The Energy of 2012 - Uranus

Uranus, the planet of the unexpected, takes 84 years to orbit around all 12 signs of the zodiac.  In 2012, it will pass over Aries at 0 degrees 51 minutes to 8 degrees 33 minutes.  

Uranus first entered fiery Aries for 2 months between 28th May and 13th August 2010.  It left Pisces completely on 11th March 2011 and will stay in Aries until 15th May 2018.  Just to complicate matters, it will revisit Aries for about 4 months from 7th November 2018 and leaves Aries for good on 5th March 2019.

With Uranus, expect the unexpected.  If you can think of it, then Uranus can take it one step further.  This planet demands freedom and independence.  Once your planets get zapped by its electrifying energy, life will not be the same again.  As with other transits, you can choose to fight against it or flow with it, or in this case, shake with it.......

On a global level, Uranus in Aries symbolises an increase in sudden violence, which has already started with riots breaking out in various parts of the world.

The house(s) that Uranus transits in can give us clues as to what kind of unpredictable events may occur to you in the next 7.5 years.  However, birth chart analysis is not that simple.  Besides looking at the planets residing in the house that Uranus transits in, we also need to consider the aspects to those planets and their rulerships too.

In 2012, Aries born between 20th-30th March (also those on the Pisces/Aries cusp) will have their Sun conjunct Uranus.  Libra born between 22nd September to 3rd October (also those on the Virgo/Libra cusp) will have their Sun oppose Uranus.  Capricorn born between 21st to 31st December (also those on the Sagittarius/Capricorn cusp) and Cancer born between 20th June to 1st July (also those on the Gemini/Cancer cusp) will have Uranus square their Sun.  These 4 cardinal signs are likely to experience Uranus in a stronger and more 'in your face' way than Aquarius (19th - 30th January, plus those on the Capricorn/Aquarius cusp), Gemini (20th - 31st May, including those on the Taurus/Gemini cusp), Leo (22nd July to 2nd August, and those born on the Cancer/Leo cusp) and Sagittarius (21st November to 1st December, plus those born on Scorpio/Sagittarius cusp).

Rebellious Uranus sends an earthquake through your system and breaks down old beliefs, values and routines.  You may feel awakened and excited to start something new that is being presented to you.  You could find a new job, start a new relationship or move on to a new place of residence.  There is a sense of wanting to break out of your everyday routine and do something completely different.  

Since I just had almost all of my significant planets electrocuted by Uranus while it was in Pisces for the last 7.5 years, I thought it would be more insightful to share that with you instead of analysing all the separate Uranus transits.

With the Pisces ingress, Uranus had conjunct my Mars 3 times, oppose my Saturn 3 times, conjunct my Sun once, oppose my North Node 3 times, square my Neptune 3 times and inconjunct my ASC and Pluto 3 times each.  My Sun oppose Saturn and the North Node natally and square Neptune too, so in effect, my Sun was activated by Uranus' hard aspects 10 times in total.  Thanks to my natal Sun trine Uranus aspect and also the softer Uranus transits (sextile to my Moon, MC and Chiron 3 times and trine my Uranus 3 times), I live to tell the tale........so what happened in the past 7.5 years?

In a nutshell, I was trained as a primary school teacher, thinking the certification would set me up for life (or until retirement anyway).  I loved the work but I kept on getting the 'trapped' feeling.  I didn't understand it at the time and got rather restless - even though I wasn't clear about the road ahead, I just knew I couldn't allow myself to stay where I was.  All in all, during this period, I resigned 3 times, worked in 3 different places of employment and relocated to a different country once.  Whilst overseas, I moved house once.  

I'm now at a place where my Sun waves goodbye to Uranus and it waits, with trepidation, for Neptune's arrival....

Where is Uranus shaking in your chart?

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The Energy of 2012 - Neptune

Neptune, the planet of illusion and spirituality, takes 164 years to complete one cycle of the zodiac.  Currently, it is in its final degrees of Aquarius and will enter Pisces early next year.  It had a brief visit in this dreamy sign back in early April and returned to Aquarius by early August.  This imaginative planet will be in its own sign, Pisces, for the next 14 years from 4th February 2012 and will pass the torch onto Aries by the end of January 2026.

As a Pisces, I should welcome this ingress.  After all, living under the current waves of economic turmoil, turning to spirituality of some form does help the soul to escape and get some inner peace and healing; as is developing compassion and exercise the act of kindness to those in need.  However, it's not that I can't accept having boundaries and structures dissolved by Neptune, it's the fact that this planet can bring deception into the game.  A pet hate of mine.

In Robert Hand's Planets in Transits, he mentions that 'planets pertaining to the ego drives - Mars, the Sun and Saturn - may produce fear, insecurity and anxiety when transited by Neptune by conjunction, square or opposition.' Great!  I am due to have my Mars, Sun and South Node conjunct by Neptune in the coming 12 years, this in turn, will activate my Saturn and North Node which are in opposition to my Piscean cluster.   So I have that to look forward to......of course, it's not all doom and gloom, as each planet carries positive and negative energies to be expressed slightly different by us mortals.

In 2012, Neptune will pass between 28 degrees and 54 minutes Aquarius and 3 degrees 9 minutes Pisces.  Any planets, points or angles between these degrees will get a strong taste of Neptune, depending on the angle they make with it.

For the purpose of this entry, I will focus on the Sun only. A tight orb of 1 degree is used.

You know you have been zapped by Neptune when matters become unclear and boundaries are being trespassed and/or removed.  A feeling of confusion then sets in.  As with all aspects, it is merely a life lesson.  Riding along with the motion may be easier than swimming against the current.  Extract the essence of the lesson then move on.  This is easier said than done, especially when Neptune clouds your perception, but stick with it and you are likely to come out of this transit with your hard-earned dosage of spiritual wisdom.

