If You Were Born Today, August 12

You have a wonderful sense of humor. A “doer”, you tend to always keep yourself busy. You are one of the most resourceful people around, as you are often assessing usefulness and value of the things around you. You love to play, throughout life, and seem to be looking for ways to entertain yourself at every turn. Even so, you are a hard worker. You are a true pioneer in whatever you do, although you also do your best when you feel secure. As such, although you are a self-starter, the risks you take in life tend to be calculated ones. A true individualist, you also have very high ideals. You have a good sense for opportunities. In love, you are quite brave emotionally. Your emotions tend to be quite up and down, however, when it comes to matters of the heart, and you can surprise partners with great warmth and interest one day, and cool detachment the next. Famous people born today: Pete Sampras, Casey Affleck, Cecil B. De Mille, Mark Knopfler, Pat Metheny, Maggie Lawson, George Soros, Peter Krause, Rebecca Gayheart.

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!

Jupiter moves into transiting harmony with your Sun from December 2016 forward. You have a stronger than usual desire to improve, grow, and learn. This is a fortunate aspect that helps boost optimism and confidence, and you can attract fortunate circumstances into your life as a result. Problems are easier to resolve. Matters related to universities, higher education, organized religion, publishing, legal affairs, and foreign interests can be especially favorable. It’s a good time to further your education. You are likely to enjoy a larger perspective on matters that keeps you from getting lost in details or overly frustrated by everyday stresses.

This is an excellent year for learning new things and meeting people who bring important information into your life. Making new contacts through learning and mental pursuits figures strongly.

However, there can be misunderstandings, misinformation, wishful thinking, or carelessness. Verify the facts before making decisions and avoid taking precipitate action. Certainly, you might often see things that others don’t, as you’re tuned into the subtle side of life and situations, but, at the same time, you may miss practical details.

Even so, your powers of investigation are strong – you go to the origin of a problem and work from there. There may be a project, idea, or person that demands much of your attention or occupies much of your thoughts. You are especially resourceful when your curiosity is piqued.

There can be some fireworks in key relationships this year. Feelings can sometimes run hot and cold in love. Your affections are strongly stimulated, and you are more acutely aware of your powers of attraction. You can enjoy an increase in personal magnetism, but timing can be off and you should be wary of competitiveness or tension in existing love relationships, as your passions run high, whether they‘re feelings of love or anger.

Marketing and promotional activities can thrive. Business revolving around the home, nutrition, cooking, and real estate may be particularly fruitful.

You may win respect and recognition for your work or craft this year. There is a good balance between learning from tradition and seeing things progressively.

Transiting Saturn transits in harmony with your Sun in December 2016. This suggests benefits from keeping your feet on the ground and paying attention to, and honoring, tradition as well as tried-and-true methods. Work you have done in the past begins to pay off now – not necessarily in dramatic ways, but in small, measurable ways. You may be recognized or rewarded in some way for the efforts you put forth. When you project a more responsible and credible “you”, people in authority are more inclined to appreciate you and recognize your work. This is a time in which you put your life in order in some significant manner. The key to success under this influence is adopting a realistic, practical, disciplined, and orderly approach to your life. Having a strong sense for both tradition and innovation opens doors for you. You have a real sense of tomorrow now, so it’s easier for you to take the necessary steps to make all of your “tomorrows” better.

There is steadiness in many areas of your life this year, although some relationships can be up and down. From December forward, you’re in an exceptionally strong position for taking advantage of new opportunities. There can be recognition for your work or talents. However, you may have a difficult time focusing on one or two projects during this period of life, and you can benefit from attempts to focus your energies.

2016 is a Number Two year for you. Ruled by the Moon. This is a year of potential companionship. It is a quiet, gentle, and mostly harmonious year that is less active than other years. Instead, you are more responsive to the needs of others. If you are patient and open yourself up in a gentle manner, you will attract both things and people. This is an excellent year in which to build and develop for the future. Advice – be patient, be receptive, enjoy the peace, collect.

2017 will be 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.

