Category: Cosmology and Divination

Astrology

Happy Birthday Mary

The Solar Return (SR) chart gives a brief snapshot of the 12-month period (birthday-to-birthday). Such predictive techniques are necessarily short and sweet, giving ample opportunity for clients to fill in the details.

SUMMARY

Expect an interesting year ahead with some challenges to your more intimate partnerships and relationships. Changes have been long overdue. A break-up is not necessarily in the cards but you can still expect some anxiety and tension.

The key to making the best of what this period has to offer (as well as avoiding the worst) is to consult both your head and your heart. 

honest communication = head +heart

By contrast, your tendency will more than likely be to turn whatever happens into an intellectual challenge; that would be a grave mistake. Honest communication lies at the heart of a successful outcome – words have power, yes, but so do non-verbal messages especially when (as is more likely than not to be the case), you’re involved in some kind of personal power play.

Finances are also highlighted – if you’ve had trouble in the past, you’ll probably have trouble again. 

Despite all the challenges, the year ahead holds great potential – for now it is time for the ‘real you’ to shine through.

ANALYSIS

2019/20
  • Solar Return (SR) Uranus (1 Taurus 08) is close to your 7th house cusp and even closer (in sextile) to your solar return (SR) Venus. This suggests that in the next twelve months, you can anticipate some significant (and perhaps unexpected) changes in your partnerships, both personal and business.
  • Although such changes are perhaps long overdue, they are still likely to create some anxiety, not the least because they seem to be out of your control. Expect these to be accompanied by feelings of restlessness and tension; this is not likely to be a comfortable time. In one sense whether such changes are instigated by you or your partner(s) doesn’t matter for in so many ways they are absolutely right and necessary for you both.
  • A break up is not necessarily in the cards, however, and the way in which the necessary changes manifest could take many ((perhaps mutually agreeable) forms.
  • That some changes in your life (relationship or otherwise) will be as profound as they are inevitable, is emphasised by your SR Pluto being in the same degree as your SR nodal axis. 
  • Your SR Pluto is in your SR 3rd house along with SR Moon and SR Saturn. The 3rd house is all about communications as well as how you cope with everyday matters. A  high intellectual involvement with events as they unfold is indicated. Will you interact with these events on an emotional basis or will you keep you emotions strictly under control? If you don’t do both, there’s a real potential for you to miss subtler meanings – not all that is being communication (in either direction) is consciously and purposefully verbalised. Whilst it is true that words have tremendous power, so do non-verbal messages especially when you’re involved in some kind of personal power play.
  • The midpoint of your SR Mars/Saturn is in close square aspect with your SR Jupiter. This suggests you may be faced with events/situations upon which you will be tempted to concentrate all your energies at the expense of other interests. Beware. If you do, you seriously risk sapping your vital energy.
  • Because your SR Jupiter is involved in the SR 2nd house, this concentration could revolve around finances, which could manifest as events either good or bad. True, you may have more money available than expected during this period but equally there is a temptation to overspend. Which way this plays out has much to do with your own personal history re: finances. Take outside advice as needed.
  • Finally, with your SR Sun in your SR 5th house, you are more likely than not going to be treated to the opportunity to watch your personality bloom. This is a wonderful placement, especially for those who have compromised themselves in the past. Your mantra during this period might be along the lines of ‘to thine own self be true’. 
Astrology

All Change – Solar Return for Ms CE

The Solar Return (SR) chart gives a brief snapshot of the 12-month period (birthday-to-birthday). Such predictive techniques are necessarily short and sweet, giving ample opportunity for clients to fill in the details.

From time to time, transits to the natal chart are also used to gain more information.

The following is for Ms CE – 2019-2020:

change

All change.

You’re in for an exciting (if not bumpy) ride during this period. Although it’s impossible to say how things will turn out, it is more than likely to work out to your benefit as long as you resist the urge to get engaged in power struggles in regards to your partnerships (both business and personal).

