astral meanders 8-14 June 2011

In general: There is a great deal of activity and cerebral stimulus about this week, but because individuals will be stimulated to know themselves and their world better there is also a strong sense of building stability and centeredness. Chiron is retrograde on the 8th and its energy will encourage individuals look inwards, becoming more aware of changes within ourselves and the possibilities of whom we can become once we embrace our personal healing. Venus is also spreading her special brand of beauty, love and values this week, again asking us to be aware of where our heart lies in all things. She may bring new relationships, new journeys, and the motivation to heal from the hurt of long-ago. Saturn wonderfully turns direct this week too, releasing that build up of pressure and making many of us feel the lightness of new found freedom! Birthday folk this week can look forward to an uplifting year ahead! On the world scene it might be meet to remember that the release of pressure can happen in many ways, not all of them simple or easy to manage! Locally it’s a good time to reassess our personal direction and make the necessary changes we need.

Quote of the week: Character - the willingness to accept responsibility for one's own life - is the source from which self respect springs. Joan Didion

Aries:
If you make working well with others and giving praise and thanks where and when its need then this can be a very productive and positive time for you guys. Accept that others may make some irritating demands now too and just do what you have to without getting all knotted up about it.

Taurus:
The doors of opportunity are opening for Taurus and this means that your dreams are much more possible. Don’t spoil this wonderful time with over-worry and a tendency to fear change! Just embrace the world of transformation, excitement and adventure that is on offer to you.

Gemini:
This week offers some positive energy for change, however the end few days can be quite challenging for you guys. Relationships in general are good, communicative and warm. But do be aware that even though they look good, any underlining negative patterns or issues will be out in the open and asking for transformation.


Cancer:
It’s a big week for you guys. Your dreams and goals are highlighted and you are feeling very much like making big changes. It’s important to give yourself some time and space to think it all through. Getting out in nature, going for walks and reading inspirational books are all recommended.


Leo:
Career opportunities, new projects, new responsibilities and lots of innovative plans are on the agenda now. This pattern is due to continue for some! Whatever you do the wise thing at the moment is to take your time when making final decisions and commitments. Wait until you are absolutely sure!

Virgo:
There can be a lot of demands on your time and personal space this week and you might need to factor in some you time! Take a deep breath when it all gets too much and remember that you can say no! Family and close friends will be prominent this week and time with them will be fulfilling.

Libra:
Some people and events this week will be a little nerve jangling, but true to Libra form you will remain cool and calm! Some excellent ideas are likely and new life directions will in some way be on the cards for many of you. Friends will show their true colours this week, most of which is good!

Scorpio:
Relationships are still the main focus for Scorpio. You may find that you are more critical and judging of those you love this week, than usual, and this tendency can get in the way of things. Try to let go and step back a little and just enjoy what you have. Obsessiveness, touchiness and possessiveness will not score well for you.

Sagittarius:
It’s a challenging time for you guys. So much to think about!! Opportunities, new offers and unlikely surprises all combine to make you feel a little overwhelmed! Sit back and let it happen around you and defer decision making until after the full Moon next week! Concentrate instead on good relationship vibes.

Capricorn:
The goat’s world is about hit fast drive. Things are really in for some overhauling and change. You guys will find that everything speeds up as of this week and opportunities for dream realization come thick and fast. Their will be some obstacles but perseverance will win you big rewards now!

Aquarius:
It’s a productive and more expansive time for you guys. You are likely to meet useful people and have supportive events happen this week, all making you feel very optimistic about your future. Just be careful to get the rest and down time your need as well. Home can be a welcome haven now.

Pisces:
This is quite a fateful time for Pisces, where you will map the next 12 years or so with the decisions and moves made now. Trusting your intuition will be the best thing you can do. The second important thing to remember will be keeping a good working balance between family and career.


Astral Peeks: Life on Mars??

Tiny worms – just 500 micrometres long – were found at depths ranging from 900 metres to 3.6 kilometres, in three gold mines in the Witwatersrand basin near Johannesburg. That's an astonishing find given that multicellular organisms are typically only found near the surface of the Earth's crust.
"To have complex life sustain itself for such a long period completely sealed away from everything else – from sunlight, from surface chemistry – is pretty amazing," says Caleb Scharf of the Columbia Astrobiology Center in New York City.
“We've had this preconception that there can only be certain types of organisms in certain environments," says Scharf. "But it's not true at all. There are more complex organisms in these bizarre environments."
If complex life forms are able to survive inside cracks deep inside Earth, it raises the possibility that they might have survived undetected in similar environments on Mars.

Meditation Moments:

Each week I will be adding a little meditation information for my readers.
Neuroscience is showing how visualisation is seen to effect brain changes at the neural pathway level. This basic truth of Eastern thought, that creative visualisation meditation creates the actual basis for changing oneself to a new reality is now being understood at a Neuroscience level. Scientists have done experiments where control groups have visualised exercising their muscles whilst another group did actual physical exercise. The actual group who did exercise increased muscle strength by 30% whilst the visualisation group had increased their muscle tone and strength by 22% as a group. The explanations for the increase by the visualisation group lay in the fact that the motor neurons of the brain that “program” movements are activated and strengthened, resulting in increased strength when muscles are contracted.
Likewise a study done by researchers with women who had small breasts also produced remarkable results. A group of women had their chest measurements taken, and underwent a 60 day visualisation meditation process where they imagined their breasts growing, and putting on new bras and clothes which would reflect their new shape. After the trial, upon new measurements being taken, over 20% of the women were found to have increased their bra size by an alphabetic size (i.e. “A” to “B” cup). This group reported that the changes remained in place 6 months after the study finished.
The reason meditation can create change is that the sensory information created by visualisation is taken literally as if it came from our eye sense awareness channel. Imagination is sight to the brain, and it reacts accordingly. Food for thought!