Thus far our fortune keeps an upward course,
And we are grac’d with wreaths of victory.

King Edward in Shakespeare’s
Henry VI, part 3 (act V scene iii, line 1-2)

Horoscopes starting 3.10.2016

Pisces:

The Fishes

I was working in the front yard, helping a girlfriend spread a truck-load of mulch. Ground-up hardwood bark, I think is what that stuff was. Covers the spots that used to be grass and now will require no lawn maintenance for 3 to 5 years, so it’s a good deal, right? Mulch isn’t heavy. The shovel and the wheelbarrow? Both of them have rough wooden handles. To make this an easier task, joking aside, “Strong backs and weak minds,” joking put aside for a moment? Girlfriend handed me some dainty, girly, gardening gloves. A lovely shade of pink. Not very manly, hardly macho, and yet? Logic is important. We moved ten or twelve loads of mulch, took an ice tea break, and then moved another dozen loads. When I was done, my hands were not raw, blistered, chafed, or in any other words? My hands were still baby-smooth and soft. No damage whatsoever. Can’t say the same for the rest of me, even though it was mulch, when I got to the bottom of the pile, I was leaning over to shovel it, and the next day, I had a sore back. Not sure if was from the shoveling or something else, but my hands? Still smooth and soft as ever. Wear gloves. Pisces, Happy Birthday and when you’re doing some task that requires a modicum of a layer between you and that which might chafe? Wear gloves. New Moon, over the weekend, something is trying to chafe, wear gloves.

Aries:

Old adage, kicked around far too many times? “You can’t step in the same place in a (flowing) stream twice.” I think I amended that one a little, just to make it flow better. As an Aries, you know that you can’t step in the same river, twice, not in the same place, with the same water, right? As I spun around your planets, I thought about that expression, but I thought about in an ironic manner for Aries. Bunch of planets in Pisces.

There’s a foggy, confusing, restless, directionless energy present. Instead of stepping into the stream? I was thinking of pausing. Let those waters swirl and foam around your Aries ankles. Instead of stepping anywhere? Maybe not taking any action is the best way to go. Not an Aries trait, and not taking action is not an Aries strong suit. However, Mars in his current disposition and in Sagittarius (thank-you-very-much), lending a drive that might not be best answered by stepping into the same stream as the rest of us. I’m just suggesting, maybe no action is better than ill-advised action. In other words, my old rub, “If you can’t be right? Be wrong as loud as possible?” That, plus not stepping in the same stream? Maybe nothing is better than something. Varies, Aries to Aries, but when presented with an obstacle, or rushing body of water? Maybe not stepping in it all is better.

Taurus:

A favorite text from when I was child surfaced recently. It was in box that had been in a garage, that was downsized and moved, and I’m unsure, but I think I hadn’t touched that book in many long years. As a child I loved it. Full of witticisms and funny stories. Revisit my childhood? No. But look at what influenced me? I looked at the text, and therein are clues. Timing, approach, demeanor, and even some behaviors, all delineated by that book. As I scanned a few of the pages, I had an idea, and what I’ll do in the next few weeks, I’ll try some of that material, suitably updated and transformed, but some of the material might be good for research, revision, and repurposed. What was best, though, after not looking at the book for such a long time, getting re-introduced to the material.

As a Taurus, there’s a time to stop, pause, and look back. Maybe not look back, but bring something from your Taurus past, Taurus upbringing, Taurus life and see how that applies, even in this day.

I looked that book up on Amazon. It was reissued, probably to keep the copyright intact, and so far, no one had reviewed it. Some of this, looking back? Some of this might be outdated material, not worthy of updating. Your call on that.

Gemini:

Tension, frustration and lack of patience, those are the Gemini enemies. After I listed those, the voice in my head, the way it sounded, rather than the way it looked, to me? I kept thinking this was three separate items. However, for the good Gemini? Not really. It’s all a singular emotion, wrapped around a single Gemini facet. Can’t change that. There’s a certain tension, causes frustration and lack of patience because, let’s face it, the rest of the world is not moving at appropriate Gemini speed this next few days.

