What the weather is doing in the Tries: From a high of 106 down to 70 in just a couple of days. And the 70 was o’cast with a cool wind blowing. This week’s weather looks a tad more stable—high 70s with Sunday being low 90s. And too many clouds. I moved to the desert for sunshine and warmth. If I’d wanted clouds and rain, I’d have stayed in Seattle!

Astrology 101?:

I had forgotten how utterly hilarious Facebook content can be. The other night I clicked on something to give me a free astrological (slight on the logical) reading. I’ve never had one before, and I thought, what the heck?

Now, I used to love to read the newspaper astrological blurbs, (you do remember newspapers, don’t you?) and their pithy little blurbs for the 12 signs of the zodiac. It was especially great fun when two reputable papers in town would print conflicting advice for the day. 

So, I got my free reading, and it was great fun to read. Nothing scary, but there is a time of Transition coming, and it will affect me. The Transitions are coming whether I’m ready or not! Ooooh, ominous, eh?

Love the way they set it up. [My snark is in brackets and italicized.]

“URGENT:  Personal information for your eyes only! 

“Hi Lenora,

“According to your Astrology Chart, somewhere along the line, you may (by no fault of your own) have strayed away from a life enriched with deep, healthy relationships, a fulfilling career, and financial abundance.” [I may have? No, I don’t think so. Odd, how well they don’t know me just from my birthdate. Incidentally, most of this stuff is “self-fulfilling prophecy.” The situations are broad enough to fit most people, and they’ll fill in the gaps.]

“Since then, you’ve gone through life denying your TRUE SELF and feeling out of sync with life, as if the world was an orchestra, and you were always out of tune, playing half a step behind.”  [I dare say many people feel this way at one time or another. But, no, I don’t think I’ve denied my true self in many years. Not since that one year when I gave Religion up for Lent, anyhow.]

“I know that can sound scary but there’s no need to lose hope, Lenora!” [Scary? Oh, Darlin’ I find it hysterically funny. Take more than that to scare me! I survived Basic Training, motherhood, marriage, the Boss from Hell…]

“In truth, what knocked you off course with your destiny was a challenging Transit Period you were unaware of, much like the one that is responsible for the situation you find yourself in today.”  [A challenging transit period—like Basic Training? like motherhood? like a boss from hell? I thought those were my choices, but it was really a bunch of non-thinking planets pulling me this way or that? Wow!]

“At the same time, you have some very POSITIVE planetary transits approaching too that with your awareness, can allow you to effortlessly re-align with your TRUE SELF as you begin living the life you’re meant to live.” [By now, I’m really curious how much they want to charge me. Maybe I’ll take advantage of more “free” stuff?]

“And that’s just a tiny peek of what’s in store. It’s my job to make sure you know what to expect and what to do during these powerful times, so you won’t find a single stone left unturned in your reading.”  [No, it’s her job to fleece me of as much of my retirement money as possible. But, first, she has to build my trust, build our “friendship,” then and only then… My gawd, I just survived four years of the Great Con, this gal needs to enroll in Trump University to hope to snag me!! ;-)]

“There’s so much life changing information inside, waiting for you to explore. Just click the button below to read your personalized report: …” [I did, and it’s more of the same stuff. Only in Astrological terms. Every day we wake, we have decisions to make. Now, some will use this drivel to make those decisions, others will weigh the pros and cons of life first—starting with getting out of bed. I can stay in bed all day and deal with the consequence of a dog who needed a walk, and me who needed a shorter and inside walk… We come to several forks in our daily path, and once we start down one path, the other is no longer relevant, and no longer there. Life isn’t Solitaire, there is no “back” button to play.]

I know there are people who believe this sort of stuff. And Astrology is old. It goes back several thousand years. But the stars have shifted during that time. An Astronomer friend told me once that our astrological signs are now two signs away from where they were when the shamans drew this stuff up. But I don’t remember which way it went. So I’m either a Sagittarius or an Aries and not an Aquarian.

Schools that teach students to think and not follow blindly are marvelous places. Teachers who aren’t afraid of the hard questions are treasures beyond compare. Learning/teaching the difference between mythologies and facts is one of the best gifts we can give our children.

In the meantime, read your astrological report, know the only logic in it is to fleece the unsuspecting person, and count it a daily chuckle.

Wikipedia has a great History of astrology. Give it a look-see here.

Photo of the Week:

Entertainment: 

Netflix: At some point they finally put the final episodes of Lucifer up, and I finally noticed. So I’m watching them, one a night at the most! I’m parsing them. Best series ever!

Books: Remember, when I finish a book, I review it at Rainy Day Reads.

Where the Dead Sit Talking by Brandon Hobson. I quit about 55-60% through it, read the last couple of chapters and called it good. It’s hard to read a book when it’s so freaking depressing and at best I felt I was kept from the characters by the author. Thumbs down.

Education:

Not feeling overly intelligent this week.

Writing:

Have a couple more poems accepted. Quill and Parchment accepted my poem, Leda and the Swan for next month. Thank you, Q&P! I will be attending a book launch in Wenatchee in a couple weeks. 

Quote of the Week:

“I don’t differentiate much, except in degree, between people who believe in religion from those who believe in astrology, magic or the supernatural.”
~ Andy Rooney, Sincerely, Andy Rooney

And so Auntie Lenora and Hurry Up! Sammy Brave Dog wish you a warm and sunny week, and we’ll see you next week. With luck, a tad earlier 😉