It's great to see you here on our Astro Blog at Astrology on the Web. It may be so 1998 to welcome you, but we did after all start this site in, yes, 1998! Why not add us to your favorites right now before you forget. There's no way you'll absorb everything we have to offer in just one visit... There's new material each and every week! I suppose one of these days I'll manage to add a feed, or a link to our Facebook page...
Chinese New Year! Well folks, we are heading for the Chinese Year of the Tiger. Each February marks the beginning of the traditional Chinese calendar year. Richard Giles tells us that, because of the size of their population, this calendar is probably the most followed in the world! The New Year in 2010 formally commences on Sunday, 14th February and begins the new Zodiac animal cycle, the Year of the Tiger. Chinese tradition employs both Solar and Lunar calendars. Using the Solar calendar, it's 5th February, but this year the New Moon day of 14th February marks the official Lunar New Year celebration day, when the dragons and fireworks come out into the streets of Chinatown. Click to read more on the coming Chinese Year of the Tiger.
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Feng Shui Your House and Business in 2010. Richard Giles, astrologer and feng shui expert, reminds us that the Flying Star numbers change each year and that in order to maintain the best and most prosperous living environment, we need to adjust it to maximise the beneficial chi and minimise the antagonistic chi. In traditional Feng Shui assessments, the Flying Stars arrive in different sectors of the house each year, influencing a building's good and bad fortune. In the Year of the Tiger, the Flying Star numbers creating challenges in your home will move on to new locations. The best way to sort this is to have a consultation with a practitioner in your neighbourhood, but here are a few pointers, according to the energies of the coming Year of the Tiger. Read clues on how to Feng Shui Your House!
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Amazing Love Egg! The new Love Egg, the Loving Relationship booster from our very own Energy Doc, Stephen Kane, is a marvellous new energy-enhancing device that removes negative waves in our bodies preventing us from attracting loving relationships. The Love Egg creates a natural state of harmony by restoring and rebalancing the body's subtle energies and purifying the environment of negative entities and environmental stress. Made of semi-precious red aventurine, the Love Egg will enhance the qi flows in you that generate loving relationships in your life. It will also remove the energy blocks creating difficulties in your current relationships and attracting new relationships. Perfect for Valentine's Day! For higher energy, loving relationships... Check out the amazing Love Egg!
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Valentine's Day. This year's Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, is more than ever the time for lovers. In 2010, it is a truly fabulous day for romance, as the Sun (guys) and the Moon (gals) are in conjunction. Gosh, it's at the New Moon in Aquarius, the beginning of the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Tiger! Grrrowl! With the decline in organised religion and the fragmenting of community, many of us in the West (and increasingly in the East) have lost touch with the grounding energies that revitalise us and our relationship with the Earth, the Cosmos and ultimately the Spirit. Should we still celebrate these ancient festivals? Seasonal festivities like Valentine's day mark pivotal phases in the ebb and flow of the tides of being, which once were more obvious in the agricultural and pastoral societies of the past. We too can tune in and realign with the natural flows of the planet, so we are able to restore the natural flows in our own energy systems by harmonising with a Nature that has been long suppressed. Read more on St Valentine's Day.
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8th World Sound Healing Day. This Valentine's Day in 2010 is going to be an important one for all of us to observe, for another reason. It's the the World Sound Healing Day! For five minutes, sound healers, meditators, peace activists and lovers of all humanity and sentient consciousness will send a Sonic Valentine to the Earth with the heartsound "AH" filled with the intention of Peace and Love! The power of sound to heal and alter matter is only just being recognised again in the world. It's time to make it happen once more. Sound coupled with consciousness creates an extraordinarily powerful vehicle for change. Please pass this message on to everyone on your lists so that it reaches as many as possible. Read more about the 8th World Sound Healing Day.
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Aquarius Solar Festival. The potent Full Moon of Aquarius has just passed and so we have Malvin bringing us his thoughts on its esoteric implications. In this his latest missive, he investigates the subtle meaning of the Full Moon in Leo for 2010. This is Aquarius's Full Moon because the Moon is full in the sign opposing the Sun. The Full Moon of Aquarius (the Full Moon at Leo 10º15') took place on the 30th January at 06:19 UT (GMT), which is 1:19 AM EST in the US. The peak of the Full Moon in Sydney was at 5:19 PM, January 30. He relates this Moon to the elemental powers of nature and how they implement karmic forces in the world. Elementals thrive in the quiet, untouched areas of the world—anywhere that nature prevails. One can feel them, maybe even see them, if sensitive enough, and they add to the magic
of natural areas. Each element has its associated elemental: Fire (salamanders), Earth (gnomes), Water (undines) and Air (sylphs). They respond to thought currents and enable the interaction of consciousness with matter. Check out the Aquarius Solar Festival.