EMILY SR 2ANALYSIS:

  1. SR Pluto (21 Capricorn 48) is conjunct your 7th house cusp and also sextile/trine to your MC/IC (4th and 10th houses) axis.This means that as far as your next twelve months are concerned, you can anticipate a profound change in your partnerships, both personal and business (7th house). This could  result in a power struggle – but if so, you most certainly are not guaranteed to get your way.
  2. Whether or not change is instigated by you or your partner remains to be seen however, because of the aspect to your MC/IC axis, this is likely to effect both your career and home life.
  3. The most beneficial way to use this energy is to honestly face whatever is at the base of the need for change. Do not give in to the urge to fall into ‘old ways’ of relating, whatever they may be. They will not serve you well this time.
  4. Another suggestion of huge change is your SR Sun in the 8th  house. It is common with this placement for a complete life-style change – for example,  quitting work or returning to school full-time. Equally possible, is moving house. The purpose of all this is for you to gain control over your life especially so as to prevent others from (emotionally) manipulating you.
  5. Planetary transits to your natal chart also suggest a significant change in your home and personal circumstances:
    1. Transiting Uranus conjunct to your Natal Moon– home and family situations (as well as relationships with women) are likely to prove highly unstable during this period. They may change abruptly and in unexpected ways. New emotional commitments may be established and old ones terminated. Whatever happens this is bound to be an exciting (if not bumpy) ride that is more than likely to work out in your favour – This is a once-in-a-lifetime transit.
    2. Transiting Uranus opposition your natal Uranus– classic mid-life crisis transit – expect the unexpected –all change and for the better – this also a once-in-a-lifetime transit.
    3. Transiting Saturn conjunct your natal Venus– getting very serious about relationship and partnerships – light and airy will no longer do. Commitment is the name of the game, at least from your point of view. It remains to be seen if you get it.
    4. Transiting Neptune square your natal Mars– getting anything accomplished during 2019-20 may prove frustratingly difficult, at least in the sense of getting them to turn out as you’ve planned. One potential manifestation of this is men in your life being confused especially in regards to your relationship. Try to keep everything as clear and above-board as possible and do, please, take care of your health.
    5. Transiting Pluto conjunct natal Mercury – this is a unique chance to come to grips with the hidden meanings and motivations behind your own words and those of others. Travel abroad may also leave you profoundly affected. Take what you can from such circumstances and use it to your advantage.
Astrology

Will the UK leave the EU on 29 March 2019?

 

Yes – expect a sharp, hard-nosed message to be delivered by the UK about sovereignty in regards to international trade and finance. The mood has changed in the UK from one of compromise and flexibility to an emotionally-fuelled power play that ends in a black hole.

 

brexit

DETAILED ANALYSIS

  1. In mundane astrology, the 8th  house represents financial relationships that are important to partnerships and other 7th house affairs. Concerns regarding international finance as well as foreign investment in a nation fall to this house. The 8thhouse is also viewed as the house of national death, rebirth, and renewal.
  2. There is a complex and concentrated stellium of four planets in Capricorn (the UK is a Capricorn nation) in this 8th house. This is where the majority of the energy in this chart is focused and according to Troinski, a heavy concentration of 8th house planets is an indication of revolution, rebellion, and outright war.UK leave EU in March
  3. The planets involved, (Sun, Pluto, Mercury, and Saturn) support this interpretation with a sharp, critical, and hard-nosed (Saturn) message (Mercury) in regards to international finance and foreign investment (8th house) in conjunction with a powerful rebirth of a nation for selfish advantage (Sun/Pluto).
  4. Sun/Pluto further suggests that the underlying theme of this message is sovereignty and arrogance. There is also more than a hint that the UK government is over-estimating is own power to potentially dangerous consequences.
  5. In a horary chart the Moon functions as a general indicator of the situation describing the surrounding circumstances as well as the forward and backward movement of events:
    • The first aspect made by this moon (in Taurus) was a trine to Saturn. This suggests that in the past, the mood was favourable for repairing the UK’s relationship with the EU.
    • The next aspect made by this Moon was a trine to Mercury. This suggests that in regards to the legalities and mechanics of BREXIT as well as the political process surrounding it, the mood was one of  flexibility.
    • The last aspect made by the Moon was a trine to Pluto which is not traditionally considered in horary. Although it is tempting to suggest that it suggests that the UK government has had a recent change of heart and that the resolution of the matter has now become an emotionally driven power play.
    • The next aspect to be made by the Moon will be a trine to the Sun. This suggests the beginning of a new venture that seeks sovereign advancement.
    • The last aspect to be made by the Moon is a trine to the South Node. This suggests the end of the matter is akin to a black hole.
Astrology

Dream Weaver

Starting today (13 January), one of the major planetary aspects of 2019 gets underway when Jupiter and Neptune form an opportunistic square. Both are strong in their signs of rulership and so expect this square, in the hands of someone someone sensible, to yield extraordinary results.