I get it. I’m in a hurry, too. I’m not in as big a hurry as Gemini, but yes, I understand the urgency. I get that. NOW. No, “NOW” isn’t soon enough! Yes, I understand, that, too. The concentration of material (planets) in Pisces sets up the tension, and that tension sets up a sense of urgency, and that sense of urgency yields frustration because no one seems to understand the Gemini need for everyone to hurry up. The tension might merely be Gemini-specific, and in many cases, Gemini-internal. Ease yourself forward bereft of assistance from the usual Gemini companion, minions and other “aides-de-camp.” The tension is only noticeable to Gemini, as this Pisces mush makes that tough angle. It’s paving a way forward in the business arena, but you’re not quite there. Or, rather, you’re so far ahead of the rest of us, you’ll feel all alone. All alone except for the other Gemini voices.

Cancer:

Couple of years ago, one of my “burner” friends turned me onto a setlist known to me only as “Scumfrog.” The name, at first, the name was a bit off-putting. I didn’t think I was interested in another Neo-Punk/Alt-Metal band with a weird name. As it turns out, it was year or two old mixed-set from Burning Man, and the artist’s name was “Scumfrog,” I think. As mixed sets go, it was part trance, part ambient, and part mixtape. I’m completely unsure of the genre or category. However, it is soft, eloquent, and reasonably easy to listen to. Not quite “easy listening,” but close. The name, the packaging, the location, all of that were red flags for me not to bother, however, in a moment of interest, I listened, and I dropped that mix into my mix.

It was playing, and I was thinking, looking at what your stars say. Soft, gentle, nice backbeat, but not too strident, with some amusing cuts layered in, rather deftly. Listen to it low, in the background. Crank it up and listen to it while working out. It satisfies both ways. The planets are offering you something you might normally turn down, or take a pass on, and instead, give it a listen. Spin it around on the turntable, see if you like it. Might be surprised, and that surprise might lead to either motivation or inspiration. Or motivation that is inspired. Ideas, we’re looking for the next good thing for you, and this is a time, next couple of days, make something happen.

The Leo:

Got one friend, a self-styled “Professional Organizer.” Helps people of a certain age move into smaller, more user-friendly spaces. I came up with a new moniker for that, “The Compassionate Chainsaw.” Fun to watch as the question is the same question, “Do you really need this?” Me? I save photos, and for the last, well, been a long time, now, all of those images are digital. The “Compassionate Chainsaw” would do well with a visit to The Leo. Years of living in cramped, tiny spaces like motel rooms and the back seat of a car, I’ve had an enforced essence of learning to do with much less. Still, I think what a good Leo, you’re The Leo, of course you’re good, but what I figure the good Leo needs right now? A visit from a “Compassionate Chainsaw.” One, maybe two or three, but basically, there’s one thing you’ve got to let go of, and before the Moon arrives in Aries, my Leo friend, you’d be best served to cut loose with that last item. Think about the “Compassionate Chainsaw.” What that person suggests?

Virgo:

If the process lacks momentum, then I’d suggest that this isn’t the time to proceed. If a project hits a problem? Pause. There’s a singular indication that this is a group process, and in order to proceed? My good little Virgo friends need a group consensus. Between you and me? We both know that we can’t get a group consensus on Spring Break, and that’s the case? Pause. The obstacle to the idea of pausing? Mars. Mars is setting up some rather difficult Virgo energy, and Mars is insisting, pushing, pulling coaxing, and otherwise trying to motivate you to get something done. Like not just now, but yesterday. Day before yesterday. Therein is our problem, and that’s the idea that if the progress you seek in one area isn’t flowing? I didn’t say to abandon the enterprise, just shift your focus. Shift it away from that single goal you had, see if that doesn’t help. Broaden the reach, and don’t let Mars force you to act rashly.

Libra:

Many years ago, I perfected the recipe for a cold winter’s day “Chili Frito Pie.” To fit within my guidelines, it had to be material than can sit on the shelf for years before use, have to be able to combine the ingredients totally, and the meal has to serve one person. A six-pack of 12-ounces cans of “Wuff Bran Chili,” and a carton of individual Frito bags, the smallest single-serving size they sell? Shelf life on that is about forever, as neither ingredient goes bad in the lifespan of a normal human being. Take a bag of the chips, dump it into a bowl, open the can of chili, dump that on top of the chips, cover, and nuke on high for a minute. With the chili, I’ve had “exploding meat,” on rare occasions, so that’s why I cover it.

