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Signs

Astrology: Sun Sign Cancer

by Veronica Childe
Frida Kahlo, “Roots” (Raices)”, oil on canvas, Mexico, 1943

“I am that clumsy human, always loving, loving, loving. And loving. And never leaving.“

Frida Kahlo, Mexican artist, Cancer, b. 6 July 1907 – d. 13 July 1954

The Sun travels through the sign of Cancer ~22 June – ~22 July. In the Northern Hemisphere, this ingress coincides with the Summer Solstice, and the longest day of the year, as the Sun dominates the sky, which is ironic for a month ruled by the Moon. One could say that the Moon is actually at her most powerful at this time of year, as the Sun’s strengthened presence offers more light to enhance her beauty, ever dependent as she is upon the Sun’s radiance to actualize her self-expression. This is a deep mystery, that the cold, emotional and unfathomable Moon in fact requires Solar power for manifestation of identity. Cancer as Cardinal Water is preeminent and commanding in its power, and the Moon is the Earth’s constant companion, locked in a timeless embrace as we race around the Sun. Imagine the immense power of the ocean, never ceasing, always rolling, capable of endlessly sustaining life, as well as destroying utterly anything that stands in its way for too long. The ocean is perpetually alive, indeed the very source of life, and even with all of our technological advances, to this day we do not fully understand what lies in its depths, far below the surface in the unfathomable places beyond the reach of the Sun. Linked in relationships that reach beyond the beginning of time, the Moon is a witness, a secret-keeper, a guardian and a guide.

Cancer natives are deep, strong and powerfully emotional, yet their emotion is rooted in the physical, for as the Moon requires the Earth as an anchor and the Sun for its light, the body is the ground for the fertile fields of emotional life. Emotion is a difficult terrain for many people, as they prefer to avoid feelings that may cause discomfort or confusion, rising and falling away without rhyme or reason, beyond the domain and control of logic and intellect. To Cancer, difficulty and complication are second nature, and infuse life with a richness and depth that would never be traded for the superficial frittering of those less inclined to contemplation. Cancer rules memory, the subconscious and those places that stretch far beyond the thinking mind. At its best, Cancer is nurturing, profound, tender, sensitive, tenacious, loyal, imaginative, shrewd, and protective. At its worst, Cancer is clingy, smothering, grasping, insecure, hysterical, demanding, needy, suspicious and hyperbolic with murky, mysterious drama. Cancerians have a tenacity that can sustain commitment across expanses of time, an ability to hone in on the very thing that is most important in any situation, and is able to sustain interest and attachment to people, places and circumstances until even the reaches of reason and capability have been surpassed.  For this reason, we often find the Cancer natives living in their memories, reaching back and reliving those things which caused grief, or joy, unable to let go what has passed away in the belief that as long as memory is honored, the essence of a thing will persist, and this is often done in spite of any pressing circumstances as they occur in real time.

Tarot Major Arcana VII: The Chariot (Rider Waite)

Emotional escapism and hiding are a regular control and secure tactic which can be very difficult to breach, as Cancer knows how to hide in the depths where no one thinks to look.  The Moon’s rulership gives Cancer a certain uncanniness, leaving others with the sense that while she never goes away, even when she is present, she is entirely elsewhere, and she is carefully observing you even when you least expect it, stashing away nuggets of information, vibrational frequencies and considerations for a later time. Cancerians like to feel acknowledged and important. They take great pleasure and build their self-worth on feeling needed, that what they have to give is of value and importance. The worst thing you can do to a Cancer born is ignore them. They take their feelings very seriously, for they are the essence of daily living.  Dismiss their feelings, and you have dismissed them, leaving a wounded and potentially dangerous, powerful and determined opponent on your hands. Despite being considered sensitive and introverted, many Cancerians love nothing more than to control their environments, however subtly, changing the mood with a glance or a word. Loving, potentially smothering, nurturing but occasionally stifling, Cancerians can be shrewdly powerful, cunning and subtle in their presence.

