Astrology.ca Blog

Moving Astrology.ca Blog

2011-01-06T10:30:00.000-08:00

As I currently don't have time to update my blog posts, and I am unable to fix a persistent login problem at Blogger/Google and as I have recently discovered the joys of Wordpress ... :-) ... I will be closing this blog and eventually will move it onto my own site at Astrology.ca. I appreciate the kind and thoughtful comments many of you have shared, and I hope you will look me up on Astrology.ca and on Facebook ( http://www.facebook.com/bjasmine and http://www.facebook.com/pages/Astrologyca/373274393141 ).

"I don't want to start an argument but ..."

2009-12-15T19:11:00.000-08:00

Have you ever noticed that when someone says the word "but", you can erase everything they said just before?

Today I got a comment that started off with "I don't want to start an argument but ..." which then went on to insult my intelligence and professionalism, and called me a scam artist if I didn't choose to take up his challenge! That's a strange way of going about not creating an argument (laugh).

If astrology "annoys" you, sir, don't visit astrological blogs. End of problem.

This blog isn't an open invitation to debate. If you wish to pursue that, I refer you happily to alt.astrology, a Usenet board that is full of those on both sides of the argument who have been energetically wasting each other's time with the same tired old arguments for the past 15 years.

Ladies: Four Questions not to ask an astrologer about men

2009-11-06T18:28:00.000-08:00

Recently I got some comments, public and private, begging me to do readings again. It's mostly from women begging me to tell them about their true love and when he's going to change or will he change, or is he telling me the truth when he says he's just not into me?

I know I'm coming off as more Dr. Phil or Dr. Laura than Hug Bug at the moment, but I think a little tough love may be the higher choice, even if it means there are some hurt feelings.

Ladies, really! Do you want honest answers to the most commonly asked questions astrologers get about men? Okay, let me tackle the most common relationship questions I have gotten the past 20 years as an astrologer, and my common responses. Because I don't need to see the charts to know the answers to any of them.

Question 1:

Does he really love me?

I won't answer this question even if I get a strong impression. Ask him, not me. He knows his own heart better than any astrologer or psychic. If the answer is yes, then there isn't a problem. And if the answer is no ... then as hard as that is, at least you know. If it will injure your friendship, it's not a strong friendship in the first place, and you are better off knowing sooner rather than later. Asking me won't absolve you of the necessity of eventually asking him! And while it's rare, I could be wrong. My opinion might be entertaining or distracting, but in the end, irrelevant. There is just no reason to put it off. Ask him!

Question 2:

He says he just wants to be friends. Or he's not into me, won't marry me. Please tell me if this is really true.

What, do you really want me to tell you he's crazy or lying, that the relationship really will work out and that love conquers all? My heart sinks when I get these questions, because the way I see it, heartbreak is invariably in the forecast. There are two possible options here. Either he is telling the truth (and he likely is, if he's worthy of your love), or he's a crazy, indecisive liar. Ask yourself, is it really in your best interest to hang around waiting for a crazy, indecisive liar to make up his mind? The status quo may suck, but the alternative could be far worse in the long run. Take him at his word.

When a guy tells you "I don't love you" or "I just want to be friends" ... believe him, and if you truly love him, let him go. Remember that old saying ... If you love someone, set them free. If they come back they're yours; if they don't they never were. Oh, and don't wait around for him to come a knockin', there are plenty of fish in the ocean, go hook one worth the catching.

Question 3:

"When will he come back?" or "When will he leave his wife/the other woman and marry me?"

Ugh! I hate that question. You already know the answer is never ... hopefully! C'mon! We both know you deserve better! These boots were made for walkin' says it all.

Question 4:

"When will he change?"

Let me ask you a question ... did you hook up with or marry this guy, or a mental picture of who he was going to be when you "fixed" him? It's not him that really needs to change. He's not going to change in the vast majority of cases, the changing is going to be up to you. The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. So the question really is whether you love him enough to accept him as he is, or is it better that you move on? I'm not answering that question for you, it's not my job. If it doesn't work out, next next time, remember to ask this question before you walk down the aisle (or exchange keys as the case may be): "Do I love him for who he really is, or for who I think I can make him into being?" ... if it is the latter, girls, that's control and it may be attachment, but it's not love.

I know that many astrologers make a good living answering these questions. Some will claim to be able to answer them accurately. Some will even tell you what you want to hear. You may even have an "ooh wow" moment when you get the reading as they tell you things about yourself that they shouldn't know. But in the end, the "ooh wow" moment doesn't change anything. What really might change something is if you take a deep, long look at yourself. Forget about "him" for the moment (especially if you are asking any of the above questions). How can you lead a happier, more fulfilling life? What is the best next step you can take for your own happiness? How can you make your relationship (this one or the next one) better and more fulfilling? Astrology can be a lot more useful answering those questions.

Strange comment on my blog regarding a big-name "competitor".

2009-10-25T11:42:00.000-07:00

I rejected a comment today, because it has some harsh comments for a big-name competitor. I wanted to address those comments though, so I decided to post them to the blog with the competitor's name blanked out.

Real astrologers are being undermined by *********.com. They are co-opting you. They are buying up "name" astrologers and using them to front BS astrology for the real thing. You work hard to provide good information to people, but a few are after nothing but dollars at the cost of a living for astrologers and the integrity of the oldest science. You need to stand up, wake up, speak up. People like the Matrix guy are trying to make money at both ends = producing stuff for *********.com and selling you stuff, including selling you "BOOKS" that are offered for free on *********.com who is paying him for his information.

COME ON PEOPLE. This is important to astrology. We work hard to provide people with information that can improve their lives. These people are after NOTHING but dollars. Good to earn a living doing what we do, but to "rape" everyone and the art for the sake of a dollar ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, pLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLease.

Joe

Okay. Deep breath time.

First, I am neither a fan nor a detractor of *********.com. They have never approached me to write content for them, and I doubt they are aware of me. They have some good content there, periodically I refer to it on my Twitter page. But I have no connection to them and don't expect one. If they did come to me with a stack of money, I'd be happy to write for them.

I don't understand how what they are doing is "rape" and what we are doing is "good to earn a living doing what we do". The only difference it seems to me is that they are better at the "earning a living" part, because they have corporate support and marketing budgets, and we don't. More power to them!

The Law of Attraction is powered in the positive by gratitude and in the negative by envy, Joe. I wrote "competitor" in quotes in the title, because I really don't believe in "competition". It's an illusion. What *********.com is doing is making astrology more appealing and available to the masses. A rising tide floats all boats. As they build the market for our craft, more people are going to want the experience of seeing a qualified astrologer, or learning more about astrology for themselves at a deeper level. That means more business for you and me, and less encounters with Ms. Bible Thumper and her pal Mr. Rabid Skeptic.

I write horoscopes for one reason. It's all about the money. Not that there is a ton of it (grin) ... but if it wasn't paying, I'd close down the site and focus on my art instead. I have written clearly about the limitations of sun-sign horoscopes. I do them, because when I didn't do them, I got maybe 1% of the traffic I'm getting now. The same is true for pop-astrology sites like *********.com. We have to accept that the average person will never be interested in more than scratching the surface of what it is we do. Most of them don't even understand what it is we do.

Hidden in the large volume of those people there though are a few gems who really do want to learn more about astrology, who really do want to improve their lives and make a difference in the world. And you and I cannot reach them through a layer of bitterness about things we cannot change. I want to thank you for bringing this to my attention because that last sentence was as much for me as it may be for you.

May the stars be with you.

Brandi

No More Readings ...

2009-08-28T14:08:00.000-07:00

I've decided to suspend the readings I've been doing on my blogs (http://astrologyca.blogspot.com/ and http://lwypg.blogspot.com/). My reasons are largely personal - I'm too busy with too many irons in the fire right now. I'll leave these blogs up though, and you can follow me at the following Twitter pages:

@bjasmine
@astrology_ca
@lwypg

You can also find me at these web sites:

www.bjasmine.com - www.astrology.ca
www.jasminecats.com - www.psychicprotection.net
www.niagaraspirit.com - www.onequestseminars.com

Which path should I take?

2009-06-16T16:28:00.000-07:00

There are several possibilities in my life right now but I also have a chronic medical condition that leaves me with limited resources. Should I work towards finishing what I've started here (which hasn't been going well so far) or move on and take up something entirely different (and risky)?

TC

Dear TC,

Do you have something else in mind already? Or are you asking "should I jump out into the void" so to speak? I can see why both work and health are challenges for you. You have Saturn, Sun, Pluto and Venus in your 6th house of work/daily living. You are ambitious, but experience physical restrictions that have at times limited your growth. With all that stuff in Libra too, I would expect that the opinions of others factor heavily into your decision-making equations as well.

It's not your illness that is killing your dreams, it's all that people-pleasing. Right now your little Libra collection is Trine the trio of Chiron/Neptune and Jupiter, all of them in the 10th House of career and ambition.

I wager if you drop some of what Caroline Myss calls your "Pleaserites" - the folks who you are taking responsibility for - you will find that you suddenly have a whole lot more energy for following your dreams. Pluto is all about change, which works well for the idea of doing something dramatic, Jupiter in a big way. The Trine being in Air signs, it's going to be something creative or cerebral, something very different than you have done before. But Chiron is in there twice - your natal Chiron in the first house in Taurus speaks with a voice saying "Don't you really think you should be doing something a lot more practical?"

I don't think practical has been working for you. What you want is big and risky and nobody ever got to the end of life saying "Gee I wish I'd played it safe a lot more". I can't promise you success, what I can promise you is you won't be happy until you give your dreams a shot.

Brandi

Will I get a job soon?

2009-06-06T20:09:00.000-07:00

Will I get a job soon?

CRH via Twitter

Hmmm ... I don’t know if I can answer your question “yes” or “no”. It’s more likely to be yes and no. What I mean by that is you have Uranus, a planet of instability and sudden changes, in your second house, square your natal moon, and it’s sensitive because you have Cancer on the cusp of your “work and daily life” sector.

What might work best for you is to look for more than one job that you can do freelance, out of your home. You have some signs of writing or communication ability, your chart pattern is very “other-focused”. I’m not surprised with a chart like this you have been in more than one country. You can parlay that experience into profits and perhaps some fame if you focus. But right now, you need to ride with and accept a wave of instability financially. That will likely continue for a while, so learn how you can make it work for you instead of against you.

What kind of work are you doing now? If you are not independently self-employed, in some kind of psychological or service-oriented field, that may give you some hints where the opportunities will arise.

Brandi

First impressions

2009-04-24T14:16:00.000-07:00

What are your first impressions when you read my chart?

TZ

Dear TZ,

Normally I am looking for a more targeted question when I do these questions on my blog. I can only do so many free readings, it helps me to know what your area of interest is first. Otherwise I pick what interests me, and that may tell everyone more about me than it does you. You did not include a time of birth and that can severely limit the amount of information one can get from an astrological chart.

What I can say is you have Sun conjunct Neptune, which makes you very empathic and intuitive, but it is Saturn opposed Chiron that catches my eye. You have some forgiveness work to do with male authority figures in your family, fathers, uncles or male mentors from childhood.

Brandi

The Farting Guy

2009-04-21T08:12:00.000-07:00

I decided to share this story today because of the astrological aspects that indicate a high level of hypersensitivity. I had just graduated from my first Lifestream class (warning: site plays music).

I was actually thinking how cool it was, how far I'd come, and a total stranger gets off a bus that I am getting onto. As he walks down the steps, he's making a face at me, and all of the old "He thinks I'm a fat, ugly, cow" programs crashed in on me. In the time it took for me to lift my foot off one step and put it down on the next, I must have shrunk three inches.

Then, as he passes me, he passes gas! He wasn't thinking about me at all. He was thinking "I gotta get off this bus before I let go of this massive fart!" ROFL! It was such a huge lesson, and it was so funny. Now I think about the farting guy whenever I find myself thinking I know what someone else is thinking about me. I may be sensitive, but I have to remind myself that my self-talk is often louder than my intuition.

Accepting Pluto Transits

2009-04-07T08:17:00.000-07:00

From Twitter:

AstrologyLesson@Astrology_ca
But, if a bully is beating you, "accepting that" does not make the bully stop hitting. That is part of the equation.about 10 hours ago from web
in reply to Astrology_ca

I decided to answer you on my blog because I think this topic deserves more than 140 characters <g> ...

The problem with the analogy between Pluto and a bully are the judgments and issues we all have with bullies. As a survivor of peer abuse I know a lot about bullies. Bullies beat on you for a variety of motivations. They can be after power. They can have anger management issues. They may be abused at home themselves and are taking out frustration on you. In no case are they considering your higher good or well being. They have a desire, they go after it, and will make you suffer if they don't get their way. Sometimes, their only desire is to feel better about themselves through causing others pain.

While metaphors are useful to a point, we need to remember that Pluto has none of these motivations. Pluto is not after self gain. And the idea is not to bring pain. Pain may be our reaction to the events we experience, but a great deal of the time, that pain is entirely self caused by our resistance to the changes Pluto is bringing, changes we have chosen to experience at a higher level, but that our ego is resisting in the physical. Pluto's job is to break down our egoic attachments so we can grow (I highly recommend Eckhardt Tolle's book "A New Earth" - this link has a free audio version courtesy of Oprah).

Good examples - A man needs to lose weight but resists making the lifestyle changes that could speed up the process. So Pluto in his 6th house brings on an ulcer that forces him onto a restrictive diet. A woman refuses to dump her abusive boyfriend but stays because she fears living alone. Pluto in the 7th brings a nasty divorce. On some level, if we are honest, often the changes Pluto brings are things we desire, or at least know are in our best interests. Caroline Myss once said (paraphrasing) that part of the job our angels have is to cause necessary chaos in our lives to wake us up. That's a very Plutonian concept. Her example was of a person who knows they need to leave a job (2nd, 6th or 8th house) and refuses to do so. They get more and more humiliation, more workplace abuse, or actually get fired, because they refuse to leave on their own volition. But in the end, the chaos is a blessing because it opens up an opportunity for them to do what they truly desired all along.

So by acceptance I do not mean "fail to take action". It's action Pluto is calling for, 9 times out of 10! It's our refusal to act that brings more pain. By all means take action if you can. The point I was making originally is that sometimes action isn't possible, or that we continue with the same response even though it isn't effective. Some conditions one cannot change. Take Nelson Mandela, imprisoned for years. He said "Resentment is like taking poison and hoping your enemy will die". He could not escape the prison physically, but he would not allow his mind to be imprisoned in resentment.

The Dalai Lama once said (paraphrasing) that if you have a worry or a fear, there are only two options. If you can do something, do that thing. If not, accept your circumstances. Remember in the Law of Attraction that what you focus on you expand - if you focus on hating the changes Pluto brings you and resisting them, you will only bring more of what you hate.

During a particularly brutal Pluto transit over my Asc, my entire life changed because of an unwanted psychic experience. This was an incredibly painful time in my life. I was terrified at first. I'd been raised as a fundamentalist Pentecostal ("holy roller") ... you just didn't turn up psychic one day. I ended up being estranged from virtually my entire family - it is still a tender point between my mother and I. The worst part was losing my faith - I could handle losing my family, but it was like I also lost God for a time. I felt utterly alone, abandoned and confused.

I wanted to know "why" this happened to me, because it seemed so pointless at the time. I threw myself into studies of religion, metaphysics, etc., and became virtually obsessed with the initial event. The more I fought against it, the worse and more negative my psychic experiences became. Finally I chose for the sake of my sanity to accept that this was going to happen, and that I might never know "why". That was my first step into the positive use of these abilities. I began to rebuild my faith in a new way. I found others and started to help them through their experiences, which is now one of the central joys of my life. When people read Living With Your Psychic Gifts and write to me saying they are in tears just to find someone who understands, it makes every minute of my own experience tremendously meaningful. I have finally found the "why" ... but I would never have discovered it if I had not accepted it.

If we view Pluto as an evil bully who is out there to rape, pillage and cause us pain, then that's exactly how we'll experience those transits. They aren't fun, but they represent absolutely critical stages in our personal growth. That being said, I am definitely looking forward to Pluto leaving my 2nd house! (laugh).

