astral meanders 19-25 Jan 2011

In General: The Full Moon is in Cancer on January 20th. Communicating sincerely and with consideration is what supports the best kind of personal transformation now. People will be feeling more protective than usual and are apt to be a little touchy so care and consideration work best! Feelings and past injustices are just below the surface, so beware! Also on this day the Sun enters Aquarius. Group activities and humanitarian concerns are very much the mindset for the next month. Jupiter returns to Aries on 23rd January. Management and new ideas are favoured during this period, and as this planet is considered the “great benefic”, many will find some respite with adjusting to change and transformation during the first half of the year. Should your birthday occur this week you will have a year of change certainly, but there will much aid and assistance on the journey! On the world scene humanitarian concerns are dominant and locally it’s time to face our feelings head on.

Quote of the week: I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures. Lao Tzu


Aries
March 21- April 20
You have reached the point of no return! Now things really heat up for your 2011 and the rush is on. It is a busy period and there seems to be a lot to do, a lot to plan and a lot of demands upon your personal time! You need to stay alert and on your toes and promise yourself that you will try to keep a balance.

Taurus
April 21-May 21
You are in a fun and enjoyable period that is the for-runner of a more responsible and demanding period. Make the most of the final days of this month and indulge yourself as only a good Taurean is able! Relax and take a break or short holiday if you can for the best use of this favourable energy.

Gemini
May 22-June 21
Career matters can take some surprising turns this week and it’s important that you are alert to any opportunities out there. Seize them with both hands! The energy around you is less introspective and relationship dominated as it has been for most of this month and is finally stepping you out into the wider world.

Cancer
June 22- July 23
Career and responsibilities are highlighted this week and will likely become much more demanding. It is also a positive time to rid yourself of bad habits and begin a new regenerative cycle. Getting finances in order is also highly favoured now. On all levels you are clearing out junk and moving forward.

Leo
July 24- August 23
The full Moon and the days around it are good for Leo. You are at your protective best and should enjoy some pleasant social gatherings within the home. This is just the tip of a cycle where stress falls away and the total enjoyment and appreciation of life steps up. Your popularity is definitely on the increase.

Virgo
August 24- September 23
If you can avoid sensitive issues and carefully watch what you say then this is a good week. Determine to be compassionate and understanding with loved ones for the best results. Creative projects are favoured and can be very satisfying now. It’s a great time for taking a course or beginning a new hobby.

Libra
September 24- October 23
Career is favoured this week and some good outcomes are likely. However the odd home drama is also likely, but then this has been a month for home based drama! Your abilities in getting your message across are heightened and others want to listen to you. Enjoy the added confidence you experience now.

Scorpio
October 24-November 22
This is a powerful time for Scorpio but there is a danger! If you push issues and people too hard then you will find the results less than satisfying; if you take it all gently and channel your considerable energies into forward planning and getting those home based tasks completed then all will be well.

Sagittarius
November 23- December 21
It is a demanding and considerably social time for you guys, but you are in a positive and communicative mood so nothing seems to phase you too much now. There is a lot of personal exploration going on too and any contacts you make at this time will be helpful later. Be careful of scattering your energy.

Capricorn
December 22- January20
Pleasant family times and enjoyable social occasions are on the cards for you guys this week. You might be re-looking at your career or life goals now and clearing some of the baggage you have been carrying. Spending time and energy on finances and budgeting during this phase will pay off later.

Aquarius
January 21- February 19
If you sit back and observe the world now, you will soon discover a whole new insight to what you perceive to be real problems now. If you rush in and try to deal with things before this insight then the results are less than satisfactory. The full moon increases your general confidence.

Pisces
February 20 March 20
There is a lot of good energy out there now and life is beginning to get a whole lot easier and more enjoyable again. It’s an opportune time for working on your personal self esteem as this will prove the key factor in the weeks to come. Taking a back seat and reflecting on your real goals and dreams is also a good idea now.

Astral Peeks: The 13th Planet....

Stories have circulated over the past few days as astronomers appear to have discovered something that astrologers have known for nearly 2000 years: that the zodiac that we use in Western astrology does not line up with the current placement of the constellations! Believe me its nothing new! The debate isnt either and it seems to arise every so often....much to my consternation!!

This non-alignment is due to "precession," which just means that due to the earth’s wobble the relationship between the earth and the stars changes over a period of 26,000 years. This is why every 2160 years or so we go through another zodiacal age, like the changeover from the Age of Pisces to the Age of Aquarius that we are in right now. The zodiac is a symbolic system. The constellations do not align into comfortably divided 30 degree sections as they do around the birth chart, and as many of these news articles state there is a 13th constellation that the Sun passes through on its journey around the Sun called Ophiuchus. This has given rise to the question about whether the zodiac should have 13 signs rather than 12. There is nothing new about Ophiuchus, it was discovered and discussed years ago. These are ideas that for many years have caused astronomers to argue the legitimacy of astrology. It is a constellation out there definitely, but it’s off the ecliptic (that is, it’s not along the path of the Sun through the sky). Ptolemy mentions it in his literature as an off-zodiac constellation, meaning that the Sun does not travel through it. There are some two dozen constellations that touch the ecliptic; but the zodiac uses just 12 of them.

Astrology is not astronomically correct, that is a given. The information upon which modern astrologers base their premise does not involve a study of distant stars or constellations. Rather, their data have to do with the activities of the planets in our own solar system within a zone of influence defined by the association between the Earth and Sun. Western astrologers don't work with stars or constellations. Their focal point is our solar system. They study the planets and the moon as they pass through 12 zones defined by this relationship between the Earth and sun.

Astrology is a symbolic system largely based upon the works of Ptolemy from about 300 years ago. Astronomers are only showing themselves ignorant of the art of astrology when they assume these ‘discoveries’ to discredit astrology! It may be a truth to say that astrologers seem to have a better handle on both arts!
So rest assured the zodiac signs have not been misrepresented. The news is just catching up to what astrologers already know and already take into account in their work. I hope this helps to clear up the misunderstanding!!