Cancer’s polarity point lies in the Cardinal Earth sign of Capricorn, which is the perfect foil for Cancer’s deep, watery sensitivity. Capricorn offers Cancer lessons in solidity and practicality, showing Cancer that taking care of number one first, even if that means showing a bit of tough love, is a necessity sometimes. Capricorn’s lessons of long-range planning, delegating energy, emotional austerity, sternness and stability give watery Cancer something to crash up against sometime. When things get a bit too much, and emotion threatens to overwhelm, take a page from Capricorn’s book. Pull back, get some distance, and engage your driest, most practical attitude, and you’ll soon be back in balance.

  • Key words: emotional, tenacious, intuitive, sensitive, nurturing, moody, caring, kind, instinctive, profound, rapacious, smothering, demanding, guilt tripping, controlling, needy, insecure, hysterical
  • Rulership: The Moon
  • Modality: Cardinal Water
  • Polarity: negative, feminine
  • Gemstone: pearls, emeralds, black onyx, chalcedony, selenite
  • Metal: silver
  • Tarot: The Chariot
  • Color: green, iridescent,opalescent, turquoise, russet, amber, dark green-brown, maroon
  • Deities: Luna, Selene, Hecate, Apollo the Charioteer, Diana, Artemis, Chandra, Chang’e, Metztli
  • Flora: lotus, white flowers such as roses, poppies, lilies, acanthus, geranium, water lilies, cabbage, cucumber, melons, mushrooms, pumpkins, squashes, turnips, trees and vegetables and in general
  • Fauna: crabs and all crustaceans, fish, frogs, hamsters, turtles
  • Famous Cancer personalities: Henry VIII, Julius Caesar, Helen Keller, George W. Bush, Richard Branson, Elon Musk, Diana Princess of Wales, Meryl Streep, Julian Assange, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, George Orwell, Angela Merkel, Prince William, Priyanka Chopra, Sofia Vergara, Liv Tyler, Khloe Kardashian, Margot Robbie, Solange, Cat Stevens, Carlos Santana, Edward Snowden

Signs, The Sun

Astrology: Sun Sign Leo

by Veronica ChildeLeave a Comment on Astrology: Sun Sign Leo
Mata Hari, (Margaretha Geertruida Zelle), courtesan and spy, was a Leo, b. 7 August 1876 – d. 15 October 1917. Image courtesy of Wikipedia.

“Pride feels no pain.”

Early seventeenth century proverb.

The Sun moves through Leo each year from ~23 July – ~23 August, which in the Northern Hemisphere is the height of summer, and the world is filled with all the glory, beauty and bounty of the season. People take their vacations, soaking up the sun’s rays, basking in heat and leisure, allowing themselves to truly relax, and enjoy. For many, it is a most special time, the only time of year in which they take holidays. If you have ever watched lions at the zoo, on television, or on a safari or in the wild, the first thing that you may notice is how relaxed lions appear.  They are composure personified. They move gracefully, slowly honing in on their target, and then striking without so much as a ruffle. They are the picture of velvety fine perfection, with a deadly effective modus operandi. Leo is Fixed Fire, and like the lion, Leo is never in a rush, never displays anything other than the utmost dignity in personal presentation.  They know what they want, how to get it, and what is a waste of their time and to be avoided. You will never find a Leo ruffled, disheveled or otherwise compromised, for they simply would not allow such a situation to transpire.  No way will you ever see a Leo looking foolish, weak, belittled, or otherwise questionable. Ruled by the Sun, Leo is true nobility, taking for granted that they are the center of everyone’s solar system. They know that they bring the light, warmth and the power of growth, and they are proud of it. There is no such thing as insecurity or weakness in the Leo persona. Certainly, they may be familiar with such nonsense by observing the lives of others, but it is usually with a more than a bit of disdain that they witness such displays of ineptitude. The Sun-ruled Leo casts a long shadow indeed, the essential brightness of this sign defining confidence, composure and regality. The Sun has ever been a focal point of mankind’s awe and worship, and Leo understands why, as they realize that there is no greater power in our lives than the Sun, with its life-giving warmth and illuminating radiance. With such a resplendent benefactor, Leo cannot help but shine.

