Astral Meanders 21-27 September 2011

In General: On the 23rd Sep the Sun enters Libra bringing inevitable change and the restlessness that spurs us to make our own changes in an effort to get just the right balance. On the 27th the New Moon is in Libra. In fact the Sun, Moon, Mercury and Venus are all in Libra. Relationships are the theme as a result and also getting the equilibrium we all need within them…It can be difficult for those signs that naturally like to have the greater share of power. The new Moon is also square to Pluto so we might expect some large catastrophe on the world scene around this time. If you have a birthday this week then it augers a year of relationship dynamics and for many a change of residence or refurbishment of present abodes. On the world scene as I have mentioned we might expect something to rock our boats on a grand scale and locally we should be sure to get plenty of rest in between the increased social pace.

Quote of the week: As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world -- that is the myth of the atomic age -- as in being able to remake ourselves. Mohandas K. Gandhi

Aries:
It’s time to stand up for what you believe to be fair in any situation. Your creative energies are at an all time high. Relationships continue to figure highly for you guys and it’s important that you are both tolerant and persevering with loved ones. Paying attention to detail across the board will bring positive results for you.

Taurus:
Time to get that healthy lifestyle up and running! The 24th -27th is an excellent time for all relationship, well being and work related plans. Your positive attitude then attracts helpful energies to you, making everything just that little bit easier. Get creative now too, it will change how feel about life!

Gemini:
Romance is nicely highlighted. Your energy returns with a big boost around the 23rd and all in all you are feeling pretty much on top of things! You are beginning to reprioritize and get your life where you want it! Reorganizing, redecorating, making things more pleasant and comfortable for you are all on the agenda now.

Cancer:
The new Moon is a catalyst for change for you guys and asks you to choose between playing it safe or trying a different path! Your intuition will guide you safely here. Do be careful of overspending or impulse buying this week as you will regret it later. More family involvement will keep you busy.

Leo:
New people to meet, new activities to become involved in and new ideas to follow are all on your agenda this week. The 26th and 27th carry some stress and a general feeling imbalance but it is not overwhelming and you are soon back on your happy track! Being practical with finances is the key for you now.

Virgo:
Those around you are a little over reactive just now so it’s wise to tread carefully and keep a low profile. You are making some definitive financial decisions now and these will form the basis of you future. Trust yourself with these as other folks opinions can get in the way of clear thinking and good judgment.

Libra:
Some general stress and a few touchy family issues are on the agenda this week but the new Moon still really does herald a nice new beginning for you. You are on the brink of really coming into your own strength and forging ahead so hang in there! Its meet to take some time to get your mojo back!

Scorpio:
The 26th can be challenging but the rest of the week is strong with some excellent communication energy. It’s a busy week work wise, with career and investment plans figuring strongly. You feel in your element at this time and are enjoying the processes of life, love and work in general.

Sagittarius:
You are more comfortable with life in general this week but there are some underlying issues that will cause minor stress for you. Mars is making you strong, proactive and directed! You have an uncanny ability to draw extra finances to yourself now too. Keep to the path with heart and all is definitely good!

Capricorn:
New plans are unfolding and there is much positive energy about for you this week but do be prepared for the odd hurdle or two! Your public persona is getting a good airing this week and social occasions abound. You are feeling pretty optimistic overall and happy to be the centre of attention.

Aquarius:
It’s an excellent time for a little getaway if you can manage it or at the very least some down time for you. The new Moon aligns your head and heart and gives rise to some intuitive clear thinking! It’s very easy to be objective now and make some good observations and some even better decisions.

Pisces:
A new beginning seems imminent and relationships as well as work figure strongly in this! By surrounding yourself with positive, energetic and motivated folk you will find your own direction and feel inclined to be proactive about it! Improved earnings prospects are quite likely now too.

Astral peeks: Pluto’s liquid ocean

Pluto could hide a liquid ocean beneath its icy shell. Indeed, other bodies on the solar system's fringe could also harbour subsurface oceans, and these could provide the conditions to sustain life. Temperatures on Pluto's surface hover around -230 °C, but researchers have long wondered whether the dwarf planet might boast enough internal heat to sustain a liquid ocean under its icy exterior. Now Guillaume Robuchon and Francis Nimmo at the University of California, Santa Cruz, say there is a good chance it does. They calculate that an ocean depends on two things: the amount of radioactive potassium in Pluto's rocky core, and the sloshiness of the ice that covers it.
Other distant icy bodies might also have oceans, which could mean that the outer solar system is potentially ripe for life. "It's very exciting to think that these dwarf planets could have astrobiological potential," says New Horizons lead scientist Alan Stern. See the New Scientist 16 September for more information. http://www.newscientist.com

Meditation Moments: Dance Meditation

Any type of dance can be meditative. The rhythm encourages a different mind and body state. Rhythm affects us in many ways: 1.It manipulates the cadence of our heartbeat and breathing, which in turn affect our psychological state. 2. It influences the functioning of our brain; for example, the repetitiveness of drumming causes the brain's left hemisphere to diminish its activity due to lack of significant input, thus allowing the right hemisphere to become dominant with its accent on emotion and intuition. (We may note the same transfer to the right hemisphere in other repetitive activities as diverse as jogging, or marching.) 3. It affects us through "entrainment." Entrainment is a phenomenon explained by physicists as the propensity of two or more moving objects in close proximity to alter themselves to a common rhythm; in group dancing, individuals slowly conform to a unity of movement which leads to a cohesion of emotion and thought. In a religious setting, where thoughts and emotions are aligned toward spirit, rhythmic dancing reinforces and builds up the group's spiritual point of reference.