The Daily Astro for August 2, 2013

by Valerie Sylvester

TODAY’S ASPECTS:

The Moon remains in Gemini and is Void-of-Course all day today (The Moon enters Cancer at 12:29 AM EDT tomorrow).

Today’s main aspect is Venus in Virgo sextile Mars in Cancer at 4:35 PM EDT.

With the Sun in Leo, the Moon in Gemini and that Venus and Mars sextile, today’s a great day to socialize, take someone out to lunch, network –schmoozing in general is favored, as you’ll make a good impression. Leo brings on the showmanship and the Moon in Gemini is light on its feet and adaptable. This is a fine combination for giving a presentation or selling a concept.

Tonight is definitely “date night”–when Venus and Mars are in sync, sparks do fly. Since we’re dealing with Venus in Virgo and Mars in Cancer, keep it low-key and casual. Small thoughtful gestures will be appreciated. It’s probably also better to go out with someone who’s already in your social circle or work environment rather than get involved in a “first date” scenario.

Since we’re in the Void Zone today, work with the energy and don’t push too hard to start anything new yet. Take a”time out” if you can, and just enjoy being alive. Call up some friends for an impromptu get-together, catch up on the ZZZs, be flexible with your plans and enjoy whatever comes your way. It’s also a good day for creative activities and artistic expression.

NOTE: For those of you who still feel Mercury retrograde has been slowing you down, tomorrow Mercury finally completely escapes its Shadow corridor, according to some astrologers. During the retrograde period, you may have become (painfully) aware of some deep-seated habit patterns that had their genesis in your early family or home environment. After undergoing a reliving or review of these patterns, you may feel you now have the emotional intelligence necessary to release whatever’s been weighing you down.

This theme will be reiterated over the weekend when the Moon moves into Cancer and clicks into the Water Grand Trine configuration. Saturday, especially, could be very emotional as the Moon contacts Neptune, Saturn, Jupiter and Pluto as the day progresses. You may feel you’re being overwhelmed by the intensity of your emotions or pushed beyond your limits. You want to retreat, but there’s really no going back.

THE SYMBOLS:

Sabian Symbol for today’s SUN: “Children on a swing in a huge oak tree .”

Kozminsky Symbol for today’s SUN: “A troop of old barbarian soldiers carrying off struggling women.”

The Keyword for the Sabian Symbol is: “Delight. ”

The Keyword for the Kozminsky Symbol is: “Indulgence .”

Today’s Sabian Symbol captures the essence of today’s astrology. Children (which relate to Leo and the 5th house astrologically) are playing on a swing, so they’re in constant motion (Gemini) . They’re active (Mars) and enjoying one another’s company in a pleasant setting (Venus). The oak tree provides support for the swing as well as a canopy of shade. Oak trees are sacred to Zeus/Jupiter/Thor–all the “big daddy” gods of mythology, and they’re regarded as powerful and protective spirits.

The Wheel of Fortune, one of the tarot cards from the daily draw, is also associated with Jupiter.

This Symbol tells us to go out and have fun, we’re in a protected place. Maybe we all need to bring back some enthusiasm, joy and unfettered delight in existence. The motion of the swing going back and forth relates to developing our own rhythm to take us through life, so this Symbol also relates to individuality and dancing to your own beat. The down side here is learning how to control your trajectory (no one wants to fall out of the swing!). Balance is another theme. It’s fun to escape for a while, but shirking responsibility or expecting others to pick up the slack while you’re MIA is not the way to go.

The Kozminsky Symbol is connected to Mars (soldiers/aggressive acts), and here we see the urge for power running out of control. The old (they’ve been doing this for a long time) soldiers abduct struggling women, which reminds me of the Tarot Strength where we wrestle with powerful urges in order to achieve self-mastery and keep all parts of ourselves in balance. The keyword is “indulgence”, but this kind of indulgence isn’t the simple pleasure shown in today’s Sabian Symbol. Kozminsky says “He must strive lest he become the slave of his lower self and the inducer of his own dangers.” It’s related to ancient, destructive patterns that evolve (or devolve!) into repeated themes in our lives. How does the “barbarian” show its face in your life? What is your shadow up to? What patterns would you like to change?

THE DAILY DRAW:

King of Swords / The Wheel

“The King is Dead/Long Live the King”.

Taking your place in the world. It’s time to take charge of your destiny. “What goes up must come down.” The intelligence behind seemingly inexplicable occurrences. Since we have both a King and the Wheel, which is associated with Jupiter, the King of the Gods, we’re dealing with the larger forces behind seemingly “fated” actions. On the mundane level, we may hear about the rise or fall of a prominent leader or member of a royal family. (Since Jupiter often shows up when people die, it could also relate to the death of a famous, “larger than life” type.) Shifts or changes in religious philosophies or the “laws of the land”. Appealing to logic and the rational side of the mind to introduce a change or modification. “Taking the wheel” and plotting a course of action for the future. A new boss with a new agenda. Changes in a patriarchal or hierarchical system.