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The world is wild, and our only hope is in each other. Some Mary Oliver for you to start your week, from “Winter Hours”:
In the winter I am writing about, there was much darkness. Darkness of nature, darkness of event, darkness of the spirit. The sprawling darkness of not knowing. We speak of the light of reason. I would speak here of the darkness of the world, and the light of ___. But I don’t know what to call it. Maybe hope. Maybe faith, but not a shaped faith—only, say, a gesture, or a continuum of gestures. But probably it is closer to hope, that is more active, and far messier than faith must be. Faith, as I imagine it, is tensile, and cool, and has no need of words. Hope, I know, is a fighter and a screamer.
And now, for ICYMI & the astrological week ahead.
ICYMI
📚 Yesterday, I sent out a publishing industry-specific essay about going out on submission (AKA, when you and your agent take your work to publishing houses).
🗓️: We’ve Been Here Before: A Historical Retrospective on the Astrology of 2025 is now available for download!
🎧: The Call Your Coven February 2025 forecast is here — have you listened? Rate, review, comment, like, subscribe: it truly helps so much.
all times are eastern
Sunday, February 9th
7:08am: Mercury in Aquarius conjunct Sun in Aquarius (21*)
When communicative Mercury is in the heart of the sun, it’s prime time for sitting with that draft that’s been giving you all the trouble. On the one hand, an idea suddenly might click. This Aquarian moment is especially helpful for troubleshooting structure issues across genres.
On a broader note, this is an excellent day for communications to the collective, or your community, around action items for Resistance. If you need to take a break from reality today, be sure to journal, go for a walk, meditate, and seek out mercurial conversations and connections with loved ones.
8:14am: Mars Rx in Cancer trine Saturn in Pisces (18*)
The second trine between Mars in Cancer and Saturn in Pisces, and there will be a third and final before Q1 is out. The first trine between the malefics was on September 30, 2024 — look to your calendar to see what was going on for you then, as topics and conversations may once again arise.
Today, Mars brings a renewed focus and stillness to the creative structures we have been endeavoring to build with Saturn this year. It may feel, here at the end of Mars’ retrograde, that we are finally once again able to see clearly to the shore across the water, to witness what all our efforts will bring. If only it could always be this easy; if only the flow could always come this quick. This retrograde has certainly slowed us down.
It will be easiest to fall into flow if you are able to give yourself the space and permission to enter that stillness. Set your alarms today.