Many blessings,

Brandi Jasmine (AKA @Astrology_ca).

Capricorn and Libra in Love

2009-04-06T09:39:00.000-07:00

Today's "Ask An Astrologer" question comes from a Twitter follower who wants to know if she is compatible with her boyfriend. She's a Libra, Aquarius Rising, and he's a Capricorn, with Moon Opposed to Sun.

As I mention in the related video, it's hard to make a compatibility assessment without both charts - but I like to have permission from both parties to do that. Since this request is more or less anonymous, and I don't have his full data, what I can say is that it's a myth Capricorn and Libra don't get along. I love my Capricorns, they are the spice of life for me! A Libra myself, I have Scorpio Rising, and Scorpio adores Capricorn. It's more about the gestalt of the chart, the Sun Sign is only part of the picture. The Moon, Venus, Mars and Saturn are the other points you want to look at. Why Saturn? It tells you if the relationship will have staying power.

From what I can see of your chart and know of his, I think the big issue will be his "Mom" issues. Sun opposed Moon is "mother trouble". When you are in a relationship with someone, you bring their family into your life, love them or hate them. In a new relationship, it can be easy to walk away from a man if you can't stand his mother - not so easy if you are together and committed. I don't know where you are at with that, but it should be an important factor in your considerations. Do you get along with his Mom? Does he get along with his Mom? However that looks now, it's not likely to change. If you can live with that, God bless you ... and if you can't, then you have a lot of thinking to do.

In your chart you have a strong T-Square between Mars, Uranus and Chiron. This means that you will tend to draw men (Mars) who are unstable, avant guarde or unusual (Uranus), who give you life lessons (Chiron). That's not going to change if you dump this guy and go looking for someone else (which wasn't what you asked me). I highly recommend this class ... and if you can't get to the class (which is worth every penny even if you have to travel, imo), then check out this book: Controlling Others for Love and Profit or this CD set: Get Over Yourself by James Roswell Quinn. He facilitates the class, and the book/CD is the next best thing to going to the class. Your chart says d stress management is a recurring theme in your life, and there is nothing better that I have found so far (speaking from personal experience).

Brandi

will i succeed in politics?

2009-03-31T15:59:00.000-07:00

will i succeed in politics? when?
will i become a chief minister or minister? when?

V

Dear V,

I often edit the posts I get for questions, I clean up the grammar and the capitalization but in this case I left your message exactly intact because I wanted to point something out. Do you see how you have not capitalized your sentences, the titles or the "I"? I assume you do not do this in formal writing, but here writing to me your guard is down, and this suggests to me that you mentally make yourself small (or perhaps you are deliberately doing that?). This can manifest as shyness, and that, coupled with the strong Neptune together with ASC in Pisces tells me that while you may use your strong thinking and willpower to succeed, it is in the arts or counseling where your heart may lie. You may be drawn to politics to save the world, to heal others or to make the world a better place, and these are all laudable goals. Do you have the hard nosed ambition to succeed in politics? Perhaps. Sun in the 10th house conjunct Neptune makes you extremely charismatic.

I do have to say my empathic sense is telling me this is something of a trick question, or perhaps you have not recognized your own success as yet? Are you already successful in politics? Or is it that you have measured your success solely in terms of the titles you have (or have not) accumulated to date? Don't sell the "service" contributions short! You have a strongly humanitarian chart. Stay focused on service to humanity and you will succeed in ways you can't begin to imagine.

(More in the video!)

Brandi

Is there a real astrologer on staff?

2009-03-12T16:56:00.000-07:00

I've loved your site for many years, but this year I've noticed that the horoscopes are repeating. Is there a real astrologer on staff or have you moved more towards entertainment?

E

Thank you for writing. There is a real astrologer on staff, that's me :-). I do cast charts for the horoscopes. But after 4-5 years of writing horoscopes I find that the same patterns repeat themselves, and it is hard to come up with new ways of saying the same thing, and it takes a huge amount of time to write horoscopes on a daily basis. I have created a program that links up the day's energy pattern for the Moon together with interpretations written over the past few years, and it creates a database of horoscopes that pulls the right interpretation for that day's energy. I periodically add new interpretations to those files as time permits. It is rare that a horoscope repeats for the same sun-sign (about once every 2-3 years per sign, and then rarely in the same sign), and if you are seeing more than that, please let me know as there could be some error with my database.

Where it comes to horoscopes though, frankly ALL horoscopes are entertainment, I have never viewed them as more than that and have always encouraged our readers to do so as well. See: http://tinyurl.com/bjsunsigns.

Horoscopes are fun and entertaining, people enjoy them, but I expect no one to take them seriously, mine or anyone else's. Serious astrology is far more detailed and in-depth and while horoscopes do help fund Astrology.ca, Adsense is not bringing in a huge amount of money, and I have found most readers aren't interested in purchasing things from the site. So my payoff is really the enjoyment I get from producing the content. Automating the delivery has freed up a huge amount of time for me to redesign the site, and to bring in fresh new content and services to this and my other sites. I hope people enjoy the horoscopes, and that will bring people in to learn more about astrology for themselves. In the next while, as the new site continues to build, I hope to bring in more tutorials and lessons to help readers cast and read their own charts in detail.

One thing new that I am doing is the Astrology_ca account at Twitter. http://twitter.com/astrology_ca ... there I do daily interpretations of what is going on astrologically in the moment. I go there once or twice a day and those interpretations and comments are written daily on the fly. I also take questions and comments there and on my blog at http://astrologyca.blogspot.com/.

Christian Astrology?

2009-02-10T14:29:00.001-08:00

My mother sent me the most intriguing video, a possible Christian explanation of astrology that I just had to share here with you. I pick only one nit with this fellow, and that is that I believe the Hebrews learned about astrology (and carried away many other things) from the Babylonians, rather than the other way around. I agree with the essence of this lecture however, and applaud this pastor for his studies of astrology.

Update: As of February 22, I can no longer find the video on the site where it first appeared. I hope that this does not reflect censorship on the part of Tangle, the Christian site where this video appeared. The only videos I can find there now are decidedly negative about astrology. A true shame if that site is censoring its contributors this way ... if anyone has seen that video on YouTube or the like, let me know so we can embed it here again.

Health reading

2008-08-10T22:06:00.001-07:00

I would like to know if my health will get better or worse, both physical and mental.

TJ

Dear TJ,

First I have to make the disclaimer that I am not a medical astrologer. I know a bit more than the average guy about medicine, but I have no medical training, so I am always careful when answering a question like this. What I can do is more of a “What are TJ’s challenges?” reading instead.

Looking at your natal chart, you actually have a lot of positive aspects that indicate you are bringing forward a lot of positive energy into this lifetime. You have Sun Trine Ascendant Trine Neptune, in water signs. You are a powerful psychic who can see into the other realms with relative ease. The challenge is you incarnated into a world and culture that doesn’t always understand you. Aquarius Moon Square the Nodes means you have an almost electrical plug in into Truth, but other people (the Nodes) don’t always want to hear what you have to say. “I told you so” could be a bit of a mantra for you! Remember that movie where Jack Nicholson says “You can’t handle the truth”? You need to remember that not everyone is ready to deal with reality. I can relate (grin).

You also have Sun Opposed Uranus and Pluto. You see the world as a volatile, dangerous place, and for good reason. You have likely encountered violence in your early life. You have learned though that fighting your troubles isn’t the most effective way to get to your goals, and as you continue down this path, not only will you heal a lot of your own challenges, but the inspiration you offer others will be powerful. In fact, the most challenging aspects for you all have a positive aspect to Neptune, which translates to you having the ability to take your greatest pain and transform that into a blessing for yourself and others. That much of this is focused in the 9th house says to me that you intended to come here to teach people how to overcome abuse.

The challenge for you is highlighted over and over again in the natal chart as frustration and anger that the world is a hostile place. Transiting Mars Opposed Uranus right now are pushing every button you’ve got, particularly with close family, siblings and those friends you see as brothers and sisters. Uranus moves slowly, and it hits one planet for you after another. The upside for Uranus is that it favors Internet communications, and I believe that the connections you make online right now may prove to be strongly healing. Mars moves out of aspect over the summer, and you may find that you come through this time with a great deal of strength as you consciously decide to channel your reactions more effectively. I highly recommend Caroline Myss book “Why People Don’t Heal”. I suffer from similar health concerns and I found it hugely helpful in dealing with them. The key to your mental and physical well being is to find ways to transform your own reactions, to learn to demand your own safe healing space and to let go of resentment towards those people who don’t understand and can’t find ways to help.

Brandi

Tell me about my son

2008-08-10T20:42:00.000-07:00

I was wondering if you could tell me about my son. I worry about him because he has chronic fatigue and can't sleep at night. Along with that I believe he has a neurological disorder. He was diagnosed with Restless Leg Syndrome and I noticed that every since he was young his head has jerked uncontrollably, like a tic. It seems that the only time it does that is if he is stressed out or feels uncomfortable. I guess they call it a nervous tic. He is very angry and I'm scared he is going to get into real bad trouble with the law.

TJ

Dear TJ,

Your son is an Aries, with Libra Rising and a Leo Moon. That’s a lot of Fire energy, together with Libra’s sensitivity to the opinions of others. His 7th House Sun is conjunct Venus, making him attractive and charming, and very aware of other people’s judgments. This is a person who may seem selfish at times, but that hides a strong need to please others. Aries also wants everything and it wants it now, and that can be challenging for a young man with such contradictory desires. Frustration will be expressed as anger by anyone with a lot of fire in their natal chart. With the challenges he faces, it’s possible frustration that he tries to hold inside is manifesting physically with RLS and the facial tic.

I’m not a medical astrologer, so I can only tell you what I see of personality and stressful metaphysical aspects that might affect health. I have noticed that he has Uranus opposed Chiron in the 3rd and 9th houses, and that can make it difficult for him to express his emotions to others. Yet that’s exactly what he needs to learn to do in order to bleed off some of the emotional energy that he’s holding onto. Barbara Hand Clow, the leading writer on the subject of Chiron, warns of the dangers of drug use to anyone with this aspect. You don’t mention this, but it’s a possibility with this aspect that you need to be looking for. There are some positive aspects to Chiron though and it’s possible that one of his peers or a girlfriend could come along and motivate him to take up drama or another verbal art form that would give him a positive outlet to express emotions that he might not otherwise feel comfortable sharing.

Right now, he has Mars transiting the 12th house, and it is Square Pluto, in the 3rd. Traditionally one interpretation of this kind of transit may be “possible trouble with legal authority”. Mars is almost exactly inconjunct his Sun, adding a charge of confusion to his heightened state of sensitivity right now. He has to make a lot of adjustments that are not all to his liking. I would strongly urge you to get him into some type of cognitive therapy, but that may only be useful if he recognizes that some of his challenges are self-generated. Unfortunately, Chiron is opposed his natal Moon at the moment and that can translate to “Doesn’t want to listen to Mother”. The best thing I know of to recommend for him would be the LifeStream class ... but ... I get the feeling he is in resistance to you right now, and about all you may be able to do is let go and let God. Therapy and what LifeStream does will not work for him until he comes to the conclusion he needs help and he's willing to do whatever it takes to get well. If thats not an option, the best thing I can suggest is get some of his friends to encourage him to take up drama or another communication-based art form.

Brandi

Guest Blog: Phil Reckard ... Life Paths, Pluto and Saturn

2008-02-20T20:42:00.000-08:00

As an astrologer, I strongly believe that a person's "path" is determined at our birth - not predetermined - but determined, and there's a huge difference between the two. At birth, the Universe imprints our souls with the timing of our birth via the ever-changing planets. It's almost as if an unseen hand waved over our tiny newborn bodies and said; "Here's your basic design kid, now make the best of it. The plan is that there is no plan, simply this basic design." A lot of this design is progressively manipulated by our parents, siblings, friends, lovers, and teachers as time goes by, but the basic design lingers and motivates some, yet too often festers and cripples others. Other people will effect our lives and paths in strange and wonderful ways, but that's a response for a different time.

This design (of our life) looks a lot like a road map, and yes - it's all about the journey - with dirt roads, superhighways, bypasses, bridges and dead ends - all of them leading somewhere, everywhere we look. We learn slowly (or quickly) that we can maneuver any or all of these roads safely in our vehicles (our bodies), and if we're utilizing our mind's capacity of free-will correctly, we'll usually follow the path of least resistance. If everything feels okay, we continue along to see what lies around the next bend, watching for the signs our individual road maps say should be just ahead.

It's important to remember that others have been down these roads before us, and "Dead End" signs have been posted by people far wiser than any of us. Of course, new trails can still be blazed into various wildernesses, but we need to be open to learning from the mistakes of others from the past - our own past lives for a significant example. Similarly, if we learn from the successes of former adventurers and trailblazers, we get to stand on the shoulders of giants to see where future paths may lead us, by making connections with other paths.

Astrologically, these roads might look like our natal Moon and Mercury in our 9th house Sagittarius for example. We will hence "naturally" follow our hearts (Moon) and minds (Mercury) to seek adventure and learning about new lands (Sagittarius/9th house). If our Mercury and Jupiter are in our 2nd house Gemini for another example, we will "naturally" be drawn to expanding upon (Jupiter) a hobby in writing or communicating (Mercury in it's ruling sign) to scrape out a living and acquire possessions.(2nd house). However, it may not necessarily be our career or life's work as seen by whatever might be in our natal 10th house, and/or whichever planet might be moving through the 10th house by transit. In either of these very simplistic examples, if there are favorable aspects (the path of least resistance) to Pluto or Saturn for instance, success in our endeavors might almost be guaranteed, but only if we know that we need to activate these paths of least resistance.

Here's where the demon of free-will enters the equation. We might have a perfect set-up to pursue a path as a brilliant surgeon (Mercury conjunct Chiron in the 6th house, Virgo Ascendant for instance), but if we don't go to medical school and do the necessary residency requirements, we'll be sitting at home watching "ER" reruns waiting for the operating room to come
to us. Herein lies the difference between determinism and predeterminism: A person with this perfect set-up still needs to go ahead and create their own path, as nothing ever falls through the roof and into our laps. Instead of a creator being "out there" making things happen for us, we need to become our own creators for our own benefit.

And then there are the transits, processes potentially lasting for several years when an outer planet like Neptune or Pluto moves over a sensitive natal planet or two. These can present opportunities for us to "go with the flow" of the Universal tides, evolve, and move with the changes the Universe presents. For the more fully evolved individual (not me yet!), we can then do the necessary work toward becoming co-creators with the Universe.

I hope I'm not stepping on any religious toes here, but there's a saying that "the Lord helps those that help themselves." I see this as being only partially correct, and perhaps ultimately deceiving. Astrologically speaking, "The Lord" is only the Universe's imprint on our natal design, while transits and (slow) progressions serve to help us evolve. The map-maker is impersonal in this regard, only showing the individual what is possible and potential. The individual must then decide for themselves which roads are to be taken, and exactly where their own path of least resistance leads to.

Being in a particular job, or finding yourself involved in a particular hobby, might seem to be the right thing to be doing at a particular time, but may not be your life's work or "calling." You may find any activity to be personally fulfilling, but not necessarily financially rewarding, or perhaps the other way around. Those would be the compromises we too often need to make in order to pay the bills in order to survive. If we can combine the two (fulfillment and reward) we'll find ourselves ahead of the game in what Joseph Campbell describes as "following your bliss." I'll paraphrase this and call it "following the path of least resistance," with the necessary caveat that such a path should harm no one, and ultimately serve the higher good of the community, both locally and globally.

There's one planetary transit in particular that is fascinating to observe, and this involves real-time Saturn on our natal Pluto. Saturn represents responsibility, maturity, constrictions, authority figures, and learning the big lessons of life. He's basically our inner adult telling us to grow up, and while we may not always want to take responsibilities for our own
actions or our own lives, Saturn teaches us we need to face up to these necessary evils. The myth of Pluto as ruler of the Underworld speaks of the cycle of death and rebirth, and why we have returned to the Earth plane in our current incarnations. Real-time Saturn on a natal Pluto would therefore be asking us to take responsibility (Saturn) for why we've returned from the
dead (Pluto) - the big "why am I here, and what is my life's purpose?" questions.

