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 March 17

Phases of Venus
Image Credit & Copyright: Daniel Herron

 

Explanation: Just as the Moon goes through phases, Venus’ visible sunlit hemisphere waxes and wanes. This composite of telescopic images illustrates the steady changes for the inner planet, seen in the west as the evening star, as Venus grows larger but narrows to a thin crescent from December 20, 2016 through March 10. Gliding along its interior orbit between Earth and Sun, Venus grows larger during that period because it is approaching planet Earth. Its crescent narrows, though, as Venus swings closer to our line-of-sight to the Sun. Closest to the Earth-Sun line but passing about 8 degrees north of the Sun on March 25, Venus will reach a (non-judgmental) inferior conjunction. Soon after, Venus will shine clearly above the eastern horizon in predawn skies as planet Earth’s morning star.

Weekend moon near Antares and Saturn

 

Bottom line: The moon is waning, appearing later each night. It’s in a pretty inconspicuous place in our sky. But if you start watching this weekend, you can learn to identify Saturn and the star Antares and so appreciate them in the months to come!

 

 

 

The Wisdom of Buddha

He who loves 50 people has 50 woes; he who loves no one has no woes.

The Fool

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Let go of expectations and trust your instincts.

 

General Meaning

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.

In the Advice Position

Let go of preconceived ideas and remain open to change.

The card in the Advice position suggests a course of action which will harmonize what you want with what is currently possible.

The Fool advises that you lighten up. Let yourself be spontaneous enough to stretch beyond the realm of logic. There is no advantage to be gained by thinking you possess the knowledge, power, or control to direct reality. Open and receive without question, instead of trying to manage what’s happening right now. The Fool has no ambition to manipulate a specific outcome. Just be happy to be part of the whole.

Release any demands or expectations. Give your complete attention to events as they are occurring in the present moment.

 

Part of the Daily Insight Group ©2017

Get A Jump On Tomorrow….

Your Daily Horoscopes for Saturday, March 18th

 

 

Aries

Conversations today tend to turn to you or revolve around you, dear Aries, with Mercury and Venus aligning in your sign. Others are taking a special interest in you and could be talking about you quite a bit right now. You are a little more open about expressing your ideas, but someone else, while communicative and interested, could be holding something back. Nevertheless, you can remain very much a priority in a special someone’s life now even with some signals crossing. Personal magnetism runs high, although you may not be expressing a lot of warmth in your communications, and could be focusing a little too much on the intellect. While it’s an excellent time for rethinking and reevaluating personal plans and projects, it’s not the time to make final or impactful decisions – it’s better for entertaining possibilities.

Taurus

This can be an animated day for conversations and busy time for thinking and analyzing, dear Taurus. The past illuminates in a meaningful way for you now, and the focus is on love and past relating patterns. While discoveries may be about emotions, your ability to detach a little from emotions is what benefits you the most for the time being. Analyze the past only if it feels comfortable and productive doing so. At the moment, our minds are moving much faster than our hearts, so take things easy. You might be inclined to talk about personal matters, although you tend to leave some of the deeper things out. You or others can be dwelling on what happened in the past, and this can be a very tricky area, so tread softly, but consider looking at old matters in new ways. More information could surface about the past or about a private matter that will help you make better decisions about the future. For now, process and digest things rather than finalize.

Gemini

Energy is lively and creative around you today, dear Gemini, and you are anxious to get your responsibilities out of the way in order to enjoy it. While the overall theme of the day is light, there can be a distinct focus on matters of the past, particularly related to old projects and friends and lovers. New information about old matters can come to light now. A conversation with a friend can quickly turn to the past today, or you could learn something about–or make contact with–someone from your past. Nostalgia is good, but dredging up old issues may get you into tricky territory. You’re more inclined to live in the mind than dig deeper, and this can be very useful. However, remember that your heart may not be ready to talk or know about everything that your mind is curious about.