At their best, Leos are proud, benevolent, generous, inspiring, somewhat formal, casually regal, maybe a tad bit flashy, but always tastefully so, in that sort of “Oooh, I wish I had thought of doing that!” sort of way that often elicits jealousy from others. It’s not for everyone to be so stunningly confident, on point and successful all the time. Watch your Leo friends and take lessons, they can show you a thing or two about achievement, and even if life’s got them down, these people have the optimism and drive to push through, because defeat simply does not exist in their universe. They are also loyal, steadfast, constant, dependable, warm, and kind – but mostly because they would not dream of letting anyone down or being considered in anyway disappointing or less that perfect.  At their worst, Leo is egotistical, proud, pompous, mean-spirited, condescending, petty, brassy, shrill, bossy, inconsiderate, intolerant and patronizing. Leos are the type of people you go to when you want something done to maximum effect. They have an eye for how to “best” do something – so that it looks good, feels good, and basically succeeds. They have a great “shucks, I had no idea” act but they know exactly what they are doing. If they have a strong Virgo element in their charts, you may well receive a bit of perfection in your interaction with these folks.  Born leaders, they are gregarious and tend to bring out the best in others, only if through the kind of encouragement that comes from a healthy “catch me if you can” attitude.  So used to being the center of attention, Leos are not overly bothered by feeble attempts at detraction that occasionally come their way, because they know that any attention is good attention.
They will always accept accolades, whether positive or negative.  Life motto: made you look!

Leo Tarot Correspondence – Major Arcana VIII: Strength (Rider Waite Smith Tarot)

Leo wants to be appreciated – nay, they expect appreciation, because they are magnificent beasts. Hopefully yours isn’t acting up and marking their territory too much, because that can get smelly, when they try to dominate everyone, bossing people around and expecting adulation just because. When well adjusted, though, you would be hard put to find a better example of pure optimism, benevolent spirit and warm generosity. As they mature, Leo has a genuine capacity for impressive, inspired leadership. They have the analytic capability to see where they have been, and how their experience can help those struggling in circumstances that may be familiar territory. They like to help, to lift people up, if only so that they don’t have to look so very far down when dealing with you.

Leo’s secret underbelly lies in its polarity sign of Aquarius. Aquarius reminds Leo that yes, there are other people in the world – lots and lots of people – and they are all important, special, beautiful and have just as much to say and share as the ultra-special Leos among us. Aquarius teaches Leo that it’s ok to let others shine, in fact, when you help someone shine, you can feel doubly wonderful by basking in their glow and your own. Aquarius, sign of brotherhood and humanity shows Leo that the world is so much more fun when we all share in our special talents. It is that sort of learning, when apprehended, which can allow Leo to reach the very highest levels of their magnificence – because, you know, of course that’s where they belong anyway, right?

  • Keywords: proud, regal, magnanimous, generous, splendid, warm, creative, enthusiastic, inspiring, faithful, loving, selfish, pompous, arrogant, condescending, dogmatic, bossy, patronizing, insufferable, intolerant, narrow.
  • Rulership: The Sun
  • Modality: Fixed Fire
  • Polarity: positive, masculine
  • Gemstone: ruby, corundum, amber, chrysolite, diamond
  • Metal: gold
  • Tarot: Strength
  • Color: yellow, gold, orange, red, scarlet, carmine, greenish yellow, reddish amber, deep purple, grey
  • Deities: Apollo, Aurora, Helios, Demeter, Ra, Horus, Aten, Inti, Surya, Vishnu, Amaterasu, Mithra, Sol, Sunna
  • Flora: almonds, sunflower, chamomile, marigold, bay, laurel, saffron, citrus fruits, daffodil, fennel, frankincense, mistletoe, olive, walnut, honey
  • Fauna: lion, large felines
  • Famous Leo personalities: Napoleon Bonaparte, Barack Obama, Meghan Markle, Fidel Castro, Tom Brady, Mata Hari, Shawn Mendes, Bill Clinton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, J.K. Rowling, Roger Federer, Robert de Niro, Robert Plant, Coco Chanel, Jennifer Lopez, Mick Jagger, Jennifer Lawrence, Halle Barry, Robert Redford, Kylie Jenner, Martha Stewart, Louis Vuitton, Maxfield Parrish, Andy Warhol, Alphonse Mucha, .