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Juno Sospita. Juno is an ancient Roman goddess, the queen of the gods (Juno Regina). The daughter of Saturn and Opis, she was the sister of Jupiter, Neptune, Pluto, Ceres and Vesta. The mother of Mars, Minerva and Vulcan, she was soon identified with the Greek goddess, Hera, but seems to have been of early Etruscan origin. Like her sisters, she has now been designated an asteroid, a minor planet, orbiting between Mars and Jupiter in our Solar System. Juno has gradually developed an astrological following too, and Juno (this month in dynamic Aries), describes the ways in which we face the issues of compatibility, receptivity to others, mutual sharing, trust, jealousy, possessiveness and power struggles. She held the Romans together for more than a thousand years, so let's hope she can do something for the postmodern world. Juno Sospita (Juno the Saviour) was the patron goddess of the Roman State, and her festival was held on Feb 1. Ties in nicely with Imbolc, Candlemas, and the other cross-quarter festivities of the current age! Click to read more about Juno.
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Oimelc, the Quickening. Neil Giles, our Celtic expert, tells us that the festival that follows Samhain in the Celtic calendar is Oimelc (pronounced Im-melg). At Oimelc (a.k.a. Imbolc or Candlemas), Brigid, the ancient Irish goddess of the hearth, fire, craft and poetry was invited to visit and bless each house for the coming season of spring and summer. Her blessings would quicken the life force, bringing creative power to the land and the hearth and to the minds, hearts and spirits of the people. Later, Oimelc became known as Brigantia, the festival of Brigid. Traditionally, women would gather at Brigantia and ascend into the skies on magical horses, brooms made of Rowan, Ash and Birch. They would fly to the mountain tops and join in circle to honour the Lady, Anu, Queen of the Heights whose ecstatic whirling dance brought the lightning and storms to cleanse the face of the earth and quicken the soil for the life to come in spring and summer. Click to read more about Oimelc.
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Imbolc. Mike Nichols explains that February 2 marks the celebration of the ancient festival of Imbolc, at the cross-quarter day known in Christian times as Candlemas, or St Brigit's Day. The holiday is also called “Brigit’s Day”, in honor of the great Irish Goddess Brigit. At her shrine, the ancient Irish capitol of Kildare, a group of nineteen priestesses (no men allowed) kept a perpetual flame burning in her honor. She was considered a Goddess of fire, patroness of smithcraft, poetry, and healing (especially the healing touch of midwifery). This tripartite symbolism was occasionally expressed by saying that Brigit had two sisters, also named Brigit. (Incidentally, another form of the name Brigit is Bride, and it is thus she bestows her special patronage on any woman about to be married or handfasted, the woman being called “bride” in her honor.) Nowadays, it's also celebrated in New England as Groundhog Day! Click to read more about Imbolc.
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Candlemas. Rob Tillett looks at the history and meaning of Candlemas (February 2) and how it ties in with the ancient pagan festival of Imbolc, or Oimelc, celebrating the cross-quarter day marking the first stirrings of spring. This day is also linked with the worship of Brigid, the primeval goddess, marked in the modern age by St Bride's Day, February 1. In the Christian Calendar, February 2 marks the presentation of the baby Jesus to the Temple, a rite of purification held 40 days after the festival of his birth (Dec. 25). This is Candlemas, a major Christian Feast, one of the "cross-quarter days", marking the mid-point between the solstice (Christmas) and the equinox (Easter). Click to read about Candlemas.
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Way of the Water-Bearer! Aquarius, the sign of determined intellect, unorthodox relationships and brotherly love, is the eleventh sign of the tropical zodiac. As we celebrate the ingress into Aquarius on Jan. 20, we are focused on exploring the deep and fascinating world of astrology and relationships. Aquarius, the Water-Bearer, our featured Sign of the month has a thoughtful, intelligent approach, but loves to take things to the limit, especially along little-known pathways. Charming, exciting and unpredictable, yet somehow strangely detached from the proceedings, Aquarians are one of the zodiac's most eccentric personalities. They look for the unusual and challenging, while at the same time seeking romance, tenderness and understanding in their relationships. Aquarians love to experiment and often find themselves in steamy situations, yet they do seek stable long-term relationships and will commit themselves firmly to their loved ones. Read about Aquarius and all the other signs right here on our website.
