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Astronomy Picture of the Day – Moons and Jupiter
Astronomy Picture of the Day
Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
2017 April 13
Moons and Jupiter
Image Credit & Copyright: Göran Strand
Explanation: On April 10, a Full Moon and Jupiter shared this telephoto field of view. Both were near opposition, opposite the Sun in Earth’s night sky. Captured when a passing cloud bank dimmed the bright moonlight, the single exposure reveals the familiar face of our fair planet’s own large natural satellite, along with a line up of the ruling gas giant’s four Galilean moons. Labeled top to bottom, the tiny pinpricks of light above bright Jupiter are Callisto, Europa, Ganymede, and Io. Closer and brighter, our own natural satellite appears to loom large. But Callisto, Ganymede, and Io are physically larger than Earth’s Moon, while water world Europa is only slightly smaller. In fact, of the Solar System’s six largest planetary satellites, only Saturn’s moon Titan is missing from the scene.
Earth Sky News for April 13th: See a daytime moon around now
The Wisdom of Buddha
The Wisdom of Buddha
The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.
Your Charm for April 13th is The Crescent and Hand
Your Charm for Today
Today’s Meaning:
Guests and visitors will come calling. Their visit brings happiness and joy. This aspect will reflect these emotions for weeks after the visit.
General Description:
Crescents were worn by the ancients to safeguard them against witchcraft and danger. From the very early Eastern symbols, horseshoes came to be regarded by the Greeks and Romans as charms against sickness and the plague. In the middle ages horseshoes were used as amulets for witchcraft and even today are looked upon as lucky. When the representation of the hand of strength was worn with the crescent it signified hospitality and generosity. Hands of Might are painted on houses in Italy, Syria, Turkey and in the East to protect the buildings from misfortune and the inmates from death. The blue beads were worn to avert the evil eyes.
Characteristics of the Bear As A Spirit Guide
Advice from a Bear
Your Animal Spirit for April 14th is The Bear
Your Ancient Symbol Card for April 13 is The Lotus
Your Ancient Symbol Card for Today
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 Daily Witches Rune for April 13th is The Rings
Daily Witches Rune
April 13, 2017
The Rings
Keywords: Love, relationships.
Meanings: The Rings is the rune of love and when it is the leading stone, it is a positive answer to your question. It is very much a rune of relationship and can indicate engagement, marriage or a new/renewed relationship. It can also indicate the need for a fresh approach to an existing relationship.
Your Crowley Thoth Tarot Card for April 13th is The Hierophant
Your Crowley Thoth Tarot Card for Today
The Hierophant
The Hierophant represents the protector of a culture’s heritage and traditions. His purpose is to defend and teach the established ways and beliefs a group embraces. He is inherently conventional and a true believer in the power of the group. He loves the structure of the group and its values. It is the task of The Hierophant to bring new members into the group—to prepare the uninitiated to take their rightful place in his culture. In this sense he is very much like a teacher or a priest. He also acts as the repository of his group’s history. The Hierophant is certainly not one to buck proper authority. However, he is staunch and worthy defender of the tried and true. He represents the positive aspects of tradition and conformity.
Your Daily Rune for April 13th is Isa
Something We Haven’t Discussed Much At All – Bindrunes
I feel it is my fault that we haven’t discussed the Bindrunes, especially since I am a Rune Reader. I ran across this page and there are a few Bindrunes I use to make for family, friends, familiars and myself. The Bindrunes are a combination of different runes that are put together for the practitioner’s purpose. The one I used on several occasions was the one in the upper right-hand corner. I will not lie to you it does help if you have some knowledge of the Runes. I believe for Bindrunes it is best that the practitioner make his or her own. With the Bindrunes, you can create any spell you want and if it is a not so nice spell or in this case Rune, you can give it to your intended victim. But I would never dream of doing anything like that, lol!
When we get a routine again, I will show you all the different Bindrunes there are. I think you will be like I was, totally amazed. I believe after I saw all the things that Runes can do is the reason I gave up on Tarot cards. But when we get to that, I will let you be your own judge.
Now back to business, I just found something from the past that I wanted to share with you.
Lady A
Something for your BOS: A Very Simple & Easy To Understand Guide to the Elder Futhark Runes (It is Printable)
Shuffling the Cards, Your Daily Influences for Thursday, April 14th
Your Daily Influences for Today
Tarot Influence
Six of Swords Reversed
Life is at a standstill. Difficulties will probably remain as they are.
