“O, what a noble mind is here o’erthrown!
The courtier’s, soldier’s, scholar’s, eye, tongue, sword,
Th’ expectation and rose of the fair state,
The glass of fashion and the mould of form,
Th’ observ’d of all observers, quite, quite down!”
Ophelia in Shakespeare’s Hamlet (III.i.120-4)
Horoscopes for 8-20-2024
Jupiter squares Saturn 8/21 17° Gemini/Pisces
Sun enters Virgo 8/22 9:56 AM
Mercury Retrograde in Leo
The Leo
I never found a place that would do it, and with the number of grave marker makers around here, one would think it would be easy. It was simple, instead of a gravestone or memorial marker, all I was looking for was — preferably granite — a small slab the size of desk name plate, the kind that sits at an angle, mostly upright, and has a name engraved in it? Except, what I was envisioning? Instead of a name? Or instead of a name and a title, remember this has to be done in granite, or maybe slate, but some kind of stone? Just the word, “Nothing.” Engraved in stone. Over the years there are at least two places on my regular routes where there’s yard art, in one form or another, concrete bird baths, fountains, lions for the Leo’s doorway, and so forth. Someplace, I’ve got a picture of the kid peeing in the fountain statue, as an example of that kind of art, and assuring that it is available. So what I’m looking for, a piece of real rock, real stone, not a plastic plaque that resembles rock, and into that real stone? Engrave the word, “Nothing.” There’s a real hint, moving The Leo ahead, moving you forward, with that image of a stone, with just the word, “Nothing” engraved on it.
Virgo
My Mercury is Retrograde rituals haven’t changed much in the last years. Very simply, it’s a number of metaphysical trinkets, motions, and obsequies plus coffee. Insert your favorite Virgo beverage here. Some like wine. Some like tea. I find coffee does the trick — for me. Towards that end? It was a name-brand bag of coffee (Peet’s Major Dickanson’s Blend), bought in a kilogram size, discounted at a warehouse store.
I’ve been thinking about this bag of beans because, all the way through this Mercury Retrograde, every cup of coffee from it? I could detect a slight hint of chocolate. Not like crappy chocolate, but like the rare and wonderful artisanal kind. When I buy Mercury Retrograde coffee, I favor bulk and cheap, with little concern for flavor or roast so the overt hint and hit of chocolate notes in my brew sat well with me. It was a surprising high note to desultory astrological conditions. There are still minor miracles that can occur; treat Mercury and associated conditions with the correct reverence.
Libra
“We can go with this, or we can go with that.” Or? “We can try this one, over here, or even that one, really doesn’t matter much, does it?” Always end with a question? Sure, whatever. Bugs me, but doesn’t stop gentle Libra from suggesting that there might be more than one way to tackle this problem. And is it a problem? Maybe it’s a form of protection, keeping whatever that is, away from us at the time. The joy of Libra is that there is a myriad of routes, choices, and available plans to treat this apparent situation, and we don’t have to pick just one. However, given where the planets seem to align, or misalign, really? Realize that the first, or even second, choice might not work. Doesn’t mean it’s bad, or you shouldn’t give it a spin, just realize that the odds are such that it usually take two, maybe three or four tries to get this off the ground, or, in other terms, evened out. “We can go with this, or we can with that.” Try both.
Scorpio
Three problems in the next few days, three problems will seemingly land in your Scorpio lap. Three different issues that are not of your own doing, three challenges that you don’t have to answer, and three situations where you want to be a hero. Stop. These are challenges for other signs, other people, and these are issues not of your own making, and therefore? Not of your own making, got that Scorpio? Not your challenge, and therefore? Not your problem. “But it is a my problem! My neighbor (child, friend, spouse, whatever) is in up to his or her neck!” Again, let me point out that there is a handhold, an escape pod, or even just a lever that those people can use to save themselves, with no assistance from Scorpio. Might point out that there is a way out, but other than that? If you extend a hand at this time? Good chance you get drawn into the mess.
Sagittarius
Everyone wrestles their own demons. I don’t make the rules, and I rarely follow them, but I do know that everybody has a few demons chasing them. Part of the human experience, I would suggest. Nightmares, dark fantasies, left over trauma, childhood crap, and unbidden subconscious guests, they all make up a portion of what this can be. Demon wrestling, as I like to think about it, just part of being human on this planet. It’s not good; it’s not bad; it’s just part of the enlightened existence. In the coming days, we can allow up three days for Sagittarius demon wrestling. Thoughts, patterns, behaviors, something, anything, three days — tops. Anything more is just a waste. “But this is a huge deal!” And any more than three days spent wrestling? You’ll notice no progress and the demons just seem to thrive on the challenge.
“The problem with wrestling with a pig in muck?
You get dirty and the pig likes it.”