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Jupiter Enters Pisces, Jan 18. Every year, mighty Jupiter, Lord of Fortune, moves from one sign to the next, setting the stage of human consciousness for the ensuing year. Rob Tillett tells us that January 2010 sees the change from Aquarius, a Fixed Air sign, to Pisces, the sign of Jupiter's traditional rulership. Pisces is a Mutable Water sign, so it's flexible and emotional, often to the point of being psychic! Healing, personal growth and spiritual awareness is favoured by this transit, awakening a sensitive, intuitive atmosphere in the collective, especially at a political, financial and religious level (these are the areas mainly governed by Jupiter). Jupiter's naturally expansive character is beautifully expressed in Pisces, Jupiter's night-sign. Jupiter in Pisces is charitable, sympathetic and hospitable, always keen to help those in need. This position is highly sensitive and artistic, but subject to the influences of the desire world, often leading to religious experiences, psychic manifestations and premonitions. Check out Jupiter in Pisces.
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Mercury Turns Direct Jan 15. Are you heaving a sigh of relief today as Mercury turns direct after a difficult phase of retrograde motion in Capricorn? Well, don't get too excited just yet, because the shadow period now sets in, where typically disruptive items will make life awkward until Mercury returns to full speed on Feb 4, passing the point where he first turned tail back on December 26. It has been particularly problematic, thanks to Mars being retrograde at the same time and to the eclipse phase, a Lunar Eclipse on New Year's Eve, the Moon Wobble on January 11 and a Solar Eclipse today, Jan. 15 (the Solar Eclipse is beginning in Africa as I write). It's a good time to start anew. Tell that to my car financiers, who have been chasing me to renew, with threats of dire consequences if I don't do it today! Ah, finance. The tragedy in Haiti will cost billions, but no more than a drop in the bucket of the commercial funds sloshing their way around the globe—especially compared to what the government just paid out to the truly deserving hands of Citibank, AIG and the like. Check out Mercury Retrograde.
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Devastating Earthquake in Haiti . A catastrophic earthquake has shattered Port-au-Prince, the capital of the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The quake occurred just before 4:53 PM, Jan 12. Not much news has gotten out yet, as communications have been wrecked, but it does look as though the death toll may be more than 100,000 people, according to the Haitian prime minister, Jean-Max Bellerive. Our love and sympathies go out to the people of Haiti, which is one of the poorest countries in the world and can ill afford a disaster of this magnitude. From an astrological point of view, the chief cosmic factor at work here would have to be the current Moon Wobble. Disasters have historically been associated with eclipses, whether of the Sun or of the Moon. An eclipse occurs when the Sun is conjunct either the North or the South Node—but another highly significant aspect is when the Sun is square the nodal axis. These are the Moon Wobbles first identified by Carl Payne Tobey in the 1930's, who found that disasters tend to cluster around these aspects.
A Lunar Eclipse occurred on New Year's Eveexactly conjunct Haiti's natal Sun in the 11th degree of Capricorn. The Moon Wobble (the exact conjunction of the Sun with the North Node) occurred on Jan 11 in the 22nd degree of Cap. The Earthquake occurred the next day, with the Sun and Venus tightly conjunct the North Node, transiting Pluto exactly conjunct Haiti's natal Mars, and transiting Mars retrograde exactly conjunct Haiti's natal South Node. Interestingly, the earthquake Moon is exactly conjunct the Galactic Core, a profoundly potent cosmic location, again first discovered in the 1930's.
It's notable that Haiti is currently undergoing a Saturn Return, with earthquake Saturn stationary about to turn retrograde (Jan 13) in tight conjunction with Haiti's natal Saturn. And to top it off, a Solar Eclipse will occur on Jan 15.
There have been some bad disasters associated with the Moon Wobble already in 2010, including in the past few days the widespread earthquakes and flooding associated with the Wobble before the Solar Eclipse in Capricorn on January 15, and of Saturn turning retrograde opposing retrograde Mars on Jan 13. The most striking so far in the current cycle have been the horror weather in the US, Europe and Australia, a series of minor earthquakes, and now this catastrophic quake which has devastated Port-au-Prince. Governments, organisations and individuals have rushed to help the devastated Caribbean nation. You can help by donating here: Yéle Haiti Earthquake Fund.