Astrological Influence
Aquarius Reversed
This card signifies the closing of both heart and mind, which leads to stagnation.
Element Influence
Earth Reversed
Earth reversed denotes a lack of positive connection with the life spirit–a lost soul. If you are not careful you may miss much of what life has to offer you.
Your Tarot Power Card for April 13 – 14 is The Lovers
Your Power Card for April 13 – 14
This reading represents strengths you were born with and you will need in the next few days.
The Lovers
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.
Learn the Tarot: The Star Card
The Star
Rise above your day-to-day and connect with the divine.
General Meaning
The Star Tarot card is about reconnecting one’s soul with the divine — the transcending of personality, family, community, and reputation. It has to do ultimately with the freedom to be one’s self. The soul is responding to celestial influences — forces that can provide the personality with a stronger sense of purpose. The Star card helps us to remember our exalted origins and our attraction to a higher union.
This card could also be called The Celestial Mandate — that which refers us back to our reason for being, our mission in this lifetime. The Star reminds us that, in a sense, we are agents of divine will in our day-to-day lives. If we let go of the idea that we are supposed to be in control, we can more easily notice and appreciate the synchronicities that are nudging us along. In this way, we become more conscious of the invisible helping hand, and we better understand our place within — and value to — the larger cosmos.
In the Advice Position
Your time is better spent in reflection and spiritual pursuit.
The card in the Advice position suggests a course of action which will harmonize what you want with what is currently possible.
The Star card advises that you rededicate yourself to your higher values, increase your spiritual cultivation and meditation practice, and surrender to the greater good. Connect to your higher self — a being of a larger realm traveling on an evolutionary course that started long ago and runs indefinitely into the future. This is the part you wish to contact and communicate with.
Now is a period for quiet contemplation. Listen for the voice within. Anything that would interfere with this communion may not be serving your best interests right now.
Part of the Daily Insight Group ©2017
Your Tarot Card of the Day for April 13th is The Anchoret
Tarot Card of the Day
The Anchoret
April 13th, 2017
The challenge of The Hermit card is to be able to recognize a teacher in a humble disguise. This font of mysterious knowledge will not make it easy for the student to acquire his wisdom, as it takes time and long contemplation to fathom what he knows. He often speaks wordlessly, or in ancient and barbaric tongues, communicating with the elements, animals, and nature herself.
While an hourglass was an identifying feature on the earliest Hermit Tarot cards, more modern cards have shifted the metaphor, showing more or less light released from his lantern. In either case, the Hermit card reminds us of the value of time away from the hubbub of civic life, to relax the ego in communion with nature.
Part of the Daily Insight Group ©2017
Mercury Retrograde Dos and Don’ts
Mercury Retrograde Dos and Don’ts
Keep moving forward while Mercury moves backward
There is one golden rule when it comes to Mercury Retrograde phases. Interestingly enough, it’s grammatical. If you can commit this simple tenet to memory then you’ll find that retrograde cycles of Mercury are not only easier to navigate, but also rich with potential for growth and personal development.
Ready class? Here’s the rule. Remember back in grade school when you learned about the prefix “re?” Well, a prefix is placed before the root of a word and this one means “again.” All you need to remember is that during any Mercury Retrograde cycle, if you’re doing something that begins with “re” such as reassess, revise, revisit, reconnect, redo, recall, resay, refresh, you’re right on track. If you’re not then stop immediately or else suffer the Mercury Retrograde migraine!
Here’s a top list of dos and don’ts that will help you navigate the confusion around any Mercury Retrograde phase, and don’t forget to save and share the graphic below for a reminder all Mercury Retrograde!
DON’T initiate. DO finish what you’ve started.
No matter how fantastic your new plan may be, hold off on the launch while Mercury is trekking backwards. There’s a high probability that you’re missing crucial information or that whatever you pitch to others isn’t going to sound as phenomenal to them as it does to you. Instead, use Mercury’s Retrograde as a time to take stock of whatever you’ve already got going on and do your best to polish up and finish existing projects.