Pisces (born between 19th to 22nd February) and Aquarius (born between 16th to 19th February) will have Neptune tightly conjunct their Sun in 2012.  The initial stage may bring confusion concerning their identity and their life path.  Positively, this transit can heighten their sensitivity and intuition.  On the down side, they may be prone to deception and betrayal as Neptune can flood them with sympathy and compassion for those who appear to be less fortunate than themselves.  Forewarned is forearmed.  There is no need to put up a barrier for the next 14 years and adopt a Mulder attitude of 'Trust no one'.  If matters become unclear, demand clarification.  Take advantage of the creative and healing side of this transit instead.

For Taurus (especially those born between 18th to 21st May), Gemini (21st to 25th May), Scorpio (19th to 22nd November) and Sagittarius (22nd to 26th November), Neptune will square them tightly in 2012.  These people may find their well-planned out paths get flooded by Neptune, causing confusion and disorientation for the future.  Life could also bring other forms of disappointments, depending on the house Neptune is transiting in, which can force these people to alter their old beliefs, values and attitudes.  The challenge here is not to wallow in self-pity and to give in to addiction.  The purpose of any Neptune transit is not to cause unease but to feel at one with the universe, that physically, we are separate entities, but spiritually, we are all part of the universal light.

For Leo (20th to 23rd August) and Virgo (23rd to 27th August), Neptune will oppose them tightly in 2012.    Misunderstandings are more likely to crop up in their dealings with other people.  They should consider only to put their trust in those who have proved their worth and integrity.  Be cautious before entering into any new ventures as they may not be what they seem.  Again, spiritual enlightenment and a new way of viewing life await those who manage to navigate their way out of the fog.

Aries (17th to 20th April), Taurus (20th to 24th April), Sagittarius (19th to 22nd December) and Capricorn (22nd to 26th December) should find it easier to tune into Neptune's spiritual energy with a sextile to it.  They are likely to be sensitive to the needs of their friends around them. The blurring of boundaries is understood and assimilated into their systems much more gently.  They may also become involved in spiritual pursuits of some kind.

Gemini (18th to 21st June), Cancer (21st to 25th June), Libra (20th to 23rd October) and Scorpio (23rd to 27th October) are also able to tap into Neptune's realm of imagination and creativity under this transit (trine).  The danger here is procrastination.  Harness the artistic energy and funnel it into projects that are close to their heart - chances are that these people know what those dreams are.  Being overly idealistic is the other pitfall in this transit, however, if they clear away the fog of idleness and focus on their intentions like a laser beam, manifesting those plans can become a reality.

Which house will Neptune visit in your chart in 2012?


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Cosmic weather report for the last week in 2011

The atmosphere lightens up as the Moon in Capricorn pulls away from its square to Saturn and enters Aquarius on Boxing Day.  In humanitarian Aquarius, the Moon then square Jupiter, opening our eyes to those unfortunate souls in society who may not have had such a heart-warming Christmas.  Is there anything we could do to help them?

On Tuesday 27th, the Moon conjunct Venus in Aquarius, creating an air of detachment, which helps us to let go of any emotional attachments as we get ready for the new year.  This is further reinforced by the Moon in sextile to Mercury.

By mid-week, the Moon is busy connecting to Saturn (trine) and Neptune (conjunction) before entering dreamy Pisces.  We are encouraged to be realistic with our time and not have our boundaries crossed by offering too much of ourselves away.  The Sun conjunct Pluto may bring power struggles, though with the Moon sextile Pluto, the intensity is directed in positive ways.

Leading up to the weekend, with the Moon square Mercury in Sagittarius and oppose Mars in Virgo, we are reminded not to get caught-up in the details but to take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

Feelings become more volatile as the Moon enters fiery Aries on New Year's Eve.  We begin to ruthlessly review the past year,  reminiscing on all the things we have or have not achieved.  A feeling of impatience accompanies our evaluation of 2011 as we look forward to making a new start in 2012.

Image: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
 

'Tis the season to be jolly

Venus enters the unconventional Aquarius, squaring Jupiter in greedy Taurus.  There is a tendency to overindulge ourselves leading up to the festive season, whether it be Christmas shopping, dining-out or partying with friends.  

Excessive spending, eating, drinking.............................

Merry Christmas everyone:-)

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Jupiter in Taurus going direct

Jupiter, the planet of luck and expansion, first entered the sign of reliable and patient Taurus on 5th June 2011.  Jupiter brings us a feeling of joy, confidence and faith in what we do, but we can equally be overwhelmed by this expansive energy.  By 30th August though, it began its backward motion, giving us almost 4 months worth of introspective time to dialogue with our inner voice, and to work out how to utilise this wave of abundance in practical and sensible ways.  On Christmas Day this year, Jupiter will go direct again and will stay in Taurus until 11th June 2012.

Personally, I have my transiting Jupiter in my 10th house of professional life and public status.  Every time when Jupiter enters Taurus, I'm endowed with a feeling of hope and that whatever happens, it will all turn out to be fine in the end.  You can interpret this as blind faith, I guess!

Where's Jupiter in your chart at the moment?  What is it bringing you?

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New Moon in Capricorn

This year's Christmas Eve marks another potent time to make your wishes and to sow seeds in your garden of desire.  The New Moon in Capricorn at 2 degrees 34 minutes asks us to be our own authority and choose the path that YOU want to be on.  With Uranus in Aries in a tight aspect (square) to this New Moon, it is easy to give in to external pressure and to blindly follow the advice from those around you, whom may think they have your best interest at heart, but at the end of the day, you are your own boss.  By all means, listen to their words of wisdom, but whether you execute them is at your discretion.  Luckily, this New Moon is also in a relatively close aspect to Jupiter (trine), bringing opportunities and an atmosphere of harmony and good will to the area of life that Jupiter falls in your own chart.

Aries
Feeling confident with what you have to offer in your career, you are toying with the idea of adding another dimension to your professional life.  As much as you want to leave a blazing trail and be the envy of your colleagues, the extra workload and responsibilities would mean less time to enjoy life.