DREAMS

Jupiter is big picture, an inspired optimistic vision for the future. Combined with Neptune, which brings magic, colour and soul into your life, this is the time to catch your dreams and make them happen.

If ever your dreams can manifest, it is now.

The trick, however, is not to go overboard.

Both Jupiter and Neptune share a taste for the boundless. Together, they are signature of the dreamer/visionary with a foolhardy naivety about the ‘real world’.

This is territory where usually, you’d be well advised not to tread but luckily, this time there’s a mitigating factor – Saturn.

Saturn is all about accomplishment, authority, responsibility – not to mention the ability to evaluate both you and your dreams realistically. When Saturn is in his own sign of rulership, Capricorn, he does his job extraordinary well.

The next bites of this juicy Jupiter/Neptune apple come on 16 June and 21 September. Saturn is doing a slow burn (with an enabling semi-sextile/sextile) throughout the entire time.

Obviously, this propitious period will effect each of you differently but if you have key planets in 14-18 degrees of the mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces) you’re in for a treat.

Why not make the best of this time with different kind of astrology reading? Don’t you owe it to yourself to take this opportunity to weave your dreams?

coaching

The Benefits of Magical Thinking

21 million Americans suffer from Paraskevidekatriaphobia or fear of Friday the 13th. Yet, according to a 2008 Dutch study, Friday the 13th is statistically safer than other Fridays because people either choose to stay at home or those that do venture out, take more care than usual.     

13Yesterday, I was privileged to attend a lecture at Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum entitled The Natural Origins of Supernatural Thinking given by Professor Bruce Hood (Bristol University). Hood provided curious anecdotes such as that cited above in a very matter of fact way. As an experimental psychologist specialising in developmental cognitive neuroscience, his major research interests include discovering the cognitive processes behind adult magical thinking.

According to Hood, we humans are pretty much hard-wired to develop beliefs as a way to make sense of our world and these beliefs carry with them manifest consequences. We’re also hard-wired to impose structure and order in our lives by developing certain rituals around those beliefs (touch on wood) and one of the most intriguing involves what Hood calls sympathetic magic – or the belief in naturally occurring correspondences (or sympathies) between things such as food, colours, animals, gem stones, fabrics, plants, and days of the week. Imagine two violins. Sympathetic vibration occurs when two strings are tune to the same pitch. When one is plucked, the other sings out ‘in sympathy’.

The implications of Hood’s work for coaching are two-fold:

1.    When someone believes that she cannot do XYZ, then at least until she changes her belief, she probably can’t do. Likewise, if she believes that she can do ABC, then, it’s a pretty good bet that she will. One of the primary goals of coaching is to eliminate (or strengthen) such beliefs as needed and this is why a good coach focuses less on asking ‘why’ than ‘what’. For example, if I ask my client ‘why’ she feels so terrible, then in answering, she is only reinforcing her negative beliefs about herself. But in answering the question ‘what’ situations make her feel terrible and what do they share in common, she has a genuine opportunity to examine the origin and triggers of her beliefs.

2.    Let’s face it, change is hard work. If it weren’t then New Year resolutions would stand a better chance of success. But if my client creates a ritual or talisman that can rely upon in times of stress to remind her of the changes she’s chosen to make, she’s in a stronger position. Even better, if her chosen rituals and talismans are in line with long-accepted sympathies, she might accomplish even more. For example, if she has an important meeting or interview set for Thursday, she might tap into the ‘luck’ traditionally associated with Jupiter, the planetary ruler of Thursday. Choosing to wear a royal blue dress or suit or maybe a piece of lapis lazuli, turquoise, or amethyst jewellery reminds her of this ‘luck and who knows but that this might give her little extra boost.