Cancer

With Venus retrograde until mid-April, dear Cancer, you may be dealing with temporary problems with career projects, family matters, and relationships. Today, complications in your relationships come into stronger focus, but you can approach them in a new way as you perceive them from a different perspective. Keep a safe distance emotionally if you need to draw conclusions. Socially, it’s better to keep things as light as possible, even if the day’s pace can get a little hectic at times. While you’re giving a lot of thought to your career and the path it’s taking, today is about looking back and analyzing. This is a critical time for reevaluating your projects and goals, and today, you are likely to have a special window into the past that helps you make decisions for the future.

Leo

Good energy is with you for coming together or seeing eye to eye with others today, dear Leo. The only possible kink in plans is the potential for getting fired up about an opinion or cause you believe in. Don’t let a lack of agreement on a philosophical matter ruin the compatibility that you are feeling in other areas, which is tremendous. You may be living in the mind and temporarily overlooking the emotional side of things. Sharing knowledge with someone can be especially rewarding, but it’s important to keep conversations on a light level. Today is excellent for reviewing past choices, studies, or beliefs and perhaps considering which attitudes or projects you’d be better off leaving behind you. Through conversations or musings today, you can gain significant insight into mysteries from your past.

Virgo

This can be an exciting day for learning something about a past matter, dear Virgo, and breakthroughs or discoveries are likely to be of an emotional, private nature. You are open to talking about or analyzing very personal matters, although you can be a little detached from it all. This detachment can help you be objective but consider that your heart may not be ready for where you’re going mentally. A conversation may occur with a love interest or partner but be aware that it can quickly spiral into past patterns of conversing to the point that nothing is truly solved. Or, a conversation with a love from your past can spark up today. Either way, love is a big theme, and it’s very focused on past relating patterns. Even if things get nowhere or seem to go backward, it’s a necessary process for illuminating where you stand and what you will take forward into the future. You’re in the position to play detective. Look for clues that give you a new perspective on an old issue.

Libra

Love might seek you out today, dear Libra, promising some pleasant times. However, do be careful that you avoid the trap of communicating and relating in patterns that don’t serve you well anymore just because they’re familiar. If you stay too rooted in your old ways of approaching an issue, others might also focus on past matters that you’d prefer not to remember or review. Do your best to be open to new and improved ways of connecting so that you’re learning and reviewing, not merely rehashing. Negotiations can figure strongly now, and it’s a time for being fair and objective. Reconnecting with people from your past can be a strong draw for some of you now. Learning new things about a previous relationship can figure strongly for others.

Scorpio

People in your life are more likely to take the initiative today and speak up or speak out, dear Scorpio. You may learn where you stand, but do be aware that underlying matters can complicate what seem to be positive communications. There’s a tendency now to live in the mind and not necessarily speak from the heart. This also applies to you – your mind may be ahead of your heart right now, and it may be best to keep things light as a result. Attention is drawn to work and health habits, and you can resolve many problems through brainstorming and analysis by looking back or reviewing past endeavors, or reviving old projects. You have special insight into whether your ventures, particularly those related to health or work and daily affairs, are actually fulfilling you. Some things may feel a little hollow to you now. Conversations or information coming in today and this week can lead to a reevaluation of these matters.

Sagittarius

Conversations and thoughts today tend to revolve around love, the past, and personal fulfillment, dear Sagittarius, although the general approach is one of cool intellectual detachment and not necessarily warm sentimentality. With Mercury forming a conjunction to retrograde Venus, the past or emotional unrest can very well be big topics now. Love energy is good, but you may want to avoid getting too caught up in past behaviors when you are interacting with familiar people. If it didn’t work in the past, it’s certainly not going to work now! However, this is a good time to reevaluate key areas of your life, mainly related to creativity, hobbies, romance, and friendship, in terms of whether or not they truly fulfill you. Some of you can reconnect with an old love or friend, or you may be learning something new about a previous relationship.