Capricorn
Drink coffee. Pretend I know what I’m doing. Great secret in life? For me, it involved a smile, legal stimulant called “coffee,” and the companion piece? “Pretend I know what I’m doing.” It’s variations on a set piece by the great psychologist, Carl Jung, previously linked. There’s a challenge, find that allusion. Anyway, the idea is that a direct action, followed by simulated action, perceived action, or a good guess? That works best. Action then make a good, educated, Capricorn conjecture based on available information. In my simplistic way of seeing this mess of a next few days? Certain kinds of interference suggest we — I wouldn’t call it a bluffing — but we need to act as if, and or act like we know what we’re doing. “Drink coffee. Pretend I know what I’m doing.”
Aquarius
“Things are OK with my (wife, boyfriend, significant other, etc.)” I didn’t say “things” were going to go badly with any of those people, but I did suggest that they might be misunderstood, or worse? A misconstrued statement. That’s a problem. A simple misunderstanding, and what I’ve found that helps in these situation, situations when Mercury is retrograde in a position opposite from your natal sun sign? What helps? Ask the question, over and over, and ask for clarity about the answer. Seems a little annoying, but a minor annoyance can save a world of trouble, just a little later.
Pisces
There’s a periodic time frame, bent around two cycles, one being Jupiter (old-school Pisces) and Saturn (OG Aquarius). This means there’s an unusual yet oddly traditional way to approach what’s happening. Dig up old routines. Dig up previous material. Look into dusty tomes with old rules, bylaws, and missives. Look up the way we “Used to do this,” and sometimes, the old ways work. Sometimes the old ways were pure speculation, good luck, and crap, all rolled into one. Can’t tell until you try one — or more — of the old ways. But try looking up what used to work. “That’s odd, it doesn’t work, but there’s another routine that might just fit.” See?
Aries
I remember trying to take everything I learned in a graduate seminar and condense into a simple, three bullet-point delivery. I tried. There is no way to take a full semester’s worth of material, 12 weeks or so, of graduate level material, and boil it down to a couple of quick points that work in an effective manner. Maybe someone else can do, I haven’t got that skill, at least, not yet, and if I hadn’t done it by now? I doubt I can make it happen. The bullet points I was working towards? All affect Aries. But there’s a much longer, bigger picture, overall kind of influence, and that can’t be condensed to just a couple of bullet points. Fix what’s broken, or, at least fix what’s within your purview to correct. There are projects, goals, and skills we don’t have. Like me, trying to condense a full seminar into a couple of easily-digested bullet points? “That’s above my pay grade.”
Taurus
My father’s father, my grandfather who I barely knew, he was a retired lawyer. I knew him as a kindly, gregarious, joyful person who had magical workshop where he crafted many items. He took up woodworking in retirement. He liked to tinker with stuff, see what he could make. All I recall is the smell of sawdust and cigarettes. It was an era for both. The tinkering is what I must’ve inherited, and that’s what I want to pass along to this week’s Taurus.
Tinkering is the way to go.
Play with it, turn it over, look at the backside, look underneath, maybe shake it gently, see of there is anything that rattles, and if it does make noise? Is it supposed to make noise? Stop and take a break, my grandfather would light a cigarette and set it to on his workbench, then ponder the problem. He would smile and think of a new tactic he hadn’t tried, and grab a tool for that. Didn’t usually work, but he would smile, and then try another approach.
Tinkering.
The solutions derive from Taurus tinkering.
Gemini
While I think the numbers skew a little more towards an actual 18%? I tend to think in broader terms, like 20%, a close approximation, and in that 1/5? Mercury is Retrograde in the natal chart. So maybe a little less than a quarter of the population isn’t as negatively impacted by the machinations of mercurial madness. Problem being, those unaffected have to deal with those of us who are affected, and therein is root of the issues. This is a special Gemini challenge, or a series of special Gemini challenges that all trace back to the mercurial madness over the last few weeks.
Gemini: don’t panic, don’t press, and don ’t use a permanent marker.
Three simple guidelines. Don’t freak out and panic, easy enough to understand; don’t apply pressure when that might not be the most relevant way to solve the problem; and don’t use permanent marker when chalk, whiteboard ink, or just a pencil is clearly superior. If it’s bad, it will change, and if it’s good, it can get even better.
Cancer
Design is a noble pursuit. It touches everything we do, from the most inconsequential device like a keyring to major touches like house, home, work, and transportation. It touches everything. Part of that thought concerns Cancer. Those touch points, those places were physical, mental, eye-candy, and metaphysical all intersect? That’s where you’re at. Where we’re at. What this is about. The biggest challenge to this energy? “I have a great idea for new design that will revolutionize …” I leave the last bit blank because it changes from individual to individual. But that element? The mistake you make at times like this? “It’s permanent — I changed it so it is better, and now there is no going back.” The caution? “It’s permanent.” No, now it’s not. Test it out, try it, look at it, put it up to a vote, take a picture, and post it on a website, the design ideas, the fundamental changes now? They are less permanent than you would like. Going in the right direction? Sure — but use a pencil with an eraser.
- Aperture: ƒ/1.8
- Camera: iPad Pro (11-inch)
- Flash fired: no
- Focal length: 3mm
- ISO: 80
- Shutter speed: 1/60s