Certainly Professor Hood would not be surprised if it did.

In his book Supersense: From Superstition to Religion – The Brain Science of Belief, Professor Hood reminds us that Tony Blair always wore the same pair of shoes when answering Prime Minister’s Questions and that John McEnroe notoriously refused to step on the white lines of the tennis court between points. He also reminds us that President Barack Obama played a game of basketball the morning of his victory in the Iowa primary and continued the ‘tradition’ the day of every following primary.

Let’s face it, most are us are more into magical thinking than we might like to admit and according to both Hood and those Dutch researchers, this is probably not such a bad thing.

Astrology

New Moon in Sagittarius – will your ship ever come in?

During the two weeks following a New Moon, everything grows more quickly including your hair, so I’m told. This makes this new moon (7 December at 7:22 AM GMT) in Sagittarius the perfect time to start new projects and set out on new adventures.

SHIP

Of course, this does guarantee that if even if you do, things will turn out as planned. Not all opportunities are created equal.

On the other hand, if you’re always standing around the harbour waiting for the moment that your ship will come in, then you’ll miss out on lots of opportunities elsewhere. I mean, unbeknownst to you, that ship for which you’ve been so patiently waiting, might have already sunk half-way around the world from you.

During this particular New Moon, it’s worth keeping in mind that old proverb:

A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.

 

Astrology

Mercury Station in Scorpio – Take back your power

You may recall that a few weeks ago, on 29 October, Mercury entered Sagittarius where during his 8-week stay in that sign, the advice was that honesty is the best policy.

But on 17 November, Mercury turned retrograde – in essence he appears to be back-pedalling through the sky. During the three weeks he is retrograde, the advice was that you would do well to reconsider your plans.

take back your power

Now, on 6th December Mercury will turn direct again and carry on through Sagittarius but before he does, he slips back into Scorpio one last time. Whenever any planet (moving backwards or forwards) changes zodiac signs, you can expect a few readjustments. This time, as is sometimes the case, when Mercury changes signs he ‘stations’ – which means that it appears that for a few days Mercury stands still in the sky. This puts the sign and degree of his station into intense focus.

The advice is that during the period of this Mercury station (4-9 December 2018), you are in the unique position of being able to reclaim something that ‘belongs’ to you regardless how or why you initially lost it.

During this period, take back your power and feel perfectly at home in doing so.

The only warning here is that you must remember that power should always be embraced with honest humility and gratitude.

This is not a time for ego-plays.

 

Astrology

Venus in Scorpio – trust no one

On 9 September 2018, Venus left Libra and entered Scorpio. The predictions were that romance would be more satisfying albeit, stormier. But then in mid-October, Venus dipped back into Libra again and from then until now, relationships should have been back on a more even keel.

Now, from 2 December 2018 until early 2019, we’re facing that steamy stuff again but contrary to what the astrology columns in magazines and newspapers would have you believe, we’ll all deal with it differently.

venus in scorpioFor most, passionate experiences and encounters may well be unforgettable but perhaps, not quite for same reasons.

Venus in Scorpio is where love and magic wed and when the magic is good, it can be healing for everyone. But when the magic is bad, passionate encounters could become nasty if not downright sadistic.

This is because in Scorpio, Venus doesn’t do anything in half-measures; she approaches everything that she wants – sex and money and gender politics – very seriously. At all costs, she intends to win her game.

One Scorpio friend told me that she’d die for her passions and I believe her. However, having a good dose of Gemini in my own natal, or birth chart, if I were to come up against an all-consuming passion such as my Scorpion friend fancies, I’d run in the opposite direction. The truth is that we all address our passions in different ways and with Venus in Scorpio, this could get messy because it’s inevitable that we’ll all not agree.

In order to come through this period in one piece, when it comes to passions, trust no one, not even yourself. Question everything, rationally.

Astrology

BREXIT- the cold, hard future reality

Will BREXIT happen as proposed by Theresa May and her government?