Courtesy of Cafe Astrology

Your Daily Horoscopes for Friday, August 12

Aries

Career, reputation, publishing, travel, legal matters, and education are all affected by Saturn in your solar chart right now, dear Aries, and these are areas of your life that may need some extra attention to rules and structure. Saturn’s direct move today is an empowering one, but the shift can bring sudden awareness of realities regarding any of these things. Examples could be receiving news about a career matter, recognizing a need to update your skills, or facing some pressure to perform on the job. The trick to managing this time in your life is to work on taming expectations and bringing them back to earth. Reminders that you should be paying attention to the realities of a situation can abound now. Self-improvement endeavors can be in focus and successful as you go forward.

Taurus

There can be a disappointment this week, possibly peaking today and tomorrow, dear Taurus, when it comes to a financial or intimate relationship, a project that hasn’t taken off, or a matter surrounding travel, transportation, education, or communications. Saturn will soon begin moving forward after retrograde motion since March, and you become clearer about a responsibility to someone or a commitment in the coming weeks. There could be sobering news about a financial matter, or you might recognize that money matters are out of order and need to be organized. This places you in a more empowered position, even if there is a reality to deal with now.

Gemini

Saturn is about to turn direct, dear Gemini, and you’re likely to receive a significant reminder of your responsibilities. While this may hang heavy in the air now, as you move forward, you are likely to have more clarity, particularly regarding a partnership or your feelings about relationships. Partnerships may have been put through the wringer recently, or you may be seeing the less flattering side of others or yourself through a relationship, but you are in a better position to see where you’re headed along these lines as you go forward. There could also be the need to manage a financial matter now. If you’ve been juggling too much, particularly related to attention spent on personal and domestic matters, you may need to add some variety in your life.

Cancer

There is a tinge of seriousness to the day and the week, dear Cancer, with Saturn nearing its direct station and later clashing with Venus. If you have been putting more faith in a job, project, person, or relationship than they/it deserves, there could be a reality to face now. The untrue and impractical elements of your life or of recent events can emerge. This can lead to some feeling of being let down, but the good news is that you can also find a lot of strength in the fact that you now know where you stand. The weeks ahead are active for organizing your routines, work, and health regimes. Focus on clearing up clutter and firming up your work and daily routines. If you’ve taken on too many personal projects or interests, you could find that this impacts your attention to responsibilities or professional goals. Look for ways to divide your attention in a more balanced way, even if this means cutting back on certain activities.

Leo

With Saturn turning direct, dear Leo, you’ll be at your best if you see the benefits of facing reality, rather than nursing feelings of discouragement. Saturn’s direct station is a yearly occurrence, and this year affects your work, health, daily routines, romance, creative projects, and hobbies. You’ll be busy firming things up in some of these areas of life in the coming weeks. With an awkward Jupiter-Uranus transit, there may be a dilemma over funding for your travels, education, or adventures for some of you. For others, if you’ve taken on too many business projects or commitments, as much as you’re enjoying them, you could feel the need to free up some time for new or broader experiences and spontaneous activities. The challenge now is to find the time for both practical application and experimentation.

Virgo

Challenges in your domestic life may surface this week, dear Virgo, with Saturn moving direct, but facing certain realities puts you in a strong position to manage them. Saturn’s direct move teaches us about managing our expectations. For some of you, there can be something uncomfortable in, or doubt surrounding, a love relationship. This is an important week for processing recent events and feelings, as well as for thinking up solid, structured plans of action, even if part of you is resisting this process. With Jupiter in your sign in a challenging aspect with Uranus, you have to watch for tensions that arise from doing or attempting too much. Remind yourself that you don’t need to rush. In fact, slowing down is important now.

Libra

Saturn is turning direct in your communications sector, dear Libra, making it a good time to firm up your work, routines, habits, and communications. Facing reality is ultimately strengthening, as knowing the truth is a powerful thing, even if it’s a little uncomfortable at first. Responsibilities and duties are magnified now, particularly related to learning, security, and home matters. As dull as this sounds, you’re inclined to feel good about taking charge, and you might enjoy formulating some long-term or big plans. On another level, a Jupiter-Uranus quincunx points to the need for a better balance in your life, particularly between your need for companionship and an increased need for solitude.