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Saturn Turns Retrograde. Stern Saturn, Lord of Karma, turns retrograde on January 13, at 15:58 hrs UT (10:58 AM EST, or 2:58 AM on Jan 14, Sydney time). Saturn turns in Libra, the sign of his exaltation, square to the impending Solar Eclipse. Issues from the past, especially connected with finances, relationships and traditional approaches will get the gun for the Cardinal Signs in particular. I have not had time to write a full article on this, because I'm flat out with my Jupiter enters Pisces piece (which will be on line soon, so long as the lightning does not splat my laptop), but will do if I am not shut away. Neil has been promising some new articles on Saturn, Uranus and Pluto and other views from the Dark Side, so we shall see. We have just had a truly massive hailstorm here in Bowral, and unfortunately JJ and I were out in it, picking up the Firecat from the railway station. It was the worst hailstorm I've seen, I suspect, certainly the worst one I've been out in! Crazy weather. The cat is terrified... We had a total heat wave here yesterday, and the southern states of Australia are sweltering under "catastrophic" fire alerts, the northern states are in flood—and the US and Europe are snowed in under blizzards. There are big cosmic moves afoot this week, click to read more on the coming Solar Eclipse.
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Aquarius Forecast for 2010 On Line! Hey it's been a difficult task to keep the ship sailing under retro Mercury, retro Mars on my Moon and the eclipse on my Sun. However, we have now managed to complete all the annual forecasts, even though that leaves the dailies a bit behind (fixed later today). Thanks to all of the anxious Aquarians who have been goading me into action. Last night's version of the Aquarius annual contained some mysterious bits from the Libra model. Ooops. I don't know what happened there, except that I was very tired and working late. Anyway, these bits that mysteriously appeared have now been corrected and all is well in the land of the Water-Bearer; I'm sure you'll let me know if it is not... Check out the Annual Forecasts for 2010.
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Moon Wobble Again Eclipses are associated with a phenomenon named by Carl Payne Tobey as the "Moon Wobble". This is a regular cosmic shuffle that occurs when the cosmos grinds its teeth every 86.5 days on average. They seem to be the regular triggers for terrestrial disasters, whether natural (earthquakes; tidal waves; eruptions etc) or manmade (wars; terrorism; crashes, etc). Rob Tillett, one of the founders of Astrology on the Web, explores the meaning of this major cosmic phenomenon, which this month occurs on January 11, just before the Solar Eclipse on Jan. 15. If you thought Mercury retrograde was a problem, compare the Moon Wobble! Rob has been tracking events for some time related to these which you can see if you check out The Moon Wobble.
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Curious Racially Motivated Panic. In the media here in Australia, and apparently also in India, there has been a huge furore in recent days over the stabbing death of a young Indian student in Melbourne, becoming "the first victim to succumb to injuries amid a string of racial attacks on the community members in Australia". This unfortunate Punjabi man, Nitin Garg, 21, was a permanent resident of Australia and had been studying here for three years. The authorities deny that there was any racially motivated reason for the attack, but Indian media have created a hue and cry to the extent that diplomatic protests are being instituted and Indians are being warned against visiting Australia. This suggests that they would be safer in India. However, on the scale of murders committed worldwide as revealed by NationMaster.com's crime statistics database, India ranks number 1 on the list of all 83 countries surveyed, with 37,170 murders. Higher than the US (16,204). Higher than Russia, Colombia, South Africa and Mexico—and much higher than Australia, which comes in at number 36 on the list with a mere 302 murders. In case you might think that we should not look at raw stats, but rather view the per capita results, India is 36th on the list and Australia is number 46, way down. How reliable these figures are is anyone's guess, but NationMaster.com has a very high reputation for accuracy. So would Nitin Garg have been safer in India? It depends on his caste and his sex. In Australia, he does stand out a bit because he is Indian, but there are many thousands of Indians living in safety and relative luxury here. India has twice the murder rate of Australia, especially if you happen to be a dowry-bride—or a Dalit. Dalits ("Untouchables") are considered totally expendable, subhuman, and are murdered there all the time. Let's have enough of this hysterical rubbish. India is caste-ridden and very racist. Australia is not. And keep it in perspective. I publish two Indian websites, am a graduate in Indian Philosophy, and practise Indian meditation techniques, as well as having many Indian friends. Read Ram Ramakrishnan on life, death and populations in his Tsunami Reflections.
