astral meanders may 23-29 2012

In general:  The week begins with the Sun and Neptune in difficult aspect.  Following hot on this Mercury will enter Gemini and link into the Sun-Neptune battle, which will sap our vitality and encourage us to indulge a little too much around the 25th-26^th . Overall however the week is pretty breezy and light, with a lot of inspiring mental energy about and great ideas that should be acted upon.  On the 29^th it’s especially hard to focus on work and knuckle down to the old routine. If you have a birthday this week you will probably be inspired to begin new projects in the year ahead. On the world scene be prepared for some interesting breakthroughs in the areas of philosophy and religion and for some new and innovative concepts to be promoted by the media. Locally take it easy around the 25^th-26^th.

Thought for the week: Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face. ~Victor Hugo

Aries

If you choose your words carefully and avoid arguments then this can be a productive and satisfying week. A great deal can be done around the home and all those little jobs you have been putting off can be successfully dealt with now. Try listening to those around you instead opf hogging centre stage.

Taurus

Finances can be challenging now and there seems a lot of movement in this department so be sure to keep an attentive eye on things here.You nmay have to do more with less for a while!  Career matters however are looking smooth and positive and should provide you with something to smile about.

Gemini

Some important inner changes are occurring for you guys.  It’s a philosophical week where you really start to look at yourself with deep and intense honesty!  Some interesting news arrives for you that makes you smile and may also give you the opportunity to get out of your usual everyday routine for a while!

Cancer

It’s a good week for Cancer with lots of good vibes about and a sense of positive expectation in the air. Some small problems may surface in the work place but they do not really require much from you, go with the flow and things will work out naturally. Some helpful changes are actually about to happen at work so keep smiling!

Leo

It’s a pleasurable week with a great positive emphasis on your love and relationship life. Saturn is still working for a much better future for you guys and the things that occur now will lay the foundations so be mindful!  Its time to learn those lessons the universe is giving you and put them into practice!

Virgo

You are still feeling the need to balance your work and home life and get some order back into your life. Many of you will begin to consider some very real life style changes now and will lay some plans for the year ahead. Energy levels can be a bit low and you may find you are susceptible to colds so keep warm.

Libra

It’s a happy and joyous week for Librans and others cannot help but be affected by your warm and positive energy! Your relationship and love life should be blossoming nicely and folk in general are being extra nice just now! It’s not at all a wonder that you are feeling so good and optimistic  about your life!

Scorpio

Keeping on top of finances can be a bit of a challenging chore this week. Career issues are coming back into the forefront of your mind and there are some positive moves in the offing. It’s important for you to capitalise on the career momentum now. This can be a rewarding phase if you are open to it.

Sagittarius

You have a wonderful opportunity to understand your relationships better this week and indeed until the months end. If you do it right and make sound decisions based upon your insight then things can go very well for you indeed. Be prepared however to let go of those who do not serve you well.

Capricorn

Work can be very demanding and tiring t this time. Be careful that over work does not lead to a health issue for you! Keeping some sort of balance is a wise thing to do right now. Relationships are a positive highlight this week, especially with your intimate other! Just do try to slow down a little please!!

Aquarius

It can be confusing week for Aquarius where the things you thought you wanted do not seem so alluring anymore and life is generally turning on its head a little. You may even feel a little burdened by present responsibilities.  An intimate partner will bring good news though and something to smile about!

Pisces

Try not to allow career and job worries to spoil what could be very nice romantic encounter this week! Having a close connection with another can be very important for your overall health and stress levels. It has been a pretty difficult month for you guys and some nice light relief is definitely in order.

 

Astral Peeks: Predictive astrology

Predictive astrology is the branch of astrology which is primarily concerned with the  prediction of events. Moreover the branch of Astrology that deals with "Directions," the methods by which future influences are ascertained. The consideration of this branch opens up the whole question of Fate versus Free Will. Here is my favourite quote in  response to this question!

“The purpose of modern predictive astrology is to help people make better choices, to clarify the nature of psychological terrain through which they are passing, and to serve as their ally in the endless, unpredictable task of creating the future." Steven Forrest

Meditation Moments:  Meditation for children

A new study published in the International Journal of Yoga found that when children are trained to practice meditation, their attention spans are significantly increased. The researchers tested two yoga-based relaxation practices involving specific meditation and rest techniques with 208 school children (132 boys and 76 girls) between the ages of 13 and 16 years of age. Their attention spans were tested before and after practicing the two techniques: meditation and rest. Both meditation and rest improved the children’s’ attentiveness significantly but meditation had the greatest impact on the attention scores, regardless of gender or age of the children. Parents, teachers and researchers are discovering how meditation can relax children and help them thrive in life and academics. Studies abound on the benefits of meditation for adults, and recent research is beginning to confirm that benefits extend to children as well. Studies reveal that meditation may have numerous benefits for children in the classroom. In a 2004 study published in the Journal of Applied School Psychology, mindful awareness exercises helped 1st through 3rd graders reduce anxiety and improve school performance. An exciting pilot study shows that mindfulness may benefit children as young as four and five. Last year the Mindful Awareness Research Centre (MARC) at UCLA introduced a mindfulness program to pre-schoolers, the first controlled study on that age group. Mindfulness increased the pre-schoolers’ memory, planning and organization. Impacting a child’s development at such an early age has the potential for wide-reaching effects. While the results look promising, they are preliminary and further studies are needed to confirm these findings.