Scorpio

Saturn is coming to its yearly direct station, dear Scorpio, and there may be the need to face up to a responsibility or reality. Saturn is influencing money, resources, talents, communications, and learning in your solar chart, and any of these areas are likely to figure strongly now. A dream may not look as rosy as it did in the past or a financial matter may need attention. However, you can find tremendous strength in knowing where you stand. As uncomfortable as it may be to face reality in certain areas of your life, with some of the uncertainty gone, you can make better plans moving forward. The focus should be on actions that are responsible and mature. With a Jupiter-Uranus quincunx also influencing you now, be sure to remember to make time for yourself and life’s unexpected moments, and be sure that work and health matters get their due attention as well.

Sagittarius

Saturn is coming to its yearly direct station, and this year, it’s in your sign, dear Sagittarius. This is an empowering change, but right now, responsibilities and problems may be magnified in your mind. There can be the need to pick up your socks in some manner now, and taking responsibility for health, personality, or financial matters may be necessary. In the weeks ahead, there can be a strong focus on getting organized, following the rules, and attention to practical details. Your ruler opposes Chiron and moves towards a quincunx with Uranus, serving as another checkpoint when it comes to expanding your goals, reach, or projects. Consider your need to “play” freely from time to time – to act on impulses, to do something fun or creative spontaneously. If you are filling up your life too full of projects, even if they are thoroughly exciting, you’ll end up feeling too burdened or overwhelmed.

Capricorn

Today, there can be some feelings of discouragement that ultimately lead to a sense of strength, dear Capricorn, with Saturn, your ruler, coming to its yearly station, this year in your solar twelfth house. You have been facing elements of your past that are resurfacing as truths or realities, and these are authentic learning experiences. Knowing your position can lead to making better plans, and now that Saturn is turning direct, you’ll feel more equipped to put negative habits and attitudes behind you. While serious energy can hang over you as this shift occurs, moving forward, you’re likely to feel stronger, more capable, and clearer. Even so, there can be some restlessness experienced today and on some level all week if you feel overwhelmed with things to do or choices to make. It’s important to make some time for freeform activities and leisure or else even your more enjoyable projects could end up feeling burdensome.

Aquarius

Saturn is turning direct in your sector of happiness goals, ideals, group connections, and friendships, dear Aquarius. Ultimately, truths coming to light will help you to get a better grip on the reality of friends who are on your side. For some, this influence can be about a long-term plan, aspiration, or goal rather than a relationship. You can make better plans knowing what is viable and what isn’t. It’s a strong time for organizing and analyzing. Decisions are hard to make right now, but once made, a sense of relief can arrive. Focus on moving forward, and the best possible way to do so. It’s important to look for ways to simplify or cut back, even if this is not the easiest choice. Watch for restlessness that leads to imprecise or sloppy communications.

Pisces

Career matters become clearer now and in the coming weeks, dear Pisces. It’s easier to formulate goals with Saturn turning direct. Responsibilities to the outside world are magnified this week as you adjust to Saturn’s change of direction, and there could be some form of “reality check” to deal with. Ultimately, you’ll be in a stronger position, even if you feel some discouragement initially. Friendship, educational, legal or travel matters can begin to move forward. Focus on moving slowly towards your goals or into conversations, rather than rushing in. Find ways to either separate partnership and business, or aim to share as much as possible with someone close to you in order they gain more understanding of your goals.

By Maria DeSimone

Videos, Love, Horoscopes, Astrology

This weekend presents a complicated confluence of planetary energy that will surely affect your love life. On Saturday, Saturn turns direct and then, in his power, squares Venus. As a result, you’ll have to face whatever it is about your love life that makes you feel limited or not as valued.

If you’re working so hard for love, it’s time to ask yourself why. Constantly feeling as if you’re the “Ugly Duckling” might set up a deep insecurity that’s quite destructive. Remember, beauty and self-worth are inside jobs.On Sunday Venus opposes Neptune, allowing you to either realize you are the beautiful swan after all, or, that you’re finally so exhausted dealing with illusions in your love life that you’re ready for a change.

