Classical Astrology

2007-03-03T01:22:00.000-08:00

March 2007 Astrology Sky

The Astrology of March focuses once more on the Saturn – Neptune opposition, now waning, and the continuation of the Mercury retrograde period of time that began in February. Although direct after the 7th, Mercury does not leave its retrograde shadow until March 27th.

Most of the month we are caught between two eclipses, so that these days are more powerful than usual, and are also aligned with outer planet energies. Neptune is greatly emphasized in March, being the ruler of the month's lunations and by a stationing Jupiter in Sagittarius. Numinous Neptune, in contrast to stodgy old Saturn, always remains elusive as well as illusive, suggesting that things are not what they seem, and that we are all connected, as we know beyond knowing in our most secret heart. The test of Neptune is to maintain our stance within the world of manifestation while still keeping in mind that all is illusion and a cover for the deeper meaning. This can be confusing, and have the effect of stalling our steering here on starship Earth, but that's just the way it is. The good news is that once we make that shift, we will never again be subject to the ravages of Saturn, at least not in quite the same way.

The other major effect of Neptune in combination with Saturn is a cynical puncturing of any form of hypocrisy and political posturing, something that we are observing on a mass scale these days. There is the danger of losing the positive message in the process, but because Neptune is buoyed up by Jupiter right now, we have an opportunity to rise above cynicism while not losing any of the accompanying clarity. Our inner vision also benefits from a retrograding Mercury, which changes to direct motion early in the month, on the 7th, but remains in its retrograde shadow until late March. As the Lunar Eclipse and Full Moon on the 3rd conjuncts and opposes Uranus, we might expect further epiphanies and unexpected events as well as the usual communication and mechanical breakdowns. During the entire week leading up to the Last Quarter Moon of March 11th we will have plenty of opportunity to look inside rather than to the misleading consensus in order to better understand our unfolding future selves.

2007-02-27T11:38:00.000-08:00

Eclipses and Your Natal Chart

Eclipses always mean crisis. Now, crisis is not necessarily a bad thing; however, wherever an eclipse falls in your chart is an area of life that is going to undergo some change, or at least require more of your time and attention than usual for the next five months or so.

Solar eclipses are far more important than Lunar Eclipses. The house where the Solar Eclipse falls in your chart will be the main focus of crisis for the next five months. The house where the Lunar Eclipse falls (usually the opposite house) will be a secondary area of crisis. Since opposing houses are so closely related, however, it's often easiest to consider the pair of houses as a unit.

The March 2007 eclipses occurred at 21 degrees 3 minutes of Pisces (Solar Eclipse March 18th) and 12 degrees 59 minutes of Virgo (Lunar Eclipse March 3rd). Look at where the eclipses fell in your chart, and read on!

1st House—7th House.
If the eclipses occurred in your 1st/7th houses, the focus for the next five months will be on your relationships.

The 1st house is our sense of self; it is who we are as individuals. Eclipses in the 1st house usually signal a period of personal development and growth.
The 7th house is how we relate to other individuals. Naturally, when we ourselves change, this also changes how we relate to other individuals. Eclipses in the 7th house also signal a period of personal development and change; the main difference is that we experience the crises and the need to change as if it were coming from outside ourselves, because we project our 7th house on other people. No matter how it appears, it's never about the other person. It's always our own stuff.

2nd House—8th House.
If the eclipses occurred in your 2nd/8th houses, the focus for the next five months will be on your resources.

The 2nd house is the house of our personal resources; our possessions, our skills, our talents, and our finances. An eclipse in the 2nd house will always make us more aware of our attachments: the things that we believe that we cannot survive without. Since most of us are very attached to money, this may be a time to reevaluate and explore your relationship with money.
The 8th house is the house of other people's resources, joint finances, taxes and inheritances. An eclipse in the 8th house makes us aware of our responsibilities to others: both physical and emotional. Its often an indication that it's time to explore what truly belongs to us, and what belongs to our partners.

3rd House—9th House.
If the eclipses occurred in your 3rd/9th houses, the focus for the next five months will be on your relationship to the world.

The 3rd house relates to our personal domain: the places and things that we are the most familiar with. The 3rd house also relates to our communication and to our personal, individual spiritual practices . An eclipse in the 3rd house often forces us to reevaluate the things we take for granted, and become more aware of how we communicate with ourselves and with others.
The 9th house relates to unfamiliar environments: foreign countries, new ideas and philosophies, and organized religion. An eclipse in the 9th house causes us to consider the bigger picture of our lives. How do we want to grow and expand?

4th House—10th House. If the eclipses occurred in your 4th/10th houses, the focus on the next five months will be on balancing your private live with your public life.

The 4th house relates to our private lives: our home, our family,and our emotional and spiritual connections to our ancestors and heritage. An eclipse in the 4th house can often indicate a time of family crisis.
Of course, since an eclipse in the 4th house often means an eclipse in the 10th house as well, that crisis may have a lot to do with balancing the demands of your career or public life with the needs of your family and private life.

5th House—11th House.
If the eclipses occurred in your 5th house/11th house, the focus on the next five months will be on issues of individual expression and group participation.

The 5th house relates to the things that make us feel special and worthy as individuals. It's the house of our creative expression, and includes children, gambling, and love affairs. Eclipses in the 5th house can stir up the creative urge, or represent changes in our relationships with our children or with our casual romantic partners.
The 11th house is the house of friendships; this is the house of group participation and shared creativity. Eclipses in the 11th house can often indicate changes in our relationships with our peers and our friends.

6th House—12th House.
If the eclipses occurred in your 6th house/12th house, the focus on the next five months will be on your health, both physical and spiritual.

The 6th house contains all of the things we need to do on a daily basis to maintain a physical body: food, exercise, nutrition, and our daily routine, including our jobs. Eclipses in the 6th house often indicate changes in our routines, and it's important to be aware of your physical needs to avoid illness.
The 12th house contains all of the things we need to do on a daily basis to maintain a soul. The 12th house is where we meditate, and explore our unconscious. Eclipses in the 12th house often indicate that you will need to spend more time alone, in your personal spiritual practices.

