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Several issues ago (or somewhere) I wrote that Winter Solstice this year was a busy day. The Sun not only moved into Capricorn, but a couple of inner planets made some meaningful contacts. One of them was the final conjunction for this set between Mercury and Jupiter -- at 9 / 10° of Sagittarius. (Where is that in your chart?)
Mercury conjuncts Jupiter at least once a year. But this year, with the retrograde in Scorpio and Sagittarius ... and Jupiter there about to change signs, we got three bites of the apple this time.
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The first conjunction ... at the very end of October ... in the last degrees of Scorpio probably gave you "some things to think about" that centered specifically on new discoveries, new information ... or a recent turn of events.
This would have showed that you need to close out some former projects, old connections, exhausted investments ... including old plans and ideas ... things which have basically run their course or served their purpose. (What house holds 28° Scorpio in your chart?)
This discovery -- and conclusion -- may not have been a surprise, but it also may not have been easy. Scorpio energy deals with things that have hung on past their sell-by date, things that have effectively died ... but which you are (or have been) reluctant to release and bury -- possibly for very good reasons.
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Whatever the actual issue was in your life, you needed to open your mind and start thinking about it differently. You may have learned something you didn't know before ... or something that "solved a mystery." Or you may have just finally admitted the truth to yourself.
That alone would have marked a sea change in your thinking. It also opened up a raft of new options that weren't really viable as long as you were holding on to the status quo.
These new options will bring new learning, bigger prospects and ultimately more profit. But it sure took you (and me and everyone else) a long time to step up and accept them. Life changes -- and so do your perspectives and self-confidence -- when Mercury dances this way around Jupiter.
But ultimately, everything begins in mind. Everything starts with an idea -- that then becomes reality. You will be a different person because of this passage ... because, if nothing else, you will think differently.
I guess I better stick this in.
This is what it looks like to an Astrologer.
Mercury conjunct Jupiter is a time of expanded learning and greater opportunities to learn about life through a variety of experiences. You develop your thinking by opening your mind to a wider range of data. You expand your horizons through reading, self-directed study, formal education and experiences like travel and investigating different cultural perspectives. Consult new sources of information and see what develops.
You could also do some self-work -- and deepen your self-understanding through an inner, spiritual journey. Projects that combine learning, growth and travel (on physical, abstract or spiritual levels) align with this energy ... so expect some invitations. Put new learning on your agenda ... and follow through.
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May it surpass this last one
... which wouldn't be hard!
When Mercury conjuncts Jupiter, old prejudices or stubborn convictions fall away, because you can't sustain them any longer. They clearly don't work anymore -- and possibly never did. Narrow-minded ideas relax in the face of new evidence, different choices ... or maybe due to mellowing and more tolerance in you. (It happens!!) New ways of thinking become more acceptable as old ideas release their strangle-hold ... and are replaced by something better!!
The fact that you are intellectually bored -- or feel stifled -- may prompt you to poke around and come up with new answers to old questions all by yourself. This is the foundation for all kinds of new growth, of course. Once you think outside the box, you rare go back. This kind of freedom is energizing -- and exciting. A shift in thinking can be nothing short of miraculous. (As I've written before, you'll wonder why it took you so long!) William James famously wrote: Change your mind; change your life. Seriously, the man was on to something.
So this is on the agenda for now -- in the area of mind, learning and communication. It's an interesting start to the new year. Let's make the most of it.
If you've always known there was more to Astrology than Sun Sign material and the three line daily horoscope in the newspaper, climb aboard and follow this blog. You'll find a world of wisdom detailing how you were designed to work with life ... and why you are the way you are -- all in quick-to-read, easy-to-digest-and-remember, written-in-plain-English essays that offer plenty of food for thought.
Little by little, I'm doing a set of articles that talks about all the elements in your horoscope and what they have to say about you. If you "know something" about Astrology -- or know something about your chart placements, that will help you get more from this material.
If you don't ... well, this is one place you can learn. We all have to start somewhere ... because we aren't born knowing this stuff. Meanwhile, if you've never seen your horoscope ... and don't have a clue how to work with it, maybe it's time to find out. There are lots of "chart services" on the internet -- some of whom produce decent, readable charts "for free" and some are so awful and confusing that even I can't read them easily -- and I've worked with charts for decades.
One extremely user-friendly chart site is here: AstroLabe. I recommend them if you want a simple, easy-to-read chart. I think they even give a reasonable little interpretive reading of your horoscope as part of the package. You'll need to know your birth information -- day, month, year, time and geographical place. Without all that your chart will have limited accuracy.
Or, if you want to get serious and really talk about this, upvote this post and start a conversation in the comments section sometime in the next six days from the time of publication. We'll go from there depending on what you want to know.
Questions about any of this? -- Upvote this post and talk to me in comments. It's a terrific way to build value for yourself and the community ... and it will give me ideas of what to write about in future posts. Believe me there is lots to say about the way The Sun, The Moon -- and all the other elements in a horoscope, all the other components of Astrology -- work together to interpret you and your story -- and what it all means to the person you've become.
Although sometimes the background pictures in our visual essays support the topic and text, they don't always. Sometimes the connection is clear. Sometimes it's symbolic and subtle. Sometimes, there's no connection at all.
The scenes depict landscapes and natural features, buildings and wildlife. They were chosen because they show something lovely or interesting ... or simply because the photo appealed to me.
Our spectacular and remarkable planet is changing at astonishing speed. Rarely are these changes for the better. Few people seem to know ... or care ... or have the will and power to do anything about this. It may not be long before the world humans have known and lived in for centuries is forever lost. We certainly won't be able to make repairs as fast as we destroyed it.
So a few years ago I began collecting pictures of the way things were ... and still are for now, a record of the beauty we have while it is still ours to love and honor.
The photos here are part of that collection, with sincere thanks to the artists who saw these moments ... and with their cameras ... preserved them. All of us at Enchanted Spirit are profoundly grateful to them for their generosity and skill ... and for the added grace, depth and dimension their art brings to ours.
Original images used under this Creative Commons license or this Creative Commons license and modified by added text.