Capricorn

You are looking at old problems from a new perspective today, dear Capricorn, as new information comes in or strong memories prompt you to muse about the past. For some, an annoying problem now unravels, and you have a lightbulb-over-the-head moment. However much your mind enjoys all of this, your heart may need to play some catch-up, so treat yourself with care. Conversations and thoughts can quickly turn to the past today, and love can be a tricky topic, even if intentions are in the right place. Keep things light and lively. Much attention can be pointed to unresolved relationship matters, and new insight can emerge. Be fair and nonjudgmental, but take your time processing everything. Understanding any unrest or lack of fulfillment you might have in your home life, with your current living arrangements, or with your career can figure strongly now.

Aquarius

Today holds the promise of new insight into relationships and projects, dear Aquarius. Solving problems, particularly of the intellectual or mechanical variety, is a cinch today as Mercury and Venus align in your communications sector. You might hear of–or have a conversation with someone about–a tricky love situation, a past problem, or an issue with feeling unfulfilled as Venus is retrograde. This might be a former friend or lover returning or some other complicated love triangle. Conversation and thoughts tend to revolve around sorting out previous relationship problems. You might learn something new that gives you a little more clarity on a matter that has confused or haunted you. Some of you can be drawn to a past project or study with renewed interest, or you could discover that a current course of study or venture is no longer fulfilling you.

Pisces

This can be a particularly chatty and curious time, dear Pisces. However, others can’t seem to touch deeper matters with you right now. There is a hesitancy in you about digging down too deeply or opening up about personal issues. You might thoroughly enjoy, however, sharing your ideas and opinions on broader issues. Personal finances or personal possessions and questions of ownership can become a big topic today. It’s time for review, not for making important decisions about your assets. New information about an old problem can emerge, or you may talk or think yourself to the point of a whole new perspective on a business, money matter, or relationship. You might get a second chance or look at a project, purchase, or relationship. Some might find a lost item of value.

 

If You Were Born Today, March 17

As sensitive, changeable, and deep as you are, you are also very determined and self-motivated. Inner restlessness is likely, especially in your youth. Many of you feel that you have a calling, and it can take some time to tune into the right path. Spiritual and perceptive, you are one who looks for a higher meaning to your existence. However, you seek love first and foremost and make a loyal and loving partner. Famous people born today: Rob Lowe, Mia Hamm, Billy Corgan, Nat King Cole, Melissa Auf der Mar, Kurt Russell, Patrick Duffy, Brittany Daniel.

Your Birthday Year Forecast:

With the Sun and Moon in harmony in your Solar Return chart, 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!

There can be recognition for your more unique qualities. Your personal magnetism runs quite high. A humbly confident approach to life earns you respect. Teaching others may be part of the picture, informally or formally. Relationships tend to be deeper than usual, or you may be focusing on particular ones more deeply this year. Relationships can be one of the biggest areas of growth for you during this period of your life. Creative impulses are also powerful. While you may struggle at times with motivation levels, you possess the endurance to further your goals.

You can be particularly prolific and creative with writing, speaking, or other communications fields this year – you have a strong sense of what your audience wants. You express yourself with more imagination and appeal.

This is a potentially excellent year for putting dreams into motion and giving life to your ideas. You are capable of very hard work when you’re inspired, and you can produce some pretty fantastic things now.

Saturn will transit square to your Sun this year, and this can encourage you to straighten out neglected areas of your life. You’ll be working hard at disciplining yourself. You are likely to have new or increased responsibilities, and it might take some time to get adjusted to them. The need to re-structure and re-organize your life will be apparent at some point this year. Much can be accomplished. Although you may not always see immediate results for your efforts, important groundwork can be laid for the future.

You are willing to put in the effort for a mental interest or project, and you can feel pleasantly dedicated to your work or ideas. You are more able to focus on what you’re doing and communicating, and you are more inclined to notice and consider details.

You may be actively involved with teamwork and collaboration with others this year. For some, there can be the beginning of a significant new relationship or the intensification of an existing romance or an important passion project that reaches a turning point.