Of course, a person must become aware that this transit is occurring, and take measures to lead a self-examined life while simultaneously following their bliss, discovering their past-life mysteries, and trusting their higher selves for guidance. Utilizing our birthright of free-will is key throughout this process in order to activate this transit and make it real. This is all about becoming co-creators with the Universe to make a better future for all of us, as this holistic approach is by definition universal.

The fascinating thing to me about a Saturn on Pluto transit for our collective well-being is the person's age in which this transit occurs. Because of their very different orbital speeds (Saturn 30 years, Pluto 248 years), this transit is happening for an increasingly younger set of sub-generations. For instance, people born between (roughly) 1939 and 1956 have their natal Pluto in Leo, and Saturn has passed through Leo between July 2005 and September 2007, giving all of us in this generation our Saturn on Pluto transit during the past two and a half years, starting with the elder folks within this subset first.

Saturn has since moved into Virgo, and the Good Professor will be offering a younger generation many opportunities to discover their life's purpose - those born between 1956 and 1972. In other words, people at this time within the (approximately) 52 - 69 age bracket have already had their Saturn on Pluto, while people currently in the 36 - 51 age group will be getting
theirs in the next 2.5 years.

If you believe as I do that we are entering the most critical phase that we as a species have ever encountered, it's reassuring to me that younger, stronger, more energetic, and hopefully more idealistic people will be discovering their life's purposes in the next few years. Between 2010 and 2012 (!), people currently aged 24 - 35 will begin there Saturn on Pluto opportunities, with many of these younger folks going through theirs simultaneously during their Saturn return, a slightly (or very) different set of responsibilities (Saturn) for discovering why they have returned from the underworld/death (Pluto).

Beyond that? The phrase "... and a child shall lead them..." comes to mind as people born between 1984 and 1995 will be getting their chance to make their karmic (Pluto) responsibilities (Saturn) a reality. This alone gives me optimism for the future.

Of course, a Saturn on Pluto transit is only one event to consider for an individual's life purpose, and people may have already received their calling way before Saturn intervenes. Al Gore for instance had been trying to warn us about global warming for years before he worked on "An Inconvenient Truth" during his Saturn on Pluto, and all he did was win a Nobel Prize, an Oscar, and much more recognition by living within his life's purpose, so a Saturn on Pluto can be maneuvered very successfully.

We mere mortals are on our own, no?

Peace,
Phil Reckard
Click here to book a reading with Phil, or any of the Global Psychics

Eclipse on my birthday

2008-02-19T17:07:00.000-08:00

There is going to be a full moon and full lunar eclipse on my birthday next week. How do you think that might affect me? I am hoping for something positive!

S

I'm a bit iconoclast where it comes to eclipses ... I don't give them the weight many astrologers do. To most traditional astrologers, an eclipse is treated like the Death Card in the Tarot (or death images in dreams). It's supposed to signify a dynamic change of some kind. To me, it is just a slightly more interesting full moon aspect. The Moon just moves too quickly, the impact of a Lunar transit rarely has impact past a day or so.

However ... it does fall on your birthday and that's what we call a "solar return" chart - and that chart holds sway over the rest of your year. This is why birthday celebrations are so important - whatever happens on the birthday affects the "mood" of the rest of the year. And this year could prove to be extremely important for you.

This Moon is in Leo, in your third house, opposing a stellium of planets in your 9th house. What's a stellium? That's a whack-load of planets. A great big group of 'em. Without going into too much astrologeze ... the bottom line is you are likely to be writing or teaching some form of healing, spiritual, or metaphysical ideas this year. There is a Square to natal Neptune. That could lead to confusion, escapist urges, the temptation to escape through drugs or alcohol. You need to work harder than normal to stay grounded. Luckily you have a Solar Sextile to Saturn, that will bring you down to earth gently enough to keep at least one foot on the ground, and a Trine to Jupiter brings in some good luck. I think you could be looking at a career change. You need to push yourself into the spotlight, take a leadership role, stand on your own ideas.

It looks like you are processing a huge amount of spiritual energy this year and could use some support as you face some transformative energies.

A birthday reading for Claudia

2008-01-30T22:22:00.000-08:00

Some people have ambivalent charts. I have one. I could be an artist, a writer, a singer, a radio talk show host, or 500 other things. There is no such ambivalence in your chart. If you had not mentioned it I would have no trouble guessing you are a healer.

You have Sun in Pisces, Moon in Sagittarius, Scorpio Rising. You are extremely sensitive and in tune psychically. The challenge is that Sagittarius Moon in the middle of all that water ... let's just say your head and heart aren't always in harmony. In fact, you sometimes feel that your head and heart are at war with one another. That's your Achilles' Heel. You need to find different areas, one for your sensitive, intuitive side, and another for the more left-brained creative side.

To make things more interesting for you, your Moon is conjunct Chiron, Sun is conjunct Mars. Chiron being that strong is the reason you have the healing gift (and yes, I would welcome any healing energy ... I am struggling with pain in my lower back). Speaking of pain, while you are gifted at healing others, how does that work for yourself? Chiron square Mars/Sun is a pretty challenging placement. If it does not manifest in health challenges for you, it may manifest in health or relationship issues between the men and women in your life (4th house Sun - "family stuff") ... I bet your family is interesting. Still, these squares can be somewhat offset by the other aspects, a nice trine from Chiron/Moon to Pluto and a sextile to sensitive Neptune ... seriously, your chart practically screams "healer". You have the potential to be quite famous for it. One avenue you may pursue is some form of group work. Neptune is in Libra in the 11th house, and that makes you a compelling speaker and teacher too.

You are in the middle of your second Saturn return, and if you feel your healing abilities are coming into full blossom, that is a good sign. This is a critical period of growth for you, emotionally, mentally, in your career and health. You may find yourself being pushed to settle into a new career, and it will almost certainly involve health, healing, or some sort of medical service. You are extremely sensitive right now though, Saturn is pushing your Chiron buttons, and this can manifest in external events in problems with the male members of your family. This can be painful, but the growth it will bring you will be invaluable.

Jupiter is about to hit natal Jupiter soon too, which is more positive and "lucky" - you may find that you are able to manifest opportunities to build wealth and make connections that will make you more prosperous.

Britney Back in the News

2008-01-04T01:06:00.000-08:00

In my forecast for January I wrote:

Speaking of Venus, I expect another "pop-tart" flap this month. I would suggest that all the usual blonde suspects take a vacation somewhere nice and warm and remote, keep their mouths shut and stay out of the spotlight for a little while. One of them is likely to make a mistake that might end her career once and for all. Whatever happens will make a lot of money for other people, but it could be the straw that breaks her camel's back, or (ideally) finally be the real "rock bottom" she needs to get real help.

Tonight on the radio I heard that pop star Britney Spears was just taken from her home in a stretcher. CNN is reporting Spears was taken from her home on a stretcher and placed in an ambulance hours after police were called because of a child custody dispute. The radio report mentioned possible drug use related to the incident.

I did not specifically name Britney at that point, but she was in the "top three" possible suspects in my mind at the time. Also, back in October, I was asked by one of Britney Spears' fans to write about her. At the time I said:

Mars Square Neptune equals drug abuse. In her case, potentially fatal drug abuse or serious jail time (12th house Mars), if she does not find some way to reconnect with a spiritual or creative outlet. I hate to say it but right now the creative isn't working for her all that well, and fame isn't helping matters. Her only hope is a profound spiritual experience, a rock-bottom "near death" experience might be the life-saving experience she needs to wake her up. Losing custody of her kids hasn't seemed to make a profound impact, the possible loss of loved ones in other areas is featured in her transits right now. There could be a death in her family, and with what is known I truly fear for her own well-being, frankly.

I also described her lifestyle as "a really exciting wild ride filled with drug abuse, jealous rages, competition and dysfunction". I see no signs this will change. The current chart, calculated for the time police are reported to have arrived at her home, likewise speaks of drug abuse and danger to children, and the challenge for Ms. Spears is to survive what has become an almost archetypal role of the modern damsel in distress. For her trials to come through so clearly in a mundane chart says to me that she is playing a larger than life role in our culture. She symbolizes something that is wrong with our culture, just as Benazir Bhutto symbolized and played out something horribly wrong in her own field of influence. That's a huge burden for any one human being to bear, and with the weight of all that on her fragile shoulders, I only pray she and her children get the help and compassion they need right now.

2008 Forecast

2007-12-30T23:09:00.000-08:00

The unhappy events of the last few weeks of 2008 give us all grave concerns for the future of the Middle East. The effect a widening war could have on Western economies and daily lives have profound implications for our economies and the personal futures of those who choose a military life.

I fear that the US administration is still top-heavy with hawks who have convinced themselves that the only solution to the "Iranian Problem" lies in the use of military force. If they follow the course of expanded war, the outcome will almost certainly be horrific. The traditional associations for Mars and Pluto include "large explosions" and as we enter 2008, we have Mars Retrograde, opposed Pluto (at a critical degree). With Pluto also conjunct Jupiter, and recent events in Pakistan, it is no wonder more than one astrologer is concerned about the potential for nuclear terrorism in the Middle East.

There could be expanded home-grown terrorism. Atlanta and New Orleans are highlighted as potential danger areas. "Middle America" suffers from grave challenges and the possibility of war coming back home. This is unlikely to be outright rebellion, but it could take many forms. There are already signs of an epidemic of family and spousal abuse by returning vets struggling from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. These men and women are not receiving the quality of care they have earned and deserve. Their resentment is rising like bile in the throat of America. I am concerned that more than one former soldier may snap, with terrible results in the heartland.

Russia and Iran will be implicated, openly or secretly, in meddling with the war in Iran. Russia and China could face diplomatic challenges related to oil, Internet technology or space exploration. There could be something of an arms race brewing between the two.

The Canadian currency should continue to remain strong in 2008. Gold will be volatile, but look for it to go higher. A big player in the gold markets could be found to be hoarding gold or somehow manipulating gold prices.

There may be an outbreak of violence in Turkey, related to Cyprus.

Hotspots to watch in Africa are Libya, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Nigeria.

I am actually optimistic about the year ahead in many ways. The interesting challenge this year will be for women. There are both challenges and renewals for those who consider themselves "feminists". What do women value? What really matters? From what source springs our authority? Do we take what we can from old, white men, following their lead, or do we decide for ourselves what matters most to us? Do we chart our own path, or follow in the footsteps of our ancestors, repeating the dances they taught us as children?

A woman will take over as the major new CEO of a large company, to try to bring them back from the brink of disaster. There will be a jump in the numbers of women in leadership positions, including the rise of women in political leadership, particularly in Europe.

An old technology in communications could make a comeback this year. Letter writing could become a retro-fad. People will be looking for new-old ways of making contact with family members and loved ones.

There could be a breakthrough in the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. The treatment could involve stem cells in combination between embryonic and adult donors, together with drugs and some form of innovative or alternative treatment. A compromise between competing drug companies could lead to a major new treatment that includes some older treatments.

QuickPhase Pro Review and January Forecast

2007-12-30T01:29:00.000-08:00

There is a beautiful Grand Trine starting off the month between the Moon, Mars and North Node. People will be active, energetic and (mostly) agreeable (for a change). With Mars also opposite Jupiter though, we won't know whether to overdo ourselves at play or at work, and I foresee a lot of extra work for any chiropractor who is not in Mexico sunning his or her buns at the moment.

Regardless of your profession, this is the month (and the year, really) to take action on whatever ideas you treasure. New communications paths will open up. New technologies will become available that will enable a revolution in thinking and communication to take place. On the global stage, new leadership or a new style of leadership could take hold that could lead to a profoundly positive direction in politics.

These aspects are short, but taking place at the first day of the New Year, they leave an imprint that echoes through the rest of the year. What do you have to say right now? How are you going to get the word out? What new innovation, invention or idea can you put up for the rest of the world? This is not the time to remain silent! Take a risk and speak truth to power. Right now is your best chance of being heard. Stay focused on the practicalities, Venus isn't playing nice right now, and any frilly details could detract from what might otherwise be a winning presentation.

Speaking of Venus, I expect another "pop-tart" flap this month. I would suggest that all the usual blonde suspects take a vacation somewhere nice and warm and remote, keep their mouths shut and stay out of the spotlight for a little while. One of them is likely to make a mistake that might end her career once and for all. Whatever happens will make a lot of money for other people, but it could be the straw that breaks her camel's back, or (ideally) finally be the real "rock bottom" she needs to get real help.

QuickPhase Pro Review

QuickPhase Pro focuses on the phases of the Moon, placing this information all in a clear, attractive and easy to use interface. The calendar function shows you at a glance the Moon in all its Phases throughout the month. Zoom in on a given date, and you have Rise, Set, Azmuth, Altitude, and other critical information for astrologers, astro-gardeners and lunar watchers of all kinds (including women watching for astrologically fertile periods). The "Find" feature gives you a quick way to find specific phases through a range of dates.

Your first step is to enter your location data and time settings. Calculations should be within a minute of U.S. Naval Observatory data. You may select any time between the year 0 and the year 9999.

As an astrologer I am finding QuickPhase Pro especially useful, since we tend to look at the Moon on an almost daily basis, and my traditional astrological program doesn't offer Moon phase information in an easy "at a glance" format. QuickPhase Pro isn't strictly speaking an "astrological" program - it doesn't offer astrological data per se, but it does make finding the next full or new Moon as easy as looking at a calendar.

The maker of QuickPhase Pro also offers this nifty little Moon Phase ad-on for your website or blog, free of charge:

CURRENT MOON

moon phases

Astrological Analysis: Bhutto Killed in Pakistan

2007-12-27T15:09:00.000-08:00

Back in November, I spoke of my concern for Benazir Bhutto:

Last month I spoke of a woman in leadership coming to prominence, and of course the story of Benazir Bhutto fits nicely with the aspects I was watching then. Her potential is great, but I am afraid for her safety with the aspects I see right now. I would urge her to be more cautious than she has been in the past. The same for other women leaders who have polarizing or controversial pasts, who want to transform the world quickly or in radical ways. This is not the best time to push past people's prejudice. They will want to fight to hold on to the "old ways", and some of that push-back could be violent. I feel some of this energy could peak mid-month.

November came and went safely for Ms. Bhutto, but today, her good luck came crashing to an unfortunate end, and she was assassinated in the middle of a political rally. Looking at the astrological chart for the time of death, the Ascendant is Cancer, ruled by the Moon (a prominent woman). The Moon in Leo (arrogant leadership, feeling invulnerable) is opposed North Node, T-Squared Venus (a strong woman crossed by unfortunate events). The 12th House Mars (secret plots, war, violence) is opposed by Pluto and Jupiter (religious extremism, the potential for great violence).

The AstroCartography chart for the death time is frightening. It places Jupiter, Mars and Pluto lines in Iran, with the Death-God Pluto directly over Tehran. Worse, the Uranus MidHeaven line (unexpected, shocking events in high profile people or leadership position) also crosses Tehran. There are two possible interpretations. It is possible this assassination was sponsored in Iran, or that Iran will be blamed for it, and there may be retaliatory assassinations in Iran as a result.

Uranus, Pluto, Mars and Jupiter are a dangerous, explosive mixture in this kind of configuration. This assassination could have repercussions that will echo around the world. It bodes ill for peace in 2008, the effects could stain the entire region under a cloud of violent bloodshed. There is a particularly high degree of danger as Pakistan is a nuclear-powered country, and the expanding chaos may put their stockpiles in jeopardy. I am loathe to predict a nuclear exchange, and I pray it is avoidable, but I would not be surprised if there were some kind of nuclear disaster in Pakistan or Iran in the next 18 months.