Taurus
This New Moon ushers in a wave of philosophical energy, encouraging you to explore the big wide world through travelling or expanding your mind in a higher education setting.  Regardless of the step you take to review what life means to you, you are imbued with a positive outlook on life.

Gemini
The energy of this New Moon is highlighting issues surrounding your relationship with your intimate partner, whether it be the assets you share together or taking the relationship onto a higher level.  This may elicit the fear of losing your freedom and individuality.  However, consider taking the time-out to listen to that inner voice of yours in order to reach a decision.

Cancer
Relationships, both romantic and business, are under the spotlight during this New Moon, whether it be the progression onto the next level or a total elimination.  You are likely to have reached a point where tolerance is not an option.  Like-minded friends could provide you with tactful and sensitive ways to handle the situation and deal with the people involved.

Leo
This is a time to review your current state of employment and how you are serving in this world.  Opportunities present themselves in your career, from extending your professional network to captivating a larger clientele.  Spiritual teachers or gurus could offer you words of advice, but you are the director of your life in the end.

Virgo
Some of your deep-seated fears may surface from the depths of your psyche, hindering the true expression of yourself.  However, if you take a step back and see the bigger picture of life, you may find these 'scary monsters under the bed' are not so terrifying at all.


Libra

Home life is under scrutiny during this New Moon.  Although family members may be testing your patience, you are feeling rather forgiving and can tap into your creative pool to find excuses for their negative behaviours.

Scorpio
This New Moon reminds you that it's time to update your knowledge bank and acquire new skills to remain competitive in the job market.  You may also like to consider communicating your needs openly at work, as your boss and colleagues are not mind-readers.  Offload your worries to a significant other, after all, a problem shared is a problem halved.

Sagittarius
As much as you crave freedom and spontaneity, there comes a time when life's practicalities have to be taken care of.  This New Moon highlights the need for financial stability, even at the expense of curbing your creative nature.  A feeling of contentment surrounds the possibility of expansions at work, whether it be the physical location or your workload; it's all taken in good spirits.

Capricorn
'Working hard' is your life mantra but the New Moon is opening your eyes to explore the possibility of 'playing hard'.  This is also the perfect time to redress your work-life balance - Have you been neglecting your family because of your workaholic tendencies?

Aquarius
Always thinking about other people, Aquarians are asked by the New Moon to take a break and have some 'me' time.  Ask your mind to shut up for a moment.  Go deep within and get in touch with your inner self.  A renewed sense of self-understanding can bring clarity to your next step in life.

Pisces
Friendships are under the spotlight during this New Moon.  Perhaps you feel the need to widen your circle of friends or to detach from friends who are stifling your creative soul.  This could also be a time to acquire new skills and be receptive to new ideas.

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The Energy of 2012 - Pluto

After 76 years of being a planet, Pluto was redefined as a minor planet by the International Astronomical Union in 2006. Despite this relegation, Pluto still holds significance in the astrological world since astrologers analyse minor planets such as Chiron, Ceres and Lilith anyway.

In astrology, Pluto symbolises transformation, elimination, endings, new beginnings and rebirths. This minor planet first entered the sign of Capricorn in late January 2008 and then re-entered it in late November of the same year. It will leave Capricorn for good in November 2024. The energy of Capricorn is practical, reserved, ambitious and disciplined, but it can be negatively expressed as rigid, pessimistic and calculative. Pluto is considered to be a transcendental planet; therefore, its influence is exerted over a generation of people rather than selective individuals. Since its entry in Capricorn, we have observed huge upheavals in the financial world, beginning with the credit crunch, bringing a knock-on effect on the rest of the globe. Fear ripples into every aspect of our lives. All of a sudden, we are faced with the prospect of elimination (job losses, bankruptcies). Those who prove to be indispensable can remain in the game. Otherwise, out you go. These are some of the manifestations of Pluto in Capricorn in the collective world.

In 2012, Pluto will traverse between 7 to 9.5 degrees in Capricorn. Individuals born under the Sun sign of Capricorn will continue to feel the pressure to express themselves, to get in touch with their inner will and authority, and to face challenges head-on. In particular, those born between 28th December to 2nd January will feel this stress the most as Pluto will conjunct their Sun during 2012. It is a time to go deep within and to release those parts of you which are preventing you from moving forward. You are likely to feel a need to spring-clean an aspect of your life depending on the position of the Sun in your chart.

Aries and Libra, especially those born between 27th March - 1st April and 29th September - 4th October respectively, will feel the resistance to any possible changes around them. 2012 is a significant year for growth for these people, but only if they are willing to let go and have trust in the Universe. What appears to be 'losses' on the surface may well be blessings in disguise. The deeper the fear, the harder it is to release these outdated beliefs and habits. Detach, accept and embrace the transformation.

Those born under the sign of Cancer, particularly between 27th June - 3rd July, will also feel the stresses like Aries and Libra. Other people may appear to be controlling or undermining you, or you may be doing that to others as a way of holding onto the status quo. Again, it is a time to allow the hidden parts of yourself to surface to the light and to redefine your life values and goals.

Gemini, Leo, Aquarius and Sagittarius may also feel the resistance to the power of Pluto, though the intensity is likely to be less than that of the cardinal signs (Aries, Libra, Cancer and Capricorn). The key is to resist the temptation of remaining stagnant. What happens when you don’t take your rubbish out? Your house will stink!

On a more positive note, Pluto is in a more favourable aspect to Pisces and Scorpio, especially those born between 25th February – 2nd March and 29th October – 4th November respectively. Changes are more internal and are more readily accepted. Old beliefs and habits are released with ease, leaving behind a sense of empowerment.

Taurus and Virgo, especially those born between 26th April – 1st May and 29th August – 3rd September respectively, are also likely to feel focused and vibrant, having got rid of attitudes which have long expired. They may adopt a new approach to life and start a new hobby, a relationship or a health regime, depending on the position of their Sun and Pluto in their charts.

