April 2, 2010: YOD patterns for desperate situations

~~
Whew! I just got my socks knocked off by reading Julie Demboski's God's To-Do List column now posted for April 2, 2010.

You see, chart-studying and blogging time in the last 2 weeks has been brief around here, yet I had wanted to delve more deeply into the current (yet waning) transiting YOD pattern (Finger of God: 2 or more planets sextile at the base and inconjunct or pointing to an apex planets/s; in this case the apex planet is Saturn, now re-crossing US natal MC in the Sibly chart - MC 00Lib53; Saturn is the planet of government, law, and business...this 'personalizes' the YOD for the US and makes it angular - able to manifest in the outer world, 10th cusp.)

As you know, YODs indicate a special task or purpose, a crisis, and/or a critical situation where square pegs must fit into round holes. They may have a 'genius' flavor to them as well for they facilitate the 'thinking outside the box' that can make the unwieldy peg fit.

Astrologer Erin Sullivan was the first person to alert me to the meaning and importance of YODs when she told of her realization that they symbolize the silver book marker of the Torah - a 'finger' showing where the next reading should be taken up. Thus the pattern's sacred and karmic flavor.

Often a harbinger of unfinished 'family myths' (for descendants to 'take up' in their lifetimes and complete, another good reason to know about one's natal chart!), and possibly pointing to health threats in a chart, we might expect mundane charts to show a desperate situation or two where YODs exist. Perhaps its 'special task or purpose' is more emphasized in national charts - and we definitely have a plethora of desperate situations to wrestle with.

Now you may be tempted to think, how bad can this YOD be when the base is a lovely sextile between Mercury and Neptune? Well, besides the general descriptions of Mercury/Neptune as 'deceit in communications' or 'messages/thoughts that inspire', etc, we may look to Michael Munkasey for political and business implications of Mercury/Neptune...

Leaders who can communicate their visions of growth and progress; a legislature that controls the excesses and dreams of its leaders; an enterprise that debates about its future; weak or artificial plans that must be rethought or redesigned; a leader who mesmerizes people with delusions of progress or growth (yowch! the president resembles that remark but so do other politicians - jc); an inability to bring reality into planning and productivity.

And what does Noel Tyl say about the midpoint picture formed by the apex-Saturn YOD which is now, thankfully, passing?

Mercury/Neptune = Saturn: a gloomy reaction to real or imagined circumstances; looking at the downside of things which may or may not be valid.

Now when you read Julie's column for April 2 you'll notice her mention of today's Moon reaching 00Sag. And when Luna enters Sagittarius, she will form for a while today the base of a YOD with Saturn and pointing to an apex Mercury 00Tau+ - two interlaced YODs to thicken the plot!

The combo of Moon/Saturn = an exercise of power by the common people; institutions that oversee and coordinate commerce, agriculture, or business conditions; statistics on production efficiency; an inability of an enterprise to grasp the intentions or needs of the people; lack of output or production from manufacturing and agricultural sectors of the economy; practical vs theoretical economics.

(As always with mdpt pics, any, all, or none may apply.)

And the picture:

Moon/Saturn = Mercury: promotion of ideas on how to offer better financial or material protections; education that teaches practical business approaches or routines; prudence; maturity; a sense of duty. (Ebertin; Tyl; Munkasey.)

Well, I just finished keeping half an ear on what President Obama was saying in North Carolina (C-SPAN Live) and the above pictures and YODs came to mind. But as far as your personal life goes, please check out Julie's article for her clear insights and suggestions because with Julie, I promise you won't be disappointed!


Image: Mask of the Cosmos, a visonary drawing by Jude Cowell.

~:~

The Story of Hatchling Cat

~
The Story of Hatchling Cat is very new and I suspect you've not heard it yet. Photos of the author included.

~:~

How Dangerous Is High Cholesterol?

~~

Well, it seems these years of warnings that the medical and pharmaceutical industries used to boogieman us over high levels of cholesterol - and busily marketed expensive drugs to counteract them - were something of a waste. Now it can be told that such levels are markers of underlying imbalances which treating high cholesterol hasn't addressed at all, newer studies find.