Mercury also plays a role in this chart, with the Mercury Rising line passing close to Atlanta (CNN headquarters), Washington DC and New York City. The same Pluto, Mars and Jupiter lines cross through the heartland of America. Clearly this news will have a huge impact in the United States as well, possibly leading to a wider spread of the war in Iraq, and a greater burden for "Middle America". The controversy may affect the US elections. I would be greatly surprised if the war in Iraq, and the broader war on terror do not spread dramatically as a result.

Review and Comments

2007-12-05T12:02:00.000-08:00

This cool Graphic Ephemeris is an affordable treat for the astrology fan on your Christmas list. I was looking for a readable, easy to use graphic ephemeris, and came across this site ... they offer the current year free of charge, next year's ephemeris is only three dollars and change, payable by PayPal (and they currently have 2009 thrown in as a bonus). The ephemeris lets you see at a glance where the planets are in any given month, and allows you to easily see where a planet is going retrograde or direct. You can get a static graphic image or an animated flash version that runs on your home computer. Nifty toy, handy for planning for the long-term, and for forecasting timing of events.

Comments

I love comments, and I am pretty generous with the self-promotion ... provided you add something of value. Make a forecast, or share an opinion, then include your URL. Chances are I will approve that. If you are promoting an astrology site or software program, don't just post an advertisement or a sales pitch. Chances are very good I will delete anything like that. It's a waste of your time and mine. If you want me to review your book, software or web site, email me, and I'll consider it.

December 2007 Forecast

2007-12-01T17:56:00.000-08:00

This month is all about medicine, healthcare, and wellness. Expect to hear many strange and unusual stories about the healthcare industry. There will be gender-specific angles in a flurry of stories about the different ways men and women should be treated in the art of medicine, especially where it comes to geriatrics. The truth is we do have different needs, and there is a lot of work to be done in women’s medicine in particular. Funding is being diverted from women's research, and there could be some kind of scandal revealed that could result in some high-profile individuals going to court or worse. The upside of these revelations could mean a balancing (at long last) of some long-standing inequities in modern medicine.

Another scandal in the medical field may involve a large company's medical or healthcare plans. There could be some kind of security or privacy compromise. This company most likely has large telecommunications, radio or Internet holdings. They will attempt to keep this breach secret, but the truth will hit the fan between the first and second weeks of the month.

If you are feeling confused the past few months, look to where in your life your desire for freedom is at odds with your need for freedom. Saturn and Uranus are opposing right now, giving many people fits of mutually incompatible desires. Where this will manifest depends on where these two planets hang in your transit chart. There is an opportunity around the middle of the month to use this energy for your personal benefit, especially if your "confusion of choice" happens to involve romance. You may find yourself with a lot of new choices and options, if you are prepared to move quickly on the opportunities that are coming your way.

Special Holiday Advice: If you are one of those people who volunteers to do it all, then ends up feeling resentful and unappreciated, go to Hawaii this year, and let someone else take over the family chores. Or hire a caterer to handle all the picky little details. Or just have a little less of the time-intensive goodies and preparations. You'll feel torn between your desire to impress others and the very real need to have some fun yourself. You can't be a joy to others if you feel resentful – and you folks are putting yourself in the position to feel that way by your own refusal to say "NO". Lighten up. No holiday will ever be "perfect". Let it be what it is and enjoy yourself! Santa will be happy to get by with one less rum ball or two, and everyone else will be happier if they know you are having some fun too.

November 2007 Forecast

2007-10-31T00:59:00.000-07:00

This month starts off with a nice Grand Trine between the Sun, Uranus and Mars. Sudden, unexpected events and developments could change the face of modern warfare, and the way we go to work every day. Innovations and inventions, especially those involving water, like submarines, could bring a positive difference into the modern world. Of course some of these inventions could have a dark side. They could be found to have a negative effect on sea mammals, or on the oceans themselves. There could be negative psychological side effects, or a big story could come to light about drug use in the workplace or the military.

Last month I spoke of a woman in leadership coming to prominence, and of course the story of Benazir Bhutto fits nicely with the aspects I was watching then. Her potential is great, but I am afraid for her safety with the aspects I see right now. I would urge her to be more cautious than she has been in the past. The same for other women leaders who have polarizing or controversial pasts, who want to transform the world quickly or in radical ways. This is not the best time to push past people's prejudice. They will want to fight to hold on to the "old ways", and some of that push-back could be violent. I feel some of this energy could peak mid-month.

All women in positions of leadership would do well to avoid unnecessary risk and drama through the early part of the month. Focus on building consensus rather than pushing through any radical agendas. All people, men and women alike, will feel torn between their desire for newness and the comfort of the old. It is best to find different venues to express these different desires. Have one project that emphasizes the old, and another to bring in the new, and you'll find the energy smooths out dramatically.

Look for unique and interesting new methods of communication this month. A "next big thing" could be some kind of web site or electronic communication device that facilitates better productivity and connections between people in the workplace.

Where is my life going now?

2007-10-22T00:03:00.000-07:00

Is it possible to get some sort of reading to see where my life is going now. Like everyone else had had my share of tough life but I now "feel" things are going to work out and I am receiving abundance of joy, happiness, wealth, friends and companion ... any particular Switchwords to be used?

I am not the expert in Switchwords - Begum over at the Switchwords Discussion Group knows more than me ... but I think under the circumstances "Thank you" could be a powerful switchword for you (For the readers who are not familiar with Switchwords, they are like one-word affirmations).

Widowed, and struggling on my own for a while but just feel good things are in the air..

RM

Interesting, I am a Libra with Scorpio Rising, and you are a Scorpio with Libra Rising! You have an extremely intense emotional personality, but you are often tripped up by a need to "people please". I'm a natural "people pleaser" who is often tripped up by my intensity! ...

In your case, the first area that draws my attention is your fifth house. The fifth rules creativity, children, and love affairs/romance. Fifth house romances do not necessarily lead to marriage, and one of the planets is slow-moving but chaos-bringing Uranus. You may find that your creativity is just bursting from you right now. You may be drawn into unusual situations with interesting, dynamic people who open you to new ideas and concepts, not all of whom might meet with the approval of authority figures in your circle of friends and family.

You may find many of your needs and urges confuse or upset you right now. To be blunt - loosen up a bit, and enjoy the buffets life presents you right now. Take more time for art, entertainment and pleasure. There are more than one persons who depend on you for help or healing, but you can't be fully there for them if you aren't feeling whole yourself. I was just playing a video game in which four characters are on a quest. Each one has its own strengths and weaknesses. What I found interesting is that when the healer got sick or didn't get her share of the healing potions, everyone suffered. I think there is a lesson in that for you.

As to where your life is going ... your chart indicates that you are heading for a sort of second "teenage-hood", where you get to sow some wild oats and connect with your creativity in new and interesting ways. The challenge is your friends and loved ones seem to be a little old fashioned. Don't let the judgements and expectations of others keep you from what will be an extremely rewarding if not always stable and secure time of your life. There does appear to be the potential for romance this year. You'll be drawn to people who are outside the norm of your social experience, or to short-term "whirlwind" romances. It's possible you could meet someone on the Internet or through some kind of unusual form of communication.

If you are looking for a creative outlet, there are several indications that studying writing or music, or some form of healing or metaphysics could be rewarding and transformative pass-times for you. Your Progressed chart does show a strong connection to spiritual healing or some kind of service-oriented profession. You may be privy to some sort of secret or hidden knowledge or training. There could be money in this direction, the challenge will involve getting past your own self-doubt and fear to make your dreams into reality.

Brandi

Justin, Britney and Jessica

2007-10-20T00:52:00.000-07:00

With the caveat that all this is dependent on whether or not the birth data is accurate ... and that this analysis is for fun and information only ...

I can see why Britney is going through so much right now. She's got strong Pluto contacts in her chart, messing with her natal Neptune which natally squares Mars. Translation from the Astrologese: Mars Square Neptune equals drug abuse. In her case, potentially fatal drug abuse or serious jail time (12th house Mars), if she does not find some way to reconnect with a spiritual or creative outlet. I hate to say it but right now the creative isn't working for her all that well, and fame isn't helping matters. Her only hope is a profound spiritual experience, a rock-bottom "near death" experience might be the life-saving experience she needs to wake her up. Losing custody of her kids hasn't seemed to make a profound impact, the possible loss of loved ones in other areas is featured in her transits right now. There could be a death in her family, and with what is known I truly fear for her own well-being, frankly.

Do Britney and Justin have a karmic connection? Yes, absolutely. Just because two people have a karmic connection does not mean they are "meant" to be together, or are even good together, though. Her Moon and his Sun are exactly conjunct, a strong sign of shared past lives. She feels like he thinks, and vice versa. Their Suns are sextile. They are natural friends who can talk all night long. Their creative interests are in harmony. But yikes, their combined chart is not harmonious for romance! They have a pile of planets in the fifth house, good for lovers, not so good for marriage partners. But those planets make hard aspects to the second house - an indication of arguments over money, finances and values. Venus and Mars ("she and he") make no aspects. No lasting mojo. And Moon Squares Saturn ... massive insecurity complex. These two would be competing with one another. I don't follow either of their careers, I only see what I see on CNN as it flashes by or hits me when I watch Larry King, but right now his transits show someone who is disillusioned with or burned out by his daily routine, someone undergoing a lot of emotional and mental changes, which may be painful but are part of "growing up". Britney seems determined to run away from responsibility right now. That doesn't bode well for a rekindled romance.

I know absolutely nothing about Jessica Claire Biel. And we don't have her birth time. The best I can do is a combined chart for her and Justin. It has a lovely grand trine with Moon, Uranus and North Node (translation - high profile partnership, highly creative, unusual with lots of twists, turns and surprises, most of them positive). They have escapist tendencies. No Mars-Venus connection here though, and Mars does hit Neptune, so this isn't the best match, either. Will they break up soon? Hard to say, but Justin isn't the best bet for settling down with anyone right now. Uranus is transiting his 7th house of committed relationships. It moves slowly and has a long-term effect. Forcing himself to "settle down" would be a big mistake for this young man right now, even though he may be pushed in that direction by the women in his life (Uranus opposes Venus at the moment). That Uranus-Venus opposition hits Jessica's Sun. Since I don't have a time, I can't tell if this will center around relationships, but it will have a transformative influence on her personality, especially how she sees herself as a woman.

You do have to keep in mind no astrological chart can tell you for sure exactly what choices a person can make. All three people have challenging aspects - and I have seen people overcome far worse. As an astrologer who has not been consulted directly by any of the parties, I can only say so much. I see that all of these folks live in a highly-charged world that the best of us would have a hard time understanding. To put it bluntly, they are not living in the real world, but who can blame them? I would not be so bold as to tell Mr. Timberlake what to do. But if he wants a real shot at transformation and growth, with a few challenging side-trips into painful territory, he'll stay with Jessica. If he decides he wants a really exciting wild ride filled with drug abuse, jealous rages, competition and dysfunction, he'll go back to Britney. Of course there is the possibility of neither, or of his finding someone new. Anything is possible.

September 2007 Forecast

2007-08-29T15:45:00.000-07:00

September may start off on an overly optimistic note, with a lot of sexy energy in the air. There is what I’d call a "second chance" aspect that would bode well for those with on again, off again romances. If the re-attraction lasts into the second week of September, then you may have something. If not, well, a summer fling is better than nothing, right? It could go either way, but regardless of the stage your relationship is at, by the middle of the month you will notice that your partnership has developed a new way of communicating. The relationships with the staying power will be those where both parties are open to new and unusual forms of non-verbal communication. If you are already reading each other’s minds, that will make for some interesting experiences in mid-month.

The daily workplace will be no less interesting, but it is likely to be a heck of a lot more challenging. Stressful aspects plague the Sun almost the entire month as it travels through Virgo. If you work in a hospital or alternative healthcare, stock up on supplies, this isn’t probably the best month to take a vacation. People are going to be stressed out and vulnerable to more than just aches and pains right now. If your health is vulnerable or you have strong planets in Virgo, Pisces, Sagittarius or Gemini, this could be a challenging month either in your daily workplace or health. Don’t neglect one for the other. Find a way to balance your responsibilities to others with your responsibility to yourself.

Expect to hear a lot of strange religious proclamations this month. There is a strong negative energy that is stirring up fundamentalists of all stripes right now, and very little available to ease the pressure. They feel under attack, and the truth is, the more rigid one’s religious beliefs right now, the more likely you are being forced to realize some hard truths about not only the leadership of your faith, but its very founding principals may come under the shadow of doubt.

Harry Potter and the Outer Planets

2007-08-10T21:12:00.000-07:00

by guest blogger Phil Reckard

No, this isn't the title of Harry's eighth year at Hogwarts - a book JK Rowling says she won't be writing - this article is about how the Harry Potter series has been shaped by the outer planets, or more correctly, how Rowling has been prompted in some mysterious(!) astrological ways to produce the series.

The seventh and final instalment of the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was released on July 21, just a few weeks after the Saturn/Neptune opposition separated from exact. The Afterword of this glorious finale says that the idea for the series "...simply fell into my (Rowlings') head" in 1990, with real-time Pluto on her natal Neptune, while Saturn and Neptune were together in the same sign of Capricorn, within four to ten degrees of exact conjunction for virtually the entire year. The first book in this series was released in 1998, while Saturn was square Neptune.

Conjunction, square, opposition (germination - conflict needing resolution - fruition) - we see it every month with the Sun/Moon aspects.

Rowling herself was born on July 31, 1965 (exact time and place not important for the purpose of this essay), while Saturn was opposed both Uranus and Pluto in Virgo, with her Venus and Moon in Virgo as well Her nearby natal Mercury was station and about to go retrograde on the cusp of Virgo/Leo, much like real-time Venus is doing as I type (8/3/07).

I've found that natives with a Mercury station-retrograde are especially
tuned into past-life and ancient memories*, and I intuit that Rowling in particular has been no exception. Other natives born in her sub-generation of the mid Sixties have also shown examples of global karmic energetics working in their lives, culminating in various ways these days. Has Rowling been tuned into the outer planets, or have the outer planets been tuning into her? That's the great debate that has followed/swallowed astrology since the beginning of time, no?

Coincidentally (right!), the very popular movie adaptations of the Harry Potter books, which started in 2001 (as Saturn was opposing Pluto), is scheduled to conclude with the seventh (and final) movie in 2010, right at the conclusion of the upcoming Saturn/Uranus oppositions. Speaking of Uranus (Prometheus), the vast bulk of the series was written while he was moving through his ruling sign Aquarius. Spiritual Neptune joined the creative Aquarian fun in 1998, and soon after, Rowling signed the movie contracts for the series, befitting Neptune's mastery of illusions that cinema is.

Hmmm... Seven books covering seven years of a young wizard's journey, coinciding with the folk wisdom of the "seven year itch" and "seven years of bad luck," which just so happens to coincide with Uranus/Prometheus' seven-year journey through each sign, in this case his ruling sign... Jung would be proud of these synchronicities, and Dumbledore as Saturn might just be the Good Professor after all, instead of the Great Malefic.

Phil Reckard can be reached at globalpsychics.com

*I have Mercury Retrograde in my natal chart, and I have numerous past-life memories, some of which I have verified with others involved in those lifetimes, some through historical research. I would love to hear stories from anyone who spontaneously remembers past lifetimes as I have - Brandi jasmine

August 2007 Forecast

2007-08-06T01:05:00.000-07:00

August 2007 Forecast

You may have noticed all this summer that there have been new and unusual medical or healing opportunities. There is a big push towards alternative medicine that could really pay off for those who are not afraid to try new-old things. Look to alternative therapy for help alongside traditional medicine, it can be highly effective right now.

Romance is heating up this summer with the early part of August being a peak period for weddings, proposals and new romances. People will feel a powerful “urge to merge”. At the same time, there is a strong “He-Said She-Said” aspect in the heavens, giving an edgy flair to some romances. It is the men who will feel the pressure the strongest, leading up to late August when there will be some kind of high-profile media case involving men and “foot in mouth disease”. Men, take my advice, around August 24, keep your traps shut unless you want to cause big trouble for yourselves. If you can’t keep quiet, oh well, there is always early September when you can make amends with the standard flowers and chocolates.