Besides the Sun, other planets in cardinal signs between 7-9.5 degrees (allowing an orb of 1 degree) will also feel Pluto's exertion.

Which planets in your chart will Pluto visit in 2012?

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Total Lunar Eclipse in Gemini 2011

The sun rises in the east and sets in the west daily. Mortals all over the world go about their daily businesses, of earning a living and providing for their families, or to simply be carried away by the motion of their regular routine, because 'that's life, that's the way it is'.

Mercury in Sagittarius going retrograde two weeks ago (24th November) gave us an opportunity to stop rushing around for a moment and go within ourselves in order to ask more profound questions of our existence, 'Why am I here?' 'What do I need to do with my life?' 'What do I REALLY want from life?' This was quickly followed by a solar eclipse, also in Sagittarius, where it was a powerful time to plant a seed in the area of life where this New Moon falls in your chart (Sagittarius at 2 degrees 36 minutes).

Now, two weeks later, we are about to welcome the lunar eclipse in Gemini at 18 degrees 10 minutes. We are still in the midst of the Sagittarian Mercury retrograde, however, having pondered on the bigger questions of life, we now need to release our old beliefs - just like deleting unwanted files from your computer and updating your software. Keep what is working well and discard outdated ways of thinking. Look in your chart and see which axis this powerful full moon straddles across. Coupled with Uranus going direct in Aries on the day before this lunar eclipse, we are encouraged to be bold and to move forward fearlessly. Not everyone may see eye-to-eye with you, but remember, people used to believe that the world was flat and that Earth was in the centre of the Universe. As Brian Littrell said 'Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.'

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Polar Opposites

I was in the middle of preparing a blog entry on the similarities and differences between opposition pairs (Aries-Libra, Taurus-Scorpio, Gemini-Sagittarius, Cancer-Capricorn, Leo-Aquarius, Virgo-Pisces) when I came across an article in the latest issue of Mountain Astrologer, written by the British astrologer Frank Clifford, also discussing opposition pairs, but in relation to the purpose of Sun signs. The article made such an impact on me for it systematically answered one of the queries I have had since studying astrology - What does it really mean when you're not typical of your Sun sign?

It's very well hearing 'You're not typical of your sun sign' as an answer to not behaving like a typical Virgo or Aries. I have even mentioned this in a previous blog entry ('Why Astrology Doesn't Work') possible reasons for that. Those were valid reasons, but somehow, they felt incomplete. However, Clifford neatly filled in the gap for me.

The Sun sign is what you are here to develop into (I have heard this many times too). You pick-up the traits of Aries by being thrown into situations where you are forced to be assertive and have to 'find' the courage within you to stand up to others and extract the leader in you. Clifford went on to explain that if you are not in touch with your solar energy, then chances are that you are displaying shadow qualities of the opposite sign. Hence, in the case of our Aries, s/he is acting like a Libra (Clifford termed it 'the polite Aries'), wanting to please others and keeping the peace wherever s/he goes. Even though other chart factors do affect the expression of the Sun sign, it is well worth considering the corresponding polar opposite sign too.

(Destiny = purpose of the Sun sign in question; Shadow = negative traits of the polar sign)

Aries/Libra

Aries

Destiny - to develop courage and leadership qualities, fight for the underdog and walk where there's no path

Shadow - afraid to upset the balance, people-pleaser, retreating into a subordinate role, following in other people's footsteps instead creating own path

Libra

Destiny - to develop diplomacy, to play the role of the mediator ('middle person'), to act like bridges between people, removing disharmony with fairness and justice

Shadow - feeling superior, being insolent, disruptive, a 'stirrer' (i.e. creating conflicts in order to be the one to resolve them)

Taurus/Scorpio

Taurus

Destiny - to provide a platform for others to depend upon (Clifford described it as the 'rock'), creating objects with material value which will stand the test of time, to appreciate the luxuries of life

Shadow - appreciation of beauty turns into an obsession, using other people's dependency on them as a way of controlling others

Scorpio

Destiny - to delve deeply into the mysteries of life by becoming a healer/'alchemist', to investigate the meaning of life and to explore the darker side of life

Shadow - getting stuck in a comfort zone, unwilling to take risks and see the bigger picture of life, building security on material wealth, fearful of codependency from self and viewing weaker individuals with contempt

Gemini/Sagittarius

Gemini

Destiny - to connect people through communication, to identify patterns in life, to offer own perspective on life by amalgamating an assortment of existing philosophies

Shadow - embracing superstition instead of hard objective facts, being a 'know-it-all' equipped with answers to everything

Sagittarius

Destiny - an eternal student to learn all there is to know about the meaning of life, asking big questions and being open-minded to their possible answers

Shadow - becoming superficial and getting caught-up in gossips, overlooking the true underlying meaning of life

Cancer/Capricorn

Cancer

Destiny - helping others (and self) to appreciate one's own past instead of falling victims to it, providing love and nurture to those in need of emotional support

Shadow - using emotional blackmail to get what they want, disregarding the past, becoming jealous of other people's success, resenting own bitter past

Capricorn

Destiny - to climb to the summit of their life target/chosen field of career with sheer determination, pushing aside obstacles strewn in their path, fighting against adversaries while holding firmly onto their morals and principles

Shadow - pitying the self, losing sight of their goals, afraid of achieving success

Leo/Aquarius

Leo

Destiny - to allow their individuality to blossom, to get touch with their inner child and being creative (e.g. via music, art, healing)

Shadow - seeking external approval, being envious of attention received by others, rejecting arts over science

Aquarius

Destiny - to be aware that everyone is equal in society, to be comfortable exerting one's authority over others without becoming egocentric, 'to provide a clear, original perspective on social issues of justice and responsibility'*

Shadow - craving attention, wanting to be the 'special one', fighting for a good cause but secretly feeling superior