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Solar Eclipse Jan 15. The eclipse of the Sun has traditionally been viewed with dread over the ages, as the great giver of life seems inexplicably to disappear from the sky. Birds prepare for bed; the sky darkens in the middle of the day. It seems as though something dreadful is about to happen. Over the years, experience has shown us that old things come to an end (or are overthrown!) under a solar eclipse and a new beginning can be made. The first solar eclipse of 2010 is an annular eclipse of the Sun, at the New Moon in Capricorn on January 15th. This eclipse will be visible over a wide pathway, allowing millions in Africa, Europe and Asia to see it. It will therefore be of considerable significance, as the more visible the eclipse, the more powerful its effects on us earthlings. Mercury turns direct in Capricorn on this day (although Mars is still retrograde in Leo), so a turning point is coming, especially as Jupiter enters Pisces for the first time in 12 years on Jan 18. Read more on the Solar Eclipse in Capricorn.
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Happy New Year, Everyone! Well, here we are already it's the new year of 2010, a Metal Tiger. Neil and I have been working hard to get your annual forecasts out on time—and we have nearly done it, too. Not quite, but soon all will be on line. You could not believe how long it takes to write them, since they are almost of the length of a Russian novel, it seems! Richard will be presenting his usual Chinese Year Ahead for the Metal Tiger in the near future, but as far as the Western Tropical forecasts are concerned, I have now completed Libra, which just leaves Aquarius to go. This should be done in a day or two. Check out the Annual Forecasts for 2010.
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Capricorn Solar Festival. The Full Moon of Capricorn (the Full Moon at Cancer 10º15'), which is also a lunar eclipse, takes place on the 31st December at 19:14 UT (GMT), which is 02:14 PM EST in the US. The peak of the Full Moon in Sydney will be 6:14 AM, January 1. Malvin says that Capricorn rules over the growth and development of the human ego. Capricorn is the sign that holds hidden a great mystery. What part of our nature is it that persists from life to life and watches our lives and evolution here? What is it that puts on the mask that we call the human persona and lives and works on the outer planes, the three worlds of cyclic existence? Check out the Capricorn Solar Festival.
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New Feature. We have often received requests for the Mercury Retrograde and the Eclipse articles to address the issues on a sign-by-sign basis, which I have resisted doing as it would make the article too long—and too much work. But a light (no doubt the Christmas star!) has just gone off in my head. We already do a sign-by-sign analysis of the Mercury retrograde phases! And of the Eclipse phases! They are both to be found in the Annual Forecasts for each sign! Doh. So now I have linked the Merc retro article to the Mercury Retrograde sections of the Annuals for each sign—and the Eclipse article to the relevant sectors of the Annuals too. Unfortunately we are as yet only half way through them, but so far 6 signs have been completed. Yours may be one of them! Eclipses can be profound emotional experiences and Mercury retrograde gives rise to personal misunderstandings; flawed, disrupted, or delayed communications, negotiations and trade; glitches and breakdowns with phones, computers, cars, buses, and trains. This period brings travel snafus and missed appointments of all kinds. Documents can go astray. Be sure to carry a diary and refer to it often. Check out Mercury Retrograde, which begins this year on Dec. 26.
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Merry Christmas! Christmas is a time of joy and thanksgiving, when the world celebrates the influx of divine life into the cosmic grid. In 2009, Venus enters Capricorn on Christmas Day, Dec 25, adding a lovely tone to the festivity, even though, with Mars retrograde and Mercury stationary, ready to turn retro on Boxing Day (Dec 26, the Feast of Stephen) a strange, even eerie quality attends. Perhaps we can put this down to the healing, spiritually energising conjunction of Jupiter and Neptune this year at the Solstice, which, astrologically, Christmas celebrates. It's definitely a time of feasting and gift-giving, celebrated by millions of people all over the world. Christmas is the official commemoration of the birth in Israel some two thousand years ago of Jesus Christ, the divine child – but it is a general time of celebration for people all over the world, of all cultures and faiths. It has been so since prehistoric times, when all cultures celebrated the birth of the Sun as it emerged from the depths of the Solstice. Rob Tillett explains the meaning of this festival and puts it into an astrological context. Read more on Christmas.
