to enjoy the atmosphere of sociable Gemini, and sentimental Cancer. Love and friendship can flourish.

 

This month, two important retrogrades (Neptune and Mars) invite us to slow down and smell fragrant June roses, or taste a succulent strawberry. There are vital, vibrant details waiting for us to notice them everywhere. Our senses centre us. Yes, the world is still a turbulent and sometimes scary place, but in June we can release some of that tension. Neptune and Mars insist. How can we refuse?

Thought for June:

‘The days were longer then for time, like money, is measured by our needs, when summer afternoons were spacious, and the clock ticked slowly in the winter evenings.’ – George Eliot

 

 

 

Tuesday 12th June – Wednesday 13th June:

New Directions

Some fresh, sociable, and summery energy is signalled by three astrological moments this Tuesday and Wednesday. They bring a bright atmosphere to some corners of our lives during the month ahead.

Mercury enters Cancer, the Crab where its slightly surreal sense of humour entertains us. Venus swans into glamorous Leo, where the love goddess is playful, flirty, and loves entertainment.
And an energetic, talkative new Moon in Gemini marks a chatty, witty phase. It’s a good time to meet friends, make some new ones, or cook up a few sunny plans.

Mercury and Venus will gain extra sparkle and surprises as soon as they change signs. At that point they make a connection with eccentric Uranus, newly in Taurus. Spontaneous plans and unusual encounters make some of us smile, flexibility brings rewards around this time.

Here’s the astrology:

Mercury enters Cancer the Crab, 12th June – 29th June.
13th June: New Moon rises at 22 Gemini, The Twins
Venus enters Leo, the Lion, 13th June – 10th July.

 

 

 

Monday 18th June:

The Shape of Water: Neptune turns retrograde

Neptune is now to-ing and fro-ing across the middle degrees of fishy Pisces. We’re half-way through this once-in-a-lifetime event – Neptune last swam in Pisces waters between 1847 and 1861.

Back in 2011, when Neptune first dipped into the sign Pisces, I looked back at some 19th century Neptune in Pisces themes for clues about what might loom into view through the mists in our own time.

Neptune’s themes and rulerships in astrology are constant, but I imagined some of them would be expanded by Neptune being in its own home sign, Pisces. And after seven years of Neptune in Pisces, I’d say we can see some characteristically Neptunian trends all around us, echoing some mid-19th century themes.

Firstly, drugs. Hypnotic drugs and anaesthetics are ruled by Neptune. Opium and its derivatives, for instance, were (legal) 19th century favourites – used as painkillers, and appreciated by some for encouraging vivid dreams. Today, we are – sadly – seeing a terrible crisis in the private, recreational use of opioid drugs, notably in the USA. Addiction is another of Neptune’s themes, and includes both drugs and alcohol.

The legalisation of that 19th century favourite, cannabis, is unfolding too. Cannabis was another legal and popular Victorian drug – Queen Victoria was rumoured to find it very helpful for its painkilling properties.

“…..by the 1840s cannabis was being touted as one of the wonder-drugs of the age, as doctors out in the Empire reported excitedly that it was a ‘powerful and valuable remedy in hydrophobia, tetanus, cholera and many convulsive disorders’. The Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal seized on these reports and devoted its front-page to the new medicine, and in subsequent decades the plant was used to treat everything from tetanus, to period pains and mental illness.”

The developing investment market in legal cannabis for pleasure, and for medical, therapeutic use, is moving along rapidly now in 2018.

And further along on the hippie-trippy psychedelic front, there’s renewed serious research and interest in the use of psychedelic drugs, such as LSD, in the treatment of depression. Or, apparently, in micro-doses to enhance the inventive minds of those who work in Silicon Valley.

A shamanic-style boom in ritualistic ayahuasca ceremonies is yet another Neptune in Pisces trend – hallucinations, nausea, and spiritual enlightenment from an ancient South American vine. You have to surrender to your ayahuasca trip – and Pisces can be all about surrender.

Another big issue for Neptune in Pisces era is obviously water. Back in 2011 I wrote:

‘Water …is another major theme for these years – from pollution of the oceans, and its fish, and other creatures, to flooding, rainfall, healing, drinking, bathing, and combating water-bourne diseases such as cholera.

The idealisation of the sea, of inland waters, plus a passion for pristine environments and their water are likely to be part of this. Poison in the oceans, and oil from under the sea, ignite rage.’

And yes, water is indeed a major topic these days.

In the fun corner, we’re seeing a ‘mermaiding’ fitness trend – unbelievable, but this isn’t a Neptunian fantasy! Here’s Mermaid Melissa, back in 2013, swimming in a gigantic aquarium in Japan:

And you can now attend classes where you swim, wearing a mermaid tail…….

On a more sombre note, we are finally realising how dangerously polluted our oceans and inland waters have become, particularly by mountains of carelessly discarded plastic, wet wipes and so on. I fervently hope we can act swiftly and do something about this entirely avoidable horror before its way too late.

Water shortages are another area of concern around the world too.

Finally – although defining Neptune is always a slippery business – here are a few more possibilities and questions from 2011. We can see how they’re manifesting now we’ve had seven years of this foggy cosmic weather.

And if you’re having your own visit from confusing Neptune, this retrograde season might be a helpful time to see what’s been swimming up to the surface in your own life.

*‘Back in the 1840’s Europe was in a state of volatile change….the effects of the industrial revolution had created mass urban misery and poverty. So I wonder, what has the digital revolution created that people will reject or challenge?’

*‘Who is the individual? Who are the herd? We want union with others, to help foster social democracy, to belong somewhere, and to be joined together by our passions and beliefs.’

*’As boundaries dissolve, people find numerous ways to express themselves and escape narrow definitions of profession, gender, age, ethnic origin….we will ask ourselves, ‘whom do these boundaries serve?’

Neptune turns direct on 25th November. It’s in Pisces until January, 2026.

Neptune is retrograde in Pisces until Sunday, 25th November.

 

 

 

Thursday 21st June:

The Summer Solstice

The Sun enters Cancer the Crab today, and a new season begins with the Summer Solstice.

There’s magic in the air at such times. Folklore and ancient traditions tell us that we’re standing at a threshold. The door is open – we can step through, or we can welcome what flows towards us from the other side of that door. Enjoy the light.

 

 

 

Tuesday 26th June:

Mars Retrograde

Mighty Mars, planet of action and desire, is now rewinding until Monday, 27th August. We can expect delays, or even reversals, to projects and plans we’ve already started. Sounds annoying, but many projects can benefit from a slow-down or a review.

This can be an argumentative, fiery time, as Mars draws closer to us here on Earth. We’ll be able to see the Red Planet easily this summer – it’s at its closest approach to us in July. The phrase, ‘more haste, less speed’ could be a helpful one to remember.

Mars is a warrior and a sportsman. Mars was worshipped as the Roman god of war. We’ll need to remember to ‘give peace a chance’. And while we may not be able to influence governments, we can at least try to negotiate peaceful solutions in our own lives this summer.

Negotiating Mars Retrograde – astrology’s advice

With Mars in geeky Aquarius, in-depth reviews of tech, social media, and computer security are very worthwhile.

Mars retrogrades in general are a good time to revise and edit things. Beginning anything more dynamic – such as a business – during this phase could prove to be a struggle, with initiatives needing a rethink by October.

Mars retrograde is, traditionally, said to be a bad time to start a fight. Now, that could include a divorce, an employment dispute, a strike and so on. If you’re planning on making war this summer, you can fully expect your opponent to win the battle this time around – particularly if you make the first move.

