astral meanders 17-23 August 2011

In General: It is wise to be aware that Mercury is still retrograde and will be so until the 26th of this month. While it’s a great time for inner reflection, outer communication is likely to be frazzled. Consequently, we should all make an effort to avoid misunderstandings by being extra thorough about the words we make use of, while also making sure to pay attention to others even more conscientiously than usual. On August 17th Mars aligns with the July 1st Eclipse point at 9 Cancer. This is significant because it can cause a revisitation of events from that time, especially those involving domestic and safety issues. An alignment of the Sun, Venus and Mercury during this same time frame is favorable for concord in communications however and can help bring some closure on these issues, while a Mars and Jupiter sextile on August 18th encourages fresh opportunities for progress and expansion. When the Sun opposes Neptune on August 22nd we might expect that any illusions and romantic notions not based in reality will be exposed for what they really are. If you enjoy a birthday this week then you can look forward to a year of much inner growth and reflection, but remember how important it is to speak your truth to others or misunderstandings will occur. On the world scene it’s a week in which political issues will revolve around domestic safety and security. On the public may feel vilified with the results of any discussions revolving these subjects. Locally it’s important to dot those i’s and cross those t’s this week and be sure to clean up any loose ends.

Quote of the week: A riot is at bottom the language of the unheard. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Aries:
Family and affairs of the home and heart will predominate this week. It’s a slow week overall but one in which what you say and do can have long term impact, so be aware! Socially it’s a boon time and if you do receive invitations for this week then accept because you will really enjoy the outcomes. The week’s end can see you receiving some very good news about an ongoing project.

Taurus:
It is a good week to stay close to home so you can be around to deal with any issues that come up for loved ones and avoid the muddle and mishap of communication that may result otherwise. Short journeys however can bring a good deal of enjoyment now. It’s a poor time for buying expensive objects too or getting involved in any financial projects.

Gemini:
It can be frustrating trying to get hold of influential or important folk right now so it’s best to sit back and wait till after the retrograde period if you’re able. Keep an eye on valuables too as it’s easy to lose things now. The 17th is a big day for, bringing up old and unresolved issues for you to finally attend to.

Cancer:
There are new and favorable opportunities for increasing your finances this week. The end of the week is especially enjoyable and can be useful in laying positive foundations for your future. The 23rd heralds a time of lighter more pleasurable energy than you have seen for some time, allowing you to smell the roses for a while!

Leo:
Things may be moving slowly this week but a general feeling of optimism prevails. If you let go and go with the flow then this will be a most pleasant week indeed! Career, finances and life in general will be much better throughout August than they have been in some time and this week is no exception!

Virgo:
The first few days of this week are quite productive and fortunate for you guys! Travel and career issues are highly favoured. Don’t rush things though. It is overall an excellent time for some self reflection too and you can learn a good deal about yourself if you give yourself the time and space to do so!

Libra:
This week and indeed all of this month to some degree is an excellent opportunity for building firm and productive foundations for your future. Some very positive energy abounds around career and prestige on the 17th and 18th so expect some good news coming your way! Finances are also looking at this time.

Scorpio:
The 17th -19th are the best days for you this week. It seems you can do wrong during this time. Someone close will surprise you in a wonderful way at this time too. Romance is improving and will continue to do so for the rest of this month. You are finding out where your true self wants to be in the future and you are sure of how to get there at last!

Sagittarius:
You are in for some very positive moments this week and then some more again as we head towards the months end! Career prospects are suddenly very bright indeed! Whatever you do however, do not push things or commit to anything without the paper work to back it up! It’s wise to pace yourself slowly and methodically now.

Capricorn:
This week looks good for all things financial and work related. The more the week progresses the better it all gets! The 18th-19th is excellent for romance. It’s also a favoured day for fixing old issues with those close to you and resolving any differences. Things in general are on the improve and you will feel more motivated.

Aquarius:
It’s a quiet week for you guys which provides an excellent opportunity for a bit of an early spring clean and the tying up of loose ends in general. A new position or a better situation at work can crop up now and add some positive energy to your life. It’s a good week overall and can put you on a better footing overall.

Pisces:
You feel happier and more motivated this week than you have in some time. Getting yourself out and about can bring some wonderfully opportunistic happenings and you will very likely meet someone who can give your career a leg up! Creativity is at a high now too so try to make the most of it!

Astral peeks: What’s up in night the skies this week and next…( for NSW EST ).

August 17th : Mercury, which has vanished in the glare of the setting Sun for a while, today reaches ‘inferior conjunction’, which means that it is precisely between us and the Sun. Mercury will re-emerge low in the east in the morning sky next month. August 19th: Today the Moon will be at the farthest point from Earth in its orbit, called apogee, at 2:24am. The distance between the two bodies will be 405,159 kilometers. August 21st: Looking out to the east this a.m., and you’ll see the Moon and what looks like a very bright star above and to its left. That’s not a star; it’s the planet Jupiter. A standard pair of binoculars should reveal up to four of Jupiter’s largest moons, looking like small pinpricks of light to one or both sides of the planets. August 26th: If you’re an early riser, take a look out to the east and you’ll see the Moon extremely close to the planet Mars. August 29th: New Moon occurs today at 1:04pm.

Meditation Moments: clearing, cleaning…spring is in the air!!
No one knows for sure where spring cleaning originated, but it's obvious that from the early days of civilization, several ethnic groups and faith traditions adopted springtime rituals that are likely to have spread and evolved over time into what we consider spring cleaning today. Mercury retrograde in particular is a great time to clean up our lives. That’s because our abilities to re-assess, re-evaluate, and re-consider are heightened. Yes, it’s certainly an element of the re-trograde cycle….Cleaning can be superbly therapeutic. When you sweep the floor, imagine you are sweeping all the unnecessary elements of your life into a pile and getting rid of them once and for all! When you wash the dishes, wash away all your negative thoughts too! When you weed the garden imagine you are weeding out all the elements, be they folk or your own ideas or habits that hinder your progress and growth, when you polish your timber, then visualize your own self shining brightly, glowing healthily…and so on. This is an excellent and purposeful meditation that can actually affect a lot of positive change in your life and approach!