A powerful human rights movement may get started this month. Look for the advent of a strong leader, possibly a woman, who emerges to set a new global effort with the potential to change many lives for the better. A big entertainment event could prove to be part of a catalyst to bring change to the lives of women around the world. There could be restructuring to political or large-scale organizations, or a change to healthcare that addresses women’s issues in a much more positive manner.

Reading for Janesa

2007-06-23T23:54:00.000-07:00

Hi Janesa ... sorry for being so late with your birthday reading but I have been a bit swamped this past couple weeks. And I realized after getting your birth data that you are a bit younger than I normally read for - but I did not specify "18 or over only" before (so I am doing that now, going forward, heh heh).

Anyway, you have a really interesting chart, with loads of planets in the 3rd and 9th houses, and a Gemini Sun! To top it off, you have Mercury Rising. I bet your family and friends are always teasing you about how talkative you are, am I correct? Saturn may keep you in line though, it sits in Aquarius (another "talkative" sign) on your midheaven, making you take longer to form your thoughts, and leading, as you get older, to a very precise and structured thinking. To me that suggests a high degree of intelligence, though with all that air, you tend to rebel against the "established thinking".

At your age, you are just starting to look seriously into careers, and with your chart, you may be drawn to formal education in the communications, legal, or educational fields. Some kind of writing or public speaking could work well for you.

This year, you will find that there are challenges in relationships, especially with the other women in your life. Mom, sister(s) and friends all seem to be pushing at you to change or to alter course. They think they know better than you what is good for you. Listen to your Mom, she might just be onto something when she makes a suggestion or two about the people you are hanging out with. It's not so much I see her saying "Don't hang out with that guy" ... more like she is saying "Why don't you hang out with this guy?" Give him a chance! It could work out better than you think at first. You are going to make new friends this year, one could be an older person who will have a positive impact on your social life and the relationship with the men in your life.

Where it comes to romance, you are looking for way too much intensity and excitement in a partner. You don't just want someone to rock your world, you want someone who will blow it up. This year isn't the best for romance for you unless you have someone steady already (and with Pluto in the 7th in Scorpio "steady" isn't necessarily what you look for anyway). That is just as well, because there is going to be a lot of other stuff going on, and you won't have much time to worry about it.

If you are not already working, there will be several opportunities coming up soon for you to make some money. You'll do well in businesses or opportunities that involve speaking to the public, helping people at home, or involve some kind of domestic service. This strikes me as very temporary for you - a much bigger career possibility in the media or communications is where you have the best chance of long-term success. With your chart, some kind of formal education is really the best bet, even if part of you rebels against some of what you are being taught.

Happy belated birthday!

Brandi

Astrology Overview May 2007

2007-04-29T23:21:00.000-07:00

This month starts off with some encouraging aspects related to work, career and finances. There will be breakthroughs in communications and technology soon that could help boost some lagging businesses. If your business or career is a bit slow, you may benefit from installing a new computer system, network, or getting some advice from a trusted friend or partner.

The big challenge right now is hidden agendas in global politics. Some frightening secrets may come to light this month that could renew and energize conflicts and terrorist attacks. Expect explosions aimed at “home, hearth and family”, the attacks will also be aimed at Western culture, its financial institutions and its freedoms.

The New Moon on May 16th takes place in Taurus, so a good deal of the emphasis this month will be on finances, creature comforts, personal security and values. The unstable political and social climate will have people reaching out for quick fixes. There will be high-profile celebrity rehab meltdowns (again), which are a metaphor for what is wrong with the rest of us.

The upside to these challenges is that they will make us all take a good, long look at what we value, what we believe, and why. When we come to the other side, it will be hard for us to relate to our old belief systems. By mid to late may, a woman in political leadership may open up some secrets that will open up a whole new can of worms involving the chaos in Africa or the Middle East. This scandal could propel her career forward and higher in a spectacular manner.

How the Moon rules your life

2007-01-28T18:36:00.000-08:00

How the Moon rules your life ... At last, scientists claim to have found a link between our satellite and human behaviour

By Roger Dobson

For eons, folklore has blamed the Moon for everything from lunacy to bad luck. And, for the last few centuries, scientists have scoffed. Now, according to new research they're not so sure. The Moon may not be made of cheese, but it seems to influence a lot more down on Earth than we previously thought. More --->

Astrology Overview February 2007

2007-01-26T23:15:00.001-08:00

This month starts off with some encouraging aspects that relate to healthcare, medicine, and alternative healing. There could be a research breakthrough or the publication of a major new concept that will bring about healing for large numbers of people. This could involve new drugs, herbs or medical treatments, perhaps more than one new idea that leads to positive changes for humanity.

People will come across as restless, hyperactive and dynamic this month. Of course, February is traditionally associated with lovers and Valentines, but the libido of the world is taking a massive jolt of energy, and not everyone will be ready for it. It will be like everyone has ants in their pants. It is sort of like the energy just before a big explosion, everyone can feel it coming, but nobody knows where it is going.

Big political changes are coming on the world stage. There may be a partnership between two important countries to work together for the common good, but the challenge is there are contradictory energies that will keep our leadership as confused and befuddled as the populace, especially at the beginning of the month. To top it off, the full Moon in Leo will have everyone working from rather ego-based emotional motivation. People in positions of authority would do well to check their motivation during high-pressure moments this month. Mistakes will be made when the higher good is not factored into decision-making, and there could be more than one "fall from grace" as a result of poor judgment. Slow things down, take things easy, or you may find yourself making more than one course-correction this month. Don’t fall prey to the temptation to play the "blame game". It will be incredibly easy to project our shortcomings and mistakes onto others, and that could lead to trouble in the long run. Taking personal responsibility is the key to growth and self-confidence right now.

Near the middle to the end of the month, expect a spike in technology news and breakthroughs. There will be some kind of life-altering innovation that dramatically and permanently changes our lives for the better. This may not be a smooth and easy transition for us all, however, there are indications of a backlash to change coming from those who yearn for the not so good "good old days".

If you are looking for comfort this contradictory and contrary month, find something small and fuzzy to take care of. Our furry friends need us as much as we need them, and right now there are likely to be many abandoned or needy pets needing a helping hand. A nice gesture for the month would be to make a donation of food or litter to your local pet shelter.

Astrology Overview January 2007

2007-01-02T20:53:00.000-08:00

We have a highly emotional Full Moon early this month, which in some ways sets the tone for the New Year. Expect a lot of news about housing, real estate, and family issues. While there have been a lot of challenges the past year, this could be an opportune time to look into buying or selling homes and properties. Unexpected changes in housing conditions could bring lucky breaks for those who are prepared to move quickly. There may be secret governmental plans underway that will come to light to bring tax or financial breaks to home owners and investors.

There may be a breakthrough in the global war against terrorism, some form of structural revision that brings hope and new energy to those with loved ones in the military. It’s not like global peace is necessarily breaking out all over the place (though one could hope for that), but there are some positive signs.

This could be an excellent month for a psychic reading with the Angel Ladies, for taking self-improvement classes, attending enlightening seminars, or for starting a new self-improvement program. The key is to accept your emotional state, which may be botth confusing and exciting. Every now and then stop whatever you are doing, take a deep breath, and ask yourself "How am I feeling right now?" You may be surprised at the emotions that come up. You may find unique and innovative ways of expressing yourself if you spend some extra time to write down and examine those feelings and any intuitive insights you receive right now.

This is an incredibly potent time for psychics and intuitive consultants. Expect to hear wild and outrageous stories, some of which may have a stronger basis in truth than you might expect. We will be hearing increasing numbers stories of alien contact, UFO sightings, out of body experiences and ghost stories. If you normally get unusual insights, and have been waiting for a breakthrough, pay special attention to your intuition right now. Much of what you get may seem wild or out of the ordinary at first, but if you are patient you will be able to mine considerable value out of your unusual dreams, insights and visions. Spiritually inclined people will be forming important groups and alliances this month.

The middle to the end of the month, the energies start to get incredibly intense in the sign of Aquarius. The Moon, Mercury, Chiron, Neptune and Venus line up near the New Moon. The next day, the Sun enters Aquarius. Air signs (Libra, Gemini, Aquarius) will generally benefit from this cosmic traffic jam, but Taurus, Leo and Scorpio Sun Signs may find it challenging. Aries and Sagittarius will benefit from unusual opportunities and insights around the 19th or 20th of January. All signs will find themselves somewhat overloaded with mental stimulation. Expect to hear news of incredible new technological breakthroughs, particularly those relating to new or alternative healing, healthcare, medicines, music and the arts.

Followup for Josephine

2006-12-07T20:28:00.000-08:00

Thank you for remembering my forecast request. However I do have a question and hopefully a simple answer.

My property has been on the market now for 2 years and no sale! ... very frustrating!

Any thoughts as to when I will have a potential sale and the freedom to travel?

Also, you mentioned in your forecast 'A major relationship is about to hit a serious milestone, and while the indications are largely positive, it may mean you have to restructure your life in some way.' Good call Brandi, as I have recently ended a 10 year relationship.

Many thanks

Josephine

Thanks for the feedback!

I can see why you are frustrated. Uranus is transiting in the fourth house of your chart. That indicates upsets, sudden and dramatic changes in the home, family, and in real estate investments. Uranus is also square Venus. My advice is to find someone to help you put in a few bucks spiffing up the place to appeal to a "modern woman" (Uranus/Venus) mentality ... but don't do this yourself. Find a decorator or advisor (get a male, or someone older or younger, not a female of your own generation). The property already carries some of these features, and you may have an awesome sense of style, but something is at odds with the prevailing trends at the moment, something you cannot see, and my wager is that is having a big impact on the appeal of the property. I figure if you do something like this, you may not only sell it sooner, but you may get more money in the end. At the very least, research on the Internet to find tips for brightening up your house before a sale. It does not have to cost a fortune, little things like fresh flowers on a counter can make a huge difference. Remember me if you get a big windfall! ... I have always wanted to visit your country, heh heh.

Uranus is in your 4th house for at least another year, possibly longer. You are not going to feel settled or secure for quite some time, but part of me suspects you like it that way. Together with transiting Saturn in the 9th house, this makes for powerful, earthshaking changes in your life. The urge to travel makes total sense of the overall picture. Saturn is a challenging planet, but it makes some positive contacts in your natal chart right now. You are obsessed with learning, with knowledge, and expanding your boundaries. This may bring challenges for you financially. Your natal chart says money and personal value are early childhood wounds to your psyche. This is nothing less than your quest for self worth. I don't think I have to advise you what to do - you are already letting go of the old to make way for the new.

December Forecast, and reading for Josephine

2006-12-06T21:23:00.000-08:00

Josephine (Dec 12) ...

This year is going to be about healing, personal growth and emotional challenges. A major relationship is about to hit a serious milestone, and while the indications are largely positive, it may mean you have to restructure your life in some way. If you are single and looking to be married, this could indicate a "settling down" period. If you are already married, expect a lot of interesting feedback from friends and companions who will bring news of weddings, engagements and serious new relationships.

The big challenge for you this year is financial. You may find yourself spending more, spending erratically, or spending on the basis of emotional reactions. You will have a lot of ideas for making money, but your energies will be pretty scattered. Don't gamble, try to make sure that the chances you take are not overly risky. You may be drawn to high technology this year, but you will encounter mixed results, and may spend more on computers and telecommunications equipment this year than you have in the past. Your career will be changing, but you may find that things don’t settle down until sometime next year.

There are lots of interesting parties and social events coming up this year, you will find out that you are meeting people who share your interests through bookstores, travel, or higher education. You may be considering going back to school this year.

If you would like to have a reading for the year ahead for your birthday, please email me within a month of your birthday, with your birtdata (Eg: January 13, 1956, 5:45 PM, Albany NY). You can ask one question, or just send the data, and you may see your forecast in an upcoming blog!

December Forecast

We’re heading up to the winter holidays, and no matter what beliefs you hold, there is likely to be cause for celebration this early month. Powerfully transformative energies are swirling about early in the month. The questions to ask are "How do I show my courage and leadership by making the biggest change, taking the biggest risk, jumping the highest? How do I show my friends and loved ones how life is lived? How do I be an example of love-based leadership to the people I love?" If you ask yourself questions like that this month, you will not only change your own life, you will pull others along with you for the ride. The focus will be on the family. How will you show love in challenging moments as well as during the celebrations? If you are looking for a special gift for that hard to please loved one, try something unusual like art lessons, a season's pass to a local theatre, or a gift basket made up of some of their favorite art supplies.

The special challenge early this month will be to slow things down. There is a lot of highly optimistic energy floating around, but the grand ideas people will have might turn out to have little staying power. You might want to take a second look at any risky venture that involves business, investment, currency or capital. There is some kind of monkey business in the money business this month, so watch your finances carefully.

The holidays themselves could be a challenging time though, a bit of a let-down from the high expectations early in the month. There are strongly negative aspects to "the public and people in general". It looks like there is indeed a "clash of cultures", and religious motivation could be behind unrest or attacks, intensifying near the end of the month. Intensely erratic emotions and a high anger level will make people act strangely around this time, especially where spiritual or religious beliefs are concerned. Everyone seems to thing that they have the unique dogma that will solve the world's problems, and yet it will be this very attitude that is tearing the world apart. The main upside could be the kind of healing that is often triggered after certain tragedies. If you find yourself falling into the "holiday blues", the best thing to do is to look for someone who is suffering more than you are, and find some way to be of help or service to them. If you don't know anyone, call the Red Cross or a local retirement home, and ask how you can volunteer. It could entirely transform the way you look at the season.

There will be a lot of interesting news about technology, computers and the Internet this month, though it will be a bit of a mixed bag. Look for new laws, court cases and strange movements in the stock market for businesses in these sectors.

November Forecast

2006-11-07T19:39:00.000-08:00

Astrology Overview November 2006

There will be a lot of talk about limitations this month. People's ego needs are going to be stronger than their material support options. That Hummer you wanted to buy is definitely over the top, or too much for your current needs, and you may want to avoid any buffet-style restaurants right now. We're all about comfort and luxury, champagne tastes on a beer budget, and the economy is showing the strain of our decision making over the past 7 or 8 years.

Where were you 7 to 8 years from today? What has changed? What has not changed? You may find by looking at the pattern of your life in this time period that there are some interesting and valuable lessons to be learned, especially where it comes to the things you think and worry about the most. The answers to any questions that may come up could arise in some strange and unexpected places. There is a lot of innovative and unique mental energy floating around. Keep a notepad with you so you can jot down some of the wild and perhaps fleeting ideas that occur throughout the month. They won't stick in your mind, no matter how powerful they may seem at the moment, and you may find not all of them are in sync with your daily life cycle. You may in fact find that many of them will be worked on in your next 7 to 8 year cycle.

There is an awful lot of energy to the planets, signs and houses that rule communication, especially the online or electronic sort. There will likely be some really good pre-Christmas sales on computers, cell phones and other communications gadgets. Some new upcoming innovation may be sparking the sell-off though. That means more new toys for the "early adopters" and bargains for the rest of us. Keep those receipts handy if you are buying new toys, though. There may be hidden challenges to setting up that shiny new wireless network, and that cell phone may have a few extra features you are not ready for just yet.

Forgive friends and family if they seem to want to talk your ears off this month. They may seem disoriented or "spaced out", especially near the end of the month. Siblings and friends may be wondering what happened to their minds, it will seem difficult to think at times. Yet there is an "Oh well!" feeling to it all. Whatever miscommunication there will be should be easy to sort out with patience and a little compassion.

It’s going to be quite a romantic month too. The challenge, especially near mid-month, will be for sexy singles (and even some couples) to keep their dance cards in order. There is a wild and crazy energy. Anything can happen, and often will! Going out in public will be the social version of Russian Roulette. You will never know what kind of new person you will meet, and everyone will seem to be on the prowl. It's a good time to add new names to a black book, but not necessarily the most auspicious time to settle down into something lasting and permanent.

This forecast appears in the in this month's edition of the webzine, Successful Spirit! The link is included in the announcement below, which also has special offers from some of the writers.