This is not a great time to buy machinery for yourself, or your home. With Mars in Aquarius that includes cars, computers, smart phones and anything from the internet of things. Repairing items should work out well though.

Mars turns back today at 9 degrees of Aquarius. This cycle comes to a final, definite end in October, when Mars – travelling forwards again – reaches 9 Aquarius on 8th October.

If you have any planets in your own natal chart at 0 to 9 degrees of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius, you’ll be likely to notice Mars backtracking more than most.

Out in the world

Locations with planets between 0 and 9 degrees of Aquarius in their national horoscopes are worth watching. Mars crosses them a total of three times – beginning in May – making a really strong point about actions, disputes, and initiatives.

Here are a few examples:

Iran – Mercury, 6 degrees Aquarius and Mars 9 degrees Aquarius

Australia – Sun, 6 degrees Aquarius

Belgium – Uranus, 6 Aquarius

Spain –  Mars will be activating both Spain’s charts. Spain can expect to experience more turbulence, fights, and perhaps some striking sporting headlines as well.

Why? In 1479, the chart for Spain has Sun, 8 Aquarius, Mercury 1 Aquarius, Moon’s South Node (fate) 0 Aquarius.

In Spain’s 1975 horoscope, the ascendant is 3 Aquarius.

UK House of Commons –  In this chart Mercury is at 6 degrees, and the Sun at 8 degrees Aquarius. Does this mean another data, tech, or social media row this summer?

Certainly, there are some very lively political debates ahead as Mars energises communicative media Mercury and the Sun, symbolising leaders and prominent individuals.

Ukraine – in the chart for 1918 Ukraine has the Sun at 1 Aquarius. In 1991, when it declared independence, it has Saturn – planet of law and government – at 1 Aquarius.

Russia -The early degrees of Aquarius are highlighted in many charts for former Soviet Union countries, and some of the horoscopes for modern Russia too.

International focus will be beaming in on the World Cup in Russia this summer – it concludes mid-July while Mars is still rewinding. Arguments about sporting technology could be the least of it I fear.

The World Cup final (along with the Wimbledon Men’s Finals) will take place two days after a brooding solar eclipse on Friday 13th July. This is a significant eclipse for the UK, amongst other locations. The atmosphere, and public mood, will be highly charged.

A Time for Caution

The most volatile times for everyone during this phase will likely be those when Mars in Aquarius squares off to Uranus in Taurus. These are days when caution, calm, and sober, risk-averse choices will pay off.

Extra-sensitive dates to watch out for are:

23rd July – 12th August – this is also roller-coaster eclipse season, with eclipses on 13th July, 27th July and 11th August. The lunar eclipse on 27th July is exactly aligned with Mars at 4 degrees of Aquarius! Anger is close to the surface, computer hacking stories and other internet shenanigans hit the headlines again.

These look like especially turbulent, high-energy weeks when it’ll be a real challenge to make decisions that endure. Mercury will also be retrograde at this time (26th July-18th August) for added confusion. If you absolutelys have to sign a contract during this phase, please do be forensic about reading every last teeny tiny detail.

11th September – 22nd September – we can make moves towards resolving some of summer’s shenanigans now, although actions could still be disruptive, rebellious, or unexpected. What was hidden or obscure in July and August is questioned or revealed as Mars returns to vitalise that Aquarian eclipse this September.

Enjoy June. It may not be an entirely peaceful month, yet there are – without a doubt – enough sunlit moments to make many of us smile.

June 2018 Astro-Energy Report – The Alchemy of Emotional Expression

June 2018 Astro-Energy Report – The Alchemy of Emotional Expression

Sarah Varcas
a message from Sarah Varcas

Website:  Awakening, Astrology with Sarah Varcas

 

 

June 2018 finds us in the ‘waiting room’ of the next eclipse season beginning in July. How we manage the waiting, the growing sense of anticipation or anxiety, the mounting tension… or is it excitement?….depends largely on how happy we are to let things fall into place. Or would we rather force them there, before discovering we’ve jammed yet another square peg into a round hole?! Mars in Aquarius conjunct the South Node through June and July reminds us detaching from our desires can be useful when progress is slow. It doesn’t mean we must abandon all hope and give up the ghost, but it can be helpful to turn down the heat on our expectations and demands when the universe has a different timetable to our own! Then we can relax despite the stress of waiting while the cosmic dance allows life to unfold in its own time and step.

That said, this Mars comes with a warning too: don’t be so detached as to lose touch with your passion, your fiery core. Remember what sets your heart aflame and continue to nurture that warm glow inside, even when externals aren’t looking so hot! Once the eclipse season is upon us our orientation may change quite significantly, with a focus on inner adjustments necessary for outer change to happen. In the meantime this coming month has a lot to say about relationships and raises some potentially thorny, but enlightening, issues about the role our emotions play in them.

June begins with an on-going Grand Trine in Water increasing sensitivities and heightening emotion. Be gentle, choose compassion over conflict and bear in mind the old adage that many are fighting great battles, most of them hidden. The first three days of this month may feel heavy with emotion if we don’t do something proactive about processing our feelings rather than wallowing in them. A Yod focused on Saturn reminds us responsibility for ourselves can’t be abdicated just because we’re not feeling so great. Learning to allow our emotions space whilst placing a boundary around them so we can keep on keeping on is a valuable lesson at times like this.

Come 3rd June sensitivities ease as the Grand Trine in Water and Yod dissolve, life moves on and Pluto in Capricorn begins to oppose Venus in Cancer until 8th June. This opposition highlights the power of love and the love of power, so can be used to enhance our relationships or exploit them!  If you find yourself at odds with loved ones during this time, see it as an opportunity to explore the deeper dynamics of your relationship and learn something about yourself while you do. Whilst a concurrent square between the Sun and Neptune from 4th to 10th June may cause us to doubt ourselves just when we need to be firm and clear, it also invites us to take a different view on a situation which has felt stuck or stagnant for a while. Use this energy to be creative about your viewpoint and welcome uncertainty as a sign that a new perspective is forming.

A quarter moon in Pisces as the Sun conjuncts Mercury on 6th June reminds us that meaningful connections with other people don’t always have to be intense. Hanging out with friends, enjoying a few beers and watching the match can be as important as deep and meaningful discussions beneath the stars. We need a range of intensity in our relationships. This Moon allows for the beautiful alchemy of shared interests, happy moments and light-hearted banter which forges connections that stand the test of time when the going gets rough and we need deeper support from those we love.

Eris sextiles the Sun from 11th – 18th June providing some feisty energy if we have something to say or do that feels onerous or intimidating. Eris is intimidated by nothing and no one and wants us to feel the same! Her mighty heart and fearsome attitude combined with the Sun in Gemini’s gift of the gab can embolden us to reach out to others, step out of our comfort zone and dare to think new thoughts to see how they fit in our familiar world. If you’ve been wondering why something in your life isn’t working out how you’d hoped and no matter the efforts you make it simply won’t shift, this sextile from Eris to the Sun can help you find a new route towards your goal. Preferably one that entails less struggle and more creativity!

Mercury in Cancer from 12th – 29th June invites us to speak openly about our feelings when we know we’re safe to do so. It reminds us not to fear all intimacy because some has been corrupted by deception and betrayal. Most people have been hurt and most have hurt others, unwittingly or otherwise. No one is immune. Accepting this fact of life can go some way to regaining a modicum of trust. A square from Chiron to Mercury between 12th and 15th June challenges us to express our emotions and let others do the same. This may be the only way to ease the pressure of holding it all inside. Chiron in Aries wants healing to be quick and complete. It simply doesn’t have time for lengthy exploration and deep inner work! Whilst in the long run we may need exactly that, right now we can take time to articulate our inner world and benefit greatly from doing so. No analysis needed, no interpretation necessary. The simple power of saying the words can bring healing enough in itself.