This Weekend’s Romantic Rating*

* Heart ratings are based on the lunar cycle. They range from low to full, with low indicating a rocky weekend for romance and full indicating plenty of passionate potential.

Part of the Daily Insight Group

©Tarot.com 2016. All rights reserved.

The Balance of the Signs & the Elements for August 12th

LEO STRONG
Self-confident, generous, warm-hearted, powerful leader, dramatic. Can be overly proud, vain, extravagant, arrogant.
VIRGO STRONG
Meticulous, discriminating, pure, practical, health conscious, hard working. Can be hyper-critical, petty and perfectionistic.
SAGITTARIUS STRONG
Inspiring, broad vision, enthusiastic, goal seeking, truthful, adventurous. Can be reckless, unrestrained, tactless.

BALANCE OF ELEMENTS

FIRE STRONG
Fire is enthusiastic, dynamic, and spontaneous, but lacks reflection. We are more courageous and adventurous now, with a tendency to act before thinking. There is little concern about what happened in the past. We are competitive and possibly impatient or bored easily.
AIR WEAK
We may have a difficult time being objective or detached. We may not be especially communicative.
WATER WEAK
There may be some insensitivity or lack of empathy now. We may be out of touch with what we’re feeling or with our emotional needs. We may be tougher than usual now, and more inclined to follow mental or practical considerations than we are to listen to our intuition.

BALANCE OF MODES

CARDINAL WEAK
This is not a time that we tend to naturally initiate actions. We may be stronger at following up than starting anew. Survival mechanisms may be weaker now.
MUTABLE STRONG
We are flexible, adaptable, willing, open to change, and possibly flighty or nervous.

Astrology of Today – August 12, 2016

• The Moon is in Sagittarius all day (until Sunday, August 14th, at 12:11 AM).
• The Moon is waxing and in its First Quarter phase.
• A First Quarter Moon occurred on the 10th and a Full Moon will occur on the 18th.
• Mars is direct and in its post-retrograde shadow until August 22nd.

August 12

Festival of Hercules Invictus

On this day in ancient Rome, sacrifice was made to Hercules Invictus at the Ara Maxima, the great altar near the Circus Maximus. The myth surrounding Hercules is far older than Rome itself, having been introduced after Hercules had slain the villain Cacus, who was ransacking Evander’s kingdom on the banks of the Tiber. A man’s God, Hercules was known for his appetites and was even more popular because he had actually been a man at one time. The merchants and generals of Rome paid for the feast that followed the festival, and, in contrast to other similar rites, the entire offering was consumed, and there were no restrictions placed on the types of food that could be served

The Witches Correspondences for Friday, August 12

The day of Venus, Friday takes its name from Frigga, the Goddess of Love and Transformation. She rules the spiritual aspects of people as they manifest on the physical. because of this, Friday is sometimes thought of as unpredictable.

Element : Water / Earth

Planet: Venus

Zodiac Sign : Taurus / Libra

Angel : Ariel

Metal : Tin

Incense / Perfumes : Strawberry, Sandalwood, Rose, Saffron and Vanilla

Oils : Cardamom, Palmrosa, Rose, Yarrow

Color : Green, Aqua, Rose

Stones : Emerald, Rose Quartz, Moonstone, Pink Tourmaline, Peridot, Jade

Plants/Herbs : Apple, Balm of Gilead, Bergamot, Birch, Catnip, Clematis, Damiana, Dragons Blood, Geranium, Heather, Hibiscus, Ivy, Magnolia, Mugwort, Plumeria, Rose, Rose Geranium, Sage, Strawberry, Vanilla, Vervain, Violet, Water Lilly

Magick to Work: love, friendship, beauty, sensuality, arts, attraction, healing, peace, harmony, artistic ability, creativity generally, reconciliation, beauty, female sexuality, luxury, music, pleasure, scent, sensuality, social affairs

The Witches Almanac for Friday, August 12

Friday (Venus): Love, friendship, reconciliation, and beauty.

Fiesta of Santa Clara

Waxing Moon
The Waxing Moon (from the New Moon to the Full) is the ideal time for magic to draw things toward you.