Meal serves one, that’s the idea. It’s simple, easy, and it has a shelf life of approximately two human lifetimes, so if that’s in my pantry? It can stay there for years before I might get around to fixing it. It’s also a version of “survivalist” food. Sort of. I guess it would be palatable cold. I don’t know. There’s something we’ve put away, something sitting in the back of the pantry in my example, that needs to be brought out. Dusted off. In my case? It’s what I’m having for lunch. Cold winter nights. Warms spring days, but cold nights make me — any Libra — reluctant to move. Something warm, easy, relatively tasty, and, most important? Easy to prepare. Open and nuke. Let’s keep it easy, nutritious, if not exactly healthy. Simple, easy. Tasty.

Scorpio:

The old adage? Perfect for some of my Scorpio friends? “Leap! You can build wings on the way down!” The good Scorpio is a little suspect of my Sagittarius enthusiasm. This isn’t about a big leap, though, this more like taking steps towards a goal that you put off for some time. At least one Scorpio I know, never, ever forgets a thing. No slight goes un-remembered, no challenge unanswered. Nope, can’t sneak ANYTHING past that one Scorpio. So the idea of “Jump! Jump! A parachute will appear! I promise!” That goes unanswered. However, as a good Scorpio, you’re reading this so you’re better than most, so as a good Scorpio? Let’s peer over the edge, that abyss, that cliff, that jumping-off point, let’s look. How far down you reckon that is? Maybe we can get a rope and slide down that? Perhaps you know someone with a hang-glider, that would work. Fancy a bit of base-jumping? Any or all of that works. There’s no faith, well, not a lot of faith, involved in those options. I suggest it’s possible to get “there” the stated Scorpio goal, from “here,” at the edge, without blindly jumping. However, some action would help. If it were me? I’m not a Scorpio, but if it were me? I’d just take a running leap and see what happens. I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out I’m prone to landing on my head when I do such things.

Sagittarius:

Never say “Never,” my excellent Sagittarius friend. Just as sure I say, “I’ll never do that,” I get an offer I can’t refuse, to do just what I said I wouldn’t do. Mars is going to bring back an echo, and between Mars, Saturn, and then, all that mess over yonder in Pisces? I said I’d never do it, but…

We see how this goes for Sagittarius, now don’t we?

Capricorn:

One of the most beautiful aspects of modern life in a digital age? It’s really, really easy to “publish” something. There’s muggy media, socialist media, the inter-webs and so forth. Pick one. Maybe just a review on Amazon, a note on some board of some kind about how a service was good. Something. It’s particularly easy to express an opinion. I’m not suggesting that you build a website, then start writing an opinion every day. I’ve done that in the past, not a bad way to go, but with the plethora of free options? Maybe it’s not about making this a difficult proposition. Still, it’s about a relatively anonymous statement, review, idea, phrase, joke, something that amuses your Capricorn self. Humorous or otherwise, whatever. This is about making some kind of a statement. Letting the world see your opinion.

Aquarius:

Strange items pique my interests. I know we should always eat more fruits and veggies, and preferably, those items should be marked “Organic,” whenever possible. At the grocery store, I found some “Blood oranges,” that were cute, tasty, visually appealing, and I’m unsure if they are real “Blood Oranges,” or just a mutant version of some kind of American Orange. I tried to figure out what the source of the coloring was, and I think it comes mostly from Mediterranean soil, at least, in its original form. I couldn’t tell, not from a cursory examination of the packaging, if the ones I found in the store were “real” blood oranges. Inside? Good stuff. The “blood” coloring is like a super-antioxidant. However, how natural that is, in my country? I’m unsure. As a grocery store curiosity, these are good. With the current array of planets, almost all the important-to-Aquarius stuff is in Pisces, right? With that? Oddities and curiosities, right below your nose, in your backyard, so to speak, that’s the clue.