Hello to the last lunar eclipse in Taurus/Scorpio territory for another nine years. What’s that, you’ve got Mercury and Mars in Scorpio riding along opposite Jupiter Hmmm, what does that mean to you? I’m so glad you asked. Mercury is our filter. It’s our information gathering and distributing mechanism. Mars represents our actions, efforts, risks we take or don’t take. Then we have the Moon in Taurus, her glory being eclipsed by earthly matters, while the Sun beams along in dark Scorpio. Ah, that tells you astrological facts about what happens, but what does it all mean to YOU, right?
Happy to share the scoop. We need to find a better way to filter the information we receive. If we look at life from a fearful uncertainty, your brain gathers evidence to confirm that view. It’s like driving in a car at night and imagining monsters beyond the high beams. But the dark holds a wealth of potential, beyond unknown threats. We just can’t see it yet. And what we can’t see we tend to imagine as threat. The way to bring light to the situation is from a solid place in the driver’s seat. From there you can apply the broadest lens I know, curiosity.
When you are curious you withhold judgement and gather data. Now comes an very important bit. Do you know what is opinion and what is fact?
Now that may seem ridiculous to even ask. But a recent Pew research poll found that just 26 percent of adults could correctly identify the factual statements from opinion statements. That’s roughly only one in four. So, do you know whether you or your information source can tell one from the other? The fact is that outside influence plays a huge role in forming your view of the world. Our survivor brain judges relative safety from the social cues of those around us. Should we flee or fight?
There is a wealth of misinformation and disinformation floating about. And in that darkness rests opportunity. Start refining your judgement and discernment. Who do you listen to and why? Remember facts don’t decide things for us. It’s how we feel about those facts. This final eclipse helps us land on a better sense of what we decide and how we arrive at it. Sometimes it’s a foggy road with lots of looming shadows. But it’s also pregnant with possibilities for you. Which is why you want to hone those decision making skills with some healthy assessment of what works and what doesn’t. The Cards and Stars will help.
Thank you,
Lisa Greenfield
TruthinHand.com
10/28 lunar eclipse prince of swords
This fastest moving Knight represents our thoughts. And our mind is the separator. It uses words and labels to box things in so we understand them. The box depends on the words you use. What containers hold the way you talk to yourself and about yourself? Because those descriptions define your world. This is an excellent time to sort out which ideas are outside conditioning and which are more your authentic self. This card can be a ‘divorce’ messenger. What you divorce is up to you. You can break up with definitions of you that don’t feel true. By the way, muscle test yourself if you aren’t sure if what you believe about yourself is accurate or not. It’s amazing how off our perceptions can be when we give other people front row seats in our mind. Your body can let you know which definitions are tailored to you or not.
This Prince of Swords helps separate you from what isn’t authentic and move you towards what is. Are you willing to invest effort to get a better guidance system to sort out opinion from fact? Here’s a little short cut. Where is fact served up with a lot of emotion so it can feel like a strong opinion? Or where are opinions served up calmly and with certainty, so they feel like facts. Keep in mind our brain doesn’t decide on facts alone. So inventory how attached you are to opinions. It’s uncomfortable, but you won’t have to give up what you believe. But it makes a world of difference that you separate out one from the other.
Be deliberate with both what you choose or leave behind. Because this defines your world. Take a moment to feel how true it is at present and then decide. Watch out for pumped up self righteousness or stubborn insistence on what is familiar (Mars/Mercury in Scorpio). It unnerves us to go beyond what is familiar. Which is why it’s worth digging deeper when resistance comes up. Fear contracts. This is a different feeling than standing firm. Stop long enough to recognize which is which for you. Do keep your eyes and ears open around you, too. Those who don’t want change can act out explosively. Sometimes the only way the fearful can feel better is to explode to feel more powerful. Choose another path.
10/29 five of cups
Hmmm, more separating energy with this Five. Yesterday was mentally sorting through what stays and what goes. Today it’s emotional sorting time. The Mars/Mercury conjunction is exact today opposing Jupiter. Themes to watch for are heated arguments, putting one’s foot in one’s mouth, inflated opinions puffed up to give a sense of power or an inability to sit still. There is the fixed star Spica that was activated on yesterday’s eclipse that adds color to the next few weeks. Spica is about justice served. Wherever the scales have tipped to far in one direction, this Star insists that balance be restored. Mars and Mercury in Scorpio opposite the Moon and Jupiter gives access to investigative skills to help uncover where justice needs a better vehicle.