Moon Phase: Second Quarter

Moon Sign: Sagittarius
Sagittarius: Encourages flights of imagination and confidence. This is an adventurous, philosophical, and athletic Moon sign. Favors expansion and growth.

Incense: Yarrow

Color: Rose

The Magickal Day of Friday

Friday falls at the end of the work week for many of us, and that means we get a chance to relax for a little bit! Mark your Fridays with colors like pink and aqua, and metals such as copper. This is a day ruled by the planet Venus, so it should be no surprise that Venus and Aphrodite – goddesses of love and beauty – are associated with Fridays. This is a day named for the Norse goddess Freyja, so be sure to take a moment to honor her as well.

Gemstones associated with Friday include coral, emerald and rose quartz, and plants like strawberries, apple blossoms and feverfew are also related. This is a good day to do spellwork associated with family life and fertility, sexuality, harmony, friendship, growth. Take advantage of Friday’s correspondences and plant a seed, make something grow, and enjoy your blessings

*Note: There are a lot of disputes as to the origins of the word Friday, because there is still a great deal of discussion as to whether it was named for Freyja or Frigga, and whether they were the same deity or two separate ones. Some scholars believe that while they may have eventually become two distinctly different goddesses, they could have had their origins in a single, common Proto-Germanic deity.

Author

Patti Wigington, Paganism/Wicca Expert
Article published on & owned by About.com

The Witches Friday

Friday is traditionally considered the sixth day of the week, falling between Thursday and Saturday, as it does in countries that adopt a Sunday-first convention (see Days of the week for more on the different conventions). In countries adopting the Monday-first, and, in work-based conventions, it is the fifth day of the week.

The name Friday comes from the Old English frigedæg, meaning the day of Frige the Anglo-Saxon form of Frigg, the Germanic goddess of beauty. In most Germanic languages it is named after Freyja—such as Freitag in Modern German, vrijdag in Dutch, fredag in Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish—but Freyja and Frigg are frequently identified with each other. The word for Friday in most Romance languages is derived from the name of Venus such as vendredi in French, venerdì in Italian, viernes in Spanish, and vineri in Romanian. In Hindi, Friday is Shukravar, named for Shukra, the Sanskrit name of the planet Venus. Russian uses an ordinal number for this day of the week– piatnítsa, meaning “fifth.” Similarly, the Portuguese is sexta-feira.

The modern reason why Friday the 13th is considered unlucky is said to come from Friday October the 13th, 1307. On this date, the Pope of the church in Rome in conjunction with the King of France, carried out a secret death warrant Against “the Knights Templar”. The Templars were terminated as heretics, never again to hold the power that they had held for so long. The Grand Master, Jacques DeMolay, was arrested and before he was killed, was tortured and crucified. The destruction of the Templar Knights was so complete and terrible that it will always be remembered as an unlucky day.

Astrology
In astrology Friday is connected with the planet Venus. This associates Friday with love, peace, and relaxation, as well as, with emotional intensity and quashed dreams. And also is connected with the Astrological sign Libra.

Source

Pagan Calendar

On Friday, August 12, We Celebrate….

Fiesta de Santa Clara (Southeastern United States)
SELU

Themes: Harvest; Weather; Growth

Symbol: Corn About Selu: This Southeastern Native American corn goddess planted her very heart so people wouldn’t go hungry. Corn sprouted from it. To this day, her spirit teaches us how to refertilize the earth to bring us the sustenance we need.

To Do Today: In this primary festival among the Pueblo Indians, Santa Clara replaced Selu, the spirit of the corn, when Christianity took hold. For the Pueblo, corn is a staple, so as the sun reigns in power they dance for rain and evoke the Corn Spirit for every portion of the crop’s growth. Following this tradition, if it’s raining today, go outside and rejoice in Selu’s growth-related energy. Dance with a bit of corn (or eat some beforehand) to invoke her powers for progress in any area of your life.

If your region has needed rain lately, try drumming for it while scattering corn kernels mingled with pine needles on the ground. The corn and needles act as a gift to the goddess, and the sound they make is a kind of sympathetic magic to draw the rain.