Signs

Astrology: Sun Sign Virgo

by Veronica ChildeLeave a Comment on Astrology: Sun Sign Virgo
Quentin Metsys the Younger, Sieve Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I, oil on panel, England, 1583. Elizabeth is portrayed as Tuccia, a Vestal Virgin who proved her chastity by carrying a sieve full of water from the Tiber to the Temple of Vesta. Elizabeth was a Virgo, b. 7 September 1533 – d. 24 March 1633.

“We teachers can only help the work going on, as servants wait upon a master.“

Maria Montessori, Italian physician and educator, founder of Montessori Method, Virgo, b. 31 August 1870- d. 6 May 1952

The Sun moves through the sign of Virgo each year from approximately August 23 – September 21, the final month of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. As the earth rejoices in the richness of early harvest, and preparations for the long winter ahead are still a consideration for tomorrow Mutable Earth wants nothing more but to experience the myriad permutations of this physical world. There are so many things to consider, digest, explore, analyze. So many facts to derive, so many positions, juxtapositions. All so very interesting! But wait, don’t get too familiar, because familiarity is a bit too…sticky. Virgo likes to keep things pure, simple, and somewhat at arms length. There is no harm here, no judgement, it’s simply…cleaner, more rational, and tidy. Virgo loves to analyze, to help, and to know. And if they know about you, then you had better consider yourself a very lucky soul, because they simply do not bother with anything that is not interesting. At worst, you will be dismissed with a shrug , perhaps a critical comment to consider as you are dismissed. At best, you will become the object of concern, consideration, scheduled attention, detailed management. Love for Virgo is a matter of caring, and if a Virgo cares about you, pay attention, because these people know their stuff.

“Make sure you eat your vegetables, get 8 hours of sleep, drink 2 liters of water a day…!”.  Rules, routines and guidelines are just the kind of thing that makes Virgo super happy.  This is Mutable Earth, a state of being that embodies and grounds the often random and mysterious facts of life. Categorization is a joy to Virgo, cataloging and delineating are like a fine wine to people who value reason above all else. They will always be there for you if you happen to need detailed advice or a thorough critique of just how you are incorrect in every way, and a compendium of facts pertaining to just about any question you can come up with. Virgo like details, they like precision, they like things tidy and organized and boy, do they like schedules. Got a messy problem?  Call a Virgo.  They are the type of people who just love to be left alone with sticky problems. You can come back in a few hours (or minutes, depending on your Virgo) and there you go, problem solved, and if you are wise enough to take their advice, your situation will be better than ever before, with innovations and ideas for future improvement to boot.  Virgo cares – about you, about the bigger picture, about doing the right thing, and in the right way. Virgo is perfectly content to let others believe what they want, quietly observing and making notes for future access, because they understand better than anyone that knowledge is power, and if you have power, you really don’t need to go advertising it. Aristotle said “What lies in our power to do, lies in our power not to do.” A Virgo can understand this perfectly, as power is a matter of choice, an execution of will, and without the knowledge and details to back you up, you’d might as well not bother. Go away and perhaps try again when you know what you are doing.

Virgo Tarot Correspondence – Major Arcana IX: The Hermit (Rider Waite Smith Tarot)

Many Virgos can be a bit retiring in overtly social situations (more or less depending on their Leo/Libra spread), because they tend to get a bit confused as to how to present themselves, always thinking of rules of decorum, order of communication, social protocol etc. Are they going to be boring, or should they just let themselves go this time? Always polite, though occasionally overweening, these folks do love to share their insights if they find the right person to listen to their pet theories, of which they usually have many.  The original nerds of the zodiac, Virgos are people who will gladly take on any type of situation, however gross, weird or confusing, with an almost clinical eye that moves past the squeamishness that would make others run for the hills.  If you have an Uncle who just loves to talk about his favorite hobby ad nauseum, and the very sight of him brings back looming memories of time spent listening to the very detailed ins and outs of tropical fly fishing, he might just be a Virgo. But don’t be surprised if that hot scientist who is expounding on their latest discovery, full of charisma and vigor is a Virgo too. These folks are usually quite surprising, and take a bit of time to understand. On a personal level, physical intimacy can be taxing (so close, so weird, so new, so messy!) and they may just leave their socks on all the time (if you know what I mean).