First we must see where we are addicted to the the loop of human suffering. Look around and you’ll see where greed costs us dearly in terms of scarce resources. Yet still we reach for more before we’ve even finished what we have. If someone else has what we consider ours, watch as people storm in and take it by force. If someone caused us pain, where do we delight in seeing them suffer in return? Until we break out of the closed loop where we agonize instead of evolve, we are doomed to receive and dish out the same pain we’ve experienced again and again. Here again, drill down on how you tell the stories. Choose your words carefully.
It requires a contribution to improving the situation rather than giving what we were given. Balance can be either payback for past wrongs or it can be an invitation to do better than you were done by. Are you able to let go of punishment in favor of redress? The former wants them to feel the pain of being wrong. The second says they are capable of restoring you to wholeness without suffering. It holds the space that says we can do better. This Five is emotional separation and sorting. Can you release the philosophy of an eye for an eye and evolve into a spiral that uplifts you and those you know? When you do, the reward is freedom from suffering. Quite the prize if you want it.
10/30 five of wands
The aspects serve up both help and challenge today. We have the Moon getting assistance from Pluto to really do things differently. It feels good to release the old and try the new. Then Luna squares up with Saturn, as if to say ‘are you really committed to change?’ Don’t worry if you slip back into the grooves of past thoughts or actions. Instead put your energetic shoulder into it and take a do over.
Think a new thought, be vulnerable enough to offer another option for whatever conflict or tension is at hand. You aren’t going to do it perfectly. The goal is just to do it and start training new muscle memories while you do. Two fives mean personal uncertainty. Don’t let a lack of assurance keep you from a fresh take on things. Mercury and Mars are sitting in the place that helps us see what our inner compass offers us in the present. No more navigating from stars that have already set. Time for a new movie and you’re the star. The more you try new pathways to find what feels right, the more you learn to trust your own judgement now. Give it time. As always these days, give it even more time to get the right script for you.
10/31 eight of pentacles (happy halloween)
Again, the help/challenge theme plays out in the stars for us today. This eight is a craftsman symbol. More than a student, we hone our craft with an eye to detail and investment of our attention. It’s more obvious when we let the wounded part of us try to decide the course of action. And it just doesn’t have the same appeal, especially when you are curious enough to allow new facts into the equation. There are so many more tempting picks available. Venus harnesses the liberating momentum of Uranus to explore desires that are fresh and appealing. Watch for temptation as the day grows to a close. No matter how delicious that pile of candy looks, the sugar hangover is unforgiving. Choose wisely…
11/1 the sun
The days get longer or shorter a few minutes at a time. The Sun reminds us to let things evolve at a leisurely pace. It’s too easy to get bogged down and snagged in tangled threads of old and new. Which is why rushing is no help. You too often wind up hogtied and upside down if you do. What’s more valuable is comfort and compassion for the process of deep, universal change we find ourselves living right now. Deep breaths, hands on heart and belly along with good long looks at what you find beautiful are far more helpful than rapid speed.
Let the light into the dark corners and basement. Air those spots out with patience and know the rot or mold is burned off as the rays of the Sun illuminate them. Watch for the mind to try to force you down predictable pathways. It prefers a predictable result. So it slaps on blinders, goes for the straightaway and drives towards the goal line. Not helpful here. Gently, slowly, bring light into view and from there let it air out and warm up before you decide much of anything big. If discomfort gets too big, reward yourself and clean a drawer. It brings order to chaos in a bite sized way. Which helps you be patient with the bigger process unfolding.
11/2 the prince of wands
What a fascinating play of expansion and boundaries today. This Knight heralds our ability to challenge ourselves. It lands on a day where we get support to do that just that as the Moon trines the Sun. Except it comes with a warning. Neptune and Jupiter are on opposite sides, which means you need to check your motives and reactions. Beware of rescue fantasy where you cast yourself as a hero. That keeps the spotlight on you. Drill down. What’s real, what isn’t?