Virgo/Pisces

Virgo

Destiny - to create order from chaos, to work out the crux of problems, to filter out the junk and extract the essence from situations, to gain a healthy body-mind-spirit balance

Shadow - to be 'lost at sea'; drifting aimlessly; not knowing where to go or what to do, to run away from life's responsibilities, to feel victimised

Pisces

Destiny - to be on the spiritual path, offering help and compassion to those in need, to be aware of the interconnectedness of life

Shadow - disrespecting other people's religious/spiritual faith, making mountains out of molehills, becoming ritualistic

* Clifford, F. C. (2011) What Lies Beneath: The Hidden Side of Your Sun Sign; Mountain Astrologer; Issue #160 Dec/Jan 2012 p10-11

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Mars transiting Virgo 2011-2012

Mars has begun its transit in Virgo and will be traversing back and forth until early July 2012. This is a rather long period to have Mars, the planet of action, motivation, aggression and assertion in skilful, service-oriented Virgo.

(Other keywords for Virgo: critical, attention to detail, health-conscious, organised)

This Mars transit from 11th November 2011 to 3rd July 2012 can manifest in a myriad of ways. From being motivated to start a new exercise/diet regime to perfecting a skill through diligent practise, or being irritated by external criticisms to offering one's service to help others, the exact nature varies from individual to individual depending on the sign and house placement of natal Mars, which is further complicated by aspects to other planets in the chart.

I looked up the dates for transiting Mars in Virgo for the past 15 years and found that, for me, every time when Mars transits Virgo, issues relating to the assessment of my skills would crop up, from sitting major exams as a student to being inspected by Ofsted as a teacher! In recent years though, the emphasis has shifted to my health, from researching food and beverages which are beneficial for my physical body to hunting down beauty products to improve my skin. With Leo rising, Mars transits my 2nd house of income, material possessions, self-worth & physical body. For some with Virgo on their 2nd house cusp, money issues could surface, but personally, it affects my self-worth the most (which can just be as devastating as not having material security). I also become extra sensitive to criticisms on my skills.

Life is never straightforward. I also have Saturn in Virgo in the 2nd house so having t. Mars conjunct this solemn planet once every two years is not something I particularly look forward to. However, Saturn does become 'easier' to handle with age and I can certainly begin to understand that. Getting old isn't so bad after all.....

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Show me the way

Last night, I dreamed that I was waiting for a bus in the town where I went to Uni. In the dream, I wasn't even sure if I was at the right bus stop. All I knew was that I wanted to get to the town centre. Thanks to my phone, I soon discovered that my destination was a lot closer than I first thought - close enough to walk there myself. As I was turning away from the bus stop, I began to soar into the air instead- in the direction of the town.

In a nutshell, my interpretation of this dream is that my reaching my goal is closer/easier than I think. And to get there, I need to think outside the box and look at it from a different perspective.

Besides delivering a subconscious message, this dream has also given me an insight into the workings of astrology.

In the dream, my initial uncertainty of my next step in life had led me to take a bird's eye view of the situation. While facing a problem or at a crossroad, don't we often wish that we could see into the future so we could select the best path? Some people turn to religion - they give their problems to God and have complete faith that the 'correct' decision will be made. Others turn to fortune-tellers, people who can see the overall map of the situation and advice accordingly. Unfortunately, as with all professions, there are bad seeds giving the rest of the profession a bad name. Astrology can be used as a forecasting tool but it doesn't provide a magic formula to all our woes, as I had found out very early on in my astro studies. However, if it was too clear, then God's insulting our intelligence and life would be no fun. My dream showed me that astrology is like an atlas - it shows the roads ahead but what you do on those terrains is entirely up to you - i.e. your freewill, though how you are likely to act can also be depicted from your birthchart.

Take Jupiter, for example, the planet of expansion, optimism and opportunities. If you know happy times are ahead in your area of work or relationship, you could take advantage of this energy. Life gives lots of goodies to us, but if we are not receptive to them, then they will pass us by, leaving us with nothing. We then complain and ask 'Where's my gift?' Some people are innately better at spotting goodies and grabbing chances than others, so I personally feel that knowing what kinds of cycles are ahead can help to maximise the chances of success.

On the other hand, if we see Saturn, the planet of hardship and restriction, in a particular area of our chart, then we can brace ourselves and get ready for a life lesson we have signed-up for when we first incarnated into this world. Think of this as a challenge and that we come out of this cycle feeling stronger and wiser - that is, if you are willing to face it.

With Uranus, you can expect some sudden changes, again, it's all down to the person whether or not these lessons are viewed as positive or negative. I like to see them as spring-cleaning. The Universe will not do anything to us that we are not ready for.

We might get a bit blurry-visioned with Neptune hitting a particular point in our chart. Ask lots of questions; try not to let the vagueness get the better of you, though it's hard to be objective when the fog of Neptune envelopes you...the plus sides are that your imagination and creativity are at their peaks.

Pluto likes to push hidden matters up to the light. This can either be painful, if you are unwilling to let go of any unwanted junk in your system, or it can be invigorating to release all that pent-up emotions/memories - think of constipation! Don't you feel good afterwards?

Image: David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Why Astrology Doesn't Work

Since laying my eyes on my own birthchart almost a decade and a half ago, I have had a turbulent relationship with astrology.

I have learnt the keywords behind each planet, sign, house and aspect. I was aware that there could be more than one interpretation for each of those components, but as I began to notice cases where astrology 'didn't work', I started to ask myself if astrology was merely a limited tool - that it only works up to a certain point before it falls apart miserably.

Take myself as an example.

My Sun sign is Pisces. Yes, I have been told I'm shy, gentle, kind, quiet - all the keywords associated with this sign. Pisces' ruling planet is Neptune, a planet of no boundary, confusion and disorder. If my mother had read about the learning style of Piscean children, she would have been told that her Piscean girl will have difficulties in focusing on her academic work. She will daydream all the time and will find it hard to sit down to complete her school tasks. She will have poor organisational skills so do not expect her to take what she needs to school from day to day. Don't force her to write and read, she will prefer drawing, singing and dancing.

