Dove Spirit

25 April- May 1, 2022

The weekly astro-oracle is a theriomancic message:

Dove Spirit

Image credit: Doves and Pigeons (1575–1580) painting in high resolution by Joris Hoefnagel. Original from The National Gallery of Art. Digitally enhanced by rawpixel.

What is theriomancy? Theriomancy or zoomancy is a form of divination that involves observation of the appearance and behavior of wild animals. Common forms of theriomancy include ailuromancy, the study of cat movements, and augury, the study of bird formations. While augury appears to be more fixed than other systems of divination, with some sources going as far as to interpret the direction of the birds’ flight, calls, and times of day, individual animal totem or spirit animals also have rich symbolism, which can be accessed by tuning into the oversoul of the animal.

I asked Spirit, what do all those who frequent this page need to know this week to stay in alignment with the highest good? Then I drew Dove Spirit from a spirit animal oracle card deck. Dove meaning and symbolism includes peace, hope, love, devotion, navigation, messages, grace, gentleness, purity, the Holy Spirit, and the human soul. A member of the Columbidae family which also includes pigeon, there are over 300 species of dove. Unlike hawks, owls, and other birds of prey, doves and pigeons are especially gentle and docile. Monogamous and very affectionate with their mates, uniguide.com explains that their gentleness combined with their historical use as a form of long-distance communication, and by extension human connection, is likely how they came to symbolize peace.

Hay House author and oracle card extraordinaire Colette Baron-Reid adds that the gentle cooing of Dove Spirit invites us to embrace the energy of peace and allow compassion to warm the heart. Since we always have the ability to self-generate these elevated emotions, the appearance of Dove Spirit is a reminder that every day is a good day to meditate, to quiet any turbulence within as we embody tranquility. While there may still be discordant energies, distracting us from this inner knowing, peacemaking Dove Spirit asks us to consider, ‘What would peace do? Would you rather be right, or would you rather be in love? Can we (co)exist; agree to disagree?’ According to Baron-Reid, “The peace you seek rises within and spreads out into the world as Spirit sends her messenger to remind you of the beauty of a harmonious existence with all that is.”

INTERPRETATION

As the week begins, Australian cosmologist Elizabeth Peru notes that the Piscean Stellium continues to invoke within us a cathartic, emotional response to all that’s just come into our conscious awareness. Meanwhile, the Taurean Stellium urges us “to act upon what’s good for us and to not let anything that’s personally important slide right now.” As if this intensive energy period weren’t already enough, the building eclipse energies challenge us to acknowledge that we still have full say over how we conduct our lives. Especially for those who identify as an empath or highly sensitive person (HSP), we may be picking up on broader collective energies and mistaking it for our own. Before we react, Dove Spirit asks us to check back in and consider, ‘what would peace do?’

Although the Piscean Stellium energies have been active for the past week, starting Tuesday, April 27, Venus’ conjunction with Neptune is exact, followed by Jupiter’s on Saturday, April 30. While astrosofa.com warns that the Venus-Neptune conjunction may produce extravagance, addiction, inconsistency, and unreliability, since Jupiter is in the mix, astrobutterfly.com predicts “a few days of magic.” The source attributes this to Jupiter and Neptune's influence as collective planets as opposed to Venus which is still a personal planet. Accordingly, if this month’s earlier Jupiter-Neptune conjunction had been somewhat abstract, this is our opportunity to understand what it means to us as Venus translates the outer planets’ subtle messages, making the intangible, tangible. While not quite the Uranian lightbulb moment of clarity that the weekend’s eclipse may bring, this is a deep knowing of what’s right for us on a soul level. Indeed, Venus is a key cosmic player within the Piscean Stellium, making self-worth our top priority. “Perhaps your inner world has been stirred to such an extent that you’re ready to let go of plans, holding on, and any personal suffering,” emphasize Peru and Dove Spirit. “Consider that by being self-responsible you’re invoking freedom…The key under this influence is to honor your personal feelings, the language of within.”

Just before Mercury leaves Taurus, its two-week, often eventful retrograde pre-shadow phase now begins. From within the Taurean Stellium, the messenger planet also forms two favorable aspects to other planets. Starting Tuesday, April 27, its sextile with Jupiter in the Piscean Stellium gives us a cheerful optimistic outlook on life. Open-minded and influential at this time, we are also reasonable, expansive, and sociable. We have good language and organizational skills, and a passion for discussion. Peru and Dove Spirit add that Jupiter is on our side this mid-week, encouraging us to express ourselves generously: “Acknowledge that you’re a naturally creative being. Abolish any limiting or negative thought patterns with the process of taking back your power.” Meanwhile, Wednesday, April 28, Mercury’s trine to Pluto in Capricorn, just before the transformer planet turns retrograde, helps us to reach that next level in our professional or personal development—especially in higher education or intellectual work in the fields of writing, publishing, oration or the performing arts, asserts astrosofa.com.

Just before the eclipse in Taurus, Mercury now enters Gemini. The sign of its domicile, the messenger planets is right where it wants to be. When Mercury is in Gemini, our mind becomes more agile, our communication more fluent, and our conversations more enjoyable. With our attitude toward languages and the economy encouraged, we may prefer to read more than usual or plan to go on a journey. Since we can more plainly see things as they are, without bias or judgement during this transit, astrobutterfly.com observes we are also more likely to seize opportunities. Peru adds that Mercury is sparking us to open up our voice and to make ourselves known. Especially where we've been "keeping certain personal matters too close to your chest," the source points out, "they keep coming up for your life review." Mercury and Dove Spirit empower us to own them in order to resolve them in preparation for the coming eclipses. "Your life is about to be reset," emphasizes Peru; "As you become open to learning from your past and open to your personal truth emerging, you’re internally set free. Indeed, this weekend, new information flows."

Finally, the month completes Saturday, April 30, with our New Moon Solar Eclipse in Taurus. A North Node Solar Eclipse conjunct Uranus, “there’s so much potential with this eclipse," says astrobutterfly.com; "the world is our oyster.” While the sudden and unexpected may occur with Uranus involved, whatever happens the North Node asks us to trust that we are being divinely redirected toward's our highest life path, our true north. Peru and Dove Spirit add that during the New Moon Eclipse the theme of personal liberation is near: "Trust in your messages and be at peace with what you discover. The cosmos is assisting you to release any tension, worry or concern. Your life is about to move fluidly ahead." Also on this day, the Venus-Jupiter conjunction is exact within the Piscean Stellium, blessing us with happiness in love, marriage, or partnerships. Since this fortunate two-day influence may also be accompanied by a financial upswing, astrosofa.com advices us to be open to any chance offers we may receive!

Get Inspired

Does this message resonate? Tell us more in the comments below. To add more detail to your week, you can also try your own theriomancic draw. Set an intention or ask a question. Then let go, and see what animal comes shows up. Now research its animal spirit symbolism. How does the symbolism inform your question? Want help interpreting what you found? Book a reading with me now, www.readingsbytheladyofshalott.com/services.