Can you find a way to be heroic while you invite someone else to find their own cape instead of you in the spotlight solo? We need more encouragers right now than rescuers. Besides, your rescue attempts may land as implied doubt that they can achieve their own best without you. Or, you may be the one who sits back waiting for another to do your heavy lifting, when a chance to unlock your personal best is at hand. Be brave, be respectful of boundaries and see where there is enough room in the winner circle for all who dare.
11/3 the emperor
We enjoy support from the Stars as the Cancer Moon trines Mercury. What a good aspect to help polish our supportive self talk. This Emperor highlights being in charge of your life. What leader doesn’t have a team of help, right? Find your inner cheerleader or coach. Which can illuminate fears around being vulnerable. The Moon squares Eris and brings up those pesky feelings of powerlessness. Those feelings need language. Find a way to tell any story of helplessness and you can start to separate the past and the present. You aren’t that story now.
The Stars offer a mixed bag as the day goes on, which is like strength training on how you decide what is true for you and what isn’t. This does not mean you live in a disconnected fantasy world. Facts are facts. But how you feel about them and assemble them is up to you. Mistakes can be a ‘good to know’ opportunity rather than a shame situation. What can you do with the broad array of facts at hand. Film makers shoot multiple takes on scenes to get the best ones for the final cut. Life is YOUR movie. The Emperor stresses that you are in charge. What do you want your story to be.
11/4 eight of swords
Saturn stops retrograde motion and stands still today at 0 degrees of Pisces. Then add the Eight of Swords for today’s card, it means we have to assess our view on victim/rescuer/persecutor dynamics. This Eight is where our thoughts create the prison. The staggering array of celestial activity shows up to helps us feed ourselves better thoughts, so we can take better actions on our behalf. Remember you can’t create and defend at the same time. What you can do is create in ways that give you strong boundaries. Those boundaries are what help you protect what you create. But they aren’t barbed wire on top of military grade concrete. Look for language the gives both strength and resilience. What you put out into the world will come back your way. Make sure it’s representative of who you want to be and not just who you were.
11/5 king of cups
There is magic in laughter. Especially when you can laugh at yourself. This King represents a form of magic that happens when the masculine King meets feminine cups. One plus one can equal three. Which is where the gift of finding yourself amusing comes in to play. The aspects offer a view where we can enjoy our missteps and even find them endearing. We do try so hard, only to have it all go sideways at times. Yet when we can be tickled by the messes in life more than threatened, it changes the dynamic quickly.
Humor releases tension and brings more maneuverability. Sometimes it reveals that it’s merely a timing error, not a lost cause. Or maybe the timing was right but a tweak in pacing was needed. Curious and amused is a good combination to create and enjoy the process. How often do you play with that combo, hmm? There aren’t many places where it won’t serve you well. See where and when you can add a kind chuckle for yourself, why don’t you. The alchemy may bring you more enjoyment, And who doesn’t want that, right?
11/6 strength
Honesty requires strength, especially when it’s self reflective truth telling. The aspects today help us see where we’ve used our wounds as an excuse to play small or box others in with us. Pace your conversations today. Shorter and sweeter can make a difference. Too much detail or lengthy chat gets tricky as long emotional toes may be stepped on in the process. What is fact, what is opinion? Which is why you are better served with less discussion and more reflection. Remember yesterday’s humorous approach. Especially when our young self grabs the wheel and tries its best to convince us it’s right. Be the adult, take back the wheel. But do listen to what the younger you has to say. See yourself with loving, light eyes, knowing we are all just works in progress. From there you can honestly see what’s at hand and do a better job of telling the story, to yourself or anyone else.
11/7 eight of cups
The skies offer us a gentle path to clear out the old today. This Eight reminds us that the tide goes out one wave at a time. So don’t be alarmed if the old still rolls in occasionally. Overall, it is in retreat. It may feel strange to hit those pockets of happiness that don’t seem to be tied to anything in particular. Notice where you have to attach a story to what or who makes you happy. Sometimes it can just be a mood to enjoy, with no purpose other than that. Pleasure needs no definition, just presence to acknowledge it.
By all means savor those people, places and things that delight you. I invite you to visit a place of unreasonable happiness. Know that the feeling of pure joy was possible as a child and it still is today. The more you open to the whole range of emotions, the more colorful and rich your creations can be. Savor that reality and find a piece of it that’s yours today. Why not give it space in a treasure box while you are at it. Even if you just imagine that treasure box, make room for more joy and let the tide go out on past suffering.