Dr. Lipman's article How Bad Is Cholesterol? reveals a broader picture and makes a lot of sense to me so I hope you'll check it out either before or after you bite into that cream-filled doughnut because you might find yourself feeling a little less guilty, if a smidge weightier!

Delicious Banana Bread might be the wiser choice, yes?



Banana Bread baked and photographed by Maya Henderson.

~:~

Yellow trillium, wake robins: in moonlight

~
Here in the moonlight if not the spotlight, my botanical drawing of Yellow trillium, aka wake-robins, soaking up moonbeams along with falling raindrops!



Here are a few bio details on the charming little April to May blooms of the Yellow trillium with a lovely cheesecake photo included.

Plus, snag yourself a peek at my pencil rendition of the other color trillium bloom in, Purple trillium which is actually a deep maroon. My illustration tends toward the purple side but its fairy visitor doesn't seem to mind in the least.

And on an Astrology-and-Art note, this is the week that the International Astrology Day Blogathon 2010 goes Live on March 19 -- yet you may pre-view my Cosmic Art Show this very minute. There you'll find invitations to a new Cosmic Flower Art Slideshow and a 'psychedelic' Kaleidoscope Art Show, too.

Enjoy!

Jude

All Art copyrighted 2010+ by the artist

For use please convo: judecowell at gmail dot com

~:~

Vitamin D deficiency worldwide

~~
Did you know that there'a a worldwide epidemic of Vitamin D deficiency going on?

More and more studies have shown the importance of Vitamin D in maintaining health including fighting off cancer, diabetes, and other health horrors. Let Mike Adams tell you all about it and pass me my bottle of Vitamin D. Seriously - I started taking high potency softgells about 3 months ago and it's become a habit of the bestest kind!

~:~

Coming Soon: International Astrology Day 2010

~~
Coming soon to an astrologer or Astrology website or blog near you: International Astrology Day or, as it is sometimes called, World Astrology Day!

Celebrated each year at the time of the Aries Ingress - Spring Equinox - International Astrology Day coincides with the start of the Iranian calendar yet here in the west, Astrology is based more on the Sun with eastern Astrology being based on a lunar calendar...thus the Crescent Moon symbol on flags of the Middle East.

For Spring Equinox 2010 - and knowing what a fix the world is in - a group of astrologers/authors are planning a veritable smorgasbord of articles to aid us in dealing practically on a personal level with the Cardinal T-Square pattern of planetary energies in effect from Spring 2010 into 2014. From this situation alone we may expect to find more financial and political frettings to appear on the global menu than before so please stay tuned for more details on how to glom into the 1st Annual International Astrology Day Blogathon 2010 which will publish to the world on Friday, March 19!

Alternately, you may wish to snoop around Donna Cunningham's excellent blog Skywriter for the latest Blogathon info and details.

~:~

For Spring EQ 2010: 'Rainy Day Art Cube' by Jude Cowell

Thought you might enjoy a newly created 'Rainy Day Art Cube' of mine!

Am still in Astrology Day Blogathon 2010 mode since the carnival of informative articles authored by a variety of astrologers doesn't go Live until Friday March 19, 2010 and there are more preparations under way as I type!

Now that last was a Chiron-inspired statement, wasn't it? Be Here NOW, says He.

Why, I think the ongoing and inspirational Neptune-Chiron conjunction in Aquarius is about to have even more beneficial effects upon a harried collective...it is to be hoped! jc

Trying Times and Flower Essences

~:~


Am I the only one who did not know that there exists a wonderful online resource that's perfect for these trying times?

Vibration Magazine has a blog with helpful suggestions on which of the flower essences are good for which conditions and with the oncoming Cardinal T-Square and Cardinal Cross energies bombarding the planet as of Spring 2010 into 2014, each one of us can use all the soothing calm we can find!

And while you're decompressing, do mosey over for a view of my new Cosmic Flowers Art Slideshow, if you wish.

~:~

image: detail from Wild Roses by Jude Cowell; for full view click the link; oil and watercolour pencils on paper. Always.