My mum would have thrown the book in the bin.

In actual fact, I was a conscientious student. My parents never pressured me but somehow, I have always been highly self-motivated to do my best at school. I loved reading from a young age; my mum couldn't drag me away from my books. I clearly knew what to take to school each day and I handed in my homework on time. I can draw but hated art. I would like to have been able to sing and dance but those areas never got developed in my life.

So what went wrong?

'Astrology doesn't work, that's why!' would've been the answers of skeptics. And I would've agreed with them if I hadn't delved deeper into my chart.

So what made me so grounded?

On closer inspection, my Moon sign is in Taurus, an earth sign, this significantly helps to stabilise my emotions and injects determination and stamina in what I do. But I think the main reason is that my Saturn is directly opposite my Sun, forming a 180-degree-aspect called an opposition. It brings practicality, discipline and order into my life.

I have also come across other examples where the Sun sign's traits appeared to be absent: a chart of a Scorpio who was naive and innocent. An Aries who was quiet and gentle and a Leo who was shy and extremely self-conscious.

So what went 'wrong'?

Nothing, is the answer, but merely the Sun sign cannot be take at face value. It turned out the my Scorpio friend had a Scorpio cluster in the 10th house (being in the public eye) all oppose Saturn. She told me that she couldn't stand conniving and selfish individuals. Clearly, she had disowned that part of her personality so it's being reflected to her through the people she met at work (she was struggling with her colleagues at the time). My Aries friend had the Sun, Moon & Mercury all locked away in the 12th house of Pisces, whereas the Leo had Capricorn rising so her chart ruler, Saturn, was giving her a solemn outlook on her life, not to mention that her Sun was at the apex of a T-Square with Uranus and Chiron.

If you are not typical of your Sun sign, there may be another part of your chart that is influencing your solar energy.

Image: Idea go / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Basic Astrology: Planets

Basic Astrology - Planets on Prezi

Image: Idea go / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Basic Astrology: Houses in a Birthchart

Copy of Basic Astrology - Houses on Prezi

October Horoscopes

Aries

The full moon on 12^th October in Aries provides fertile ground for starting something new. Full of enthusiasm, you’re raring to go and do what’s close to your heart. However, this is likely to be greeted by challenging remarks from those around you. You may not see eye to eye with those who give you opinions you didn’t ask for, but their words of wisdom do have a point. Take a diplomatic view and hear them out. They are not trying to put you down or blocking you, but merely want you to slow down and think more realistically about what you want to achieve.

Taurus

People at work or romantic/business partners may not be what they seem. Your family members are concerned about how trusting you can be and want you to protect yourself more. However, you think they’re being unnecessarily pessimistic. Once you realize that they are only trying to be supportive rather than critical, you will embrace their wise advice.

Gemini

Thoughts go deeper than usual as Mercury enters the intensive Scorpio on 13^th October. The light-heartedness of a Gemini gives way to a more serious demeanour. Put this focused energy in your work and share your insights with your colleagues, especially if there is a new project on the horizon. Consider everyone’s viewpoints and cherry-pick the best option available.

Cancer

Changes or new beginnings at work may alert you to the fact that you have been neglecting your home life and/or family. An air of distrust fills you this month. On the one hand, you want to share your woes with your friends, but on the other hand, you somehow feel vulnerable to open up to them. Follow your heart and do what feels comfortable to you.

Leo

The full moon finds your mind fully satiated from all the ‘spiritual food’ gained from conversing with inspiring individuals. With Mars travelling in your sign this month, you are embracing life with a renewed sense of enthusiasm. Some of you may just want to take a step back and live simply (and dare I say superficially) by focusing on your exterior; splash out on that new outfit or experiment a new image to greet the world.

Virgo

Thoughts turn inward with Mercury entering Scorpio on 13^th October, along with Venus also in the enigmatic Scorpio from 8^th October, trusting those around you could become an issue. You are not inclined to discuss your fears openly and would rather seek solace by retreating into a safe space. Life isn’t as complicated as it looks, simplify where you can.

Libra

How can I increase my earnings/material assets? With Jupiter opposite your ruling planet Venus, thoughts turn to putting your hard-earned cash into investments or multiplying your current resources through other means. With the instability of the current economy, you want to tread carefully. Go mingle and have fun with your friends, there might be someone in your social circle who could give you the advice you are looking for. Even if you don’t find it, at least you would have had an enjoyable time catching-up with your buddies.

Scorpio

The Full Moon on 12^th October highlights the need to look after your physical health. Take time out to rest and pamper yourself. With the New Moon in your sign on 26^th October opposite Jupiter and in harmony with Neptune, you are asked to be creative with the limited resources available to you at work. Be positive; think about what you have instead of what you don’t have.

Sagittarius

There may be someone at work you have your eyes on but are not ready to declare your love to just yet. Perhaps this new object of affection is not someone you would normally go for, e.g. from a different culture or religion. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Even if it doesn’t work out, there are plenty of other fish in the sea.

Capricorn

Climbing the career ladder and gloating at the top of the summit may be your ultimate goal, but to reach there, it’s not all about one person’s glory. Being a team-player and listening to other people’s opinions are all part of the package to achieve the success you are seeking.

Aquarius

Humanitarian Aquarians would like to invest their time and energy on a worthwhile cause. This month’s new moon on 26^th October falls in your house of public life. Having conversed with people from all walks of life, your mind is buzzing with new ideas to take your project to a bigger and more influential audience. You are imbued with an enigmatic charm and are ready meet challenges head-on.

Pisces

A busy month awaits you at work. Don’t worry, it’s not all hardwork but a time to exchange ideas and get inspired from your colleagues and receive support from your friends. There’s no room to be shy; put on the coat of confidence and catwalk down the aisle. Everyone wants a bit of your enthusiasm.