11/8 prince of pentacles
Venus enters Libra, its home sign today for a five week stroll through one of it’s favorite places to be. This combination promises to tempt us with more elegant solutions to relationship issues. With Moon in easy aspect to Uranus, we get help weeding out nonsense, like battle of the sexes. Everyone is working out the right use of power globally at present. No need to pit one against another. Pluto in the last degrees of Capricorn insists that we claim the birthright to be our own highest authority on what we love and what makes us feel safe. Individuation is required. The next step is integrating it into the communities.
Ah, this is where that opinion/fact divide really matters. Some people feel safer with a strong authority figure such as a leader of church or state to tell them where the boundaries must be. Others feel unsafe when they are advised to wear a mask. We have a grab bag of who wants what. Again, how do you arrive at your decisions? Understand that feelings can be respected but that doesn’t make them fact. They are specific to you. This Prince is slow steady change that unfolds over 12 years. All you need for now is know yourself better. Life will meet you where the right action is required from you in time.
11/9 queen of wands
This Queen stands for success at home and work. The aspects today agree but put more emphasis on home. What makes something feel like yours? Where are you most at home? Time to get friendlier with what defines that particular space for you. Remember, words matter. Lighting matters. Comfort ranks high for most, but maybe for you it’s inspiration or connection. One of my friends has a virtual kennel that is crazy fun and chaotic. But what most means home for her includes every scrap of bedlam their barking mouths and wagging tails offer up. How well does your home reflect you?
11/10 five of swords
This five brings self doubt to the surface. It combines with Mercury square Saturn, which offers the same energy. Some of those doubts need to be doubted and others invite you to revisit what you believe and whether it still serves. Mercury in Sagittarius for the next three weeks can expose us to international views or ancient beliefs. Your horizon will have expanded by the end of the month, but only as your view point is able to flex. With Chiron opposite the Moon today, it feels safer to believe what we know, whether it’s true or not. The Moon and Eris in opposition can tempt us to do the same. One decision at a time, take in a broader view, whether you embrace it or not. Just see more as you look. Start there and let the landscape beckon…
11/11 king of swords
A Mars/Uranus opposition helps us break free of yesterday’s safe ruts our thoughts like to travel. Like a chick in a shell, what was once safe space feels cramped. We start the morning with internal rebellion stirring and end it with an action or two that embraces the unfamiliar. This King is the wise counselor who knows how to bring the big picture view into logical sense. The wider field of vision he offers makes sense out of what could otherwise be disjointed bits and pieces. It’s the difference between letterboxing and cropping. The first keeps everything relating to each other just as they appear. The second slices out one view and brings only the parts of that scene into view, leaving the rest out and their stories invisible.
Control is a brittle attempt to have power over an outcome. But command gives you the confidence to engage with whatever appears and assemble it in creative and advantageous way. The reason this King is a trusted advisor is because the best advice includes both specific and broad input. That may feel a bit overwhelming. But that’s only because the mind wants to arrange things in linear, manageable fashion when so much happens at once. Teach your mind patience. Different bits of detail can rise up when they need to, not all at once. Try holding the biggest possible frame on the day and at the same time letting specific moments give you detail. The more you try, the better you get at it.
11/12 the empress
The only aspect of note today is the Moon opposite Jupiter. Watch for pesky little coping skills like over eating or over indulging to distract you from the expansion you’ve been doing the last couple weeks. Bit by bit you separate the ‘not you’ from who you are now. Only you get to determine what feels authentic. That alone is a discovery. Because sometimes what is most you may feel a bit odd until you adapt to the growth. Our survival skills want us to focus on the task at hand to be safe. This card like yesterday’s skyline, says there is a world of opportunity at hand. But that abundance is full of unknown corners we need to figure out how to explore safely.
This is where the old African Proverb applies. If you want to go faster, go alone. If you want to go farther, go together. Which one appeals to you and when. When you collaborate, it’s a definite challenge to sort out what you believe against what others believe. But what a wealth of opportunity to uncover more of SELF while you do. Do remember to include others in that discovery process. Who knows what can come of the best combined efforts. Your world indeed is lush with potential. All you have to do is keep upgrading your navigation skills.