Virgo’s polarity lies in the mutable, watery sign of Pisces, and it is by taking a page from Pisces’ playbook that Virgo might learn a few things about why they are the way they are. Pisces has deep lessons of compassion, fluidity and universality that, while often confounding and overwhelming, can give analytic, earth-bound Virgo something to think about, infusing the occasionally dry sensibility of Virgo with a richness and depth they might not even know they need. Let yourself take the plunge, Virgo – go out into the Pisces deep end every now and again and dive down, for there are untold treasures in the depths that can only add to the richness of knowledge that you have already accumulated.

  • Keywords: diligent, considerate, astute, precise, meticulous, modest, shy, practical, observant, intelligent, reliable, orderly, fastidious, petulant, obsessive, finicky, snobbish, demeaning, harsh, prudish, hypercritical, anxious, conservative, tense
  • Rulership: Mercury
  • Modality: Mutable Earth
  • Polarity: negative feminine
  • Gemstone: mercury, sardonyx, peridot, pink jasper
  • Metal: mercury, nickel, flint
  • Tarot: The Hermit
  • Color: navy blue, dark green, dark brown, yellowish green, plum, grey green, slate grey, violet
  • Deities: Isis (as Virgin), Attis, Persephone, Eve, Ceres, Adonis
  • Flora: forget-me-not, snowdrop, lily, narcissus, buttercup, cardamom, carrots, endive, grain, hay, millet, oats, potatoes, skullcap, valerian, wheat
  • Fauna: all small domestic animals, in general, chickens, small felines, dogs
  • Famous Virgo personalities: Queen Elizabeth I, Louis XIV, Michael Jackson, Mother Teresa, Maria Montessori, Kobe Bryant, Freddie Mercury, Beyoncé Knowles, Amy Winehouse, Lance Armstrong, Whitey Bulger, Leo Tolstoy, Aaron Paul, Faith Hill, Greta Garbo, Keanu Reeves, Stephen King, Prince Harry, Jimmy Fallon, Nick Jonas, Jennifer Hudson, Pink, Idris Alba, Rose McGowan, Nick Cave, Sheryl Sandberg
Signs

Astrology: Sun Sign Libra

by Veronica ChildeLeave a Comment on Astrology: Sun Sign Libra
François Boucher, Venus Consoling Love, oil on canvas, France, 1781. Boucher was a Libra, b 29 September 1703 d.30 May 1770.

“The truth is rarely pure, and never simple.”

Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest, 1895. Wilde was a Libra, b. 16 October 1854 d.30 November 1900,

The Sun travels through Libra from ~23 September – ~23 October each year. Associated with the warm days of Autumn, the month of Libra is typically one of the more pleasant times of the year. Venus expresses herself in Libra as the paragon of refinement. Not one wrinkle, smudge or gaffe is permitted when Libra is in the house. Lights must be just so, flowers arranged exactly to best effect, food and wine perfectly paired, outfit showing off figure to maximum benefit, makeup perfectly applied, music pleasantly interesting, and the party filled with good friends and many laughs. Would that every day could be a party, a vivid discussion, a visit to the art gallery, an argument settled and peace restored. Cardinal Air loves nothing so much as to set things straight, ensure that balance and harmony reign, and that the angles are all correctly applied. Not that Libra doesn’t love a good fight, in fact, they often instigate conflict in order to control the restitution of peace. They love to be peace brokers, having their hand on the scale, occasionally tipping it one way or the other just to ensure that they can maintain the position of leadership, arbiter, and final judge on any topic. As far as they are concerned, until they have had their say, the matter is not settled, nor is it even worthy of consideration unless they deem it worthy. They may be pleasant, but never be fooled into thinking that lovely Libra is anyone’s pushover.