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Mwahahahaha... We've been Gematriculated! It's nearly Christmas, so we thought we'd survived intact, but now that we have been Gematriculated... I'm not so sure. Get this: "The Gematriculator is a service that uses the infallible methods of Gematria (developed by Dr. Ivan Panin in 1890) to determine how good or evil a web site or a text passage is. Basically, Gematria is searching for different patterns through the text, such as the amount of words beginning with a vowel. If the amount of these matches is divisible by a certain number, such as 7 (which is said to be God's number), there is an incontestable argument that the Spirit of God is ever present in the text. Experts consider the mathematical patterns in the text of the Holy Bible as God's watermark of authenticity. Thus, the Gematriculator provides only results that are absolutely correct." (though how long since the Bible was written using the Finnish alphabet is a moot point). Gosh. We've been Gematriculated. Interestingly enough, it's a little-known fact that the Bible and nearly all ancient scriptures can also be understood numerically and symbolically, rather than literally. The qabbalistical art of Gematria was used by the authors to encode deep layers of meaning into a great deal of otherwise incomprehensible or strangely unlikely events contained in scripture.
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Here Comes the Sun King! The solstice is upon us, which is marked by the entry of the Sun into the sign of Capricorn, the sign of worldly achievement, spiritual birth and serious ambition. Conservative Capricorn is the tenth sign of the tropical zodiac. As we celebrate the ingress into Capricorn, we are focused on exploring the deep and fascinating world of astrology and relationships. Capricorn, the Sea-Goat, our featured Sign of the month has a cautious, yet determined personality, with a sense of the rightness and order of things which can be both frustrating and reassuring. Capricornian people, while both energetic and ambitious (especially in later life), have a strong sense of loyalty and dedication. Their passions are slow to ignite, but once burning, the blaze can light up the world! Capricorns seek stable long-term relationships, can be jealous and possessive, but give deeply of themselves to their loved ones. Read about Capricorn and all the other signs right here on our website: click here.
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Climate Conference Debacle. The massive UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen has come to an inglorious end, with member states agreeing to have more meetings, but to do nothing much about the supposed cause of the climate change, anthropogenic (man-made) CO2 emissions. Except agree that the ceiling for "global warming" should be capped at 2°C and to distribute $30 billion over the next 3 years to poorer countries—a lot less than the cost, say, of the war. They have a non-binding "pact". Oooh. It's a pity they did not consult an expert astrologer to elect their conference timing, because it was not good from the point of view of progress. Moon opposing Neptune almost to the minute suggests delusions on the part of the public, mainly to do with the cost. Moon opposed Jupiter, suggesting that leaders and their subjects would not be able to produce mutually satisfactory outcomes. There are many more astrological problems, including Mars turning retrograde in Leo during the event, generating backtracking and inability to get things done. Mind you, the Moon/Jupiter opposition suggests opulence and extravagance in other ways too, so no doubt the food was good, as the limousines and private jets proliferated. Does our hubris know no bounds? Passing laws to stop the Sun heating us (and the rest of the solar system) up? Let's look at history. Last time we tried to pass laws against the progress of nature was in 1016 (during the Mediæval Warm Period, LOL), when King Canute ordered the tides to halt. His remark—when they just kept on coming—is worthy of note: "Let all men know how empty and worthless is the power of kings. For there is none worthy of the name but God, whom heaven, earth and sea obey".
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New Comments System. Well, as you can see, we have upgraded the Haloscan comments system to Echo (and paid for the privilege, I might add!). And a very geeky business it was too. But it's cool, because you can put in your photo and all that social networking kind of stuff. So far, alas, we have not been able to get our "Recent Comments" link to function properly, but I suppose it's a matter of time, given that Mars turns retro today and Mercury does the cosmic pirouette on the 26th of December. Anyway, must get back to writing the Annual Forecasts—and the dailies. Still, I don't suppose anyone is particularly inconvenienced...
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Annual Forecasts for 2010. One of the most popular features at Astrology on the Web is our Annual Forecast, giving the year ahead for each sign. Last year (2009), both Neil and I were ill and unable to do the work, so we linked to forecasts from our sister-site, TruthStar. This year our Indian wizard, Pt Dakshinamoorthi, is unable to write them—and they were not very "Western" anyway. However I have pulled my act together this year, and will be placing them on line one-by-one as they are finished (Pisces is already on line. Yay! No more complaints about being last in line...). Neil rang me yesterday and offered to write some of them, too, so here we are having a Group Effort to keep you up with your futures. Check out our Annual Forecasts for 2010.