September Horoscopes

Aries

You come to the realization that success is not necessarily about self-achievement but it can be gained through the act of giving and being of service to others.

Taurus

You may feel your colleagues are forcing you to change the way you work. Think about who you really are and what is important to you. They may have a point to challenge your old ways. Why don’t you look into their accusation/advice and see if they have a point?

Gemini

Your thoughts turn to your home life. Perhaps you have been focusing too much on your career and have neglected your family? It’s not hard for you to make this up to your loved ones as you are an innate entertainer, bringing fun and joy to others.

Cancer

This month, you are putting a lot of thoughts on your health; from physical to spiritual. You believe that a healthy body is the required vehicle to house the soul. Therefore, it is important to nourish it with wholesome food and beverages. Spiritually, the mind can be calmed through the practice of meditation or engaging in relaxing activities.

Leo

Thoughts turn to your material assets and ways to increase your earning power. Caring for your physical health is also highlighted. Money can bring you material comforts but not at the expense of exhausting your body.

Virgo

With Mercury going direct again in your sign of Virgo, the fog lifts from your mind, leaving you a clearer vision of what you need to achieve this month. Others could give you ideas on ways to serve others and give something back to the community.

Libra

This month is a time to take a break from the social arena and retreat into a sacred space, allowing the mind to replenish its energy from the universal source.

Scorpio

Being Scorpio, you naturally need to keep your distance and have some kind of personal space from others. However, a busy month awaits you; be prepared to invest time on your friends and just having fun with them. This is the perfect time to share your hopes and dreams with your pals, regardless of their opinions. Even if you don’t get their support, you know they mean well anyway.

Sagittarius

This is a month of focusing on your career. How can I make myself stand-out? What skills do you possess that can move your professional life forward? Most importantly, how can I make it fun and enjoyable?

Capricorn

Career-minded and ambitious Capricorns are getting philosophical this month. What’s the meaning of life? What is important to me? There is more to life than climbing the career ladder. The simple act of spending time with your loved ones is equally rewarding.

Aquarius

Always thinking about others, Aquarians like to focus on serving mankind. This month, your thoughts turn inward and downward; fighting for the underdogs of society could be your next project. Just as long as you are being of assistance to someone in need, who cares what other people think?

Pisces

Romantic Pisces turn their thoughts to their significant other. It’s not always a bed of roses, but look on the bright side, the best part of a relationship is making-up after an arugment…..

The Moon Game

I attended my first astro event in Hong Kong over the weekend, organised by Hong Kong Astrology Club.

The Moon was the topic of the day.

This lunar body governs our emotions, feelings, habits and what gives us security. At one point, we split into groups according to the element of our moon and discussed on ways to protect our chicks from the vicious eagle if we were all hens.  

The fire group decided to give the chicks the opportunity to fend for themselves. The 'fire' hens wanted their chicks to develop a sense of independence.

The earth group would protect their chicks by finding a secure hiding place for them. The 'earth' hens did not think it's worth the effort to fight the eagle but to take a defensive approach instead.  


The air group would inform their chicks on ways to stay alive. Besides on educating their young, the 'air' hens would also wreck their brains to fight the eagle through trickery.  


Finally, the water group claimed that they would be terrified to be faced with the beast, but they would do all they could to protect their offspring by screaming at the eagle.


In the past, I've read about these 'elemental' discussions but it's something else to participate in one and witness the astrological influence on the final outcome.

Fire group

Earth group

Air group

Water group

Photo album of the event:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.259414017410875.69975.144474725571472&type=1

August Horoscopes

The Cosmic Backdrop

It is impossible to remain emotionally oblivious to the recent global catastrophes, from the Norwegian attacks to Amy Winehouse’s sudden demise, and closer to home personally, the train collision in China. The common thread linking these tragedies is death. When mortality is involved of that magnitude, it surely makes us ponder on the fragility of human lives. How are these worldly concerns affecting you internally?

Astrologically, we have Uranus, the planet of sudden changes, and Pluto, which governs profound transformation, at 90 degrees from one another, i.e. a square. To embellish the picture further, Mars will square the former and oppose the latter a few days before the full moon on 13^th August. This may be experienced as intense anger over events which are beyond our control. The full moon, with the Sun in Leo and the Moon in Aquarius, is waking us up to the fact that no man is an island; we are individuals within a social network. With all these planets dancing away together, fun-loving Venus will conjunct the Sun in Leo, allowing us to value our true self and see our inner beauty, regardless of external influences.

Be warned though, trickster Mercury will retrograde from 2^nd August to 26^th August. Ask for second opinion where possible, as this Leo influence may inflate confidence when caution should be exercised. Avoid signing contracts and other official documents within this period, unless it is for a renewal. If it cannot be avoided, then go through the small print with a fine toothcomb to minimise future misunderstandings. Always have a contingency plan when travelling, just in case the inevitable should occur.

Aries

The full moon this month allows you, Aries, to focus on yourselves – something you do on a regular basis, but with a spin this time. Instead of merely thinking about ‘me me me’, you wonder who you truly are so you can contribute to the wider community. In a nutshell, you want to reach out to other people by gaining an understanding of yourself first.

Taurus

The full moon this month highlights the beauty on display around you. You are proud of your heritage, your family background and simply being ‘you’. You would like to immerse this newfound sense of pride and love of life into your professional life. How can I function more effectively at work with my innate skills and talents?

Gemini

Have you been invited to a school reunion? Are you thinking of visiting your folks who are still living in the house where you had spent your childhood? A catch-up session with your long-lost pals or siblings may highlight the fact that Geminians could travel to the edge of the world to satiate their needs for variety, but at the end of the day, home is where the heart is.

Cancer

The full moon this month is a great time to re-evaluate your assets. Financially, you could review your investments and see if there are alternative ways to make your cash grow more. Physically, how can you make your inner beauty shine through your flesh? Spiritually, what do you value? What is important to you and is that shared by your partner?