You’re able to bring both enthusiasm and practicality to your endeavors this year. It’s a potentially excellent year for making positive lifestyle changes and for dedication to your work or special projects. You are more patient than usual, having the follow-through to finish what you start. When you are motivated, you can accomplish great things, bringing new life to old goals. However, you may struggle at times with increased responsibilities.

 

2017 is a Number Three year for you. Ruled by Jupiter. This is a year of sociability. It is a friendly time when it is easy to enjoy life and other people. Focus is on personal freedom, reaching out to others, making new friends, and exploration. You are more enthusiastic and ready for adventure. It is likely to be a rather lighthearted year when opportunities for “play” time are greater than usual. It’s also a good year for expressing your creativity. Advice – reach out, but avoid scattering your energies.

2018 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 deal with 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 generally not formed in a Four personal year. Advice – get yourself organized, work to build your resources, keep busy.

 

Courtesy of Cafe Astrology

Spring Love Horoscopes 2017

Love blossoms anew this spring

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The main event this spring has everything to do with recalibrating your love life. Venus, the planet of love and relationship, turned retrograde on March 4, and will remain retrograde into early spring (April 15, to be exact). As a result, you’ll continue to learn vital lessons connected to being true to yourself while still being in a relationship.

From April 2-15, Venus will retrograde through Pisces (having previously been in Aries), adding a different emphasis. Now, it’ll be about recognizing whether or not your romantic ideals are helping or hurting your relationship. After April 15 you’ll get to put everything you learned into practice. Lucky you!

Be sure to read your sign’s horoscope to learn more about your spring love potential!

Aries (March 21 – April 19)

With Venus retrograde in your sign since March 4, spring love might elude you until after April 15. Although you may very well be in a relationship, if you are, for the first half of spring you’re most likely renovating it rather than relishing it. If this is true for you, then hopefully you’ll see the importance of this process.

A Full Moon in your partnership sector on April 11 may bring a certain level of enlightenment to you and your mate which will ultimately help you move forward. June brings surprises in your love life: happy ones.

Taurus (April 20 – May 20)

Your romantic prospects become exquisite after April 15, when Venus turns direct. In fact, on the 16th, pay attention to online dating possibilities. You may also notice that sparks are flying between you and a friend. Fortunately, you’ll have the green light to explore it now; before this time, you won’t have as much cosmic support. If you’re in a relationship. you and your sweetheart will spend a great deal of energy supporting each other’s dreams. Wonderful!

Life and love will really bloom for you however, after June 1. Venus will move into Taurus, making you gorgeous, confident, and more lovable than ever. Work it!

Gemini (May 21 – June 20)

A Full Moon in your true love sector on April 11 might bring a turning point in your romantic life. A casual affair could end, but if you are developing feelings for someone new you’ve been dating, then this might be when you’re ready to tell him or her.

If you’re in a relationship, you might feel as if your partner is getting in the way of your professional ambitions near April 8, and again on April 21. Find out why the support is missing. If you’re single, sparks might fly with someone in your social circle near June 3. It’s too hot to let it pass you by!

Cancer (June 21 – July 22)

You and your sweetheart might enjoy expanding your horizons socially and intellectually this spring. After April 15 when Venus turns direct, you’ll notice opportunities in this regard, with a special one showing up on April 16.

Don’t allow work-related problems to get in the way of your love life happiness quotient on April 8, and again on April 21. If your partner opposes your ambitions in any way near May 25, realize that he or she might feel threatened by them. After June 6, you and a friend might turn into lovers. Or, you could allow a friend to set you up with someone special.

Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22)

A Full Moon in relationship-oriented Libra on April 11 will allow you and your partner to effectively communicate. It’s possible that you’ll reach a pivotal decision together. Or, you’ll gain a new level of mutual awareness that allows you to strengthen your bond. Shared finances will become a focus after April 15 when Venus turns direct in your 8th House of Joint Resources. Until April 27 you and your sweetheart will make significant progress in this area of your relationship.