“Should I call him or not?”  “What do you think of this blouse?  But what about that one?” “Should we have pizza or sushi tonight?  I can’t decide”.  A Libra mother bought her son two ties for his birthday, both of which were fine silk, beautifully made, each with elegant patterns. She invited him over to dinner, and thinking he would please her, he wore one of the ties that evening, to show her how much he appreciated it. As he sat down at the table, his Libra mother looked at him and said – “Why are you wearing that tie?  You didn’t like the other one I bought you?”  Classic Libra.  Libra has a reputation for being indecisive, but it isn’t quite as simple as this. Libra people do tend to have a bit of trouble when it comes to making decisions, but it is mostly because they just don’t want to allow the thought that one thing could be better than anything else. It just wouldn’t be fair, as everything has its merits, if you look hard enough, and justice requires that we do just that.  They may fully prefer white, but if you choose black, then they will argue black with you, because they love you, they can see your point, and well, it would be better if you both agree to the same thing, wouldn’t it? They love to love, and they take pride in seeing the good in all. They will be very thorough in sussing out all the possibilities in any situation, considering and talking through each question from a myriad of perspectives, discussing with anyone who will listen, and looking around for further input to add to the mix already at hand. 

Libra Tarot Correspondence – Major Arcana XI: Justice (Rider Waite Smith Tarot)

Libras present themselves gracefully, and you will rarely experience any instances of vulgarity, offensiveness or any sort of unpleasantness when dealing with a Libra.  They strive for peaceful circumstances, pleasant people and surroundings with which to occupy themselves. Discord or unpleasantness can make them physically and emotionally ill.  They will simply avoid people who upset them in any way, by being too loud, forward, rude or otherwise unpleasant. Often it is hard to understand exactly what has upset your Libra friends, and even they may have a hard time putting a finger on it, but they will simply know that something was “off”, and will avoid any repeat events until they figure out to their satisfaction how and why the situation can be remedied. Arguments can send them reeling for days, and recovery can occasionally require complete elimination of anything upsetting or bothersome. Arriving at a peaceful conclusion is the driving force behind their actions, and if they do not reason that peace can be achieved, they will move on to a more congenial circumstance. Life is short, why bother with misery? They are idealistic, and in their minds, a just world is a peaceful world, where all wrongs have been righted, all viewpoints are considered valid, and everyone’s thoughts are accorded with merit. How could anything less be fair? Libra can always be counted on to lift your spirits with their gentle loveliness, and when faced with a serious situation, even if the circumstances are life and death, they will always be able to choose the gentlest words, and the most just and equitable solution. Always fair and kind, Libra is the natural peacemaker of the Zodiac, motivated to lead the way to harmony, restore beauty and nurture friendship with all.

As Libra can have trouble with being a bit too accommodating sometimes, it can be helpful for them to tap into their polarity sign, Aries. Aries can teach Libra that it’s just fine to stand up for yourself, put your foot down, make a firm decision and initiate action. People will still love you, even if you decide to take a stand on your own, and relationships will not crumble if you don’t always defer to the prevailing mood or opinion. Libra can benefit from tapping into that maverick Aries energy once in a while, especially if they find themselves muddled with too many considerations.

  • Key words: fair, sociable, aesthetic, erudite, diplomatic, urbane, romantic, idealistic, just, peaceful, harmonious, indecisive, fickle, gullible, flirtatious, auto-erotic, flippant, elusive, superficial, prevaricating.
  • Rulership: Venus
  • Modality: Cardinal Air
  • Polarity: Positive, Masculine
  • Gemstone: sapphire, jade, chrysolite, coral, diamonds, opals, quartz
  • Metal: copper
  • Tarot: Justice
  • Color: emerald green, shades of blue, pink, pale green, deep green, crimson, yellow
  • Deities: Aphrodite, Eris/Discordia, Ishtar, Maat, Themis, Rhadamanthus, Minos, Vulcan, Yama
  • Flora: aloe, white roses, hydrangea, blue flowers, berries, dried legumes, wheat, apples, pears, grapes, mint, ash, poplar, tobacco, flowers in general, lilies, pansies, strawberries, violets
  • Fauna: lizards and small reptiles, elephants, nightingales,
  • Famous Libra Personalities: Mahatma Gandhi, John Lennon, Margaret Thatcher, Oscar Wilde, Serena Williams, Eminem, Pierre Trudeau, Kate Winslet, Will Smith, Jimmy Carter, Lee Harvey Oswald, Matt Damon, Heinrich Himmler, Vladimir Putin, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Theresa May, Bela Lugosi, Johnny Ramone, Gwyneth Paltrow, Simon Cowell, Carrie Fisher, Snoop Dogg, Anne Rice, Benjamin Netanyahu, Annie Leibovitz, Danny Glover, Desmond Tutu, Sting