You can support me in this by forwarding this announcement to friends, clients, co-workers, and family who might enjoy my article or the others in Successful Spirit! webzine.

Take a look, and I'd enjoy hearing your comments.

Sincerely,

Brandi Jasmine

The new issue of Successful Spirit! is online and this announcement can save you money!

Successful Spirit is an upbeat monthly web-zine filled with great articles and ideas to help readers create the life they were born to live. Successful Spirit covers topics that people want to read about - prosperity, spirituality, alternative healing, holistic approaches to life, angels, art, intuition, and more. Each issue includes regular columns by the Angel Ladies, Deb Vaughan and Jean Porche, and also features articles by practitioners and interesting guest writers who entertain, enlighten and offer food for thought that will enrich readers' lives.

Check it out at:
http://www.theangelladies.com/successful_spirit.htm

Special Offers for Successful Spirit subscribers and friends. You must mention the offer, when you book your appointment - please let them know you saw this offer on the Astrology.ca Blog.

Deborah Vaughan is pleased to offer personalized affirmations and prayers with every Divine Insights medallion purchased in November. Just mention this special offer when you make your order. Email her at theangelladies@theangelladies.com or call 905-468-8448.

Jean Porche is pleased to extend the following offer to readers of Successful Spirit webzine: Now through November 30, when you book a 30-minute reading, mention this Successful Spirit webzine offer and receive a free download of The Angelically Yours Guide to Affirmations. Book your reading by November 17 and pay only $50 for a 30-minute reading (regularly $65). Email her at theangelladies@theangelladies.com
or call 905-468-8448.

For Jessica ... (October 6th)

2006-10-26T00:07:00.000-07:00

This year is going to be about relationships for you – especially relationships that you keep hidden or secret for some reason. Most of the people involved will be positive influences on you, they may be authority figures, teachers, or even political leaders. An important romance could grow and blossom, but for some reason you will want to hold it back from coworkers and family. The challenges for you this year come from you not honoring your need to speak your mind. Don’t put yourself down, celebrate your victories and talents, especially that artistic or creative talent that your family isn’t all that supportive or enthusiastic about. I have the sneaking suspicion they may not be too supportive of your love life either, but you have either met or are about to meet someone who will have both challenging and profoundly healing impact in your life.

Brandi

October Forecast

2006-10-04T20:03:00.000-07:00

People will be motivated to work very hard this month. There will be many opportunities for growth in work and business, especially for those who work with the public in rather traditional corporate settings. Don’t be surprised if thought processes are rather slow or backward in the beginning of the month, but that will turn around. And it won’t be all work and no play! Romance is in the air. It may not be the traditional time of year for hearts, flowers and chocolates, but right now the urge to merge is strong, and many new romances will blossom this month. If you are single, the best place to be is among friends and those who share your personal, social and political interests. Energy will be extremely high at the beginning of the month, and it will only intensify as days pass. In mid-month, some of the hidden aspects of romantic affairs will be revealed, and after some adjustments and surprises, things will settle back down into something resembling sanity. By Hallowe’en, things will be intensely sexy and passionate. All sorts of wild energy will be flying around on that night! If you want to be a hit, get your hands on a dark, gothic costume with seductive accents this year!

There could be a breakthrough in the medicine of relationships announced this month. I interpret that to mean good news for suffers of sexually transmitted diseases. If this is not manifested immediately, other indications are that a large-scale musical event could bring healing – possibly another gathering of musicians, this time for a cause such as AIDs or to send money to people in areas affected by war.

Speaking of war, this could be the best opportunity in ages for the advancement of peace. While tensions remain, and there is a lot of anger to be healed, this month is the most favorable in a long time for ceasefires and peace negotiations to succeed. In the end, it will be those leaders who can move past their hurts into healing who will be able to make the deepest changes. Unexpected results could come from secret negotiations.

There will be some mixed energies and messages this month from and for psychics, spiritual leaders and prognosticators. Psychic energy is increasing, as is social acceptance, but the changes are incredibly dynamic and powerful right now. The key is to find practical and realistic ways to integrate intuition into everyday life. Psychic development will likely be a bit of a “fad” coming over the next few years, which bodes well for yours truly and the Angel Ladies! The principle challenge to the growth will come from traditional sources, organized religion and the corporate-industrial-educational complex. The growth of intuitive thinking threatens the status quo, but the wave is building, and the momentum will be impossible to deny. Another challenge is that so many people are growing in their own intuition, but do not yet trust themselves. This is a particularly good time to start a personal journal if you are interested in developing your intuition.

No More Weekly Horoscopes

2006-09-30T23:20:00.000-07:00

Regular visitors may notice there is something missing at Astrology.ca. There are no more weekly horoscopes. I regret any inconvenience that this may cause, but as I no longer have any corporate customers for weekly horoscopes, and traffic was minimal on Astrology.ca, I have cancelled the weekly horoscopes. I am hoping this will free up more time for comments and expanded monthly horoscopes that I will post here on the blog.

Astrology.ca Cellular Sun Sign Horoscopes

2006-09-19T23:50:00.000-07:00

Astrology.ca will soon offer our daily horoscopes through cellular phones! There will be a small fee, payable through your carrier or credit card. The cost will be very affordable, about the price of one large latte per month. It should work with any US provider, and most Canadian ones. More news will follow as it becomes available.

If you are interested in other kinds of pay-per-use content (horoscopes, astrology or otherwise) via cellular phones, please let me know. I would be most interested in your feedback.

September Forecast

2006-09-10T02:24:00.000-07:00

The new issue of Successful Spirit! is online.

Successful Spirit! is an upbeat monthly web-zine filled with great articles and ideas to help readers create the life they were born to live. Successful Spirit! covers topics that people want to read about prosperity, spirituality, alternative
healing, holistic approaches to life, angels, writing, art, intuition, and more. Each issue includes regular columns by the Angel Ladies, Deb Vaughan and Jean Porche, and also features articles by practitioners and interesting guest writers
who entertain, enlighten and offer food for thought that will enrich readers lives.

Check out Successful Spirit! webzine here:
http://www.theangelladies.com/successful_spirit.htm

Astrology Overview September 2006

Expect loud and bitterly divisive public arguments about education, foreign aid, travel safety this month. There will be discussions and debates about illegal immigration, international relations and the challenges of our post 9-11 world. Powerful leadership will make a difference in the end. People will be reminded that their fears of the unknown, of outsiders, are largely based on the ubiquitous presence of the news media in our culture, rather than reflections of legitimate fears.

This doesn’t mean that terrorist attacks won’t happen, in fact they are likely this month … but there needs to be recognition that compared to more immediate threats (tens of thousands of people die on our roads and from the flu every year, and there is no panic about this), the threat from the “outsiders” isn’t as great as it seems. Unfortunately though, there will be those who will seek to stoke the fires of religious passions, and this motivation is likely to become obvious in some way this month. There will continue to be strong public pressure for stricter laws, and there could be a breakthrough or further challenges on the disagreement between the US and Canada regarding border security and identification. Still more violations of civil rights and a tightening of control mechanisms are coming for citizens in both these countries as governments struggle to deal with both real and imaginary fears. An international border agreement that has been worked on in secret could hit the mainstream news and provoke protests, which could manifest closer to the middle of the month. A strong political leader could emerge now to move things, but it remains to be seen whether they will move to the better or the worse in the end.

Relationships will be challenging and complicated this month. There are contradictory aspects, and people will seem at times to be acting in a chaotic, almost “bi-polar” manner. At times bold, then shy, outgoing, then introverted … if you think that you are getting mixed signals from a lover or partner, it isn’t your imagination. They really are a bit wacko right now. That may be a good thing if you like unexpected surprises and sudden mood swings.

Huge strides are being made in technology right now. If you have not recently invested in a new computer, it might be prudent to hold off for a little while longer. At the very least, prices could stand to come down a little. At best, some wild new digital product is about to set the geek world on fire. If you are okay to accept the second-best product on the shelf, you could save a bundle of money.

Speaking of investing, if real estate is your thing, it may be a good idea to watch the housing markets near mid month. There will likely be some positive news that could affect your bottom line in positive but surprising ways. If you are trying to sell a home without success, my bet is right now the cheapest and most effective upgrade might be to install a permanent home network in the den or home office space.

Oh No! Pluto is not a planet anymore?!!

2006-08-24T23:01:00.000-07:00

... Ah well, life goes on. This evening I am listening to Phil Plait again on Coast to Coast after the infamous re-classification of Pluto as a non-planet. It's a non-event here at Astrology.ca and for just about all astrologers I am sure.

This time, Plait did back off his rather sarcastic attack on astrology from his last appearance on C2C, admitting it won't matter much to us after all. In fact he was quite generous this time around. I suspect the original comment was probably just a moment of poor judgment on his part, an off-the-cuff comment that didn't come out quite as clever or funny as he imagined.

He hasn't backed off on being a skeptic, and nor would I expect or hope for that. Honestly, I'm not interested in convincing skeptics that what I believe is true. If you are either a skeptic or a believer, there is only one way to decide for yourself if astrology has merit. Test it out for yourself. Read the evidence on both sides for yourself. Remember that both sides have sponsored biased research with a pre-determined position in mind. Find out what astrologers actually believe and claim (especially if you plan to denounce those beliefs in public). Remember that we are not a unanimous, homogenous group. Some of us are pretty conservative, others kind of wild.

As for me, I think I am in the conservative group. I have seen many irresponsable claims by fellow astrologers. I understand the passion of the skeptics towards the "wild side" of astrology, and share it to some degree (though out of different motivations). For example, I do not claim to be able to predict the future. I believe astrology is useful for forecasting trends, highlighting possibilities. But the future is always fluid to some degree, and this needs to be better understood by students of astrology. In a future blog entry, I will explain the difference between prediction and forecasting. But for now, I am just glad that the astronomical tempest in a teapot is finally over ... though I will predict this is not the last we've heard of it in the end ...

Brandi

Answers to comments on Transpluto

2006-08-15T22:17:00.000-07:00

By Transpluto, do you mean any body that has influence that is outside the orbit of Pluto? How does a transplutonian object affect an analysis. Would you say an object, say Neptune, has more influence that a transplutonian object?

Just curious...Brian

Honestly, I am not an expert on Transpluto - the astrologers who use it on a regular basis are the best ones to ask for more detail. There are two ways I use the word. Capitalized, "Transpluto" commonly refers to a hypothetical object beyond Pluto. In lower case, I am referring to a class of possible objects beyond Pluto.

I personally feel that generally speaking, the closer in to earth, the more relevant an object should be - not just because of proximity, but because closer objects move more quickly and are more likely to interact with the natal chart through transits. But are they more influential overall? I don't know that is necessarily the case - astrologers also study the galactic center and fixed stars, and they can be incredibly powerful indicators of personality in some charts. Like any astrological analysis, all these factors have to be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Brandi

So what is the ephemeris for this Transpluto? If it was published in 1972, why do you still call it Transpluto? Surely telescopes are powerful enough to spot it now, especially since it should be large enough. I mean, if it wasn't large it wouldn't have any bearing on astrology, right?

Brad

Not necessarily. Chiron is a large asteroid, small planetoid, and it has a strong bearing on astrology. The Nodes are essentially mathematical points in space, not planets, and there are some astrologers who use them almost exclusively, giving highly detailed readings. There are plenty of objects too small for telescopes to spot - there is a solid history of astronomical objects being located after small wabbles are noticed in nearby objects.

As for the ephemeris, I believe it is no longer in print, but you can find them in some astrological computer programs, and may be able to find them in books on Transpluto on Amazon.com.

Brandi

So, some people use charts with hypothetical positions? ... and by saying "likely has a primarily generational effect.", you mean it can also not have only a "generational effect", but other effects? That "transpluto" component may well have a combined mass far superior to all "inner Pluto" bodies. Do they not matter because they are far away? Even if there are billions of them? By your title "Bad Astronomer makes bad assumption ...", you assume Mr. Phil Plait assumed you would struggle to explain something about Pluto, that he would have a chuckle at your expense or both?

Best regards
Bruno Domingues

Many people use hypothetical positions, yes. Pluto itself is considered a primarily "generational" planet by most astrologers. It takes so long to complete its circuit of the zodiac that entire generations of people have it in the same sign. This does not mean it does not also have individual effects, but the strength of that effect will vary from chart to chart, depending on house placement and aspects to other planets. You could be right, a transpluto component could have a huge impact on some charts ... but I choose to wait until I know more before I consider it in my own analysis.

As for Mr. Plait, I do not have a direct quote (would be appreciative of any Coast subscriber who can provide one), but it was not an assumption, those were his comments more or less. He stated that he believed astrologers would struggle with this because it is possible Pluto might be declassified as a planet ... and that he was looking forward to having a good chuckle as a result. If its classification does not matter to him, why should it matter to me?

Brandi

Bad Astronomer makes bad assumption ...

2006-08-14T23:18:00.000-07:00

On the August 15, 2006 “Coast to Coast” radio show, “Bad Astronomer” Phil Plait smugly suggested (paraphrasing) that the current dispute over Pluto’s status as a planet should make astrologer sweat, and he was looking forward to a chuckle as we try to explain away our use of it.

Some folks don’t let their ignorance of a topic get in the way of voicing their opinions, even when the answer is obvious in their own writing. This has ever been true of skeptics who pontificate about astrology without seeking out what we really think first. He says on his blog “My opinion: who cares? It is what it is, and calling it a planet won’t change that. The real question is, what’s a planet?”

Most astrologers have a similar reaction, and have felt that way for years. Pluto’s planetary status has in fact been in dispute between astronomers virtually since its discovery. This is often acknowledged in astrological literature on Pluto. Who cares? It is what it is, and what it is called is as irrelevant to astrology as it is to astronomy. Most astrologers already track a handful of asteroids and comets, mathematical points in space (like the North Node), and some of us even track hypothetical planets which astrologers (not astronomers) predicted years ago would eventually be located “trans-Pluto” or beyond Pluto. In 1972 an ephemeris was published for "Transpluto". The asteroids have a well-established use in astrological analysis, Pluto’s effect has been well-documented in astrological literature, and it is on this basis we will continue to use it without concern over its astromonical status.

Furthermore, it's really irrelevant to us what astronomers decide they will call "planets", or if they decide to call them something else. Astrologers call the Sun and Moon “planets” all the time, knowing full well astronomers do not define them this way, knowing they are not in fact "planets" in the astronomical sense of the term. Mirriam Webster in fact allows for the astrological definition of "planets" as "a celestial body held to influence the fate of human beings." That works for me.

Sorry to deprive you of a chuckle, Mr. Plait.

I do not use Transpluto mainly because I have enough of a challenge analyzing a chart without adding a hypothetical position, but also because it is so far out that it likely has a primarily generational effect. It has not yet been proven that there is in fact a literal heavently body at that position, but if some astrologers are noticing a trackable effect, it may be there is some other cause for the effect, similar to the effects of the North and South Nodes.

Software Review Janus 3.0

2006-07-05T00:46:00.000-07:00

http://www.astrology-house.com
Free Trial Version Available at http://www.astrology-house.com/janus/download_trial.cfm

A while ago I was approached by Janus Software with an offer to review their Janus 3.0 program. I have been going through a particularly challenging set of transits, and kept putting it off. I had a minor problem installing it because I work on a computer with no floppy drive, but the good folks at Janus got me fixed up. Now that I have had some time to play with it, I like what I see. What I first noticed about the program is its non-traditional, un-Windows-like interface. The different features are laid out in easy to find button-icons. Those who are used to the Windows interfaces will still be able to navigate around … the file/edit navigation is also there for you. It’s just nice to see something a little different for a change.

The help file contains a valuable and comprehensive glossary. Chartwheels are easy to read, easily customized in full color and many functions can be customized within the viewing window. It is very easy to switch between different modules for the same chart. So if you are studying a natal chart and want to switch between graphs, reports, Horary and AstroLocality charts, you just click a button.