Finally, carry corn in your pocket today. Beforehand, visualize a specific characteristic you’d like to “harvest” within yourself. Each time you think of the corn that day, visualize that goal again. Then, at the end of the day, plant the kernel in the ground so Selu can start it growing!
 

Source

365 Goddess: A Daily Guide To the Magic and Inspiration of the goddess
Patricia Telesco

The Goddess Book of Days for August 12th

The Lychnapsia, Festival of the Lights of Isis in Egypt, Isis’ search for Osiris, cognate to Wiccan Candlemas. Isis is Neith, Bast, Athena, Vesta, Brigid, Bride, Hestia, Lucia, Lucina, Hebe, Perchta, Bertha, Befana, Oya on this day.

Source

The Goddess Book of Days
Diane Stein

The Pagan Book of Days for Friday, August 12th

Lights of Isis/St. Clare/William Blake

Ancient Egyptian festival of the Lights of Isis, later became the Christian day of St. Clare. Today is also the anniversary of the death of visionary artist and poet William Blake.

Source

The Pagan Book of Days
Nigel Pennick

Friday, July 29th

Friday is the day of Venus. It takes it name from Frigg, the Goddess of love and transformation. She rules the spiritual side of a person that manifests in the physical. Because of this, Friday is often thought of as dangerously unpredictable. This is expressed in an old East Anglian adage:

Friday’s day will have its trick
The fairest or foulest day of the week.

Deity: Frigg

Zodiac Sign: Taurus/Libra

Planet: Venus

Tree: Apple

Herb: Vervain

Stone: Sapphire/Chrsolite

Animal: Bull/Serpent

Element: Earth

Color: Yellow/Violet

Number: 7

Rune: Peorth(P)

Celtic Tree Month of Coll (Hazel) – August 4 – September 1

Runic Half-Month of Thorn (defense) – July 29 – August 12

Goddess of the Month of Hesperis – August 9 – September 5

Source

The Pagan Book of Days
Nigel Pennick

Witchcraft for Friday, August 12

 Love
 Peace
 Family
 Marriage
 Beauty
 Growth
 Art
 Social status
 Passion
 Music
 Sexuality

Source

A Spell Crafter’s Compendium
Terri Paajanen

Sky This Week for August 12 to August 14, 2016

Plenty of bright planets and stars, plus a few asteroid cameos, but this week, nothing will beat the Perseids.

By Richard Talcott

Friday, August 12

Assuming you watch the Perseid show this morning, don’t pack up when twilight starts to paint the sky. About 45 minutes before the Sun comes up, look for a bright object hovering just above the horizon in the east-southeast. This is the night sky’s brightest star, magnitude –1.5 Sirius in the constellation Canis Major. From mid-northern latitudes, the luminary climbs some 4° high a half-hour before sunrise and should stand out if you have a clear and unobstructed horizon. The return of Sirius to the predawn sky was an occasion for celebration in ancient Egypt. Around 3000 b.c., this so-called heliacal rising of Sirius heralded the coming flood of the Nile River, an event upon which agriculture — and all life in Egypt — depended.

Saturday, August 13

Look overhead around 10 p.m. local daylight time any day this week and your eyes will fall on the brilliant star Vega in the constellation Lyra the Harp. At magnitude 0.0, Vega is the brightest member of the prominent Summer Triangle asterism. The Triangle’s second-brightest star, magnitude 0.8 Altair in Aquila the Eagle, lies some 35° southeast of Vega. The asterism’s dimmest member, magnitude 1.3 Deneb in Cygnus the Swan, stands about 25° east-northeast of Vega. Although the brightening Moon diminishes the luster of stars this week, the Summer Triangle remains conspicuous.

Sunday, August 14

The two inner planets lurk low in the western sky shortly after sunset this week. If you scan the horizon through binoculars 30 minutes after sundown, you should pick up Venus standing just 4° high. It shows up only because in shines so brightly, at magnitude –3.8. Mercury appears at nearly the same altitude but will be much harder to see because it glows more dimly, at magnitude 0.2. This morning, the innermost planet lies 9° to Venus’ left and 6° to Jupiter’s lower right.

Source

The Astronomy Magazine