Leo

This month’s full moon turns your thoughts on relationships. We are not just flesh and bones but encased within are our inner charm and deep-seated beliefs. We tend to attract individuals who can deliver a great life lesson. No matter how annoying the person or situation may seem on the surface, try to extract the underlying meaning and move on.

Virgo

You are stirring from your hibernation from last month and are ready to mingle and face the world. Feeling rejuvenated, you are now contemplating on ways to incorporate your newly discovered spiritual understanding into your everyday life. Can you practise what you preach?

Libra

Librans like to sit on the fence and be as diplomatic for as long as they can get away with. This month, you are exerting your energy at work in order to fulfill a wish which is likely to benefit a huge audience. You enjoy this project immensely and pride yourself in giving something back to the community.

Scorpio

Your muse pays you a visit and you are feeling rather inspired to go where no man has roamed. It may be uncomfortable at first, but what the heck, the world is changing around you as we speak, even if you do not budge, the Universe will find a way to kick you into motion. Show the world what you are really made of.

Sagittarius

Questioning on the meanings and purposes of life may come naturally to you but not everyone understands the lingo. How can we make it more practical and relevant to the average person? Thinking philosophically energises you. Wouldn’t it be great if this is shared by all?

Capricorn

Under this month’s full moon influence, ambitious and conscientious Capricorns may consider expanding their knowledge to aid in the climbing of their career ladders. Attending a course in a higher education institution could be the answer, but the wise counsel from a mentor can also do the trick.

Aquarius

It is unlikely that you will be bored this month. Your social life is packed to the brim but watch what you say, express your thoughts clearly to avoid misunderstandings. When in doubt, just close your mouth.

Pisces

Without a healthy body, nothing can be achieved. This month, thoughts turn to caring for your physical body and appreciating its beauty. Tone up those muscles with a new exercise regime and put yourself on a wholesome diet. After all, we are what we eat, a healthy body means a healthy mind.

July 2011 horoscopes

Aries

Your mind is buzzing with ideas on ways to improve your living environment - to the dismay of your family or housemates. Watch how you spend your hard-earned cash; listen to the wise advice of those around you. This is a time where you can do with some ‘me’ time and retreat into your own sacred space - occupy yourself with activities which can be carried out in the comfort of your own home.

Taurus

The New Moon ushers in a sense of determination to make a fresh start, which can be achieved by releasing old habits and changing your old ways of thinking. Your creative energy is high and you may want to tap into your feminine side. Your social life is likely to pick up speed this month. Watch out for unnecessary spending. Having that new outfit or the latest gadget that your friend has may boost your self-esteem, but true happiness emanates from the heart.

Gemini

What do you value in life? With this month’s new moon, you are likely to invest quite a bit of time pondering over what is important to you. This is also an ideal time to research into possible ways to manage your finances – is there another bank account offering a more competitive rate? Is it time to re-mortgage your home? Use your contacts and ask lots of questions.

Cancer

Enjoying the company of friends and having a good time with them appear to feature significantly this month. You would like to allow your logical side to rest and be in touch with your feelings and emotions. This could also be a time to explore a new image to present to the world. You may have fun getting a new hair cut with your friends or go shopping with them.

Leo

This is not a time to be a hermit. Get out there and mingle with people. Through relating to others, you may re-acquaint with a wish or dream that you have forgotten about. Is there something you have always wanted to do or are passionate about but have never taken it further for whatever reason? It may be a project which benefits a large audience.

Virgo

This month is likely to be a time when you would like to be alone to think things through. You may be feeling rebellious and not want to follow the crowd. There appears to be a focus on your career so perhaps you are exerting your mental energy on a work project. Conflicts with co-workers and/or authority figures are likely. You understand the importance to be nice and courteous to others, however, during this time, unless they share the common goal(s) with you, you seem to have little patience to entertain them.

Libra

This is a time where you are likely to get on well with people in your professional life. Your work environment is relaxing and harmonious. You could even fall in love with someone at work! There are opportunities to meet like-minded people and working with them towards a common goal. A balance needs to be reached between optimism and realism. Be open-minded and not limit yourself with what you can or cannot do, but at the same time, to exercise caution and not let arrogance rule the game.

Scorpio

Travelling abroad appears to be on the cards. Whether it’s a personal or professional trip, it is likely to be a pleasurable experience. This trip will broaden your horizon and expand your social circle. Even if you are staying put where you are, it is probable that the universe will bring foreign experiences into your life e.g. meeting individuals from a different culture, attending lectures from an international speaker.

Sagittarius

Watch your temper this month as there is an increase likelihood of conflicts with others. This may occur at work with a co-worker or a significant other. They may not see eye-to-eye with your optimistic way of thinking. You are feeling rather open-minded and receptive to foreign experiences, which may be the start of something intense and unforgettable.

Capricorn

You may love your job or whatever you do for a living, but there comes a time when you feel the need to receive recognition for your effort. You are putting in a lot of time and energy into your work and all you ask for is some encouragement, preferably from an authority figure. You are feeling friendly and sociable and are likely to get on amicably with the people you meet.

Aquarius

You crave some change at work, whether it be more challenges or simply making a mark in what you do. Injecting the ‘wow’ factor in your ideas but making it realistic will be hard to achieve, but with your determination to succeed, anything is possible. In your intimate relationships, you are feeling comfortable enough to speak your mind. Your easy-going nature helps you to communicate your feelings to your object of affection and win over their heart.

Pisces

A new way of working may find itself to your workplace. Your creative muse may pay you a visit and inspire you to take your work to a different level. Though caring and selfless by nature, you are toying with the idea of allowing a bit of an ego to come through your work. You enjoy what you do and like to make things beautiful, but all of a sudden, you feel it is time to let your true self stand under the limelight. You are the star of the show and it doesn’t hurt the world to know that.