Zodiac Arcana ​

by Shari Zollinger
Illustrations by Holli Zollinger​

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ARIES

March 21 to April 19

First presence. Yes, first responder of sorts,

equipped with resuscitation, life-giving marrow.

Keeper of flame, and more—whose legacy

wields sharp, at-the-ready.

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It’s a kind of in-love commitment to creation.

TAURUS

April 20 to May 20

It’s a kind of in-love commitment to creation,

and no, not just creation but attraction

the earth like clay in the mouth, not bitter

but alkaline-sweet.

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Even sweeter hands press toward shape and structure.

GEMINI

May 21 to June 21

Even sweeter hands press toward shape and structure.

Forming winged clay, like twin swifts—

small, fast, adaptable.

Yes, this is sky-knowing.

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Yet sometimes a necessity pivots toward water’s sustenance.

CANCER

June 22 to July 22

Sometimes, a necessity pivots toward water’s sustenance,

calling tide back to shore. This moon language

marks a season when dark swallows light,

no, not right away—slower—yes, even slower.

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Consider a single drop of water upon a single stone.

LEO

July 23 to August 22

Consider a single drop of water upon a single stone,

or more dramatically, consider the precipice

of a roar, all animal-pride, step-and-stance, mane.

Yes, naturally a story will emerge.

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This is a story about loyalties’ warp and weft.

 
VIRGO

August 23 to September 22

This is a story about loyalties’ warp and weft.

Weaver’s hands, in service to imagination.

No, not just intricate color, but unending practice—

fantasy tumbling toward reality.

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Exquisite. Inevitable. Imperfect.

LIBRA

September 23 to October 22

Exquisite. Inevitable. Imperfect.

Shadow encourages its balance with light.

Golden symmetry: a conversation between

aspen-root and, yes, collective breath.

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A game of tag, up and down a shaft of light.

SCORPIO

October 23 to November 21

A game of tag, up and down a shaft of light,

sometimes, upon the chase, time lingers,

breath descends. No, not just to red, but yellow

like leaf upon the forest floor.

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Grief, but also threshold, metamorphosis.

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SAGITTARIUS

November 22 to December 21

Grief, but also threshold, metamorphosis.

Shadow from the body gallops

farther than the eye. An event horizon,

cumulates, yes, cumulus.

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Potential rain, thunder—lightning’s direct target.

CAPRICORN

December 22 to January 19​

Potential rain, thunder—lightning’s direct target

upon the tree with apples already pressed to cider.

It’s bark-bearing sky-scar, up to the waist in snow,

not cold, but warm from wood grain.

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No map, except what’s embedded.

AQUARIUS

January 20 to February 18

No map, except what’s imbedded

with instructions on how to return to the sky,

how to whittle wood with rhythm,

wood with rhythm.

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Turning freedom into a hobby, yes, to air sight.

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PISCES

February 19 to March 20

Turning freedom into a hobby, into air sight.

Turning air into water, turning water into fire, fire

into earth. Finally turning toward

the beginning.

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First presence, first responder of sorts.

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