This certainly holds true for writing projects (and Mercury Retrograde is a perfect time to edit and revise work). However, it also applies to all areas of your life, from work, money and relationships. Usually, it’s best to not start a new job, get married or begin a new financial chapter in your life now. Polish up your resume, plan your wedding or research investments instead.
DON’T purchase big ticket items. DO comparison shop.
You should not purchase any big ticket item such as a car, computer, appliance or even a piece of jewelry during Mercury’s retrograde for several reasons. First, if it has moving or electronic parts, there’s a good chance that you’ll find a glitch. Repairs are fine (and a perfect prefix) on existing equipment … however no one should have to repair a brand new item! In addition, during Mercury retrograde you might not receive the best bargain if you rush to purchase. If you can wait for your item, it’ll be wiser to shop after Mercury is direct. In the meantime, comparison shop and spend more time thinking about what you really want. You might find that you’ve changed your mind completely by the time Mercury turns direct!
DON’T sign contracts, make verbal agreements or life altering decisions. DO renegotiate, mediate and reconsider existing ones.
This might be the most widely known tip about Mercury Retrograde, but it bears clarification. If at all possible, avoid new agreements! Because once you sign the dotted line or give that handshake, you will likely find that a series of events or misunderstandings cause the initial pact to change or fall apart. Instead, this is a good time to consider a renegotiation. Is your lease up for renewal on your apartment? Now is the time to either shop around or do research on a better agreement to propose to your landlord once Mercury turns direct.
Are you considering asking for a raise? Use this cycle to recognize what you are worth but also to reevaluate whether or not you’re offering your best to the company you work for. If you’re not, now is the time to implement revisions. Are you ready to break up with your lover? Even if your mind is made up, you’ll want to wait. A life altering decision implemented under Mercury retrograde has a waffling effect. You might go through a “make up and break up” phase that is exhausting. If you want a clean break and you’re sure, wait until Mercury is direct. There will be no confusion or second guessing!
DON’T hide under a rock and stop living. DO expect delays and snafus.
Preparation and patience are key during Mercury Retrograde cycles. If, for example, you have a trip planned and you notice it’s during a Mercury Retrograde, don’t cancel your plans and stop living! Instead, consider the added potential for mishaps and prepare accordingly. Recheck your baggage to ensure you’ve packed everything vital. Make sure you have all the proper documentation for your trip. Anticipate delays due to the added issue of miscommunication. Roll with it!
In short, Mercury Retrograde cycles are not meant to be the source of endless aggravation. However, if you go against the flow of this cycle you’re likely to experience more stress. Taking pause every now and then allows us to gain a new perspective and realize what we might have missed in the past. Now we get a chance to fix it and become even stronger because of it … thank you Mercury Retrograde!
Part of the Daily Insight Group ©2017
Mercury Retrograde Horoscopes Spring 2017
Mercury Retrograde Horoscopes Spring 2017
Get back on the right track during this Mercury Retrograde
This spring, Mercury will retrograde through two zodiac signs, giving us a cosmic opportunity to re-evaluate more than one area of our life in order to make sure we’re on the right track.
On April 9, he’ll turn retrograde at 5 degrees of Taurus. Then on April 20, Mercury will back into Aries, where he’ll remain retrograde until May 3. Re-assessing the material side of your life (Taurus) as well as your personal identity (Aries) during this retrograde will keep your mind extra busy…
Be sure to read your sign’s horoscope below to see what this Mercury Retrograde cycle will bring up in your world!
Aries Horoscope (March 21 – April 19)
Money and identity are very much intertwined. This will be quite an interesting Mercury Retrograde cycle, because you’ll start out revising your ideas and thoughts connected to finances, but by April 20 your concerns will turn toward your self. How are you communicating — or miscommunicating — to others? Is it affecting your ability to earn money? Are you on the right track when it comes to developing your talents? These are a few of the many questions you’ll want to tackle during this time.
Taurus Horoscope (April 20 – May 20)
Initially, you may take a giant step back and realize that your words are not coming out in the way you intend during this Mercury Retrograde. If they are, then there might be something amiss in your delivery, because they are certainly not being received in the correct way by others. Use the first part of this retrograde phase to address this.
After April 20 you might want to spend more time alone revising an important communications-related project. Or, you might rehash unresolved matters during therapy. A breakthrough is possible after May 3 when Mercury turns direct.
