The Daily Astro for March 13, 2012

The Moon enters upbeat Sagittarius at 2:54 AM EST. Today’s big news is the Grand Trine in earth signs, as Venus trines Pluto, moves toward a trine with Mars and joins expansive Jupiter in Taurus. Despite the Mercury retrograde and a few other uneasy aspects as the day begins, by the afternoon we may find ourselves easing into work and being productive and inspired at the same time. It’s a good day for relationship adjustments and discussions, too. Release what’s not working, streamline your procedures, keep what’s useful, and remember to refine, redirect and reset when necessary, as befits a Mercury retrograde period.

Sabian Symbol for today’s Sun: “An inhabited island.”
Kozminsky Symbol for today’s Sun: “A giant ape dragging a woman into the forests.” The Keyword for the Sabian Symbol is “Cultivation” and for the for the Kozminsky Symbol it’s “Falling”.
Today’s symbols remind me of the film “King Kong”. There’s an island and a giant ape dragging a woman into the forest (instead of the Empire State building, which is perhaps not as dramatic, but good enough). These two link with the tarot cards for today with the emphasis on starting over, learning to use resources constructively, in a new way (maintaining life in an isolated place): 8 of pentacles; and a cautionary tale about letting unconscious instincts or habits run rampant (ape drags woman): Devil. How do you harness your instincts and drives for power and control so that you use the energy, and  are conscious in the driver’s seat, not passed out at the wheel?

Born on March 13:
Louis of Valois, Joseph Priestly (discovered oxygen), Mircea Eliade, Neil Sedaka, Andre Techine, Charles Krauthammer, Deborah Raffin, Annabeth Gish, Adam Clayton, Andy Bean, Tim Story, Mike Stoller, Candi Staton, Leslie Parrish, Abigail Powers Fillmore (First Lady), John Franklin “Home Run” Baker, L. Ron Hubbard, Sammy Kaye, William J. Casey (CIA), Walter Annenberg, Percival Lowell (discovered Pluto), Joseph II (German Emperor), Loius FAD, Duke de Richelieu, Pope Innocent XII, Emile Hirsh, Akira Nogami, Rick Lazio, Dana Delany, Glenne Headly, Robin Duke, Danny Kirway, William H. Macy, Clarence Nash (voice of Donald Duck), Lindy Boggs.

Tarot Enhancer/Antidote: Devil/8 of Pentacles
This is a very “earthy” combo. It reminds me of the evil scientist who’s a stock figure in horror films, tinkering away in the lab, trying to make a monster from disparate parts. He’s often so disconnected or isolated (see island theme in the Sabian Symbol, above) that he doesn’t realize his drive for power and control is unnatural and corrupting; he’s just compelled to build his monstrosity-by-number. The Devil and the 8 of Pentacles highlight our motivations and habit patterns. It’s time to look at our “bad habits”, the ones that hold us back, the ones based on shame, fear and a failure to confront the murkier sides of our nature. What’s your deepest, darkest secret?  How does it hold you back or make you fearful? Is there a way to release or use that energy?  We’re given another chance here to start over and build a new, more supportive,structure that’s not based on avoidance and fear.

–Valerie Sylvester, March 13, 2012–