2007-02-19T04:43:00.000-08:00

Mercury Retrograde
When chaos reigns February 13 to March 7

If you idled your evenings away watching the planets slip across the sky, you would eventually notice Mercury seem to stop, and then for three weeks, move backwards. In ancient times, astrologers were the chief scientists and advisers to emperors and this unnatural motion was cause for alarm. Even to this day, Mercury Retrograde is regarded with no small amount of dread, trepidation and fear. Yet, it will come three times a year, every year. So learning to manage it will give you a real edge.

Briefly, Mercury is responsible for communication in all forms, including transportation; remember those winged heels? He reigns over information, education and the truth. For these three-week periods his energy is moving backwards and inwards. He's engaged in reflection and reviewing - not in forward progress. This is harder for us to accept than it was for the ancients -- they saw life as cyclical. We want steady progress, and so do our bosses.

Communicate cautiously
The best way to handle Mercury Retrograde is to be extra cautious in these areas: speaking or writing to friends, loved ones and co-workers; emails; phone communications; contracts; travel plans, flight connections and baggage; giving directions (be especially clear at the tanning and hair salon); with your car; and even when throwing parties.

Being scrupulously careful however, does not mean don't communicate - in today's wired world that's simply not possible! None of us can avoid sending email or speaking to others, nor should we, it's just important during these few weeks to be extra, extra careful. Use your best judgment, don't assume things will all come out in the wash, especially where you already know there's potential for trouble: an unhappy boss; a jealous co-worker; or a harried medical tech. If the situation is fraught when going into the retrograde period, then you must painstakingly check, revise and re-think every communication before opening your mouth or hitting 'send'. The key is to take the time to consider the recipient's point of view -- before you make your statement.

Beware of electronic glitches
Mercury Retrograde is also a time when computers, cars and electrical equipment can go haywire. Likewise luggage, packages, mail can be either delayed or lost. If you start a new job, new project or new relationship it'll turn out quite differently than you imagined, so either go in very cautiously or if at all possible avoid making a firm commitment until Mercury goes Direct on the evening of March 7^th.

Be sure to protect yourself by keeping copies of important documents, doing a back-up of your computer and duplicating your important computer files on a flash memory card.

If you're in an industry that is naturally ruled by Mercury: communications, marketing, advertising, publishing, public relations, investor relations, broadcast production, sales, writing, transportation, shipping and travel; you'll need to take more time with each communication you send and those you receive from customers.

Check everything twice
Mercury Retrogrades are nature's time for renewal, for review and to re-do things. The way to get the most from this time is to go back and check your work, to review contracts, to clean and reorganize your office and home, to edit and revisit projects that aren't complete, and most importantly, to just take time to enjoy the simple things in life. Go for a walk, sit by the beach and reconnect with the natural world. Besides, if you feel renewed and refreshed, well, that delayed flight won't matter as much!

2007-01-16T03:00:00.000-08:00

With Venus in Aquarius, now's the time to bring love your way!

Venus is in Aquarius - get ready to have some fun. Love is about being purely in the present, receiving from another only to turn and give again in the beautiful dance of life. And with Venus in Aquarius, you have your dancing shoes on!

So, where is love? How do I find it? How does it find me? So many questions, but only one, simple answer - be love. In everything you do, in everyone you meet, in the morning, in the evening and especially when someone cuts you off in traffic, be love.

Remember the very first time you fell for someone? It seems as though everything they did was wonderful. You were in complete acceptance of this person and everything about them was new and exciting. It seemed an endless journey of discovery to know them and to be around this new special person.

But what about going on dates? Hitting the scene? What about all the things I should do to find love?

You may do whatever you feel compelled to do. But whatever you do, you must be love.

Here's why
Objects of like attract each other. What are the attributes you are looking for in another person? Make a list of what you want, not what you may have heard is a good attribute. What do you respond to? What draws you near to a person? In people in your life, what are character traits that make you stay just a little longer?

Take a look at this list. Now, practice the principles you have put down. If you want someone who laughs when things go awry, practice a light touch when things don't go your way. If you desire someone who goes to plays, go to a play. Even if you have to go by yourself - be what you want.

And then, be patient. Something amazing is in the works. By being what you are seeking, you right yourself out of co-dependent romanticizing. If you want someone financially responsible be financially responsible. Save yourself from the castle and the hoped-for prince will suddenly be a mere mortal who you actually have a chance of meeting!

And then, the most incredible thing will happen. The person you described on your list will come into your life. And the really wild thing is that anything on the list that you are not practicing, they won't practice either. If you want someone who likes to volunteer and you never give your time to others, you are sure to attract someone who doesn't either. It is impossible to attract what you refuse to have in your life. It's just how it works.

In the meantime, relax! Good things are coming to you everyday and each moment they draw near. Be love wherever you go and love will have to come to you. It's in the planets and the love is in you. And it's expanding already.

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2006-12-07T01:32:00.000-08:00

Predictive Astrology

Predictive Astrology involves using tools to help predict upcoming events and plan the best times to make changes in your life. There are two major tools used in predictive astrology: Transits and Progressions.

Transits are where the planets are right now, as opposed to where they were when you were born. Mapping the planets at the time of a chart reading against the positions they were in at birth, an astrologer can explain what areas of your life are being emphasized, what major events may transpire in the future, and what options you have for dealing with the energies that are affecting you at that point in time.

For example, Saturn (restrictions, delays, practicality) may be moving through your 10th house of career. Saturn takes about two-and-a-half years to move through a sign, so it will be in your 10th house for approximately that length of time. This transit could bring some major changes to your career life, the nature of which will depend upon a number of different factors. You may take on more responsibility at work, receive a promotion, find yourself working hard for little reward, or even retire. It depends on the aspects the transiting Saturn is making to the rest of your chart and to any planets in your 10th house, and the signs and natal house positions as well.

Let's say Saturn is moving through Taurus in your 10th house. Next month, transiting Saturn will form a trine to your natal Mars, which is in your 2nd house of earned income. That sounds a lot like a promotion with a pay increase.

If, however, transiting Saturn formed a square to your natal Mars in the 2nd house instead, this might more accurately represent the lack of a raise and promotion, and even difficulty with your employer.

Transits represent a temporary state of affairs, and should be interpreted keeping the meanings of your natal chart in mind. If your natal Mars was in a very good position in your chart, the transiting square from Saturn might only mean missing a slight raise or having a delayed raise. If, however, your natal Mars is very difficultly aspected, your boss might fire you because you were too aggressive in your pursuit of that raise!