If you’re dating someone new, you might feel insecure about getting too intimate near April 8, and again on April 21. Work through it if he or she is worth it. If, however, the voice inside of you screams this budding romance is all wrong, then get out.

Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22)

Venus will retrograde into your partnership sector on April 2, and won’t turn direct until April 15. On March April 8 and again on the 21st, she’ll square off with constricting Saturn. What all of this suggests for you and your mate is a time of significant relationship effort. The two of you have an opportunity to make it through any rough patch, but it’ll require both of you being committed to doing what is necessary in order to get your relationship to the other side. Domestic problems might make this especially stressful, but again, if you love each other enough, you will persevere. By June 20 romantic bliss is possible.

Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22)

Your love life might feel like all work and no play as spring begins. Venus turned retrograde back on March 4 right in the middle of your partnership sector, and will remain out of phase until April 15. In matters of the heart, you and your mate are likely reconsidering much about what you both need out of your relationship. If one of you has been feeling unappreciated, or that most of the work in your daily lives is not equally distributed, you’ll have an opportunity to remedy this.

On June 1 you’ll begin to see sparks fly again. If you’re single, pay attention to June 3: someone sexy might approach you in the most unexpected way.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21)

This spring it’s possible that an old flame will pop back into your life. The question is: what will you do about it? Venus is retrograde from March 4-April 15, but from April 2-15 she’ll back track through your romance sector. This is the stretch of time you’re likely to consider whether or not you want to give an ex a second chance. If this isn’t a possibility, then you might spend time instead trying to release yourself from unproductive patterns or choices that prevented you from enjoying the most gratifying romance possible. You’ll feel renewed by early June. In fact, by June 6 Venus will move into your partnership sector, adding harmony and support to your love life once more.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21)

Your love life might feel like a shaky roller coaster ride for much of spring. You’re likely to second guess a budding romance with someone you’ve recently started to date. Or, it’s possible that you’ll be entertaining the idea of reconnecting with an ex. You may also be working through a problem connected to your domestic life with your sweetheart. Perhaps sharing the same space isn’t as easy as you thought it would be. Don’t make any final decisions until after Venus has regulated her orbit in mid-April. In fact, if you can wait until June, even better. Decisions about love made when Venus is out of phase are usually ones that are regretted. On June 1, you’ll know exactly what to do.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19)

Between March 4 and April 2, it appears that you and your sweetheart have a few domestic issues to work through. While it may not be anything too challenging, it’s enough of a headache to get in the way of romance.

Then, from April 2-15, you might have trouble reaching a vital decision together. Or, you’ll have to re-hash a conversation you thought was over and done with. While none of this sounds very romantic, take heart: you’ll have incredible prospects to enjoy passion and enchantment with your sweetie from June 6 through early summer. It’ll be worth the wait!

Aquarius (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19)

Spring might not be your best season for love, but that doesn’t mean it’s hopeless. The key is navigating through Venus Retrograde, which started in early March and will last through April 15. Until then, it might feel like you and your sweetheart are second guessing everything about each other. Or, if you’re single, you might question your judgment endlessly over your romantic choices in the past.

Between April 27-June 6, allow one of your siblings to set you up with someone he or she thinks is ideal for you. Or, introduce yourself to the sexy new neighbor who moved into your apartment building. If attached, after June 6 you and your love might talk about living together.

Pisces (Feb. 19 – March 20)

As spring opens up, the planet of love is already napping. In fact, since March 4 she has been in hibernation mode, which may be the reason why your love life (and financial life) is a bit sluggish. Moreover, from April 2-15, Venus will be retrograde in your sign. As a result, you may feel less confident. Use this time to make yourself over from the inside out so that after April 15 you’ll be ready to show the world just how magnetic you truly are.

A romantic conversation might be extra sexy on April 16. By June 20 your mind and heart will both agree: fairytale romance is yours for the taking!

 

Part of the Daily Insight Group ©2017