Janus 3.0 is also packed with features that will appeal to more advanced students of astrology. The ASC Electronic Atlas is included. It is very comprehensive, with linked time zones. I have reviewed other programs that did not have my birth town … so that is one of my little “tests”. I was happy to find it there, along with several hundred Canadian towns I have never heard of. I particularly enjoy the ability to link notes with charts. Now I don’t have to fiddle around looking for the note I wrote for this chart or that, it’s right in the program, linked to my chart. There are built-in Horary, Electional, Astro-Locality Maps, MidPoints, Eclipse Tracker, Arabic Parts, and an interesting oddity for an astrological program (ironically enough) an actual astronomical star map. There is a built-in rectification that is extremely easy to use.

The Synastry chart is pretty good, though my favorite methods for doing couple compatibility is the combined chart. I did find this feature in Janus 3.0 as well with a little digging. About the only thing I can think of that is missing would be an ability to more easily switch between charts in the current session, but that is a bit of a nitpick really.

The reports are comprehensive and well-written, despite the fact that there are some missing elements like Chiron and the Asteroids, but this is still common in most commercial astrological software at this point. I found the report better than many I have read, few punches pulled on the challenges, yet these are explained in a positive way. I particularly enjoy the transit reports. Most enlightening, and accurate for my current circumstances. I especially like that you can set up and write your own interpretations for different kinds of charts. Say you want to do children’s charts, or gay couple charts or business charts … you just set up a new file with your own interpretations, and you are off and running.

Overall, Janus 3.0 is an excellent option, either as a first program for the beginning student of astrology, or for the more advanced student or professional. If you are considering purchasing a report-writing program for your professional business, and want to write your own unique reports, this is the program I’d recommend.

Brandi

Astrology.ca Monthly Forecasts in Successful Spirit! webzine

2006-06-06T22:13:00.000-07:00

Hi there! Starting this month I am going to start posting a monthly Astrological Forecast that will also be published in this month's edition of the webzine, Successful Spirit! Before you read this month's overview, have a look at the special offers from some of the other contributors to Successful Spirit!

You can support this new Forecast by forwarding this announcement to friends, clients, co-workers, and family who might enjoy my article or the others in Successful Spirit! webzine. Tell them that they can sign up here, just scroll down to the Yahoo Groups subscription button. If you sign up for Successful Spirit! you will receive the forecasts a few days before they are posted on my blog.

Take a look, and I'd enjoy hearing your comments.

Sincerely,

Brandi Jasmine

The new issue of Successful Spirit! is online – and this announcement can save you money!

Successful Spirit! is an upbeat monthly web-zine filled with great articles and ideas to help readers create the life they were born to live. Successful Spirit! covers topics that people want to read about – prosperity, spirituality, alternative healing, holistic approaches to life, angels, writing, art, intuition, and more. Each issue includes regular columns by the Angel Ladies, Deb Vaughan and Jean Porche,
and also features articles by practitioners and interesting guest writers who entertain, enlighten and offer food for thought that will enrich readers' lives.

Check out Successful Spirit! webzine here.

Get to know some of the writers of Successful Spirit! by taking advantage of the offers below. They expire at the end of the month, so act today!

Get $40 off a 1-hour Angel Guidance session with the Angel Ladies! Regularly a $189.00 value, book your onsite or phone session before June 25th and pay only $149. What a great deal!!!! For more information on what an Angel Ladies' Guidance session involves, please visit:
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Dr. Kaleb's special of the month

Available now on Dr. Montgomery's web site is a full nutrition chart outlining which nutrients are important for conceiving and having a healthy baby for both mama and papa and which foods are good sources of these nutrients. Follow the link on http://www.bringingconsciousness.com/fertility/ for "pregnancy food chart".

A very special Offer!

Judee Regan has written a very thoughtful book called "We Don't Die Well in the Western World: A Message of Hope . Go to Judee's web site www.worldofwork.com and click on the section about the pay-it-forward offer. Judee is offering you 3 free copies of her book. There is one condition.... that you keep one copy for yourself and give away (free of any charge) the other two copies to people you think might be interested in them. Send Judee your mailing information and she will send you the 3 free copies without any charges. We know people who have read it and have found it
to be truly inspirational.

Astrology Overview June 2006

Gemini is ruled by Mercury, the god of communication, and those born in the sign of Gemini are known for their natural intelligence and communications skills. The month of June 2006 will have a particular focus on communications, intelligence and shared ideas, because both the Sun and Mercury start out in this sign.

There are both challenging and positive aspects to the Sun and Mercury early in the month. Expect challenging news early in the month, then a sudden change of fortunes or unexpected events. The greatest challenges will tend to focus on international news, publishing and education.

It looks like the deep and lasting world conflict is truly based on religious differences, and there will be little good news to report on that front. More violence is likely, and possibly an attempt to disrupt the Internet in some way. Expect to see global conflict used to excuse attempts to make even more restrictive laws on the Internet, technology, alternative medicines, or entertainment.

A huge protest is starting to build which may take advantage of the very technology that governments will want to restrict. There seems to be a movement to interfere with the great freedoms afforded us by technology. The saving grace may well be that at this point it is simply impossible to stick the genie back in the bottle. The Internet has grown too big for any government to control.

Challenges to relationships can be triggered that could indicate make-or-break turning points. There may be some kind of epiphany or breakthrough, but then unrealistic expectations start to creep back in. If you have had a lot of ups and downs this last little while, ask yourself if your expectations of your significant other are really as fair as you think.

In mid-month you will have an opportunity to reconnect or re-establish communication on a profound level, but don't expect your partner to make miracles or read your mind. What is the biggest problem in relationships? Communication. What is the solution to that problem? Communication! This month, many people will come to appreciate this ironic truth.

This is a time of year that home renovations and new home purchases tend to take a stronger role. If you are considering buying a home or upgrading your current living space, look for more supportive conditions toward the middle of the month. Information that had been withheld could come through at the last minute. Just remember the theme this month of unrealistic expectations hits the both the financial and home and family sectors too. If a deal looks too good to be true, it likely is!

It's looking like a bit of a stressful month for most signs, so if you are looking for escape, try to avoid anything too expensive or serious. One sector that looks good is "fantasy entertainment." There could be a hot new release coming out for those of you who play computer games, and the summer movie season is looking pretty intense!

Brandi Jasmine

Student doing a study on sun signs

2006-05-17T01:15:00.000-07:00

I was hoping you could help me with a school project. I'm looking at how often people born under a certain sun sign manifest the traits associated with that sign.

I need help with a few different things. First, I know that a sun sign by itself is a very inaccurate method of trying to analyze or predict a personality, since so any other factors influence a horoscope. But are they completely inaccurate? How strong of a correlation would you predict between the characteristics associated with a sun sign and those represented by people under that sign?

Specifically, my project consists of a survey where students identified themselves as possessing one of several traits – for example, "are you usually more practical or dreamy?" I compared those results to what sun sign characteristics would predict the person would answer, looking at about thirty traits per sign. Of those thirty traits, how many would you anticipate matching between an individual's answers and their sun sign's predictions?

Secondly, I found several contradictions when gathering characteristics associated with sun signs, so I don't have complete confidence in the traits I ended up picking. I've included below the traits I found -- could you tell me if any are more or less closely identified with the sign, and so more or less likely to be represented by the people I polled?

Thank you so much for any help you're able to give me.

Sincerely and gratefully,

CD

11th grade

Hi there! Happy to help. I have answered you in more detail via private email but decided to blog your letter (with your permission) because I think others may have similar questions. The following reply has been edited to better fit the blog format.

The Rising Sign is often a better predictor of outside personality than the Sun Sign, but I don't take any sign on its own when making an astrological assessment. Astrological charts are complex, like the people they represent.

I really do not know how many people would acknowledge a strong correlation between their Sun Sign characteristics and their actual personality. I would be speaking from personal, anecdotal experience, I don't know of any specific studies referring to the scope of your question. The problem is that personality characteristics are such a subjective thing to analyses. The Oracle at Delphi said "Know Thyself" ... and that is wise advice. But most of us really don't have all that good a grasp on who we are. Ask ten friends to give you ten keywords on your own personality, and you may find that you have ten different "personalities" . The "personality" of a given person is part who he or she thinks they are, part the facade they put on to the world, and that is filtered through the cultural and "personality" biases of the beholder.

If I were forced to a specific number, I would say somewhere between 60-75%. And that might also be affected by sun-sign ... I recall one mailing list where we were discussing the nitpickiness, fussiness and fastidiousness of Virgos who all told us in minute detail that they were not as analytical as Virgo is made out to be. It was really funny ... for everyone else . I mean, they were their own best rebuttal, heh heh ... but they couldn't see it. They labeled that part of their psychology as "bad", and they wanted to distance themselves from it. They are not the only sign with that problem. Any self-assessment is going to be biased. I don't think you can only go by what the individual answers. You have to poll their friends, loved ones, associates, to get a more objective picture.

There are often contradictions in the published lists of traits. Sometimes what seems to be a contradiction resolves itself when you see it as part of a polar extreme. For example, Libra is associated with relationships yet many of the Libras I know (including yours truly) are single. Why is this? Well, I can't speak for another Libra, but for me, relationships are so important that I choose to be alone rather than have a bad one. Someone who does not know me might be perplexed by my lack of a partner. Or, for example, I was looking at some formation that to me indicated strong ties to the family business, but my client indicated this was not the case. Further probing revealed that he had chosen his career specifically to rebel against it. They had indeed formed his life-path, just not in the way I assumed. These kind of "polar contradictions" occur a lot in astrology. In fact each of the signs can be better understood if you look at its polar opposite. For example, selfish Aries versus people-pleasing Libra.

I don't have a lot of time to do a detailed reply for each sign, but I sent some notes in private. I would not put "low self-esteem" in any of them ... you have a well or poorly adjusted person, you have good or bad self-esteem. Each sign has "qualities" that can be expressed in a positive or negative way. Sometimes our culture decides a given trait is "positive", sometimes not. Throw in cultural sexism ... for example the sensitivity of the female Cancer is considered a benefit. Many male Cancers put on a tough "crabby" shell because they want to disown it. The flipside (of course) is Capricorn ... an ambitious male is seen as positive. An ambitious female ... ? Not always the same words used to describe her personality. I do see some of the terms repeated in some of the signs as well. I would also say "tends to" on some of the more negative associations, or you will get more resistance to them.

Brandi

SMS and Licensed Horoscope Content

2006-02-14T15:31:00.000-08:00

Someone wrote today asking about SMS and Licensed Horoscope Content ...

I'm looking for a site or a service that can provide astrology and numerology forcast on a daily basis via SMS. Does anyone know such a site or service provider.

Astrology.ca does provide licensed horoscope content to SMS companies and to cellular phone companies. I do not know anything about the SMS company you mentioned, how their products can be accessed, or what they cost. Our horoscopes are sent out to cell phone companies and resellers who provide them directly to their own customer's cell phones as their own content. We were at one point approached by a provider who offered to let us sell access to horoscopes through a cellular service, but not our own horoscopes. These were someone else's. I decided not to go along with them until they could offer us the ability to direct people to our own horoscopes.

If your cellular provider does not offer horoscopes, you can always contact your cellular provider and point them to our licensing page at http://www.astrology.ca/license.html. We also license horoscopes to web sites and publications.

As for daily numerology readings ... that would be a little more challenging, because there are a small set of numbers to work with, and numerological conditions tend to repeat in a specific manner. I do some numerology, including my chart, which is pretty unique in the business, I think, but have stayed away from daily numerology readings because I am not sure how to make that fresh on a daily basis. If anyone has any ideas, I'd love to hear them, though!

Brandi

"Lucky" Astrology Scam

2006-02-02T19:49:00.000-08:00

Recently my friend Hazel wrote me to ask about one of the Google Adsense advertisers that showed up on Astrology.ca. She wanted to know if I knew anything about her. I didn’t. Hazel told me about some of this particular astrologer’s … “marketing techniques”. As soon as I heard about it, I immediately blocked her URL on Astrology.ca. Unfortunately, I don’t always get this kind of feedback, and others who are pursuing fraudulent marketing tactics might slip through. So I would like to warn you about these kind of scams so you can judge them for yourselves.

This particular scam starts out as a “free reading”. When the victim responds, they do not get a "reading". Instead they are sent a standard form letter, which sort of pretends to be a reading, which claims that certain planets will both be in the same position which they were in at the moment of your birth. On a sample submitted, the placements were not accurate for the data provided.

The letter goes on to say that the victim’s financial situation will go through a favorable period during the next year, a short period linked to games of chance. It is implied that you could miss your good fortune if you don’t find out about that time period from this particular astrologer. I don’t buy it. The same energy will work itself some other way – perhaps as good or better than if you try to manipulate it through gambling. I never encourage my clients to gamble at certain times. Gambling should be done for fun, for entertainment, not out of desperation for financial gain. You may be able to leverage a lucky period in the way this astrologer suggests … but I am doubtful of the skills of any astrologer who can’t get the client’s Moon Sign right.

If you are really interested in lucky time periods, Matrix Software offers a program called “Winning Times” that I have been checking out to see if there is any correlation between good fortune and astrological indicators. I am planning on reviewing it here soon. I don’t know what this astrologer charges, because you don’t get the fees until you enter your credit card number (big red flag that this is a scam) … but Winning Times would likely pay off better. At least you’d know the program has your birth data correct.

If you do click on any of the advertisers on any of my sites, please be aware that I do not preview them. If you buy from them, it is Caveat Emptor (buyer beware). There are some very good astrologers and astrological products being advertised through Google, I do not want to discourage you from checking them out. But if you get any sales letter that makes a promise that looks too good to be true, it probably is. And if you feel you have been ripped off, I want to know about it so I can block them from my list. You should also contact Google to complain about these advertisers. They make legitimate astrologers look bad, and you can prevent this from happening to others.

Brandi

The Australian Institute for the Development of Consciousness

2006-01-17T15:57:00.000-08:00

Alan Oken and Maggie Kerr invite you to join them for a series
of seminars on an ongoing basis during 2006 and 2007.

www.AidConsciousness.com

Alan will be visiting Australia every 3 months to lead 2 courses :

- Master Certificate Seminar Series in the Techniques Of Astrological Delineation & Counseling

A series of SEVEN 3 day seminars every 3 months during 2006 & 2007

Commencing April 7th on the Gold Coast & April 14th in Sydney - Maggie Kerr will join Alan Oken to teach this course.

The White Magic Teachings

A Six Part Course in the Development of Consciousness through the Techniques of White Magic and its Practical Applications in our Daily Lives.

A series of SIX 3 day seminars every 3 months during 2006 & 2007Commencing April 21st on the Gold Coast

This is a rare opportunity to study with one of the world's foremost Astrologers, Alan Oken, on an ongoing basis, As well as being one of the leading lights in contemporary Physchological Astrology, he is a remarkable teacher of Metaphysics and the mysteries of the Soul. He joins well known Australian Astrologer Maggie Kerr for the Master Classes in Astrology series, and for the first time in Australia is offering the Teachings in White Magic - truly a special opportunity once again...because who knows where he will be by 2008!

For details go to:

www.AidConsciousness.com

And then there's The Gods & Goddesses Tour to Bali - September 16th 30th 2006!! A fantastic chance to visit one of the world's most beautiful places, and spend time hanging out with Alan and Maggie ...

The night is balmy. The temple is still...lit only by the Moon and the glow of fire pots and torches. The evocative gongs of the Gamelan ring out, announcing the entrance of the elegant dancers dressed as Dewis, handmaidens of the gods.

Welcome to Bali, a truly magical island of great beauty, artistic abundance, sensual delights and spiritual presence. You are invited to join Astrologers and metaphysical teachers Alan Oken and Maggie Kerr for an amazing two-week tour of this exceptional island of smiles. As frequent and long time visitors to Bali, Alan and Maggie have arranged a fantastic journey to temples, traditional villages, art galleries, health spas, and splendid oceanside resorts. There will be informal afternoon group gatherings to join Alan and Maggie for discussions in Astrology and other Metaphysical topics during the 2 week program.

Updates at Astrology.ca - Bits & Pieces

2005-11-18T20:23:00.000-08:00

Punkin is Gone ...