You can also pay attention to transits to the midpoints (An unoccupied aspected degree between and equidistant from two other planets, resulting in a symmetrical grouping, sometimes called a planetary picture). of your chart. I personally find transits to midpoints to be very strong, and easy to accurately time. Of course, the transiting planet in this case would need to be assessed against both planets involved in the natal midpoint, as well as all the other usual factors.

Timing is a difficult thing in astrology in terms of prediction. There are numerous methods out there, and great disagreement on what method to use, and what orbs should be given to transits. I agree with Rob Hand and others that multiple transits (when more than one planet is transiting the same area of the chart) are timed best by the faster moving planet. So if Pluto is aspecting your Sun (which could be over a period of several years), and Mars comes along and hits the same place (which it will in that time frame), look at the date when Mars will make the aspect for the date when you will most feel the influence of Pluto's transit.

My opinion on orbs is that two degrees for most planets does the trick in timing transits. For instance, when Mars approaches your Sun but is two degrees from exact, start expecting an event to occur, and don't stop expecting it until Mars is two degrees past your Sun. Oddly, I have found from personal experience that transits often hit harder at two degrees before or after than they do when they are exact.

The Moon moves so quickly that transits from it rarely have any major impact. If you are ruled by the Moon, however (either a Cancer by Sun-Sign or a Cancer rising chart), you may feel its impact more strongly than others. Generally, the Lunar transits relate mostly to small day-to-day activities and moods.

Outer planet (Uranus, Neptune, Pluto) transits affect some people strongly, some less so. If your outer planets natally are strongly placed by sign and house, and are closely aspecting your personal planets, you will obviously feel the outer planet transits more strongly.

Progressions can sometimes act like transits in setting the stage for external events, but are more usually indicators of your inner growth. Progressions are a symbolic system of accounting for inner growth. Our natal charts are a map of potentials given to us when we are born, but almost none of us stays stuck in our potentials at birth. We grow; we experience; we learn; we change. Our progressions reflect this.

The most common type of progressions are secondary progressions. To find secondary progressions, we use the Biblical guide of "a year for a day"; in other words, each day in the ephemeris represents one year of an individual's life. Thus, if you were born on January 1st of the year, you would look at January 2nd to represent your life at a year old, and so on.

Since the outer planets move so slowly, they will move very little within any individual's lifetime. They may come to an exact aspect which is inexact in the natal chart, and this will bring the potential within that aspect to fruition within your life. And the outer planets may also turn direct or retrograde, which will change the way that planetary energy is expressing in your life.

It is the inner planets (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars) that are most significant in progressions. You can interpret them similarly to transits, keeping in mind that they represent your inner growth more than outer events. For instance, transiting Sun conjunct your natal Mars is an annual event which can represent activation of Mars in your chart (energy, sexuality). Progressed Sun conjunct your natal Mars could more likely represent a time in your life when you are coming into your own in terms of knowing how to use and express your energy more effectively.

The progressed Moon takes approximately one lunar month (about 27-1/2 days) to make one entire trip around your natal chart. This is a significant time in one's life, at age 27-28, and coincides with the return of transiting Saturn to its natal place (at about age 28-29). It is usually a time for major life changes and decisions.

The other major form of progressions in astrology are called primary directions. This simply takes the motion of the Sun (approximately one degree), and applies that motion symbolically to all the other planets as well. This allows the outer planets more significance in progressions, as they will move through two to three signs within each individual's lifetime rather than the few degrees they normally are allowed in secondary progressions.

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2006-04-12T01:59:00.000-07:00

Universal Messages

The universe can often relay messages to us through signs. Often, we are too busy to stop and consider what may or may not be a sign. We may ask the universe for guidance, yet fail to recognize the sign it sends us in response. Learning the subtle language of signs can help you interpret the guidance the universe sends your way. We all have been blessed with a connection that allows the universe to communicate directly with us. To be able to understand the information relayed over that connection, however, it is necessary that we learn to pay attention and know what to look for.

To see and correctly interpret a sign, you must open your heart and mind to the universe and invite its guidance into your life. Many of us are blind to the signs we receive because we expect angels or our spirit guides to speak to us in a booming voice and tell us exactly what we need to hear. But signs are usually of this earth and therefore easier to encounter. A song lodged in your mind or a number that seems to pop up everywhere you look after you've asked the universe for guidance can both be signs. Signs may come through the animal world, from strangers, or jump out of a book in the form of an insightful passage. A sign may be a direct answer to one of your questions. Other signs may point you in the right direction, warn of impending difficulties, or show you a different way. If you want the universe to send you a sign, tell it that you are ready and willing to accept its guidance.

Not everything you hear or see will be a sign. If you are receptive and patient, however, the signs you receive will become easier to recognize. It is important to listen to your intuition. A sign can mean many things to different people, and only you can decipher a sign's meaning is for you. As you practice reading the signs and following their guidance, the universe will send more of them your way.

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2006-03-30T00:19:00.000-08:00

Solar Eclipse

A solar eclipse or eclipse of the sun occurs when the moon is dark or new. This is the first phase of the moon in which it is barely visible. The new moon has the sun at its back. It rises with the sun.

The new moon is a time for introspection and personal growth. When the moon eclipses the sun, this is taken one step further as the moon, if only momentarily, takes over rulership of the daytime, empowering the feminine aspects in our lives.

Although we experience a new moon about every 28 days, an eclipse of the sun, happens only a couple of times per year. This is due to the fact that the moon’s orbit around the earth and the earth’s orbit around the sun are at different angles. The two orbits do not occur on the same plane. When the sun, moon and earth move into alignment, a solar eclipse occurs.

During a solar eclipse, the moon passes directly between the sun and the earth. From our perspective, here on earth, the moon, at first barely visible due to the brilliance of the sun which appears beside it seems to move in front of the sun blocking or eclipsing it. At this time, the masculine energy of the sun is eclipsed by the feminine energy of the moon. Assertiveness and ambition give way to introspection and receptivity.

During the time surrounding a solar eclipse, we may feel that all our ducks are in a row. Our ambitions and emotions seem to be in agreement. We may feel cooperation flowing smoothly in our relationships. Before a solar eclipse, our thoughts and emotions may seem to be aligned. As the solar eclipse approaches, our emotions become stronger until at the time of the eclipse our emotions take over.

