Mercury guides, guards, rules & protects us today, Wednesday. It’s Ray 4 day – Ray 4, the Art of Living, the Ray of struggle w/ duality – also the Ray of art & beauty.
Today is Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
National Photography Day & Aviation Day.

Mercury, Ray 4.
Wednesdays are Mercury’s days – Ray 4 days of Harmony that exists at the heart of conflict & chaos – the seeds of harmony seeking to emerge.
We remember this (understanding the 7 Rays) when an argument ensues, when difficulties appear, misunderstandings & confusion. It’s the transition from the outer to the inner.

Our task is to call forth that harmony within the conflicts & chaos. Asking everyone involved –
…”What is the harmony seeking to emerge here?
How can we reach it together?”

That question, perception, reality, knowledge, information, action, etc. is HOW we use the knowledge of the Rays.

Not controlled blindly by the energies of the heavens.
But WORKING WITH the energies of the heavens.
Because we KNOW about the Rays, signs, planets, etc. in the heavens – their names, functions & purposes.

Our tasks – learning, studying, perceiving, using, applying.
This is the true heart of Astrological study.

And so…
Scorpio (also Ray 4) moon (4) today –
And we are in our last days of Leo Sun.
Saturday evening the Sun enters Virgo (2/6)-
Elements shift from fire to earth.

We enter the gardens of summer before Libra’s equinox occurs and autumn begins.
Sunlight during the last month of summer a silken copper gold.
A bittersweet golden hazy amber sheen.
Do you see it?
We know from this light, a whisper here & there, over there.
The last of the flowers, golden leaves falling…that autumn’s soon somewhere.
There’s a magic to this summer’s time.
A slower tune, a quiet bow.
Leaves falling one by one. The world slowing down.

Ray 4 – the color is a golden yellow, like sunflowers & goldenrod.
Ray 4 is harmony, beauty & art. It blends Rays 1 & 2.
Ray 4 is an open ended six pointed star.
The lower triangle of the personality lifts up & merges fuses & blends with the upper triangle of the Soul –

“Form & Soul are merged. The inner vision watches over the lower, there is a fusion of the two. The higher inner vision blazes forth via the opened inner eye. The three become one & not alone they are. Pass on, O pilgrim on the Way.”

Humanity, is a kingdom – the 4th kingdom.
Kingdons: 1. mineral. 2. plant. 3. animal. 4. humanity. 5. Soul
Humanity the 4th kingdom, art & beauty ray, is creative – Ray 4.
Humanity is animal, human (Ray 4) & also divine (the Soul).

Ray 4 is the Ray of the Art of Living.
Ray 4 is the Ray also of the disciple, as Scorpio is ruled by Ray 4.
Wherever Ray 4 is (flowing thru signs & planets) we begin to understand the flavors of Ray 4.
Ray 4 flows thru Taurus & Scorpio & Sagittarius.
Each one a new flavor, a new level of growth, understanding.

The Heart of the Matter
The 4th center of energy -within humanity is the heart, at the center of the body – between the three lower center/chakras & the three centers/chakras above the heart (this is a part of the occult study of human anatomy & forms an esoteric study between anatomy & psychology, the relationship of the psychological relationship between the Soul & personality).

Heart at the center of humanity reveals purpose – that humanity is the balancing kingdom, the harmonizing kingdom.

Question: Where are Taurus, Scorpio & Sagittarius in your astrology chart? There, Ray 4 is too. Color those areas a golden sunflower hue. love, Risa