astral meanders 13-19 April 2011

In General: Mercury conjuncts Jupiter early this week and as a consequence new plans and ideas fill the air, some of which will be very useful. The main problem or so it seems is sorting out the best ideas from the rest! April 18th has a lovely Libran full Moon. Libra is all about serious relationship issues, and with Saturn still making itself felt, issues that have held relationships back from their real fulfilment may come to light. On a positive note this is the day to celebrate love and give thanks for those who care about you and whom you love. At the end of the week Mercury conjuncts Mars making for some full on thought activity and lots of frenzied decision making. For those with birthdays this week it is going to be an exciting year ahead with relationships and new projects highlighted. On the world scene this is another week of turbulent activity, and with fiery Mars so operative at the moment we can expect nothing less than volatility. Locally be sure to pay attention to the positive at the full Moon and appreciate those you love. Quote of the week: I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances. Martha Washington (1732 - 1802) Aries March 21- April 20 A passionate and exciting week overall! The full moon on the 18th is particularly fiery. Personal projects that begin now will have their day about nine months from now! Be patient with them. Expect a few delays with any plans and prepare for the odd surprise. The full Moon is a busy time and there is a lot of activity with a partner in store. Taurus April 21-May 21 You are in a strong phase and it’s true to say that whatever comes your way, you can handle it! The Full Moon begins a much more assertive time for you. With finances however, it’s a time for patience. Avoid signing the dotted line just now as your judgement is not really up to par. Speculation is also best avoided. Everything else is systems go! Gemini May 22-June 21 The 16th is a good day for you guys and will help to reveal a few necessary truths. Not a good week for initiating new projects but a great one for getting old projects completed and perfecting the results! The full moon and the days around it can bring underlying issues and tensions to a head. Use the information you find wisely. Cancer June 22- July 23 It’s easy to feel overloaded this week and the only way to deal with this is to be sure you only take on those things that are absolutely necessary! The full Moon highlights family demands and the fact that they are not going to disappear! Try to find a balance that works for you. It can be hard to take a slow path, but you might need to! Leo July 24- August 23 Avoid getting involved in other’s conflict this week. Don’t take sides whatever you do! Restless energy pervades and you need to harness it as best you can. Nothing is going to be as quick and easy as you would desire! Responsibilities still take precedence. Miscommunication with friends is likely. Avoid arguments at all cost. Virgo August 24- September 23 Finances and investments can be on your mind this week. With Mercury still retrograde it might be wise to avoid any major reconstruction just now! Others can be overly demanding and you really need to have some time to yourself. In general the possibility of being misunderstood now is unusually high. Take a deep breath and trust yourself. Libra September 24- October 23 Once again it’s all about the demands that others are making on you and they are mighty ones at this time! Learn to say no occasionally and around the full moon be sure to look after yourself first. The Full Moon in your sign makes it hard to mask any emotions, so this might be easier than you think. Listen to yourself it can be revealing. Scorpio October 24-November 22 Don’t buy into anything clandestine around the full moon, keep things very much above board. Secrets will be your undoing now. The full moon and the few days following can be very nice romantically. It’s a great time to re- organise the budget but certainly not a good time for rash financial decisions. Work delays or frustrations will pass. Sagittarius November 23- December 21 It’s a reasonable time for you guys, but you can spoil it all by becoming too critical and saying too much! You are creatively inspired now, but there also a few emotional ups and downs to contend with. Meditate and be kind to yourself. The full moon may see you helping out a friend. You may also find your social life picks up. Capricorn December 22- January20 There are some challenges this week, but they can help to boost your profile if you remain calm and focused through them. Home and family seem to be the centre of your attention now. It’s an excellent opportunity to improve family relationships and the home environment. Professional responsibilities take up a good deal of your time too. Aquarius January 21- February 19 Communication skills are in the hot spot this week so be prepared to focus upon them! A friend or sibling will bring you opportunities that are worth following up. Delays and little frustrations can be annoying now. You may need to revisit some irritating problems with family and loved ones that have not yet been properly resolved. Pisces February 20 March 20 Sincere and up front communication is essential this week. Those that care about you, are willing to help but only if you open up to them. Facing up to recent financial excesses may be necessary now too! You seem a little resistant to change at the present and need to have your familiar comforts surrounding you. Try to remain open to new opportunity. Astral Peeks: 50 years ago, on April 12 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human in history to leave the Earth's atmosphere and venture into space. Yuri Gagarin flew his only space mission, aboard the spacecraft Vostok 1. He circled Earth at a speed of 27,400 km/per hour. The flight lasted 108 minutes and Gagarin reached a height of about 327 kilometres above Earth. Although Gagarin had no control of the spacecraft, a key was placed in a sealed envelope in case an emergency situation made it necessary for him to take control. The Vostok’s re-entry was controlled by a computer program sending radio commands to the space capsule. As planned, Cosmonaut Gagarin ejected from the capsule and landed by parachute. Celebrations across Australia include: MelbourneScreening of First Orbit @ VSSECPublic Talk: Spam in a Can – Human Spaceflight @Monash University SydneyMuseum Open Day @ Powerhouse MuseumVostok Space Beer Tasting @ 4-Pines Brewing Company AdelaideYuri’s Night Party @ The University of Adelaide AIAA Student BranchGagarin’s Party @ the Russian Community Centre