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Mercury Retrograde. The cosmic pressure is building towards a cosmogasm this Christmas, with both Mars and Merc turning tail in quick succession, followed by a lunar eclipse at the Full Moon in Cancer on New Year's Eve! Cor. This year there are four Merc Retro phases in place of the usual three and we are now heading for the final. At 02:39 UT (Universal Time), on Saturday, December 26th, 2009, Mercury the wise communicator turns retrograde at 21°46' Capricorn, in the sign of the Sea-Goat, sending communications, travel, appointments, mail and the www into a general snarlup! The retro period begins some days before the actual turning point (as Mercury slows) and lasts for three weeks or so, until Jan. 15, 2010, when the Winged Messenger reaches his direct station. At this time he halts and begins his return to direct motion through the zodiac. Everything finally straightens out on February 4, as he passes the point where he first turned retrograde. Mercury retrograde gives rise to personal misunderstandings; flawed, disrupted, or delayed communications, negotiations and trade; glitches and breakdowns with phones, computers, cars, buses, and trains. This period brings travel snafus and missed appointments of all kinds. Documents can go astray. Be sure to carry a diary and refer to it often. Check out Mercury Retrograde.
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The Warrior Turns...! On December 20th, 2009, Mars, the mighty Warrior, reaches his retrograde station at 19°42' Leo, in preparation for a period of retrograde motion in Leo that will last until March 10th, 2010. The first beginnings of the effect take place from October 17, as Mars begins to slow, so prepare for issues to cloud in the Mars Shadow, especially if you have strong Fixed Sign placements in your chart. The Fixed Signs are Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. Scorpio is likely to be particularly hard hit, as Mars is the traditional planetary ruler of Scorpio. Mars fires your emotions and energizes your passions, but also powers your mental endeavours and communicative skills. Mars describes male relationships and associations, risk-taking inclinations, and the physical challenges you are likely to encounter. Mars endows powerful energy and an indomitable will to succeed, but can mean accidents, injuries, anger, rage, warfare or other forms of violence! Check out Mars Retrograde.
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Mercury Retrograde: Above the Hype and Beyond the Spin. The Mercury Retrograde phase is a generally disorganised period that comes into play three or four times every year. Talented astrologer Marguerite Manning, author of Cosmic Karma: Understanding Your Contract With The Universe, focuses on our relationships at a karmic level and tells us that what happens to us is a part of our contract with the universe. Well, ain't that the truth! In this new article, Marguerite argues that the Mercury retrograde period is a time for discovering hidden information, not just a phase of annoying inconveniences. So how do we move past the “run for cover” rhetoric of Mercury retrograde and make it work for us? By fighting fire with astrological fire and changing our perspective on what this influence does to us. Check out Mercury Retrograde: Above the Hype and Beyond the Spin!
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Protect, Purify & Prosper! Although we feature the tropical zodiac on this site, as do most Western astrologers, millions of people live by the sidereal zodiac, especially in India. On December 19, 2009, Jupiter (Brihaspati), the mighty lord of the planetary powers, moves into sidereal Aquarius (Kumbha Rasi) and in the middle of May 2010 will enter sidereal Pisces (Meena Rasi). Jupiter governs finances and prosperity, and can help with children. Those with Moon in Taurus (Rishaba), Cancer (Kataka), Virgo (Kanya), Scorpio (Vrischika), Sagittarius (Dhanur), and Aquarius (Kumbha) need protection; so through our sister site Truthstar.com, we have organised powerful spiritual remedies for purification, Puja (worship) and Homam (fire rituals). Performed in India by our skilled Vedic astrologer-priests and recorded on video, they can be ordered at a small cost. Protect, purify and prosper, through our Sidereal Jupiter Transit Remedies.
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Partial Eclipse of the Moon on New Years' Eve! The eclipse of the Moon, when the light of the Moon mysteriously darkens at the luminous height of a Full Moon, has traditionally been viewed as a bad omen. It can awaken distinctly irrational responses. The fourth eclipse of the year will be a minor one, but since the Moon will be in emotional Cancer on New Year's Eve, Dec 31, it might be a bit teary. All the same, I'd say hardly anyone will be sad to see the last of 2009! Cor, what a year! Full of nasties of all varieties, IMHO. Mercury is retrograde in Capricorn, and Mars is also retrograde in Leo, so issues and attractions from the past will demand to be dealt with under this eclipse. Since the Moon governs domestic matters, the public and the emotional personality, rather than leadership, it will have a more personal effect than the solar eclipse on Jan 15, which will play a more outward, even political, role. Read more on the Lunar Eclipse.