Daytime is normally ruled by the sun, by action and by masculine energy, while the night is ruled by the moon, by emotion and by feminine energy. During the eclipse, the moon covers the sun and emotions get a chance to take control during the day, if only for a short while.

In Greek mythology, the sun and moon are associated with Apollo and Artemis. Together the two children of Zeus and Leto, exemplify balance between dark and light, as well as between feminine and masculine. Apollo, the sun god is active during the day while Artemis, ‘the moon’ roams at night.

Youthful and beautiful, Apollo, with his golden lyre and silver bow carries the sun across the sky each day, pulling it behind his golden chariot. He is the bringer of light and truth, and healer of men.

Artemis, his older twin sister, is Goddess of the Moon. A virgin goddess, Artemis resides in the forests where she is known as the huntress. Like her brother, she is a skilled archer, shooting her prey with silver arrows. A powerful warrior, Artemis hunts by the light of the moon.
When the moon eclipses the sun, Artemis stands between her brother and their mother. With both children, pulling on Mother Earth from the same side, she must give way to their will. Residing here on Mother Earth, we feel the pull of powers beyond our control.

At this time we must surrender to powers greater than our own. We must surrender to the universe, confident that in its infinite wisdom, it will return us once again to balance as the heavenly bodies dance gracefully across the day and night sky.

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2006-03-24T04:38:00.000-08:00

Dark Moon

In ancient times, the moon was revered as a goddess, and each of her lunar phases - new moon, full moon, and dark moon - was said to correspond to the three phases of a woman's life: maiden, mother, and crone. The moon has long been associated with our power within, and you do not have to be a woman to connect with the moon's power. The dark moon, which is associated with the crone phase, appears in the sky during the last three days of every lunar cycle. It cannot be seen with the human eye, but it is the dark moon that presides over the sky until a new 28-day cycle begins and a new moon is ready to appear. Often referred to as the "dead moon," the dark moon doesn't necessarily represent death. It is, however, a time for life-enriching endings and a prelude to new beginnings.

When the dark moon appears, it becomes easier for us to shed unnecessary emotional baggage and free ourselves of people and ideas that no longer serve us or add value to our life. It is a time to cleanse ourselves and create space so that what is new can enter. For many people, the dark moon is a time to rest, be introspective, and replenish their energy. Powerful, healing dreams have been known to take place during the dark moon, and you may discover that it is during the dark moon that you are most driven to meditate, explore your intuitive abilities, retrieve past life memories, or delve more deeply into your psyche.

One way to harness the energy of the dark moon is to perform a ritual where you light a black candle. Call forth and visualize the different parts of your life that you are ready to let go of. Through visualization, bind these parts together with light and imagine this bundle moving toward the candle. Watch these old parts being devoured by the flames, and let the candle burn out. Trust that what you've released has left you. You are now ready to welcome the new into your life.

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2006-03-20T10:51:00.000-08:00

What is a Solar Return Chart?

Each year that you have a birthday, that is called a Solar Return. The Sun has returned to its original position in the sky at the time of your birth.

Though the Sun may be in its original position of the heavens, the remaining planets are not in exactly the same degree and house or sign as your natal chart for this birthday.The interpretation we delineate from the angles and aspects form by the bodies of the Solar Return chart, to your Natal Chart and then the transits can be considered the upcoming year's identifiable themes.

The consultation of a Solar Return chart begins with the Natal chart, then the Solar Return chart and finally three months of transits are analyzed to examine potential events and themes. Your Solar Return chart is a symbolic guide to your self evolution in the next year powered by your conscious choice. Awakening your personal awareness to the yearly possibilities for unfolding your potential is the ultimate objective of this consulting practice.

A Solar Return chart can be done any where between 1-2 months before or after a birthday. If when you want your Return chart done and you don't fall within that time frame, it is adviseable to wait for the next Solar Return period.

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2006-03-20T10:00:00.000-08:00

Jupiter Transits

Overview:

Jupiter takes approximately 12 years to come full circle. Therefore, every 3 years or so, Jupiter will transit conjunct, square, or opposite a natal point. When that natal point is an intensely personal planet or point (such as the Sun, Moon, Ascendant, Mercury, Venus, or Mars), we feel its effects in a similarly personal way.

Jupiter transits perhaps receive more positive press than they deserve, as those of us who have waited for Jupiter to transit conjunct our Sun can attest. Why? Because if we wait for Jupiter to bestow us with wonderful gifts, we are sure to be disappointed. What Jupiter does do is infuse us with the license to dream, to hope, and to feel good about ourselves.

Jupiter is an influence that acts to expand and enlarge our personal landscapes. Jupiter transits allow growth and expansion of consciousness involving the conditions and natures of the houses and planets involved. Our confidence and level of joy is increased in these areas of life, and we feel motivated to improve or gain in these areas of life. These are times in our lives when we feel a little more free and confident, and when we are not as aware of restraints. Problems arise when we overdo, and are so confident that we ignore reality and don't think of consequences. However, just as we need Saturn to remind us that we need to buckle down, we also need Jupiter to remind us that we won't get very far if we don't believe in ourselves.

Jupiter acts to expand, and it gives us hope and enthusiasm. It can also make us feel rather restless or overconfident. Jupiter is the planet of possibilities and it offers us promises. Whether these promises are realistic is something to consider seriously. However, Jupiter is a jovial influence, and we all need that kind of energy from time to time! When Jupiter transits a natal planet, it gives that part of our personality a boost, reminding us that we may have been underestimating our capabilities. It invites us to have some faith in ourselves and our abilities.

Remember always that for Jupiter transits to benefit us to the utmost, we need to grab opportunities. We cannot wait for things to happen to us. At the same time, we must be aware of the potential for overdoing, for glossing over details to feed our optimism.

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2006-03-08T04:20:00.000-08:00

Sun in Pisces
Feb 18, 2006 to Mar 20, 2006

The symbol of Pisces is not one fish, but two. One fish is swimming up to heaven, and the other down to Earth. This represents Pisces' place between the worlds, its greatest strength and its greatest challenge.

Pisces is a bridge between heaven and Earth, a reminder that the spiritual and material worlds are fully connected. The upward swimming fish is trying to leave behind the limitations of the physical plane. Feeling the gap between these worlds can be painful, and so escape becomes necessary.

We are all both physical and spiritual, regardless of our signs. Pisces is here to remind us that heaven and Earth are connected. It is time to experience the divine on this planet.

Signs are Seasons

Pisces, the last sign of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, is also the last sign of the zodiac. It is the time when the past is summed up to make way for the new year ahead. Pisces is the end of a cycle when we have the benefit of experience and, perhaps, even wisdom to guide our actions.

Yet, the end of winter can be a difficult time for those fatigued by the long struggle against the cold and dark. The fearful can remain stuck in despair. The hopeful, however, know that spring is just around the corner. This is a time to plant the seeds of imagination that will manifest and grow to fruition in the months ahead.

An Ocean of Feelings

Pisces is a water sign, as are Cancer and Scorpio. In the world of water, instincts and emotions are stronger than reason and planning. This is not to say that Pisces can't be practical. Many of them are. Nor is this a time when we're all going to drown in the waters of our own emotions. Water reminds us that we are all connected. That’s why Pisces is psychic.

Compassion also comes from this sense of contact with everything. It's hard not to care about someone else's pain when you feel it as your own. For balance, find a quiet place to get away from it all so that you can feel your feelings, rather than everyone elses.

Pisces Dreams

Pisces has a reputation as a dreamer, even an escape artist of sorts. Some are considered spacey, with their heads in the clouds. In fact, most Pisces can be very skillful at dealing with the demands of the real world. The key is that they need to find life inspiring. Pisces flourishes with hope and vision. Without it, life can feel overwhelming.

Sources of inspiration are, fortunately, endless. Music, art, dance, movies and theater are all domains in which Pisces can flourish. The creative gifts of this sign even do well in business and technical fields. Pisces are often found in the ranks of healers, where their intuitive senses and compassionate hearts help relieve the suffering of others.

Among the ranks of the famous born with the Sun in Pisces are artists Michelangelo and Pierre Auguste Renoir, and musicians George Harrison, James Taylor, Lou Reed, Brian Jones, Kurt Cobain, Nat King Cole and Nina Simone. Liz Taylor, Glenn Close, Sharon Stone, Drew Barrymore, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Thora Birch are Pisces actresses.

Pisces actors include Ron Howard and Rob Reiner, who have morphed into directors, Michael Caine, Bruce Willis and Billy Crystal. Politics attracts Pisces like Joe Lieberman, Ralph Nader and Ted Kennedy. Alan Greenspan is a Pisces (who likes to work in his bathtub), as are tycoons Steve Jobs and David Geffen and athletes Shaquille O'Neal and Kirby Puckett.

Other Pisces range from geniuses Albert Einstein and Bobby Fischer to George Washington to writer John Irving and the indescribable Tammy Faye Bakker.

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2006-02-06T03:40:00.000-08:00

If your birthday is this week (Feb. 5-11)

You are going on a journey to the planet Neptune in the months ahead, Aquarius. Once every 164 years, this spiritual and creative planet meets your Sun infusing his energy with yours. Neptune is the dreamer, the idealist, the dancer, the artist and the ruler of spirit. He urges you to find your dream and to connect with your highest love—that which is in your soul. He also likes to drink, do drugs and escape into a fantasy that does not have a happy ending. Neptune dissolves things/relationships. The Sun rules your father, boss, men and authority figures. Compassion is the lesson this year—for both of you. Several good new opportunities are also up ahead—a woman with experience is an ally. Get outside opinion on your plans early on, Aquarius. Play it straight. And reach for something ideal. As times change.

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2006-01-22T02:06:00.000-08:00

Venus in Capricorn
Jan 1, 2006 to Mar 5, 2006

Venus, the planet of love, acceptance, pleasure and the arts, is now in earthy Capricorn. This is an interesting combination of soft and hard. Sweet Venus likes things the easy way, but Saturn-ruled Capricorn is about focus, commitment and effort.

This is a time when love must be earned. Effort counts as much as heart, if you want to earn the approval of others. Relationships are built on shared goals and a willingness to work through the hard spots. Venus in Capricorn rewards maturity in relationships, helping to define problems and making a commitment to solve them.

This might not be the most romantic placement for Venus, but there are some real advantages here nevertheless. One is the ability to achieve creative or artistic goals even if you don't have the greatest natural talent. Capricorn rewards those who stick with the difficult tasks, rather than flashy folks who don't want to get their hands dirty with effort.

Venus in Capricorn means that respect equals love. We may have to work a little harder to be appreciated now, but we're building a solid foundation of self-respect that can ensure the continuation and growth of the relationships that count most in our lives.

A good number of young royalty have Venus in Capricorn, including Princesses Caroline and Stephanie of Monaco, England's Prince Andrew, King Juan Carlos of Spain and the late king of rock 'n' roll, Elvis Presley. Both Caroline and John F. Kennedy Jr. were also born with this combination.

Actors Anthony Hopkins, Jeff Bridges, Faye Dunaway, Diane Keaton and Danny Devito are Venus in Capricorn people, as were tragic comics Andy Kaufman and John Belushi and athletes Michael Jordan, Monica Seles and Lee Trevino. Venus in Capricorn is found in the charts of politicians Dick Gephardt and Dick Cheney, and singers Bonnie Raitt, Naomi Judd, Dolly Parton and Neal Diamond.

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2006-01-18T09:40:00.000-08:00

Astrology Love Secrets - Venus

The sign position of Venus reveals the "role" we take on when we want to attract love. But, it goes well beyond mere flirtation -- we "act like" this sign when we are involved in personal, one-to-one love relationships...whether we are on our first date or celebrating our 40th Anniversary.

It is important to note that when we play a Venusian role, we do not truly "act" or put on a show, per se. The character traits of our Venus sign are genuine traits that come from within us. However, they are activated most powerfully, or highlighted, when we are in love.

Reading up on the descriptions of your lover's Sun Sign is always helpful, but it can be misleading as well. Sometimes our Venus sign is the same as our Sun sign, and the way we express ourselves in matters of the heart is predictable enough. When our Venus and Sun are in different signs, we can surprise others (and ourselves!) with behavior that doesn't always seem to gel with the rest of our character. For example, a normally timid and humble Virgo girl may behave like quite the "queen" with her lover if her Venus is in Leo.

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2006-01-12T00:28:00.000-08:00

Climb Higher This Year

Every January the Sun sits in earthy Capricorn... an ambitious yet practical sign that would have you place your feet firmly on the ground and outline your personal agendas for the coming year.

"Sun in Capricorn is a good time for practical wisdom, a time to focus on getting things done. Pick your goals for the next year and start to fill in the steps required to reach them. It's not just talent that gets to the top, but commitment to a goal that produces results."

Since Capricorn rules the house of work and career on the zodiac's wheel, this is an excellent time to focus on your career satisfaction. How do you feel about where your career is heading now? Is it time for you to take it up a notch? Maybe you'd like to find a new direction that is more suited to you. When setting goals for this year, draw inspiration from Capricorn's symbol – the Mountain Goat – a wild and free creature that scales to great heights even under difficult circumstances. Tune in to your own sure-footed power... and think big!

To help you connect with your confidence and expand your thinking about your career, we are offering a free sample of the Personal Astrology Career Advice Report. This sample includes part of the chapter "Your Creative Touch" which highlights your destiny in relation to your path of service. You'll also learn about your financial destiny and possible professions or vocations related to your astrological chart.

The rest of the Astrology Career Advice Report offers insight into other important areas that affect your career – like personality, emotional needs, creativity and hidden talents.

Make the most of Capricorn's practical abilities and ambitious drive. Use this time to focus on your career potential in order to create the fulfilling and prosperous future you deserve!

2005-12-27T09:43:00.000-08:00

THE LUNATION CYCLE

The Sun-Moon conjunction, at the New Moon, begins the Lunation Cycle. The Moon appears to wax or grow until the Sun-Moon opposition, at the Full Moon. After the Full Moon, the Moon appears to wane or decrease until the point of the next New Moon, when the cycle begins again. The Lunation Cycle describes the relationship between the Sun and Moon and Earth. We are all born at different points in the cycle. Astrologers said that there are differing personality characteristics and attributes associated with the different sections of the cycle.

If you tell me that your Sun and Moon are square to each other, I will want to know if the square is the first square, between the New and the Full, or the last square, between the Full and the New. The same will happen if you tell me that your Sun and Moon are trine, or sextile, or inconjunct. Actually, I will want to know how many degrees that the Moon has traveled from the Sun in your chart. The planetary distance will tell me into which section of the soli-lunar cycle that you were born. Wouldn't you want to know? There are eight phases in the Lunation Cycle.

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2005-12-23T05:58:00.000-08:00

How Can Astrology Help Me?

A good question to address! Astrology, via the birthchart, provides us with a symbolic blueprint of the planetary patterns at a particular time and place. In other words, at the time of our birth it provides us with a blueprint of the energy patterns to which the cells of our human being-ness vibrate. The planetary patterns are like a mirror, reflecting back for us our own human characteristics, potentials, strengths, weaknesses, abilities, talents, and struggles. There is no such thing as a *bad* birthchart. Nor a *good* one. There is no birthchart that preordains a specific fate. Every birthchart contains the roots of many potential personalities--each planetary pattern can run the infinite continuum between a positive and negative expression of its symbology as well as be expressed on a variety of different levels. Each and every one of us has the free will to choose how we will make use of the planetary energies. And, it is tremendously helpful to have an understanding of the dynamics of the planetary patterns in our own birthcharts so we can choose consciously.

So what can astrology do for us? I'm going to borrow from an insightful astrologer & author I deeply respect, Steven Forrest, because he states this simply. "First, our birthchart clearly indicates the happiest path for us to walk. Second, it indicates the tools we have available for walking that path and how best to use them. Third, it indicates what our lives will look like if we step off that path. In addition, the birthchart provides the means for discovering our unique life purpose. And, it is usually that which we ultimately find the most joy in doing, that presents the greatest challenges to overcome."

Astrology is just one of many means to self-discovery. What I like best is the speed with which that discovery can be made. Astrology can validate who we already (however unconsciously) know ourselves to be when it might take years to make such discoveries using other means. Your birthchart will indicate your unique self and the skills and gifts you have to offer the rest of humanity. It will point out areas of imbalance and indicate the means to regaining balance. It can assist you in making satisfying choices in regard to your relationships, work, education, and life goals. It can help you to gain clarity and perspective when in conflict, confusion, or transition. It points out your natural cycles--such as, the most opportune time for planting seeds, nurturing the seeds to growth, harvesting the 'crop,' or plowing the crop under to prepare for a new cycle. Truly, for everything there is a season... So, in addition to assisting you in embracing the whole of yourself, astrology can also help you to prepare for emerging opportunities and to develop appropriate timing.

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2005-12-21T05:30:00.000-08:00

Sun in Capricorn

When the Sun is in Capricorn, we prepare for the worst, expecting the best. The Capricorn's symbol, that strong-willed Sea Goat, climbs up from the sea and scales the steepest peaks to reach the high goals they set for themselves. Their cautious, confident steps usually get them to the summit. Capricorn's Earth Sign energy is a time of self-control, persistence, patience. Ruled by Saturn, Planet of Karma, Capricorn's Sun transit can be frustrating. On the bright side, this influence allows us an ambition and clarity of purpose coupled with a respect for others. While it can be an egotistical energy, it's not devious at all. Common sense governs decisions made under this influence. Rather than being spontaneous, Capricorn takes itself and its life seriously, believing that it makes more sense to do things well the first time. Though gifted with a good sense of history and perspective, once it starts climbing, Capricorn doesn't look back.

A good time for:

* Making thorny decisions
* Playing strategic games, like chess
* Paying attention to your social status

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2005-12-16T07:27:00.000-08:00

Venus is slowing down

Venus is slowing down; it's her turn to dance backwards. She turns retrograde on Dec. 24, changing the feeling of the holidays. She aligns with Chiron for the first part of her journey, kicking up old wounds from old loves. You will miss someone this holiday season. The person who's not there will take emotional priority over the one who is there.

Venus rules love and relationships. She also rules money. While she is retrograde it is best to stay conservative with your finances. It is a poor time for major financial purchases or investments. It is harder to assess the true value of something while she is retrograde as you are motivated by emotional idealism and not practicality. You will regret your impulse buying.

You get a second chance at fixing your relationship. It is an excellent time to go to couples counseling. Venus in backward motion gives you an opportunity to see the other side of the story, to feel how your partner feels.

Venus will be retrograde until Feb. 3 and will travel from 2 degrees of Aquarius to 16 degrees of Capricorn. The area of your chart that contains those degrees is under review.

Winter Solstice occurs on Dec. 21. There's a strong earth emphasis in the chart, a good time to secure your resources. It's looks like a winter to stay warm and cozy at home. Water is still unpredictable; be extra careful and cautious when on or near it.

Thursday, Dec. 15 Moon in Gemini, VC from 12:11 pm until 11:01 pm when it enters Cancer. This full moon is unique as it falls on the one day of the year that the sun meets up with Pluto, lord of the underworld. Information and understanding come to you when you meditate under this moon. Venus enters Aquarius to bring some distance and objectivity to your dreams of romance.

Friday, Dec. 16 Moon in Cancer, VC 7:33 pm. Venus runs right into Chiron to remind you that your love life needs some fixing. There is an opportunity to coolly look at your relationships, present and past, and find the key as to why they work the way they do. Cook dinner for family. It's a good night to snuggle up at home.

Saturday, Dec. 17 Moon VC Cancer. It's frustrating to have a VC moon on a day when you need to go shopping. Try to wait until tomorrow to shop when the energy is so much better. Bake cookies and holiday foods. Stock up on vegetables and foods to put away for the winter. Fill the bird feeders. Enjoy a quiet day at home.

Sunday, Dec. 18 Moon VC Cancer, enters Leo 9:18 am. Today is a prime shopping day. You will be in good spirits and feel generous. Keep your mind open to let new and quirky ideas enter. Shop for your loved ones and the children in your life. Buy toys, games, jewelry, and theater tickets. Take the kids out for a special treat.

Monday, Dec. 19 Moon in Leo. Keep shopping when you can. You can get a lot done today. It's a good day for parties; have a spontaneous celebration at work. Find time to work on a personal creative project. Shop for romance novels, photo albums, and gift certificates. Play Santa Claus; give a big donation to the charity organizations.

Tuesday, Dec. 20 Mon in Leo, VC from 8:08 pm until 9:39 pm when it enters Virgo. Today is the last full day of Sagittarius and the last day of Fall. Life will become serious again. Enjoy today's fiery atmosphere while it lasts as the earth emphasis returns tomorrow. Sell yourself and your work. Take a risk, do what you want, push the envelope, it's that kind of day.

Wednesday, Dec. 21 Moon in Virgo. The sun enters Capricorn at 1:35 pm and Winter begins. It's time to get down to business, to make lists of future goals, and to check your investments, your priorities and your responsibilities. Shop for work-related equipment, office furniture, tools, and closet organizers.

Thursday, Dec. 22 Moon in Virgo. Get organized so you won't have to work as hard this weekend. Try to finish your shopping. Shop at the hardware store, office supplies, and health foods, and pet supplies. Think about the work you do and how it will change this winter. Do important bank business.

Friday, Dec. 23 Moon VC Virgo, enters Libra 10:26 am. Venus is barely moving today. Your social events will reflect this. Your mind is already turning to past lovers. You'll have to walk a thin line between past and present. Don't try to make any decisions. Get the last-minute shopping done today.

Saturday, Dec. 24 Moon in Libra. Venus turned retrograde at 4:36 am. There's different twist to everything that is Venus related now: love, money, art, and aesthetics. It's a great weekend to be social. Socialize with as many people as you can today. Relax into being with people and put your worries aside.

Sunday, Dec. 25 Moon in Libra, VC from 10:52 am until 9:04 pm when it enters Scorpio. Merry Christmas! Let go of any expectations on how the day should go. It will flow on its own with a VC moon. Venus and Chiron work as a team to teach you about love. People may not show up and you may have to face disappointment. Be of good cheer and be thankful for what you do have.

Monday, Dec. 26 Moon in Scorpio. You will have to address the feelings the holiday stirred up, as they will be apparent today. The more upset you are, the more you were attached to a certain outcome. Channel that intensity of feeling into a project to help others. Bring your healing energy to an ill or invalid friend with a visit.

Tuesday, Dec. 27 Moon VC Scorpio. The null and void energy that a VC moon produces is amplified by a Mars-Saturn standoff. An issue that stems from mid-August is demanding resolution. It will be hard to do anything else. Move slowly today, just get the minimum done. Pushing for what you want will only cause frustration.

Wednesday, Dec. 28 Moon in Sagittarius. The energy lightens and you can go back to work with a lighter spirit. Make contact with customers and clients who live far away. Try to have some fun outdoors. Sign up for a course of study. Plan your next trip.

Thursday, Dec. 29 Moon in Sagittarius, VC 10:01 pm. It's a day to play outside your comfort zone. Change your routine and see where you go. Fight the inertia of the old moon and have some fun. Eat an ethnic dinner and watch a foreign video. Tonight is the dark of the moon.

2005-11-30T00:19:00.000-08:00

Plunging Into The Deep
Life Can Be Scary

Life can take us on a roller coaster ride full of highs and lows and twists and turns. Even for those of us who enjoy unexpected thrills, it's frightening to suddenly find ourselves heading for a deep plunge. Yet, it happens to all of us. At these moments, it is important to remember that you are not alone in your experiences. No matter how brave, strong, or levelheaded we are, sometimes, we all get scared.

Our fears may revolve around our physical safety, particularly if we are not feeling well, living under difficult circumstances, or doing work that exposes us to hazardous conditions. Or, we may be experiencing financial woes that are causing us to be fearful about making ends meet. We may also fear the loss of a loved one who is sick, or we may be scared of never finding someone special to spend our life with. We may be scared to start at a new school, begin a different job, move to a new town, or meet new people. Whatever our fears are, they are valid, and we do not need to feel ashamed or embarrassed that we are, at times, afraid.

It may be comforting to know that everyone gets scared, and it is perfectly OK. Sometimes just acknowledging our fears is enough to make us feel better. And while it sometimes takes a lot more to ease our mind, we can console ourselves with the knowledge that life can be scary at times. Giving ourselves permission to be scared lets us move through our fears so we can let it go. It also makes it alright to share our fears with others. Sharing our apprehensions with other people can make our fears less overwhelming because we are not letting them grow inside of us as pent up emotions. Sharing our fears also can lighten our burden because we are not carrying our worries all by ourselves. Remember that you are not alone.

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2005-11-17T13:51:00.000-08:00

Ask Yourself
The Answers Within Us

Many of us seek the answers to life's questions by looking outside of ourselves and trying to glean advice from the people around us. But as each of us is unique, with our own personal histories, our own sense of right and wrong, and our own way of experiencing the world that defines our realities, looking to others for our answers is only partially helpful. The answers to our personal questions can be most often found by looking within. When you realize that you always have access to the part of you that always knows what you need and is meant to act as your inner compass, you can stop searching outside of yourself. If you can learn to hear, trust, and embrace the wisdom that lives within you, you will be able to confidently navigate your life.

Trusting your inner wisdom may be awkward at first, particularly if you grew up around people who taught you to look to others for answers. We each have exclusive access to our inner knowing. All we have to do is remember how to listen. Remember to be patient as you relearn how to hear, receive, and follow your own guidance. If you are unsure about whether following your inner wisdom will prove reliable, you may want to think of a time when you did trust your own knowing and everything worked out. Recall how the answers came to you, how they felt in your body as you considered them, and what happened when you acted upon this guidance. Now, recall a time when you didn't trust yourself and the results didn't work out as you had hoped. Trusting your own guidance can help you avoid going against what you instinctively know is right for you.

When you second guess yourself and go against what you know to be your truth, you can easily go off course because you are no longer following your inner compass. By looking inside yourself for the answers to your life's questions, you are consulting your best guide. Only you can know the how's and why's of your life. The answers that you seek can be found when you start answering your own questions.

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2005-11-12T08:59:00.000-08:00

Your Lunation Birthday

Your Lunation Birthday provides an abbreviated and accessible
introduction to the lunation cycle and the eight lunation types. Want to know to what type you belong, »»

2005-11-09T00:14:00.000-08:00

Descent into the Darkness – The Way of the Scorpion

Scorpio is associated with the decent into the underworld. The scorpio born person is intimately familiar with this journey as it is an integral part of their lives. Symbolically the decent represents a journey into the depths of our being. As scorpions are well aware, we gain wisdom by examining the unexplored realms of the unconscious.

In Greek mythology, the descent into the underworld is associated with the goddess Persephone, who was taken by her lover Hades to be his wife in the underworld. This of course was done without the consent of Persephone’s mother, Demeter, the goddess of the Harvest. Prior to Persephone’s disappearance, Demeter allowed the crops to flourish and trees bore fruit year round. But grieving the loss of her daughter, Demeter, also known as Mother Nature, could not allow the plants to grow and a time of darkness fell upon the earth. The earth could not withstand the lack of life and eventually, it was agreed that Persephone would spend half of the year in the light with her mother and half of the year in the darkness of the underworld with her husband.

In Mesopotamian myth, Ishtar, the goddess of the earth and sky, descended into the depths of the underworld, known as the Kur to rescue her lover from death. In order to pass through the gates as she descended, she had to relinquish, her possessions and position, surrendering bits of her identity until she was naked. Only then could she petition the goddess Ereshkigal, pleading for the life of her beloved.

In both stories, sacrifice is required in order to attain a new understanding, a new perspective on life. And it is the same with us and our journeys.

Descent into the depths of the soul can be a painful experience, one in which one must confront personal demons. Yet this journey holds the promise of transformation, for by delving into the darkest parts of our souls and facing our deepest fears, we earn the chance to release these fears and live anew, to live refreshed, revitalized and free of the burdens that those fears had cast upon us.

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2005-10-28T01:34:00.000-07:00

On the meanings of Venus when it joins Mars or Saturn or Jupiter or the Sun and on the meanings of Jupiter when it is conjunct to them.

When Venus is with Mars it is similar to a woman who searches for pleasure and who joins a man that is perverse and is a whore-monger; she fears him, flatters him and she has a loving attitude towards him and shows affection to him; and however these things are pretence, she does them for fear. When Venus is with Saturn, it is similar to a young woman with a good figure who keeps company with an old , impotent man. She is distressed for this reason and the way she leads her life seems unbearable to her. When it is with Jupiter it is similar to a woman who is in the prime of life, and who joins up with an honest man and there is affection between them. When it is conjunct to the Sun, it is similar to a grieved and suffering woman who is always subjected to her husband. When the stars of Jupiter ,of Saturn are together , they are similar to two mates who, nevertheless , are completely different and each of them aspires to harm the other and bring him to a ruin. Then , if we find Jupiter with Mars, it is similar to an honest man who joins another man who is wicked and dissolute. If we find Jupiter with the Sun, instead , it is similar to a man of lowly origin and living standard who can not do anything. If we find Jupiter with Venus, it is similar to a strong, rich and generous man. Finally, if Jupiter is with Mercury, it is similar to a man who shows a lot of care in carrying out his duty successfully.

2005-10-17T23:51:00.000-07:00

Somebody Believes In You

There are times in our lives when we may find ourselves facing challenges that can seem overwhelming. The situation or task we are struggling with seems hopeless, and it is easy to stop believing in ourselves, our goals, and our dreams. It is during these moments that it can be reassuring and reaffirming to turn to the people in our lives who do believe in us, especially when we are finding it hard to believe in ourselves. An encouraging word, a reassuring look, or hearing the words "I believe in you" from someone who matters can help us turn our situations around in an instant.

Everybody has someone who believes in them, whether this person is a teacher, parent, friend, loved one, or an employer. Often their belief can wrap us in warmth, bolster us, and offer us a supportive hand to grab onto until we can regain our own support. Having that special person who believes in our abilities and our worth is a wonderful gift. But when we are feeling unworthy, it may be difficult to take in something so precious. We may even feel like we need to do it all on our own and that we shouldn't be asking for help. However, in letting their belief and support impact you, you are acknowledging the part of yourself that knows you are worthy of trust and esteem. By allowing them to believe in you, your own belief in yourself and your abilities will start to emerge again. Borrow their vision, and you can make it your own.

If your special someone is not there to spur you on, you also can lift yourself up with the gift of a positive image. When you feel uncertain, you can create a vision of the future you desire that will serve as a beacon of light. To do so, simply imagine a future that is exactly as you'd like it to be. Imagine in detail how you feel, what you are doing, and how others are responding to you. Make your vision as real as possible, and allow your doubts to recede so you can focus solely on the goal you seek. The more intently you focus on the image of what you want, your belief in yourself will step to the forefront, making it easier for the universe to open up a path and guide you.

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