As Uranus is squared by Venus from 12th to 17th June we may discover that honest emotional sharing raises some interesting issues! Here we see the consequences of speaking our feelings into the world. It changes things and yes, we may fear those changes which is why we didn’t do it in the first place. But if we keep inside something as powerful as emotion it will change us anyway. The inner twists and turns needed to avoid what we don’t want to see can be significantly more harmful than the consequences of looking it in the eye and owning it. Uranus and Venus remind us that only by engaging with the world around us can we discover what we truly desire and how we can go about getting it. And most emotion is ultimately about desire: our reaction to what we do and don’t want to happen, how we do and don’t want to be and what we do and don’t want to have to deal with. This square identifies desire as the driving force at the heart of all that we are and all that we do. As such, being honest about our desires is a radical act of self-determination and personal sovereignty.

This emphasis on authentic communication is further enhanced on 13th June by a New Moon in the 23rd degree of Gemini which occurs just a couple of hours prior to Venus entering Leo (where she remains until 10th July). This Moon encourages openness and honesty, whilst helping to keep things light. It reminds us relationships don’t have to be a battle ground or an endless therapy session. They can also be fun, creative places where we get to know ourselves and others through mutual exploration and revelation. Bringing a more light-hearted attitude to any challenging inter-personal issues we encounter may be just what’s needed to ease the tension preventing their resolution. Once Venus is in Leo we’ll all benefit from some affection and acknowledgement along the way so using this new moon to shift heavier dynamics and brighten things up will put it to good use indeed.

Once in Leo, Venus invites us to celebrate ourselves and embrace the sheer pleasure of unapologetically being who we are. She recognises the wonder of our individuality, the nuance of our speech, that certain way we approach other people, the glint in our eye and the lilt in our walk. She loves us just as we are, whoever we are, and bids us look in her mirror to see ourselves through her eyes. She sees behind the uncertainties and fear, lack of confidence, social faux pas, embarrassing moments and deepest shame to the sacred humanity at our heart. She celebrates us all and urges us to do the same. In a busy world where life rushes by at a lightening pace it’s easy to overlook the importance of appreciative moments: a compliment here, a kind word there, a vote of thanks or a gesture of gratitude. She reminds us to acknowledge each other and ourselves, to focus on the best of humanity and accentuate the positive in our relationships. Not as some Pollyanna act of denial but because in doing so we can find a balanced view which might just save the day.

Saturn in Capricorn opposing Mercury in Cancer between 14th and 17th June adds some grounding ‘common sense’ into the mix, encouraging us to share our wisdom and insight as well as our emotions. ‘I feel this way and I think it’s about something that’s happening between us’ can be an easier message to hear than ‘I feel this way and it’s all YOUR fault!’. If we want others to listen we need to present a message they can hear, especially if it challenges their own perceptions, feelings and security. This opposition helps us take responsibility for the expression of our feelings, by being clear where they’re coming from and knowing what’s ours and what’s someone else’s to address. In doing so we can take communication to the next level, exploring our thoughts and feelings in greater depth without others feeling threatened or our retreating into denial because owning up to who we are comes at too high a price.

Between 16th and 24th June the theme of relationship dynamics continues with Venus conjunct the North Node while Mars is conjunct the South Node, reminding us that all healthy relationships require a balance of opposites, an acceptance of contradictions and the embracing of paradox. It’s helpful to examine and learn from the past but not to carry it with us like a pack on our back weighing us down. We’re not destined to repeat the past if we choose to do things differently this time around. And no matter what’s happened before, we can opt for a positive and hopeful attitude towards the present rather than a negative or combative one. True positivity is born of awareness and realism, not a denial of the challenges we face. Negativity isn’t ‘common sense’, it’s a decision to allow past struggles to define our future rather than choosing a new approach to how our life unfolds.

Neptune begins five months retrograde in Pisces on 18th June reminding us that no matter the cacophony of the world, inner silence remains, patiently waiting. It calls us into stillness where we are nothing, no one and yet in all things everywhere. Stillness itself can overwhelm, however, threatening our sense of identity and meaning, in which case life’s demands come as a welcome distraction from disappearing into the void! But when Neptune’s retrograde it’s important we find time to do exactly that when we can. Trined by Jupiter as it changes direction, we have deep and powerful support to explore life aside from the world, from who we think we are and believe others to be. Extraneous distractions can be seen for what they are, we can pare life down to what matters and unlock great riches within.

A Grand Trine in Water formed by Mercury, Neptune and Jupiter from 19th to 21st Juneencourages us to walk gently and with grace in the world. Let our words be comforting, our actions wise and our wisdom humble. Battles fought now may wound deeply so they’re best avoided. Conflicts engaged in will hurt so if we can step around them or postpone them for another day this would be best. The Sun begins its month in the sign of Cancer on 21st July. Squaring Chiron in Aries as it does so, it sets, in part, the theme of the solar eclipse in Cancer next month. The power of emotional healing is emphasised and the influence of emotional wounds highlighted. The world can be a hurtful place and we can cause much pain to one another. The Sun’s journey through Cancer helps us acknowledge this fact and turn to face, rather than avoid, our own wounds. Emotional pain isn’t a sign of weakness or an indicator of not being ‘spiritual’ enough. It simply means we’re human and so we suffer, and then we heal, and then we suffer, and then we heal, and so it is in this realm as we let go those things that bind us and blossom into who we truly are.

Pluto opposes Mercury from 21st to 25th July. Words have power and ideas can change the world, so what we say and how we think are key factors in how we impact others. Mercury in Cancer seeks common ground, emotional sharing and a sense of belonging. Pluto in Capricorn sees these priorities as sentimental hogwash when change is necessary and truths need to be aired! This opposition can augur harsh words and cutting speech or exchanges which get to the root of a problem so completely that it never need recur. Which of these results we get is largely up to us. If we can use Mercury’s ability to create a safe space in which to have difficult conversations, and then embrace Pluto’s life-changing truths about how we move through this world, use our inherent power and respond to that of others, we could experience some truly profound exchanges during this time, capable of shifting not only our relationships but also our perception of how the world really works and what’s actually going on around us. Pluto reminds us that what looks like destruction is purification and what feels too hard to bear is our spirit rising up anew to reclaim its own. Keeping this in mind now can help us stay with emotionally challenging situations and see them through into renewal.

From 24th to 30th June an opposition between Saturn in Capricorn and the Sun in Cancer takes over from Mercury and Pluto, affirming that emotional sensitivity, when accepted and understood, can be a source of wisdom rather than a liability to be controlled at all costs! This world rarely welcomes those who feel deeply and live life without emotional armour. This opposition may augur a suppressive or punitive response to emotional sensitivity, or a supportive effort to contain and make sense of emotional pain. For those we encounter who are struggling now we can be a safe witness for their pain. And if it is we who struggle, we can seek out that safety for ourselves. But finding it isn’t a given. A square from Chiron in Aries to the Sun reminds us that at the end of the day it is we who must contain ourselves and know ourselves as whole. We cannot forever seek to pour ourselves into another’s cup but must become our own chalice, offering up our difficult emotions, challenging circumstances and painful experiences to be transmuted by the restorative capacity of life itself which makes all things new eventually. If we find that safe space and grounded person who can help us allow and make sense of emotional pain now all well and good. But if not, Saturn reminds us we can be that person for ourselves, and there is a wise and grounded self wanting now to emerge.

From 26th June to 27th August Mars is retrograde, first in Aquarius and then in Capricorn, giving us five retrograde planets to end the month (Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune & Pluto). With so much retrograde activity our inner life takes on great importance and needs careful attention. Whilst external progress can falter when Mars is retrograde, inside we can make great strides in self-knowledge which will serve us well for a long time to come. Mars only turns retrograde once every two to two and half years so it’s worth making the most of this opportunity to explore issues of motivation and hone our clarity about what’s really driving us. Are we pursuing one thing on the surface but in fact sabotaged by more hidden forces in our psyche which undermine our stated goals? Are we wholeheartedly pursuing our dreams only to find they’re not actually ours but someone else’s that we somehow co-opted along the way? Are we intent on proving ourselves to others according to their values and losing touch with our own in the process? Mars retrograde blows the cover on the many ways in which we work against ourselves, clarifying issues of motivation and intent and bringing them into line with a more authentic expression of who we actually are.

A Full Moon in the 7th degree of Capricorn on 28th June conjunct Saturn affirms the importance of honouring process rather than seeking after premature outcomes. It cautions patience and rewards those who respect the natural order which necessitates firm foundations before we reach for the sky! We may have to let go of unrealistic notions at this moon, recognising that our previous timetable for an important project may be flawed. Alternatively results achieved now may fall short of what we’d anticipated and require a grudging return to the drawing board. However this full moon manifests in your life, take heart and don’t give up hope. This isn’t an unsatisfactory end, but a staging post on a longer and altogether more significant journey. There is much wisdom available in the light of this Moon. Those who are willing to look with eyes wide open will see with greater clarity where they’ve sought to side-step responsibility in favour of an easier road or more naive approach to matters of gravity. Sometimes we must simply walk through the flames to reach the other side, for they are purifying and strengthening, even as they burn through our egoic defences. If we’ve tried to rise above rather than journey through them, this Moon gets our feet back on the ground and reminds us this time we must walk to where we’re going and learn along the way. If, however, you’re rewarded with blessings at this moon, pat yourself on the back and enjoy the moment for these rewards have truly been earned with commitment, hard graft and a refusal to back down no matter what. You deserve this moment, so enjoy it!

The month comes to a close with Mercury entering Leo on 29th June, where it remains until 6th September, turning retrograde in July. Aspecting Uranus and Chiron, Mercury’s arrival in Leo awakens the lion in us all, with its need to roar, make its presence felt and establish its territory. Uranus now in Taurus is working away on all that has been resistant to recent forces of change. We can use this Mercury to stamp our feet and resist the inexorable march of progress or climb on board and spread its message far and wide! Chiron in Aries reminds us that sometimes we simply have to get over ourselves and get on with life, even and especially when it’s tough and challenging and not looking how we hoped it would. Feeling hard done by or insisting life is unfair is simply a waste of energy that could be invested in finding better solutions to current problems or quicker ways to change our state and feel differently about the world around us. Mercury’s journey through Leo will test our commitment to pursuing a purposeful life rather than a frustrated one. We can use it to insist we know best no matter what and impose our ideas and values on everything and everyone. Or we can use it to contribute positive energy and ideas, perspectives and insights, into the ongoing process of change occurring personally, locally and globally. We may, in fact, find ourselves swinging between these two extremes, in which case observing how each makes us feel will be time well spent.

As June ends this Mercury reminds us of the radical healing power in self-expression. Others may not like what we have to say and the feeling may be mutual! But it’s time to speak openly and honestly, with integrity and grit. For only then can the truth be aired and its rectifying power radiate through the world around us. With Mercury turning retrograde next month and three eclipses approaching, now is the time to think deeply about what truly matters and how best to express its importance to the world. This may require some inner adjustments as well as outer ones. The current abundance of retrograde planets will help us make them if we harbour an enduring commitment to authenticity and truth.

Sarah Varcas

Monthly Astro-Forecasts June 2018

Monthly Astro-Forecasts June 2018

Sarah-Jane Grace
a message from Sarah-Jane Grace
Website:  Sarah-Jane Grace

Life is rarely as straightforward, or as black and white, as we might like it to be. Although most of us accept the unknowable nature of life, considerably less of us embrace this fact joyfully! Of course, it’s reality, so resisting it doesn’t change anything, but we are human and rarely take the logical approach! Indeed, even when we feel we have reached an enlightened state of awareness, those human quirks and nuances make sure we’re reminded of our human-ness on a regular basis. There is nothing wrong with this of course, but it can be frustrating to be constantly brought back down to earth with a bump when we’re gliding along with the currents of life.

Yet, life is unknowable and many of us take it for granted. I know I took my good health for granted until the day I couldn’t any more. I took walking in the woods and meandering along the beach for granted, after all, why wouldn’t I? It’s only now I realise what a privilege it is to be able to do such things. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I savoured every single moment and connected so deeply with every footstep and every grain of sand. Of course, hindsight is only ever useful in hindsight as I can’t change what’s already happened, but it’s certainly woken me up and made me realise just how much I still can do. Admittedly, I am still reminded of the things I cannot do, but I can choose to let that realisation crush me or I can acknowledge it and find new ways to flourish and thrive. Life rarely turns out as we expect it, but we don’t have to sink when the rug gets pulled out from beneath our feet, we can learn to flex, adapt and adjust. Yes, this takes time and it takes courage, but life is too precious to squander focusing on ‘if only’s’ and ‘what if’s’. I learned that the hard way!

It’s also important to realise that the paths we walk are full of pot-holes, dead-ends and unchartered terrain and it’s these that enable us to grow and evolve. We can allow ourselves to grow angry and frustrated because of this, but what purpose does it serve other than to consume our souls with toxicity? As I recently wrote in a newsletter: ‘from challenge comes courage, and courage illuminates the soul with grace and beauty’. We are all human beings, but being human, being truly alive and living whole-heartedly takes great courage. It’s important to remember to try to make the most of life, to acknowledge our gifts, to grow through challenge and to allow the light within our hearts and souls to shine brightly. Although in many ways we walk alone, we are never truly alone as there are always others walking the path towards conscious and compassionate living. It seems vital now to focus on the things we have in common rather than the things that divide us and to offer genuine loving kindness to ourselves and others without condition or expectation. Perhaps the biggest gift we can give is in allowing our true natures the freedom to flourish and reach up towards the sunshine.

The more we can live in the moment, the more we can connect with the joy within our own hearts and souls. Joy isn’t a force to seek out as it’s within us already, we just have to acknowledge it. Whilst we don’t know what’s around the next corner, this doesn’t mean we should shrink and focus on the possible finiteness of our existence. The opposite should be true as we should use this knowledge to make the most of every single moment from walking in the woods to meandering along the beach.  Once we have the courage to embrace the magic of life, life embraces us and opens up new doorways and opportunities.

For now, I wish you all kinds of wonderful.

With love,

Sarah-Jane

Aries

♈

As you continue to explore the depths of your heart and soul, this has enabled you to learn a great deal about yourself and why you are the way you are. Of course, being human means this new level of awareness hasn’t, as yet, enabled you to break some of the cycles you have inevitably found yourself in over the years, but it has allowed you to begin to examine why you do what you do in the way that you do it. You may be feeling slightly perplexed at this point, but that is the point as it seems that much of what you do in life, you do on autopilot, not really thinking about the why’s, what’s and if’s. It’s not clear when you started to tick along in such a way, but on many levels, it’s seemed easier to go with the flow rather than allow your colourful, creative and compassionate energy the freedom to dance and sparkle.

Whilst your true nature resists the idea of fitting in and being a part of the flock, over time it has become easier to try to fit in as life has simply been too busy with things to do, people to see and places to go. Yet, how much of this is distraction and how much involves you following your heart and soul? Yes, life isn’t always straightforward, letting you do exactly what you want to do when you want to do it, but you seem to have gone to the other end of the extreme and there is a sense of restlessness within you as a result. The time has come for you to acknowledge the truth of all that you are, to take ownership of it and to feel yourself re-aligning to your heart and soul as this is your time to dance…

Taurus

♉

June looks set to be a month of deepening self-compassion and self-awareness as you continue to connect to your intuitive and perceptive nature with more clarity than ever before. You have finally reached a space in your life where you seem more confident to express your true needs and to honour yourself more. You have become adept at being the person everyone else wants you to be, but you are not allowing yourself to be the person you know yourself to be; however, these new shifts are bringing much lightness and energy into your heart and soul, and, as a result, things are changing. It seems the more self-aware you become, the more you are realising just how important it is to not dismiss your own needs as indulgent. Far from it in fact, as the more aware you truly are, the more you help, not only yourself, but others as well. Of course, there is no hiding away from the fact that the more you step into your own light, the more aware you are of some resistance from those around you.

Whilst this is unlikely to be outright hostility, there is some definite fidgeting and wriggling with the discomfort of others realising that you are perhaps not the push over you’ve often allowed yourself to be. Perhaps ‘push over’ is too strong a phrase, but you get the gist! Your strength, courage and bull-like tendencies have never gone away, it’s just that your stubbornness wouldn’t give them a look-in as it somehow felt easier to put your own needs last, but now you’ve opened up your eyes, heart and soul, you are realising that there is still so much you want to do with your life. You have some big dreams and some major goals that have been bubbling back up to the surface recently, so rather than squash them back down again, take a deep breath and see where it takes you…

Gemini

♊

The concept of resting consciously in the present moment looks set to take centre stage throughout June as you continue to explore the here and now with more vim, gusto and determination than ever before. Your willingness to shift your focus more towards the present moment rather than letting it drift through time and space, asking profound questions and pondering the existential nature of why things are the way they are, has enabled you to lift the load somewhat and to start trusting in yourself more to get on and live your life rather than waiting for all of your questions to be answered first. You will always have questions, and there will always be new ones surfacing at any given moment in time. Even when you receive answers, new answers will arise as well as new questions. This is a part of the cycle of your life and instead of allowing it to keep your life on hold you are now realising the importance of getting on and living anyway.

You have dived head-first into the present moment and there is a sense that you have allowed yourself to travel right into the core of your being in order to clear blocks and to access the truth of your essence. As a result, you are beginning to feel both lighter and heavier at the same time. You may therefore conclude from this that being both lighter and heavier leaves you in exactly the same space, but it doesn’t. Let your intuition feel this and you will gain a clearer sense of understanding. Perhaps this is a paradox, but that’s the point! By being in this moment, you are lighter and free from the weight of linear time, but you are more rooted and awake, and therefore heavier in the here and now. This has given you a true sense of freedom to explore new dimensions of possibility than you ever dreamed possible…

Cancer

♋

As you continue to explore some important questions in your life, there is a sense that you are beginning to gain a deeper understanding as to the true flavour of the answers. What enriches you? What deplete you? What warms your soul? What doesn’t? Whilst you have always had an inkling as to the answers, it’s only now that you’ve started taking some time out to really contemplate the questions, that you are realising the incongruence between the life you are living and the life you thought you’d be living. Of course, life has a habit of taking us down side roads, alleys and into unchartered terrain whatever our best intentions, so not living the life you thought you’d be living is not that unsurprising. However, what you need to ask yourself now is does the life you find yourself living make your heart sing and your soul glow?

You may resist asking this question of yourself as intuitively you already know the answer. Yet, does not asking the question, mean the whole thing just goes away? As much as you’d like that to be the case, you know it doesn’t as that inner nagging doesn’t stop however hard you’ve tried to distract yourself with the busy-ness of everyday life. At the end of the day, you are the only one who can decide what happens next as you are in the driving seat of your own consciousness! Resisting the answer may mean you don’t have to openly acknowledge the question, but is that a solution or are you kidding yourself by keeping your head buried in the sand? At the same time, by not acknowledging the answer, you are not allowing your phenomenal brain to come up with ways to allow you to live the life you were born to live without creating the chaos and turmoil you seem to fear will happen. There is a solution, you just have to take a deep breath first…

Leo

♌

It seems commonplace now for hit TV shows to be made with numerous different finales in order to keep fans and cast guessing until the very last moment as to what happens. That way, until the day of the show, no one really knows who did what, when and how. Of course, life is like that most of the time anyway, but what if it wasn’t? What if you could outline numerous different outcomes to each of the many different situations you find yourself in at any one moment in time? Would it help to know in advance what may, or may not, happen? This may seem like odd question, but there is a sense that you have treading water for a while now, waiting for some clarity as to what is going to happen next before you make any big decisions. Whilst this is understandable, it’s left you in a kind of perpetual frozen stasis of being unable to move backwards or forwards until you know more even though intuitively you cannot know more as life just doesn’t carry a time machine of possibilities.

Yet, maybe you have been looking at this the wrong way? Maybe your quest to know the outcome before you’ve embarked on the journey is more of a sign that the journey just isn’t the right one for you? You’re not hovering because you need a definite answer, you just want to feel that warm, fuzzy feeling inside that tells you everything is as it should be? After all, you have never been afraid to explore pastures new nor have you lacked the courage to face challenges and dead ends, as each one has brought you wisdom and learning. Maybe you think you’re being indecisive when, in fact, you’re just listening to your phenomenal intuition! So, stop giving yourself such a hard time and instead begin to trust your intuition to lead the way…

Virgo

♍

As you continue to ponder the concept of your life as a jigsaw puzzle, you are beginning to see just how many of those seemingly awkward pieces actually fit in perfect harmony once you step back to see the bigger picture of your life. You have spent a long time focused on the details, trying so hard to make everything fit together, and, in the process, it seems you have lost sight of why you’re doing it. It’s so easy to get lost in the details of life, after all, there is so much colour, energy, sound and stimuli coming in from all directions at once. It’s only natural to want to translate all of this into something meaningful to you but that’s not always possible as life doesn’t always translate into something literal. This doesn’t stop you trying, of course, but there are times when you need to consider why you are pushing so hard instead of using your creative, explorative brain to seek out other possibilities and solutions.

You are one of the most innovative and inspired people you know, and no, that’s not big-headedness, just fact. So, instead of spending so much time and effort on trying to get everything to fit together, maybe it’s time to let go for a while and see where it takes you? After all, if you did manage to complete the jigsaw puzzle would this bring you solutions or more questions? Would you look at the puzzle and begin to see edges that aren’t quite perfectly aligned or pieces that maybe don’t fit that well after all? The perfectionist in you is constantly seeking more, and this is the force that has motivated you to live the best life possible and to reach towards the stars. This isn’t a time to get lost in the details but a time to shine brightly in order to be the best version of you that you can be…

Libra

♎

As the primal and earthy emotions continue to rumble and grumble around your inner world, there is a sense you are beginning to make peace with their presence in your life. For a long time now, you have denied these deep, almost primitive, feelings as they have felt out of sync with your everyday life. As a result, you have smiled over the storms within and done your best to keep on keeping on. Yet, why? What is it about your emotional world that you struggle with? In truth, you are more of a thinker than a feeler, but your emotions are a rich, vibrant tapestry, full of life and creativity. In many ways, it is your emotional world that feeds your creativity and spirituality as you have experienced so much. Yet, if those emotions remain neatly boxed up, marked ‘not going there’, it will be hard for you to find a sense of peace as there is an incongruence right at the core of your heart and soul.

You resist the rumblings and grumblings because you don’t want to upset the apple cart of your life and yet you intuitively know that the apple cart can never be truly in balance unless you open up your heart and soul. Whilst this is yet another paradox for you to accommodate in your life, you already know the solution. The only reason you are aware of the rumbles and grumbles within is because your emotions are seeking release and freedom. This doesn’t have to mean crumbling in a heap when they surface but gracefully allowing yourself to acknowledge your inner world more wholeheartedly and with compassion. Don’t judge yourself, love yourself and remember to be tender with yourself. You are a sensitive soul and your rich experiences carry so much wisdom; this is your moment to set yourself free and to use this emotional journey as a way to inspire others…

Scorpio

♏

Life is full of moments. Moments to do, moments to be, moments to pause, moments to ponder and moments to breathe. Life is a continuous flow of moments but it’s easy not to notice them as life is usually so full of things to do, people to see and places to go. Of course, with your life being so busy, it’s understandable that you don’t have the time or space to step back to see the bigger picture in order to be more aware of these moments, but it doesn’t mean they don’t exist. You are an intuitive soul and you are acutely aware of the seemingly random and incongruent happenings that come together to form the wider landscape of life and yet, at the same time, when you focus, you can also see all of the tiny details; the individually carved and coloured tiles that form the mosaic. In fact, you can go even deeper than this as you can see how each one fits together, forming the whole.

You may wonder why it’s important to notice such things but it’s your ability to be so deeply aware that allows you to live your life more consciously than most. You live amongst the ebb and flow of the currents of life, rolling in with the in-breath, and rolling out with the out-breath. The tides of your soul are finely tuned to the bigger picture and the finer details, so your awareness of moments liberates you from the daily pedestrian routine of keeping on keeping on. In your heart and soul lives a kaleidoscope of magic; not hocus-pocus, but the magic of life and the miracle of being a vibrant part of the ever-moving and ever-flowing whole that makes up the universe. It’s easy to forget this when popping out for milk or paying the bills, but take a deep breath and you will be reconnected to the magic within…

Sagittarius

♐

As you continue to ride the ebb and flow of life, there is a growing sense that you are beginning to find a sense of peace with the eternal shifts of the currents and the ever-changing nature of your existence. There are times when life feels tumultuous and challenging, but there are also times when life feels delicious and amazing. There are also times when life brings you a sense of all of the above! Even when times are challenging, there is one thing within you that remains constant, bright and well-illuminated: your inspiration. Your inspiration is your inner beacon, your light that brings you hope and instils a sense of deep creativity and profound intuition within you. Over the years, you have learned how to connect to your inspiration in ways that feel symbiotic as you have discovered how to feed your talents and gifts.

At the same time, your inner light has illuminated the path ahead during dark times, helping you to see beyond fear and pain, and finding hope and determination in the process. In short, your inspiration is your one true constant in life as it’s your life-force, feeding your soul and warming your heart. Yet, despite knowing how important your inspiration is to you, there have been many times in your life where you’ve put it to one side in order to do the ‘right’ thing and follow a path you feel you ought to follow even though intuitively you have not felt it light you up from within. Ought’s can form a powerful role in life, particularly when you are trying to be everything to everyone, but they can also become toxic over time as they freeze those flowing currents and lock in your inspiration. The time has come for you to open up more to that glowing light within and allow it to show you a new way of living and being…

Capricorn

♑

You have reached a point in your life where you feel in-betwixt a moment; you are not quite where you want to be, but you have not remained stuck in the same old place either. You have moved forwards, but inevitably, you have also moved backwards (and side to side) as well. There are times when you’re not quite sure if you’re coming, going, or lost somewhere in between, but, overall, you can see that the meanderings of your life have actually brought you great wisdom and knowledge. Of course, there have been some incredibly challenging times and some downright arduous times, but there have also been many good times as well as it’s important to remember these as they often get lost amongst the challenges. In many ways, it is your journey off the beaten track – the journey that’s neither mapped nor pre-defined – that has allowed you to discover more about yourself than you ever imagined possible.

Whilst you have deviated away from the master plan of your life, you haven’t shrunk as a result, you have grown. You now find yourself in new territory and instead of feeling frustrated that you are not where you feel you ought to be, you have shifted into a space of acceptance and relief as you can feel the tinglings of excitement and anticipation rising up from deep within the core of your being. It’s hard to articulate, but a pressure has been lifted off your shoulders as you no longer need to sit atop that pedestal you created for yourself long ago and you now have the freedom to be yourself. So, there is much to be said for being in-betwixt a moment as it has enabled you to realise that you now have the freedom to move backwards, forwards, up, down or side-to-side as you are exactly where you need to be…

Aquarius

♒

As you continue to journey through a period of shift and change in your life, there is a myriad of different thoughts and emotions swirling around your consciousness. Whilst this chapter of change feels whole-hearted and long-anticipated, there is a sense you are still not quite sure exactly what’s involved! On one hand you are trusting the process and trying to go with the flow, but your mind is trying to make sense of it all and struggling as you seem to be in the middle of a whirlwind of multi-levelled, multi-faceted change which feels both exciting and a tad confusing at the same time. With your head and your heart pulling in slightly different directions it seems important for you to take some time to breathe deeply into the moment in order to remain centred and grounded as much as possible. Of course, with you being you, you could never be glued to the floor as you are too fluid for that, but a least a modicum of grounded-ness will help you to make sense of where you are and where you’re heading.

Although your head and your heart are two formidable forces in your life, don’t forget that they are both a part of the bigger picture of you. As a result, they do not have to pull in different directions all of the time as you are at the helm of the ship of your life, so you can find ways to unify and coalesce these wonderful forces into something that feels more cohesive and user-friendly. This is your moment to re-shape and re-define the essence of your life as you find new ways to thrive and flourish. Seeking wisdom and understanding are a part of your nature but try not to get lost in riddles and unanswerable questions; sometimes you need to let go in order to fly…

Pisces

♓

Anais Nin once wrote: ‘Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage’. These words reach deeply into your heart and soul as there is a sense you have touched a crescendo of awareness where you can no longer ignore the reality of the words. You have courage by the bucket load, but it’s often been easier to shrink as it’s made for a simpler, less knotty life. Whilst you are not afraid of challenges, there is a part of you that seems to doubt your ability to rise up and let your courage shine. There could be many reasons for this including having your fingers burned in the past and feeling weary of always being the one who charges ahead taking care of business. Of course, it’s often the case that you choose to be in prime position as you care so deeply about those around you and you also prefer to place their needs above your own as it means you don’t have to spend too much time thinking about the life you’re living versus the life you’d perhaps wish you were living.

It’s not that you don’t think about your dreams because you do, but you prefer not to dwell on them as you seem to feel that they are out of reach rather than something that sets your soul on fire. So, choosing to expand, although the obvious choice, actually takes great courage as it means stepping into unknown terrain, taking a risk and allowing your true essence the room to flow freely. You certainly seem to have the desire to expand as you cannot shift the deep longing within your heart and soul, but there is something comfortable and familiar about the default position of ‘shrinking’. Of course, it takes courage to consciously choose such a path, but you seem ready now to take a breath and expand like a butterfly spreading its wings…

You are encouraged to share articles as long as copyright and contact information are always included.  Thank you for your courtesy. Sarah-Jane Grace www.sarahjanegrace.com – Copyright © 2006-2018 Sarah-Jane Grace. All Rights Reserved

The Witches Astronomy Journal for Monday, June 4

Celtic Cross
The Witches Astronomy Journal for Monday, June 4

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Well, as everyone knows, once witchcraft gets started, there’s no stopping it.

