Capricorn Solar Eclipse

2011 is finally here. Have you reviewed 2010 and made a wish list for 2011?

Four days into 2011 is a Solar (or New Moon) eclipse in Capricorn. It also happens to be my friend, Natalia's birthday - Happy Solar Return Nat!

The Sun and Moon are conjunct at 13 degrees Capricorn. New Moon is the time to start afresh, which is highly appropriate as we have just stepped through the threshold of 2011. We are reminded to leave the old behind - all that no longer work, and embrace the new. What do you need to get rid of and make a clean start on? This solar eclipse happens to fall in my 6th house of workplace, daily routine and health. Perhaps I need to consider starting a new exercise regime and watch what I eat? The house where this eclipse falls in is the area of life you may like to consider some changes. Why not take advantage of this solar eclipse energy and create a plan of action?

It is also important to note that Saturn in Libra squares this solar eclipse. If you are feeling lethargic about making a target list for 2011, perhaps people around you may somehow urge/force you to evaluate the area of life in question.

Happy New Year!

Here we are on the eve of another year - where did the 365 days go? I'm thankful for all that I have achieved and am looking forward to another 'clean slate', where I can make a new list of targets for 2011. On that list, I should begin with 'I will put more time in astrology and update my blog more regularly'!

What are your hopes and dreams for 2011?

Mercury Retrograde in Gemini

A month ago, Susan Miller, one of my favourite astrologers, wrote in her monthly horoscopes that the Mercury retrograde in December would cause havoc in anything related to communications. Therefore, she recommended that Christmas shopping should best be completed by the end of November. Watching the news today, I totally agree with Susan. Christmas deliveries are being delayed due to the heavy snow across the UK. Not to mention countless travellers facing the prospect of spending their Christmas at the airport.

It is interesting to note that Mercury is currently retrograding in the sign of Sagittarius - foreign travels. This planet of communication has just come out of a conjunction with the Sun, which opposed the Moon in Gemini just yesterday (i.e. Full Moon & lunar eclipse). This is a time when a culmination point is reached and we are faced with a need to clear away all the things that no longer work, and to make room for a fresh start. The full moon in Gemini, a sign ruled by Mercury, may denote a time to take an inventory of our lives (an apt time with the approach of 2011 just coming round the corner), and to let go of any emotional attachments which may be clouding our rational judgement. Perhaps an injection of objectivity and logic could help to stabilise our emotions and to help us think more clearly.

I hope the airport staff will be able to overcome their stress (Moon) and put on their thinking caps (Mercury) in order to ease the congestions in the airport lounges across Europe.

Astrological aspects on a painting

Besides the plaques showing the zodiac signs, I also came across another painting with an astrological association:

Can you see it? Let take a closer look:
Let's zoom in further at the tower:
Can you see the twelve glyths of the zodiac within the circle? Also the different aspects in the next inner layer:
Conjunction is show by the new moon; square by the square shape; trine by the triangle. However, opposition looks more like the sextile symbol.

Here's some background info on the painting:

Astrology inside V & A (1)

It's been a long time since my last post (again!). I've been meaning to share my find at Victoria & Albert Museum during my summer visit to London. I managed to squeeze in a trip there with a friend and was surprised to find traces of astrology in some of the exhibits.The first exhibit was a set of twelve roundels depicting the agricultural year.

On closer inspection, I noticed that besides showing the length of daytime and night-time (upper light blue and lower dark blue arcs respectively), each plaque also has a zodiac sign on top of the sun:
January - Aquarius:

February - Pisces:

March - Aries:

April - Taurus:

May - Gemini:

Astrology inside V & A (2)

June - Cancer:

July - Leo:

August - Virgo:

Astrology inside V & A (3)

September - Libra:

October - Scorpio:

November - Sagittarius:

December - Capricorn: