Sunrise: 5:56 morn. Sunset: 8:12 eve.
Length of Day: 14h. 16m.
Dawn: 5:27 morn. Dusk: 8:42 eve.
Length of Twilight: 0h. 29m.
Sun in 23rd degree of the Sign Taurus, the Bull;
also in 1st degree of the Constellation Taurus, the Bull;
Solar Lore
Red clouds at sunrise foretell wind;
at sunset, a fine day for the morrow.
~Francis Bacon, “Historia Ventorum”.
Please take a moment today to remember those who are suffering in our world….
Great Goddess, Mother Of Us All,
Be with those who are in a time of sorrow
Ease the pain of their heart
Soothe their battered spirits
Bless their nights with restful sleep
So they may cope with the long days ahead
Enfold them in your compassionate arms
As they learn to deal with their loss
Help them to move forward with life
And let their pain grow less as time passes
Bless them with your love
And watch over them
And the ones that have passed
From this world.
Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
2015 May 13
The Magnificent Horsehead Nebula Image Credit & Copyright: Data: Giuseppe Carmine Iaffaldano; Processing: Roberto Colombari
Explanation: Sculpted by stellar winds and radiation, a magnificent interstellar dust cloud by chance has assumed this recognizable shape. Fittingly named the Horsehead Nebula, it is some 1,500 light-years distant, embedded in the vast Orion cloud complex. About five light-years “tall”, the dark cloud is cataloged as Barnard 33 and is visible only because its obscuring dust is silhouetted against the glowing red emission nebula IC 434. Stars are forming within the dark cloud. Contrasting blue reflection nebula NGC 2023, surrounding a hot, young star, is at the lower left. The gorgeous featured image combines both narrowband and broadband images.
Venus is a planet of sensitivity and affection. Its entry into the sign of Cancer marks a period of potentially greater intimacy and relationship-building for those willing to feel their deepest needs and share them with others. Venus in Cancer reminds us that love is a great nurturing force, one that binds relationships by the care that we give to one another.
We’re all likely to be more aware of the level of approval and acceptance we’re receiving now. This can enrich our connections with others as subtle patterns of emotional give and take become more apparent. However, it’s also possible that objectivity may suffer as vulnerability and uncertainty surface.
Venus in Cancer has a purity of feeling that puts us in touch with primal needs. Patterns of early childhood may become more evident for those able to step back and see themselves clearly. Others, though, may descend into infantile habits of petulance, withdrawal and denial of self-responsibility. The trick is to reach back in time to see the stream of development that has brought you to this point in your relationships without staying in the past. Cancer, at its best, connects the past with the present.
Water signs, like Cancer, work more from instinct than intellect. Verbal communication, then, may not be sufficiently expressive to match feelings. Venus in Cancer is a time when love and relationships move far beyond words. This is a period in which subtle signals count a great deal. Be alert to what is not being said, if you want to deepen your understanding of those close to you.
Cancer can be a highly nationalistic sign, so it’s no surprise that leaders like Fidel Castro, Yasser Arafat, Menachem Begin and the elder George Bush were all born with Venus here.
Tipper Gore, another person in this category, reflects the protective maternal instincts of Venus in Cancer. Actors need to be able to share their feelings to effectively ply their craft. Ben Affleck, Dustin Hoffman and the incomparable Meryl Streep were all born with Venus in Cancer. Other members of this group include singers Stevie Nicks and Jerry Garcia, comic Steve Martin and Camilla Parker Bowles.
Today’s Meaning:
As an axe comes to a complete stop when it hits the tree so you have grown motionless. You now must draw back, step away from this quadrant of your life and begin again. Set a new path into motion.
General Description:
This Chinese incised jade Axe head was suspended round the neck, and worn as an amulet to protect the wearer from illness, accidents, and injuries, also as a charm against witchcraft. The Chinese had great faith in the supposed medicinal powers of jade, which was recommended and prescribed by their physicians. The Axe head was always considered to be an emblem of strength and pwer among primitive races; even today small axe heads are still regarded as effective talismans against disease in many countries, and great faith is placed in their supposed supernatural powers of healing.
The Hanged Man
Spiritually wise and prophetic, the conquest of the worldly.
Wunjo
Wunjo reversed may represent a basic discord and failure in your life. Possibly good fortune is not looking down on you at this time. If so it must be remembered that Wunjo also represents change, which could mean your bad luck is soon to change.
Gemini the Twins
This aspect of your life will be strongly influenced by a person who is nervous, tense, superficial, inconsistent, cunning and inquisitive. Although their traits leave a bit to be desired, you enjoy being with this person. They can help you get what you want, but their will be a price to pay.
Your Daily Influences represent events and challenges the current day will present for you. They may represent opportunities you should be ready to seize. Or they may forewarn you of problems you may be able to avoid or lessen. Generally it is best to use them as tips to help you manage your day and nothing more.
One/One
Now is the time for you to pursue new ventures. If you share your goals and ambitions with a partner, your partnership is extremely potent at the moment. Regardless of how wild some opportunities may seem, at least explore there potential before passing on them.
Bamboo 8
Symbol: Mushroom
The Mushroom tile represents eternal life and oddity. It gets these attributes from the fact that mushrooms in nature always seem to regenerate and often popup where they are unexpected. The notion of oddity is derived from the mushroom seemingly having the nature of a plant, but lacking leaves. The Mushroom tile foretells the coming of unexpected events that will have a lasting impact on you.
This Reading is used to reveal key influences that will effect your life in the coming month of May. The reading is done by pulling one card for the deck which will determine what this month has in store for you.
The Rabbit has been drawn for May
Rabbit
Poor Rabbit! No other animal is so associated with fear than Rabbit—that nervous little bunny who hops and leaps at every little sound. Rabbit has come to you today to ask you to have the courage to face whatever difficulties you’re having instead of running away to a safe burrow. Face your fears, examine your old “fight or flight” patterns, and determine once and for all to stop hiding away. This is your challenge for the month of May.
Wake up! Cardinal is chirping at you—bringing a message of personal power. Stop shrinking from your destiny. Stop pretending that you are less than. If you are unsure of your path, ask Cardinal to fly with you—it’s certain he will help you focus, gain clarity, formulate a plan, become self-assured, and step out into the world with the confidence befitting a person of your power.
The Cat represents the need for stealth and the freedom to act without restrictions. Acting stealthily in no way implies the need for underhanded behavior. Instead the suggestion here is to move quietly towards your goals and reach out for them when they are within range. It also denotes a need to free yourself from restrictions imposed by others.
As a daily card, The Cat suggests that the opportunity to attain your goals is very strong at the moment. However, you need to keep your intentions to yourself and shed whatever limitations have been put on you by others.
The Lovers indicates both the most powerful of unions and the most of challenging conflicts humans must face. On one side The Lover’s embodies love and union on a cosmic scale—a love so strong, so inherently good that it actually makes the lovers better, more than they really are. All of the elements are there for the perfect union. The Lovers represent all powerful unions in general, and the elements that create/sustain them. The problem The Lovers face is temptation and the decision to act morally or abandon their ethics to take advantage of other opportunities that would be defined as transgressions.
Meaning: The first meaning of this rune is quite obvious: it represents women. Any woman that is important in the question, whether you know her or not, will be represented by this rune. Mother, sister, aunt, grandma, a female boss, friend, lover or even enemy… all can be symbolized by the appearance of this rune.
In a more general sense, this rune is related to traditional female abilities and characteristics, such as giving birth, nurturing, comforting and healing. When this rune appears, you can count on the sympathy of others towards you or your situation. In its most negative aspects, the Woman rune can show over-protectiveness, a patronizing attitude or co-dependency. It often strives to maintain the status quo, refusing to change even if the situation is bad.
The Woman rune is connected to nurturing – nurturing a relationship, a person or a project. Like the Moon rune, it can be related to finding a safe place to rest and heal, but while the Moon implies a solitary retreat, the Woman often shows that you need to go back to the people you trust, the people you feel safe with.
Healing is another strong aspect of this symbol, as well as teaching. You can be both the patient/student or the healer/teacher when this rune appears. This rune is also connected to creativity, but in a way that is different from the Romance rune. While the latter is about the conception of a project – the initial stages of creation – the Woman is about the birth of this project. When your creation is brought out into the world, fully manifested.
In relationship readings, this rune isn’t bad, but rather weak. While it can indicate subtle ties between people, these are usually so, so subtle that the partners can easily drift away from each other. It can show that one of the partners sees the other as someone who needs to be protected and healed, rather than an equal. Usually, the romance is a bit stagnated when this rune appears, or very close to becoming a friendship.
Casting the Stones, Your Past, Present & Future Reading for Today
The Past Naudhiz
Naudhiz may foretell needs unmet and friction in relationships. You may be in a time where you should be very careful in whatever endeavor you take on. Also it may be that you are about to learn some of life’s hard lessons and come out the other side of this period a stronger being.
The Present Wunjo
Wunjo denotes joy and shared bliss. It may also represent a job well done and the satisfaction one feels from completing such a task. Wunjo brings good fortune and harmony.
The Future Othala
Othala reversed represents chaos and homelessness—a general lack of roots. Now is a time for you to take care of that which you have, so as not to lose it.
ANALYSIS: The idea of the destruction of the old being necessary to the growth of the new, as contained in the Norse myth of Ragnarok, is essential to our understanding of this rune. Interestingly enough, hagalaz lies between sowulo (fire) and isa (ice), reminding us of the Norse creation myth and the creative potential that lies between these two opposites, even though their meeting may seem first to be destructive. Like the Tower in the Tarot, hagalaz is only a negative rune if we choose to view it in that way, and refuse to learn its lessons. Appearing as it does at the beginning of the second aett, it marks both a beginning and an end, and knocks us out of the safety and complacency of wunjo. It represents what a friend of mine used to refer to as the ‘flying ladle Fates, syndrome’ – that whenever things appear to be going too well, you can expect a good, healthy whack in the head from the Fates, just to make sure you’re paying attention.
These sorts of ‘wake-up calls’ from the Gods will happen frequently throughout a person’s life, but are often misinterpreted as divine punishment for some imagined wrong when in fact they are merely a way of drawing your attention to a recurrent pattern in your life. Unfortunately, these types of events have a tendency to repeat themselves with greater and greater severity until the lesson is learned and the pattern is broken. For example, someone who needs to break their dependency on a certain type of person will find themselves in relationships with such people over and over again with more and more disastrous results until they recognize the pattern as emanating from themselves and break it willingly.
The Lovers indicates both the most powerful of unions and the most of challenging conflicts humans must face. On one side The Lovers’ embodies love and union on a cosmic scale—a love so strong, so inherently good that it actually makes the lovers better, more than they really are. All of the elements are there for the perfect union. The Lovers represent all powerful unions in general, and the elements that create/sustain them. The problem The Lovers face is temptation and the decision to act morally or abandon their ethics to take advantage of other opportunities that would be defined as transgressions.
The Moon entering your sign today can really fire you up and get you going, Aries, but as the day moves forward, you might notice a timing problem. Getting others to go along with your plans can be difficult, but even if people are willing, things may give you problems – mechanical problems, computer issues, communication breakdowns, and other such issues could seem to set you back. There can be a sense of being restricted, delayed, hemmed in, or stifled when it comes to expressing yourself freely today. There might be physical or material limitations to your ability to get around for some. It’s possible, though, that delays experienced now can redirect your attention to things that can truly benefit from your focus.
Taurus
Taurus
You may be gung-ho about making a purchase or about a business idea today, Taurus, but could be facing restrictions, criticism, or disapproval. This can be coming from circumstances or a person in your life. There could be a conflict over money or values – a disagreement or stand-off. You may have plans that fall through, and there can be a feeling of confinement. Obligations and responsibilities tend to show themselves at the worst possible time today. It’s not the ideal time to push for what you want. Today asks us to be patient and to adjust our attitudes. Draw upon self-discipline. Getting to a middle ground may involve giving in a little, which may not be easy. Accept that you may not be able to charge ahead with your plans just for now. The Moon enters your privacy sector today, signaling a time for more rest and attention to personal or private matters.
Gemini
Gemini
A significant someone can be disapproving, overly serious, or otherwise in your way today, Gemini. Mars is pumping you up as it transits your sign, and it’s reminding you that you have strong desires and a need for freedom. Someone may feel a little left out, jealous, or threatened by your me-first attitude. For some of you, it’s not necessarily a person who’s blocking you or dragging you down – it can simply be a sense of circumstances getting in the way of your plans, or a sense that others in general are conservative, unsympathetic, or boring today, and it can be difficult to find a real outlet for your desire to do something new and exciting. A compromise is unlikely to be easy to reach now, but can save the day. Perhaps slowing down can redirect your attention to a more important matter.
Cancer
Cancer
There is a difficult aspect falling across your health and service axis approaching, dear Cancer, and this can point to a need to slow down and catch your breath, particularly if you have been overextending yourself. Mind you, it’s also important to pay more attention to your responsibilities, both to yourself and to others. You might feel a bit put upon by others, as people may be leaning on you a little too heavily these days. A significant someone could be stubborn or unyielding. Be as patient as you possibly can be when it comes to following rules. Keep your goals in mind. If daily routines are difficult to get through, consider thinking about what you’re working towards rather than focusing too heavily on the monotony of what needs to be handled in order to get there. Even though you can be feeling a little stuck right now, and it’s difficult to see, you are moving forward.
Leo
Leo
The day can begin with a strong desire to get out and about and to get things done, Leo. However, a Mars-Saturn aspect is likely to encourage slowing down. There can be a disagreement or tension involving a friend today, and some difficulty getting others to go along with your plans. There can be a sudden reminder of responsibilities or obligations that need your attention and that slow down your social life. Impulsive, impatient, and rash moves are unlikely to lead to reward right now. Mustering up patience if plans are delayed is your best bet. There may be the need to make edits or changes to projects and plans now before going forward. Responding carefully is important now, and reaching a compromise or middle ground, as difficult as that can be at the moment, can save the day.
Virgo
Virgo
You may need to attend to a family problem or responsibility today, Virgo, and it can interfere with the pace you want to keep with your work or projects. There can be a sobering reality to deal with, or simply a slowing down or delay that you hadn’t anticipated. You could be torn between dealing with a personal matter and outside demands, and you may very well want to escape! Aggravation with an authority figure or family member could be in focus for some of you. Delays to your plans can be frustrating now. While people around you could be grumpy, critical, or unyielding, try not to dwell on problem areas. Do what needs to be done and avoid wasting precious time stressing over things you can’t change. If you have an idea or plan that’s especially close to your heart, you may want to wait for a better day to present it.
Libra
Libra
You may be dealing with communication, transportation, or mechanical breakdowns and delays today, Libra. Stubborn people may be an issue, and it can be difficult to follow schedules and plans today. Pushing and prodding can get you nowhere fast today, as the more you push, the stronger the resistance. You might be tied down by mundane activities, correcting errors, errands, chores, and other responsibilities that you hadn’t anticipated or simply put out of your mind. Mars in your adventure zone these days can blind you to some of these things largely due to a strong desire to escape and impatience with details. If you’ve been neglecting problem areas, they may demand your attention now. Travel or educational plans may be delayed. Try not to stress over differences of opinion or roadblocks.
Scorpio
Scorpio
Common sense and instincts can be at war today, Scorpio. Desires are strong, but responsibilities and restrictions are also very much on your mind now. Alternatively, this push-pull energy can express itself through a relationship conflict or a delay. Money or ownership matters can be a source of disagreement. This can extend to non-material ownership – possessiveness in relationships can be a real problem today and possibly this week. You might be worried about finances, while others in your life seem to be a little too extravagant or careless when it comes to spending. A middle ground or compromise should be sought, and this applies to internal conflicts and interpersonal ones. After wrestling with an issue, you may very well discover that what you wanted so very much becomes far less appealing.
Sagittarius
Sagittarius
Saturn in your sign is clashing with Mars in your house of “other”, dear Sagittarius, and this can point to a conflict with a significant someone, or a general sense that people and circumstances around you are a little too chaotic for your taste. In truth, you could be feeling quite insecure or out of step right now, and could be feeling especially concerned if a partner seems to be finding happiness elsewhere. Someone could seem extravagant, pushy, overbearing, or childish. You might respond by putting the brakes on. You may very well need to draw boundaries now, but be sure to get in touch with the source of any anger that surfaces today so that you don’t overreact. Getting to a compromise and balance may very well be exhausting, but worthwhile.
Capricorn
Capricorn
We are building towards a Mars-Saturn opposition, and this can be difficult on you, Capricorn, largely because you have a special relationship with Saturn as the ruler of your sign. In this case, the opposition occurs along your health and service axis in the background of your chart. While this can point to a less obvious challenge, it might also suggest some suffering in silence! The major obstacle now can be allowing yourself the right to relax. It’s about taking care of your emotional life and inner world, even in the face of pressures and demands of the outside world. Clear your mind of guilt and avoid focusing your frustration on trivial matters. Others are unyielding, and you may not be able to work smoothly or quickly toward a goal. Try to slow down and choose another time to present your case.
Aquarius
Aquarius
You can feel quite inspired to do something new or different today, Aquarius, particularly related to short trips, entertainment, pursuing love, or learning and making connections. However, inertia can overcome you if others are not very thrilled with your plans or you encounter delays or resistance. Creatively, you might feel stifled, and you could feel a little confined when it comes to expressing yourself freely. People may not be approving of, or receptive to, your attempts to express yourself, and there could be challenges related to a group endeavor or friendship, especially if you are attempting to steer them in a different direction. Today requires patience. In all likelihood, you can get a lot done if you pace yourself and slow down a little.
Pisces
Pisces
The Moon leaves your sign and enters Aries very early into the day, Pisces, and this tends to settle your emotions, but it can also stir your interest in starting something new. However, we may be taking things a little too personally today, and you might find that trying to get the timing right, for example if it’s about getting someone to go along with your plans, is an exercise in futility. There can be disapproval or restrictions coming from work or an authority figure, and there can be a strong desire to challenge this. Impulsiveness and rashness are not favored or rewarded today, however. Try to remain positive and consider whether slowing things down to get them right may in fact be your best bet.
Lunabar Sun Almanack for Thursday, 14 May, 2015
The Hanged Man
Wunjo
Gemini the Twins
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