Not long ago, Punkin developed Feline Leukemia and we had to help her cross the Rainbow Bridge to be with Minou. She is still with me in spirit though, and while I feel her presence, there is definitely a big empty space here at Astrology.ca. She was very young when she died, just a year old. But in that time she taught me more about life and love than I can say.

Blog Spam, Links, Advertising

I recently noticed a lot of blog spam, and I have to say that I find it rather odd that people would trash my writing, while posting links to competing web sites. I have erased them, and now have a higher setting for moderating them. I'm going to decline all comments that are nothing but ads for other sites, sorry. At least ask a question about astrology or something related to the blog. You can mention your URL, signature style, but no "Visit my site!" stuff, okay?

I will absolutely delete each and every blog spam I get. Just today I rejected 27 copies of the same spam ... you know who you are. Since your own comment forms on your web site do NOT work ... next time you post, could you explain why you would waste your time and mine like that?

If you have a web site, and are looking for links to improve your traffic, you have better options.

You can submit a short article or letter for inclusion in this blog, or in the library section of Astrology.ca. If you give me a story I can use, I'll give you a short byline that includes a comment about your site and your URL. Email me at
bjasmine@astrology.ca with your proposal.

You can submit a reciprocal link on Astrology.ca. You must link to us first. It can take a week or two before I respond sometimes. But my site gets good traffic and has good PR. Visit this page to submit your link: http://www.astrology.ca/search/submit-link.html ... it must be an astrology page, and there are other conditions. Read the submission page carefully, as I just delete any applications that don't qualify.

You may also promote your site by taking out a site sponsorship. I do Pay Per Click only with Google Adsense and am interested in no other PPC offers. Email me at
bjasmine@astrology.ca for pricing details.

For those of you advertising non-astrology sites (Reiki, healing, energy work etc), how would you like to increase your own internal traffic? If you don't already have horoscopes on your site, I license horoscopes to sites like yours. If you are interested in boosting your traffic a significant amount, let me know, and I will send you the licensing rates. My bet is that this would boost your traffic far more than advertising on Astrology.ca or spamming my blog. Horoscopes generate return, repeat traffic, and you can put your own advertisements on them. I also offer a free "link out" version for those of you who cannot afford the branded "on site" version.

Current Aspects to Watch:

Neptune Opposed Saturn, T-Square to Mars ... not surprising to see the US government twisting in confusion and outrage about all the secrets coming out about the prelude to war, under these conditions.

Jupiter Trine Uranus (Square Mercury Rx) ... Interesting revelations related to communications and technology. There could be dramatic breakthroughs soon in telecommunications as the result of a breakdown.

Bizarre Russian Lawsuit Triggers Explosion of Media Coverage

2005-07-07T11:51:00.000-07:00

I monitor several keywords for astrological news using Google Alerts. This week there have been a huge number of stories featuring the bizarre claim of Marina Bei, a Russian astrologer, who is convinced that the recent "Deep Space" space shot has "ruined the natural balance of the forces of the universe." The Russian courts have allowed her to proceed with a lawsuit against NASA, provoking a predictable media circus replete with the obligatory snide, cynical and dismissive comments about astrology that are unfortunately commonplace in the press.

Ms. Bei claims that her life has been ruined by the experiment, and has been quoted as suggesting that this scientific adventure could spell the end of the world. She has appeared on CNN, was featured on USA Today, and one search I did on "Russian Astrologer Deep Impact" brought back over 90,000 pages, many of them dripping with derision, most of which I agree is well deserved in this particular case.

I cannot judge Bei’s merit as an astrologer as she appears to have no Internet presence and was completely unknown to me until now. She is certainly entitled to her beliefs, even though I strongly disagree with them. But considering her assertions and this bizarre lawsuit, I don’t want her to speak for me, and she does not speak for the astrological community at large.

I don’t speak for the astrological community at large, either. I know there are some people, in unfortunately large numbers, who agree with what appears to be a rather fatalist interpretation of celestial events. However, large numbers, and I hope the majority of astrologers, do not believe that a minor collision between NASA’s experiment and a comet none of us has been tracking until now can have a serious impact on the horoscope of individuals on the planet Earth. What astrological "impact" this may have (pun intended) is likely to be limited to the obvious increase in astronomy and space exploration that will result from NASA’s spectacular success. Or perhaps it reflects an "explosion" of ill-considered media coverage of astrology?

I do feel very comfortable in suggesting that the large majority of mainstream astrologers must be appalled by much of the media coverage of Ms. Bei’s claims. In the articles I have read, in the newscasts I have seen, I have yet to see one reasonable voice speaking for astrology to denounce her lawsuit or ideas. This cannot be because there is a lack of astrologers who are willing to speak out. Rather, I believe it comes from rather single-minded news coverage, from the assumption that we must all have putty in between our ears, and that none of us has much to add to the issues she has raised with her lawsuit. It is taken for granted we must agree with her. But each one of these articles does get the obligatory quote from the local skeptic’s society, or from the designated astronomy expert whose opinion of astrology isn’t colored by any actual or direct knowledge of the subject, or of what astrologers actually believe.

I’m calling on the press to at least make an effort to appear to be unbiased and impartial in news stories on this subject. Leave the opinion pieces to the editorialists and columnists. Get in touch with the local astrological society to get their comments and feedback on the story. Learn what mainstream astrologers actually believe before you report on our beliefs. If you are going to quote the local skeptic, get in touch with a credible local astrologer, and give them a chance to speak. Those who presume to speak for us so often misrepresent us when they have no clue what we actually believe.

For example, I am a practicing astrologer of over 20 years and I do not believe that:
the stars compel our fate (I believe they reflect them)
events can accurately be predicted from astrological charts (I believe that general trends and energies can be foreseen)

that death can be predicted from an astrological chart
that astrology is a "science" (it is an art form)
that an astrological chart controls my life (I still have choices)
that newspaper horoscopes are anything more than an entertaining diversion
a small impact on a comet millions of miles away means the end of the world or will cause headaches in one astrologer in Russia.

Astrology is a noble and fascinating pursuit, with roots leading back to the formation of modern culture and science. We do have some rather interesting individuals on the fringes of astrology, and I admit there are more than the average number of true characters in the astrological community. I understand why the media finds the wild-eyed, colorful types more interesting than their own local astrologer, quietly practicing in sensible shoes in her small studio. But fair play demands comment from mainstream astrologers, otherwise the public is in danger of assuming (as the media apparently has) that the fringe speaks for the mainstream, and this is demonstrably not the case.

Alan Oken Australian Tour-September 2005

2005-06-13T17:29:00.000-07:00

Maggie Kerr, one of the regular contributors to Astrology.ca will be co-hosting "Synthesizing Soul and Psyche" Adventures in Consciousness ... with A Wizard in Oz! September 2005

Alan Oken, one of the world's foremost spiritual teachers joined by Maggie Kerr in Australia.

"Synthesizing Soul and Psyche" What is the "stream of consciousness" and how can we learn to swim in it? What is the spiritual purpose of humanity's evolution and what about "me"?

These decades are ripe with awakening and revolution. We are participating in the birth of the "Group Soul' of humanity, where "inclusiveness" and co-participation must replace a "separative" and selfish world view. The current extreme global tension contains an impasse, a 'stuck' place, which can only be broken by large numbers of individuals embracing a unifying worldview!

Alan Oken has traveled the world for many decades imparting the knowledge of the"Ancient Mysteries" from many different cultural traditions. He brings warmth, candor, humor and insight to these profound questions which unite us all. Why am I here? How can I know the purpose of my Soul's challenges for growth and find true creative expression? This 2 day event contains both "Ancient Mystery" teachings, and the science of Astrology, for insight and answers to these most fundamental questions!

ALAN OKEN is the founder and director of The Wisdom School. He is the author of hundreds of articles for various astrological and metaphysical magazines and journals. He is also the author of over a dozen books, including: Alan Oken's Complete Astrology, Soul-Centered Astrology - A Key to Your Expanding Self, Houses of the Horoscope, and Rulers of the Horoscope. Alan has been a student and teacher of astrology and The Ancient WisdomTeachings since 1967. An internationally known lecturer and teacher, Alan speaks and writes six languages and has taught in more than 30 countries. He has an active astrological consulting practice in Santa Fe, NM.

MAGGIE KERR (AAT. Dip. Couns.) is a well known Australian Astrologer, a Counsellor and Teacher in communications and "People Skills", and has been in the front line of her field for over 20 years. Maggie has trained in the fields of Metaphysics, Philosophy, Astrology, Psychology and Psychotherapy. Her unique blend of these subjects offers understanding of our life purpose, and challenges to our empowerment. She has published 5 books in the "UniversalAstrology" series.

Contact maggiekerr@universalastrology.com.au for times and places.

Astrology and Tragedy - Shapelle Corby

2005-05-05T17:55:00.000-07:00

Shapelle Corby is the Australian who was arrested last year in Indonesia, charged with smuggling 4.5 kilograms of marijuana in her luggage. Corby denies knowing about the drugs, and faces up to life in a Balinese prison.
Hazel Leung was kind enough to provide Shapelle's birth data and some comments - July 10, 1977 11:55 AM, Brisbane Australia. She obtained it from Maggie Kerr, who attributes it to Shapelle's mother.

Hazel Leung's Comments:

I think Uranus on the first says it all, but Pluto in the 12th indicates incarcertation too. She has "fame" sun at MC which is square to nodes, indicating fame is not good fame. I haven't had the time to track whether or not she will be jailed, I do believe she will be found guilty but haven't looked beyond that. The firdaria is Mercury/Sun which indicates that this is the period where the "fame" will be triggered. She has already been approached for interviews and books, which is usually what pays the legal bills althought there is a millionaire businessman backing her too. I doubt very much she is guilty, she is not a planner. I guess time will tell.

Brandi Jasmine's Comments:

Interesting things I noticed real quick ... a loose Pluto/NN conjunction in the 12th house, transited by Sun/Mercury/Vertex/Mars (conjunct), Chiron (square). It is surprising how many positive aspects there are in the transits. It is hard not to be overly optimistic - but others might see things in the charts I'm missing.

Natal Neptune is better aspected than I expected, with several trines/sextiles, but it opposes Venus. This girl is bright but isn't the most grounded, and doesn't think before she acts. She trusts too easily, and in one way she really needed a slap in the face to bring her to reality (she sure got a harsh one).

My feeling is she will likely be convicted, spend a while longer in jail, and be brought out when the two governments think that they can make a nice quiet deal, but it is unlikely to remain quiet. I think she is going to be%2

Astrology and History: Yasser Arafat's Death

2004-11-10T20:38:00.000-08:00

I cast an astrological chart for the passing of Yasser Arafat today, asking the question, "How will this affect the state of world peace and the future of the Middle East?" The astrological chart was cast for 6:20 AM, local time in Jerusalem, the best time I have for the moment when his death was announced.

The first thing that pops out is Mars 12^th house, square Saturn in the 9^th. There will be secret negotiations and discussions, and the risk of violence is strong. The 11^th house is strong, and the astrological aspects there are considerably better. The best hope for peace is for a "friend or associate" from outside to broker discussions to help the Palestinian people to more smoothly manage the transition. It is possible that a woman or a spiritual leader will take an important role in getting the factions to work together.

There will be powerful, unexpected and dramatic changes to the "homeland" ideas of the Palestinian people following this event. There remain considerable difficulties ahead. There will certainly be more bumps along the road to peace. The leadership and peoples on both sides are divided. Sacrifices will have to be made to promote healing.

I have felt for several days that it might be possible that the true cause of death might never be revealed. The word "poison" kept coming to mind whenever I watched news reports about his illness. This may be confirmed by the Plutonian rulership of the ascendant of this chart, the strong 12th house, and the strongly negative aspects between Mars, Saturn, and North Node indicate political motivation for the events unfolding today.

Overall, the aspects are so mixed that it is difficult to say what the "outcome" may be – in fact, I am tempted to conclude that nothing will change immediately in terms of the daily struggle for peace in the middle east. The positive aspects are equally as powerful as the challenging ones. My sense of things psychically is that this will be a turning point in a more positive direction in the long run, there will be many shocking events to follow, but there will be considerably more time to pass before there is any demonstrably positive effect in the lives of the people in the Middle East.

New Executive Appointed at Astrology.ca

2004-10-28T23:56:00.000-07:00

I would like to introduce Astrology.ca's new Executive Vice President in Charge of Wasting Time. This dear sweet kitten we've named "Punkin" joined my family a couple weeks ago, and I haven't gotten much done since then (besides taking lots of pictures of her, of course).

Luckily, before she arrived I did get some new Halloween images uploaded to the "How-To" section of the Jasmine's Gallery site. Click here to download some free Jack-O-Lantern carving patterns and Halloween Safety tips. I even have a couple patterns for you politics junkies down in the USA ... Jack-O-Lantern carving patterns of George W. Bush and John Kerry. Can you imagine anything scarier this Halloween?

Current astrological aspects to note ... Saturn Square Mercury, Orb 4°04' Applying. Have you noticed that some folks seem to be rather ornery, inflexible and stubborn in their thinking lately? That may be due to the current square between Saturn in Cancer and Mercury in Libra.

Happy Birthday ... to me!

2004-09-28T01:06:00.000-07:00

Questions from readers:

For the last while I have interested in a girl who is a Sagittarius and I am a Pisces. Now I know we are not compatible
according to the charts but I love this girl and we get along extremely well. I know that I don't have all the characteristics of a Pisces but she has most of the characteristics of a Sagittarius. So I am wondering what the chances of us having a loving relationship?

Dear KY:

You don't include her birth data with your chart so it's impossible for me to give you truly personal detail. But I wanted to answer your question, because it's one I get all the time. We have a small list of "compatible signs" here on Astrology.ca, but I introduce that page by saying that the most common question astrologers get is "Tell me what Sign I am compatible with?" There is no simple way to answer this question with integrity. There is no way to tell people who is compatible for them based on Sun-Signs.

Your Moon sign, Ascendant, Mars and Venus placements are each as important to compatibility as your Sun Sign is - perhaps more so! For example, if you are a Libra, you could meet a nice Aquarian, whose Moon in Scorpio would drive you right around the bend. Aquarius with Moon in Scorpio won't act like a typical Aquarius when aroused. Such a person is likely to be a lot more passionate, secretive, and jealous than you would expect of Aquarius. Then you'd come back, waggle your finger at us and say "Hey! Those online astrologers told me Aquarius was my ideal sign, they must have been a bunch of loonies!" ... and our other great fear is you might write off all the nice Taurus, Leo, and Scorpio folks, one of whom may have an Ascendant, Moon or Mars in Gemini, and end up shunning your soul mate on what is truly very spurious advice.

The bottom line is that an astrologer has to have full and complete natal data from both parties to cast a real compatibility chart. It would be irresponsible to try to give advice based on Sun-Signs alone. I will say looking at your chart, you are strong in Virgo energy, which is not particularly compatible with Sagittarius, but you have a Scorpio Ascendant, which might change the picture dramatically. I suggest you both have full natal charts cast and study them together.

Current astrological aspects to note ... Uranus Quincunx Mars, Orb 1°48' Applying. There is a lot of impulsiveness and frustration floating around in the astrological ether right now.
Take deep breaths, let things go.

Libra Mars Conjunct Mercury, Orb 0°44' Applying. Mars Conjunct Jupiter, Orb 0°56' Separating. Mars Conjunct Sun Orb 4°34' Separating.Whew! That's a lot of energy for us poor Libras to work with. If you are in an air sign (Libra, Aquarius, Gemini), you may be feeling a lot of extra energy right now. Expect a war of words between the US Presidential candidates about legal issues, trial lawyers, and religious traditional values and marriage could come back up again too. Both sides are going to accuse the other of "waffling" and "fence-sitting" (Libra loves to look at both sides of an argument). With all of that Quincunx to Uranus, at least one of them is likely to make an impulsive statement that could come back to haunt him.

Current astrological aspects to note ... Pluto Trine Venus, Orb 4°59' Separating. Have you noticed strange but exciting changes in personal relationships the past few weeks?