Gemini Horoscope (May 21 – June 20)
You might fly under the radar during the first half of this Mercury Retrograde cycle. There’s something about your communication that you may feel insecure about. If so, until April 20, you’ll have a wonderful opportunity to work through it. After the 20th you’ll begin putting it into practice as you notice there’s more happening socially. If you are working on a presentation or speech, this will be a perfect time to have a few practice runs in order to work out any kinks. Schedule it after May 3.
Cancer Horoscope (June 21 – July 22)
If you’re working on a website, social media campaign, or other internet-related project, there might be a few hiccups to work through during this Mercury Retrograde. After the April 20 you will have an opportunity to revise the strategy you’re taking in order to achieve a significant career goal. You may also realize that this is not the time to start anything new, but instead to perfect what you already have in the works. Your boss will notice. Lastly, be wary of miscommunication to a higher-up. Avoid vital conversations until after May 3 when Mercury is direct again.
Leo Horoscope (July 23 – Aug. 22)
Even if you’re not ready to take on an entirely new career path, it may soon become clear that unless you go back to school or study for a license or certification, you won’t be able to get ahead. Until April 20 you’ll re-evaluate your professional goals, then after this point you’re likely to hit the books. Hire a tutor or ask someone to help you with the more difficult material, since it may not be easy to assimilate on your own until after May 3.
Virgo Horoscope (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22)
You might feel as if you’re having a crisis of faith until April 20. Re-evaluating your beliefs or spirituality is likely during the first half of this Mercury Retrograde cycle. Fortunately, you’re likely to have a deep breakthrough that will lead you to your truth.
After the 20th and until May 3, you’re likely to focus on fixing any financial mishaps you discover. Errors in taxes or financial documents may be found just in the nick of time.
Libra Horoscope (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22)
During the first portion of this Mercury Retrograde cycle you’re likely to pay close attention to your financial life. One possibility is that you’re applying for a line of credit, student loan, or mortgage. If the paperwork is delayed, be patient. Do what you can to ensure you have submitted all of the proper documentations. Same goes if you are experiencing any frustration with insurance claims.
After April 20 you might have to work through a misunderstanding with your partner in business or in your personal life.
Scorpio Horoscope (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21)
During the first portion of this Mercury Retrograde cycle you and your partner might feel as if you’re in relationship rehab. There might be extra misunderstandings, so exercise patience. It’ll be a great time, however, to resolve a previously unsettled conversation.
After April 20 you’ll focus on polishing your professional assignments. Expect to spend more time revising your work. Avoid office gossip though — it’ll get out of hand very quickly.
Sagittarius Horoscope (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21)
If you’re going through any health situation, it might feel quite difficult to make a decision regarding what protocol to follow or even what doctor to hire to help treat it during this Mercury Retrograde. Until April 20, spend time doing research on your condition and then be sure to ask your health care provider plenty of questions. Make final decisions after May 3 if possible, when mercury is finally direct.
After April 20, you might notice a strange situation happening regarding your love life. An ex might come back into your life. It should be interesting!
Capricorn Horoscope (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19)
Miscommunication between you and your sweetheart or one of your children is possible during this Mercury Retrograde. You might not be able to agree on a major decision and if so, the frustration may not let up until after May 3, when Mercury is moving direct again. Another possibility is that you’ll feel creatively blocked. Use this time as an opportunity — revise your approach to any artistic endeavor. After April 20 you might hear from relatives who fell off the grid. It’ll be nice to reunite.
Aquarius Horoscope (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18)
This is not the time to sign any real estate contracts if at all possible. On April 9 Mercury turns retrograde in your home and family sector, where he remains until April 20. At that point he’ll retrograde back into your message sector and will not turn direct until May 3. You, more than others, will likely experience frustration connected to contracts, decisions, and other communication-related to domestic matters. Be patient and do what you can to clarify any misunderstandings on your end.
Pisces Horoscope (Feb. 19 – March 20)
On April 9 Mercury, the planet of communication, will turn retrograde right in the area of your chart ruling all matters of communication — your 3rd house. As a result, until April 20 you’ll be especially sensitive to mishaps during conversations and any type of correspondence from written to telephone to email. Be aware!
On the 20th Mercury will back pedal into your earned income sector, and will retrograde here until May 3. View this as an opportunity to reconcile your finances, despite the initial headaches.
Part of the Daily Insight Group ©2017
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