—Mikhail Bulgakov

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Your Daily Sun & Moon Data for Monday, June 4

The Sun
Sun Direction: ↑ 89.31° E
Sun Altitude: 38.43°
Sun Distance: 94.301 million mi
Next Solstice: Jun 21, 2018 5:07 am (Summer)
Sunrise Today: 5:35 am↑ 61° Northeast
Sunset Today: 8:10 pm↑ 299° Northwest
Length of Daylight: 14 hours, 35 minutes

The Moon
Moon Direction: ↑ 233.10° SW
Moon Altitude: 16.70°
Moon Distance: 250675 mi
Next New Moon: Jun 13, 20182:43 pm
Next Full Moon: Jun 27, 201811:53 pm
Next Moonset: Today10:45 am
Waning Gibbous
Illuination: 70.7%
Source
timeanddate.com

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Planets Visible in the Night Sky for Jun 3 – Jun 4, 2018

Mercury: From Mon 5:26 am
Venus: Until Sun 10:48 pm
Mars: From Sun 11:48 pm
Jupiter: Until Mon 4:11 am
Saturn: From Sun 9:46 pm
Uranus: From Mon 3:21 am
Neptune: From Mon 1:31 am
Source
timeanddate.com

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Astrology of Today – Monday, June 4, 2018

The Moon is in Aquarius all day.
The Moon is void from 1:09 AM forward (until tomorrow at 6:53 AM).
The Moon is waning and in its Waning Gibbous phase.
The Full Moon occurred on May 29th and the Last Quarter Moon will happen on June 6th.
Mars is in its pre-retrograde shadow (Mars will retrograde from June 26th to August 27th).

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Moon in Aquarius

The Moon is traveling through Aquarius today. Go against the grain. Fight for a cause. Stand up for the underdog.

Attraction to all that is new and unusual, and an instinctive need for improvement, characterize the Moon in Aquarius. Reactions are more intellectual than emotional, and interactions are more impersonal than personal, under this influence. This is a time that promotes social gatherings, dealing with group ideals and goals for the future, brainstorming, new ideas, and progressive changes. We are open to new methods of doing things and we have our eye on the future. It can be hard to stick to schedules now, as personal freedom is most important to us.

The Moon in Aquarius generally favors the following activities: Unusual or radical undertakings, social pursuits, group projects, trying something new, joining a group.

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Daily Overview of Your Stars and Planets for Monday, June 4, 2018

The Moon spends the day in the sign of Aquarius, and for most of the day (from 1:11 AM EDT forward) is void and forms no major aspects to major bodies after that point. This can have a “twilight zone” effect. It’s better not to begin new initiatives, and instead, focus on tying up loose ends or developing existing projects. The void Moon makes it difficult for entirely new endeavors to have sticking or staying power. Attraction to all that is new and unusual figures strongly with the Aquarius Moon. Reactions are more intellectual than emotional, and interactions are more impersonal than personal, under this influence.

The Moon is void from 1:11 AM EDT, with the Moon’s last aspect before changing signs (a square to Jupiter), until the Moon enters Pisces the next day, Tuesday, June 5th, at 6:54 AM EDT.

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The sky this week for June 4 to June 10

Venus, Neptune, and Saturn are among the sights to spot in the sky this week.
By Richard Talcott

Monday, June 4

Although Saturn won’t reach opposition and peak visibility until late June, observers will be hard-pressed to see it as inferior this week. The ringed planet rises near 10 p.m. local daylight time and appears highest in the south around 3 a.m. Saturn shines at magnitude 0.1 and stands out against the background stars of northern Sagittarius. If you target the planet through binoculars this week, you’ll find it 2.0° northwest of the 5th-magnitude globular star cluster M22 and 3.3° south of the similarly bright open cluster M25. But the beautiful world looks best through a telescope, which reveals its 18″-diameter disk and a stunning ring system that spans 41″ and tilts 26° to our line of sight.
Tuesday, June 5

The Big Dipper’s familiar shape lies high in the northwest on June evenings. The spring sky’s finest binocular double star marks the bend of the Dipper’s handle. Mizar shines at 2nd magnitude, some six times brighter than its 4th-magnitude companion, Alcor. Even though these two are not physically related, they make a fine sight through binoculars. (People with good eyesight often can split the pair without optical aid.) A small telescope reveals Mizar itself as double — and these components do orbit each other.

Mercury reaches superior conjunction at 10 p.m. EDT. This means the innermost planet lies on the opposite side of the Sun from Earth and remains hidden in our star’s glare. It will return to view in the evening sky in about two weeks.

Wednesday, June 6

Last Quarter Moon occurs at 2:32 p.m. EDT. When it rises around 2 a.m. local daylight time tomorrow morning, it will appear slightly less than half-lit. Earth’s only natural satellite then appears against the background stars of northeastern Aquarius.

Thursday, June 7

Jupiter reached opposition and peak visibility about a month ago, and it remains a stunning sight nearly all night. It appears some 30° high in the south-southeast during evening twilight and climbs highest in the south shortly before 11 p.m. local daylight time. Shining at magnitude –2.4, the giant planet is the night sky’s brightest point of light once Venus sets around 11 p.m. Jupiter resides among the background stars of Libra the Scales, 1° north of Zubenelgenubi (Alpha [α] Librae). If you view the gas giant through a telescope tonight, its disk spans 44″ and displays spectacular cloud-top detail. You’ll also see its bright moons put on a nice show. Ganymede lies in Jupiter’s shadow in early evening, but it gradually returns to view between Io and Callisto. At 12:40 a.m. EDT, Io and Callisto appear 25″ apart southeast of the planet. If you watch the space between these moons, you’ll see Ganymede emerge into sunlight starting at 12:43 a.m. It return to full visibility by 1:02 a.m.

Friday, June 8

Venus passes 5° due south (lower left) of 1st-magnitude Pollux this evening. The planet has brightened slightly (to magnitude –4.0) since early in the week, and shines 100 times brighter than the star.

Saturday, June 9

Another comet in the growing crowd of such objects discovered by the Pan-STARRS telescope in Hawaii makes its appearance in June’s morning sky. Comet PANSTARRS (C/2016 M1) currently glows around 9th magnitude within the Teapot asterism of the constellation Sagittarius, and you’ll need a telescope to spot its subtle glow. As a bonus both today and tomorrow, the comet slides about 40′ from the 8th-magnitude globular star cluster M54. Your best views will come from under a dark sky when Sagittarius climbs highest between 2 and 3 a.m. local daylight time.

Sunday, June 10

The conspicuous Summer Triangle asterism dominates the eastern sky in late evening. Vega, the triangle’s brightest member, shines at magnitude 0.0 and stands highest of the three stars. To its lower left lies Deneb; at magnitude 1.3, it is the faintest of the trio. Magnitude 0.8 Altair resides at the bottom right and completes the bright asterism. Despite its name, the Summer Triangle appears prominent from late spring until winter begins.

Source
Astronomy Magazine

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In the Sky for the Month of June

The planets seem especially busy this month, highlighting both morning and evening skies. Venus reigns as the Evening Star, and points out some interesting sights in Gemini and Cancer during the month. Saturn puts in its best showing of the year, with Jupiter just past its best. And Mars climbs inexorably across the sky, toward its best appearance next month.