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The Solstice – Time of Cosmic Rebirth. The word "Solstice" derives from the Latin Sol + systere, meaning "Sun" + "standing still". At the December Solstice, the Sun halts over the Tropic of Capricorn (23°S26') for some three days at the end of his journey south before recommencing his life-giving journey north. This, the longest night of the year (or shortest in the Southern Hemisphere), happens in 2009 on the eve of the 22nd of December (Dec. 21), for the measurement of days once began from sunset, rather than midnight. People across the world, in every culture, have assigned a great deal of meaning to this journey of the Sun; a broad spectrum of mythological, religious and social customs have accumulated around it. At the time of the solstice (to be exact, just as the solstice ended), people celebrated the birth of the Sun on December 25, now most widely celebrated as Christmas Day. The solsticial period lasts some three days, so when the Sun begins to rise earlier again, it has traditionally been cause for jubilation since prehistoric times. More on The Solstice.
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Have a Cool Yule! December 21 marks the celebration of the ancient festival of Yule at the Solstice. Yule is the pagan celebration of the birth of the Sun and the turning of the Wheel of the Year. The birth of the Sun has been celebrated since time immemorial on or around the solstice, which is why the birth of Jesus is celebrated at this time (December 25). Ancient Rome recognised it in the day of the birth of the Invincible Sun, so the choice of this day for Christmas was a handy christianization of the established festival of Mithras, the Sun God and a number of other Solar Heroes. That is why John Calvin and other leaders of the Reformation abhorred it, why the Puritans refused to acknowledge it, much less celebrate it (to them, no day of the year could be more holy than the Sabbath), and why it was even made illegal in Boston! As a matter of fact, Hannah, writing from Finland, has just informed us in our blog comments that Christmas in Finnish is Joulu! Read more on the ancient festival of Yule, the Wheel of the Year.
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Sagittarius, the Archer! Lively Sagittarius, the sign of wide-ranging travel (both physical and mental), matters of the higher mind and having a good time, is the ninth sign of the tropical zodiac. As the Sun enters the sign of the Archer on Nov 22, this makes Sagittarius our featured Sign of the month! Sagittarians have a dynamic personality, with a sense of personal freedom which can be both stimulating and challenging. Sagittarian people have a lively interest in exploring the distant reaches of the world, both inner and outer. They love to take chances and to travel, making them the great gamblers of the zodiac. Sagittarians, also famed as the high priests of the zodiac, will rise to any challenge, especially in the area of romance. The noble emblem for Sagittarius is the Archer, armed with the arrow of truth. Free and honest in their approach, they expect others to be likewise. The Sagittarian arrow shoots for the stars, holding the blazing light of truth in an arc that illuminates the world. Admirers should remember that their honesty can on occasions be brutally frank, especially when extolling the virtues of their actions, or recounting one of their more dubious exploits. Read about Sagittarius and all the other signs right here on our website: click here.
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Asperitus Returns! Those of you who have been following the outlandish career of Asperitus, Master of Complaint, Lord of the Laggardly and Marionette of the Maudlin Muse, had no doubt given him up for dead (unsurprisingly, as he does dwell in heaven, when he is not inhabiting a dustbin in a mountainous retreat, or barricading himself in a disused lavatory in Nhill). Due to a grave disdain for the flimflam and flummeries of the mortal world, the old boy has in recent months failed to deliver on time, or indeed at all. In fact he is still far from 100%, but the ill aspects have stirred his soul, and missive by owl advises that he has revived some of his flagging strength. As though from out of nowhere, Asperitus, Oracle of Bitter Truth, has undertaken to review the maudlin futures of sublunary souls as they totter along this vale of tears. Enough of that. Let us prepare for the Cosmic Cacophonies of 2010... Read more on The Trials and Tribulations of 2010
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Mars, our astrological "Why" chromosome. Astrologically speaking, do you know what makes you tick? I mean really, when it comes to the universal energies being reflected in your natal chart (or as I like to refer to them, the individual cosmic clauses in your very own “contract with the universe”) do you know what single birth energy, all by itself, can get you to stand up and be counted all by yourself? Marguerite Manning argues that the position of Mars is critical because it is the driving force that empowers and ignites our lives. Mars will always dictate the manner in which we characteristically display courage, express anger and exhibit passion. It also predicts just how we are most likely to annoy others, ignite tempers and push a few provocative buttons along the wilful way. Mars, the traditional ruler of Scorpio and Aries, will be in Leo for several months ahead, turning retrograde on Dec 20. Read more on Mars, our astrological "why" chromosome.
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