  • Probably not and after much subterfuge and confusion, it’s likely to be a ‘hard’ (difficult and isolationist) BREXIT.
  • This is likely to be the result of a court decision(s) and severely at odds with popular opinion.

brexit

ANALYSIS:

Cap ingress 2018Mundane astrologers often construct ingress charts for each of the four annual quarters in order to assess where a nation-state is headed for that quarter. This chart is drawn the Sun’s ingress into Capricorn on 21 December 2018 and should take us through until March 2019 when the Sun moves into Aries.

One of the major concerns facing the UK during this upcoming period is BREXIT. How is this likely to fare?

What the chart tells us:

  1. Uranus (at 28 Aries 43) is at the ‘bending’ of the nodal axis (28 Capricorn/Cancer). Typically, planets in such a position function as a ‘point of release’ in the sense that things manifest in the outer world. In mundane astrology, Uranus is linked to revolutions, innovation, and break-down of order and here, Uranus is found in the 9th house, which is linked to the legal system. Because this is what’s on course to manifest, it’s entirely possible that a court of law will seriously upset the UK government’s current BREXIT plans in a way that brings collapse to order and stability.
  2. For how this might work, we might look to Mercury which, because Virgo is rising, is the chart ruler. Mercury symbolises both trade and commerce and the press. In this chart, Mercury is tightly conjunct to Jupiter also dealing with the legal system. Jupiter (the courts) is very strong in Sagittarius, the sign ruled by Jupiter. This Mercury/Jupiter conjunction is placed close (within one degree) to the IC/MC axis (i.e. the prime minster/leader vs. the common people). This reinforces the idea that the courts are stronger than the government during the this period in regards to trade and commerce and whatever is likely to manifest in this arena, will do so as the result of the judicial system.
  3. Taking this one step further, we find the Moon (in Gemini – a sign ruled by Mercury) high in the sky in the 10th house– where, if Mrs May and her government were on course for success we would expect to find the Sun. In mundane astrology the Moon symbolises the masses – the common people. In any mundane chart, the Moon speaks to the heart of the matter – popular opinion and mass ideology. This suggests the British people are very likely to ‘speak again’ and this time, the message they deliver is likely to be very different from before but will it matter?
  4. This Moon is linked loosely by square aspect (i.e. manifestation, testing, crisis) to a Mars/Neptune conjunction in the 7th house (Neptune being very powerful in Pisces, the sign in rules and tight with the chart’s angles). The 7th house rules foreign relations and agreements and with Mars/Neptune and here, we can expect subversion and confusion.biwheel
  5. Looking at how the 2018 ingress chart fits in with the chart of when the UK joined the EU back in 1973, we find the ingress Saturn not only conjunct the IC (4thhouse cusp = the common people/the homeland) but also the 1973 Sun (i.e., the EU itself). In mundane astrology, Saturn seeks social order in a disciplinarian, intolerant, and extremist way. Saturn tends to be protectionist and isolationist and builds walls rather than bridges. Put 2018 Saturn together with the 1973 Sun and we’ve got a difficult separation.
  6. Finally, because the 2018 Moon (the common people) is conjunct the 1973 Saturn, this BREXIT will likely be at odds with the popular opinion of the British people. They may have spoken, but the matter was no longer in their hands. The Moon combined with Saturn is lonely and sad, suggesting separation resulting from the traditions of the ‘father-land’. Keywords for Moon/Saturn include disadvantage, depression, worries, isolation, and estrangement/separation.
Astrology

Full Moon in Gemini – stay cool & detached!

Each month, the full moon is an intense period for everyone. If in doubt, consider the origins and meaning of words like lunacy, loony, and lunatic. During any full moon, you need to take more care than usual, especially with regards to your emotions least they take you someplace you don’t want to go.

Gemini

The full moon is also a time of harvest – reap what you sowed at the last new moon. On 23 November (5:40 AM GMT), this Full Moon in Gemini will be the perfect time to sit back and calmly observe what’s going on around you. Look for clues that you might previously have missed. Even if you don’t consider yourself to be particularly clairvoyant or intuitive, by the light of this full moon you’ll be able to gain valuable insight and you might well be awfully surprised about that which you find.

Whatever happens, remain cool and detached.

Remember, if in this period of lunacy, you need drive more carefully and keep a lid on your emotions, then other people should do the same. But chances are good that most of them won’t so watch from the sidelines, take careful notes, and for the time being, don’t get involved.

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