June 4: Ophiuchus
The constellaton Ophiuchus is low in the eastern sky on June evenings. Its stars are faint. Under a dark sky, though, they form a pattern that resembles an old coffee pot, which is on its side in early evening, and upright later on.

June 5: Earliest Sunrise
The year’s earliest sunrises in the northern hemisphere occur over the next few days. The date varies by latitude, with southern locations getting that extra sunlight first. The longest day of the year is the summer solstice, June 21.

June 6: Dark Nebulae
Some of the most interesting objects in the constellation Ophiuchus look like dark holes in the sky. Instead, though, they are immense clouds of cold gas and dust. They absorb the light of the stars behind them, so they look almost black.

June 7: Menkent
From the southern latitudes of the United States, the upper half of Centaurus, the centaur, stands due south at nightfall. The brightest star in that part of the constellation is Menkent, the centaur’s shoulder.

June 8: IC 4665
The star cluster IC 4665 is a quarter of the way up the sky as it gets dark. It stands to the lower right of the brightest star of Ophiuchus the serpent-bearer. Under really dark skies, the cluster is barely visible to the unaided eye.

June 9: Serpens
The sky is divided into 88 constellations. One of them is split into two disconnected parts. Serpens, the serpent, consists of a head and a tail. Serpens is in full view in the east and southeast by a couple of hours after sunset.

June 10: Leaping Gazelle
In western culture, the stars of the Big Dipper and those around it form the great bear, Ursa Major. The dipper is his body and tail, and three faint pairs of stars represent his feet. In ancient Arabia, those stars represented the leaps of a gazelle.

Source
StarDate

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COSMIC CALENDAR

June 4, 2018

Anyone familiar with this calendar knows that every so often, very long void lunar cycles put a damper on accomplishing everything on your daily to-do list. The void moon zone that began in Aquarius yesterday remains in effect until tomorrow at 3:55am when the lunar orb enters watery Pisces.

Finishing old business on a high note – while not initiating bold, new plans – is recommended with the moon out of sorts.

While a square between Vesta in Capricorn and Chiron in Aries (2:40am) acts as a reminder to safeguard your valuables while being patient concerning investment planning, healing interests veer on to center stage as the sun forms an inspirational, 72-degree rapport with rainbow-bridge builder Chiron (9:58am).

The moon in parallel formation with King of the Gods Jupiter (1:20pm) is a potential source of hope and faith.

[Note to readers: All times are now calculated for Pacific Daylight 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

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The Witches Current Moon Phase for June 4, 2018

Waning Gibbous
Illumination: 71%

The Moon today is in a Waning Gibbous Phase. This is the first phase after the Full Moon occurs. It lasts roughly 7 days with the Moon’s illumination growing smaller each day until the Moon becomes a Last Quarter Moon with a illumination of 50%. The average Moon rise for this phase is between 9am and Midnight depending on the age of the phase. The moon rises later and later each night setting after sunrise in the morning. During this phase the Moon can also be seen in the early morning daylight hours on the western horizon.

PHASE DETAILS FOR – MONDAY, JUNE 4, 2018
Phase: Waning Gibbous
Illumination: 71%
Moon Age: 20.09 days
Moon Angle: 0.49
Moon Distance: 403,331.59 km
Sun Angle: 0.53
Sun Distance: 151,780,776.32 km

Source
MoonGiant.com

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Do You Know What Happened On This Day – June 4 (Nothing Magical, But)

1989 Thousands die in the Tiananmen Square Massacre
Using assault rifles and tanks, Chinese troops massacred unarmed civilians who had taken part in pro-democracy protests.

1989 Poland holds the first free elections after World War II
The landslide victory of the Polish trade union, “Solidarity”, marked the beginning of the Autumn of Nations, a wave of revolutions resulting in the fall of communism.

1984 Bruce Springsteen releases Born in the U.S.A.
The album was Springsteen’s most successful. It featured hits like “Born in the U.S.A.”, “Dancing in the Dark”, and “I’m on Fire”.

1917 The first Pulitzer Prize is awarded
Every year, the prestigious award honors outstanding journalistic achievements. It was established with money bequeathed to Columbia University by publisher Joseph Pulitzer.

1783 The Montgolfier brothers demonstrate the first hot air balloon
The flight of the montgolfière lasted only about 10 minutes, but it secured the French inventors a place in the history books.

Source
timeanddate.com

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Merry Meet To All The Brothers & Sisters of the WOTC on this Monday Morning

celtic blessings
In Honor of Our Dear Lady A

Oh, nothing is wrong. To quite the contrary, she got moved out to the floor a day early. Which means she is doing great and coming out of the dopey fog she was in. She ran us all off.  She said she wanted some peace, quiet and rest. She told us to go do something useful like getting the site back up and running or getting the store open, just do something! She told me she wanted to get the nurses to help her take a shower, then take a long nap. I don’t know if they will let her get in the shower due to the surgical scar she has.

In case you have forgotten, I am Lynette. I am a Celtic Practitioner also. I don’t know a thing about WordPress or much about computers. I have been promised help if I need it. Who are they kidding, if I need it? They decided it would be best if I tried to run the WOTC since Eleanor’s recent stunts. I am a nice person. I will try to help you in any way I can. I will answer your question or anything else you need. I ask you have patience with me while I undertake this new endeavor. I look forward to getting to know you and I hope you enjoy our time together.

May the Lord & Lady Bless You,

Lynette

Your Ancient Symbol Card for Today

Your Ancient Symbol Card for Today

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The Lotus



The Lotus represents the spiritual self in its purest form. It reminds us that for most achieving a well developed spirituality is a journey which can be long and arduous. The spirit of the Lotus is not of our secular world, and the presence of The Lotus suggests that what is needed can be found by exploring your relationship with the Universe not as a physical entity pursuing material gain, but as a divine soul in need of celestial sustenance.

As a daily card, The Lotus is indicative of a period in which your energies should be focused on your spiritual self. This doesn’t mean you should forsake your possessions or place in our secular world. It simply implies you might be well served by reaffirming or further developing your spiritual self at this time.

Your Weekend Influences for April 13 – 15

Your Weekend Influences

Tarot Influence

12

The Hanged Man Reversed

The reversed Hanged Man represents a preoccupation with the worldly and wasted energy. This is the card of false prophecy and time wasted.

 

 

Astrological Influence

27

Aries

The Ram is energetic, courageous, optimistic and obstinate. The Ram is not a quitter! He will get his way!

 

 

Element Influence

23

Air

Air denotes freedom and the ability to transcent the mundane. You may be, or may soon experience a spiritual or secular liberation.

Your Crowley Thoth Tarot Card for Today

Your Crowley Thoth Tarot Card for Today

trumpsdeath

Death



First and foremost Death does not specifically pertain to our physical death. The Death card marks ends and beginnings. Although most illustrations of the Death card tend to be morbid, the forces behind the Death card are actually quite exciting. Yes Death does mark the end of something. But ends are often brought about by completion and not loss. Most endings are actually good, and make room for us to begin new adventures.

Your Daily Tarot Card for April 14th is Father of Water

Tarot Card of the Day

Father of Water

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Traditionally, representing the energy of a King, this card usually portrays a watery background, with a man seated on a throne, holding the Cup of Mystery in his hand. Occasionally, his cup is fulminating like the mouth of a volcano, emanating light, but never boiling over.

The man in this card doesn’t need to speak to communicate strength, passion and commitment. Sometimes he is robed like a priest or shaman. Intense and intuitive, he is a force to be reckoned with.

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